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boldlyvoid · 1 year

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Sweet Nothing

Spencer Reid x Fem Reader

Summary: Penelope made a friend on the internet over covid who just so happens to live in the same town Dr. Reid just got a new job... and playing Cupid is her favourite thing in the world

Warnings: strangers to lovers, meet cute, 40-year-old virgin Spencer, Virgin reader (late 20's/early 30's), picnics, food mention, lots of Taylor Swift references, first times, Spencer is on anti-depressants, oral sex fem receiving, multiple positions, multiple orgasms, sweet sex, lots of communication

Word Count: 12.6

Making friends on the internet was never easy… it always came with its own set of unique difficulties. People lie, anyone could be secretly crazy and when actions don’t really have consequences on the web, they can get crazier.

That being said, Y/N has recently made a wonderful friend in a woman named Penelope.

Penelope’s Tumblr page was pretty normal, very pink and vibrant and happy, but normal nonetheless. She’s in her early 40s, an internet veteran, an ex-employee at the FBI and known for creating a brand new, very safe, social media platform for young people. She was very easy to trust, very forward and easy to open up to as well, which made the two of them bond instantly.

And despite the age difference and the long distance, Y/N would consider Penelope to be her best friend.

She knew everything about her from her favourite colour to her hope and dreams and favourite singer… and also the fact she was a virgin well into her adult life and dying to get out there. They’ve spent most of their friendship discussing their equally awful dating lives, would-be lovers and almost hookups. Both women have tried time and time again to find love, however, nothing ever seemed to work out… until the day Penelope got an idea.

“I have a friend…” Penelope leads, something sinister in her eyes. “And he’s single and pretty cute, too…”

“Do you have a crush?” Y/N lights up thinking this is a happy moment for Penelope. “Oh my god, Penny tell me all about him!!”

“Well, no, actually… I want to set you up with him,” she explains further, in a much softer tone. “He’s so soft and sweet and a few years younger than me… and still a virgin.”

Her eyes grow impossibly wide and her jaw drops momentarily, “you’re kidding?”

“Nope.”

“Wow,” she takes a moment to soak it all in. She sits back in her chair and lets her shoulders drop as she thinks about it. And for once, Penelope is quiet too. “How much older than me is he?”

“He’s 41… which I know it’s a lot older than you but he’s what you’re looking for and you’d be so perfect for him. He’s so wonderful and he’s waited for so long to find someone who wouldn’t judge him and I know you’d love everything about him if I told you everything but I want you to meet him and find out for yourself… sorry, that was a lot.”

“No, no, that’s okay,” she actually loved when Penelope went on little rants like that. “I just don’t really have the funds to fly to Virginia right now—

“That’s another reason why he’s perfect for you, he’s moving to Reno next week!!!” Penelope can’t help but shake her hands with excitement while her voice raises at least a pitch if not 3.

“Is this the same friend who’s already from Nevada?” Her eyes light right up like a cat staring at a laser… she’s seen photos on Penelope’s personal Facebook, everything from selfies in new glasses to the parties with friends and throwbacks from working at the FBI… “doctor what’s-his-name?”

“Spencer, yeah oh my god? I can’t believe you remember him?” Penelope asks and she just shrugs, “See, this is why you’re perfect for Spencer, he talks a lot like I do, only about much smarter things but you’d be able to keep up.”

“I’d love that, actually,” she swoons, feeling slightly embarrassed about how the possibility of having a boyfriend makes her so giddy. “I’d love to listen to someone talk about what they love and just sit there and look at them…”

“Perfect, I tell you! Perfect!!” Penelope exaggerates, “he’s moving in a few days but all his things are already there. The department paid for his relocation and everything, I’m so surprised he actually decided to go this time, he’s been thinking about it forever.”

“Ask him if he wants some help unpacking when he does get here and I’d love to give him a hand,” she agrees fully, taking a leap of faith and seeing where this could go without the fear of the unknown weighing her down.

—

She shows up at Spencer's apartment 2 days after he arrives in Reno, a bottle of Welcome to the Neighbourhood sparkling cider and an assortment of muffins in her arms, thinking it would be quick and easy for him to take the muffins to work over the next few days, unlike a flower arrangement he didn’t need taking up space in his downsized apartment.

She takes a deep breath before she knocks, her knuckles are barely off the door when he opens it. She barely has a moment to prepare before she’s smacked with the realization that this man is very handsome and incredibly smart… and so, so intimidating.

“Hi,” he smiles at her. “Is that— you didn’t need to bring anything?”

She looks down at the basket she’s holding and then back up to see those beautiful brown eyes, “I know… sorry, um, Hi, welcome to the neighbourhood,” she hands him the basket with the best smile she can muster, slightly embarrassed to be so flustered by the mere sight of him.

“Thank you, come in,” he steps out of the doorway so she could walk in, he steps away from the door completely and sets the basket on a moving box. “Sorry, it’s a mess, the movers just put the boxes wherever they wanted, so I’ve been reorganizing where they were supposed to go,” Spencer explains, gesturing to the room around them.

“It’s okay, that’s why I’m here,” she’s cheery as she shuts the door and starts to take her coat off. “Can I just leave this over here?”

“Yeah, actually—“ he reaches for the closet door, “I found the box with hangers first so you could hang your coat when you got here.”

“She said you were a genius,” Y/N teases, holding her coat up so he could slip the hanger inside and hang it on the bar. She sets her purse down inside the closet too, just for safekeeping.

“I hope she hasn’t talked me up too much,” he’s honest with his fears. “I’m afraid I’m actually quite average, maybe tilted towards the strange side…”

She gives him another smile, but ultimately shakes her head, “Don’t worry, she didn’t tell me anything really personal. I only really know about you from stories she’s told me about her old job, but nothing in detail… I was just starting to get to know her when you were hospitalized before the pandemic and she was by your side a bunch so she wasn’t online and I was actually worried something happened to her 'cause she’s never that quiet.”

“Oh, yeah, that was awful,” he agrees, pressing his lips together awkwardly while he thinks about it. But then he takes a deep breath and his shoulders drop. “So I was thinking we could start in the kitchen? I’ve found most of the boxes.”

“Yeah, lead the way,” she says, following him through the front room to the living room that was connected to the kitchen by means of an archway. “Oh wow,” she muses aloud, “this is going to be nice to decorate…”

“You think?” He looks a mix of worried and confused, “I have no idea what to do with the place.”

“I’m sure once we start taking out all your things we’ll figure something out,” she knows she can make a room out of anything, it's how she decorates her classroom each September. Just with sheer will and pure hope.

“I had to downsize a lot to come here, I donated most of my books so I wouldn’t cost the department a fortune moving them out, but I still have a lot,” he shares, both proud and a little embarrassed that 50% of his boxes are for books. “I don’t have many personal things or decorations… I honestly wasn’t in my last place enough to make it feel homey.”

“You’ll be here often, though, right?” She asks, selfishly, she can already see them becoming somewhat good friends and she wants to be able to see him regularly.

He nods, “Yeah, I’m going to be working with the sex crimes unit, 9 to 5 every day unless there’s a big case,” he explains. “Like human trafficking or a pedophile ring or something, but I doubt I’ll see an overwhelming number of those right now, it’ll be nice to downsize to just a city instead of dealing with the entirety of The United States.”

“I have 4 different groups of teenagers that I teach, which is like 120 kids alone, I can’t imagine being principal and having a thousand kids to watch out for,” she can relate it back. “I’m sure this will be less stressful for you… still awful sometimes but—

“But I’m good with stress,” he assures her. “Especially this kind of stress. You know, when I first started at the BAU I had a co worker who transferred over from sex crimes in New York, she actually had a great time cause she got to kick some creeps ass every now and then.”

“Oh that’s cool, I guess,” she tries not to be jealous, knowing he’s probably had lots of meaningful relationships with women throughout his life, but that’s not going to stop him from getting to know her.

She grabs a box that says mugs and lifts it to the edge of the counter island instead of dwelling on these bubbling feelings for who is essentially, a stranger. “Which cupboard did you want the mugs to go in?”

“Uh,” he gets nervous then. “I have about 3 boxes of mugs… so wherever they fit?”

“Sounds good,” she can’t help but smile, it was cute. “Do you like to collect them or something?”

“Kinda,” he reaches into his pocket and takes out an exacto-knife, handing it to her so she can open the cardboard box. She pushes the knife out of its plastic sheath and starts to cut along the tape seam.

The first mug she pulls out is a pink octopus, “oh, this is so cute?”

“That’s Mildred,” he can’t help but smile, “I got that from Penelope on her last day at work.”

“Oh,” she holds it to her chest in a sweet hug. “I can’t wait for her to come and visit, I just know she gives amazing hugs.”

“Actually, she hugged me before I left and said that I was supposed to pass it along to you at some point…” he looks at her softly, slightly terrified. “Which is strange 'cause she knows I don’t like touching and we’ve never met before but for some reason, she knew I’d still want to hug you upon meeting you…”

She can’t help but laugh, placing the mug down on the counter, “is that an invitation?”

He nods, opening his arms and allowing her to step into his space. She wraps her arms around his middle and holds him close, feeling his large hands on her shoulder and upper back, his thumb lightly caressing the fabric of her shirt.

She stays there in the hug for a moment and then pulls back, “I’ll be sure to tell her that you passed that along.”

“Good,” he’s smiling like an idiot, bright red and flustered, falling head over heels for her already.

At least, the little voice in her head thinks so. Making her smile back at him with the same giddy hopefulness that she’s longed for most of her life.

—

He feels like the most awkward person in the whole fucking world. Hiding away in the living room to unbox something alone and give himself a moment of anxiety without having to play it cool in front of her any longer.

She’s pretty, she’s nice, she smells like honey and happiness and new beginnings… Penelope raved about her for days when she heard he was moving to Reno and now he can see why.

Y/N is amazing… it’s almost too good to be true.

She’s in his kitchen humming while she unpacks box after box of his dishes, moving around his new space like she was always meant to be here too. Like she’s a ghost or an extra piece of the pre-furnished listing. Like it was hers first.

He can’t quite place what song it is that she’s humming, but it’s nice. He wanders over to the archway and leans against it, watching her in admiration as she slides some more mugs to the back of a shelf. He knows he wants to ask her out for real. Not just as friends, not just for help or convenience but because his aura is drawn to hers and the colour they could make together has never been made before.

When she turns around to grab another mug she’s startled by his presence in the doorway, “gosh,” she gasps and places her hand on her chest to get over the initial shock. “What the heck, Spencer?”

“Sorry, it’s just…” he licks his lips and thinks it over before saying it, “It’s so nice to have you here… it feels right.”

“Oh,” she softens, he can see a weight lift off her shoulders and her eyes glimmer under the lights. “Thank you, thats the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me?”

“Would you want to go on a real date, tomorrow?” He can’t help but ask. “I know Penelope was hoping for us to date and I hate that she’s always right but, I would really like to go on a date with you.”

“Yeah, absolutely,” she makes her way around the counter and over to be closer to him. “I’d love that, what do you want to do?”

“Um,” he really didn’t think that far ahead… “can I surprise you?”

“Sure,” she gives him the sweetest, most hopeful smile that makes his heart swell.

“Is there anything you don’t like? Or are allergic to? Anything I should avoid?” He can’t help but ask. The last thing he wants is to surprise her with something that makes her distance herself from him. It’s happened too many times before.

She shakes her head, “not that I can think of?”

“Okay,” he smiles at her, stepping into her space more. “I found my Alexa that Penelope got me years ago, did you want me to put on that song you were humming?”

She looks like a dear in the headlights, she clearly forgot he could hear her when she was humming. “Oh, um… no? I don't think you’d like the song.”

“It sounded nice when you were humming?”

“It’s embarrassing…”

“What is it?”

She sighs and gives in, “Taylor Swift has this song that I listen to when I dream about the life I want and it’s been stuck in my head all day cause I’m in your kitchen… and the lyric is outside they’re pushing and shoving but you’re in the kitchen humming, all that you ever wanted from me was Sweet Nothing…”

“That’s not embarrassing,” his heart swells. “Penelope is a matchmaker, has she ever told you about all the couples she created at the FBI? She’s responsible for 5 marriages and by proxy about 10 babies.”

“Wow,” Y/N’s a bit taken aback by that. “So you’re saying she’s like Cupid?”

He nods, “Or she’s able to see fate's design a lot better than us.”

“One hug? That’s all it took?” She teases him.

“A few mugs?” He teases right back.

“Hey, you can tell a lot about a person by what they hoard,” she bites back, trying not to smile too hard.

He just shakes his head and backs up, headed back to the living room with her in tow. “Hey Alexa, what’s the Taylor Swift song that says you’re in the kitchen humming.”

“That would be Sweet Nothing by Taylor Swift on Midnights By Taylor Swift, released October—“ the British man's voice comes booming from the small speaker only to be cut off.

“Hey Alexa play Sweet Nothing by Taylor Swift,” he orders with a smirk plastered to his face.

“Okay, here’s Sweet Nothing by Taylor Swift on Amazon Music.”

Within the first few notes, he knows this is going to be their song. He extends his hand to her, silently asking her to dance even though he doesn’t really know how… and by design or some exquisite happenstance, she takes it.

With one hand in hers, his other hand lands on her hip while her extra hand is placed ever so gently on his shoulder. Chest to chest, eye to eye, they smile and sway along to the flow of the tune. Her hand squeezes around his own slightly tighter, the tune matches exactly how she was humming in his own kitchen and then he hears the lyric she mentioned.

