#so i read making money first and then went to the public library to read going postal and there was no hope of salvation after that

[benevolenterrancy]

@nekosammsi he chose the wrong place to get stage dressings

[dwobbitfromtheshire]

Eddie decided to pull out all the stops to ask Steve out. He borrowed heavily from the Labyrinth, including making himself an outfit and affectionately 'kidnapping' Dustin with a scavenger hunt for Steve to follow. . .

"I'm not doing it, Robin," Steve said, slouching back against his couch and crossing his arms. "I'm not playing his games. If he wants to ask me out, he can come to me."

"Yeah, sure, but what about Dustin?" Robin asked.

"Eddie's not going to hurt him," Steve rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, but he might pump him full of sugar," Robin pointed out.

"Goddamnit. . .okay, show me the first clue," Steve said, and Robin handed it to him.

"Green, green envelopes the man and hugs him tight as much as I wish I can. Given to him by the pox ridden sloth who despises him unjustly, this is the place with the boxes full of visions and where the man made of stars is wrongfully imprisoned. . .a prison I fight every day to free him from. . .my next note lies where the sloth never looks. . .," Robin read. "He's certainly theatrical."

"I know," Steve said, smiling and biting his lip. "Family Video!"

"I'm sure that Keith would appreciate being called a pox ridden sloth," Robin said. "Alright, let's go."

"You're coming with?" He asked.

"Vickie's out of town. There's nothing on TV. . .entertain me, peasant!" Robin exclaimed.

"You and Eddie. . .both theatrical," Steve said.

"Says the drama queen himself," Robin replied. "After you, your bitchiness."

Steve and Robin went to Family Video. They went in, brushing by a disgruntled looking Keith arguing with a customer, and went straight for their hidden candy stash in the storage closet. Tucked under the box was another clue. They took the clue and walked out, quickly moving past Keith getting put in a headlock by a small elderly woman. They opened the clue in the car.

"This is the spot where I turned you away. Regretfully, I did, not knowing of the magic you buried deep inside. Sent by the enemy, I thought you were. . .oh, if I could turn back the hands of time and awaken the fool that I was, trapped in the grave of my own making. . .if I had said yes, then. . .awaiting in the stacks is my eternal regret and the very next clue. . .," Robin read. "Okay, what the hell is he talking about?"

"Hawkins' Public Library," Steve muttered, blushing.

"I feel like I'm missing some critical information here, Steven," Robin said.

"Uh, freshman year, I wanted to do something different. . .you know, in addition to basketball and the swim team. I thought Hellfire sounded like fun, but when I approached Eddie in the library. . .," he trailed off.

"He thought you were fucking with him," she realized.

"Yeah, he said that me and my stupid hair have better things to do than to fuck with him, like beg Daddy for money," Steve said.

"Jesus," Robin said and paused. "I'm starting to think that maybe it's not just asshole jocks who are judgemental. I mean, now that I'm thinking about it. . .how could you possibly know everyone in the school. . .how can I call you asshole for that, especially when I made myself unapproachable? I made a snap judgment."

"Everyone does, Robin," Steve said. "You decided not to stick to it. Some people aren't smart enough to do that."

Robin beamed at him and squished his cheeks before placing a kiss on his nose.

"My dingus," she whispered.

"My Robin," he smiled.

"Let's go get your fool of a man," Robin said.

Steve and Robin went to the library and walked in, awkwardly waving at the librarian who had a one night stand with Hopper. They quickly scurried past.

"We don't know for sure that actually happened, Robin," Steve whispered.

"According to Erica, Hopper was a bit of. . .," Robin whispered.

"Making snap judgments again, Robin," Steve teased.

"So, I don't suppose you remember which aisle he rejected you in, do you?" Robin asked.

"I actually do," he blushed. "It's right over here. . ."

"Oh my god! The romance section?!" Robin giggled. "Oh, it was definitely meant to be."

"Look, here it is," Steve said and grabbed it before handing it to Robin.

They quickly moved out of the library and back into Steve’s car.

"Beauty within and beauty without, he makes this games appealing to me. A warrior, glistening and shining like the stars he's made of. . .the cloth he wears hides almost nothing. . .this place he fights and plays to win but also for the love of the people. . .my heart, it's him, the gladiator that he is, and this is his arena, where the next clue awaits. . . Does my dear sweet gladiator fight his fate?" Robin read.

"The basketball court," Steve said, snapping his fingers.

When they showed up to the entrance to the gym, it was blocked by Jeff and Doug. They were sitting in chairs, reading. When they caught sight of Steve, they tossed their books aside and quickly stood up.

"Finally!" Doug exclaimed.

"Well, I wasn't going to play along, but I got curious," Steve said.

"I told you," Doug said to Jeff, who rolled his eyes. "Why isn't Gareth doing this?"

"Because he's hanging out with Will again," Jeff said and nudged him in the side. "Come on, man, play along."

"Fine."

"Oh, sweet Steve, you have arrived, and now you have a choice to make, this door of mine or this door of his?" Jeff asked.

"One door leads to your utter doom," Doug said.

"And the other leads to your destiny," Jeff said.

"Trick question," Steve said before they could finish, his hands on his hips. "Both doors. He's both my destiny and my doom."

Jeff and Doug bowed low before stepping aside. As Steve and Robin went inside, they heard them whisper.

"Dustin wasn't kidding. Steve really is a genius at figuring out Eddie's next move," Doug said.

"Yeah," Jeff said. "It just means it's true love. . .that's also why Steve doesn't play D&D. He tends to call Eddie out on it."

Steve and Robin moved further into the gym. In the middle, there was a long plastic table. On it was a pink dress, much like Sarah's dress from Labyrinth except that it wasn't quite so big. It looked handmade, so whoever made it worked with what they had, and Steve thought they did a wonderful job. Anyone else would look down on it, but Steve could see the love and the care that went into it. To Steve, it was perfect. Pink, Steve thought, one of his favorite colors.

"Ooh, there's a note. . .oh, thank God, I don't have to put it on," Robin said and pressed it into Steve’s hand.

"My dear sweet gladiator, in order to prepare for battle, one must wear armor. You are in your arena. . .meet me in mine," Steve said, and he smiled. "Oh my god, what a fucking dork."

"There's a bag under the table," Robin said.

Steve pulled it out and unzipped it. Inside was a pair of heals, makeup. . . And his bat!

"Hey! I was wondering where that went," Steve said.

"You know you don't have to wear any of this," she said in amusement.

"Please, Robin," Steve scoffed. "You know I'm going to."

He stripped down in the middle of the gym, replacing his clothes with the other garments. He eagerly put on the makeup Eddie provided and then slid on the heals. He didn't need any help walking in them.

"This isn't your first time wearing a dress or heals is it?" Robin asked.

"Of course not," Steve said.

"Like I should automatically know this about you when you haven't told me?" Robin asked.

"I have a couple in my closet," he said.

"I thought those were trophies," she said.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Steve asked. "I just like dressing up sometimes. . .my dad never let me join theater."

"Do you feel like a woman sometimes?" She asked.

"Sometimes. . .but other times, I feel like a man like even when I'm wearing pants or dresses," Steve said, and then his eyes widened. "Hold on. . .are you saying like I'm bisexual. . .I could be bi. . .gender?"

"Yeah, I guess, if that's what feels right to you," Robin grinned.

"Awesome," Steve beamed, and she grabbed the bat from Robin.

"Nothing like a pretty girl who could also kill you. . .and I still mean that platonically," Robin said. "By the way, that's faster than when you realized you're bisexual."

"I'm learning," she replied.

"So, not only was this a road to love, it was also a road to self-discovery while I, Robin Buckley, also continue to learn more about my platonic soulmate - ,"

"Robin, stop narrating, and let's get to the drama room!" Steve yelled.

As they moved down the hallway, they ran into Jonathan and Nancy.

"What are you doing here?" Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, and Robin asked at the same time.

"I asked you first," they said again.

"They found my favorite sweater in the journalism classroom," Nancy said.

"And then we can say we're done with this school for good," Jonathan said. "More importantly, what are you doing?"

"Oh, Eddie kidnapped Dustin. I'm rescuing him," Steve replied.

"I have more questions," Jonathan said. "Why are you wearing a dress?"

"You've never seen him in a dress?" Nancy asked.

"No, have you?" Jonathan asked.

"Yeah, tons of times," Nancy said and then turned to Steve. "Your boobs look fantastic in that dress."

"Don't they?" Steve agreed, scrunching up her nose. "Eddie made the dress. . .Robin!"

Steve gasped as her hands disappeared into the dress.

"What?" Robin asked.

"They have pockets!" Steve squealed and twirled around.

"We'll let you get back to it, I guess. Good luck rescuing Dustin," Jonathan said.

"Thanks," Steve beamed.

Steve ran past them, pulling up the dress of her skirt so she could run better.

"Jesus, you can run in those heels?!" Robin shrieked. "How?!"

Steve ignored her and continued on to the drama room. She burst into the room, her heart pounding with adrenaline. It was completely dark. Steve jumped when music started playing, and a spotlight flickered on. The light was over Eddie's old throne, the throne that now belonged to Dustin. Eddie was sprawled out on it, one leg over the arm of the chair. He was wearing skin-tight leather black pants and a gray vest. His hair was even wilder than usual, and he wore eyeliner that made his eyes pop. Steve bit her lip. God, she wanted to fuck him right there in the chair. If only Robin and Dustin weren't there. Oh, right, Dustin. He was sitting in a plastic chair, reading, and drinking Yoo-hoo. He was also wearing stripped pajamas, almost similar to the ones the baby wore in the movie. Boy, Eddie really was going all out with this.

"My dear sweet gladiator, you made it to the final act," Eddie said, standing. "Are you ready to face your final test?"

"Depends on what the test is, my little hairy butt," Steve said, her hands on her hip.

"It's supposed to be a cute nickname!" Eddie shrieked.

"Wait, does Eddie really have a hairy - "

"You're supposed to be kidnapped, Henderson!"

"Right."

Eddie grinned and moved closer to Steve. He held out his hand.

"A fight. . .to the death," Eddie said.

Steve grinned and took his hand. Eddie pulled him into his arms, his other arm wrapping around her waist. Steve heard the music stop and then someone changing the tapes. As the World Falls Down by David Bowie started playing.

"This feels a lot like dancing," Steve teased, and Eddie shushed her.

"There's such a sad love. . .Deep in your eyes a kind of pale jewel. . .Open and closed. . .Within your eyes. . .I'll place the sky. . .Within your eyes. . .There's such a fooled heart. . .Beatin' so fast. . .In search of new dreams. . .A love that will last. . .Within your heart. . .I'll place the moon. . .Within your heart," Eddie sang.

"This is nice," Steve whispered and pressed her cheek to his as they slow danced.

"Do you feel properly seduced?" Eddie asked.

"Absolutely taken," Steve giggled. "So why Labyrinth. . .I know how much you love it, but. . .I feel like there's more to it."

"When we went to go see it together, it was just us. . .no kids, no Robin, no exes. . .," Eddie said and paused. "I realized that it felt like a date, and I wanted it to be, I wished so badly that it was."

"So. . .you want things to change?" Steve asked.

"Yeah," he said.

"No more casual sex?"

"No more casual sex. . .I just wanted to prove to you how much you mean to me," Eddie said. ". . .how much I want you."

"Proven," Steve said and paused. "How much would it mean to you if I told you that sometimes I'm a woman?"

"What?" Eddie asked.

"I like wearing dresses and make up, I feel like a woman, but even when I'm wearing what's considered man clothes, I feel like a woman, just like sometimes when I wear skirts or dresses, I feel like a man who likes go wear dresses. . .so it's not the clothes that make me feel this way but it's an added bonus," Steve said. "With Robin's help and yours with the dress, I realized that I might be, I don't know if that's the word, but. . bigender?"

"I never knew you liked dresses," he said softly.

"Skirts, too, I never told Robin either," Steve said.

"Just when I thought you couldn't make me more in awe of you. . .you did it, babe. So fucking metal," Eddie whispered and she laughed.

"So, would you gladly call me your girlfriend right now?" Steve asked.

"Fuck yeah," Eddie sighed.

Eddie spun Steve around in and dipped her before kissing her deeply. Steve sighed against his lips, her fingers curling into his hair. They broke apart when Robin cleared her throat, and they turned around. She was flipping through Dustin's book as she sat next to him while Dustin snoozed on her shoulder.

"The baby's finished his bottle, and now he's down for a nap. . .if you want any more of my services, I charge by the minute," Robin said. "I add on extra if you want me to get him out of here so he doesn't have to hear mummy and daddy fornicate."

"How much sugar did you give him, Eddie?" Steve asked, frowning.

"Not much," Eddie shrugged.

"He's in a sugar coma, Edward," Robin said.

"You love me, right?" Eddie asked Steve as he smiled innocently.

"Yeah. . .as long as you explain this to Claudia," Steve scoffed, and her face softened. "This was amazing, Eddie. I loved it. I love you. . .I fucking love the dress. . .God, I want to blow you so hard for adding the pockets."

"Gah! Take me home!" Robin yelled and then smiled softly at them. "Happy for you two dinguses but I don't want to witness anything."

"We should get the kid to Claudia, anyway," Eddie grinned.

Steve smiled as she walked out of the school with her best friend, the boy she thought of like a brother, and her new boyfriend. This was the best day ever, and she was glad that she had decided to do this. . .she also loved how many people were willing to help out. . .hold on, were Jonathan and Nancy here for her sweater?

"Oh, hey, look! It's Hop!" Dustin exclaimed.

Sure enough, Hopper's police car was in the parking lot. . .curious, they met him halfway.

