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some new things! ✨🕯 in my handmade shop // here // @everlinet
#cottagestyle#cottagecore#art#smqll shop#small bussines#shop local#dark acamedia#dark cottagecore#mushroom core#small shop#light academism
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This captivating cross-stitch design features a stunning gothic woman with dark flowing hair and a regal expression. Her intricate lace gown and ornate crown, adorned with dark flowers and elegant jewels, evoke the aesthetic of a noblewoman from a mystical or Victorian era. The deep, moody tones of purple, green, and gold, combined with the detailed floral and filigree framing, create an aura of dark romance and elegance. Perfect for stitchers who appreciate fantasy, gothic themes, or dark beauty, this intricate portrait brings to life the mysterious allure of a queen or sorceress from a bygone era. This piece can make a striking wall decoration, adding a touch of enchantment and drama to any room.
#cross stitch#counted cross stitch#small bussines#etsy#needlecraft#needlework#digital products#cross stitch patterns#sale#cross-stitch#modern cross stitch#point de croix#cross stitching#x stitch#xstitch#vampire#gothic#goth aesthetic#goth#gothcore#goth vibes#gothic aesthetic#etsyseller#etsystore#etsyshop#etsyfinds
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Adorned
#fashion#clothing#hippie#hippistyle#boho#bohemian#bohostyle#color#colorful#small bussines#small shop#clothes
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www.crystaltowercrafts.com
#crystal tower#crystal tower crafts#dundalk#louth#irish#ireland#retro#retro style#vintage#vintage style#heart#hippie#phone case#phone cases#shop#small bussines
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POV: Ur scout’s mom
#French man be bussin#art#small artist#artwork#digital art#sketch#tf2#tf2 art#save tf2#teamfortress2#team fortress#teamfortress#tf2 fanart#tf2 memes#team fortress comics#digital sketch#tf2 spy#tf2 scout#digital drawing#drawing#valentines#Valentine’s Day#happy valentines#happy valentine's day#red#romantic#quick sketch#my art
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. you think Sheila ever brings flowers to Clara's grave. do you think she can bring herself to do so. imagine she stopped going and then one day came back and saw her gravestone all covered in dirt and in a horrible state because there's absolutely no one to take care of it. because her only surviving family was her 10 year old sister. think of it. are u.
#fugo.txt#i always find myself thinking about them#clara haunts the narrative. at least when it pertains to Sheila#she may not have been all that but when she died Sheila was just a small child. she idealizes her sister as a saint#one who is the epitome of right. but thats only a kids idea of the adult that loved them#the assasin team wasnt going to murder a random farm girl for no reason. i like to think about her being on shady bussines#yet that thought never crosses sheilas mind. or whrn it does she pushes it far far away#because Clara was good. she was the only good person left in the world.#her act falls apart the moment it comes down to her sister. because her views are so unequivocally... childlike.#you understand.#its what a kid believes of their parent. an idea of someone that can never do any wrong. so unidimensional#i feel like the view she gives us of her sister is very skewed because of the kid rose-tinted-lense she viewed her through#you know#i think its interesting
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Most Profitable Business in Rural Areas in India
We're about to embark on a journey into rural India's vibrant and often underestimated landscapes. Forget the hustle and bustle of the city for a moment, and let's dive into the world of endless possibilities, where tradition, craft, and simplicity still prevail in the heart and soul of rural people.
India, with its vast expansion of rural landscapes, represents a wealth of untapped opportunities for emerging businesses. While urban areas tend to witness rapid development, the potential for growth and development in rural areas remains mostly overlooked.
However, the transforming economic scenario and rising government focus on rural development have ruled out the way for rural business ideas opportunities in these areas.
Let's explore some of the most amazing business ideas that can thrive in rural India, contributing not only to the local economy but also to fostering sustainable development.
Profit-Making Business Ideas for Rural Areas
Indicash ATMs
Establishing Indicash ATMs in rural areas can fix the issue of limited and basic access to banking services. These ATMs are made to work efficiently in low-traffic areas.
Providing convenience, flexibility, and secure banking services for rural people.
This not only enhances financial banking services but also creates fine opportunities for entrepreneurs to collaborate with banking services.
Digital Dukaan
Digital Dukaan platforms enable small businesses in rural areas to establish an online presence, expanding their customer reach in every prospective area.
Rural people can easily set up and manage these digital marketplaces, associating local artisans and businesses with a broader customer base.
This not only increases sales for rural entrepreneurs but also increases the standard of living of rural economies.
Mobile Repair and Service Centers
The increase of mobile phone users in rural areas has created a high demand for repair and maintenance services as well.
Setting up a mobile repair and service centre can turn a profitable business as this business is emerging day by day.
Also, offering digital literacy programs alongside these services can empower and spread awareness in rural communities.
Rural Tourism
India's rural area has a rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty all around. Various people can start ventures on this by initiating rural tourism sectors.
Homestays, guided tours, and cultural experiences can attract people from urban areas to relax and flee from the hustle and bustle of the city and promote rural development as well.
This not only generates income for rural communities but also fosters a deeper connection between city and country life.
Handicrafts and Handlooms
Rural India is a treasured place of traditional handicrafts and handlooms and majorly popular for it.
Starting up ventures of handloom weaving, pottery, embroidery, or other traditional crafts can be both culturally enriching and financially rewarding. This is one of the best village business ideas to inculcate.
The global market's want for authentic, handmade products provides an additional avenue for growth through exports.
Summing Up
The key to successful business in rural India lies in understanding and aligning with the unique needs and resources of the people and working towards it. Working for businesses in rural areas is considered the world's best business opportunity to grow the country's economy.
By harnessing local skills, traditions, and resources. Various entrepreneurs can not only build profitable businesses but also contribute to the overall development and prosperity of rural areas. The inclusion of innovative solutions like Indicash ATMs and Digital Dukaan further enhances the potential for growth and transformative impact on the rural landscape of India.
#indicash atm franchise#indicash atm#best business opportunity#RURAL AREA#VILLEAGE BUSSINES IDEAS#Business Ideas for Rural Areas#business ideas for rural areas near Delhi#small business for rural areas#small business for rural areas near Delhi
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https://www.topbest27.com
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hiii!!! i love your writing, like the angst and the fluff is amazing. i actually had a request for arturs silovs (canucks) or jeremy swayman (bruins obv, for now at least) where they go on reader's popular hockey podcast, which kinda goes viral in the hockey community with many ppl shipping the two, and they kind of get pushed into doing more media stuff together as it brings views for the teams and stuff? im sorry thats all i got, feel free to add or change this if you do choose to write it. thanks
The Alchemy | Jeremy Swayman
summary: having your own sports podcasts was one of the most enjoyable and rewarding jobs you could ever have. when a particular episode with bruins goaltender blows up - you are jermey are pushed together to film more videos. it doesn't help that everybody is shipping you two together - making your growing crush on him become harder to mask.
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warnings: SFW! friends to lovers | mention of covid -19 | fishing | suggestive dialogue | kissing
a/n: thank you for the request! your idea was so cute that I just had to write! I chose sway obviously so I hope yall love <3 happy halloween 🎃
link to masterlist
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when you were a little girl you'd often find yourself huddled on the cozy material of the living room couch, watching your dads tv shows until way past your bedtime. you'd always stay quiet, eyes focused only on the tv, too scared that if you'd move you'd be put into bed.
that's when you first fell in love with hockey. having no choice but to watch the tv and seeing professional athletes zip around the stark ice at high speeds, shooting dangerously, and throwing hits - you were immediately drawn into the crazy world of hockey.
but when you're a girl and you express your love for any kind of professional sport, you become immediately labeled; gold digger, clout chaser, a bunny. whether it is football, baseball, basketball, or hockey, nobody believes girls when they say they're into the sport simply because they like the sport.
that's what made you want to start pursuing a hockey related career. you wanted to show everybody that girls, just as well as men, could watch and enjoy a sport without any ulterior motives.
in 2020, with covid-19 at its peak, you started to create hockey related content and post it on tiktok. it was simple videos with just you and your mini microphone - discussing game play, trending and popular news, and nhl players.
it blew up, and after a year of tiktok content, you were approached by barstool sports with the opportunity of a lifetime.
starting a professional sports podcast was intimidating, especially under such a well known company like barstool. you'd be competing with pardon my take, bussin' with the boys, and most famously, spittin' chiclets.
you started with high hopes and a nervous belly, recording a solo episode in your small podcast room. thankfully because of your large following on tiktok, your podcast was a successful one, and you continued to grow into your space and talk all things hockey.
what set you apart from other sports podcasts was your style of content. you were good at remembering these athletes for who they were: human. of course, you'd analyze and discuss their game, but at the end of the day, these men aren't machines and you were always reminding your audience of so.
fans of the podcast described you as 'an amazing sports analysts who perfectly represents how it feels to be a woman in sports. y/n is respectful but honest. funny but kind. clever but not a know it all. pucks in deeper with y/n is the best sports cast for everyone."
it wasn't long before your podcast, titled pucks in deeper, was gaining traction outside of your tiktok fans, and you started getting occasional sponsorships and guests on the show. starting smaller with paul bisosnette and ryan whitney (who graciously had you featured in an episode of their podcast), then landing your first active nhl athlete, only 9 months after starting at barstool.
ryan reaves was the perfect guest for your podcast and perfectly matched your vibe and the vibe of content you wanted to put out into the world. the episode with reaves birthed your first viral clip, and from there you had other professional hockey players wanting to come on your podcast and chat.
at 25 years old, and almost 5 years deep into your podcast, you were thriving. often getting compared to a mixture of bobbi althoff, alex cooper and brittany broski - your content was very personalized to your interviewee, and you specialized in humour and lighthearted conversation that the players were very intrigued by.
obviously, you got hate comments, mostly from people who had nothing better to do. you'd get called a puck bunny, and were told that ‘you knew nothing’, and ‘should quit while you're ahead.’ but that didn't phase you, and you thrived off the negatively. it pushed you to prove them wrong, and continue to have a viral and successful podcast despite the criticism.
——
email from: barstool sports inc
to: y/n y/l/n @pucksindeeperpodcast
y/n,
as usual, your podcast remains a positive and successful experience for our company. we continue to be absolutely blown away by the outpouring support and love for pucks in deeper, and are excited for you to continue at the pace you are still gaining.
due to the incredible virality of your podcast episode with jeremy swayman, we have reached out to both you and swayman with a proposal. the fans and viewers have loved your shared dynamic, and we are wanting to feed off that outpouring obsession by having you and jeremy film some content for our barstool channels.
that includes an expenses paid trip from new jersey out to boston, where you'll be staying for a few days for filming - as well as transportation and hotels in boston.
we are certain this will benefit you and the continuing growth of your podcast.
jeremy swayman's team has already agreed to the terms of the proposal and he is willing to spend time and participate in planned content recordings.
let us know what you're thinking and if you'd be so kind to consider this opportunity.
thank you,
barstool sports inc.
you re-read the email again, knawing on your thumb nail gently. a few weeks ago, the boston bruins goaltender, jeremy swayman, had graciously made an appearance on pucks in deeper. instantly, jeremy became one of your favourite guests. his calm exterior and humor had bounced off your style of interviewing perfectly, and you found yourself feeling very much intrigued by the goalie.
even though the interview was over a zoom, the entire podcast went smoothly. jeremy was kind and a willing participant in all the quizzes, games and questions you'd thrown his way.
there was a clipped video from the podcast your team had uploaded to your channel's tiktok page that had gone viral, and the traction on the swayman episode after that was mind blowing.
PODCAST CLIP
"okay," you start, a gentle and anticipating grin on your face. "this is near the end of our episode - sad, I understand," jeremy laughs at your humor, his eyes squinting. you continue, "and like usual i've hand selected a question from a fan and i've found the perfect one for you."
jeremy's brows raise, "should I feel scared right now?"
you dismiss his question, a gentle grin still softening your expression. "a little birdy told me that you're a big rom-com guy."
"is this little birdy in question named brandon carlo?" jeremy questions knowingly. you'd had the bruins defence man on the podcast the week before, and he'd immediately spilled the embarrassing and memorable tea on his teammates.
"answer the question."
jeremy laughs once, and through the slightly grainy zoom video, you watch him run a hand through his hair. he nods quickly, still smiling with amusement. "i'd say yeah - fuck it, im a self proclaimed rom com enthusiast."
"well I have the most fun question that i've kind of turned into a mini game," you clear your throat, and your eyes briefly flicker down towards your desk top, scanning over your podcast notes. "the question is from @swaymansbae - damn it they stole the username I wanted." you slip in the joke quickly, just a subtle end to your sentence.
it works, and jeremy laughs again. "oh god - you should fight them for it."
you nod, "i'm going to - anyways. @swaymansbae asks what are you favourite rom coms."
jeremy hums appreciatively, already thinking of movies he'd share his love to the hockey world with.
"but I've added my own little twist. okay, so you've all seen how blind ranking things has become just like, this crazy phenomenon online. and i feel left out...so, jeremy i've got a list of 5 of my favourite romantic comedies, and you'll have to blindly rank them - 1 being the best, and 5 being the worst. ready?"
"oh fuck," jeremy huffs a laugh, and you watch him adjust into a more relaxed posture on the camera. he rubs his jawline, eyes bouncing around the computer screen. "i'm feeling nervous now - they're your favourites?"
"yeah," you nod, pushing your blue light glasses higher up the bridge of your nose - your makeup always has them slipping down. "so there is definitely a right and wrong answer."
jeremy curses again, a quiet chuckle coming alongside the swear.
you begin, "10 things I hate about you." you look away from your notebook and back at your computer screen, eyeing jeremy with faux caution.
he hisses through his teeth, teetering his head in quick thought. "i'm going to have to go 5."