They said the end is coming,

Everyone's up to something,

I find myself running home to your sweet nothings.

Outside, they're push and shoving,

You're in the kitchen humming,

All that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothing.

He spins her around making her laugh as she crashes back into his chest and holds him tighter. She wraps her arm around his middle and rests her chin on his shoulder. The music is loud, but his thoughts are louder. He wants everything this song mentions but with her. Only her. And it’s been only an hour and a bit that he’s known her. He doesn’t even really know her but he craves to.

“Do you write poems?” He asks after the song mentions them.

She shakes her head, “no, but I know you read a lot of them… do you write them too?”

He nods, “Sometimes… maybe I’ll make you one.”

“I’ll probably cry,” she admits.

Industry disruptors and soul deconstructors

And smooth-talking hucksters out glad-handing each other

And the voices that implore, "You should be doing more"

To you, I can admit that I'm just too soft for all of it

She is soft-hearted. She’s sweet and kind and wonderful, too. She tilts her head to the side to rest against his own. Now cheek to cheek, he lets out a deep breath he didn’t even know he was holding. She hums along to the song, just soft enough for him to hear, not quite on key, but it’s endearing.

They’re quiet for the rest of the song and keep swaying, knowing it’s going to end soon and they’re going to have to pull away. They don’t want to… luckily the song is on a loop. It starts right back up and so they don’t pull away.

—

His place is still a mess when he gets ready to leave the next morning. After their dance, she knew she wouldn’t be able to focus on unpacking and he knew he’d be too tempted to hold her all night long… so she went home. He helped her into her coat, he hugged her goodbye and she left, taking a piece of his heart with her.

He’s not as used to Reno as he was with DC, but one look at the map and he was able to find the grocery store quite easily. He walks there because he opted not to bring his shitty car with him. He sold it with the promise of looking for a new one here in Nevada, but it was actually a lot nicer to walk in a sunny place like this. And on days when it’s not as nice, taxis exist for a reason. He really didn’t need a car, anymore.

He didn’t realize how much he missed Nevada until now.

He spent a lot of last night thinking about what he wanted to do for their date and came up with the splendid idea of a picnic. The first thing he did was call Penelope, it wasn’t too late for her back in DC, so he didn’t feel too bad, but he had to ask her some questions. He wanted everything to be perfect. She talked his ear off and then gave him an extensive list of the things she knows Y/N likes from past conversations, it turns out they’ve spent a bit of time talking about snack foods and it was finally coming in handy.

He comes back to his newly unpacked kitchen with bags of groceries, he prepares sandwiches on croissants and cuts up cheese and puts them on toothpicks with fancy slivers of meat… and he bought some new Tupperware so the meats and cheese can be in one and the fruit he bought can be in another. He bought her favourite drinks and some cute disposable cups to put them in because he didn’t have anything other than coffee mugs, which he was sure she wouldn’t mind, but he did.

He wanted this to be perfect for her.

All while he was packing their picnic basket, he listened to Taylor’s music, thanks to Penelope he had a playlist of her favourites to get himself caught up on them and ended up liking most of them himself. Especially one called Maroon. The lyrics are so powerfully written and wondrously sung, it’s as if a heart-stopping novel was put to music and all told within 3 minutes and 38 seconds. Taylor Swift is a genius, that much her lover got right in sweet nothing. What a mind, indeed.

Just a little past her apartment, there is a little park with a lovely field of flowers beside it. It’s a perfect spot for a picnic, so once he’s finished packing their picnic, he sets off on a walk to her apartment, thinking a walk to the park together would only add to the ambiance of the day.

He makes it to her place a little before 11, like he told her he would, and spends a few seconds in the hallway to catch his breath and fix his hair before he knocks. And when he does knock, it’s 3 times and he hits the wood pretty hard with his knuckles. Inside, it’s pretty quiet and then he hears her call out, “Just a sec!!”

He waits patiently for a minute or two and then she wipes the door open while putting in an earring, “Sorry, I didn’t realize what time it was.”

She’s breathtaking. She’s all dolled up and it’s all for him. He can’t believe it.

“That’s okay,” he manages to breathe out, leaving his mouth hung open as he stares.

She just smirks and reaches out for him, touching his chin and redirecting his jaw closed. “You don’t want to catch flies…”

He blushes, uncontrollably, and bows his head, bashful as ever. “Sorry, you just look beautiful… I’m not used to someone getting all dolled up for me.”

She lets out a huff of breath through her nose, settling all her nerves, her shoulders drop and she stares at him like he’s the only man in the whole world. “You’re so sweet, I almost can’t believe you’re real.”

“That feeling is mutual,” he assures her.

She finally looks down at his hands to see him holding a picnic basket. “Oh my god, are we going to have a picnic?” She lights right up.

He nods, “is that okay?”

“Okay? It’s perfect, Spencer!” She’s so excited and it’s real. She’s not playing it up or anything. She’s genuinely over the moon. “Let me just put on my shoes and grab my purse, you can wait in here.”

“Okay,” he steps inside and closes the door behind himself as she runs off into he bedroom.

It’s a small apartment. Her bedroom and bathroom are separate rooms, but the kitchen, living room and the washer and dryer are all exposed. She has it set up really nicely, it’s warm and inviting and happy and he could see himself making a home on her couch in the upcoming weeks of getting to know her. He couldn’t wait to learn about her favourite shows and movies and books. He wanted to hear all about her family and friends and co-workers, even her favourite students and the ones who irked her. He wanted to hear about it all. He wants to know her favourite colour and how she likes her pizza and her pasta and what her favourite baked good is. There’s an endless amount of personal things that he can learn, and he wants to know it all. He wants to love it all, too.

When she returns, she has her shoes on, her purse over her shoulder and a blanket draped over her forearm. “I don’t want to sit on the grass, and I didn’t think you fit a blanket in there…”

“Oh, shoot,” he looks down at the basket and realizes that was the one thing he forgot. “Yeah, we’re going to need that.”

“Thought so,” she smirks. She walks back over to the door and grabs her keys, “anything else you need?”

“Just you,” he replies without thinking it over.

“Stop being so sweet,” she nudges him, staring up at him like he hung the stars, himself.

“Or else?” He teases. It’s remarkable how easy it is with her. It just flows out of him like the script was already written between them.

She steps even closer into his space, “you get a kiss for every compliment,” she says, standing on her tip-toes, she presses her lips to his cheek for 1, 2, 3 seconds of pure bliss.

She drops back down to her normal height, a smirk plastered to her face, proud of the lipstick stain that’s almost as red as his blushing cheek. She reaches up to wipe it off but he pulls back, “don’t…” he’s adamant. “I want everyone to know you’re mine if you’re going out looking this beautiful beside me.”

“Okay then.”

—

Like a real man, Spencer insists on standing closer to the road as they walk along the sidewalk. A few moments into their walk, he transitions the basket to his right side so that his hand that’s closest to her is free and she notices it right away. She has draped the blanket over her left arm, leaving her right hand free… all but begging him to take it. But he’s shy and quiet and he doesn’t know how to just do it.

So she does.

She takes his hand in hers and interlocks their fingers, smiling up at him as they keep going forward, “have you ever been to this park?”

He shakes his head, “No… is it nice? The reviews online said it’s clean and there isn’t a lot of illegal activity there.”

She can’t help but laugh, “Yeah, it’s a nice park. Sometimes I hit up the bookstore down here and then I go read in the park. It’s nice in the summer when I have a week off between my regular job at the school and my summer job.”

“Summer job?”

She nods, “Mhm, you know, 'cause I only work at the high school when school is in session and I don’t make enough to take two whole months off so each summer I take a new job. Like last summer I worked at a daycare but the summer before that I was at a ladies' clothing store a few streets over.”

“What are you going to do this summer?” He asks, intrigued.

“I’m not sure yet… I’m still friends with some of the girls at the daycare so I might go back, but honestly, I’m also thinking of putting in my application for summer school and I might tutor some of the kids that need help graduating,” she explains. “Cause I know how hard it is to try your best and still just not get it. They shouldn’t be punished for having a hard time.”

“You sound like a wonderful teacher, I’m sure they’d really like to have you in the summer, too,” Spencer compliments. “I was always closest to the kids that didn’t do very well in school. It’s not that I pitted them or felt like I could improve them, I just liked who they were as people, more.”

“They’re lovely kids, they just get pushed to the side because they either learn differently or they can’t do the work at home for whatever reason. And they shouldn’t be punished for that, it’s not their fault that most kids nowadays have to work to help their families or become a second parent to help their younger siblings. They barely have the time to take care of themselves let alone do 5 hours of homework a night,” she rants, “I genuinely hate how the school system is currently.”

“My nephew is in high school currently and he isn’t having the best time,” Spencer shares. “He calls me for help on his math homework sometimes and it always floors me that even if he got to the right answer, if he didn’t follow the exact formula that the teacher uses then he gets a 0. There are many different ways to solve an equation, and as long as he shows his work it should count.”

“Exactly!” She raises her voice a little and startles a lady passing them. “It’s frustrating to watch them struggle with shit they’ll never use again unless they’re going into a math-dominated field. It’s not fair.”

“More kids need a teacher like you,” Spencer says, giving her hand a little squeeze.

“Why, thank you,” she gleams. “If we weren’t in the middle of the walkway I’d kiss you again…”

“The books store is just up here, you can kiss me in the aisles… if you really want to?” he kids, but not really. She can tell he wants another kiss from her.

So she drags him into the bookstore, they tell the worker that they’re just looking and perusing the store, calling out the titles they know and rating the backs of the ones that seem interesting until they’re in the back aisle. She turns to him with a smirk, “Are you gonna make me stand on my tip-toes every time, bean sprout?”

He smirks and places the picnic basket down on the floor so his hands are free, “I could just kiss you, instead, you know?”

“You wouldn’t be so bold?” She tempts, secretly hoping he will.

He tentatively reaches out, placing his beautifully soft hand on her cheek and caressing her skin with his thumb before he starts to lean in. She closes her eyes in anticipation, just mere seconds before their lips touch and like the big bang, universes were created in the pitch-black darkness behind her eyelids. Colours she’s never seen before, feelings she’s only read on pages that surround them, and a warmth in her chest that seems so foreign… yet so right.

He goes to pull away and she leans back in, dropping the blanket in the process to kiss him again and again until his tongue slips past her lips and it's more than just a kiss. It’s the start of something beautiful. Something more than Penelope ever thought possible when her two friends ended up in the same town at the same time.

They’re brought out of the moment by the sound of a woman clearing her throat, “You actually have to buy something you can’t just make out back here.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“I’m so sorry!”

The two of them rush out with equally guilty mugs. She grabs the first book she see’s, “We’ll take this.”

“I’ll meet you at the register,” the keeper replies rather snidely and over it as she walks away.

Looking down at the book, it’s a poetry book by an author she’s never heard of before. “You know this one?”

Spencer shakes his head, “surprisingly, no.”

She picks up the blanket again, he grabs the basket and the two of them slowly make their way towards the cash. “Sorry, again,” Y/N says, pressing her lips together awkwardly. “I don’t know where that came from, we really just wanted a book for our picnic.”

“I’ve been in love before, I get it,” she waves it off with a growing smile. “This is a good choice… it’s only 6 dollars as well.”

“I’ve got it,” Spencer steps forward, taking his wallet out of his pocket and handing the woman two 5 dollar bills. “Do you take tips or donations?”

“Always, it keeps the lights on,” she’s happy to take the extra money, exchanging one of the 5’s for 4 1’s and placing them in a jar behind the desk. “Thank you, I hope to see you back here sometime.”

“Definitely, I’d love to have a real look next time,” Spencer teases as Y/N takes the book. He places his hand on her back, “thank you.”

“Have a good rest of your day,” she adds for good measure, following Spencer towards the door.

“You too! And enjoy your picnic!” The lady calls back just before they leave.

“God,” Y/N scolds herself, “I can’t believe that happened.”

“Spencer just laughs, “It’s not that embarrassing… believe me, I’ve walked in on much worse.”

“I can imagine, I mean, Penelope told me about some of your cases,” she says with the roll of her eyes. “I really don’t know how you did it for so long.”

“Honestly, me either,” he agrees with her there. “How much do you know about me? Because she never told me much about you and I’m worried we’re not on even playing grounds…”

“Oh, not much!” She tries to sound as believable as possible. “She basically told me you’re a genius, she loves you like a little brother and some little anecdotes like you were shot in the knee once and were on crutches for months and you wear a lot of purple which I’ve also seen in the Facebook photos she has of you… but nothing super personal.”

“Okay, that’s good then… cause she’s seen me at my worst,” Spencer admits as they make their way toward the park entrance

“She was basically big brother to you guys,” Y/N teases.

Spencer manages to laugh, “Yeah, she was.”

The gates to the park are open, there are children running about cheering with one another while their parents sit on the benches and talk, barely watching on. They pass everyone and head right back to the grassy area behind the playground, past the soccer fields and take cover under a baby Willow tree that still has lots of growing left to do, however, she’s still big enough to cast a good amount of shade on them.

She lays out the blanket perfectly and takes a seat while Spencer gets down on his knees, placing the picnic basket in front of himself. All while they’re still talking about Penelope. He takes out two plastic champagne flutes and hands them to her first, then he sets out the bubbly drink he got, followed by 4 Tupperware containers. “Speaking of which, I called her last night and she told me about your favourite snacks…”

“No way?” She can’t believe it.