"Well, we got reports that Dustin was kidnapped," Hopper said, squinting his eyes at them. "I'm guessing that's not the case."

"Nope!" Dustin exclaimed.

"Goddamnit. . ."

Steve shared a grin with Eddie. They were definitely having a better do than he was. Steve gripped the bat in her hand, ready to face whatever came their way.

"Shit," Eddie muttered. "I knew I forgot to tell someone about the plan. . ."

[daisynik7]

Hi are you still doing song requests? If so can you do Make You Feel My Love by Adele for Toji? 🥹 please and thank you ☺️

Make You Feel My Love

Part Two to Photograph

Pairing: Toji Fushiguro x f!reader

Word Count: ~2.3k

cw: fluff, explicit language, basically all fluff lol

Summary: Toji Fushiguro is nothing like his previous self. He’s become hardened, almost completely desensitized through the years, being used and abused by his own family, the Zenin clan. After the loss of his first wife, Toji takes his son and decides to finally run away to the only place where he can feel like his true self again: home. There, he reunites with a familiar face. 

Author’s Notes: Thank you for this request for the y2k karaoke party! I thought it’d be perfect as a continuation to this story. I hope you enjoy! Thank you for reading. Divider credits to @/cafekitsune.

“Zenin?”

Your voice is soft, almost breathless, when you utter his name as he stands between the door frame of your classroom, hands in his pockets, a shy expression on his face. “Uh, yeah. It’s me. I go by Fushiguro now.” 

You look between him and Megumi, spotting the similarities instantly. The jet-black hair, the same-colored eyes, almost identical facial structure. A spitting image of his father, who stands before you, much bigger than when you last saw him, but certainly the same boy who’s grown into a man. There isn’t time to catch up as your students file in, greeting their new classmate politely at his desk. Toji clears his throat, stepping aside to make room for the kids to walk in. “I’ll be back later to pick up the kid, if you want to catch up.”

The kid. You hide your giggles, pleased to hear that he still sounds like the same Toji you knew many years ago. His eyes light up at your laughter; he doesn’t remember the last time he heard a genuine one like yours. Sweet, pure, and music to his ears. 

The bell rings, and that’s his cue to leave. There isn’t much to do throughout the day, considering he is now unemployed. He’s tempted to resort to old habits and head to the racetrack to gamble on horses, but instead, he goes to the public library to use a computer, searching for job openings around the area. The day passes quickly and it’s time for him to pick up Megumi. He waits outside, watching as all the other children run towards their parents, most of whom eye him with wary expressions. He’s gotten used to lingering glances like this, aware of his intimidating presence. It doesn’t bother him anymore; he’s used to being seen as some sort of monster. And with what he’s done during his life as a Zenin, maybe he is. 

Megumi is the last outside, hand-in-hand with you, his teacher. You both give him a wave, your eyes twinkling with kindness and a bright smile. You’re the only one who looks at Toji like this. The only one who sees him as human. When you approach him, he places his hand on Megumi’s head, ruffling his hair. “How was it?” 

His son grins, giving his father a thumbs up. 

“You made some new friends, right Megumi?” you say, squeezing his hand. “What are their names?”

In his squeaky voice, he replies, “Yuji and Nobara.”

Toji smirks. “Friends already? That’s great, bud. I knew you’d like it here.” 

Megumi lets go of you, holding onto his dad’s wrist. “Yuji said he’s getting ice cream down the street with his grandpa. Can we go too?”

“Of course,” Toji responds. He looks to you, tipping his head to the side. “Want to join us?”

~~~

You’re sitting in a booth across from the Fushiguros, who share the biggest chocolate fudge sundae they could order off the menu. Eventually, Megumi spots his new pink-haired friend and asks if they can play at the mini arcade together in the back of the shop, to which Toji agrees, passing him money. Now, you’re alone with him, hundreds of questions you want to ask, but are too nervous to. You sip on your milkshake, unsure where to begin. 

Fortunately, he speaks first. “Did you stay in Tokyo this entire time?” 

You shake your head. “I went to university overseas, then I moved back.”

“Overseas, huh? Sounds fun,” he muses, scooping a big bite into his mouth. 

“How about you? Where did you go?” The last memory you have of him is the distraught look on his face, after you shared a kiss together. The next day, he was gone. 

He licks the back of his spoon, collecting all the chocolate off. “Here and there. But mostly there.”

“You were still in Tokyo?” You try not to sound outraged. Deep down, you’re hurt by the way the two of you parted. And if he was truly here all along, you’re even more upset, knowing he had all this time to apologize. Years and years, you wondered if all the little moments you shared together were just that, or something more. Even now, finally meeting him in the flesh, you’re uncertain where you stand with him. 

He senses your uneasiness, sitting up straight to explain. “The Zenins relocated to a more remote location up in the mountains in order to carry out their dirty deeds. I dropped out of school and started working full time as their lackey. I was often sent to Tokyo for duties.” He spreads his fingers, presenting his hands towards you, calloused and scarred from overwork and guilt. “I’ve done things that I am not proud of. Hurt people that didn’t deserve it. I didn’t want to do it, but at the time, I had no other choice.”

You listen to him intently, sipping on your milkshake slowly, giving him your undivided attention as he continues his story. 

“Me and Megumi’s mom had an arranged marriage. The Zenins wanted me to produce an heir once my father’s health started to decline. She was a kind woman, the closest thing I had to an escape. But still, the both of us were trapped. It didn’t matter that we had each other; we were both under the wills of our families.”

“After a few months of trying, she got pregnant. Our lives felt normal during this time. Like we were a regular family. Me, her, Megumi in her belly. My father left us alone. He wanted to make sure I was taking good care of her so that our son would come out strong and healthy. And he did. He was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” 

Toji takes a deep breath, the both of you anticipating this next part. “It was a home birth, per my father’s request. I should have said something from the start, but I didn’t think anything would go wrong. After Megumi was delivered, the bleeding wouldn’t stop.” He swallows hard, throat tight with emotion. “And by the time the ambulance arrived, she was gone.”

He avoids your gaze, staring hard at the metal container filled with napkins on the side of the table. You’re tempted to reach for his hand, to offer comfort, but you decide against it, deeming it inappropriate. 

“My family couldn’t care less. All that mattered to them is that they had their new heir. They didn’t even cry when she passed away.” His jaw is clenched tight, hands in fists, trembling against the table’s surface. “Heartless bastards, all of them. I should have left with Megumi then, but I didn’t. I was a fucking coward, too scared to face the world alone. And with a little baby at that.”

“Why did you decide to finally leave?” you ask.

“They were going to start training Megumi how to fight. He’s only five-years-old, for fuck’s sake. He’s the gentlest, sweetest kid, and they want him to become like me. I didn’t want that. I don’t want Megumi to have the life I did, not if I can help it.” He unclenches his fists, relaxing into his seat, spooning whatever melted ice cream remains into his mouth. 

You lean forward, resting your elbows on the table. “Why did you decide to come back here?”

He doesn’t respond right away, pretending to be preoccupied with the swirly mess of sweet cream in front of him. He contemplates how best to explain himself. If he admits the truth, it may come off too strong. The reason he’s returned home is because of you. The photo of you and him smiling on the beach a decade ago is in his pocket, wrinkled and faded from years of yearning. He had dreamt of this day ever since he left, hoping the next time you reunite, he’ll be free of the Zenin name. Free to do as he pleases, free to love who he wants. And now that day has come, he’s just as nervous as he expected he'd be. 

Not wanting to make a fool of himself, he says, “I know this area well. Figured it’d be a good place for us to start fresh.” 

You smile at him. “If you and Megumi ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’d like to help you in any way I can.”

“Megumi is a good kid. Quiet, but good. He doesn’t give me any trouble, so he makes it easy.”

“So nothing like his father, then?” you tease, raising a brow at him.

He chuckles. “Like I said, I’ll make sure of that.”

You reach for him, resting your hand on top of his. “You’re not all bad. You’re pretty great, remember?”

Instantly, you’re taken back ten years ago, moments before that kiss. Electricity sparks between you; his hand shifts beneath yours, his palm turned up now, fingertips brushing lightly against the delicate skin of your wrist. He gazes at you, smiling. The prominent scar across his lips more titillating than it’s ever been before. “Yeah, I remember.”

Before either of you can do anything more, Megumi returns to the table, head drenched in sweat, breathing heavily. He grabs the water cup on the table, chugging it aggressively, wiping his mouth with the hem of his t-shirt, fresh from a rousing game of Dance Dance Revolution against his new best friend.

~~~

Toji picks up Megumi every single day after school. He’s adamant about it, claiming it’s important for him to spend as much time with his son as possible, something he never experienced growing up. He accepts a job in construction, working early morning shifts in order to be outside the school steps promptly. 

A few nights a week, he invites you to their apartment for dinner, where you help him cook simple recipes like fried rice or noodles, even little treats like rice balls for Megumi’s school snack. This Thursday night, you stay until bedtime, watching from the doorway as Toji tucks in his son, a small grin on his face, studying the way his eyelashes flutter into a deep slumber. Sound asleep, he sneaks out, closing the door quietly.

You check the time on your phone, disappointed that it’s getting late. “I should head home.”

He walks you to the exit. “Megumi is going to Yuji’s house for a sleepover tomorrow night.”

So far, Toji has kept his distance from you, though you’ve notice subtle glances here and there. You haven’t exactly been forward yourself, too nervous to make the first move or misunderstand what could be friendship and nothing more. Toji feels the same way, unsure if his feelings are reciprocated or if you’re simply this nice of a person. Hopefully, it’s both.  

Your heart beats faster, not sure what you’re supposed to do with this information, waiting for him to elaborate. He clears his throat. “I want to take you out to dinner, to thank you for all that you’ve done for us.”

“You really don’t have to.”

“I want to,” he insists, smiling. 

The following night, he arrives at your house, dressed in a flattering button-up and slacks, greeting your parents formally for the first time in over a decade. They remember him fondly, excited to see him all grown-up. He takes you to a restaurant downtown, ordering the most popular items on the menu to share between you, enjoying each other’s company as you always do. After dessert, he invites you to his house for a nightcap, and you’re a little too keen when you agree. While you wait for the water to boil in the tea kettle, you sit beside him on the couch, looking through pictures of him and Megumi on his phone. 

“We went to the beach the first weekend we moved in,” he says, showing a selfie of the two of them sitting on the sand. 

You nudge him in the arm with your elbow. “Remember that school project?”

He grins, leaning into you. “How could I forget?” He glances at your lips, then into your eyes, inching even closer. You gravitate towards him, holding your breath, ready to kiss. Then, the tea kettle whistles, ruining the moment. 

Chuckling, he stands up to remove it from the stove. You sit back into the couch, sighing, body tingling and flustered. He returns shortly with a hot mug of tea in his hands, setting it on the coffee table. “You should let it cool. It’s too hot right now.” He sinks into the cushion beside you, knee brushing yours. 

“Did you like me back? When we first kissed?” It’s one of the many questions still unanswered, and you decide that now is the best time to find out the truth. 

He smiles, grasping your hand gently. “Yes.”

You lock your fingers with his, filling in the spaces seamlessly. “Then why did you lie to me?”

“I didn’t think it’d be safe for you to be associated with me. Not while I was still a Zenin.” He pulls you forward, wrapping your arms around his broad shoulders, noses nearly touching now. 

“And where’s the picture of us?” you whisper, nuzzling your nose to his, wanting so badly to close the distance. 

“I took it. I’ve had it this whole time,” he admits, brushing his lips to yours. You kiss him fully, his grip around your waist, no signs of letting you go anytime soon. You make love to each other right there on his couch, your hot tea forgotten on the coffee table, cold by the time you remember it the next morning. 

For the first time in his life, Toji doesn’t feel dangerous. He doesn’t feel like a monster or a threat. As he marvels at your peaceful form cradled delicately in his arms, Toji Fushiguro feels normal. He feels loved.

[jinisnuggets]

✧ ˚ · . ɢɨʀʟ ʏօʊ'ʀɛ ֆօ ʄɨʀɛ

PAIRINGS | Model! Mafia! Member Junkyu x Model! Fem! Reader

GENRE | Suspense, Mafia Au, MILDLY Suggestive (mdni)

WORD COUNT | 1.3k

SYNOPSIS | Kim Junkyu lives a life of luxury, being a famous model with millions of fans, but maybe that is only the side the screens show…

WARNINGS | Small hints of murder, strong(ish) mafia themes, Junkyu is a little bit of a brat, manipulation topics, swear words, overall it's kinda wholesome.

NETWORK(S) | @starlit-network @k-library @blossomnet

A/N | HI! This fic is mainly in Junkyu's point of view because I wanted to try a new format of writing, overall, I hope you enjoy reading and I am very sorry and not uploading ;)... I've been a little inactive lately, but I'm going to try to comeback. Yes, I will be continuing my series (atz yh) but keep in mind that I only posted the first chapter to see how it went, not to continue it for the moment, so yes I'll continue writing it and will post the remaining chapters when they're ready :)!

“If you expect that raise, then you best bring me the best information you can find,” he demanded.

Junkyu sighed, placing his hands behind his back as a form of respect.

“I'm already one of the biggest celebrities in Seoul; I'm sure however much money it'll be I wouldn't need it.…” he muttered, watching his boss turn around as he lowered himself.

Sometimes he couldn't hold back his form of speech.

“It'll be lots of money, so I recommend reconsidering those words.” He scolded, figuring Junkyu wouldn't pay much more of his attention as he simply nodded and made his way back towards the door, bowing on his way out.

He exited through the back, entering the vehicle through the Limo’s door as his bodyguard drove away.

Though he was still processing his bosses words, he couldn't help but recall them so vividly every time they recurred in his mind.