"what?!!"
he laughs again, "I don't know…i'm not big on the whole enemies first storyline."
"enemies to lovers, jeremey, get it right."
another chuckle is heard before he starts to defend his rank. "I don't know it's something about that storyline I find so unbelievable. I think if you truly loved one another, you wouldn’t treat each other like that."
you sigh loudly, "okay, I guess that makes sense."
"is that your favourite?" jeremy questions, a teasing glimmer in his eyes.
"no comment." you clear your throat, reading your next movie from your notes. "next: to all the boys i've loved before."
"i've never seen that one - 4."
"jeremy...oh my god."
he raises his hands in surrender, teeth sparkling where they are just becoming visible under his growing smirk. "it's too new!"
"it came out in like 2018 -"
"- okay and i'm more into the classics. that's not one i've seen, but maybe i'll have to check it out."
"no, yeah you absolutely need to watch it." you tell him, eyeing him over the rim of your tortoise shell lenses.
"it's not enemies to lovers is it?" he gets the name of the trope correct this time around, and it has your lips quirking up pleasantly.
you shrug a shoulder, "no, not really."
his brows furrow, "not really?"
"moving on - how to loose a guy in 10 days."
he claps his hands, rubbing them together. "okay now I can get down with this - amazing movie."
"amazing." you echo, nodding. "and like hello matthew mcConaughey is this movie is like perfect, as well as kate hudson."
"way better than him in the wedding planner." the bruins goalie agrees, leaning forward in his kitchen chair as he gets more engaged with the conversation.
your eyes widen in suprise, "100%. and you wanna know why?"
"he's a cheater in that movie."
you make a noise - a combination of joy and shock escaping your throat. "no exactly! you get me."
"I get you." jeremey nods his head in a jerk like motion, acknowledging you like a flirty teenage boy. "i'm going to have to put that at...damn - gotta go 2."
ever so slightly, your cheeks tinge pink. regardless of your online persona of lighthearted, flirty, and funny, you're easily flustered. it sometimes made your job a bit difficult - but you're also good at your job, so repressing that initial haze from his compliment is quick and easy.
"not 1?"
he kisses his teeth, "something could always be better."
"very optimistic of you - the proposal."
his gentle laughter comes to a soft end, and he eyes you through the camera. "y/n…that's that stupid enemies shit again."
"okay, yeah but this one is different."
"how?" jeremy chuckles.
you splutter for a moment, thinking of some sort of answer. "he's all like scared of her and it's just, I don't know, well executed! and it's not like she's horrible to only him, it's just her personality."
jeremy scrunches his noise, clearly not vibing with the proposal even with your explanation. "what do I have left open?"
you glance at your notes, where you've taken the time to make sure you'd been tracking the places of each of jermey's ranking on the movies. "1 and 3."
he curses. "it's gotta be 3 - I can't put it at 1."
"oh my god, better hope you like this next movie. god forbid if the characters are mean." you tease him, eyeing him playfully through the screen. jeremy's lip tugs up, a grin forming. you continue, "and your number one....the last movie is...she's the man with the lovely amanda bynes and channing tatum."
"okay I'm actually really happy with that. I'm obsessed with that movie." he beams, "that is the kind of rom com that you just can't argue its greatness. not only is it funny and unique, but it's a sports movie - c'mon."
you echo him, "c'mon, what's not to like?!"
"sports romance for the win."
"very fitting," you chime warmly. "are you saying if a girl wants your attention she should disguise herself as brad marchand and zip around the ice."
he barks out a laugh, nodding reluctantly. "something like that."
comments
user1: wait this is everything
user2: OBSSESED
user3: sway + his love for rom coms = my new obsession
user 4: no because they way he's looking at her !
user 5: justice for 10 things I hate about you
user 6: why do I ship them together
user3: no because I was going to say that
user 7: they vibe so well together I need this is be like a weekly thing honestly
user 8: he's got rizz
user 9: MORE pls i love you both
user 10: okay but you two would be the most stunning, perfect couple. the humor matches, the banter, the way they look at each other
user4: just watched this again and omg the way sway says he hates enemies to lovers bc he doesn't believe you could treat somebody you love that badly - CERTIFIED LOVER BOY
the fans were always amazing, but as they loved on the episode, the comments about you and jeremey being cute together and shipping you were coming in at a lightning pace. it had you feeling weary of filming more content with him - despite knowing it would be a professional working environment.
the comments made me you feel like you were falling into the stereotyped female hockey fan category - labeled as a puck bunny or clout chaser. and although you found yourself always growing stronger from those false accusations, it doesn't make you the happiest to see those types of comments.
you sigh gently, pressing the respond tab on the barstool email. through your doubts, you know that barstool is right, and filming more content with jeremy while your podcast episode was still gaining traction was smart. and it's not like jeremy was a bad guest - quite the opposite. so you'll learn to work around the fans who want the two of you to date, and the allegations that you're already in jeremy's pants.
spending time with him would be good, you think. without any idea of what you'd have to participate in, you say yes - looking forward to meeting jeremy and continuing to get to know a potential returning podcast guest - getting shipped together be damned.
no harm, no foul.
boston, here you come.
— youtube: JEREMY SWAYMAN TEACHES Y/N Y/L/N HOW TO FISH
"okay and here we have - camera man, come closer." you gesture for daniel, the younger camera guy to come closer. once he's in your space, you direct his attention towards the portable flat table filled with fishing rods along other fishing things. you continue, "and this right here will be my rod. the fisherman's dream 2000."
beside you, jeremy laughs. he's fiddling with his own fishing pole, attaching the fake shrimp lure on his hook. he's laughing because there's no fishing rod on the table called the fisherman's dream 2000, and you are simply just fooling around.
regardless, your face is very serious, and you continue. "I mean, even though this is my first time fishing, jeremy told me - he actually said this - he said: I can tell you're going to be the best fisherman already so you deserve the nimbus of fishing rods. to which I responded, 'jeremy I'm a fisherwoman not a fisherman.'"
"yeah, you're right I totally said that." gently with his hip, jeremy shuffles you slightly off to the side, making more space. you don't mind, and allow him to move you around with his gentle push. immediately, he reaches for the fishing rod you'd been talking about, picking it up off the table to start attaching bait.
before he hooks the mini lure on, he looks at you. he's already grinning, and one of his brows is raised questioningly. "you sure you don't want to hook it on? you're supposed to be learning."
you cross your arms over your dark green plastic overalls, and the fabric puffs around you awkwardly. "I can watch and learn."
he eyes you slowly, gaze dragging down your body, assessing your fishing attire of rubber boots, overalls and a long sleeve - and back up to your face. jeremy is dressed the same, keeping him dry from the drizzly, cooler june day. "you definitely like to watch, huh?"
your mouth drops slightly, and in an instant you're getting into his space, taking the bait from jermey's calloused fingers. "okay, fine." he's laughing at you gently, watching as you try and attempt to attach the rubber fish to the sharp hook. you curse, merely missing pricking your finger. "this is rigged - there's no way it's supposed to be hard."
gently, jeremy takes over once again, hooking your lure correctly so it's secure on the end of fishing rod. you look back up towards the camera again, "okay and as you can see we've attached the fake bass fishy to the rode - hopefully to catch some big fish." you fist bump in and early celebratory gesture.
chuckling, jeremy shakes his head in amusement. it wasn't a bass lure, and they're aren't even bass on the lake you're at. regardless, he lets you take control and entertain- what you're best at.
"if I was a fish, i'd fall for that fake food - zoom in on that masterpiece, my god!" daniel the camera man does what you ask, expertly changing the framing on the camera to capture the neon oranges and pinks of the lure.
shrugging, you dig into the tackle box, pulling out some more fishing necessities. things like rolls of fishing line, pliers, scissors and anything in between. you pull out a small pocket knife, holding it wearily as you eye the camera - a frightened expression on your face. "what's this for? are we gutting them?"
jeremey laughs once, shooting you a look as he fiddles with the rod. you had no idea what he was actually doing with the fishing rod, because you've never held a pole in your lifetime. "we're not gutting them." he tugs one of the levers, and the clear fishing line tightens before your eyes.
"then what's the knife for?" you question, swinging it back and forth between two pinched fingers.
he shrugs, testing the retention of his fishing line. "don't worry about it." your eyes widen comically, and the swinging knife comes to a dramatic stop. it has jeremy laughing again, his shoulders shaking as he does. "okay, are you ready to head over to the lake?"
the lake in question was only 10 feet away - the water looking awfully calm through the misty weather.
you turn your body to face jeremy fully, an amused frown tugging at your lips. your brows raise playfully, "am I ready?" you echo, sarcasm lacing your tone. you pull the straps of your rubberized overalls, letting them smack back against your shirt. "i'm ready to catch some fish."
with that, you grab the orange rod from jeremy, bringing it against your chest. jeremy cringes slightly, watching the way your fingers merely miss the hook on the end of your line. on instinct, he reaches out to you, moving your hand gently so that you're out of harms way. "do you remember what I told you?"
you think back to the beginning of filming, after you'd mentioned to everyone that you had absolutely zero clue how to fish. jeremy had nicely said there was nothing to it, and as long as you remembered a few rules, you'd be fine. you sigh in thought, eyes looking into jermey's - his gaze encouraging. "stay calm and speak gently - to not scare the fish."
you're praised immediately, jeremy smiling warmly as he gathers the fishing necessitates to bring down to the water. on the way down, you almost wipe out, practically shrieking as your foot slips down the wet, grassy hill. it would've had you feeling embarrassed, but thankfully jeremy's reflex's were superior (those nhl goalies are on a different level), and he grabs the crook of your elbow to stabilize you.
he smiles slightly, eyeing you playfully when he asks if you're okay. you blush slightly, brushing off your slip with some teasing remark.
when you had arrived at the filming location this morning, you weren't expecting to end up at a fishing park - you weren't expecting fishing period. you'd been left feeling clueless about what you and jeremy would be filming for barstool, and you definitely weren't prepared for water related activities. thankfully, the crew had provided both you and jeremy with proper waterproof attire - your tights and long sleeve align top wouldn't cut it.
right before getting changed, jeremey had shown up and....he was much better looking in person. you hate yourself for even thinking that, and you almost feel guilty for daring to even have those thoughts about an nhl athlete. anytime you think an athlete is cute, you have that guilty feeling - you hate that it plays into that bunny stereotype, even though you'd never get on your podcast and solely discuss an athletes look.
regardless, you're not blind. jeremy swayman was taller than he looks, and broader than expected. he also smelt really good, and his smile had you feeling flustered. it had your online persona feeling more real, and your borderline flirty comments had you getting hot and bothered - especially when jeremy flirts and teases back.
off camera, you and jeremy (mostly jeremy) set up the fishing equipment on the dock; poles, extra bait, and even adorable little camping chairs - you really felt like you were getting the premium fisherman experience. he runs over simple fishing techniques and hacks, showing you how to keep ahold of the rod, how to reel your line and casting. the camera catches all your poor attempts, as well as jeremy covering his snicker behind his hand - his amusement at your poor cast very evident.
5 minutes into fishing
you jerk the rod slightly, trying the movements jeremy had showed you just two minutes prior - trying to snag any fish nibbling around your bait.
you sigh gently, pursing your glossy lips outwards. eyeing jermey, you ask, "so like what kind of fish are we exactly trying to catch?"
jeremy hums, "some perch would be nice. or possibly cod, or halibut..." he trails off, eyeing your confused face, and the look you're giving him has a subtle smirk tugging at his upper lip. he breathes a laugh, "you have no idea what I just said, do you?"
you bark an unattractive laugh, and that has jermey's smile deepening. "not a clue."
"that's okay," he assures you immediately, and his leg moves towards you like he was planning to knock your thighs together reassuringly. but your bodies don't touch, and it has you feeling a little disappointed. "everyone has their own interests. besides sports, what else do you like?" he looks towards you quickly, but looks back at the water when he feels his line tug slightly - nothing has bitten unfortunately.
you swing your fishing pole back and forth tiredly, enjoying the way the water ripples from your line moving on the surface. "oh god - honestly i'm into a lot of stuff; movies, books, fashion, food. you name it and i'm into it." you pause, eyeing him playfully. "you must not watch my podcast - I tend to talk about myself a lot."
jeremy looks back at you quickly, but once he sees that you're clearly being playful, his once tight shoulders relax, and he smiles gently. "maybe I get distracted when I watch your podcast and don't catch everything you say."
he was insinuating that he's distracted by your face - his teasing gaze and laughing smirk has you clueing into jermey's underlying undertones.
you clear your throat. you can feel heat rise to your makeup covered cheeks, and you advert your gaze back to the lake - trying to distract yourself from the whirling fluster caused by jermey's flirting. "well guess you'll just have to hear me talk about it all over again."
11 minutes into fishing
"what's your opinion on one direction, jeremy?"
he pauses from reeling his fishing line in momentarily, and a very small, breathy laugh falls from his tinted lips. jeremy looks at you, scratching his stubble in thought. "love them." he admits.
you smile automatically at jeremy's willingness to answer you absurd, random questions - just like he's been doing since you first meet through a zoom meeting for your podcast. your brows raise questionably though, not truly believing that a 25 year old man would vibe to a british teen boy group.
"okay," you hum questionably, "but who's your favourite?"
jeremy doesn't back down, keeping eye contact with you - reeling in his fishing line long forgotten. "who do you think it is?"
now you're invested. you squint at him, deep in thought. you look jermey once over, "probably zayn. yeah, you give big zayn vibes."
he smiles, brows pulled tightly. jeremy jerks his head at you, expression full of curiosity. "who's your favourite?"