He simply nods, a smirk growing, “It would seem you two love food.”

“Well, it’s always late when we call so she’s seen a lot of my nightly snacks,” She admits. “Is that? No way…” She takes one of the containers and opens it up to find little croissant sandwiches. “You want me to fall in love with you? Don’t you?”

He’s startled to hear it and she can’t believe she said it. It was forward and real and incredibly honest. But Spencer nods. Of course, he nods. “Yeah, I do.”

She looks at him like that 'I do' was the big one. The most important one. And to her, it’s almost more important. “Really?”

“I’ve spent most of my life completely alone, I’m tired… and I’m not settling, not at all, no,” he stutters out and worries he’s offended her. “I just mean, I like you, you’re wonderful already and everything I look for in a person and if you loved me I’d be the luckiest man in the world.”

“Wow,” she can’t believe it.

“Sorry—

“No, no,” she reaches out, dropping the container so she could touch his knee instead, “don’t, I’m just shocked, really…”

“Really?”

She nods, “Yeah, not many people have just openly told me that they like me let alone want me to love them?”

“Me either,” Spencer admits. He’s ready to lay his whole heart bare to her. “I really want someone to love me and if that someone was you then I could die happy.”

“Not on my watch,” she manages to smile. “My love means taking care of you. My love includes worrying and obsessing and making you entirely mine… it’s driven people away before we could even start anything real, I don’t want that to happen here.”

“It won’t,” Spencer is quick to reply. “It can’t drive me away, it’s exactly what I want… and I want to love you just the same.”

“You won’t have to try hard,” she teases, smiling up at him. “Come on, get comfortable, grab a sandwich and talk to me. Tell me about yourself and watch it happen.”

“Okay,” he follows her instructions.

He gets comfortable on the blanket, taking off his shoes so he can sit crisscross applesauce and he pours them each a glass of sparkling cider. “I’m sober,” he shares first. “I had some drug problems in my 20’s and I find if I avoid all substances, except coffee, then I won’t slip.”

“Wise man,” she compliments. “I don’t drink either, mostly cause drinking alone is sad and I don’t like how it makes me feel.”

“And I picked this pinky one cause of the line in Paris…” Spencer admits which makes her peak right up. “You know, fake wine makes believe it’s champagne…”

“Oh my god, you listened to Midnights?”

He nods, “I went back to listen to Sweet Nothing and thought why not?”

She can’t help but shake her head and smile, “That’s so cute, you have no idea how cool this is for me. No one I know really likes her, everyone acts too cool for Taylor Swift and then you come in and listen to her on your own accord? That’s— that’s everything to me, Spencer.”

“I think she’s amazing, well, so far, at least,” he admits. “I’ve only listened to the one album but it was a great album, I particularly enjoyed Maroon.”

“Her track 2’s are always my favourite,” Y/N raves. “She saves track 5 for her personal favourites or songs that mean the most to her, like on Red there’s this one called All Too Well and it’s originally 5 minutes but on the new recording of Red it’s 10 minutes and it’s so good. It’s insanely beautiful.”

“I can’t wait to listen to it,” he can’t help but smile. “I love listening to you talk about her, you glow.”

“Here,” she pulls out her phone and headphones from her purse and plugs them in. “We can listen to it now if you want?”

“Okay,” he agrees, taking an earbud and placing it in his ear while she moves closer to share the other.

And for 10 minutes they sit there in silence, she eats her sandwich and he listens to the words with the most admiration. The hurt is palpable, the passion is gut-wrenching… he loves it and she can tell from the look on his face. He’s so focused and enthralled. She feels a warmth in her chest that she hasn’t felt before, something in this moment is what makes her really love him. She isn’t just infatuated, he isn’t just cute and nice… he’s special.

“That was amazing—

“I never want to feel like that,” she whispers, staring at him intently. “don’t break my heart, please.”

“I don’t plan to?”

She lets out a deep breath she didn’t mean to hold, “I’ve never dated anyone before because I can’t go through the heartache. She made it seem so fucking awful I never want to feel it.”

“It’s awful,” he admits, all the hurt he’s experienced comes forth, pooling behind his eyes as tears form. “I was in love only once. She died before I could tell her.”

“Oh, Spencer, I’m so sorry,” she can’t believe it. “When?”

“In 2013.”

“Have you been single for 10 years?”

He nods, “Basically. I tried to date before the pandemic but she wasn’t really my type, it was more convenient so it didn’t last.”

“Oh.”

“This isn’t like that,” he assures. “You’re kind and beautiful and you have a normal job and you make people's lives better… you’ve made Penelope’s life better. You are sunshine—

“Do not call yourself midnight rain I will laugh,” she cuts him off, biting back a smirk.”

“I wasn’t,” he laughs too, “but it works here, too.”

“I’m not always sunny,” she adds, making sure he knows that.

“That’s okay,” he’s fine with it, really. “Even on gloomy days, the sun is just behind the clouds.”

She can’t believe he just said that. It’s so beautiful and kind and about her? It makes her just stare at him, mouth opening to say something but nothing comes out. She doesn’t know what to say. “Oh, man… I’m going to fall in love with you so quickly.”

“Me too,” Spencer smiles, reaching out to hold her hand. He grips it tight and doesn’t break eye contact with her, “and I’m excited about it.”

—

He only lives around the corner from her which means they see each other every day for the next week. They wake up at the same time, they get coffee before work, she drops him off at the police station and then she heads to the high school. After school, she goes and picks up something for dinner and he Ubers right to her apartment to eat. They talk well into the night, they listen to music, they watch documentaries and movies and they cuddle… she knows almost everything about him and he knows almost everything about her. He’s going to meet her family in the summer, hopefully, and she’s going to meet Diana in a few weeks.

Being together is the most fun she’s ever had in her entire life.

And while they’re not going on dates to get to know each other, they are dating and Penelope is happy about it for the most part. She’s just upset she lost her nightly chats with Y/N on Zoom. They barely even text now.

When Penny finally does get Y/N on the phone, however, it’s on a night that Spencer has an intense case in Reno. The BAU are back in town… 3 women have died this week, all online sex workers, they never walked the streets and yet that’s where they’ve ended up. It’s heartbreaking.

“I called him today during his break and he just sounded so defeated, it breaks my heart,” Y/N says with her hand over her chest and pleading eyes, “it’s too bad you’re not working with them again.”

“Their new tech guy is good,” Penelope assures her, “and he’s got JJ and Luke with him so he’s fine… he’s more than fine, he’s Spencer.”

She rolls her eyes playfully, “he is fine…”

“You guys really like each other?” Penelope digs, she wasn’t going to pry and press too many questions but she can’t help herself.

Y/N nods, “Yeah… I think I love him.”

“Really?” Penelope lights right up, “Oh my god?”

“I know! It’s been so nice, we were going to go on another date tonight but, you know, duty calls…”

“How many have you had so far?”

“Uh,” Y/N doesn’t really know. “Well, we unpacked boxes last Saturday and then on Sunday we went to the park and I’ve seen him every day this week…”

“I know,” Penelope pretends to be mad about it but she can’t stay fake mad for long. She loves them both too much. “I’ve missed you.”

“I miss you too, I just like cuddles with my boyfriend more…”

“Boyfriend?”

She nods, “Yeah, I think that’s what we are, I mean, we’ve already talked about what we want and he said he wants to fall in love with me so I think that makes us boyfriend and girlfriend?”

“Spencer said that? Shy, nervous, Spencer Reid?” Penelope can’t believe it.

She can’t help but laugh, “Yeah, I guess that’s him… I don’t know, he’s a lot less shy with me.”

“Have you—

“No, no, not yet,” she waves her hands in front of the screen and looks panicked. “No. We haven’t even talked about it yet.”

“No?”

She shakes her head, “No… I mean, I want to and we’ve had some nice make-out sessions but we haven’t done anything more than kiss.”

“Wow,” Penelope is genuinely shocked. “I thought you would’ve jumped him by now.”

“Hey,” she says with a cheeky smile. “I have self-control… so does he, I guess cause he hasn’t even tried to cop a feel or anything, he’s super reserved.”

“Well yeah he’s spent 40 years being a virgin,” Penelope says without any malice, she’s just stating a fact. “He’s used to things not going there. I think you have to make the move.”

“I was thinking that too,” she doesn’t sound excited about it. “I’m just really scared even though I know I shouldn’t be when it’s Spencer. He’s going to be very sweet and he’s already told me he thinks I’m beautiful and I feel it around him… it’s just so nerve-wracking.”

“I was still a teenager when I had sex the first time and it was so scary, I wish I waited,” she really emphasizes Wish. “I wish I was mature and chose someone good and deserving and I wish he cared about me. But you have all those things right now, it’ll be worth it now.”

“I know,” she tries her hardest to believe her. “I know it’ll be okay… it’s just the anticipation feels more like anxiety.”

“Which is totally normal, but it’ll go away when it happens, believe me.”

“I do.”

—

Spencer's cause goes on another 4 days. She brings him coffee and donuts after work, she meets his friends and ex-collogues and she understands now why he had to get out of it all. Emily is just a few years older than him and fully grey, JJ sneaks out to make phone calls to her family who she doesn’t see as often as she wants and Luke is still single no matter how hard he tries. The job takes things from them.

She gives him a hug before she leaves each time, never a kiss, that would embarrass him in front of his new co-workers and his old ones would never let him live it down. So he gets just a hug. It’s long, they linger and then she goes home.

It’s weird being home without him now that he’s been there often. She misses him dearly, every day. All through the weekend, he works. And then the case ends on a Tuesday at 3 in the morning and stays up just for her. He buys them coffee, he walks to her place and he knocks on her door right at 6:30, 15 minutes after he knows her alarm has gone off.

She opens the door dazed and confused. “What are you doing here?”

“I missed my best friend.”

“Get in here,” she tugs him inside and makes him put the coffees down so she could have a proper welcome.

She cups his face in her hands and kisses him with so much force and passion, it startles him. But he kisses her back. He wraps her up in a big hug, bringing her in closer, he deepens the kiss with the swipe of his tongue and she pushes him back against her door. It’s as fiery as the first time, it’s better than the kiss in the bookstore, there’s so much more feeling in it now.

His hand roams up the flat of her back, over her shoulders and rests on the nape of her neck. His thumb caresses the skin under her ear, causing her to moan into the kiss and pull away, embarrassed. Her eyes go wide and she stutters on her way to find an excuse but Spencer just smiles, still caressing her, he brings his other hand up to cup her cheek, “It’s okay… you’re so cute.”

Her cheeks heat up and she feels bashful as all hell. “Shut up,” is all she can manage to say. “I’m still half asleep, I mean, you should be lucky I already brushed my teeth before you surprised me.”

“Mm,” Spencer hums, running his tongue over his teeth, “that’s why you’re so minty.”

She just pulls away and reaches for her coffee, “And now I can’t drink this until the minty-ness goes away, so thank you.”

“Should I go awa—

“No,” she rushes out. “No, you can stay. I can drive you home on my way to work.”

“Okay,” he can’t help but giggle a bit as he makes his way closer to her, reaching out for her waist. “You like me…”

“Shush!” She swats him away, “I have to get ready, don’t tempt me.”

“Just one more kiss? Come on, isn’t it the deal that I compliment you and you kiss me?” He begs. “You’re so beautiful and smart and lovely—

She steps closer to him and presses her lips right to his only to pull back just as fast. He cups her face in his hands and stops her from moving away too fast and peppers kisses to her lips. “Spence— Spencer!” She giggles while trying to pull away, “Seriously, I have to go to work!!”

“Fine,” Spencer sighs as he lets her go, only to pull her back in for one last kiss. “Okay, now you can go.”

She just laughs as she pulls away and heads back to her room, “Come on, you can sit in my room while I get ready.”

“Really?” He follows even though he doesn’t believe her.

“Why not?” She doesn’t see why it’s a big deal, “I’m just doing my makeup and then I have to pick an outfit and I’ll change in the bathroom?”

“Okay, yeah, sorry I just thought you meant you’d change in front of me and I didn’t think we were there yet?”

“Oh, no,” she agrees. Taking a seat at her little makeup desk, she turns to him. “When do you think we should be ready for something like that?”

“When do you want to?” He questions her right back.

She shrugs, “I don’t know… this Saturday is 2 weeks of us being together so, I mean, most couples start moving further around then?”

“We’re not most couples,” he reminds her.

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” Spencer hesitates, he looks a little nervous but he sits on the end of her bed anyway. “I’ve never had sex before… I’ve wanted to, I’ve tried.”

“I’ve never even tried,” she’s incredibly honest. “Making out is as far as I’ve gone with anyone.”

“Really?” He almost can’t believe it. “Why?”

She shrugs, “I’m over-emotional and incredibly soft. I can’t do one-night stands and I’ve never trusted anyone enough to experiment before.”

“Oh,” Spencer softens, “you feel safe with me?”

She nods, “Extremely.”

He gets up and wraps his arms around her, resting his cheek against the top of her head. She snuggles into him and holds onto one of his forearms, they both sigh. Completely content with one another.

—

They agreed to try and go further on Friday night. They both have weekends off, so they could spend the whole weekend together if they wanted to.

And when Friday comes, she isn’t nervous. It’s just a Friday.