The more he thought the more he noticed that everything he did for the organization was practically useless, but what more could he expect from being a member of a mafia.

He'd done countless of unexplainable things, but it was all for a good cause, and that was something others couldn't understand.

Maybe if he had just quit the moment he began his career as a model, it would all be normal. But then again, maybe it was simply the fear of stalkers finding out that secret that had been long buried, exposing him to the public for millions of people to misunderstand; or possibly it was the thought of them blackmailing him with it.

He preferred not to think about it.

The car’s door opened as he was greeted by screaming crowds and millions of paparazzis speaking over each other and invading personal space as they pushed their mics up to his face.

Politely, he declined the interview attempts and chuckled while making his way inside the modeling agency.

“Look who's here.” A female voice teased from ahead as he waved goodbye to the fans positioned outside.

He smirked in a teasing manner, deciding to add more fuel to the fire by approaching her with that same mocking demeanor.

“I wasn't expecting to see you here my lady.” He finally spoke, beginning to walk in the direction of his stylists room.

“There was a change of plans.” She shrugged.

He nodded in understanding; a sense of satisfaction washing over him as she wasn't known for frequent schedules. Encountering her brought him some sense of genuine joy.

“L/n Y/n!” A voice echoed from the distance causing her to glance back towards the source of her name. There stood her manager, a considerable distance away with a puzzled expression.

Finally, he began walking up to her, politely greeting the familiar face which had been all over recent magazines and TV commercials.

“What are you doing? Your turn is coming up." he asked, prompting her to nod in acknowledgment as she looked back at her friend.

“I need to head out, my shoot is up soon.” She chuckled, and he nodded, observing her walk away peacefully with her manager into her stylists room.

He turned around, not needing to turn his head to become aware of the coming presence.

“Junkyu.” A voice lingered in the air. Junkyu turned his head and there stood the person he had mostly anticipated.

Park Jihoon, a model from a big agency with a huge fanbase. Not only that but he also seemed to release banger music.

Jihoon also happened to be one of the main sources to the mafia's disposal. There was nothing he wasn't good at.

“Did they give you your next investigation to carry out?” He questioned, a look of prolepsis crossing his eyes as the words exited his mouth, almost as if he knew what was coming.

“L/n Y/n is a girl who keeps many dark secrets, one being her history with her parents. I need you to collect as much as you can about her and her family history due to this being a case of importance.”

“L/n Y/n and her family history.” He muttered to which Jihoon sighed.

“I asked them to give it to someone else, guess they never listened to me.” He chuckled awkwardly, causing Junkyu to glance back at him in confusion.

“Pardon me?” He asked.

Jihoon looked back, thinking for a moment until he glanced around, making direct eye contact with a security camera as he watched it shut off.

“They mentioned they'd give you her case, but I urged them not to as she's someone you're close with. I guess that's what they're looking for however.”

They walked into the stadium, forgetting about their shoots and simply deciding to just watch the other models and their shoots.

Watanabe Haruto was up: someone Junkyu always admired for his insane visuals and incredible acting abilities. He'd been trying different poses over a white background wall. Many other famous models and celebrities sat around them as they watched their colleagues in awe.

Jihoon and Junkyu picked their own table, a safe distance away from any other guest.

“It's alright, afterall, I'm sure she'll be relieved once her family’s out of the picture.” He sighed, looking up at an already shut off camera.

He looked back at the famous young star, smiling as his expressions changed depending on the mood his supervisors were aiming for.

You were up next, and he was left impatiently waiting for your familiar face to come up, smirking the moment it finally did.

“Seeing her here is only making things easier for me in a matter of fact.”

***

‘L/n Y/n is dating Kim Junkyu?’

‘Are L/n Y/n and Kim Junkyu a couple?’

‘Alleged leaked photos caught L/n Y/n and Kim Junkyu kissing.’

It was all over social media and he knew it. It was also likely the cause for why he was called up to his bosses office so suddenly one morning.

After multiple deep breaths, he finally opened the door to see his boss holding multiple files worth of informational papers, slamming them flat onto his arms the moment he approached his desk.

“What the hell are you thinking Kim Junkyu!?” He scolded.

Junkyu rolled his eyes very lightly, looking back at his boss with eyes of acknowledgement.

“I can't control what fans think-”

“But you can control what you do!” He once again yelled, making Junkyu flinch ever so slightly. He knew he was right.

Multiple moments of silence passed with no one saying a word.

“Alright. I'll shut down the rumors later today. We have another shooting event in the evening, where I believe L/n will be attending.”

His boss stared in intimidation, ultimately nodding to his apology and accepting it, shooing him away shortly after.

Junkyu didn't have an exact plan on how to do so, but he knew that it was all simply a lie. The main regulation of this organization was the strictly prohibited lovers rule.

But he was their most crucial piece.

And you, were his lady ever darling.

“Junkyu!” You called from afar, once more approaching him as he stared at you, smiling while doing so.

“I'm glad you made it.” He teased as you shook your head in playful annoyance, rolling your eyes in the process.

“I don't miss every event.” You defended, making him nod.

“I'm aware, my lady.”

You didn't realize when he dragged you into that secluded room, gripping your arms with an undeniable strength as he pinned you up against the wall.

Staring in utter confusion, you watched him move closer to you, constantly bringing your faces closer and closer together.

He smirked seeing your flustered expression.

“What do you say we put an end to these rumors my lady?” He asked.

You gulped, face burning as your cheeks turned a light red color.

“I.. I agree, it'll get in the way of our careers.” You assured, attempting to get out of the entire situation.

“Then shall we do so? What do you say we put an end to them by making them a reality?”

[jgroffdaily]

As the last of the families finished smiling and posing for photos with Jonathan Groff and Miss Amie Vanité (drag performer Christopher Paolini) after the second of two story hours at the Lancaster Convention Center Saturday afternoon — in support of Lancaster Pride and the Lancaster Public Library — the two had a few minutes to talk about the day, and Groff, a bit about his Tony Award experience and his career.

This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

Jonathan, you’re here doing an event raising money for the Lancaster Public Library, as well as Lancaster Pride. Is there a book you’re reading, or have read recently, that you can recommend?

Miss Amie Vanité: He recommended I read Barbra’s book.

Jonathan Groff: That’s the one. Thank you! I am now over halfway through the audio book of “My Name is Barbra,” the Barbra Streisand memoir. I’ve gotten up to her directing “Yentl.” I was just listening to it yesterday while I was making dinner.

Which library did you go to as a child?

Groff: Lancaster Library and Strasburg Library. And the libraries in my elementary school, Smoketown [Elementary], and middle school. My library teacher was here today! Did you have a school library you went to, Miss Amie?

Miss Amie: I had a school library that I was in all the time. I went to the Reading Public Library and the Wyomissing Public Library.

Groff to Miss Amie: What was your favorite book that you read today [at the story hour]?

Miss Amie: That’s a toss-up between “If You Plant a Seed” [by Kadir Nelson] and “One Equals Many” [by Sonny Dean]. They’re so short, but they’re so poignant and so important.

Jonathan, you have been involved in Pride events in bigger cities. You were the grand marshal of the New York City Pride Parade (in 2014). This is your first event for Lancaster Pride ... .

Groff: This means more to me than anything I’ve ever done, at any Pride event. To be back in Lancaster, to be sitting next to Miss Amie. This combination of celebrating Pride and being in my hometown is unparalleled. It’s incredible.

Miss Amie: I was so blown away and excited that you wanted to come and do this and be a part of us here. It means the world.

Groff: To me, too.

Jonathan, a lot of the interviews you did with national media, leading up to the Tony Awards, seemed very introspective. You talked a lot about the 20 years since you moved to New York, and how your career has evolved since then. What did you learn from that?

Groff: It’s part of why I’m here right now. That opportunity of “Merrily [We Roll Along],” for the actors and the characters and also for the audience, was to really become introspective and look back on your life — things that worked out, things that didn’t work out, regrets, mistakes you’ve made, and when I read about what had happened in March with Miss Amie [the cancellation of the library story time and threats received], I was in the middle of the “Merrily” run. And I can’t believe I’ve done all of these gay events and I’ve never gone to my hometown. I’ve gone home to celebrate the theater, and the theaters I’ve worked at, but I’ve never gone purely for Pride. So, when this happened, and I was receiving these articles that my friends from home were sending me, it felt like such an obvious invitation to pick up the phone and call Lancaster Pride and Miss Amie, and make good on what happened in March.

Can you talk at all about what’s next for you, professionally? It was reported in Deadline and elsewhere that you were performing in an industry reading last month, of a musical about [1960s pop star and activist] Bobby Darin, called “Just In Time” [with the possibility of it being developed for Broadway. Groff had performed a Bobby Darin concert at New York’s 92nd Street Y in 2018].

Groff: Yes. We did that, and it went great. And it was really fun, and we’ll see what happens.

Has the type or volume of the [job] offers that you get changed since winning the Tony Award?

Groff: Yes. It’s more emails, more texts. It’s amazing.

I put Lancaster in the first sentence of my [Tony acceptance] speech because I love this city so much and I love this county so much, and I really prepared what I said in that moment, because I thought, if I get the chance to speak, I want to make sure I’m very intentional about every word that I’m saying. Because I’ve officiated five weddings now, and I started to, at the second and third wedding, comprehend the value of what you say when people are listening. And that goes from that moment, that opportunity I had to speak at the Tonys, all the way to this moment today with Miss Amie. It matters. It matters what we say and what we do, and it’s important to be intentional about those things. I learned that from that experience. And I’m feeling the ripple effects of that even months later

What was going through your mind between the time you heard your name called [as the Tony winner] and the time you got to the stage to make your speech?

Groff: I was really conscious of the people I was embracing. So I remember seeing my mom, my dad, my brother, our director, Maria [Friedman], who had just lost in her category ... and I lifted her up [off her feet]. Saw Dan [Radcliffe, his “Merrily” co-star], and then I remember thinking I have to get this out as fast as possible, because I have, I think, 45 seconds, and I wanted to say what’s in my heart. So that was the big goal.

Anything else you’re working on that you can talk about?

Groff: Unfortunately, I can’t. But when I can, I’ll let you know.

Is there any category of entertainment job — writing, directing, Shakespeare, a superhero film — that you’re especially anxious to explore?

Groff: I’m open to everything. Today it’s story time with Miss Amie.

[isa-beenme]

single mom with Cassian?

I can totally imagine myself trying to run away from him because he's handsomely intimidating

Someone made the request, and then I scrolled down through Cassian Appreciation Week and BOOM idea

"6. Day Six: Lord of Bloodshed X Cassian is one of the most powerful Illyrians in history. How do you think he earns - and continues to earn - his unofficial title?"

Answering now: he has his fandom, every famous person has one, it wouldn't be different for him

Idk if the time is over for this prompt, but in my time zone there's still one hour left so

Kiss The Girl

As a single mom, you had always been supportive of your daughter's interests, even when it came to her fascination with the General of the Night Court. Despite the warnings from her classmates and teachers at school, she was determined to prove that he was awesome and cool. Since the first time her grandmother (your mom) told her about the day the General saved her life during the attack against Velaris, your daughter has been obsessed with him.

From wearing something red in every outfit (her dress, her lipstick, her shoes, her ribbon, her socks, or anything like that) to reading every single book of history she could find in the public library that told some tale about her. And then she would tell you over and over again during dinner.

She was his biggest fan (or smallest, if we are talking about height), how couldn't she be? He was the greatest warrior in all of Prythian, the best General in the history of the Night Court, the best Illyrian male, the Lord of Bloodshed, the Prince of Bastards. Oh my, and wasn't he the strongest and bravest soldier in history?

Your daughter kept rambling about it over and over again as you walked through Velaris, buying food and some other supplies for the dresses you had to make during the week. Eloise loved this type of walk since she was always excited with the possibility of finding the General somewhere. As you chose some strawberries and raspberries for a future cake she suddenly started to shake your hand and jump up and down.

-Mom! Can I walk alone? I saw something I like - She started tugging the hand you held her, quite stronger than usual if you could say.

-Let me just pay for the fruits and we can go together, love - You drop her hand to grab money, counting the coins you had.

-No, mom! It needs to be now! Pretty please? - She sounded almost desperate, making you laugh a bit, but one look at her pleading eyes you could only smile and nod, dreading the power she held over you.

-Alright you can go, but be careful, sweetie - To your surprise, instead of walking to a store close to where you were she started to scream with joy and run though the streets, leaving you behind in one of the fruit tents - Eloise, wait! - You called after her, your heart already pounding with worry.

She bolted towards an aleatory spot while you tried to see where exactly she was going to follow her after you finish you payment, since you don't want to steal everything in your bag (although from the laugh the tent owner was holding you don't think he would care that much if you ran behind her too). What you didn't see was the glimpse she got of Cassian walking down the street, two siphons around his hands shining bright red, just as her dress.

The General was just a few streets away trying to look for the art supplies Feyre told him to get when he spotted a little red thing running towards him. It took him some seconds to identify the red running thing as a mini fae and he immediately crouched down, trying not to look intimidating when he confirmed that she was indeed going toward his direction. But your daughter was the most fearless child you ever met. She went straight up to him and wrapped her tiny arms around one of his arms, her tiny frame not even rounding one big muscled arm.

-Well, hello there, little one. Is everything alright with you? - He said as he smiled wide and tapped her back.

-Yes! I just wanted to say that you're the best, General Cassian! I love everything about you! - She jumped up and down on his arms as small tears started to form in her eyes.

-Oh, do you now? That's very kind of you to say - He quickly dried the droplets that threatened to get out of her eyes, the bag with requests from Feyre long forgotten on the ground.

-No, really! I want to be just like you when I grow up. Can you teach me to fight and be a general too? - She let go of his arm to look at him from the front view, but never let go of him, fearing he might disappear.