"louis." you tell him.
jeremy laughs triumphantly, "i knew you'd be a louis girl."
you click your tongue, and adjust your seating position. without thinking, you let go of the fishing rod so you can push yourself upwards in the chair. before the most likely expensive rod takes a tumble into the misty water, jermey catches it, jolting across your thighs so he can grab it before it plunges.
you don't notice the chaotic series of events, and you smile, still thinking of the one direction conversation. "what can I say," you hum, " I like them a little wild."
jeremy eyes the camera - a mixture of amusement and fear on his face.
19 minutes into fishing
jeremy watches you intently, observing the way you change your bait. there'd been nothing caught yet, and honestly you were playing up the impatient act pretty well.
so, jermey suggested to change the bait on your hook. that way you'd not only be able to have a new opportunity to attract fish, but also learn how to change your lure.
he sighs gently, "okay, you're still not hooking it right." he leans closer to you, the arm rest digging into his muscled side.
"oh, shut up." you grumble, making sure your playful flare is very prevalent in your tone.
jeremy takes the pink bait from your fumbling fingers, properly demonstrating the correct way to attach it to the sharp hook. "you shut up." he echos you, nudging your side with his elbow - his hands not once leaving your fishing rod.
"make me." the underlying suggestiveness that can be taken from your remark doesn't dawn on you at first - but as soon as jeremy pauses, and gives the camera a knowing glance, brow quirked playfully, you realize your mistake.
you blush, and without really knowing what else to do, once jeremy fixes your lure and pulls away, you throw the extra fake fish at him, hitting his bicep.
25 minutes into fishing
"holy shit," you beam, eyeing jeremy beside you. when his posture suddenly changed, as well as his body position- muttering a curse under his breath, you knew something was happening. you watch him reel the line expertly, "do you have a fish right now?"
"yup," jeremy's tongue darts out, tucking against the corner of his mouth as he concentrates on reeling in his catch. it's not much labour for him to bring in the fish, effortlessly lifting it out of the water. it's a pretty big fish, you think, considering you've never seen a living fish this close.
he holds it expertly, detaching the hook lodged in the fishes throat. ones it's free, he switches hands so he's pinching the lip between two fingers, holding it out.
"oh my god, you're like really good at this." you compliment, tilting your head to get a better look at the side of the fish, eyeing its reflective, slippery scales.
"you like that, huh?" he spins the fish in between his fingers, allowing you to get a proper look at all angles. jeremy grins, eyes watching your wondrous face. "want to hold it?"
you frown unpleasantly, eyes darting between jermey's reassuring face and the scaly fish gripped in between his fingers. "I don't know?" it comes out like a question, your weariness about holding the fish clear.
"you got it," he assures you, "come here." he holds his free arm out, silently gesturing you to come towards him.
almost reluctantly, you take the few steps left between you, and stand beside him. the camera catches it all; jeremy practically gentle parenting you as he shows you how to properly hold the fish, the uncertain expression pulling at your face, and the shriek you let out when the fish starts to squirm around - its tail flapping up against your wrist.
"oh it's slimy," you state the obvious, holding it as far away from your body as human possible. it squirms again, and you can feel your fingers slipping away from their grip. you look at a smiling jeremy, who's clearly having fun watching you struggle. "jer, yup."
you gesture the fish at him, eyes darting between the aquatic animal and jeremy.
"he's fine." he smiles through gentle laughter.
"no, no, take the fish."
32 minutes into fishing
you reel in one last time, watching the fish come up from the waters surface, dangling off your hook. it's squirming around, water spraying all over.
jeremy comes up beside you, helping you bring your fishing pole upwards to properly display and hold the fish. "yes, y/n," he smiles praisingly. his arms come around you from behind, adjusting your positioning.
you're too distracted by the fish frolicking around at the end of your clear line to feel flustered by jeremy's closeness - paying no mind to the gentle way he helps you. "oh my god," you beam, "I just caught a fish."
"yeah you did!" jeremy nods encouragingly, slipping his body around to your side. he looks between the fish and your bright eyes, and he squeezes your bicep warmly - oh, he's still got an arm around you. "you gotta try and take it off the hook."
"no. jer, i'm scared!" you tell him immediately, "I can't do that."
"you can," he assures you, "just try once, and if you really feel uncomfortable after that, ill do it, okay?" his warm eyes stare into yours softly, providing a comforting vibe towards your clear uncertainty.
that combined with his sweet smile and the heat of his body, which, yes, his arm was still wrapped assuringly around your body, has you sighing shakily and you nod. "okay, i'll do it. i'll try just for you."
— tiktok video:
when you'd finished up filming, one of the producers who'd been off working in some white, pop-up tent while you'd be with jeremy, informed you that before leaving, they need you and jeremy to make a tiktok.
but surprisingly, they gave you and jeremy a lot of creative freedom with the direction of the video. meaning, you'd get to choose the audio and your positions and presentation of the tiktok.
"twin" the audio starts through the phone, and you mouth the beginning of the song. the camera catches you stepping out of one of the trucks, mimicking you as if you'd just got to the filming sight. you've still got your fishing gear on - rubber overalls and boots included.
the next shot is on jeremy, who you both decided would be at the picnic bench, looking like he was waiting for you. as the audio starts, he whips around towards the camera, lip syncing to the next line of the audio. "where have you been?" he points off camera at you, and his overalls squeak at the friction of movement.
you laugh at him behind the camera, stifling your laugh into a clenched fist. jermey finishes that part of the audio with a large wink in your direction, and you shake your head with amusement- a giant blush covering your cheeks.
"nobody knows me like you do." you're at the picnic table for the next part, and you previously decided to pretend one of the fishing rods was a microphone, singing into it sarcastically.
the audio continues, and jeremy comes into screen behind you, taking the fishing pole turned microphone to sing the next line. "nobody can't love me quite like you can."
the last remaining seconds of the audio, you wanted to capture you and jeremy from a distance. as an ode to your famous podcast episode clip, you and jeremy previously decided on recreating the dirty dancing lift for the video. right before beginning to film the last part, jeremy checks in on you to make sure that you're still feeling okay with being lifted, which sends your heart running rampant in your chest.
the camera is set to slow-mo, but in real life it feels like you're running a million miles an hour. the way jeremy easily lifts you into the air and over his head - his hands splay over the entirety of your hip bones, holding you steady.
you're glad for the ridiculous overalls in this moment, because you think if you'd be able to feel the warmth from his hands too close to your skin, you'd die.
10 minutes later, when you and jeremy are watching the video back, you get all those fluttering, nervous butterflies once again. he laughs against you, body just grazing your backside as he watches the tiktok over your shoulder.
as the lift plays out on the phone, he leans in closer, his chin gently brushing against your shoulder. out of the corner of your eye, you look at him. jeremy is smiling, eyes bright as he watches the end of the tiktok. his woodsy scent is intoxicating, and you can count every freckle sprinkled across his nose with him being so close.
suddenly, he looks at you. his smile doesn't falter, and if anything it changes into a more smirky, excited one. "that's a good one, don't you think?" briefly, you watch his eyes flicker away, landing farther down your flushed face before meeting your gaze again.
you nod once, blinking gently. "yes....really good."
— 9 months later: NHL ALL-STAR GAME
there's not a day that's gone by since the videos of you and jermey had been posted to the barstool media accounts, that you haven't been tagged, sent or mentioned in a clip of the two of you. fans loved you and jeremy, and still continued to blow up not only the fishing video and tiktok, but your podcast as well.
there's also not a day that's gone by since leaving jeremy in his rubberized overalls that you haven't thought of him. in the few conversations you've had face to face with him, you've been left feeling rather smitten and flustered with jeremy swayman. it doesn't help that before you left boston 9 months ago, jeremy had asked for your contact - all smooth and smirky. it obviously had you swooning and giving him your number.
so in all these months, you and jermey had been in contact. it started simple, with sweet check ins every couple days, you congratulating him on wins, and teasing him for his game day suits - but that soon turned into more flirtatious, and playful conversations. on a few occasions, you'd even sent him tiktok edits of himself, accompanied by a sequence of heart eye emojis from you.
jeremy would like and shamelessly comment on all your photos on instagram, and vice versa. which obviously has the shipping edits and comments spiralling to an unfathomable level. at first, you were worried that jeremy would feel uncomfortable with the fans wanting you two together, showing their support through comments and videos - but no, jeremy loved it all.
him having enjoyment in the relationship shipping between you both has you feeling even more into him - your feelings for jeremy growing stronger and stronger. that combined with fun text threads, edits and occasional facetimes from jeremy, has you crushing hard on the bruins goal tender.
two months ago, you had the nhl social administration and event team reached out to your team and ask if you'd been interested in interviewing nhl players on the red carpet for the nhl all star game. it was such a surreal moment and immediately you took the offer.
for the entire two months since accepting the opportunity to be an interviewer for the nhl social team, you'd been looking forward to the february, toronto bound event. the nhl administration has taken care of the expenses, as well as wardrobe and makeup for you - which is wild.
now here you are, standing on the red carpet while interviewing amazingly good nhl superstars. thankfully, you've meet and interviewed a lot of these guys on pucks in deeper, which leaves no room for awkwardness. the players know you and your style of interviewing, and that visibly has them lightning up from their previous over professional exteriors.
you're mid conversation with tom wilson, listening intently as he answers one of your more serious interview questions, when you feel your heart speed up.
it's weird - at first as you're not sure why exactly you've become nervous. you swallow, adjusting the mini-microphone by your painted lips - your gold bracelets clinking against each other. as subtly as you can manage, you let your eyes wander down the carpet, and it doesn't take you long to see and understand the sudden change in your hearts pace.
kids near the entrance of the arena are all calling for jeremy, their hands tightly holding out bruins memorabilia for him to sign.
the light catches the silver chain on jeremy's neck, complimenting his shining smile to make his grin look even brighter. you clear your throat, tearing your eyes away from jeremy and back towards your interviewee. thankfully, tom is clueless to your shift of mood, and is still happily answering into his own tiny microphone.
you've only got one more interview before you get to talk to jeremy. it's with mat barzal, who if you weren't so infatuated by the bruins goalie , you'd been shamelessly flirting with. you'd never had barzal on your podcast before, but that didn't matter - talking with him was anything but akward. it was nice, and (if you aren't going insane) you're pretty sure the islanders forward was flirting with you.
but you're too blinded by jeremy to entertain any of those thoughts. soon enough, he's next in queue, chatting to his assistant without realizing what exactly he's in line for.
you lock eyes as he is directed towards you, and immediately you feel yourself relax. your once tense shoulders fall back into a comfortable position, and your cheeks heat pleasantly as a smile automatically grows on your face. instinctively, you're falling into your interview shoes (currently very glamorous shoes). "you just can't stay away from me for too long, huh?" you tease him as your social director passes him the mini mic.
jermey's smile is matching yours, his gaze not leaving you as he takes the microphone, holding it tightly between two fingers. "what can I say? you look great!"
you drag your free hand down the front of your red dress, the soft material tickling the pads of your tanned fingers. "why thank you, jer. i've got to say i'm digging this look on you - much better than the boring suits you usually wear."
jeremy smiles at your lighthearted jab to his fashion choices. his last game, you'd given him slack on his boring suit choice and had followed with a text thread of insane, over the top suits you'd considered better options. "I was taking inspiration from the ones you'd sent me."
you hope fans don't piece together any insinuations from jermey's comment referencing your texts. although it has you blushing, you recover from your fluster relatively quickly, and you reach towards him, poking one of the black, shiny buttons on jeremy’s jacket. "and tell us what you're wearing mister fancy jacket."
he looks down at the material of his suit jacket, "i've got a custom todd snyder on - very comfortable and stylish. it's just what I was looking for when I was trying to find a jacket for this event."
you nod understandably, "yes, like cute and professional but also cozy."
your chipper tone has jeremy's smile growing. his warm tinted eyes go hazy, and they rather slowly watch you - tracing down your dress covered neck, down your bare arms, and all the way down to your painted toes peeking out your heels. his tongue wets his plump, bottom lip, and his eyes find yours again. "you look cute and cozy."
even if he's meaning it innocently, you can't help but think otherwise. what feels like the 20th time since the start of the interview, you blush. "were twins then." you shrug sweetly, as if to show the audience that the way you were speaking to one another was no big deal - hopefully they buy it …because you certainly don't.
jeremy’s smitten grin grows wider. he bites the skin of his bottom lip, tucking it between his teeth seductively. it's like he's in a trance, which usually would have you feeling creeped out or weird, but because it's jeremy and not some random guy, you feel your skin prickle pleasantly, and your knees begin to feel weak.
the camera man clears his throat - a subtle and gentle reminder that you're supposed to be interviewing jeremy, not eye fucking him.
you blink. "unfortunately, I have to get a little boring, jer. can you tell me and the viewers what you're looking forward to the most at all star weekend. sorry I know, boring and repetitive." you stick your tongue out, blowing a raspberry.
your noise mimicks a fart if anything, and jermey laughs a real laugh - all teeth and squinted eyes. he rubs his chin in thought, but comes up with an answer pretty quickly. for the first time tonight, his media training is kicking in. "i'm really looking forward to just spending time with all these amazing guys and having fun on the ice."
teasingly, you purse your painted lips, cocking your head to the left. "so not me?"
through his constant grin, jeremy clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth - nodding at your correction. "okay, maybe you too."
you give the camera lenses an unimpressed look, as if to say - is this guy being for real? you shake your head, playing into your annoyed persona. "since our fishing video together, which thank you to the fans for blowing that up -"
"- oh my good, yes, thank you." jeremy adds on, nodding thoughtfully.
you continue, "fans want to know...what is your favourite one direction song?"
jeremy exhales loudly, eyes bouncing between you and the camera lens - a whisper of a curse heard from under his breathe.
you nod understandably, "we've really got the hard hitting questions, so I can understand if you need to take a second to think-"
"kiss you." jermey interrupts with a triumphant tone, and he looks very proud of his answer.