She placed an order for Chinese food when she got home from work and texted Spencer right after so he could get it on his way over. It was closer to his place and convenient this way and he just liked to get it for them. And while he’s on his way, she takes the time to bring out some comfy blankets to put on the couch for their cuddles later and she lights some candles and turns on her fairy lights. Her whole living room is set in a soft, romantic mood with the hopes that they could do more than just cuddle tonight…

Spencer knocks 3 times to let her know it’s him and then he walks in, “Hey, so they ran out of spring rolls but they gave us egg rolls instead, is that cool?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” she doesn’t care, rushing over to the door she takes the bags from him and puts them on the table by the door instead.

He slips out of his shoes and puts them beside hers, then he takes his bag off and places it beside his shoes, next he takes off his coat and hangs it up. He even locks her front door for her, these are all things he’s used to doing after 2 weeks of visiting. She clears her throat when he takes too long to turn back to her, “excuse me, I’m waiting,” she teases.

“Sorry,” he steps closer to her and places his hand on her cheek as he leans in for his welcome home kiss. It’s a new tradition that she loves so much and clearly he does too as she can feel him smile through the kiss. He kisses her once, twice and a 3rd time just because he can, “there, happy?”

She shakes her head and cups both his cheeks, pulling him in for a longer, more passionate kiss. His hands go to her waist, holding her closer to his body, he wraps her up in a hug as well. She pulls back with an audible “mwah,” and a smile on her own face. “Now I’m happy.”

“You’re so cute,” he compliments. “I missed you so much today.”

“I missed you, handsome,” she compliments right back. “Um, I missed you so much I was wondering if maybe you’d want to stay over tonight?”

“Oh?” He’s only slightly surprised, “yeah, I’d like that… I just need to check my bag, hold on.”

“Okay?” She’s a little confused about why he has to, but she doesn’t ask any questions. She just watches him open up his satchel and search the pockets.

“Oh, good,” he says with relief in his voice as he pulls out a bottle of pills and his toothbrush. “I haven’t told you yet, but I’m on antidepressants… I take them every night before bed.”

“That’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she says without a second thought. “Do they help?”

He nods, putting them back in his bag until later, “Yeah, I like them.”

“Good, now, come on,” she grabs the bag of food and makes her way over to the kitchen so she can start dishing everything out. “Did you check that they had everything?”

“You bet, after they forgot the red sauce last time I’m never not checking the bag again,” he says as he follows her.

They spend a few minutes in the kitchen as they fill their plates with a variety of food. Spencer opts for a fork while she uses the chopsticks provided in the bag and then they move back to the living room. They put their plates on the coffee table and sit down criss-cross apple sauce together on the floor in front of the couch. The remote is on Spencer's side of the table, and the TV is on and ready for them to pick a show, but instead, Spencer asks how her day went.

“Oh, it was okay with my juniors we worked on SAT prep and then with my 3 freshman classes we worked on their independent study unit and I’m now considered the cool teacher cause I let them listen to their music while they read,” she shares with a smile. “And then for my spare I filled in for Miss Tyndall, the arts teacher, so we watched a David Bowie doc while they all worked on different projects.”

“Sounds like a fun day,” Spencer loves to listen to her talk about it all. “You’d be my favourite teacher too.”

“I know,” she can’t help but smile. “How was your day?”

He shrugs, taking a forkful of fried rice, he covers his mouth with his hand while he talks, “It was okay, no one died so that’s a bonus.”

For the rest of their meal, they share little stories, about their day and things they heard on the news or on TikTok, funny anecdotes and memories from their separate pasts. It’s nice. She could listen to him all day and he felt the same. When their plates are empty, they both lean back against the couch and Spencer turns to stare at her with so much love in his eyes.

“I’m really enjoying my nights with you,” he shares, and in the silence, she feels it. But he says it anyway, “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she says and a feeling of relief flows out of her in the form of a sigh. Her shoulders drop, and she looks over at him with a sweet smile, silent as they take in the moment. “I love you so much.”

He places his hand on top of hers, both of them are in too much of a food coma to move closer or kiss or anything. They just hold hands and stare at each other.

“I get it now,” she whispers. “I understand what she’s been singing about all these years… this feeling right here. It’s worth the heartbreak, I think.”

“I can’t tell the future, but I know I never want to leave you,” Spencer replies, voice equally as soft. “I want everything with you.”

Her heart starts to beat out of her chest but she knows she has to ask it. “Would you be my first?”

“Only if you’d be mine?”

She nods, tears bubbling behind her eyes, and she squeezes his hand. “I’d love nothing more… but I’m in a food coma right now.”

Spencer breaks out in a burst of historical laughter first, causing her to laugh just as hard and lean into his shoulder.

“Well, then it’s a good thing we have all weekend,” Spencer finally says, he wraps his arm around her and holds her close.

“Even if we don’t do it tonight, do you want to sleep in my bed with me?”

He nods against her, “Yeah… I’ve been thinking about that a lot actually. It’s really hard to leave here in the middle of the night knowing you’re sleeping alone in there when we were just cuddling right here,” he motions to the couch. “I want to wake up with you next to me every morning.”

The warmth that fills her stomach is a mixture of extreme happiness but also anxiety… it’s almost too good to be true. She pulls away and looks up at him with fearful eyes, “is it normal to fall in love this fast?” The words just tumble out of her.

Spencer shrugs, “I mean… I’ve always heard the saying ‘when you know, you know’ and I’ve read a lot about love at first sight and the way we pick our mates based on familiar facial structures that make us feel safe… and I’ve been in love before and I never met her—

“But I understand why you loved her, she was the only person in your life other than your mother to truly take care of you and listen…” Y/N cuts him off, remembering the night he told her all about Maeve.

“Yeah, and from the first day I met you, you’ve done the same,” Spencer reminds her. “You brought me muffins so that I’d have something to eat before work and you wanted to help me unpack and every day since you have cared for me more than anyone I know. Onto of that you’re beautiful and easy to talk to and you’re not only wonderful to me, but to everyone, you know. It wasn’t hard for me to love you, I’m just surprised you love me.”

“Why?”

“Well, for starters I’m a 42-year-old man who’s spent the last 20 years of my life hunting serial killers and I had a drug problem and I’ve killed people and I was in prison… you know everything and you still love me?” Spencer really can’t believe it.

“Mhm, I love you because despite all that shit that’s happened to you, you still have a sweet smile and a big heart and the best mind I know,” Y/N confirms everything he needed to know. “I love you because you’re you. There’s no other reason.”

He cups her cheek and looks at her with the softest expression known to man, “I’m going to love you forever.”

“Show me?” she whispers, pleading with her eyes to know just how much he loves her.

“Do we just leave our plates here?” He teases, going to stand up.

“I guess we can put them away,” she agrees, she moves to her knees and gathers up her own plate while Spencer does the same with his.

They meet again in the kitchen, placing both plates in her dishwasher, she turns to the leftovers and starts to pack them away while Spencer moves back over to his bag. He grabs his phone and something else while she’s not looking and he opens up Spotify. He doesn’t have many songs saved to his account, just some classical music and the most important song… Sweet Nothing.

She turns to him within milliseconds, “Spence?”

He places his phone on the counter and hands her a little rock, one he picked up on his walk over to see her before work last week. He never had the time to give it to her between all their kissing and her getting ready for work. “Here… it’s only May but I can get you another rock in July.”

She doesn’t want to speak or she’ll cry, but she manages to say: “okay,” as she takes it from him and steps into his space to dance again. In her kitchen this time…

She rests her head on his shoulder, his arms around her waist, they sway to the sound of the music and hold each other close. And then he kisses her shoulder and the side of her neck up to her ear. He cups her face in his hand and stares into her eyes, “bedroom?”

“Bedroom,” she agrees, taking his hand in hers, she leads him back into her room and turns on just the one table lamp she has beside her bed, “should we light candles and stuff?”

“Do you want to?”

She shrugs, “I don’t know, isn’t that what people do when they have special sex?”

“Special sex?”

“You know, first times, birthday sex, anniversary sex… emotional sex,” she redefines what she meant and surprisingly she isn’t embarrassed.

“Candles would be nice, then,” Spencer agrees with a smile. “Do you have condoms? Are you on the pill?”

She smirks, “I bought some condoms on Tuesday after work.”

He watches her open her bedside table and take out the box of condoms and a lighter, she hands him the condoms, “Here.”

“Thanks,” he reads them over, latex-free, real feel, they’d work perfectly.

While he’s reading over the box, she lights a few candles in her room and he takes a seat on the side of her bed, watching her. When she returns to him, she stands between his legs and rests her hands on his shoulders. “You’re sure?”

“Absolutely,” Spencer smiles up at her and reaches out to hold her hips. He plays with the hem of her shirt, “how do you want to do this?”

“Can we strip down to our underwear and get into bed and kiss for a bit and see where it goes?”

“Of course, yeah, that sounds good,” Spencer agrees, he pushes up her shirt and she lifts her arms to help. Spencer has to stand up to pull it all the way off and then he looks down at her in her bra. “wow…”

“Thanks,” she smirks, shaking her head as she reaches for his shirt to undo the buttons, “they’re just boobs…”

“Just boobs,” he repeats with a small chuckle. “I’ll have you know everything about you is spectacular.” And with a rush of confidence, he cups both breasts with his hands, he runs his thumbs over where her nipples are hidden under the fabric and she has to bite her lip so she doesn’t moan.

“Do you like that?”

She nods and pushes his shirt off his shoulders until it's discarded on the floor. “Yeah. I don’t think you’ve ever noticed but… your hands… I watch them when you talk and when you’re tracing a page as you read really fast and you use two fingers instead of one and I’ve wanted you to touch me from the moment I saw you.”

“Mmm,” he turns her around and motions for her to get on the bed and she moves quickly, she’s resting her head on the pillows when he’s suddenly hovering over her.

He runs his pointer finger from her chin, down her neck and between the crease of her breasts before cupping them both again and places kisses on her exposed chest. She arches into the contact and his hands follow both her arms until his fingers are interlocked with hers. Holding them over her head as he kisses her neck and shoulder.

“So beautiful,” he whispers, “how’d I get so lucky?”

“We have a great mutual friend, remember?” She teases,

He groans “Don’t mention her when I’m about to go down on you…” he says as he nibbles at her skin and it makes her moan, grinding her hips up against him, she wants him so bad but she still has her pants on. He sits on his knees between her spread legs and undoes the button as she lifts her hips, helping him glide them down her legs and off. He tosses them to the floor and goes right back in, gripping her by the hips he leans down and kisses her stomach… something she never thought any man would do.

He wants her just as bad as she wants him and it’s prevalent in the way his eyes are blown out as he looks up at her, pleading with his eyes, all he says is “Can I?” And she nods. He pulls her underwear down and tosses them off only to lift one and kiss from her ankle and all the way up to her knee and then he dips in closer, smothering her inner thigh with kisses and nips and then he sucks a deep purple mark into her skin, lapping over it with his tongue before blowing on it softly.

“Holy fuck,” she moans as he gets closer to her pussy and all she wants is his hands on her.

Almost like he reads her mind, he moves to the other leg and hurries along until he’s kissing right along where her underwear used to meet her thigh. Then, he spreads her pussy and licks a broad stripe along her cunt. He presses a kiss to her clit next as she bucks her hips into the sensation, “Oh my god, Spence?”

“Shh,” he whispers, looking up at her from between her legs like a man starved. “Just enjoy it, I’ve always wanted to do this.”

She’s so turned on from the teasing alone, and then he adds a finger, he gently circles it around her hole before inserting it slowly, seeing how much give she has before he takes it all. The feeling of his tongue on her is unlike anything she’s ever felt before, he’s soft yet rough and sweet yet disgusting with the noises he’s making. She can’t help reaching out and gripping his hair as her hips lift from the bed again. With only one free hand, he pushes her back down against the bed and she whines. When he adds a second finger, the stretch isn’t too much to handle, he’s so much better with his hands than she figured he’d be as he finger fucks her. His tongue on her clit and freehand trails from her hip up to grip her tit as he grinds against the mattress, he’s so into it she’s worried he might not get to really fuck her.

“Spencer,” she pants, “holy fuck Spence, please, oh my god,” she can barely make it through the sentence when his fingers curl and her legs tremble.

“Cum for me,” he growls against her and her body listens as she jolts forward and she feels the rush flow through her bloodstream.

“Oh!” she cups her breast and arches her back, oblivious to how he watches her while still lapping at her clit.

When it gets to be too much for her, she grips his hair tighter and pulls him off, “fuck me, now… please?”

“Is it an order or a suggestion,” he teases as he kisses back up her body with his glistening and wet lips, “well?”

“Please?” She looks at him with the sweetest, most fucked out expression. “That was amazing, baby.”

“Fuck,” he groans and drags himself off the bed so he can push his pants and boxers off in one fell swoop. Now, only in his mismatched socks, he doesn’t really have the time to take them off as he reaches for the abandoned box of condoms at the foot of her bed.

She watches contently as he hastily rips it open and rolls it on before he gets back on the bed. He gets right back to where he was, between her legs, he places his hands on her knees and soothes them down her inner thighs, “you sure?”

She nods, “I’m ready.”

“Okay,” he says with a deep breath, readying himself in the meantime, he grips himself at the base and pushes the head into her, inch by inch, he watches as her mouth opens in a silent gasp.

“My god…” he coos, “it’s like you were fuckin made for me.”