-What's your name, small thing? - He played with some strands of her hair, making her even more excited with the situation.

-I'm Eloise, sir - She said confidently, straighten up the posture and all.

-Well, little one, being a general takes a lot of hard work and hundreds of years of pure training. But I'm honored that you look up to me. Maybe one day we can talk about it - Eloise's eyes sparkled with admiration, and she continued to pour her heart out to him, sharing all the reasons why she thought he was incredible. Cassian listened attentively, his heart melting at her genuine affection.

-You are my favorite person in the whole wide world, Cassian! I mean… after my mommy and my granny, but then you are my favorite - She said convincingly, making the General throw his head back in laughter, adoring the attention.

-Thank you so much, Eloise. This makes me happier than you can imagine. I'm glad to know I have such a brave and wonderful fan like you - She squealed in happiness as she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him as tight as she could ‐ I believe you're not here alone, right?

-Of course not! Mommy is here with me… somewhere - She said sheepishly, almost if she just remembered about her mother.

-Hold on tight, little warrior - Cassian said before lifting her up with one of his arms, letting her rest on his waist - Let's go find your mom, shall we? Can't have her worrying about you.

Meanwhile, you finally caught up to them, slightly out of breath from the chase after running around the blocks searching for your daughter. You were both relieved and a bit mad, but it all disappeared in amusement after seeing Eloise fearlessly chatting with Cassian. And oh my, wasn't he as amazing as your daughter mentioned.

-Eloise, there you are! I was worried about you. Don't ever run away from me like that again - You said as you tried to make sense of your surroundings and not keep looking at the General like a crazy person.

-Mommy, look, it's General Cassian! Isn't he amazing? - She said pointing at him, he turned at you with such a big and radiant and beautiful smile that almost made you weak on your knees. Almost.

-Yes, he is, sweetie - His smile got even bigger if that was possible, he seemed to enjoy the attention, and you kind of felt inclined to give it to him every day of your life.

-You have an incredible daughter. She made my day with the amount of praises, it's hard for me to get those.

-Really? How so? You're so amazing and look so good that… - You seem to catch your train of thought as you laugh nervously, almost making a fool of yourself - I mean, that's what Eloise always says, so… I would imagine that is a routine for you to be… praised? - You smile as best as you can and take your daughter back, trying your best to not touch any part of that very well toned and built muscles - Anyway, thank you for taking her. She really adores you.

-I think I adore her too. She's quite… remarkable - Cassian's eyes met yours, and there was an instant connection. He seemed to look at you as if the rest of the world didn't matter, in a way that your late husband never looked at you.

Cassian couldn't help but search for an engagement ring on your hand, but as he found none he felt a mixture of relief wash over him that almost made him feel sorry for himself. Meanwhile, you couldn't help but notice how tall, big, and undeniably handsome he was, which definitely made you feel a little intimidated. Feeling ridiculously overwhelmed by his attractiveness, you decided to take your daughter away, practically running from him.

-Come on, sweetie, let's get going! - You said quickly as none of you seemed inclined to look away from each other - Thank you very much for talking with her. It was nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you, General Cassian - Your daughter practically screamed as you took her away, scared that he might scent the interest you took on him.

-It was nice to meet you too, little warrior - Cassian, however, was determined to win you over, just as he had already conquered your daughter's heart.

Days went by and you couldn't get Cassian out of your mind. You even started to pay a lot of attention to your daughter's tales about him, making her more excited to tell you over and over again. You worked quietly every day in your sewing shop thinking every single detail Eloise told you about the General while you made the dresses to sell, it didn't took you long to realize good part of your drawings and works were coming out red, you let out a laugh when you noticed the amount of red dresses you had around.

Your late husband wasn't exactly the love of your life, you could say. He was a nice gentleman that took responsibility for your daughter once you found out that you were pregnant after one good night with him. There wasn't desire between you two, there was love, but more like friendly love. And when he died in the war against Hybern you mourned him like a friend. It was always you, your mother and your daughter, there was no space for love or anything else. And you were still young, once Eloise would grow up you could find a love for you to settle for and finally relax. So it was hard to understand whatever you were feeling for the General, why your thoughts went to him all the time even if you barely talked to him that day.

As you continued to work in your studio, you were completely surprised when Cassian suddenly appeared in the store. His tall form almost touched the ceiling as he looked around as if searching for something. Or someone.

-Hello there. May I help you? - You blushed slightly at his presence, feeling uncertain yet intrigued by his sudden approach.

-Your daughter told me you had this store and I wanted to check it out by myself - He said it as if he wasn't certain of any of his words, smiling nervously at you.

-She really told you? Why? - He took time to think, you could almost see the parts of his brain trying to come up with an answer until he sighs and gives up.

-Okay, I lied, she didn't tell me about the store. I don't even know why I tried to lie. I think I'm nervous, sorry - He started to rumble a lot and you tried to make sense of his talk, at the same time as you tried to calm down your heart at the mere sight of him - Hm… I asked Azriel- do you know Azriel? Spymaster and stuff? Yeah, I asked him to find you for me and we found out you worked as a seamstress, which made the opportunity to talk to you fall like a glove since Feyre- you know, the High Lady? She's looking for someone to make some dresses for Nyx's birthday and I thought "uh, I can ask you if you can do it and then I can talk to you like I've been wanting to since the day we met" and here I am.

-Wait, wait, wait. Calm down - Your mind was turning over and over as you processed the whole situation - Yes, I can make a dress, but… you were searching for me?

-Yeah, I actually promised a good amount of food and wine to Az for him to find you.

-Why? - The question left your mouth as if you were asking yourself, not him.

-Hm… so, about that. You daughter, Eloise, right? - You only nodded your head, still confused about everything - So, she mentioned she wanted to train. And I can do it, you know? I have a lot of experiences with kids, they love me.

-You have a lot of experience training kids?

-Yes! It's more like the basic, only self defense and basic knowledge on punches and kicks. I am in charge of training Nyx, actually - He said convincingly, trying his best to keep the smile on his face.

-You are in charge of training a barely two years old kid?

-Yes… when he grow up - You couldn't help but laugh at him, his face seemed to chill once you smiled at him - I must admit, your daughter's energy and spirit impressed me. I believe I could help her practice her skills, if you'd allow me, obviously.

While you felt drawn to his charisma, you couldn't shake off the feeling of intimidation caused by his undeniable attractiveness. People simply shouldn't be allowed to look so good. However, the thought of your daughter spending time with someone she admired excited you, and you kind of wanted her to get to know him better.

-Well, I suppose... Maybe we could have dinner together someday, my mom needs to know you too, since you will be taking her granddaughter to kick and punch. That way, Eloise can decide if she wants to train with you - Cassian's face lit up with delight, clearly pleased with the invitation.

-That sounds wonderful! I promise I'll behave, and we'll have a lovely evening. If Eloise agrees we can discuss what exactly I can do.

-And the dress for the High Lady? - He looked at me like he completely forgot about that, the nervous smile coming back to his face.

-She will come by to talk about that - And so, you set a time for dinner at your home.

You were never the best cook in your family, far from that. But you had your skills to be proud of. Your nervousness made you spend hours preparing a delicious meal while your mother laughed at you for feeling like that for a male, a mix of anticipation and fear rising in you as the evening approached. When Cassian arrived, he was the epitome of charm and warmth, making your daughter feel excited right away and your mom turning to you and raising a thumbs up.

-Wow, you're even cooler when you wear normal clothes! Can you really teach me how to fight? Mommy said you wanted to - She pointed at you, who was still helping to set up the table.

-Of course, little warrior. I'll teach you everything you need to know - He even had the audacity to blink at you! Your cheeks burned as if fire was rising inside of you.

Throughout the night, Cassian regaled your small family with tales of his adventures before becoming the General, the ones that weren't written in the books, and your daughter hung onto every word, captivated by his bravery and humor. As the time went on, your initial uncertainties began to fade, replaced by the genuine connection and shared laughter as he made all of you feel at ease.

In the following weeks, Cassian kept his promise and started training your daughter in combat and self defense. It turned out he actually didn't have much experience with kids, but his genuine passion for teaching and caring nature won your daughter's heart even more. As time passed, you found yourself not only appreciating the mentorship he provided to Eloise but also enjoying his company more and more.

He grew closer as a family, helping your mother with her garden by bringing new seeds from every Court and asking tips for Elain or always taking your daughter to eat some sweets after training and always making sure to give her some red gift (her obsession with the color never fading), or even stopping by your store to leave something to eat or taking and fetching Eloise at school so you or your mother wouldn't have to stop working. And easy like that your feelings of intimidation were replaced by a deep admiration for the kind, caring, and honorable male Cassian truly was.

In the end, it was clear that Cassian wasn't just a charming and handsome general; he was also a genuinely good person who cared deeply for the ones he loved. The once-feared general of the Night Court had found a special place in your heart. Not that Cassian's compliments about your looks or scent always helped you ease your growing feelings for him, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to deny the attraction you felt.

One day, as your daughter caught her breath on the ground after a particularly intense training session, Cassian turned to you with that all-too-familiar mischievous grin he wears everytime you stay longer to watch their sparring.

-You know, I can't help but notice how your eyes sparkle when you're watching. It's rather enchanting - Your face flushed deep, not knowing how to react once his tall form reached the bench you were sitting on, you quickly rose from your position to look at him from a better view - I always try to know if it is because of Eloise improvement or if it's just you really happy to see me - Before you could respond, your daughter chimed in, playfully teasing the both of you.

-Come on, kiss the girl already so I can call you my dad! - She said breathlessly but with a smile that reached both sides of her face.

You and Cassian exchanged surprised glances, both of you slightly caught off guard by her remark. However, her words seemed to break the tension that always formed when he flirted, and you decide to take a leap of faith. You leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on Cassian's cheek, despite feeling like your face was on fire from blushing. He looked at you even more surprised as a smile started to play on his lips.

-Well, I don't know about calling you dad just yet, but I can't deny my daughter's wishes, you know? - Cassian's eyes sparkled with delight, and he chuckled warmly.

-I couldn't agree more. How about we have that dinner we talked about last week? Just the two of us? - He pulled you closer by the waist, your hands resting on his chest.

-Yes, I'd like that - With that, he leaned in, and this time, he gave you a soft, lingering kiss, your daughter's squeals making you smile during the kiss, feeling as happy as she was.

As the days turned into weeks, your relationship grew stronger, both of you falling into an easy routine. Your daughter's admiration for Cassian only deepened as she saw how much he cared for her family, and in time, she called him "dad" without hesitation.

In the end, this unexpected journey brought love, happiness, and a newfound sense of belonging to your heart. And it all started with your daughter's innocent fascination with the once-feared Lord of Bloodshed, also known as your husband (and Eloise's favorite daddy).

[hellsinvestigativereporter]

It has come to my attention that there are those amongst my readers who apparently think my assessment of the doomed relationship that is "Stolitz" is a foolish take. Well... I for one do not shy away from public discourse so let us assess what we know:

First off Let us address the two giant pink elephants in the room reading hamlet shall we?

First we have Blitz, a man who as we all know spent most of his life with a very down trodden version of what can be best described as a Napoleon complex and has gone from thinking everyone hates him to suddenly becoming the toast of the town.

And then we have Stolas, a man who was forced to marry a woman so vile she gives Professor Umbridge a run for her money as the worst karen in history, and has now lost everything because he's so unskilled at being himself I dont think he even has a self to speak of outside of his relationship fantasies of him and Blitz.

And now after all the grief and drama and intensity is over with and things have calmed down they are finally at last together living in the same home. And that is why the relationship is doomed. It was not built on a foundation of stable healthy interactions and mutual respect that was built slowly over time between equals, it was an all of a sudden torrent of BDSM and manslaughter with high running emotional drama and toxic power dynamics everytime they were in a room together. The only thing Stolas knows about love is what he learned from romance novels and spanish soap operas which as we all know is giant romantic gestures and high passion sexual fantasies written by people just as ignorant about relationships as Stolas is. So the horney leading the horney you see.

These things do not a relationship make. Its exhausting to have to constantly do high energy activities like that and if that's all the relationship is it will not survive the quiet mundane routine of simple every day life. And Stolas has never once had a calm mundane day in his life. He's lived a stressful life that probably had his adrenaline constantly pounding through him in a negative way and the moment Blitz came into the picture it went from bad to good and he did not want to turn that good switch off. There is no neutrality in Stolas' life and he's officially crashed and burned now with nothing to show for anything he went through, save his relationship with a man who until recently highly resented him unbeknownst to stolas.

What's worse is he hurt Octavia by 100% confirming that between his life with her and his relationship with Blitz, Blitz is the thing he would run off and give his life for without a second thought meanwhile he forgot about the promise he made to Octavia because his relationship status commanded more of his attention than his own child did.

And then of course there's Blitz and suddenly becoming everyone's hero. The imp who henches for no one but himself. Who was willing to sacrifice himself for his friends. Who was used and abused by the wealthy and powerful but still managed to come out on top. With many people not realizing just how much of a cretin he really is.

He broke into stolas' library to steal something that was not his and probably did not think about how he was going to have to hide it later. He sabotaged every relationship he ever had like Ernest Hemingway did because he refused to be the Dumpee, opting to always be in control by being the dumper, focuses on himself a bit too much when it comes to shared trauma like with Fizz, adopted loona to cure his self inflicted loneliness and also had a very creepy obsession with Mille and Moxie's relationship and probably tried to strike up a relationship with her but she decided she loved moxie more, not that that stopped Blitz from having fantasies anyway. And I'm going to say it, he may be the father of Millie's child. Probably went on a bender with millie and in a moment of inebriation and missing inhibitions during his breakup period with stolas, did something unfortunate because that is sadly Blitz's default setting. How terrible would that be to Loona? To finally feel good about calling him dad only to suddenly realize he may be about to have an actual blood related child and replace her? Cause she clearly has abandonment issues as well. But that's another topic for another day.