"that was pretty fast - why kiss you?"
his slinky smile is back, and it has your stomach falling all the way down to your feet. "why not?" jeremy shrugs one suit covered shoulder nonchalantly, and the sleeve of his jacket brushes against your bare arm at the same time.
you smile, "what's been your favourite part of toronto so far?"
this time, jermey's answer is instant. "you."
you laugh proudly, nodding in approval. "that's a better answer."
behind the camera, one of the social directors holds up a pamphlet, one that she'd change throughout the night. it only ever said a last name - the last name of whichever nhl player was next and approaching your interview area. it was essentially a one minute warning, and she was trying to tell you to start wrapping up your conversation with jeremy.
disappointment pangs deep into your chest, the thought of having to part ways from jeremy is not one you enjoy.
reluctantly, you look away from the director holding william nylander's name up over the camera man, and set your gaze back on jeremy. "okay, i've got a two part question. firstly, are you up for a little challenge?"
he nods, "right now I think you could probably talk me into anything. so yes."
your heart flutters but you stay composed. "good. secondly, which celebrity team do you hope picks you? because personally i'm hoping you get team tate, so you can sneak me in for a picture with her."
jermey laughs again, his head rolling backwards. "obviously id be happy with any team, but if I get tate...I got you."
you smile brightly, "thanks jer."
"anytime."
"we appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to chat with us, we always love catching up with you."
"thank you for having me, y/n/n." the sudden nickname has your heart beat coming to a dramatic halt, and from now on all you ever want to hear is jeremy swayman's voice, saying your name over and over again.
there's a brief moment before nylander gets to your portion of the carpet - he is currently too caught up with screaming fans and paparazzi. the camera lens isn't focused on you as the camera man fiddles with some of the dials, affectively blocking the two of you from its view.
jeremy passes the tiny microphone back to you, and his fingers graze yours softly on the way back. you swallow nervously, meeting his gaze once more.
he clears his throat and suddenly he seems almost...nervous. he rubs his hand against his jawline scruff once, a nervous habit he’s always had. "hey, after the stuff going on tonight, a couple guys and their girlfriends were planning on getting dinner. I was wondering if you'd like to tag along?"
your eyes widen in suprise, "guys and their girlfriends?"
he breathes laugh, "yeah. I want you to come with me."
"okay," you nod bashfully, "i'll come."
you watch william nylander enter your queue behind jermey's broad shoulder, chatting happily with your director as she goes over the process. you've interviewed nylander before, so it will be another breezy and entertaining interview- especially with the swedes personality.
jeremy's grin is blinding, bringing you back into reality. "great," he sighs, "i'll text you after."
"i'll be looking forward to it."
-- DINNER
you take another hearty gulp of your spiced red wine, letting the clash of flavours sit on your tongue briefly before swallowing fully.
you're on your third - maybe fourth? - glass of your preferred wine, and sure, maybe you were using the buzz as a way to calm your erratic, exited heart. since jeremy had texted you after the events of the all star celebrity draft, you've been filled with happy butterflies - and only a part of that was because of the picture he sent you of him with tate mcrae.
jeremy had walked to your hotel room -he didn't want to just meet outside or just meet at the restaurant, he picked you up on the 10th floor of the expensive toronto hotel. he had complimented your new, dinner appropriate outfit - a shiny maroon top with sleek pants and jacket and you had shared the compliment back at him.
you had to clench your thighs together to calm yourself when you were right outside the extravagant glass entryway of the restaurant, pastrnak just seeing and waving you both over, when jeremy leaned down, lips brushing your ear and admitted he hadn't stopped thinking about you and your sexy little dress.
so, yeah, the wine was definitely needed. you stab one of the only remaining potatoes onto your expensive silverware, bringing it up and past your lips. you chew lazily, listening quietly to the conversations around you. after all, it had been a few hours of meaningless conversations since you and jeremy arrived - your borderline drunk brain needed a minute.
the potato was cold now, and the gravy coated it had that slimey film coating. you pull a face to yourself, chewing the mushy food quicker than before, trying to get to swallowing it faster.
fingers tickle your arm over the sheer material of your blouse - jacket long abandoned over the back of your chair. you look over to jeremy, who's got his arm rested loosely on top your jacket - the culprit of your bicep tickles.
he looks amused, "you okay?"
with no regards to the food in your mouth, you turn towards him and begin to speak. "my potato is cold."
jeremy chuckles lowly, continuing the leisure up and down motion with the pads of his fingers against your covered skin. "want to spit it out?" he can tell you're teetering on drunk, and he doesn't mind at all. you're at the perfect level of buzzed - still controlled and conscious, but also having no care in the world. jeremy feels pleased that you feel comfortable enough to let go with him, and he finds amusement with your usual laid back, humorous behaviour.
you shake your head, finally swallowing the food in your mouth. you turn your body into his, and push your body against the side of your chair, trying to get closer to the man beside you. jeremy raises his brows questionably, the start of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I don't spit."
the suggestive undertones to your words don't go unnoticed, and jeremy is spluttering. his cheeks tint pink, and he takes a harsh swallow. you bite down onto your lip to contain the flurry of giggles that want to pass, and you lean further into jermey's bicep behind you.
finally, he collects himself. behind you, you can feel his elbow bend, and with the new position he can come around to the side of your head - his fingers taking some of your hair between them, gently running through your strands. "no?"
you shake your head. "nuh uh."
"so, y/n." the sound of a fork hitting someone's plate combined with them calling your name, has you pulling away and out of jermey's personal bubble. you're back to the reality of who you are and what you're doing here - not just at dinner tonight, but in toronto this week. you're supposed to be a professional. your cheeks flush with the guilt of feeling caught - even though you're not actually doing anything wrong.
kenna, mat barzal's girlfriend, is looking at you expectantly, her pointed chin resting on her tanned palm. you resist the urge to huff at the sight of her sour face. since the start of the evening, kenna has been very passive aggressive towards you - no compliment was given without a condescending remark. not only that, but mat had been very flirty and friendly with you since the red carpet, and although you've been unresponsive to him, it only fuelled kenna's fire.
she hums in faux interest, eyeing you and jeremy. "so like, it must be nice with your podcast and having the pick of like any and every nhl player you want, huh?"
a couple of people sitting at the lengthy table hear, and they look down at you quickly. you laugh awkwardly, eyes briefly meeting the crisp, white table cloth below you. you shrug, "I suppose? everyone is really nice, and i'm very grateful for their support."
she laughs, "I mean, like, do you just like, fuck any of them?"
her words are like a stab to your chest. all those derogatory hate comments and misogynistic remarks come rushing back to you. you don't know what to say, even though no, you've never hooked up or dated any nhl player, especially while you're working with them. but you can also understand why kenna would think that - the way you're cuddling up and talking with jeremy is very much telling.
that guilty feeling is back, and all you can do is just stare at kenna's smug face - mouth open wordlessly.
"I don't think it's any of your business, honestly." jeremy’s voice is firm, but not unkind, as he responds for you. "it's nobody business but hers. y/n is ridiculously good at her job, and she is way past the point of having to prove that she's serious about her work."
kenna laughs it off, mentioning something about just playing around as she takes another sip of her mixed drink. the conversation slowly starts up around you again, and without the attention focused on you and the awkward exchange, you feel like you can finally exhale.
you look at over at jeremy, your eyes glossy and wide. his expression is hard, and his brows are pulled tightly together in irritation.
"you didn't need to say anything...I'm used to those kind of comments." you try and dismiss your feelings - trying to lighten the mood, but jeremy doesn't buy it.
he shakes his head, "you shouldn't have to deal with that - especially from some douche bags girlfriend."
the end of his sentence has you cracking into a smile, a breathy laugh following. "thank you." you take a quick inhale, stopping your quiet laughter. your face turns serious again, "but I don't do that - i'm not some crazed, horny, puck bunny in disguise. that's not what this is." you gesture between the two of you without thinking, and you feel your lips falling into a frown - your emotions catching up to you.
jeremy mimics your frown, and before he can stop himself, he reaches out and takes ahold of your hand. he gently keeps ahold of you, bringing your hand down to rest on his lap. jeremy runs his thumb along the wrinkles of your palm, soothing you. "you don't need to justify anything to me."
you nod silently.
"ready to head out?" jeremy questions gently. you answer yes quickly, letting jeremy help you out of your seat and into your winter jacket. he gives david some money - enough to cover both of your meals before he guides you out of the restaurant, hand in yours.
the walk back to the hotel is pleasant, the once lingering awkward feeling from the restaurant vanishing once you and jeremy were alone. like earlier in the night, jeremy comes to your hotel door - he doesn't suggest that you'll go your separate ways once in the elevators, or part ways in the lobby, he doesn't even hesitate to walk you back.
before you swipe your key card in the holder, you torn to face jeremy. you smile, leaning your bodies weight onto the closed hotel door. "I had a nice time tonight, jer - although I think it's only because you were there."
he laughs gently, "i'm glad you came."
you cringe at yourself and your rather rude insinuation about everyone else at the restaurant tonight - even if it was true. "sorry, when I drink wine I have a hard time controlling my mouth."
jeremy shuffles closer to you, so subtle that you don't even register him moving. he shrugs, "I don't mind. they deserve it."
you giggle. "and you also look really good - like, all the time. I haven't stopped thinking about you in fucking, like, 9 months." you shake your head, "sorry - the wine." you remind him.
"don't apologize, if wine makes you say things like that, I never want you to stop drinking it." jeremy reaches out to you, resting his large hand on the side of your jaw. his thumb strokes your ear lobe softly, running over your studded earring.
your stomach swoops, silently looking up at him. jeremy is so much taller than you, standing over you like a damn giant. the position of you two has you feeling small - sexy. your tongue darts out, wetting your lips. your lipstick has faded throughout the night, and your spit adds more colour to them - more appeal.
but jeremy thinks you've never not looked like the most beautiful, amazing, appealing woman he's ever seen. he smirks slowly, a warm, syrupy feeling in the air around you. "I really like you, y/n - so much that it's kind of embarrassing."
you smile, "I don't think it's embarrassing, especially because I feel the same way....but I think my wine mouth gave that away."
"it sort of did." he teases.
you huff gently, eyes twinkling with amusement. before you can say anything back, jeremy leans down and kisses you. the wine flavours mix between you, and the exchange of quick kisses combined with slow, tongue chasing kisses making your knees buckle.
jeremy presses you further against the door, his thigh slotting between yours to provide an extra form of stimulation. you sigh into his mouth, holding onto his shoulders warmly as you continue to make out in the hotel hallway.
reluctantly, you pull away. you're breathing heavy, heart pumping loudly through your ears from the adrenaline high. "maybe we should clam down - we're in public."
"shhh," kiss. "just a little bit more." his words are mumbled, his lips brushing against yours. jeremy’s lips find yours again, and all your worries float away.
you blindly grab ahold of your key card, and it takes a couple of attempts of trying to slide it through without the use of your vision - but you get it. jeremy’s lips don't leave yours, and you don't want them too. he uses his body to push you both through the door and into the hotel room, kicking the door shut with his dress shoe behind him.
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Usually don’t send requests, but since you asked: which creeps do you think would take psychic damage from a friend or partner who purposefully misuses slang? Just thought to ask cus I thought Ben would probably have a physical reaction and I think that mental image was funny lol 
———
Characters used: Ben, Jeff, and EJ, Tim
———
BEN:
He’ll cringe. No questions.
Now, I headcanon Ben as a self-taught modern-day gamer in the creepypasta universe (as in he’s bought every modern day consoles and devices and has slowly learned the mechanics and is now an expert), he’s got a plethora of video games for all his devices, his PC, consoles, Nintendo switch, and even his old DS!
So imagine when he’s showing you a new game he got for his switch….
But then immediately regrets it.
As you were sat in his lap, watching him play, you just casually drop, “Wow, Ben! This game looks so litty on fleek, fam!”
MF hasn’t EVER put his hands on you, but he is now-
He pushed you off his lap and looked at you like you kicked a puppy!
“I…I can’t even look at you,” he’d be all dramatic, “I don’t know who that was, but I NEVER wanna see them again!”
You’d just be laying in the floor in a puddle of giggles.
———
Jeff:
It would happen on a mission. You and Jeff were targeted with killing a family and to leave none of them alive!
So, let’s say the targets son was a bit more than Jeff bargained for, so you swooped in and had to save the day, managing to tie the kids arms behind his back, “GET FUCKING YEETED, SCRUBLORD!”
Radio silence.
“WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN?!”
“What do you mean? Like, we gotta yeet him, you catching my driftwood, fam? No cap!”
At this point Jeff just rubs his temples and finishes off the target by stabbing him. His brain too absorbed in other things to try and decipher whatever you’re talking about.
Soon after you two left, blood stained and all, Jeff spoke up, “Please, never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, talk like that again!”
“Alright fine! No need to get so hostile, we gucci lit” you finished off with finger guns and a sly chuckle.
“(N/N)!”
———
EJ:
You were sick. Like, contagious sick.