She’s speechless, reading out for more of him, she’s desperate for his touch. Her hands land on his hips, his skin is so soft and warm and then they’re flush together. He bottoms out and stills, he drops down so that they’re chest to chest and she cups his face instead, “Hi…”

“Hi,” he manages to laugh, holding himself up with one arm, his other hand pushes her hair back off her forehead and stays there. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she says as she pulls him in for a kiss, tasting herself on his tongue, he collapses onto her and wraps his arm around her, angling her hips up as he starts to thrust.

The kiss gets hungrier, and they moan into each other as he picks up the pace, really fucking her just like she asked him to. She has no idea where this side of him came from but she can’t explain how much she likes it, the hand that was once in her hair is now pushed into the pillow, bracing himself as he hovers and fucks her deeply.

She absentmindedly runs her hand along his forearm and takes his hands in hers, interlocking their fingers before he holds it over her head again and fucks into her with vigour. Her legs wrap around him, every trust grinds his pubic bone against her clit and she’s still so sensitive, she’s so incredibly close that all she can do is sloppily kiss him and moan into his mouth.

His hips snap faster and faster as he fucks her and she can’t hold back anymore when she tosses her head back and sucks him in more. “Oh my god,” and “Holy fuck,” is all she can say, making him smirk.

He’s trying his hardest to keep his composure, breathing quickly, it’s the best workout he’s ever had trying to keep the pace and please her right. “I might,” he says between pants, “I might last a while… cause my meds—

“I don’t care,” she uses her free hand to cup his cheek again, “I want to stay here forever, holy shit.”

“Yeah?”

She tosses her head back again, “Oh my god, yeah!”

He just laughs and it’s the sexiest thing she’s ever heard. She’s right there at the edge when he retrieves his hand from behind her back and rubs his thumb over her clit, “you can cum, if you want.”

“No, no, it’s fine,” she says, running her hand down his chest and looking between them to see what he’s doing, “I want to finish with you.”

His grip on the hand she’s holding gets tighter, he’s sweaty and losing stamina and nowhere close to being done. “Do you want to switch positions?” She asks, “It’s okay?”

“Can we?” He slows to a stop, “you’re okay with that?”

“Spence, I love you,” she reminds him, “It’s fine, it’s better than fine, actually… I’ve heard all my friends talk about dudes who last 5 seconds, this is more than I ever expected.”

“I’m just anxious, you can see why I take them,” he gets all blushy and bashful as he lets go of her hand, pulls out and sits back up on his knees.

She sits up too, taking her bra off in the process. She tosses it to the floor and his jaw drops when he sees her naked chest, “fuck..” He mumbles under his breath.

“Here, you sit up against the headboard,” she suggests, moving out of the way so he can take her place.

Once he’s settled she straddles his hips and takes his cock in her hand, angling it toward her entering as she sits upon it. Once he’s fully inside she drapes her arms around his shoulders and smiles at him, “We can do it this way… now you’ve got a face full of tits.”

His hands soothe down her bare back down to her hips, he licks his lips as he looks at them and helps her glide her body against his. “My god,” he all but moans, watching her boobs jiggle as she starts to really ride him.

“You’re so deep,” she moans, tossing her head back again to free up her neck, he pulls her in and kisses her from her shoulder up to her ear, lighting sucking at her earlobe, he brings his hand up to cup her cheek and ends up gripping her hair at the nape of her neck and pulling her to the side so he can messily smother her in kisses. “No marks, I have teenagers to teach, ‘member? They’re fucking ruthless.”

“Mhm,” he mumbles, too into it to really care, his other hand reaches down to thumb at her clit, he’s getting close and she wants to finish with him.

He finally does cup her face with the hand that was just in her hair, he caresses her cheek with his thumb, pulling her back in for a kiss that’s all tongue. She moans into his mouth, running her hands down his chest, she uses his as leverage to keep pushing back before grinding down on him, he’s right against her g-spot and so fucking deep she can feel him everywhere, “Spence,” she whines, pulling back from the kiss, “are you close?”

“Uh-huh,” he pulls her back in, kissing her deeper, he wraps both his arms around her back and lifts her up, laying her back against the bed and slams his hips into hers over and over.

Her back arches again and she opens her mouth in a silent moan, it’s so good she can barely breathe. She reaches out for him, gripping his biceps, he attacks her neck again, covering her in sloppy kisses and hot breath. His pelvic bone grinds against her clit, again and again, bringing her right to the edge again until she finally peaks, moaning, she arches her back as her orgasm rushes through her but he doesn’t stop. He fucks her through it, chasing his own high.

“Fuck, I love you, I love you so much,” he mumbles, through his last few thrusts, and then he stills with a groan, filling the condom, he drops down against her.

they’re a ball of limbs, holding each other so close she doesn’t know where she ends and he begins. He buries his face in her neck, still kissing her, she holds him tighter, “I love you so much, too, Spencer.”

taglist:

@reidsbookclub @samuel-de-champagne-problems @superskittles @thedancingcostumeyoungadult @midnightreids @ncsls0515 @stevesmunsons @sweetyyhippyy @manuosorioh @mrs-dr-reid @k-k0129

#Spencer reid #Spencer reid smut #Spencer reid fanfiction #Spencer reid fanfic #Spencer reid imagine #Spencer reid x reader #Spencer reid x y/n #Spencer reid x you #Spencer reid self insert #Spencer reid request #criminal minds smut #criminal minds imagine

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icaruspendragon · 8 months

Note

I’ve been dying to tell someone this for so long and I’ve just left my old place of work so here goes… when the Castiel confession happened I was on my way to my job at a news broadcast channel and every now and then I would check social media to see what fresh hell was unfolding and it was smack bang in the middle of the election insanity so everyone in the newsroom was feverishly waiting for Nevada to call their votes and the Putin rumours were starting on Twitter and tumblr was in full meltdown and I was staring at my phone and trying not to scream/laugh out loud and a producer saw me and asked what I was looking at and I panicked and said that it looked like Putin was resigning and the foreign producer freaked out and out together a short news package about it… and it went to air.

oh my god??? oh my god?????? holy shit???? you had the power to do the single funniest thing possible??? AND YOU DID IT????

i am and will forever be in awe of you. you didn't girlboss too close to the sun. you became the fucking sun. incredible. impeccable. i will literally spend the rest of my life thinking about this and your influence. /gen

thank you so much for trusting me with this information. it is truly an honor and a privilege and i will cherish this and you for the rest of forever.

#asks #destiel #I understand if/why you would be unable to share the segment but if I pinky promise not to show anyone else can I pretty please see it?

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ceresfromnationstates · 5 months

Text

Character Ref Sheets: Charles E. Calvin

Charles Enfield Calvin

Nicknames: Charlie, Chuck, TSgt. Calvin, The Bold Action Man

Age: 28 (As of mid 2019)

Birthplace: Fayetteville, NC

Current Location: Nellis AFB, NV. Previously Fort Campbell, KY

Nationality: Canadian (Quebecois) American

Physical description: Athletic build, Red eyes (White skin), White cre cut hair, Minor scar on right cheek.

Bio: He's now working alongside the USAF for the past few weeks or so. He misses being stationed back in Kentucky.

A young, career serviceman who seemingly enjoys his job for the most part.

Has many fond memories of his childhood. Nothing very traumatic, but the ocassional memories of his parents fighting still stick with him.

His parents are now in their 60s, and he'd visit them whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Joined the Army to follow in his father's footsteps, and also to earn money.

Entered service after first semester of college.

Has a keen interest in everything aviation-related since he was young.

Never piloted an aircraft until he entered service.

Sometimes he's extroverted, sometimes he keeps things to himself.

Feels down 99% of the time, though this can be dispelled by anything that makes him happy.

Not very good at socializing with others, thus he sometimes prefers being alone.

Has a very broken sense of humor

Likes surfing the web and playing video games in his free time.

Prefers to keep himself hidden on the web.

Likes collecting various trinkets and paraphernalia from time to time.

Always remembers to keep his base apartment room or barracks bunk bed tidy.

Is one of those people who are concerned with keeping their quarters tidy.

Has a million things in his head, yet can still focus on one thing.

Has no knowledge regarding timelines and the like.

Among his more "interesting" friends are Henry.

More concerned with things other than Henry.

Though he almost broke, he still survived bootcamp. Getting yelled at by his superiors by now are a minor inconvenience.

Quick to follow orders an will do so to a T.

He still has a conscience to not follow questionable orders, which he gained through his prior experiences.

Has only participated in 2 skirmishes with the Toppat Clan throughout his years in uniform.

Has earned the respect of Gen. Galeforce himself during Gov't operations against the Toppats.

Was previously deployed to Niger for 8 months in 2013 and Iraq for 11 months in 2015.

Has been to Fort Campbell, Kadena Airbase, Hohenfels Training Area, Nellis AFB.

Most often pilots the UH-60, though on other ocassions, he has also piloted an OH-58D and AH-64E.

He is also a Crew Chief, meaning that he can talk to anyone outside the cockpit, only when the Chief warrant officer isn't sitting in the cabin.

Since his car is all the way back in Fayetteville, he would rent second-hand cars at whatever place he's stationed at.

Itching to go back to Kentucky and leave Nevada behind once his stint with the Air Force is over.

Backstory (coming soon)

< Henry | Masterpost | Ellie >

#the henry stickmin collection #henry stickmin collection #thsc #thsc fanart #henry stickmin fanart #charles calvin #thsc charles #thsc charles calvin #character ref sheet #ceres hath spoken

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antimony-medusa · 5 months

Text

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers.

I was tagged by @regicidal-optimism

In no particular order:

A World Away (A Step Apart), (14,531 words) my OW superhero/supervillain romance with identity shenanigans, a dystopian world, and in-world supervillain RPF social media posts. This one was so fun to write. I've spent a lot of time on various social medias over the years and I delved into it for the fake discourse, and some of those social media jokes are some of my favourite things I've written. Plus I got to make up two guys that I love, OW is so fun.

A Hundred Things You Have Not Dreamed Of, (27,743 words), a DSMP emduo au in a vaguely superhero au about coming back from dehumanization. This fic was the one where I had to go holy shit I really do keep writing about food as healing I need to start tagging that on my fic, but also I just had a great deal of fun delving into, on the one hand, the hurt/comfort of expecting pain and not getting it, and on the other hand, the actual legitimate joys you can find in the small good things of a life you're choosing to live, even if baldly speaking it's not a great life. Like these guys don't know how to cook, and they live in a shitty apartment, and they have minimum wage food service jobs and don't have internet, but they also have friendship and community and 3 meals a day, and a laptop that can play videos, and that can also be something to appreciate. Plus it was a really fun challenge to take characters who basically don't act like the characters at all, because of trauma, and show them gradually growing into themselves. I still love this one a lot.

three deaths, no burials, one sunrise, (804 words). Oh boy. This one. DSMP, and c!wilbur focused, and second person, and inspired by a richard silken poem and a ursula vernon speech and a post about how wilbur didn't get a grave. At this point I don't even know if that's true canon, but I love this fic for how completely it took over my brain, I sat down and wrote it in one setting. Fuckin' pulled out of me like unspooling rope hand over hand. Having complicated feelings about your death and how it was marked or unmarked by the people around you, and exploring that through video game statistics, is something that can be so personal.

The Totem Of Undying Job, (62,696 words), DSMP, the syndicate heist Las Nevadas. So oh man, this was written in the era of the prison arc and you can probably tell, but I am still proud of how much I went into existing lore for the characterizations, not to mention proud of pulling off a long-fic. I keep thinking of it and going "man I should write more prey duo", or "I should write more tntduo", or "dang, beeduo slaps", or what have you. The first full and complete novel-length thing I had written in almost a decade, and I still think it hangs together, concepted and written entirely just me with myself in a google doc. The way I approach writing is very different nowdays, but I still love this one and I'm proud of pulling it off.

And honestly there's a lot of fics jockeying for this final spot, but I will give it to Soothing Natural Energies by Rebalancing External Wealth, Today, At Rekindled Flames Marriage Therapy Conference, (4,482 words), my origins sneegza marriage fraud shenanigans heist. I wrote this one in 24 hours for an exchange, and I was absolutely digesting my own stomach with anxiety the whole time, but I got it done, and then I posted and people said it was funny! And it had good worldbuilding! They liked it! And I drank some coffee and sat down to read it and went what do you know, I also like this, I think it's funny. Sometimes when I go oh god can I actually write comedy I go back to this one and I remind myself that yes, I can feel out how punchlines work. Also that I should write more origins, it's delightful.

tagging: @chrysalizzm, @imperialkatwala, @creetchure, @lennjamin-o7, @droidofmay

(don't feel obligated, any of you, I was just mentally paging through the people I follow trying to find people who hadn't already been tagged.)

#my writing

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unpopularshipbracket · 1 year

Text

Round 2b Match 1

Rashmi Jamil/Amelie Macon (Entropic Float)

Fic count: 0

Milo/Piers (Pokemon)

fic count: 29

"COUNTRY BOY X EMO CITY BOY, HIMBO X GOTH, SHORT AND STRONG X TALL AND SKINNY, SUNSHINE ONE X GRUMPY ONE C'MON GUYS THEY'RE EVERYTHING it is MIND boggling they aren't more popular"

Rashmelie propaganda under cut!