So on the one hand we have an emotionally stunted aristocrat whose used to having wealth and luxury to cope with his issues who now has to trade in his mansion and caviar for a cramped one room apartment and who also lost his daughter, and a self absorbed narcissist whose getting the positive attention he's always craved from the public and will no doubt let it go to his head in the other, I ask you dear readers, what conclusions would you draw?

[itonashi]

YOURE REO FICS ARE CHEFKISS let me request a fic wehere Reo and reader are in a secret relationship (reader wants to)

SHHH...

[ part 2 ]

pairing: reo mikage x fem!reader

warning: rumors(ig), fluff. idk. not proofread (i hate reading things that i wrote.). how the both of you met and date.

note: thxxx, hehe. i love seeing ppl said that. but like does anyone want to send an ask about other characters :p. this reo fic one probably around 1k ish wordcount idk. i will always mentioned nagi on my reo fics bro.

you didn't want the relationship of the two of you to be revealed publicly because you feared that something might happened. reo was born as the heir of mikage corporation with total assets valued at 705.8 billion yen. you was born onto a middle class family (if you could say that.), your father was a worker at mikage corporation with a high position. while you maybe have met reo's parent through your father when you were a child. being in a public relationship with reo is a risky move, as someone out there would spread rumors about you. i mean dating your father's boss son? some mean people out there would call you things.

you have experienced it yourself after all, it was nasty. unlike reo, you didn't have any talent. your little brother received many things at an early age but you received only some rewards in your life — but you know which path you're gonna go. you're not going onto the business path. you liked art.

reo supported your decision on going the artist path. you took a liking to painting and sculpture. reo was so kind, he gave you anything that you want that's related to art. you tried to reason with him that he shouldn't always do that to you. buying everything you wanted and his response is always the same.

"my love language is buying you gifts anyways."

"but!"

"you shouldn't worried about my money. I love you the most."

he met you multiple times when you guys were in middle school. you guys simply went to the same school because of your parents. that time, he didn't took any interest of you, you didn't care about it since getting noticed by him is probably a death execution. your middle school had an imbalance of power, where the rich is on top and the poor is the low one. it wasn't equality.

on your third year of middle school, you finally interacted with reo mikage on the rooftop. it was because he personally called you there, alone. he wanted to talked about something to you related to the unfairness that the 'elite school' was giving to the poor. you don't know what you did to attract his attention to you and you definitely didn't expected for him to talked to you about this.

that's where your relationship started...

he started going to your class, he started to eat lunch with you, he started to go out with you to the library, he started to defend you. he started everything with you — since he wanted to close your relationship with him before he executed his plan for the school.

"are you sure about this, reo?"

"yeah. if we start with getting closer with the other class that is deemed the unlucky one maybe we can make them climb up the rank. starting with their academics."

"do you have the patience for it?"

"of course. im not one to suddenly call someone and start mocking them."

"true, you're not like them. are you really confident that you will change the school for the new generations that's to come."

"shhh... don't doubt my skills."

after you had planned about it, reo suggested that you two go to an arcade to go take your mind off of something before things happened. he really treats people well as he also pay for the arcade. the first game as usual was a claw machine, you saw a cute eevee plushie and you wanted it. you tug reo's sleeve towards it to watch you get the plushie but you failed miserably, reo laughed at you and gently pushed you aside to get you the plushie you wanted.

as the talented prodigy he is, he got it in one try. "this is what you want, right." he hold out the eevee plushie to you and you nodded, uttering a thank you to him as you took it from his hand. the tips of your ear was red, you could contain the blush coming to your face but not your ears. reo probably noticed your ears, he have keen eyes that you cannot avoid.

hours were you guys playing in the arcade and let's just say he really got you many plushie (but not that much as you would feel overwhelmed with it). you absolutely loved the cinnamoroll plushie he got you. it was cute, it got a bear costume on it, you adored it.

"between the eevee and the cinnamoroll one, which one do you like more?"

"i like anything you got me."

you were straightforward for your answer and reo was taken back by it since he was surprised by your bluntness. you would always sugarcoat some of your words to not seem mean as you were quite sarcastic. it was probably his turn now to blushed but it goes unnoticed by you as you were focused on your plushies.

you like animal plushies, maybe between him and your animal plushies — you would trade him to get a plushie.

all the plan worked, but you were hurt in the process. for you, it wasn't anything serious. but for reo, it was very serious. he felt guilty for it — but you reassured him that it wasn't his fault and you were just unlucky to be cornered up by some girls. he paid for your treatment. you guys were basically partner in crime. what's important to you, that is — the school didn't have an imbalance of power anymore, everyone was treated equally and it was all because of you and reo.

but you would give all the credit to reo as he was the brain.

graduation of middle school came fast enough, so you enjoyed the graduation with reo. even though you went up stage for some rewards — reo was basically the honor student.

"congratulations on your graduation, [name]."

"you too, reo."

you took some pictures with him, you kept it. 'maybe i should make an album...' you thought while looking at the pictures you took with reo, sliding through some of it... you saw how close you have been getting too reo that you were having mixed feelings. you weren't sure that you actually liked him in the romantic way or platonic way... you hoped that it was platonic.

oh, you were so wrong.

since you two were just 'partner in crime' it basically means that you guys didn't hung out that much outside of school. it was always in the library, in a corner where people don't see you guys that much. it was reserved everytime you guys want to use it so that people doesn't used it (mean).

over the weekends, you basically stay at your house. you missed him, you wanted to see him physically not just chatting with him on the phone on some apps. bored out of your mind, even though you were chatting with him right now.

reo: why are you not going out.

you: you can't say that to me when you were basically a sheltered child.

reo: you showing your mean side to me 😞

you: k, reo.

reo: what the hell.. "k,reo."?????? bffr.

you snickered at yourself. laying in bed all alone, nothing to do. just dangling your feet at home while your prodigy little brother is probably making achievement. hearing a ding again at your phone, you checked it and reo recommend you try art to spend your time with. you had some art supplies — you thought maybe you could try it and you replied with thank you to reo.

clay in hand, paint on the table. you start making your favorite animal, which is a koala. you knead the clay and start shaping it. you did it step by step and start painting the parts. the final results was quite funky but you didn't cared. your hand was a little messy but you took a picture of the koala and sent it to reo.

he 'AHAHAHA' the koala and you were offended. seeing at how he reacted, you were determined to make an improved koala of it. you replied with 'can we facetime?'. reo almost drop his phone when he saw the message, face timing with you... he should agreed to it since he would probably saw you wearing a casual clothes for once and not a school uniform. you probably suggest it because you wanted him to see the progress of you making a new and improved koala shaped clay.

minutes in of the face timing — and reo couldn't take his eyes of your pulled on sleeves, you were wearing a baggy sweater so reo couldn't see your body curves (and you would like it to stay that way). you kept a ponytail on to keep your hair out of your face while you were working on your clay. from time to time reo would comment on your clay when you showed it to him.

taking his advices seriously, you managed to make a perfect koala shaped clay and you were proud of it. reo could see the improvement between your first try and your latest one. he didn't saw a flaw on your latest on. you two didn't noticed it but the call went for hours. you guys relationship went to a new level and you were certain that the feelings you were having is romantic.

you two started dating on the middle of the year on your first year of highschool. reo was the first one to confessed when you got an expensive chocolate under your desk. you basically knew it was him when you noticed the expensive brand chocolate. it was your first time seeing him nervous to confessed to you, regardless you accepted him as he was the man you liked too.

you were very secretive of your life so reo agreed to you that he and you would be in a secret relationship without anyone knowing. you two were in a different class on first year, so it was easy to not meet each other that much but you two would always make time to pass eachother on the hallways or cafeteria.

reo would secretly gave you food to add on your bento when you weren't in the classroom. you would gave him drinks whenever you guys pass eachother. you guys didn't argue much, infact it was mostly playful banter. reo was easily jealous since he would always see you talking to nagi seishiro (aka his future best friend), you reassured him it was only because nagi played a game you liked and they coincidentally clicked. reo when he was jealous... he was cute, you can never denied that.

boys and girls would always come up to reo so being jealous was of course always there but you managed to contained it since it was a daily thing to you.

second year came and reo said to you that he and nagi (the person he was jealous off because you and him kept talking) is now friends because nagi is someone that he need for his winning worldcup desire. you didn't mind it since nagi is also a friend to you and you three became a trio. it was good that no one suspected you and reo were a couple but some people start a rumors that you and nagi were the one dating.

as they claimed that they always saw you and nagi playing games together while reo just sat around (that claimed was not true because most of the time reo played it for you since you were basically just mid at it). they honestly only just caught you in a wrong time that's all. but it soon enough dies down after they saw how nagi was very uninterested towards you.

even nagi doesn't know you and reo are lover.

[uzuicore]

POST-IT

pairing: levi ackerman x gn!reader (college!au and best friends to lovers!au) genre: fluffy cw: none summary: "i’ve been imagining law student levi ackerman and civil engineering y/n, they’re both college student and best friend as well. but they decided to rent a space or dorm for themselves since they both tolerate each other but the thing is they’re secretly in love with each other and confess their love at the end." a/n: @loveackerman hi ~ ^-^ here's your request! i loved writing this oneshot and i hope you also like it and have fun reading it! thanks for making this request! ❤️

REBLOGS AND COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED!

"What do you think of this new clock I bought for my desk?" you asked Levi as soon as you noticed him walking into the dorm you shared. "It was on sale."

After placing the backpack he was carrying on top of his bed, Levi then approached you to observe your new purchase. "It's nice, it matches the other decorations in the room," he ruffled your hair before turning his attention to some books. "Didn't you say you needed a new laptop though? It's more important for your studies, you shouldn't be spending money on unnecessary things," he remarked, making you feel embarrassed for being scolded by your best friend. This was a frequent occurrence, sometimes you felt as if you hadn't stopped living with your mother.

"I know, sorry," you pouted and embraced him from the side, irritating him, "I'll save money, I promise."

"Tch, whatever, just get off me, brat," he joked, pretending not to like your affection.

You giggled, squeezing his cheeks, a thing that only you were allowed to do without having your arm broken, and reminded him, "By the way, I have a project due in three days, it's from that annoying teacher, I need your opinion on what I've done so far!"

"And what help will I be? I'm a law student, I don't know anything about civil engineering, you idiot,"

"Don't even try to lie to me just so you don't help me, okay? We've been friends for a long time, I already know how smart you're in many topics," you protested.

Levi sighed shaking his head and said, "Fine, but let's look at this later, okay? We need to eat lunch first."

-

The sound of the alarm clock seemed distant when Levi finally woke up to turn it off. Taking a glance at you, he recognized how exhausted you looked from having spent the night studying and how deep you were asleep.

Carrying on with his morning routine, making as minor noise as possible, Levi finished eating his breakfast, and before he departed, he grabbed a blue Post-it and left a message for you, next to your phone.

"(Y/N),

You stayed up late studying, I remember you saying that class today wasn't that important, so I let you rest.

There's food in the microwave. Eat well and rest."

With a few hours left before the sun went down, Levi was still in the library studying with a close friend of the two of you, Hange, when his phone rang.

"So, who called you, shorty? (Y/N)?" Hange raised a question as soon as Levi put the device in his pocket and started putting away his notebooks.

"No, my idiot uncle," he answered, now standing up.

"Oh, I thought it was your worried girlfriend," Hange mocked. "You shouldn't be gone so long without telling her where you are, you know."

Rolling his eyes and leaning on his hands on the table to face the bespectacled woman, Levi clarified irritated, "Stop with the teasing, you know it makes (Y/N) uncomfortable, shitty glasses. And I already told you, we're not dating."

Throwing the pencil she held on the table and crossing her arms, Hange expounded, "Seriously, Levi, the display of affection between you two, even when you're in public, doesn't seem like friends, you know? It's obvious that you're in love with each other but you're afraid to confess it. I'm just afraid that this situation will end up delaying both of your love lives," she concluded.

"What do you mean by that?" Levi inquired, not caring if he sounded bothered by what his friend had declared.

"There're a lot of guys who're into (Y/N), and they just don't approach her because everyone thinks you're together. Even your mom thinks so!" Hange exclaimed.

-

The clock marked 2 am and you still hadn't managed to sleep, the lamp on the other side of the room indicated that your best friend was also still awake.

"Did Hange disturb you so much today that you can't sleep?" you joked, turning to face Levi, and were surprised to see him sitting on his bed.

He gave a subtle sideways smile before responding, "Tch, I wish that was all."

Getting up and going to sit next to him, you then hugged him from the side resting your head on his shoulder, an act you were wont to do only with Levi, and voiced, "You've been acting weirder than usual since you got back from the library, did something happen that you don't know how to tell me?"

The gentleness with which you spoke and acted with Levi when you knew he was bothered by something always impressed him, it's as if the sweetness in your voice made him automatically open his mouth and tell you everything that was on his mind, even when he didn't want to.

"Kenny called," Levi shared. "My mom's sick again. Only this time I won't be able to come home and take care of her."

"Oh, I'm sorry," you lifted your head so you could look at his face. "But your mom will be fine, she's strong. Everyone in your family is, right? She just needs to take the right medicine and rest, like she did the other times."

"I know, (Y/N), but the other times I was there to make sure she was going to do it," Levi repeated running his fingers through his hair.