So, per Jack’s orders, no leaving his infirmary only for the bathroom, always cough and sneeze into the elbow and not the hand, use tissues sparingly, wash your hands, and take showers to help alleviate headaches and open up your sinuses.
Unrelated, but don’t worry, he’s made sure his baby gets the best comfort, after all, he needs you well rested and feeling better! 🥺💙
It was around 8pm when he knocked on the door before slowly opening it, he was dressed in pajamas holding a bowl of soup, “Hi, love” He’d greet you with a smile, not wearing his mask, as a demon he couldn’t get sick and because he was comfy around you, “How’s my baby doing?” 😭
Of course you’d answer the same way every time, stating you were still sick, just like since the beginning of the week. 😔
“I made you some soup, I know it isn’t much, but it’ll help alleviate some symptoms, and you look like you’re freezing, baby” he’d say while handing you the soup.
You took a few bites of the noodle and a carrot piece, a small moan escaped your lips, “Fuccckk~ This shit is straight bussin’, Jack”
His smile that he had while watching you eat was replaced with one of confusion. “W-what?” 😩
You’d have to suppress a giggle, “What do you mean, ‘what? This soups straight bussin’”
He’d try to understand what you meant, trying to wrack his brain for any semblance of what the word could mean 😭
Overall, confused baby boi :(
Tim (Masky):
Masky angled the binoculars as he let out a low growl, watching as the group of targets were stationed at all access points. “Fuck.” He grumbled before lowering the piece of equipment as he turned to you and Hoodie. “This is gonna be a close call, they’re stationed at all points of access. Do you guys have your weapons?”
Hoodie gave Tim a firm nod as he pulled out his pistol from his hoodie pocket, Masky reached into his duffle bag and pulled out a rifle, cocking it. He was about to ask you when you suddenly grabbed the weapon.
“Whoa! This thing is so fire!” You’d say as you inspected it with awe. “Tim, bro! This gun so fire! This definitely screams ‘I have BDE but I’m not trying to make it a big deal’, you know what I mean?”
…
….
“What the actual fuck are you talking about?!” He’d ask in confusion and irritation, quickly yanking his rifle back from you, “And give me that!”
You let out a small yelp when it was harshly yanked from your hands. “Calm down, Timmy, on the DL you’re still on my DTF list frfr. No cap”
Masky silently sat the rifle down, gloved hands pinching the bridge nose of the porcelain mask.
Overall: disappointment, confusion and irritation.
#creepypasta#creepypasta fandom#ben drowned#eyeless jack#jeff the killer#ben drowned x reader#eyeless jack x reader#jeff the killer x reader#jack nyras#jeffrey woods#creepypasta jeff the killer#creepypasta headcanon#creepypasta eyeless jack#creepypasta ben drowned#masky marble hornets#masky x reader#masky x you#ben drowned x you#eyeless jack x you#jeff the killer x you#tim wright#creepypasta x reader#creepypasta x you
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new handmade update featuring some victoriana inspired & some fairytale magic ♥ // shop here // @everlinet
#cottagecore#fairycore#cottage#softcore#coquette#fairy core#cottage style#vintage#fairy#victorian#small bussines#small shop#shop small#handmade jewelry#handmade shop#cottagecore jewelr#cottagecore jewelry#dark academia#dark cottagecore
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Bring a touch of mystery and elegance to your craft projects with this stunning Raven cross-stitch pattern! This intricate design features a majestic raven perched on a branch, framed by a gorgeous stained-glass-style window in rich purples, blues, and golden accents. Perfect for gothic art lovers, nature enthusiasts, or anyone who enjoys detailed and unique embroidery projects.
#cross stitch#counted cross stitch#small bussines#etsy#needlecraft#needlework#digital products#cross stitch patterns#sale#cross-stitch#modern cross stitch#point de croix#cross stitching#x stitch#xstitch#embroidery#goth aesthetic#goth#gothic#gothic style#raven
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And some more headcanons for this crossover (some mentions of the temporary death and canonical/side permanent deaths):
Eleonor was from Ravka, and she was a tidemaker (and Hob fell for her with the speed of tv Jesper). Robyn was a squaller, but their story still ends the same.
Nikolai Lantsov is a very-very distant descendant of Hob. Not like anyone alive knows it except Destiny. (Robyn was the only kid Hob was aware of, but he didn’t care for real before Robyn that much, and he had his slut period right after he understood that he became immortal)
Wylan is Hob's favourite Crow because he reminds him of Robyn. Both in Wylan Wan Sunshine and how-about-I-push-you-in-the-canal moods.
Hob and Jesper are vibing together. And they both have ADHD in my mind.
Randall Burgess was in the Fold because his best friend needed to go throught it, and Randall wasn't ok with his friend taking this kind of risk without Randall on side. They both and everyone who was with them didn't make it.
Inej had a knife that was called Sankta Robert. She broke this during the basement rescue (she may or may not broke it trying to crack a fishball). Hob brought her a new one instead, durast made.
New knife is by Mad Hettie. She do not do all the durast stuff anymore by her own reasons (and these reasons somehow connected to Destiny), but she was owe Hob a favoir. They also have a very strange friendship because you cannot don't interract when you are two immortals in one Ketterdam.
Kaz was really interested by the devil in the basement not because it was connected with Jan Van Eck but because anyone was thinking that it is impossible to steal thing from basement. He had a lot of other plans with Jan Van Eck, but he likes the challenge.
Hob once was in the Hellgate as a prisoner for few days during his worst times after Eleonor and Robyn. He will not recomend anyone Hellgate (0/10 for service), and he killed himself really bruttaly to be thrown out as a corpse. He had a very important meeting in few weeks, so not like he had time to enjoy Hellgate accomodation.
Ethel Crips is a tailor, and Roderic wasn't aware of it, so she run away from Ketterdam and tailored her face. Did she tailor also John's face? Nobody knows.
Jordie was asking Death if Kaz would be alright. She said that he will not die anytime soon.
Dream will definitely be once (or maybe more than once) asked by some drunkards is he related to Kaz Brekker.
Nina still becomes the Corpsewitch in this universe and sometimes she is able to see Death around when Death doing her job.
Ok, I do not make tumblr posts, but I have this crossover stuck in my brain (and I am having a hyperfixation on the Shadow and Bones rn), so…
Shadow and Bones (TV) x Sandman (TV) crossover, Hob canonically was involved in the slave trade.
Hob Gadling, the new owner of New Inn (a small Inn on the edge of Barel) and your local saint (yes, he is known as Sankta Robert, and he hates this) and fellow Ketterdam immortal in his six hundreds, is trying to live his life in the Ketterdam right after his Stranger missed their meeting.
He was away for a few years after planned meeting (you know, all this “die and return as your nephew from Novyi Zem” things) and just returned to the city when Fold was destroyed. He doesn’t want to interact with any of Barel’s gangs, because it is hard to hide your immortality when someone shoots you in the middle of the street (it happened before. Twice, actually).
He still tries to know all the local rumours, so he knows about Crows, and now his Inn is apparently the Dregs’ territory.
Meanwhile, Kaz is planning how to destroy Jan Wan Eck and heard a rumour about the devil in the basement.
So, whatever it is, Jan Wan Eck is very interested in it and spends a huge amount of money every month to cover the costs of Burgess. And the guards of the basement are so well-payed that no one can buy them. Wylan barely knows anything about it, he only knows that once his father said him that Burgess promised his father to guarantee that his next child will not be an embarrassment (in exchange for the favour that is taking away the Dream bc Alex wants to get rid of the ball).
(Roderic Burgess was not a grisha himself, but Randall Burgess was a grisha and Burgess was already making a lot of plans for how he will monetize his grisha abilities and how he will use Randall in his barely legal plans before he died in the Fold and Roderick was stuck with useless otkazat'sya second son)
Crows think that maybe this is imprisoned healer because older Burgess was too old to be alive.
(Alex considered himself “forced through circumstances” after his father died bc he was too afraid of both Dream and Wan Eck telling everybody that is in the basement)
So Crows start some shenanigans to break into the basement, and Burgess or Wan Yek heard about it and hires some killers to take them down. One of the killers? Corinthian.
Corinthian caught one of the Crows (Nina who cannot take him down because he was made from the dreamstuff?) in the side street, but Hob is passing by. And he doesn’t want some kid to be killed on his watch.
Hob attacked Corinthian and killed him (obviously temporally) but got stabbed in the process. In his heart. With a knife. So Nina tried to save him, but once she took out the knife, Hob comes to life.
And this makes Hob involved in all the things that he tried to avoid because he didn’t want to simulate his death too soon (and these children already saw that he is immortal), and Crows offered him to “forget” about his secret. Price? Help to steal whatever it is in the basement.
After this someone (Inej who will have very mixed feelings about Hob being a saint? like they already met some saints but no one was a slave trader in the past) understood who Hob is.
All this Sankta Robert stuff that Hob hates. He is not only a saint because he just died and was resurrected with too many witnesses, but he also did this during the period when he tried to destroy his own slavery business after his Stranger’s advice. So years after he was known as a patron of the slaves and the ones who were illegally detained.
The eternal reminder of his own mistakes. He is not a saint, ok? Just an immortal man who made a huge mistake and tried to do something right when he understood that a crime he did.
(And in that life, he was going with his real name for some time, so he cannot use Robert Gadling anymore because everyone knows his name as the name of the saint)
Idk what will be next but it all ended up as Hob saved Dream from the fishball and they got together trope, yes. Same story but with some extra Crows flavour.
(And after the rescue of the Dream he is very amused with the fact that mortals call Hob Sankta Robert. Like previously, he never paid attention to the life of Hob between their meetings, only to the Hob’s stories on the meetings, and Hob did not mention this so he didn’t know).
Hob also somehow “adopt” the Crows because they are just a bunch of youngsters for him. Like they’re in their twenties, they are totally kids for Hob. Have they already saved the world? Not changing his opinion, they are kids! Kaz is trying to resist this but unsuccessfully (he is not so unhappy with this as he shows).
#dreamling#Shadow and bone#the sandman#shadow and bone x the sandman#hob adopts six criminals#he was definetly like dream dove do you remember that mortals who helped to save you? they are our kids now#matthias is still not here but he is very busy trying all the waffles in Ketterdam with Nina#Did Crows like Matthew? definetly#Matthew *I was telling you 1000 times I am not a crow* The Raven#Dream and Kaz both make offensive side eye every time when someone don't understand the difference between crows and ravens#every time when Dream is upset he makes doves in Ketterdam fat#Kaz does the same but with crows every time when Inej is not in Ketterdam#this crossover still doesn't want to pay rent in my head#Desire and Despair are huge fans of Matthias#like did you see him? they think he is hillarious#Kaz and Inej are favourite slowburn tv show of Desire#They think that Dream is successfully found himself a stepson who is emotionally constipated just like him#Destruction lived near Ketterdam for centurias and was forced to move to Shu Han because all his siblings have a bussiness in Ketterdam#and this bussines is stalking Dream (not in the case of Destiny he just makes some shenanigans with Mad Hettie)#hob doesn't have problems with being immortal (there are so much to live for!)#but he really happy that now he has people with whom he does not need to pretend#Kaz Brekker was like insert cash or select payment type right after they left Fawney Rig#Dream doesn't have cash so he selects to offer one boon per person#and surprisingly Kaz not used his to send someone an eternity of Nightmares#not like he was not asking if it is possible#Are wesper decide to stay in The Dreaming after death? nobody knows but there is a small farm with music room in The Dreaming#and Jesper is very serious about read Wylan every interesting book in the universe#lucienne really likes them but somehow jesper returns every book he borrows in unsatisfied condition#one of the books had a bullet hole#jesper doesn't want to destroy books he just forgets them in the random places
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drable ——— jungwon (suggestive)
the tension was heavy. i mean, heavy like you almost could feel its weight on your shoulders. there’s no way no one else couldn’t feel it. looking around you, seems to pass unnoticed.
but those feline eyes were glued to you; your actions, responses and the way you covered you shy smile behind your hand.
you stood up for a second, leaving the living room and walking towards the kitchen for some water. you should be at your own home, getting the sleep that you deserved after a devastating and exhausting week. but here you were, surrounded by a bunch of guys who invited you to a small party.
well, wasn’t a party at all. just . . . an intimate meeting? a close circle hang out? you weren’t sure.
when you came back, you noticed that jake took your seat, leaving you no where to sit. he smiled at you with innocence, tapping his finger tips into his lap. ‘fuck this jake sim’ you thought to yourself, not mad at all but subtly annoyed because now you had to take a spot on the floor. not the best idea, not even the comfiest but you had no options left.
you were about to sit your ass down when a cold, slender fingers wrapped around your wrist. side-eyeing to your left, jungwon was holding you. waiting for you to look at him before speaking.
‘sit’ and with his free hand, he palmed his lap twice.
you shook your head. you didn’t think about it, no need to. wouldn’t that make things uncomfortable? he could give you his seat. instead he wanted you to sit in his lap. in front of his six friend. the atmosphere was heavy enough, why would he put some more weight?
‘y/n, i said sit.’ jungwon pulled your arm slightly. a shiver ran through your spine, messing with you breath.
finally you took his offer and took a seat in his lap, feeling more cozy than you thought. no one seemed freaked out and that helped you to enjoy happily the conversation. of course he kept his hands off of your body, being used as a furniture. he didn’t want to touch you without your permission but you wanted to, at least, feel his hand on you waist. holding tight.
and soon, that’s what exactly happened.
‘stop moving’ you hear in your back. his voice calm but somehow intimidating. you didn’t mind since you thought you weren’t moving at all. but jungwon didn’t think so.
‘im not moving.’