Rashmelie:

"this essay is going to be reused whole cloth from the submission of them to the 17 million years of pining poll! because unfortunately i do not have the energy to go insane enough to write up anything new oh.

my god. where the fuck do i start with them for real.

okay so, theyve been friends since early childhood, and before either of them came out (Rashmi is agender, they/them, while Amelie is a trans girl, she/her, and they are both mspec which is a bit less relevant but is also there). the earliest time that we know that they have feelings for each other is when theyre both 14, and Rashmi - already out, with their entire family (parents and grandma) supporting them without question - is moving. uhhh 90% of american geography names are the same to me so i might lie there. from Nevada, where they both grew up, to New York, where Rashmi is planning on studying dance further, which has always been their plan; around 14 is when they ran out of teachers at home.

they quietly hope Amelie doesnt confess her feelings for them, as they fear it might tempt them to stay, which they cannot allow themself to do. Amelie, meanwhile, is very carefully not thinking about gender, because her parents are quite frankly the worst. over the course of the years before they meet back up, Amelie has had some dates, but each time, they dont work out, and in her own words, put logs on the flame she carries for Rashmi.

Rashmi, meanwhile. gets married. one of Rashmi's biggest struggles in their romantic pursuits has been the fact that they are both Indian and queer. it has been a struggle for them to find someone who respects both - someone who respects their gender identity while not throwing their culture under the bus. that is one of the factors contributing to the way their relationship with "Ajay" (we learn that this name isnt his real one, but it was magically replaced in Rashmi's memories of him and we dont know it) played out: he is also Indian, and the first thing he asked them upon meeting them was what their pronouns were. and it was all good.

until it wasnt.

i would love to get into that deeper, but the important point is that "Ajay" is kind of a piece of garbage, whose crimes include finding Rashmi's address when they didnt give it out, deliberately not sending Amelie her wedding invitation because Rashmi told him they used to have a crush on her, driving them to drop out of dance school, and general possessiveness (notable being the fact that, whenever he is home, he always asks them to stay home too, which leads to them dropping their social circle and their hobbies). one of the places it grows from is "Ajay" being ace and not quite believing that Rashmi accepts that. he also has a substance abuse problem.

all of that culminates as they return from a short visit to their parents, and he in a fit pushes them down a long flight of stairs.

in the meantime... god, i cant even figure out what parts of information are important about Amelie here. i would put as notable the fact that she only figured out she was a girl something like a year before the events of the game - and only ever came out to Rashmi, who in turn told their parents...

and who didnt realize that Amelie's workplace didnt know. her workplace is just. terrible in social terms. she loves the work itself (its food industry, a restaurant in a casino, dont remember the exact job description) but her coworkers are being the absolute worst. a cesspool of toxic masculinity. also an environment for Amelie's undiagnosed psychosis. she is prone to auditory hallucinations.

after being outed to her boss while also hearing from Rashmi's parents that their husband is... lets just say bad for them, she, while safely at home, hallucinates that her boss or maybe her father is breaking down the door.

simultaneously with Rashmi as they are falling down the stairs, they make Wishes.

these are not widely understood; from the context of the game, it seems as though some people get a Wish when in significant peril, or in distress. you do not need to use the Wish immediately as you get it, but they both did.

essentially, what Rashmi Wishes for is a way to escape from their husband that wouldnt raise a fuss; and Amelie Wishes for a place where she and Rashmi can both be safe. (i am very muddly on the details there) their Wishes create the anomalous clocktower where the game takes place."

#poll #piers pokemon #milo pokemon #pokemon #piers x milo #milo x piers #entropic float #rashmelie #rashmi jamil #amelie macon #pokemon sword and shield #sword and shield

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echonk3 · 1 year

Text

999 Week 2023 - Ace

WITH LESS THAN AN HOUR ITS DONE. this year im doing outsider looks on the characters and ace's is social media in the aftermath

Cradle Pharmaceutical CEO in Police Custody! | JNS

Gentarou Hongou, CEO of the famous Cradle Pharmaceutical most known for the drug Soporil commonly used in hospitals, is in police custody after being handed in by a group of people with evidence of his crimes, including kidnapping, bribery and multiple counts of murder. And according to some sources, his murders are of the other three executives of his company!

_____________________________________

coffee @kianuovals

@passingbyinthetrees i am so sorry about what just happened

Stuck on her report @passingbyinthetrees

????

Stuck on her report @passingbyinthetrees

Oh fuck me i choose to do a report on him and his contributions to the community but noooooooo the universe just decides to do this to me lets see if i can get an extension

coffee @kianuovals

hey at least you can add something pretty interesting to it

fml @passingbyinthetrees

You mean: the murder accusations that are likely true, the death game he was accused of setting up that are likely true no matter how fucking fake it may sound, the kidnappings of multiple children, bribery, and the fact that he was handed in by a random group found in the desert in NEVADA. NEVADA. FUCKING NEVADA.

_____________________________________

Trying to keep my cat from getting to my gecko @petparent8398389

Ngl that hongou dude always gave me the creeps

New art piece up! @artcoslianna

Same here. Everybody I’ve met who’s talked about him saw him as this good dude but his smile always unnerved me for some reason.

bend and snap! @sexymansplits

Opposite for me actually. I really looked up to him as somebody who helped the medicinal field, especially in a family full of doctors and nurses and anesthesiologists and just people who work with these types of medicines. Now I’m likely gonna be seeing this case analyzed for being something almost out of ace attorney :/

_____________________________________

:-) @elephantsandtrunks

Fffuck gentariiiiiiiiiiiii hongou iilllll probabbly not longer have a job after thisdd

:-) @elephantsandtrunks

Ii have cholod suporrttt to payyyyyy and because off this fuckkup ill wontt have a job

_____________________________________

Gentarou Hongou and Cradle Pharmaceutical - A History Up to Now

Posted by: Locomoco

997k likes

1:12:58: “In early November of the year of our Lord 2027, a group of people that while not identified currently, they have been overheard calling each other “Clover”, “Seven”, “Junpei”, “Lotus”, “Alice” and “Snake” a blurry photo of an oddly dressed group of people in front of a car and a gas station is shown with many references to an “Ace”, presumed to be Hongou though he wasn’t seen. The man had been put into custody soon after with some reports of the events that led to it, including multiple leaks. Cradle has recently come out with a statement defending Hongou, saying that they didn’t believe in these accusations. However, that was quickly recanted by them once the backlash started. Due to the fact that all the executives have been murdered, there’s been quick reports of people being promoted to these roles and calls for new applicants. Honestly, I’m getting reminded of Oceangate right now from a few years back.”

_____________________________________

Gentarou Hongou Trial Date to be Happening within the Next Few Months!

New Evidence Brought in Regards to the Cradle Pharmaceutical Death Game of 2018!

Potential Motives by Gentarou Hongou! Read Here!!!

_____________________________________

slumberingsage

THE MUGSHOT HAS BEEN RELEASED. I REPEAT. THE MUGSHOT HAS BEEN RELEASED.

#showed it to my grandma who doesnt know wtf is happening and she felt so much pity #her reaction to his crimes were priceless #cradle pharmaceutical #gentarou hongou

Whitehairedemo

The mugshot is pinned on my wall it’s amazing that bastard is gonna get all he deserves and more

_____________________________________

Gentarou Hongou Mugshot Shirt

*a photo of the man’s mugshot on a black shirt is being modeled with a man and a woman, heads cutoff from the photo, though the woman’s dark brown hair is in frame*

Cost: $20

Sold by: Crashkeys

_____________________________________

sincerely me! @keyboardsmasher69

Okay but is he actually guilty? Like so much of this shit sounds so weird. Like a death game? Is this a video game?

Tech support @EightPetals

www.archives.com/18102018-missing-children

www.abcnew.com/gentarou-hongou

www.youtube.com/expo14/video/cradle-pharmaceuticals

Check the many sources cited in the video also. This man is guilty.

_____________________________________

Gentarou Hongou Trial - June 6th, 2028

www.youtube.com/cradlepharmaceutical/livestream/gentarou-hongou-trial

_____________________________________

changeyourmindchangeyourfate

#FUCK YEAH #it’s insane #like it starts out slightly normal but then more and more of the case got revealed and it just got weirder and weirder #destiel #supernatural

#999 week #zero escape #gentarou hongou #ace 999 #nine hours nine persons nine doors

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starry-skies-116 · 1 year

Text

My AU Synopsis for the main trio + June and Fowler: Jackson Darby: 16 yrs. Neurodivergent, Intersex ADHD Queer Black Pakistani-American kid from Brooklyn when he moved to Jasper Nevada at five, socially ostracized. bi as FUCK and not even subtle about it. dead father at seven lost due to illness and is being raised by his single mother June has a little drone friend named Emily for max gay adventurer scientist chaos energy. Huge fan of a show called Celestial Odyssey, side passion for music and gaming (bonds with Raf over it). Gains way too many parental figures over the course of the series. Hacked into the Pentagon at ten years old on a dare.

Miko Nakadai: 16 yrs. Heir apparent to Nakadai Industries. Short petite Japanese-American jock girl with slightly toned muscles that can actually send you to the gulag if you fought her. Was in multiple sports clubs and took Shaolin classes. Youngest daughter of a rich family of three other siblings and a lot of extended family back in Japan with a controlling immigrant businessman father, mood disorder af while dealing with the aftermath of generational trauma and a dysfunctional family. Has two older siblings that are both twins, older sister is Himeko and older brother is Sora. Himeko and Sora are both 18. Is the champion of multiple street brawls. Has gotten into many street-fights and fights at school. Secretly a nerd too, so it makes sense that she'd fall for the nerd.

Rafael Esquivel: 12 yrs. White, Italian-Cuban American, from a huge family. Basically near-blind without his glasses. Skipped a couple of grades due to his talents in IT and hacking, and regrets it immensely now due to the burnt-out gifted kid spiral that he's going through. goes to the same high school as Jackson and Miko, and nobody takes him or his decisions seriously since he's younger than the rest. being the youngest is hard honestly-

June Darby: 37 yrs. African American woman, passed down her broader and curvier physique to her intersex son (of whom's also genderqueer and bi as FUCK omg). M-spec, male-leaning. Learns about the Autobots later on and about the work her son does and the wonderful family and life he's building for himself, and instantly allies herself with them the moment she does. Quit her big-shot engineer job and became a mechanic just to be able to be home take care of her son. automatically adopts everyone else. best friends with Optimus Prime and Fowler naturally. she'd give the sun and moon and stars and universe and galaxies and planets and nebulas and black holes and MORE for her babies and our blood and all of us LIVE to see it. Closeted nerd and neurodivergent as well. (oh and btw Mama Darby once called Team Prime a more affectionate/familial nickname in French and the familial love +2 modifier was too much for them once their processors translated it and they understood what it and the connotations meant. Bumblebee was trying so hard not to break out into tears while Arcee was struggling to hold back a smile)

William Fowler: 35-37 yrs. Black American. Grew up in Detroit. Knew Jackson's father from his time in the army- they were both best friends. FBI agent and government personnel. Stern and no-nonsense authority figure at first, strict yet disciplined, takes it upon himself to be one of many Jackson's 'older sibling' figures that he gains. he and the kids both fight a lot but they are literally a package deal so do not separate anyways. HUGE cat-person, bonds with Miko over it. Actually really likes Emily because the drone behaves like an affectionate and excited puppy who's just happy to be there. He and June work together from the time she finds out the 'truth' to co-parent her son and his friends and to support them and the Autobots in all of their missions.

#transformers #transformers au #transformers reboot au #tfp #transformers prime #tfp au #jackson darby #miko nakadai #rafael esquivel #raf esquivel #jack darby #june darby #agent fowler #william fowler #optimus prime #tfp optimus prime

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haggishlyhagging · 1 year

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The question of suitable employment is raised persistently within the welfare system: what is to be expected of women with children? should they work or stay home? what kind of work are they offered or forced to take? is that work entirely determined by prejudgments as to their nature—what can and should be expected of them because they are female, female and black, female and white, female and poor, female and unmarried? In New York City, women on welfare say that they have been strongly encouraged by welfare workers to turn to prostitution, the threat being that the individual woman may in the future be denied welfare benefits because the caseworker knows the woman could be making big bucks on the street; or in emergencies, women on welfare are told to raise the money they need by turning a trick or two. In Nevada, where prostitution is legal, women on welfare have been forced off welfare because they refused to accept the suitable employment of prostitution; once it is a legal, state-regulated job, there is no basis for refusing it. Prostitution has long been considered suitable employment for poor women whether it is legal or not. This is particularly cynical in the welfare system, given the fact that women on welfare have been subjected to "fornication checks"—questioned about their sexual relations at length, questioned as to the identity of the fathers of so-called illegitimate children, questioned as to their own sexual habits, activities, and partners—and have been denied welfare if living with a man or if a man spends any time in the domicile or if having a sexual relationship with a man. Their homes could be inspected anytime: searches were common after midnight, when the welfare workers expected to find the contraband man; the courts put a stop to late searches but daytime searches are still legal. Beds, closets, and clothes were inspected to see if any remnant of a male presence could be found. Sometimes criminal charges of fornication were actually brought against the mothers of illegitimate children; the purpose was to keep them from getting welfare. For instance, in one typical case, a New Jersey woman was convicted of fornication and given a suspended sentence; she was forced to name the father, who went to prison. Welfare workers were allowed to interrogate children concerning the social and sexual habits of their mothers. Women on welfare have even been required to tell when they menstruate. Women on welfare have had no rights to sexual privacy; and in this context, turning them toward prostitution goes right along with refusing to allow them private, intimate, self-determined sexual relations. Prostitution is the ultimate loss of sexual privacy. Gains made in the courts in the 1960s to restore rights of privacy to these women are being nullified by new welfare policies and regulations designed to control the same population in the same old ways—practices that reappear in new guises but are built on the same old attitudes and impinge on the welfare population in the same old and cruel ways. The state is a jealous lover, except when it pimps.