Holding his face with your hands and forcing him to look you in your eyes, you assured him, "But this time you won't. Your uncle is your mother's brother, remember? He wants to see her well too. We both know that as annoying as he can be, he knows how to be serious and take care of someone when the situation calls for it. Kenny will take good care of your mom, just ask him to update you every day on her situation so you can rest easy, okay?"

Placing his hand over yours, which was still on his cheek, Levi massaged your delicate skin and thanked you.

"So, is there anything else or do you think you can sleep now?" you asked pulling away from him.

"Tch, you speak like you weren't awake too," Levi retorted.

"That's because I was worried about you, asshole!" you defended yourself and slapped his arm playfully.

"That week you were freaking out about your project... And you were having trouble sleeping," Levi started and paused.

"What about it?" you questioned, curious why he was bringing up this old subject.

"My bed's a little bigger and you slept here. You said... It made you more comfortable," Levi concluded.

Comprehending what he wanted to request from you, you pondered about teasing him as Hange would do, but seeing how vulnerable he was at the moment, you just told him to lie down and give you space to do the same.

Lying under the large white comforter facing each other, you noticed that Levi still seemed bothered by something. You were used to sleeping next to each other when one of you was feeling unwell, but this time seemed different.

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?" you invited in a whisper.

Still observing you with a frown, Levi took a few seconds before letting out, "Everyone thinks we're dating."

You chuckled, replying, "Yeah, I know that. Hange always picks on us about it. Just ignore everyone," you shrugged.

"She also said that our displays of affection aren't platonic," Levi added.

"Yeah... Hange says a lot of things, Levi-"

"(Y/N)," he interrupted, making the smile on your face crumble when you realized how serious he seemed about the subject, "do you think I'm a burden to your love life? Do you like someone?"

"Did Hange put that in your head too? She told me the same thing these days, you know?"

"Tch, just answer... Please."

"You're not a problem for my love life, if I have to stop being your friend to get a boyfriend then I don't want one," you expressed.

Levi rolled his eyes and exemplified, "You know that's not how it works, dumbass. Do you think your boyfriend would believe that we're just best friends if he saw you lying here with me? Do you think he'd believe that if he saw the way you hug me all the time?"

Troubled by the matter, you confessed, "Well, maybe I don't care about any of that because I don't want to hug or lie next to any guy other than you!"

The sound of heavy breathing from the two of you was the only thing that could be heard inside the dorm, until Levi worked up the courage to bring his hand to your cheek and caressed it, asking, "Did you really mean that?"

Examining deep into his grayish-blue eyes, you confirmed, "Y-yes."

Offering you one of his rare smiles, Levi brought his face close to yours and placed a gentle kiss on top of your eyelid, and joked, "Tch, you idiot, I should have confessed first."

Returning the smile, you inquired, "Does that mean you've fallen in love with me too?"

"Isn't it obvious? I don't want to have moments like this with a girl other than you either."

© UZUICORE ON TUMBLR AND WATTPAD. DO NOT COPY, REPOST, EDIT OR TRANSLATE.

[glamorous-astrology]

So your a Witch and you have a problem with routines or suffer from chronic overthinking

Listen when I say my executive dysfunction and anxiety can be quite devastating to any form of action I mean it from the bottom of my ✨soul✨ but when it comes to a witchy routine... Oof. These are some tips and tricks I've learned and figured I'd share it with you. Remember this is based off of my personal experience, what works for one person does not automatically work for another!

So first piece of advice in the fight against these unfaltering foes!

Don't fight em.

WAIT!! Hear me out!

Somedays you just can't do ✨the thing✨ i promise you your spirit team loves you and understands and while procrastinating is the enemy of achievement taking breaks and rest are it's allies. Now don't put if off for too long, maybe set a specific date or time to do it and stick to your word. If you make a promise to yourself you must endeavor to keep it. Life happens, it's unfair but you must at least be fair to yourself and to quote Mister Meeseeks "Follow Through!!" This doesn't just apply to witchy based activities either. Sometimes the urge to just not, is your bodies request for something else.

I have so many unread books I don't even know where to start and depsite all the unfinished books on my shelf I want to have more and I really shouldn't be buying more but -

First step when things get overwhelming is to breath.

Secondly you don't have to read all those books today, tomorrow or ever.

It's also okay to just have books and not finish them. I love to collect books. They may call me a horder(they being the anxiety based court that constantly judges my actions) but you'd call me a librarian if I let the public read borrow em, sooooo. Some people collect teapots that aren't even useable but I don't judge them for it. (I kind of do but only a little bit! But that's because I like my teapots pretty yes but you see-)

Speaking of Libraries!

I love the library so much guys! Please please please support your local libraries! They have so many helpful resources, I honest to Gods could make a whole other post about why libraries are important but! ✨ Focus is a must ✨

Your local library may already have that book you wanna buy, if they don't libraries are connected to a network and depending on where you live your local library can actually get books from pretty far away, sometimes they can even go out of network and into another and the cool thing is in the bookstore I can check of my library has it and save my self a pretty penny.

✨ IMPORTANT! ✨

Maybe despite how well written it is, or how enjoyable you find it you find yourself stopping halfway through. Maybe the stopping point isn't the end of the book. The knowledge you'd sought and needed might have been found and who knows maybe later you will finish it but beating your own ass about it ain't going to help. Take your time, knowledge is power but unused knowledge is a precious waste of time and space for your beautiful brain.

I have this spell I wanna do but there's so much I need to do in order for it to-

Pause

Make the spell simpler.

Yep! Not every powerful spell needs to include sage and cinnamon in order to work. Sustainable witchcraft is important. If you don't have the energy, time or money to make your spell all fancy smansy then don't. You're creative and wise, the intent behind the spell is most important and creating your own method using what you have/can afford is not only creative it shows intent. Witchcraft is not there to stress you out or be judged. The only standard for witchcraft is intent. For example! My first spell changed my life and I made it all fancy smansy, I'm talking the full nine yards I had a special knife, fancy fruit, candles, chanting, moon water, I went big sense I refused to go home. My last life changing spell included my tarot deck and a piece of paper, while I drank my morning tea. It's not just the what you're doing when it comes to spells and rituals it's about mindset. Life's already hard enough, have fun with your spiritual practice!

I feel so weighed down, and tired and I just can't find the energy to do a daily ritual but I really want to start one!

That's okay!

I'm exhausted too and also wish to have more routines but you gotta start.

My ideal routine is morning tarot, cup of tea, and meditation. Some weeks I'm up every morning, drinking tea, doing a quick tarot reading, going on walks, just taking in the day before getting started.

Some weeks I sleep through all 6 of my alarms, don't have time to pack a lunch let alone do some tarot and go on a walk!

Routines are there to help build structure in your life, not rigid cages you must appease.

Some weeks, some days, some times you honestly can't be bothered. That's okay but that just means when you can be bothered you do. My tarot decks are sassy as hell to me about it tbh. I'll do my morning tarot or I won't but they understand. But if I have the time and energy later on in the week and just don't? That quick three card reading I was gonna do with my coven mates just become 26 cards plus two Oracle decks (I'm exaggerating a teenie bit but it feels like a lot sometimes) and you know what, that's okay. Your deck is just catching you up on all the knowledge you've missed! You'll make time for tarot, it's not a scheduled appointment, it's supposed to be a meeting between equals.

I'm pretty sure I've gotten off track but to show you the sum my knowledge or TLDR as you young whippersnappers are saying these days.

Basically, be kind and patient with yourself as you establish your routines and find what works for you. Remember your best today might not ne your best tomorrow. Some days the best I can do is drink my cup of tea as I drive down the highway, other times its that nice meditatve walk.

Find what works for you, day to day, hour to hour and remember be kind yourself. You're not just a meat suit who needs to accomplish everything and anything right here right now, your stardust that deserves to enjoy and cherish those happy experiences that can find you if you step out of judgement and into self love.

Remember this is just my personal experience, and you can take it with a grain of salt, a speck of sugar or just toss it over your shoulder.

I'm exhausted since sleep is a elusive mistress that likes to come and go but I hope this makes sense and maybe helps you enjoy your day a little bit more.

~Admin Cryptid

[isthisrealliiife]

Lawdamercy

tl;dr: life has happened in mostly good ways but consequently progress on an echo a stain has been necessarily delayed.

Next chapter will be up probably in mid-July.

First of all, Dave Chapelle is a transphobe piece of shit and I won't forgive him for it. But also a thousand years ago, when I was just a little baby teenage deviant in my first year of undergrad, I imprinted on a half-baked as my stoner movie so thoroughly that I feel certain that the above moment in that movie is a reflection of my very soul when I'm in distress. Also, Killer killed Nibbles. I will never pay another dime for anything he's done and it can be argued that by posting this gif I'm contributing to him remaining in the cultural consciousness of the West or the US or tumblr or whatever, but listen, y'all, sometimes there's tension between the things we connect with and there is no way to be ethical in the current late capitalist imminently apocalyptic hellscape, so I'm just gonna keep half-baked.

I'm Gen X and tired af. I will provide seasoning when Gen Z eats the rich and the boomers and whomstever else (lol not me I'm a public servant / educator / librarian who will never own property nor submit to these PWI motherfuckers for love or money), but just let me sit here in middle age with my smoke, my edibles, and my gotdamb movie lines. I love y'all. So in case you hadn't guessed (and why would you have? It's very unlikely you've read this far -- but if you have, maybe you HAVE guessed), I'm fucking exhausted.

Despite my well-laid plans, some things have happened in the past few weeks that demanded my attention. 1. My mom injured her knee and needed me to help her, so I did for about two weeks. 2. I finished my fucking project from hell.

I FINISHED MY FUCKING PROJECT FROM HELL.

I have to give a presentation on it Friday but then I'm going to be DONE with that fucking thing and the last class of this MLIS and I cannot describe in human language what it has taken for me to reach this point looooool lord bless Google Slides I guess

3. I completed two trainings, one to be a mandated reporter (which I already am but the laws have been updated) and one to learn how to prevent school violence and they were long and tedious and annoying to do because I'd already completed both and knew pretty much all the content already from being a public school educator for 10 years but the school where I got my MSEd lost my paperwork so here we are.

4. Secured a practicum / internship, the last missing puzzle piece to unlock my Master of Library and Information Science achievement, so my fatigue-d ass as been exhausting myself daily interning for a fuckin DOPE school librarian who is queer and my age and went to pride with her wife and two daughters and I've learned so much in the past two weeks I don't even know where to begin. So all that is to say, despite my previous promises, obviously, I have not posted any updates to an echo, a stain, nor will I be until at least mid-July because I'm going to sleep for a week once all this shit is wrapped up and my status as a Mistress of Library and Information Scientists is secured.

(Mistress Library and Information Scientist? I need it to be clear that I will not only be a Mistress of Scientists, but also a Scientist myself. If you want to know if my Mistress status will be as a kept woman or as a domme, the answer is yes and I'm currently accepting applications and formal proposals via asks and dms/pms/whatever tumblr calls them. All genders and identities welcome except stupid people with no imagination. GTFO. But if you've read this far, while it's plausible you're fucking unhinged, it seems highly unlikely that you're stupid OR unimaginative. WELCOME <3

So anyway please make any propositions or promposals fun and funny, and if you gonna be nasty, use your words and please make it hot. The world doesn't need more unsolicited nudes, genital pics, or milquetoast descriptions of sexytimes.)

ANYWAY Once my plate is clear and I can do other things with my time besides grind my bones to dust to prove to the PWI powers that be that I've humbled myself sufficiently to be worthy of their blessings, I'll be getting back into aeas with a thorough reread, revision of the next chapter (which yes, is already written, but is not fit for human consumption until it's been properly revised), and I guess its third act? I honestly don't know how many acts there are. I know I should. Maybe there are four. I know this is something I should know but I'm not a fiction writer by training or trade so I don't know how y'all frame these things. Anyway some wild shit is about to go down, don't think I've forgotten or gone soft. Errybody hold on to your panties because when I get back up in that shit we got some reckoning to deal with.

But first deadass animal antics because I WANNA AND IDGAF.

loooool OK seriously I'm crazy sleep deprived and I have a job interview Thursday and I need to create a slide deck for my internship mentor so I'mma go work on that byyyeeeeeee

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

A Marathon Reading of Martha Graham

Over the course of seven hours, sixteen dancers and former dancers read the legendary choreographer’s memoir from start to finish.

By Ian Frazier

August 15, 2016

Aman sat in a chair in the café on the first floor of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, at Lincoln Center, for almost seven hours and listened to sixteen dancers and former dancers read “Blood Memory,” the autobiography of Martha Graham, one reader after the other, all the way through from beginning to end. Graham wrote that a dancer is “an athlete of God” and quoted Lincoln Kirstein’s remark that dance is “glorified human behavior.” Sitting with a glorified seatedness that came from deep within himself, the man, who can’t dance a lick, felt grateful just to be in the bleachers.

“There is a fatigue so great that the body cries, even in its sleep.” Though Graham wrote that early in her book, the man did not fear such a possibility. His chair was perfectly O.K. The sun moved overhead and the shadows crossed the nearby buildings visible out the café windows in a downtown direction, toward Forty-eighth Street, where Graham had performed for the first time with her own group of dancers exactly ninety years before, to the day. The marathon reading marked that anniversary. Janet Eilber, the artistic director of the Martha Graham Dance Company, read first. “Movement never lies. . . . The body is a sacred garment. . . . Every dance is a kind of fever chart. . . . The beauty of the heel as it is used to carry one forward into life.” Next came Tiler Peck, a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, who, her shoulders bare, wore her dark hair up, bright-red lipstick, and dangling earrings. She took the young Graham through early childhood, in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (now Pittsburgh), where her father was a strict Presbyterian and an “alienist,” or psychiatrist, and coal soot covered everybody. Martha went around veiled.