‘yes, you are. and it’s kind of uncomfortable.’
you took a few seconds to answer.
‘why?’
he sighed behind you, his soft breath against your neck made you squimmer on top on him. and his hand sank into your waist.
‘because you’re getting me a boner.’
you widened your eyes at his confession, heat climbing to light your cheeks. you faced his friends, one by one. they looked to focused in their own bussines to know what was going on. it would be a lie if you say that his words didn’t turned on something in your stomach.
once again you were moving against him, lifting your ass subtly to top jungwon’s croth and start to rub it. you felt his body tense under yours, his breath losing his habitual rhythm. he tighten his grip on your waist, and you could feel his nails digging on your skin. a sensation of pain mixed up with . . .
‘p-please. . . ah.’
he let out a moan, and you quicked panicked at the idea of being caught but no one seemed to care. they were not paying attention to jungwon’s suspicious behaviour. or why you were squimmering so much.
to tell the truth, you liked the idea of his erection pressing your butt. knowing that the reason behind it was. . . you. just you.
and it didn’t stopped you.
‘please y/n, not h-here.’ jungwon sounded way too adorable. where was the demanding guy who almost obligated you to sit on his lap? you felt his forehead pressing your back, the way he was holding his shaky breath only increased your will to pleasure him.
eventhough the wanrings he sent you, you seemed to had so much fun. so when the living room was half empy, he aproached you and whispered to you ear:
‘wait untill we’re alone and you’re fucked up, pretty.’
#enhypen#enhypen jungwon#enhypen jake#enha#enha x reader#enhypen hard hours#enhypen hard thoughts#jungwon x reader#drabble#chaconnewon
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Bullet Proof - Various x Overlord!GunDevil
Notes: Reader has a human/demonic form and a full demon form (pic used). And has similar powers as the Gun Devil from Chainsaw Man, im leaving a link here if you want to read them in detail. Carefull with spoilers!!
Warnings: violence - mentions of flesh eating - Does not connect with other chainsaw man!reader pieces - Platonic and romantic - Grammar mistakes -
On November 18, Hell was shaked up when a portal opened up in the red sky. Demons feared it was another execution but the dates was still away.
What came from that portal was...a figure born from nightmares. With a furious roar a new sinner had came, lucing their back and arms with gun parts. They head was a gun and they chest was full of sckelletons.
Soon the figure started shooting, hitting some and missing others. Sinners ran, screamed and even cried.
The bullets flew in all direction, the new sinner moving fast, like they only wanted to end the circle.
Then a figure that never came out from his big castle was out in the sky, Lucifer wont ever confess how he struggle to finally make you faint, or how him found so....cute? Pretty? It felt like a fallen angel like himself had fallen. His heart beated up so fast he almost forgots to take you back to his castle for questions.
After you got a well nap and woke up in a big bed in a castle you were not suprised or scared, you had been in worse places thanks to your work and evil contract.
Speaking of it...you never guessed you would end being the gun devil in hell, your guess was that after consuming so much flesh from the demon and then dying and ending in its original home then you two became one.
Suddendly the door of the room you were staying opened revealing a small figure dress in all white with a hat and a cane. He eyed you then gave a polite smile.
"Hello Sinner, Im Lucifer Morningstar, yes the devil and yes you died, now i must ask you some questions for your safety"
Well, what a fine way to meet the devil.
~☆~☆~☆~☆~
Lucifer had only read stories of a monster like the Gun Devil. He never once saw it or felt it in hell till a few days ago. Its energy was different. But its way to be was the same, a being without brain that just fired at everything. He did not want to deal with it. However once he saw its human form...he was confused, the old records never mentioned of another form like this one. Much less a form that resembles a human.
He was agitated by it and wondered just what were humans doing with demons to end like that.
After having a small talk with you he discovered quiet the disturning things, no only how demons would accept back not only souls but human flesh, emotions and more, but also how a human would go for power.
Like you, who had consumed lots of the flesh of the original Devil itself to end being a danger to humans who killed you.
Understable, they were scared and you angry. But Lucifer could not really feel much symphaty for you. Still, he knew for hell it was important to keep such a powerfull being alive in order to keep balance.
And so he made you promise him that you would live and not reveal what devil you were.
~☆~☆~☆~☆
For years the secret was down, you were know as only a powerfull sinner who quick became an Overlord, not that you were too interested on it. You just wanted to be able to go back to earth to end humanity or at least end with the lives of these who betray you.
~☆~☆~☆~☆
Carmilla was the first one who became interested in you. Seeing how you during one exterminion took down two angels using some bullets that appear from your fingers. You were even able to injure the wing of one angel that was leaving, almost passing the portal to heaven.
Of course she got curious and wanted to know you and maybe do some bussines with you.
You were reclutant at first, but both became charmed by the other one and soon became partners in crime.
She was the one who introduced you to Zestial. The tall spider Demon did not think much of you till he saw you in action taking down multiple sinner and demons alike. From close to far distance.
~☆~☆~☆~☆~
Alastor was quick to figure out who you truly were, the change in the air after you appear for the first time was enough to let him know.
He did admit to himself he was jealous you were still so strong, even if know you had a human part you suprassed him by a lot.
He may try to get on your good side and trick you to have a deal. If rumors of you looking for a way to go back to earth were true then he just needed to press that desesperation.
~☆~☆~☆~☆
Oh! Charlie loved you!! Being honest she was warned from her father years back about you, she had read the previous information of you and was so interested!! If she could make the Gun Devil redeem then sinner and heaven would give her a chance, right?
Well all her hope crash down when you politely declined her offer but told her that if she needed help you would do it if she got you a way back to earth.
~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆
The V's wanted to get their claws on you as fast as they could. You would be such a good weapon! Vox had his second thoughts about being able to hypnotize you....knowing your streght, but negotiations were still open.
Till Valentino made a comment that caused you to shoot him on his shoulder ending the meeting and you leaving with a proud smirk.
~☆~☆~☆~☆
Characters who are romantic interest:
Carmilla: she finds your personality to be one to fall for. Your ferocity is cruel but your soft side is likeable to her. She loves how you treat her daugthers.
Zestial: Its a crush but is there! Not lots of sinner gets his attention but he so interested in you.
Lucifer: May not trust you but years seeing you from afar (totally not stalking) made him have a crush. He also likes how you never really revealed yourself to others but it was the others who figured it out. Maybe one day he will invite you over for tea and to try and talk you out of your plans on killing so many humans. Maybe wait till they are in hell to make your revenge.
#hazbin hotel x reader#hazbin hotel x you#lucifer x reader#alastor x reader#carmilla x reader#zestial x reader#vox x reader
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Alone and Forsaken
Chapter Summary:
You wake in a place that you've never been with a handsome stranger asleep in the corner of the room. After an interesting first encounter, you become more acquainted with your host.
Warnings: Angst/comfort, talks of past abuse, religious trauma, Joel is hard on himself as per always, brief mention of smut, A/B/O Dynamics
A/N: Hey guys! Here is chapter 2, as always let me know what you think :) - Side note, if you do ever get the chance to eat babka then please do. That shit is bussin
Chapter 2/20
Chapter 2: First Encounters
- Joel -
When Sarah was a baby Joel remembers standing over her crib for hours each night. She was so small, so delicate, and she only had him. Sarah’s mom split only a couple of months after her birth, Joel didn’t blame her. They were young and dumb, quick fucks sprinkled here and there when the need became too much. Hands pawing desperately at clothes in the dark corner of whatever dingy bar Tommy had dragged him to, late night hookups in the cab of his truck, quickies in the host’s bedroom at some party, frenzied days spent together locked away from the world as need coursed through their veins. Even during his rut, with his mind centered around nothing but pure instinct, he could never bring himself to bite down on that spot on her neck that beckoned him.
Joel never introduced her to his friends or family, and she didn’t introduce him to hers either, that’s not what their relationship was for. So when she went radio silent for a couple months after a sloppy makeout sesh in the garage at Tommy’s SuperBowl party, he didn’t really think anything of it. Imagine Joel’s surprise when his booty call showed up at his door five months later with a rounded belly and bags under her eyes.
He dropped everything. The guilt he felt for not being there for his pup, even in the womb, shredded him to pieces. He did everything he could for the mother of his child, taking out a mortgage to buy a nice house for them to live in as a family, waiting on her hand and foot, even using up all of his sick days so he could be home for if she needed so much as a blanket from the other room. Protect, provide, protect, provide, protect, provide - these words crashed against the inside of his skull, pulling him into a sea of instinct. An instinct that blinded him from seeing what was truly in front of him, until it was too late.
Sarah’s mom had tried, Joel would give her that. She used all the strength she could to connect to the baby that had her hair, her nose, her chin. But this wasn’t the life she wanted and Joel most certainly was not the alpha she had pictured herself with. Slowly, Joel watched her draw into herself, dark circles framing her eyes and a frown morphing her face into something unrecognizable. He felt her slowly begin to detach from them, distancing herself until Joel couldn’t remember the last time she had even been in the same room as Sarah.
The night she left, Joel had woken to the sound of Sarah fussing in her crib. Barely cognitive, he had gotten up and sleepily shuffled down the hall to Sarah’s room, only to come face to face with her mother. Coat and shoes on, with her purse over her shoulder as she turned to look at Joel. With her eyes red rimmed and nose running slightly, she had tried to say something but faltered before looking back down at Sarah again. He knew then, and it didn’t bother him as much as he thought it would have.
“Honey, it’s alright. I’ve got this, I’ve got her,” Joel had said to her softly, feeling the tension in the air break as the words washed over both of them.
And she had left, never to return, which Joel was okay with. He had his sweet girl who he let paint his fingernails despite the ribbing he would get from Tommy over it, the girl that he would read stories to every night - always changing the ending so that she never got bored, the girl who as a preteen somehow dragged him to a Christina Aguilera concert - which led to another round of teasing from his baby brother. He would gladly do it all. Sarah’s mother wasn’t his mate. He had no claim over her and, as much as their beautiful baby was the air that he breathed, the role of mother had sucked the life out of the woman. Joel didn’t wish that on anyone, so he let her go.
Still, being a single parent was no easy task and Joel oftentimes found himself sitting in the rocker in Sarah’s room as she slept, terrified that something would happen to her. Even when she got older and became more independent, some nights he would lie awake in his room for hours before creeping down the hallway, standing in her doorway and watching her breathe as she slept. Joel would let the aroma of strawberries and vanilla wash over him, bathing him in waves of tranquility. His pup was safe and sleeping peacefully, he had provided, he was good. After pulling the blankets up over her shoulder or carefully brushing her curls from her face, needing to fuss over her even in her sleep, Joel would groggily drift down the hallway and fall into a deep sleep every time.
With Ellie it was different, dodging danger for months on end, but the result was the same. After Tess died he found himself sleeping less, staying up while she curled up in her sleeping bag, senses peeled for the first sign of danger. With Ellie, the smell of cinnamon and ginger was like a jolt to his nervous system.
He would pace around as she slept, letting his instincts go into overdrive and mumbling to himself like a madman, “Can’t fuck this up again, she can’t d… FUCK, no shut up. Must protect, must keep my pup safe, can’t let it happen again, I’m going to fuck this up again, I’m going to…”
Joel had never kicked himself harder for the time he had fallen asleep after laughing at one of Ellie’s corny jokes. Sure, Henry and Sam ended up being friendly, but that was no excuse. It had been the first dreamless sleep he had in years. He had never told Ellie that, he’s not sure he ever would have but he wishes he could now. He wishes for a lot of things.
After Salt Lake City, he felt untethered from reality. Joel floated in limbo with nothing but his memories to guide him for four years, memories that he hated to admit; were fading every damn day. Everyday he felt like he was trying to do his best impression of what he thought a normal man would be like. Realistically Joel was just waiting out the clock until his last breath, hoping everyday that it would hurry the hell up. He assumed that he would never cross anyone else’s path again, except for maybe Tommy. He had even hoped for it, but now here you were.
Sleeping peacefully in his bed, hands clasped under your chin as small puffs of air nudge the hair that is stuck to your face. Your scent, smoother now and oh so sweet, soaking into the sheets - HIS sheets. Joel longs to step forward, to softly push your hair back and take a wet cloth to the grime on your face but he refrains. Joel is a stranger to you and, despite his volatile past and general crankiness, he doesn’t want to scare a lost omega. He might be an asshole, but he has never been THAT type of asshole. Plus, he knows this reaction is just a biological response. Your despair has activated a part of his brain that he had thought died with Ell - no. He wouldn’t think about that right now, not when you needed him.
After carrying you from the river he had stood in the entryway for a solid ten minutes, unsure of how to proceed. Joel felt uneasy with leaving you in the living room, wary of the springs in the old couch that always dug into his ass. He couldn’t even think about letting you sleep on the ground. Hell, he would let you use him as a mattress before he did that. Joel thought briefly about putting you in the bunk bed but he quickly shook those thoughts away. He hadn’t opened that door since his first day here and he did not plan on breaking that streak today. The only option was for Joel to put you in his bed but he hesitated, dreading it. He didn’t want you to think he wanted something from you, that he would ever take advantage of your vulnerability. He was also slightly irked at the thought of you invading his space, undoubtedly saturating the space with your scent.