-Andrea Dworkin, Right Wing Women

#andrea dworkin #anti prostitution #welfare #amerika #female oppression #misogony

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stateofnevadajobsneats · 1 year

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hospital jobs in las vegas nevada

Hospital Jobs in Las Vegas Nevada: Opportunities and Challenges

Are you looking for hospital jobs in Las Vegas, Nevada? The city is known for its vibrant nightlife and entertainment, but it also has a growing healthcare industry with numerous opportunities for employment. In this article, we will explore the various hospital jobs available in Las Vegas, the qualifications needed for each position, and the challenges of working in the healthcare sector.

The Growing Healthcare Industry in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has a growing healthcare industry that provides a wide range of services to the community. The industry includes hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, and other medical facilities. The city has several large hospitals, including Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, University Medical Center, and Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, with a projected growth rate of 15% from 2019 to 2029. This growth is due to an aging population and an increased demand for healthcare services.

Hospital Jobs in Las Vegas Nevada

There are various hospital jobs available in Las Vegas, Nevada, ranging from entry-level positions to highly specialized roles. Some of the most common hospital jobs in Las Vegas Nevada include:

Registered Nurses

Registered Nurses (RNs) are responsible for providing patient care, administering medication, and monitoring vital signs. They also educate patients and their families on healthcare and treatment options. RNs are in high demand in Las Vegas, and the median annual salary for RNs in Nevada is $85,300.

Nurse Practitioners

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses who provide primary and specialty healthcare services. They diagnose and treat patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and prescribe medication. The median annual salary for NPs in Nevada is $112,960.

Physicians

Physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions and diseases. They also prescribe medication and order diagnostic tests. There are various types of physicians, including primary care physicians, specialists, and surgeons. The median annual salary for physicians in Nevada is $225,300.

Physician Assistants

Physician Assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who work under the supervision of physicians. They diagnose and treat medical conditions, order diagnostic tests, and prescribe medication. The median annual salary for PAs in Nevada is $113,260.

Medical Assistants

Medical Assistants (MAs) are responsible for administrative and clinical tasks in medical facilities. They take patient histories, measure vital signs, and assist physicians during exams. The median annual salary for MAs in Nevada is $36,900.

Medical Technologists

Medical Technologists (MTs) are responsible for performing laboratory tests to diagnose and treat medical conditions. They analyze samples, interpret results, and communicate findings to physicians. The median annual salary for MTs in Nevada is $65,210.

Qualifications for Hospital Jobs in Las Vegas Nevada

Qualifications for hospital jobs in Las Vegas, Nevada, vary depending on the position. However, most healthcare jobs require a degree or certification in a related field. For example, registered nurses must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and a nursing license. Physician assistants must have a Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) and a license to practice.

In addition to education and certification, hospital jobs in Las Vegas, Nevada, require certain skills and qualities. These include:

Strong communication skills

Attention to detail

Empathy and compassion

Physical stamina

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Challenges of Working in the Healthcare Industry

While hospital jobs in Las Vegas, Nevada, offer numerous opportunities for employment , they also come with their own unique set of challenges. Some of the most common challenges of working in the healthcare industry include:

Long and Demanding Work Hours

Healthcare professionals often work long and demanding hours, including weekends, evenings, and holidays. This can make it difficult to maintain a work-life balance and can lead to burnout and stress.

High Stress Environment

Working in healthcare can be stressful, especially when dealing with critically ill or injured patients. Healthcare professionals must be able to handle stress and make quick decisions in high-pressure situations.

Exposure to Illness and Disease

Healthcare professionals are exposed to illness and disease on a daily basis. This can put them at risk of contracting infectious diseases and illnesses.

Physically Demanding Work

Healthcare jobs can be physically demanding, requiring healthcare professionals to stand for long periods, lift heavy objects, and perform other physically taxing tasks.

Emotional Toll

Working in healthcare can be emotionally taxing, especially when dealing with terminally ill patients or those in chronic pain. Healthcare professionals must be able to manage their emotions and provide support to patients and their families.

FAQs

Q1. What are the most in-demand hospital jobs in Las Vegas Nevada?

A1. Some of the most in-demand hospital jobs in Las Vegas Nevada include registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and physician assistants.

Q2. What qualifications do I need to work in a hospital in Las Vegas Nevada?

A2. Qualifications for hospital jobs in Las Vegas, Nevada, vary depending on the position. However, most healthcare jobs require a degree or certification in a related field.

Q3. What are the average salaries for hospital jobs in Las Vegas Nevada?

A3. The average salaries for hospital jobs in Las Vegas Nevada vary depending on the position. However, some of the most common hospital jobs in Las Vegas Nevada, such as registered nurses and nurse practitioners, have median annual salaries of around $85,000 to $112,000.

Q4. What are the biggest challenges of working in the healthcare industry?

A4. Some of the biggest challenges of working in the healthcare industry include long and demanding work hours, a high-stress environment, exposure to illness and disease, physically demanding work, and an emotional toll.

Q5. How can I find hospital jobs in Las Vegas Nevada?

A5. You can search for hospital jobs in Las Vegas Nevada on job boards, such as Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn. You can also check the websites of hospitals and medical centers in Las Vegas to see if they have any open positions.

Q6. What are some tips for succeeding in a hospital job in Las Vegas Nevada?

A6. Some tips for succeeding in a hospital job in Las Vegas Nevada include developing strong communication skills, paying attention to detail, showing empathy and compassion, staying physically fit, and developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Conclusion

Las Vegas, Nevada, offers numerous opportunities for hospital jobs in a growing healthcare industry. While these jobs can be challenging, they also provide a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. Whether you are a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, or medical technologist, there are many hospital jobs in Las Vegas Nevada to choose from. So if you are passionate about healthcare and helping others, consider exploring the various hospital job opportunities available in Las Vegas Nevada.

#hospital jobs in las vegas nevada #social work jobs in nevada #security jobs in nevada

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peninkwrites · 8 months

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Lines Drawn in Sand & Concrete - Ch 12 of ?

Eryn is a double agent. He thinks he might've fucked up.

[CW: c!dream and referenced violence]

crossposted to ao3

Ch 1

Ch 11

Ch 13

Mafia AU

~ Eryn ~

TW0 DAYS UNTIL THE GRAND OPENING OF LAS NEVADAS…

Eryn is good at his job. He sees everything, and people rarely see him. Even with the big scar going up his arm, people don’t remember him often. He and Tommy as kids would try to stop being invisible, until they realized they had a better shot at getting food if they stayed that way. Tommy still wanted to be loud. Eryn doesn’t know how he survives like that, but he has. They’ve learned to survive in different ways now. Eryn left on a ship for a year and he changed. Tommy stayed in the city and he stayed the same. What Tommy does is so small. He gets by, barely, but Eryn didn’t want that for a future. He had to move on. Tommy never wanted to move on. That’s why Eryn is now running with the Badlands, and Tommy is still picking pockets on Riverside.

The Badlands is nothing like being a part of a ship crew, which had been what he was looking for when he returned, but it’s something. There are people looking out for him now, people who can actually help him. He’s not even doing anything particularly dangerous, and it’s enough work he can afford a studio. Largely because his landlord is part of the Badlands as well, but he’s still paying some rent.

Eryn gave Tommy some shit for not joining up with the Badlands, and Tommy gave him plenty of shit for selling out to the mob. Which, honestly was preferable to Tommy insistently warning him he’d get himself killed. Eryn went to see him anyway. He kept going to the Secret City on his off nights and even then, even when he was seen, he was still listening and watching.

He had never really been jealous of Tubbo. Tubbo already had mob affiliations to dampen his relationship with Tommy, so it felt more like they were on even ground. He doesn’t know who the fuck this Wilbur guy thinks he is, but his presence Eryn finds a bit more grating.

Still, Tommy had asked him to come to the Secret City, and Eryn would oblige. Even for a social call, Eryn never stops listening. His ears perk up when just underneath Tommy’s loud greeting, he snatches a bit of conversation.

“–you and the old Crow- Father have a falling out?”

“Maybe keep your voice down, Jack–”

“And what the fuck have you been up to?! Still workin’ with the devil?” Tommy jeers lightly, and Eryn’s focus snaps back to him.

“Yeah,” Eryn laughs dryly. “You still working for no one and nothing?”

“With pride, Eryn. With pride.” Tommy has his arm around him, dragging him back to the booth. “Someone I want you to meet,” he says as an aside, before more loudly, “Wil! This is my old pal, Eryn!” Tommy’s genuine enthusiasm introducing him warms Eryn a bit. They’ve changed in a lot of ways, but as long as Tommy is still happy to have him there, Eryn will make his peace with it.

“Alright?”

“Alright. Good to… meet you properly,” Eryn deigns to be civil. He has found himself irritated often enough with how delighted Tommy seemed to be with the guy, but he would be the bigger person or whatever. “I’ve seen you play a bit. You’re not half bad with that guitar.”

“Thanks.” Wilbur gives him a curious look that Eryn can’t quite read.

“Eryn, come on, join us, join us,” Tommy slips back into the booth, Eryn letting himself get dragged along with him.

“I was… I was actually here to see Niki, so, I might move to the bar,” Jack Manifold, who Eryn knows has been an object of Tommy’s torments for a long while now, originally Tommy and Eryn’s torments back when Eryn was still crashing in the hotel, and he clearly intended to flee those torments now. Tommy and Wilbur don’t let him, and Eryn is content to sit back and watch.

The banter continues, Wilbur joining in on teasing Jack, and Eryn notes the two clearly share a history.

“I simply don’t understand how you’ve gotten so many people to put up with you! Like, Eryn, Wil, Ranboo, and Tubbo too for like a million years!” Jack ruins the mood with shocking speed, biting back against Tommy’s teasing perhaps too hard.

Tommy tenses, turning quieter now, Eryn isn’t used to Tommy ever being serious about things. “You’re a real dick, Jack, d’you know that?”

Jack’s guilt is obvious. “Look, man, I didn’t… I mean–”

“You’ve done it, Jack, you’ve lost me. Not in love with you anymore!” Tommy pulls Eryn out of the booth, loud and mocking, but clearly masking real resentment.

Eryn allows Tommy to drag him out of the speakeasy, even as he wished he could listen in just a bit more on whatever this mysterious Wilbur might let slip about his past, but it’s clear Tommy has other things on his mind.

“You alright?” Eryn asks carefully as they return to darkened streets.

“Me? I’m great! You know me, strongest man alive,” Tommy tries for a grin, and it would probably seem genuine to someone who hadn’t known Tommy since he was six.

Eryn gives him a look, doubtful. “Come on, mate, let’s just… come back to my flat with me. I bet I’ve got food somewhere.”

“You don’t know if you have food? Oh, look at you, Eryn, you’re fucking sixteen and you’ve got your own flat and so much food, you don’t even know what you’ve got! Is the pantry stocked with caviar or have you run out? Shall you have the butler fetch you some more?” Tommy says, tone mockingly posh.

“Shut up,” Eryn poorly buries a laugh, pushing Tommy lightly. “Better bet is stale pizza or like, a can of tomato soup or something.”

Tommy is still grinning, this time more genuinely. “I could go for some stale pizza. I wanna see what shithole you’ve managed to get yourself! Can you believe all this past year I’ve never been over to yours?”

“Well, you didn't really feel like coming considering how I got the money for it.”

Once more Tommy falters at this. He shrugs. “I mean, you’re a Badlander, but it’s not like you’re off killing people, now, is it? From what you’ve told me, you’re just like a little mole creepin’ around corners sniffin’ out the hot gos’ to share with the boss, eh?”

Eryn rolls his eyes. “Yeah, something like that.”

“It’s different, though,” Tommy says more firmly, as if to solidify some notion in his mind.

Eryn hesitates, before deigning to push just a little. “Different to… to Tubbo, maybe?”

Tommy scowls. “Yeah, maybe,” he says bitterly, clearly intending to shut the conversation down then and there.

“Look, man, if something’s going on, you can tell me–”

“Nothing is going on!” Tommy says, whiny. “Fucking hell, Eryn, give a man a break, will you? What about you? Hm? Got any troubles at work you want to share?” He says pointedly.

“You know I can’t tell you that but, for the record, no.”

Tommy hesitates, clearly warring between something. “Look, I’m serious, man, are you okay?” Tommy says, something fierce in his voice that Eryn isn’t used to.

“Am I… Yeah, Tom. I’m fine,” Eryn says, surprised.

Tommy scans his face, reading for sincerity. “You’re not… you’re not getting into more trouble than you can handle? The Badlands, they’re protecting you and all that shit, right?”

“Yeah.”

Tommy debates over believing him, eyebrows furrowed. “You know there’s a guy out here hurting people he thinks are wronguns, don’t you?”

“Yeah. Yeah, actually, the Badlands are looking for him.”

“So, you’re not… you’re not fucking around at night? Staying out a bunch doin’ crime things after dark?”