Behind the readers, in a window of the building across the street, a man or woman sat and organized papers, holding them in both hands and tapping them downward to make them even. Sonya Tayeh, a two-time Emmy nominee for her choreography for “So You Think You Can Dance?,” arrived in an ankle-length black garment and platform shoes. Her black hair was long on top and shaved close on the sides. She read the part that included Graham’s family’s move to Santa Barbara and the fright Graham gave her mother when she skipped rope while standing on a branch of an olive tree.

“I have based everything that I have done on the pulsation of life. . . . I am sure that levitation is possible.” Virginia Johnson, a founding member and artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, read about Graham’s achievements in high school—her editorship of the school newspaper, her playing on the basketball team—and the death of her father. That misfortune threw the family into poverty. Meanwhile, Graham grew up, studied with the Denishawn Dance Troupe, in Los Angeles, moved to New York, unwillingly became a dancer with a musical revue to support her family, refused to wear cheesy costumes, quit the musical revue, began to put together her own company, knocked everybody out with a one-night performance of her work on April 18, 1926, in a theatre she had rented with money borrowed from the owner of the old Gotham Book Mart, appeared all over the country, inspired Fanny Brice to parody her, danced for Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House, danced for eight U.S. Presidents, won worldwide fame.

The sun’s angle became more aslant. In the room across the street, someone lowered the blinds. Most readers, when they finished, sat through the next reader or two, then tiptoed out. The tactful steps of dancers trying not to disturb were small and beguiling choreographies in themselves. A soft step-step-step-step, head down, with torso bent; then longer quiet strides in the open, toward the elevator up ahead. “I don’t work from counts. I have a very physical memory. I work from body phrase.”

Published in the print edition of the August 22, 2016, issue, with the headline “Body Phrases.”

Ian Frazier, a staff writer at The New Yorker, is the author of “Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York’s Greatest Borough.”

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Daily Planet Classifieds

Fandom: DC Comics, Superfam, Young Justice 98, Titans

Summary: Laney Hausler is currently attending classes at Metropolis University when he sees a boy with his face in the library. At first, he thinks he's seeing things. Later, he starts to realize something strange is going on.

Conner Kent lives off-campus with his friends, but he sees a boy who eerily resembles him, and he hires a private investigator to look into the life of his doppelganger.

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Jonathan Lane Kent, Conner Kent, Eddie Bloomberg, Rose Wilson, Bart Allen, Cassie Sandsmark, Cissie King-Jones, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Meloni Thawne, Vic Sage, Slade Wilson

Relationships: Past KonBart

Additional Tags: Father-Son Relationship, Father-Daughter Relationship, No Powers AU, Found Family, Stalking, Family Secrets, No Powers AU, No Capes AU, Complicated Relationships, University AU, Roommates, Private Investigator, Twins, Multiple POV, First Person POV, Obsession, Psychological Drama, Complicated Relationships, Unrequited Love, Platonic Relationships

Chapter One: Move-In Day (Laney's POV)

Orientation and the move-in weekend started on Thursday. I spent my entire childhood in home school, but after weeks of begging, Father agreed to let me go away to college. It was the only time I’d ever been alone, so my departure was not without tears. Father set me straight, and he put me on the train. I waved until I could no longer see him, and my journey began. I slept in my train car for a few hours until the sun peeked through the blinds. I woke up and waited for breakfast. Father gave me a book to read to keep me busy, but I couldn’t focus on the words. I pulled my sketchbook out of my backpack and drew our house. It was a little bluish-grey house that you had to take a boat to get to. Just beyond the front door, our wooden dock and willows surrounded the home, almost swallowing our blue house up. I lived in isolation there with my father until I was old enough to sit quietly in his office and tend to my studies.

Father sat with me and worked on my reading between surgeries and consultations. He told me I required more attention than the public schools would’ve afforded me, and I saw things I wouldn’t have in a public school. I sat in on Father’s surgeries when I wasn’t doing homework or sleeping in his office. At home, I’d work on our land, and on weekends I’d make money selling produce at the farmer’s markets. Sugar cane, garden eggs, corn, carrots, and figs. All sorts of things. The farm and the hospital were all I knew. But I sat on the train, looking out the window at unfamiliar territory. I was far from Kansas. And the marsh. And our little bluish-grey house. And Father.

I ate breakfast in the dining car, watching the trees zoom past, wondering when it’d all stop. Smallville to Metropolis was a forty-hour trip by train, requiring a transfer. I was too nervous to travel by plane. But I always had lovely dreams about trains. My breakfast had too much sugar, but I didn’t mind. It gave me such a rush.

I returned to my car, finishing my sketch before listening to the audio for the book Father gave me. I tried to follow along, but I couldn’t stay awake long. I stopped the tape and lay on my stomach.

The train ride went smoothly, and from there, I lugged my suitcases to the nearest cab. The cabbie helped me load my luggage into the trunk. “Where to?” asked the cabbie.

“Metropolis University,” I answered.

“Long way from home?” he questioned.

“Mhm… All I wanna do is lie down in my dorm and sleep, but I’m thrilled-. I’m rambling,” I muttered.

“That’s alright. Most kids don’t wanna talk at all. These drives go a lot faster when you have someone to talk to,” he replied. So, we talked. Or at least I talked. When I arrived at the campus, I ran into a large crowd of people, and I grabbed a map from one of the tables. I’d never had a cellphone before because I never needed one, so I nearly forgot to text my new roommates to let them know I was on my way.

I sent a short message and received a call immediately. “Where are you? I’ll meet you there,” he said without so much as a greeting.

“Um… I’m at the big statue of the bulldog,” I replied, “And… I have a question. I hope you don’t think I’m rude for forgetting. It’s just that I don’t know how my phone works yet-.”

“You don’t remember my name. Do you?” he laughed. “That’s okay. It’s Eddie. You’ll remember it once you meet me in person.”

“Eddie. Right,” I smiled, “Um, I don’t wanna cause you any trouble. If you’re moving in, I can find-.”

“I see you! I think. You’re the one with the hat, right?” Eddie asked.

I looked around and tipped my hat. “Sure am,” I replied.

He tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned to see Eddie for the first time. I don’t think I ever would’ve expected to see the person I did. He was a ruddy ginger boy with blue eyes and a wide smile. “Rose would’ve come too, but she’s putting together furniture, so she’s not exactly in a pleasant mood… And she doesn’t read Swedish-.”

“I could help. I don’t read Swedish, but I’m a whiz at assembling furniture,” I interrupted without meaning to. Eddie laughed and led me to our dorm suite, which was more like a small house than a room. A girl sat on the floor with a cigarette in her mouth, cursing as she tried to assemble a bookshelf.

“Stupid old man and his stupid Swedish furniture. I hope I see that bitch in the street-.”

“Rose,” Eddie raised his voice. She put the unlit cigarette in its box and extended a hand to me. I shook her hand.

“I’m Laney… Um, you bought Swedish furniture from an old man?” I asked.

“No… My fucking dad ordered it as a character-building exercise. I should take this fucking deformed screwdriver-.”

“Allen wrench… It’s an-. I can put that together for you,” I offered, “I can put it together in less than twenty minutes.”

“Fuck yeah, I’ll order takeout. What do you eat?” Rose asked.

“Tacos,” Eddie whispered, “Say tacos.”

“Sure, I’ve never had tacos before,” I replied. Their jaws dropped and they stared at me in silence. “Well, I-. I um-. I lived in a small swampy town outside Smallville… And we didn’t eat out a lot.”

“Put the Alex wrench down. We’re going to find you the best tacos Metropolis has to offer,” Rose replied as she stood up. Eddie grabbed his car keys, and I followed them out the door.

“Oh, it’s no big deal-.”

“Laney, it’s a big deal for us,” Eddie interrupted.

They took me across town in Eddie’s car while Rose smoked a cigarette and looked at ratings for taco restaurants on her phone. “The best one is by S.T.A.R. Labs,” Rose replied, “Hey, Lane? What’s your major?”

“I’m Pre-Med. I wanna go into pediatric surgery,” I answered, “What about you guys?”

“I’m Women’s Studies, and Eddie’s a film major,” Rose answered.

I couldn’t remember much after that because I fell asleep. When I woke up, Eddie and Rose were in line. Eddie walked over and leaned in the window. “What kind of meat do you like? They’ve got chicken, pork, beef, lamb, fish, shrimp-.”

“I’ll have lamb,” I answered.

“Lamb… Okay,” Eddie replied, “Do you want a Coke?” I shook my head.

“I don’t drink pop… Um, I’ll have tea or fruit juice if they have any… And if they don’t, I’ll have water,” I replied. Eddie nodded and tapped the hood of the car.

Eddie and Rose came back to the car several minutes later with drinks and tacos. “You’re a real straight arrow, you know that?” Rose teased. “Do you have a problem with me smoking around you, because-.”

“No, it’s alright. I don’t mind. A lot of the doctors at my father’s hospital smoked cigarettes,” I replied.

“Your dad’s a doctor?” Eddie asked.

“Mhm, he’s a neurosurgeon,” I replied.

“Oh, shit… Is he pressuring you into Pre-Med? Slade almost blew a gasket when he found out I wanted to major in Women’s Studies,” Rose replied, “He’s military.”

“My dad’s a car salesman, but I don’t think he cares what I do. I’ve lived with my aunt for the past six years,” Eddie replied.

“Oh, my father and I are close… We did everything together,” I explained, "I think he wanted me to go into architecture instead, though."

"How come?" Eddie asked as he dipped his taco in sauce and took a bite.

"Surgery is high-stress, and he wanted me to stay closer to home," I replied. Rose gave me my to-go plate and a styrofoam sauce cup. I set the cup inside the lid of my container before dipping my taco like Eddie and taking a bite. It was spicy and savory with hints of lime. Not to mention the lamb. It was cooked to perfection, and the tortilla crunched wonderfully between my teeth. I made a noise and they fell into a fit of laughter.

"Good, huh?" Rose chuckled.

"It's amazing," I replied before taking another bite. I must’ve eaten ten tacos that night. I assembled the bookcase and unpacked after we got home, and I would’ve slept in my bed, but we all fell asleep on the couch after setting up Eddie’s bookcase.

[sohmariku]

Riku's Random Life: Books

Long overdue, but I finally started cataloging all the books we own... because truly, what's more blissful than leafing through books to check the page count? Or the translator's name? The publisher? (I stopped recording copyright years and edition information at some point because the list got too messy)

To be honest, I decided it was about time after I realized I bought a book I already owned... Still, I'm quite enjoying the process. Leafing through books and recording the information is quite blissful.

And now, after hours of work... I've finally finished listing down all the books... of the first bookcase... A whopping total of 251 books! Oh, and I also cataloged the 7 books floating around my living room! So, that's a list of 258 books in total!

Just 3 more bookcases to go. They admittedly aren't full as the one I started with, but I'm suspecting I'll end up with more than 500 books in total! That's a pretty decent number I suppose. xD

FYI, when I say books, I mean... novels.I have a separate list for all the manga we own. Children's picture books have also not been included in this list (yet). However, there are a few guide bookish books included in the list.

Some notable observations:

We own books in three different languages: Dutch, English & Japanese. (The single French picture book I own is not included on the list yet.)

We do not own a full set of Harry Potter books in any language. In Dutch we miss book 1 & 2. In English we miss book 3 & 4. And in Japanese we miss book 5 to 7. (I'm absolutely sure I owned book 1 & 2 in Dutch, but it seems they went missing at some point. Maybe one of my siblings has them?)

We do have full sets of Lord of the Rings in multiple languages. A full Dutch set and a full English set. We also have doubles of some books.

We own 4 copies of the Hobbit. Two in English, one in Dutch and one in Japanese. (And we also have a graphic novel version!)

I realized I still haven't bought all Narnia books! Even though I said I would... nearly 15 years ago! (I have read all books however, I borrowed them from our public library at some point)

There are roughly 50 books in this bookcase I have not read, but still want to read. About half of them are Agatha Christie books.

The list of books I want to buy has only grown longer! (You evil publisher's, don't add recommendations at the end of a book! You'll make me want to buy more books! I don't have the money for that!)

BONUS: I'm currently reading "The Man who Died Twice" by Richard Osman, which is the second book in the "The Thursday Murder Club" series. I'm only a 100 pages in, but... I absolutely love it! Gotta get the other books of the series too! Seems the fourth book will be released soon.

[cosmonaughty]

The Lucky Ones. chapter 2

I neglected to post chapter one last week, so you get one and two this week

previous chapter

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During the summer, Claudia was left primarily to her own devices after her chores were finished, provided those devices were “godly” enough for her father’s liking. What did and did not meet this standard seemed to change with the weather, so she did her best to keep to herself and stay out of trouble, which in this case meant spending her summer haunting the public library and occasionally going to the playground, though always late in the day when most other kids were expected to be home. When she was younger, Leonard would take his daughter with him when he went to the church during the week and would leave her in the care of Dahlia Gillespie, or any other woman who was willing to watch her. Those days were some of her most treasured, since she'd been able to spend them with Alessa whenever the older girl's mother had them in her care. Sometimes she missed spending her weeks at the church while school was out, but whenever her father would agree to take her along she would realize that it hadn't really been the church she missed.

One morning in July, she was making her way up the steps to the public library when she spotted a sign on the door that read: Closed for structural repairs. Sorry for any inconveniance. For a while, she simply stood and considered the sign, wondering what repairs were being done and what the sign’s typo said about the quality of the library itself. With a fraught sigh, she turned back around and sat on the steps. She didn’t have any money to justify hiding out from the heat in one of the local shops. It seemed likely that the playground would be vacant in such weather, and for good reason. She could practically feel her skin blister when she thought about what the metal slide must feel like underneath the hot sun. She wondered if the lake shore might be tolerable for once, eventually deciding that, even if it was crowded, it was considerably better than sitting out on the sweltering concrete, so she began to make her way in its direction.