While Joel stood in silent contemplation you were none the wiser, cuddling into his chest and rubbing your nose on his shirt. Unbeknownst to him, you dreamt of lounging in the sun. Tendrils of his musk wrapped around your brain and pulled you deeper into relaxation. Joel was still standing there, wondering if he should just wake you up, when he heard it. Looking down, he watched as you practically smothered yourself with his shirt, pushing your nose into his chest and purring in your sleep. Hearing you flipped a switch in Joel’s brain, the answer becoming as clear as day to him. With a recharged sense of purpose, Joel carries you to his bed and settles you on his comforter. Easing the tattered boots off your feet, he practically swaddles you in his blankets. Besides a small noise of protest as he puts your body down, you remain unconscious while he fusses over you. He leaves the room only for a moment, tearing through the living room for more quilts to throw on top of your already buried frame.
Satisfied for the moment, Joel sits on the armchair by the window in his room. Watching the rise and fall of your chest, his mind is completely blank. He knows that he is going to freak out about this at some point. He can feel the suppressed panic attack stirring behind his ribs but, almost as if you can sense it in your sleep, your sweet aroma ripples out to him and pulls him deeper into the fog. With lavender and peppermint coating the back of his throat, he lets the in and out of your breathing lure him into an almost hypnotic state.
For a moment Joel remembers when he and Tommy were pups and their parents took them to Crystal Beach in Austin. He remembers the sound of the waves and laughing with Tommy as they chased each other along the sand, their mother calling to them to be gentle and cringing as they tackled each other to the ground. Joel remembers his father’s laugh as he wrapped his arms around his wife, whispering something in her ear that made her laugh and swat him away. He also remembers the distraction leaving an opening for Tommy to launch himself into Joel’s side, knocking him into the water. He remembers smiling so hard that day that his face hurt the next morning. Joel huffs out a soft chuckle, realizing that he hasn’t thought about that day for the last twenty years. Feeling almost delirious, he closes his eyes. Listening to the waves in his head from that day, with your presence easing the tension in his aching muscles, Joel drifts off.
-You-
When you were seventeen years old, Miriam had taken you and Jake to the lake near camp to teach you to swim. She had grumbled for years about how ridiculous it was that nobody had ever taught you. Miriam had waited, carefully choosing a time where she knew Josiah would be off on a hunt and your mother would be sullenly kneeling in the chapel, saying prayers that you were beginning to understand meant nothing to her.
With you presenting as an omega a couple years earlier, the noose had tightened around your neck considerably. Although you never really had friends before, Miriam and Rachel barely making the list of people you were allowed to interact with despite the fact that they were both pushing seventy, now you were basically banished to the house. Jake had presented a year before you, another omega, but this didn’t change your parent’s worries. Sure, he couldn’t impregnate you but he could certainly corrupt you in other ways. In a way he did, passing you notes in chapel with drawings of Josiah in compromising positions, smuggling you unapproved books that his aunt had stashed under her bed away from prying eyes, confiding in you whenever he could get you away from your mother about his secret kisses with a red haired omega boy that he thought was handsome, collapsing into your arms sobbing when that boy was forced to bond with the alpha Josiah had chosen for him. In a way they were right to worry about Jake, as he fueled the silent resentment that clawed its way further up your throat with each passing day.
With both of your parents indisposed, Miriam had snuck the two of you out the back gate. You remember Rachel, being on patrol, giving her mate an incredulous look as she approached.
“Are you fucking serious right now Mimi?,” the alpha had hissed as Miriam approached her.
Unfazed, Miriam had sauntered over to her mate and playfully shaken her, “Come on Rach, they’re just pups. Let them have some fun, just this once? Pleeeeeease?”
Scoffing and shaking her head, Rachel had let the three of you through with a strict demand to come back at the first sign of trouble. Although you could tell she was wary of allowing three omegas out completely alone, she knew Miriam could handle herself.
The day was hot, with the sun beating down on your face and causing sweat to drip down your back. Even so, it was the perfect day. The water was cool and Miriam had been patient as she showed you the basics, managing to get a solid doggy paddle out of you before it was time to go back. Jake had spent the day swimming circles around the both of you but you didn’t mind, your dreams of being able to keep your head above water were fulfilled and that was enough for today.
It was only on your way back that you noticed the redness of your skin, the heat radiating from the burn that covered most of your body. Although you had made it back to camp without alerting anyone, your mother immediately noticed the sunburn that stained your features. After giving you a good walloping on your already stinging backside, she had sent you off to bed without any supper. The next morning you had woken up feeling like death itself, with your body aching from the beating, your head pounding and stomach growling, and your sunburn making you feel downright feverish.
“Worth it,” you had said to yourself before hauling yourself out of bed to tend to your chores.
Waking in the bed of the stranger who had lifted you from the riverbank, you felt pretty much the same as you did that morning. Your body was raw, a dull throb present in all of your muscles and head, as well as your stomach panging with hunger. Above all you felt hot, too hot. Rousing yourself further, you felt the sweat pouring down your face and the weight of what felt to be approximately ten blankets swallowing you. Kicking the offending heap off of your frame, you cautiously looked around the room.
The walls were bare, save for a drawing of a pink butterfly that someone had pinned to the wall. There was a worn joke book on the bedside table next to you, along with a pair of chunky reading glasses. Eyes adjusting to soft light shining through the window, you finally see him. You freeze for a moment, heart rising to your throat as you examine him.
He looks… handsome, you think. You have never thought that about someone before, but as you observe how the orange glow of the dying day makes his skin appear almost golden, you decide that he certainly fits the criteria. He has a scar on the side of his face, a strong nose, a mustache that tickles his upper lip and whiskers smattered over his cheeks. His hair is slightly disheveled, graying curls tousled on his head as he slumps in the chair, his deep breaths fanning out over his crossed arms. Arms that threaten to burst out of the confines of the flannel he wears, muscles bulging under the fabric in a way that makes your throat dry and your heart beat a little harder.
You can smell him, his woodsy scent inviting you to relax but you fight against the pull of your instincts. You know that he is an alpha based on his size alone, you know that you are in the middle of nowhere, and you know the position you are in. Steeling yourself, you gently creep out of the bed and tiptoe to the bedroom door. Looking back once more at the gorgeous man, you ease the door open and slip out as quietly as possible.
Moving forward into the space, you find a well lived home. Shelves adorned with books and carvings someone had made, a couch that looks like it has seen better days supplemented with ratty throw pillows, even a guitar sits in the corner. You pause for a moment, unsure of what to do. Quite frankly, you had assumed that he was a part of a larger group of alphas and that you would have to make a mad dash for the front door to escape your fate. You had been warned about groups like those, but you breathe a sigh of relief as you only smell the sandalwood and bergamot that pours off of the stranger in the other room. Looking to the front door for a moment, you begin to weigh your options as a growl comes from your stomach and leaves you groaning. You need food and you need it now. Gliding as quietly as you can into the kitchen, you poke through a few cabinets before finding a hidden treasure.
“Bingo,” you whisper as your shaking hands pull the box of chocolates from behind bottles of pickled vegetables on the bottom shelf.
As you tear into the ancient box, drool threatening to slide out of your mouth with the prospect of sweets, you wonder if chocolate goes bad. Fuck it, you think, I’m gonna find out today aren’t I? Cramming the first piece of chocolate into your mouth, your eyes roll back into your head at the taste. It’s a little chalky with how old it is, but the taste is still the same and it makes you feel like you might cry for a second before you dig in again. You manage to finish most of the box before a voice makes you freeze in place and straightens your spine.
“Whatcha got there sweetheart?,” the voice drawls, a distinct southern twang making your palms sweat for some reason.
You turn cautiously, eyes rounding as you take in the man that had previously been sleeping in the chair, now suddenly right behind you. Asleep, he had seemed a lot more harmless. Awake, he was a wall of muscle that towered over you. His face was no longer softened with sleep, instead now he looked surly and mean. He looked like he could snap you in two without even breaking a sweat, and suddenly you felt nauseous.
As if he can sense the change in your demeanor he steps further back, his hands raised slightly and palms faced outward, “Hey, hey, woah there sweet pea. I ain’t gonna hurt ya. Relax, you’re okay, you’re safe. My name is Joel, what’s yours?”
Your knees wobble slightly as you look at him. “Joel,” you whisper quietly to yourself, almost like a prayer.
“That’s right darling, Joel,” he affirms cautiously, hanging back as he tries to gauge your response and failing. Joel tries to meet your eyes but you keep looking away.
You tell him your name while looking at the wall behind him, saying it so quietly that he almost misses it. You try and fail to stop yourself from crying but tears begin to wet your cheeks as you stand in front of the alpha. You feel like you’re waiting for a judge to hand you a death sentence. Joel moves towards you carefully, hands still up, as if he is one of those bad guys in the cop shows your dad used to watch. As if you are the detective and he’s the criminal about to turn himself in. It would have made you laugh if you weren’t so damn terrified. You expect him to grab you, to drag you down the hall as you kick and scream for him to stop. What you don’t expect is for him to stop in front of you and take off his flannel, holding it out for you to grab. You raise your eyebrows, finally meeting his eyes as you size him up. They are nice eyes, more expressive than you think he would like them to be. While his face seems to be stuck on a grimace, his eyes are brown and remind you of a puppy dog.
“It’s uh, well you don’t have to take it but I’ve heard it helps for omegas when they - I mean, shit honey, I don’t really know what I’m even talking about but uh... Just take the damn thing, would ya?,” Joel says, getting more impatient the longer he stands there holding the fabric out to you.
You step forward and snatch the flannel from his hands, scurrying back even further than before and knocking your backside against the drawers behind you. You look down at the worn green flannel, still warm from his body. Or maybe that was just the warmth you felt holding it, feeling calmness invade your senses with this gift. You lean forward, diving face first into the fabric and drawing long breaths in through your nostrils before putting it on to let the feeling surround you. It feels almost like he is surrounding you, like his big arms are holding you close to his chest, like he’s leaning down and brushing his lips against - STOP. Nope, not gonna do this, definitely not gonna do this now, definitely not going to have these kinds of thoughts around a literal STRANGER, you chastise yourself as you try to pull yourself out of lala land. Looking back up at Joel, he looks a little red in the face as he watches you. Was he… flustered? No, definitely not. He’s probably just uncomfortable with the strange woman nearly foaming at the mouth while snuffling at his sweaty shirt. He crosses his arms over his chest, burly arms now on full display with only a white t-shirt covering him. He cocks his hip, watching you watch him. You realize Joel is waiting for you to say something.
You don’t know why you say it. Maybe because you’re nervous and desperate to cut the tension in the room, but the first thing you manage to say to him clearly is, “I really like chocolate.”
A beat passes. Joel looks at the chocolate smudged on your face, then down at the nearly empty box, then back up at your face.
“I can see that,” he deadpans.
You fidget as you meet his eyeline, trying to discern whether he is angry with you or not. Instead of rage, all you see is curiosity, maybe even a hint of playfulness hidden somewhere in there as well.
“I’m sorry, I was so hungry and I know I shouldn’t steal. Father Josiah would have my head if he knew I had raided your cupboards sir but I haven’t eaten in so long and I -,” you babble until he cuts you off.
“I ain’t mad, keep the rest for all I care. Just don’t be eating all my peanuts, I traded good meat for those,” he says, brushing past you to root through the fridge.
You stand there frozen as you watch him begin to pull stuff out to cook, unsure of what to do with yourself. Do you just leave now? Does he want you to stay? Can you stay? Why is he not saying anything? What does he want from you? Feeling your discomfort, Joel turns back around. He looks at you with a gaze that feels almost reverent, a gaze that has you shifting all of your focus on him immediately.
Joel’s eyes brush over your features as he says, “I’m gonna say this one more time Omega, and I need you to listen this time. You. Are. Safe. We can talk after you’ve had a shower and something more than sugar in your belly, okay?.”
His voice is lower as he speaks, almost a growl, which sends tingles from your core that radiate out to your fingertips. Without even thinking about it, your shoulders relax and you’re nodding at him as he hums in approval.
“Good girl, now go get washed up. There’s soap and towels under the sink in my bathroom. I’ll leave some clothes out for ya on the bed. When you come out we’ll eat and figure this out darling. Don’t worry about nothing. Go on now, get,” Joel commands, turning back to cooking.
Good girl. Those two words hook into the depths of your chest and steer you back down the hall to fulfill the task he had set out for you. Stumbling out of the kitchen, you pause in the hall as you catch a glimpse of another door. Hesitantly, you reach out and grasp the handle before his words yank you back towards the ensuite bathroom.
Grabbing the soap underneath the counter and turning the shower handle, you’re pleasantly surprised to find warm water gracing your filthy hands. The camp you had lived in before didn’t even have warm water. Hell, even the QZ showers were freezing, but that was mainly because the warm water only ever graced the homes of those low enough to work for FEDRA. You don’t even remember the last time you felt warm water like this, but you think maybe it was before the outbreak. A distant memory rises from the depths of your mind of you splashing your father as he tries to get you out of the bath before bed, his laugh bouncing off the walls and frizzy hair weighed down with soapy water.
You use all your strength to push the memory of your dad away and step under the warm spray, sighing as you let the heat soothe your tender muscles. You stand there and try to forget again as other, less kind, memories threaten to come to the surface.
- Joel -
Joel uses all of his energy to focus on the task at hand, cutting the vegetable and slathering the meat with spices, throwing everything into a pan and boiling some rice in the pot beside it. Soon, the air is filled with the aroma of the makeshift stir fry he’s trying to create but it doesn’t make him feel any better. He feels crazy.
Why the hell did Joel give you his flannel? He doesn’t even know. It’s true that he had heard that the smell of an alpha could soothe a distressed omega, a faint recollection from a health class that he would have attended nearly 40 years ago. Still, he definitely didn’t think it through. That much was obvious as he stood there and watched you not only accept his gift, but cherish it so openly in front of him. Joel had to grit his teeth, jaw popping to keep the groan that was threatening to spill out of his mouth. His cock, long since forgotten between his legs, twitched awake in his pants and he wished the ground would swallow him whole. You had looked up at him so sweetly and Joel almost forgot how to breathe. But then, after adorably establishing the fact that you liked the chocolate you had been scarfing down, you began frantically apologizing.
Joel had to stop himself from bounding forward and grabbing your small face in his hands, from commanding you to stop apologizing, from imploring you to never apologize to him ever again for something so trivial. You could have all the chocolate you wanted, you could take everything he owned and then some, he didn’t care. Couldn’t you see that? Joel would happily pluck out his own eyes if that’s what you wanted, if it would make you content. He would - wait what? Fuck, he thought, no, no, no, what the hell is happening to me?
Somehow even more flustered than before, Joel had squared his jaw and commanded you to relax, to go wash up so that you two could talk. Once again, being the idiot he was, Joel had thought that that was a good decision. But as he watched your body relax in response to his words, and more importantly how you reacted when he let those two words slip from his lips, he wanted to find the nearest body of water and walk directly into it. Good girl?! Seriously dude? Come on, get it together.
You were so… jumpy. So much so that it made Joel’s blood itch as he pondered what had made you that way, WHO had made you that way. Nonetheless, you had been soothed by his scent, his command, his words. Now he was making you dinner, trying to pull recipes from far off memories so that you have the best meal possible with what little options he had. You needed real food, you deserved something delicious, he needed to provide that for you, it would make you happy, it would make you feel safe, he would keep you safe, he would - Joel groans as he stops that line of thinking before he gets too deep, before he thinks about how he could make you happy, before he thinks about how he could make you feel good, before he thinks about what you would taste like if he pulled your panties to the side and slid his mouth against your-
“FUCK,” Joel shouts as the water boils over and scalds his hand, pulling him from those thoughts. Serves him right, he thinks to himself as takes the pot off the burner and berrates himself for being such a perv.
Running a hand through his hair and willing the bulge in his jeans to go down, he tries to focus on other things as he strains the rice and leaves the rest to simmer. Moving into the bedroom, he hears the shower running. He can smell your scent mixing with the spiciness of his soap, and he tries to think of anything to keep himself from going insane. The time Tommy accidentally sacked him so hard that he almost threw up during a game of backyard football, the time he watched an eight year old Sarah fall out of a tree head first and thought he might die of a heart attack, the time he got stabbed in front of Ellie, the time he got grilled by Tommy’s terrifying wife after Salt Lake City, anything to keep you off his mind.
Relaxing slightly, Joel tears through the closet to find the clothes he had shoved behind the hangers four years prior. He didn’t think he’d ever need the women’s clothes he had found in the drawers that day, but now he’s grateful he did. Laying out some choices for you, he hears the water stop. Heart beating quicker now, Joel darts out of the bedroom as fast as he can, wanting to give you privacy but also wanting to save himself from a sight that he knew would bring him to his knees.
- You -
Feeling like a brand new person, you dry off before wrapping yourself in a dark towel. Stepping into the bedroom with steam billowing out from behind you, you find a small pile of women’s clothes on the bed. You’re surprised, a pinch of jealousy running through you for a moment before you tamp it down. You have to remind yourself that you have no claim over Joel.
Sifting through the pile, you land on a pair of soft black sweatpants, the side of one leg boasting some women’s volleyball team in thick red letters. After shucking them on, you pick through the shirts for a moment but none of them appeal to you. From the corner of your eye, you spy a hamper filled with unwashed clothes. Creeping up to it, you snatch a soft looking brown t-shirt from the top. Hesitating for a moment, you pull it on over your head. Joel wouldn’t mind, would he? He had been the one to give you that flannel, this isn’t really any different. Right? Shoving your feet into the thick gray socks Joel left for you, you step out into the hall.
The delicious smell of whatever Joel is cooking makes your stomach growl. You feel like one of those cartoon characters being lifted and carried over to a windowsill by the steam billowing off of a freshly baked pie. Turning into the kitchen, you find Joel putting the food into bowls and mumbling to himself.
“It smells good,” you say quietly, wanting to alert him of your presence but he seems unphased, like he already knew you were behind him.
Joel hums, grabbing the bowls and forks before turning towards you. A moment passes between you as he sees you in his shirt. You watch as pink forms on the highs of his cheekbones before splotching down the side of his neck. Is he mad? You almost offer to take it off. Joel swallows audibly before walking towards you.
He stops in front of you, managing to hold your eyes for a moment before he says, “Let’s sit down, ain’t good to eat standing up.”
Joel brushes past you, eliciting a gasp from you at the contact. You follow him but remain in the doorway, watching as he places bowls on opposite ends of the table. Joel looks back and cocks his head, gesturing for you to come sit before he turns and falls into his chair with a groan. You scurry over and sit, finally looking down at the mouthwatering food he prepared for you. You pause and look up, watching Joel as he shovels steaming spoonfuls into his mouth. You suddenly feel slightly overwhelmed. You haven’t been given a meal as good as this in ages. And the size of the portion, he gave you so much?! Surely this is a test of some sort, you didn’t deserve this much food, you were an omega.
Joel looks up, frowning at you before speaking through a mouthful of food, “What? You a vegetarian or something?”
“Veget- what? What’s that?,” you say back.
He huffs out a laugh, shaking his head, “Nevermind, do you not like stir fry? I didn’t really know what else to make but if you want, I can make you something else.”
You sit there confused. Do you not like stir fry? Well first of all, you had never had it so you didn’t even know. Secondly, what did he mean he would make you something else? You could just simply… opt out of eating what he cooked? That was an option? Looking back up at Joel, he looks bewildered as he watches you grapple with your own thoughts.
“ I-I mean, I think I like it. I don’t know, I’ve never had it,” you mumble, looking down as you begin pushing the food around with your fork.
“Then eat it?,” he says incredulously, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
You look him in the eyes, trying to see if he’s tricking you before you ask, “Do I get to eat all of it or will I get in trouble if I do?”
“Troub- what? What the hell are you talking about? I made that for you, you can eat some or all of it. Or fuck, I don’t know, eat none of it if that’s what you want. But ya gotta eat something other than candy or your belly is gonna be achin’ real soon darling,” Joel says, clearly baffled by your words and growing more impatient every second that you don’t eat.
You look down at the food again, sighing before you dig in. Joel watches as you moan around the first bites with a look in his eye that you can’t quite place, a look that makes you feel comforted even though you don’t fully understand it. Seemingly satisfied, he turns his attention back to his food and the two of you eat in silence.
The food is good, like really fucking good. Your mother had cooked, this is true, it was expected of her but she was never good at it. She boiled practically everything and what she didn’t boil, she would inevitably burn. Before the outbreak, you remember it was your father who had cooked all the family meals. You remember him playfully banishing her from touching anything in the kitchen ever again after she had started a small fire. After the outbreak the QZs only had rations, which didn’t really leave much room for culinary creativity.
Once Josiah came into your life your mother had taken up the task of homemaker, as that was the role he expected from her, but she never got any better at it despite the punishments she would get. The only time that you ever got to eat anything good was the rare occasions Josiah would bring candies for the pups, but you started getting left out of that the second that you reached puberty. Besides that, you remember that Miriam would sometimes sneak you pieces of sweet bread that she told you was called babka. You remember her bringing it to you after you had told her a little bit more about your dad. Miriam made you promise you wouldn’t tell anyone that she made it for you, especially not your stepfather, but you never understood why. Now you sat, eating the delicious food Joel made for you, and you wished you could repay the favor to her.
Once you were done Joel collected your plates, shooting you a stern look when you tried to help him before ushering you into the living room. You perched on the far end of the couch while he dropped down on the other end, the springs groaning from the weight of him.
“Okay,” Joel sighs before beginning, “Clearly, you’re a little bit lost. Well… I would say actually very lost because there ain’t a road in sight for damn near 30 miles, but that’s besides the point. You’re in a rough spot is what I’m trying to say, and I wanna help ya out but I need to know a bit more about you. Now, you can spare me the details, I just need to know who to take ya to.”
A beat passes before you say, “There’s… there’s no one.”
“What do you mean there’s no one? Where’s your group?”
You sigh, looking towards the wood carving of a man riding a horse on the bookshelf for a moment before you continue, “ I had a group… We had a leader, my stepdad, he… anyways, we were safe for a while, a really long time actually, but then a swarm of infected came from nowhere and we couldn’t fight them off. I left with a few people and we moved around for about a year before we stopped for gas in a town somewhere that way.”
Joel nods as you point vaguely in the direction you think it might be in, “Yeah, I know that little strip. The one with just a few shops and a gas station? Reckon it used to be a stop for truckers back in the day.”
You nod, hugging your knees to your chest with the tears starting to fall, “We weren’t there for very long but th-those things, they just came out of nowhere and then it was just me and R - … she told me to run so I did. By the time I stopped, I was lost. I didn’t know where to go so I just kept walking. I’d stop for a while but then I’d get scared and keep going. I ran out of food and then water. I thought I was going to d-die but then I heard the river. I was so happy but I p-passed out before I could make it.”
The real tears come now, violent sobs beginning to wrack your body. You had been so tired for so long, battling the elements and trying to stay alive. Fuck, even before the camp had been destroyed, you had been fighting. You choke on your tears, almost gagging at the desperation that feels like it’s clogging the valves of your heart. Suddenly, you’re lifted up and your eyes shoot open as Joel manhandles you onto his lap.
“Hush now sweet pea, s’all right. You’re okay, just breathe,” he murmurs, a large hand pushing the back of your head gently so that your face rests in the junction between his neck and shoulder.
Joel’s other hand comes up to draw circles on your back as you straddle him, feeling the heat of his chest against yours. You sit there frozen, unsure of what to do. What the hell is going on? You’ve never been in a position like this with an alpha before.
“I said, breathe, omega. Do it,” he says into your ear, his words somewhere between a command and a plea.
And so you do, a whine making its way out of your mouth before you even know it’s coming. Normally you’d be embarrassed, but Joel only makes a sympathetic noise and continues to rub your back with one hand while the other scratches at your scalp. You nose at the gland on his neck, drawing a soft growl from him but he doesn’t move to stop you. The smell coming from his neck is so him, so Joel, and you want to figure out a way to bottle it so that you can keep it forever. Slowly your body sags against him as the panic ebbs away. You worry vaguely about being a dead weight on top of him but he doesn’t seem to notice or care.
Gently, Joel pulls your head back, keeping his fingers in your hair as he eyes you. You look back at him with heavy lids, not scared of making direct eye contact with him at this moment for some reason. He removes his hand from your scalp, only to push a few strands behind your ear while his other hand continues to rub your back.
“Pretty girl,” he says quietly as he studies you.
You don’t think Joel even knows that he said it as he continues to dote on you for a moment. Meeting your gaze once more, he sighs and drops his hand away from your face. The other hand on your back stops rubbing circles, but remains there unmoving.
“Better?,” Joel questions, to which you nod, “Good. Now listen sweet pea, I ain’t gonna take you someplace you don’t wanna go but you don’t have a lot of options. My brother, Tommy, he’s a bit of an asshole but a good man. His mate, Maria, she’s the toughest beta I ever met. Scares the fuck out of me actually but don’t say nothing if you ever meet her.”
You giggle, which seems to please him before he continues, “They’ve got a place, Jackson it’s called, a community. It’s real secure, with loads of people and food. I could take you there and I’m sure they’d love to have ya. You’d have everything you need with them.”
You wait for him to continue, wondering when the other shoe will drop but Joel doesn’t say anything else. He just sits there looking at you.
“And?,” you prod, wondering what the catch was.
Joel clears his throat, shifting uncomfortably underneath you before he says, “The thing is darling, winter is about to hit. I’d bring ya there tomorrow if I could but I can’t - I wouldn’t want you out there when it gets real bad, you’d freeze.”
You nod again, raising an eyebrow at him, urging him to continue.
So he does, “I can bring you to Jackson darling, I think that’s your best option, but I can’t bring you there until the end of April. That’s when me and Tommy should be meeting up. I know that you probably don’t want to be stuck out here with an old man like me, I’m not saying that ya have to but I don’t know what else I can - OOF.”
You cut Joel off by launching yourself at him, practically suffocating him as you hug him tightly. He pauses before returning the hug awkwardly, despite the intimate embrace that you two had shared just moments before.
“Thank you Joel,” you whisper into his ear, eliciting a shiver from him.
Joel swallows, nodding before moving you off of him, ignoring your whines as he places you beside him on the couch. He is red in the face when he looks at you, biting his lip as he eyes the shirt that covers you - his shirt.
“Ain’t nothing. Now look, the bed in there can be yours. I’ll stay out here to give ya some space. You can do whatcha like while you’re here. The only thing I ask is don’t go too far, there’s bears in these woods, and don’t go into the room at the end of the hall. Got it?,” he asks.
Curiosity almost makes you question him but you decide against looking the gift horse in the mouth for now. Putting your questions aside for another day, you nod.
“Good girl,” he says, pausing for a second while heat rises to his cheeks once more.
Joel looks out the now blackened window, clearing his throat before looking back at you, “It’s getting late darling and you’ve had a long day. Might wanna head to bed, I’ll be out here if you need anything.”
As much as you want to stay up to soak in Joel’s presence just a little bit longer, you know that he’s right. Exhaustion pulls at your eyelids and injects lead into your limbs. Yawning, you nod and bid him goodnight. Trudging into the bedroom, you flop down on the bed, welcomed by the Joel scented sheets underneath you. Breathing in deeply, you drift off before you have time to even pull the covers up around you.
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