It came as a pleasant surprise to her to find that there were relatively few people at the lake, at least compared to what she would have imagined on such a suffocating day. By the time her feet had touched the rough sand on the shore, her cotton dress was heavy with perspiration and clung to her back like a second skin. She felt compelled to walk directly into the water to cool off, but quickly thought better of it and contented herself with letting the water lap at her ankles as she wandered up and down the shoreline in search of shells and interesting rocks.

When she arrived at a section of the beach that was more populated than the direction she had come from, she turned to head back but was stopped by the sound of someone shouting her name. At first, she imagined that the call was intended for someone who happened to share her name, or at least one that sounded similar, but as the voice drew nearer to her she found that she recognized it and turned to find its source just in time to see Vincent stumble in the shallow water and fall directly onto his face. He briefly disappeared under the opaque surface of the lake before popping back up as though nothing had happened.

“You’re not leaving, are you?” He panted, removing his glasses and attempting to shake water and silt off of the lenses before putting them back on. Claudia stared at him as he attempted to sort himself out.

“Are you okay?” She asked.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I meant to do that. How long have you been here?”

She had her doubts about his explanation but simply shrugged.

“Not long. I came from that way…” She pointed behind her.

“By yourself…?” He asked, craning his neck anxiously to make sure that her father wasn’t going to suddenly materialize from amidst the pilings and rocks behind her.

“Yes.”

“Oh," He returned to his usual relaxed posture. "Okay, cool. Mom, look!” He waved over toward his mother, whom Claudia hadn’t noticed before but who was reclining on the beach not far away. “Claudia’s here too!”

Charlene Smith looked like a movie star to Claudia, with her lean, tawny legs stretched out in front of her and her thick brown hair pinned up underneath her sunhat. Her skin glowed with a light sheen of suntan oil and from where Claudia was standing she appeared to have cherry red tint on her lips.  She lowered the paperback she had been focused on and peeked over her sunglasses.

“Sure enough!” She beamed. “Where’s your bathing suit, Claudia?”

“I don’t have one.” For a moment, she felt self-conscious, wondering if there was something wrong with the simple calf-length dress she had on. The woman leaned forward to get a better look at her son’s friend and folded her freckled arms over her knees.

“What’s that you’ve got there?” She asked. Claudia looked down at her hands and realized they were still full of the rocks and shells she had been collecting.

“Just some nice stones.” She explained as she began tucking them into the pockets of her dress. Charlene hurriedly put her book down and extended both of her hands.

“Why don’t I hold onto those for you until you go home.” She offered in a tone that was gentle but implied that she was not making a suggestion. Timidly, Claudia moved closer and held out her hands with the collection of treasures in them. She had seen Vincent’s mother from a distance a number of times, but the two of them hardly interacted. Now, the woman smiled faintly as she set the small collection down on the beach towel beside her. Claudia noticed that her fingernails were painted coral pink and she had a visible tan line above the top of her strapless bathing suit. She remembered the number of things her father had said about Charlene, about the “type of woman” she was, which was to say: the wrong type. Deep down, Claudia felt a twinge of guilt and embarrassment that Charlene would be kind to her when her own father had such unkind things to say. 

As Claudia was retreating back toward the water, Vincent’s mother waved him over and whispered something to him before releasing him to join his friend. After the two of them had strolled away in the direction of a nearby sandbar, he confided what she had said.

“She’s worried you’re gonna drown yourself.” Then he quickly added, “By accident. Because of your dress.”

“What’s wrong with my dress?” She knew she shouldn’t feel offended but she couldn’t help it; besides, feeling defensive was better than feeling ashamed, which seemed to her to be the alternative.

“Nothiiing,” He assured her, moving to the driest part of the sandbar and sitting down. “It’s fine, but if it gets wet it’s gonna drag you down like cement shoes.”

Despite her efforts not to think of it, Claudia couldn’t stop the image she suddenly had of herself weighted down to the bottom of the dark lake, with her hair flowing up toward the surface like white smoke. She shivered and moved away from the water, planting herself in the sand next to him.

“I wasn’t going to get in.” She insisted. “I’m just going for a walk.”

“Seriously? You must be crazy, it’s like a hundred and eighty degrees out here!”

“Don’t call me crazy.” She glowered at him. Her pallid cheeks were flushed pink, though he couldn’t tell if it was from anger or simply the effect the sun had on someone with such an icy complexion. “I’m not crazy. I just don’t want to get wet.”

“Okay, okay…” He turned his face away from her but still watched her anxiously from the corner of his eye. “I didn’t mean it. Sheesh, though, what do you call it? It’s hot as hell out here.”

“It’s not so bad…” Even as she argued, she scooted closer to the water so she could dip her toes in.

“I heard the whole planet is getting hotter.” He looked toward her to see if she had anything to say on the matter and when she didn’t, he continued, “If that’s true, maybe we’ll become a year-round resort town instead of just seasonal. Like the Salton Sea.”

“Where’s the Sultan Sea?”

“The Salton Sea. It’s in California. It used to be pretty popular, I guess, but they got messed up by some hurricanes a couple years ago and now scientists are saying the lake might disappear.”

“I thought it was a sea?” Claudia looked at him over her shoulder, trying to discern how much of what he was telling her was being made up on the spot.

“Yeah, it’s a big lake.”

“Huh?”

“Look, the point is, the planet’s supposed to be getting hotter and now the Salton Sea is disappearing. Like a puddle dries up after it rains, I guess…”

“Do you think that could happen here?” She turned her worried gaze out toward the dark blue expanse of Toluca Lake. How hot would it have to be to dry up that much water, she wondered. Surely too hot for any human to survive. She looked back at Vincent, who didn’t appear to be concerned.

“I don’t know…. maybe in like a hundred years. Nobody really knows.”

 “Where do you even hear these things?” She huffed.

“Around.”

“I think you just make stuff up to scare me.”

“Oh, don’t be scared, whatever you do.” He stared at her with eyes wide to match his grave tone. “Because every time you get scared, the temperature increases by one degree- ow!” He scrubbed furiously at his cheek where the mollusk shell she had flicked at him made contact.

“Now I know you’re lying.” She rolled her eyes and stood up, brushing sand off her dress as she stepped into the lake.

“Hey, where are you going?” He leapt to his feet and hurried after her.

“I’m going for a swim.” 

Vincent’s mother had been insistent on driving Claudia home, but the girl wouldn’t budge. Claudia told herself that she just didn’t want to put Charlene out of her way, that her refusal was simply a personal preference and had nothing to do with her unease about the possibility of her father seeing her with an “immoral woman”. For her part, Charlene seemed to realize that Claudia couldn’t be persuaded, although she tried her best.

“But it’s such a long way.” She fretted. “Oh, and your poor feet…”

“It’s alright; I don’t mind walking, and I’ll be dry by the time I get home.” Her plunge in the lake had completely soaked her hair and dress, but the sun was still high and would remain so long enough for her to at least not track water into the house. She had thought it through carefully before making her decision to swim, although Vincent seemed incredulous, as usual.

“In this humidity?” He commented. “You might as well try to dry off with a wet towel.”

“There’s a breeze.” She pointed out. “And anyway, I’m already halfway dried off just sitting out here. It won’t take so long.”

The two of them had joined Charlene on the shore after Claudia began to tire under the weight of her dress and she had sat on a rock, diligently wringing out the hem while Vincent told her about a book he had found at the school library that had more swear words than he’d ever seen in any book, some of which he’d never seen at all before. He added under his breath that he wouldn’t repeat them because his mother was there, to which Charlene replied serenely from her spot on the towel nearby,

“You shouldn’t repeat them without me here, neither; Claudia is a lady, you watch your language around ladies.”

Claudia instinctively felt like she was being made fun of, the way she did when anyone paid her any compliment, but the sly smile she saw Charlene give her made put her at ease. It seemed to her that the two of them had an understanding. It wasn’t often that she had any kind of agreeable interactions with women; Dahlia was still around, of course, but her father did his best to keep them apart as much as possible. Claudia was certain it was jealousy; after all, Dahlia had been more of a parent to her than Leonard ever was, save for his best days which were vanishingly few. If he didn’t even want her, why couldn’t she go live with Dahlia, or Charlene, or anyone else for that matter? What did he care?

She realized halfway through her walk home that these dark thoughts were obscuring what had otherwise been a bright day for her. Although she tried to turn her outlook back around, this realization made her resent her father even more. Even when he’s not here, he’s ruining my day. She thought bitterly.  Sighing to herself, she wished she had accepted Charlene’s offer after all. If it added only a few more minutes of joy to her day, those minutes would have been well-spent. 

“Imagine having to live with Leonard Wolf.” Even after driving home and changing her clothes, Charlene was still vexed. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the living room and brushing out her hair, laying her bobby pins in a neat row on the scuffed coffee table in front of her.

“Ew, do I have to?” Vincent paused in the middle of flipping through a magazine to look up and express his displeasure.

“If you can believe it, one time, years and years ago, someone at the church had the- the I don’t know what to suggest that he and I should get married.”

“No, don’t tell me that!” Vincent groaned as if in pain but hurried to unearth more information. “Why? Did they say why?”

“Well, since his wife died and I wasn’t married anyway and we both had young kids to take care of and blah blah blah-” His mother huffed, as though the memory of the conversation were as aggravating as the original offense. “I said, ‘I don’t think you know me or Leonard Wolf all too well if you believe that would be a peaceful arrangement’. Fortunately for us two, he doesn't think much of me. But I do wish I could get the poor little girl out of there…”

Vincent watched her sit for a minute in silence, dragging the brush through her hair, momentarily lost in a maze of thoughts and emotions before she found familiar territory once again. She looked over her shoulder toward him. “But we don’t mention it to her, right?”

He knew that in this case, as well as most others, “we” meant “you”, and he tried to feign naivete.

“Mention what? I’d never tell her about all that, I’m already trying to forget it.”

“You know what I mean, wiseacre.” Charlene stood and stretched before going to the armchair her son was draped over and leaning against its back so she could be sure he was looking at her as she gave a stern reminder. “Don’t let her know about what you know. It’ll just make her feel bad. Well…worse. She’s a little kid, but she’s already got a strong sense of pride, probably even more than you, if you can believe it.” She gave his still-damp hair a tousle, which he lazily tried to swat away. “Let her have her dignity, okay? For some folks, that’s all they’ve got.”

To Vincent, it seemed like if things were so bad for Claudia, simply being nice to her wouldn’t solve much in the long run. He had said as much to his mother the previous time this subject had come up and she had reminded him that neither of them had the power to do anything else. If that was the case, he thought, maybe someone who did have that power had best step in. His mother had agreed that would be nice, but the way she had said it led him to believe that such a thing would never happen. It would simply be “nice” if it did.

[sublimeobservationarcade]

The Golden Rule Of Present Giving At Xmas

Yes, it is that time of the year again, Season’s Greetings! Do you know the golden rule of present giving at Xmas? It is an undeniable truth that showering your love and generosity upon others can make you feel mighty good. The power of giving is often sold short in our economically obsessed world view. Economists don’t like ‘giving’ as a concept, it must be said, they find it simply uneconomical. It does not fit in with their strict interpretation of how markets and the world works. Neoliberalism would choke into its empty trickle down effect vessel if too much giving went on in the economy. Adam Smith statue, High Street by kim traynor is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

Economics & The Shunning Of Giving

This is why we only allow gift giving at strictly controlled times like Christmas. Nobody in charge of the economy would like to see things like generosity and altruism get out of hand. No, self-interest and blatant greed are emphasised in the understanding of how our economy and market forces operate. They tell us that the father of economics was Adam Smith. A Scottish philosopher and with Adam as a first name – who else could it have been! Scots are infamous for their penny pinching ways – I mean they also claim to have invented golf. “Smith’s notion of an invisible hand that guides someone seeking to maximize his or her own well-being to provide the best overall result for society as a whole is one of the most compelling notions in the social sciences. Smith and other early economic thinkers such as David Hume gave birth to the field at the onset of the Industrial Revolution.” - (https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/Series/Back-to-Basics/Micro-and-Macro#:~:text=Thefieldbeganwiththe,WealthofNationsin1776.) Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com Indeed, the golden rule of present giving at Xmas fits in with our economically infatuated world view today. One of the main reasons why giving at Xmas is so powerful is that we hardly ever do it for the other 364 days of the year. Familiarity breeds contempt, after all. Thinking about others is not what modern human beings do too often. Of course, parents, in the most part, remain devoted to their children. Parenting is one long sacrificial act, when you really think about it. They say even hostages learn to love their captors eventually. Devotion to a cause or another human being of your blood can become a labour of love. Economics, on the other hand, is all about self-interest and where that leads us in a business sense. The market place is where we humans get down and dirty in the doing of business with each other. Circle, Xmas (1907) Joseph Christian by Library of Congress is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0 What Is this Golden Rule? Quite simply, it is, for every present graciously and generously given to another, you must choose one for yourself. This keeps the economy ticking over in the direction it is established to favour. This self-interest drives our economic wellbeing for the good of the nation and the world. Therefore, according to the golden rule of gift giving at Xmas you must lovingly choose something extra special for yourself. Adam Smith will thank you. Keynes will acknowledge your input. Perhaps, even, Hayek will grant a nod. What will you select for yourself this Christmas that will make you really happy to receive? Choose well, my friend! Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of Money Matters: Navigating Credit, Debt, and Financial Freedom.  ©MidasWord No results found You can try clearing any filters or head to our store's home Read the full article