“No, Tommy,” Eryn says, amused. “Most of my work involves listening to people, and I can’t really do that if there’s no people to listen to.”

“Okay, okay good,” Tommy nods, still clearly ill at ease, but he doesn’t push it. He continues sarcastically, “this better be some good fucking stale pizza.”

“Is there such thing?”

“Shut the fuck up and show me where we’re going.”

Eryn does not work exclusively for the Badlands, although they are his primary employer. Eryn is not one to close himself off to business opportunities elsewhere. One of those he doesn’t exactly find agreeable, but the pay is good. Some dickhead cop named Dream.

Eryn meets him in an alleyway in the middle of nowhere on the East side. The cop approaches in street clothes and with a slight limp. Eryn has no reason to comment on it, not really, but he’s curious.

“You’re limping.”

Dream poorly buries a flicker of annoyance. “Occupational hazard, what of it?”

“Nothing,” Eryn shrugs. He’s glad Dream chose an alleyway without a dead end. The guy pays well and never seems inclined to do him any harm, but something about him is just off enough Eryn would prefer there’s a way for him to book it if needed.

“Do you have anything else on Las Nevadas?” Dream doesn’t waste time on greetings.

“On Las Nevadas?” Eryn scoffs. “Nah, nah other than that bit about Captain Warden, I don’t have anything.”

“He’s not the Captain anymore,” Dream snaps.

“Right, Sam Warden, whatever,” Eryn raises his hands passively, accustomed to Dream’s bitching.

“So what do you have for me, then?”

“Not a lot, if I’m honest,” Eryn shrugs. “No news on what’s going on with Schlatt’s old crew. And like, not to say nothing’s going on at Las Nevadas, the place seems shady as fuck, but other than… well, them maybe having the old boss hostage somewhere, and that’s… up for debate, really.”

Dream laughs at this. “Right, sure. So, you’re useless.”

“You’re the one who wanted to meet, man, I dunno what to tell you,” Eryn rolls his eyes.

“What about the Badlands? Are they moving in on Las Nevadas?”

“Hey, I don’t fuck with the Badlands. You know that’s off limits,” Eryn says warningly.

“Hm,” Dream considers this carefully, leaning against the wall of the alley to take some weight off his leg. He’s always so calculating, something Eryn can’t help but respect about him. “But they are still thinking Las Nevadas is responsible for the kidnapping?”

“Yeah. Right now, that’s their… main lead,” Eryn says carefully.

“I’m not trying to get anything out of you, just, from what the police department has found, that’s not a bad idea,” Dream shrugs.

“What is it you’ve found, exactly?”

“Look, you can’t talk about Badlands, I can’t talk about police evidence, I’m already sharing too much by confirming their suspicions.”

Eryn takes this in carefully. Bad and Ant had intended to stay out of Las Nevadas business for now, but Eryn has a feeling they’ll reconsider at the slightest provocation. He doesn’t know if Dream’s offhanded comment is enough to go on, though. Dubious respect or not, he trusts the guy about as far as he can spit.

“Right, fine. Look, I told you I didn’t have anything. I think I should be the one to call our next meeting when it’s actually worthwhile,” Eryn says pointedly.

Dream scowls. “Don’t keep me waiting too long, alright?”

“Hey, I don’t control the flow of information, man, sometimes I hear things, sometimes I don’t,” Eryn says aloofly.

Dream takes one step forward. Eryn takes one step back. “Then listen closely, alright?” He hisses. “The work I do is actually important, unlike whatever squabbling in the dirt your other employers get up to. Maybe it’s a lot for me to expect a street rat to grow a conscience, but I still expect better.”

Eryn knows better than to pick a fight with a short-fused pig, so he just nods. “You got it, Captain. I’ll listen harder.”

Dream nods curtly. “Next time you got something, call the office and say you’re… I dunno, calling about having me come in to speak at a troubled youth event or some bullshit like that.”

“And that’ll get them to transfer me to your office?” Eryn says skeptically.

“Yeah, if I let them,” Dream says irritably. “Again, don’t take forever.” Dream turns to leave the way he had come.

“Oy! I don’t do this as charity work!” Eryn calls indignantly after him.

“Why the fuck would I pay you for wasting my time?!” Dream snaps over his shoulder.

“You wanted to–” Eryn stops his complaints, knowing it’s useless. He has a far better employer to meet with anyway.

Eryn is still debating the merits of sharing Dream’s all but useless input when he arrives at the Slaughterhouse. Bad wanted to meet with everyone to discuss the very thing Eryn might now know something about. In the middle of the warehouse amidst broken down machinery and concerningly fresh blood circling the drain, Bad, Ant, Punz, and an intimidating lady named Hannah have gathered. Captain Puffy is, unusually, absent from the proceedings. The Badlands having recently attacked her son is likely a contributing factor.

Bad isn’t worse, exactly; this many months in he no longer finds new lows, but he certainly isn’t better. Eryn feels like he’s interrupted something, entering slowly, uneasy at how serious the circle gathered is, but Ant nods him in.

“Er, hey, Boss,” Eryn bounces back on his heels nervously.

“Eryn,” Bad gives him a nod.

Punz continues. “...so I’ll be at Las Nevadas. I don’t know where he’ll have me, but I’ll at least be there opening night, if something goes down.”

“We have reason to think Quackity isn’t involved,” Bad offers weakly.

“He was happy to help Schlatt manage hostages. I’d know ‘cause I was muscle at some of the… heavier exchanges,” Punz winces. “Not something I’d say I’m proud of nowadays, but Quackity clearly was part of it of his own free will.”

Hannah frowns. “O-kay, if it’s something you’re not proud of now, who’s to say he’s still like that?”

“His issues with Schlatt don’t mean he’s omitted from guilt,” Ant adds, albeit reluctantly. “And… our reasons for thinking it isn’t him are… they’re not airtight,” Ant gives Bad an apologetic glance. “Even if the guy in the mask isn’t literally Quackity, who’s to say he doesn’t have a hired gun running around for him?” Another glance at Punz.

Puffy’s absence is felt. Eryn feels the pauses where she should be offering input, but they merely move on. Eryn wonders how that went down, what Puffy might’ve done when she found out her old friends had knocked her son unconscious and held a gun to his back.

Ant continues uneasily. “We can’t pretend it wouldn’t make sense for him to threaten his biggest rival right when he takes over.”

“But he didn’t take over, you said some kid did, right?” Hannah interjects.

“You guys really believe that? That he handed off all that power to a teenager?” Punz cuts in.

“I might know… something,” Eryn speaks up and at first he thinks he’s so quiet no one hears him. He’s been listening to their debate, but his focus has been more so on Bad, who has remained quiet and desolate for too long. Eryn doesn’t know how he’s going to explain himself, but he doesn’t give a shit about this Quackity person, and if there’s even a chance it will help the Badlands, well. Eryn feels like he at least owes them the effort of trying.

Quiet falls, most of the company just surprised by Eryn speaking up at all, the kid more known for his listening. Bad looks up. “Yeah, Eryn? What’s that?” Despite his grief and grievances, Bad always sounds so kind when he talks to him.

“Um, this is like, word of mouth, I don’t have a… a sure source, but… apparently, someone at the police station thinks… that Las Nevadas might have something to do with… all this.” Eryn says carefully. He doesn’t know how to explain the police knowing about Skeppy being missing, and he knows they’ll soon be asking for specifics he doesn’t know how to give.

“All this?” Hannah asks doubtfully.

“Er, the… the Skeppy thing. Maybe the serial killer thing too, I dunno. The... masked man.”

Punz frowns, “why would the police know about Skeppy being missing in the first place?”

Ant grimaces. “Sapnap. I told him when I saw him.”

Eryn feels a flicker of relief at an explanation being given. He trusts the Badlands, maybe more than he should, but even if they wouldn’t kill him for also working for the enemy, they certainly wouldn’t let him stay in the Badlands anymore. They hadn’t even asked him what his source was, they barely questioned it. Eryn doesn’t know what to do with the fact that they trust him.

“Right,” Punz sighs irritably. “So, I’m guessing you do want me to be at Las Nevadas, then?”

Bad is clearly lost in thought, factoring in what Eryn had said. “Even if you’re hired for security, Quackity knows you’re with us, he won’t let you near anything important.”

“Hannah, could you get into the opening somehow?” Ant asks.

“Maybe,” Hannah shrugs, “that doesn’t mean I’d be able to get anything useful. I’m not that kind of mole. If you need me to assassinate anyone or make some coffee, I’m your gal.”

Ant immediately turns to their best set of ears. “Eryn-?”

“Ant, they’re not going to let a teenage boy into a casino,” Bad says tiredly.

“Right,” Ant huffs.

“And I would say we could ask Foolish, but, well,” Bad at least looks slightly embarrassed for the harm caused.

“What about Ponk?” Ant offers.

“Ponk doesn’t work for us anymore–”

“That was before their pig boyfriend screwed them over,” Ant points out. “They might not be set on staying out of organized crime anymore, especially considering Sam is working for Quackity now. I know for a fact they’ll already be there with Eret and Foolish.”

“Still, I don’t know if they’d be willing to take risks for us,” Bad says.

“Not take risks, just tell us if they hear or see anything. All we’d be asking of them is a phonecall.”

Bad seems to come around to the idea. “Hannah, I’d still like you to be there if possible. You too, Punz. If it comes down to a fight, Ponk won’t be of much help, so I’d like to have some guns already in the building if we need to be there.”

“Got it,” Hannah nods. “Dunno about the guns part, though. Like, you really think Quackity won’t have metal detectors?”

“If I need to, I can get you weapons while inside,” Punz offers. “Not a ton, though.”

“Better than nothing. If worst comes to worst, Ant and I will arrive guns blazing anyway,” Bad shrugs, before turning back to Eryn. “Thank you for that, Eryn. We’ll… we’ll see if it goes anywhere,” Bad gives him what should have been an appraising smile, but Bad looks so tired nowadays, so sad and broken down, Eryn just feels worried. He can only hope he didn’t just fuck this up for everyone.

“I mean, if we’re sharing updates, I… I do have something from Puffy,” Hannah says slowly.

“From Puffy? Puffy is still talking to you?” Ant sounds surprised.

“Yeah, it helps I wasn’t the one to knock her kid unconscious,” Hannah says pointedly. “Her flock, they shot the guy in the mask.”

The quiet falls heavier, Bad leaning against the rusted track of a conveyor belt, dark eyes staring in fixated dread at the bloodied drain at his feet. “They… they shot him.”

“Clipped him, just barely in the leg, but yes,” Hannah nods.

“So… some of Puffy’s flock stumbled into our local serial killer. Lucky her,” Ant says dryly, calculating. “And they almost got him.”

At that word, at almost, Bad shuts his eyes, taking a deep, trembling breath.

Eryn feels a sharp dread deep in his stomach. They clipped him in the leg. Eryn thinks of Dream’s limp. It could be a coincidence. Why the fuck would a cop be a serial killer? They get away with killing just fine on the job.

“Bad, our patrols are on the lookout for him 24/7, we’re gonna find him again,” Ant tries to reassure him.

“Except once this sick monster realizes that half the patrols aren’t Puffy’s flock and are instead Badlands, you do realize what he’ll do, don’t you?” Bad says icily.

“I mean, if he hasn’t killed him so far… like, do we really think this guy hasn’t noticed the Badlands is still in operation?” Hannah says skeptically. “I know we know the guy isn’t all talk, he’s killed before, but he clearly realizes Skeppy is the only leverage he has, and he’ll hold onto that indefinitely. I doubt there’s a situation where he’d kill him, not if he hasn’t so far. Hurt, however…”

“Thank you, for that, Hannah,” Bad says stiffly, but he seems to genuinely mean it, at least the reassurance about Skeppy staying alive. Hannah has been absent from the Badlands for a time, maybe doing some covert work Eryn is not privy to, but since her return she’s taken the new, desperate Badlands in stride.

Eryn is only half paying attention now, weighing the pros and cons of confessing to helping a cop in front of some of the biggest players in organized crime in the city. What are the odds? You tell them, they never trust you again, and some random asshole cop dies, not helping anyone. Two people in a whole city can have leg injuries. Maybe the truth of it, the one that Eryn is currently keeping buried, is he’s afraid of what it will mean if the man he’s been undeniably assisting is the same one killing people with wild abandon, and far more importantly, the man who had kidnapped Skeppy.

#my writing #mafia au

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10piecechickenmcnugget · 1 year

Note

Still writing out my thoughts about Dogwarts, but I'm returning the favor anyways.

I wanna here all your thoughts about Purpled and Wilbur. Or whoever you're most interested in.

You're letting me talk about characters I like, I'm letting you do the same :D

FUCK YEAH

(@dewberries-sillyblog cause you wanted to learn more about my blorbos)

under the cut cause this is gonna be L O N G

(split into sections so I can “organize” my thoughts) Purpled: my stupid ass traumatized alien son he’s a bastard and I hate him (/j)

Early SMP: alien boy. he doesn’t know what he’s doing he is simply fucking around and finding out adopting a dog and gathering resources. just living life having a funky fresh time

he and tommyinnit fucking HATE each other they chased each other around and murdered each other for like over and hour fundy broke into his house and stole his shit he bargained with Tommy for his own stuff for like 10 minutes and went to court but just snuck out the back (??? idk he’s wild)

fundy built the socializing club to resolve their arguments and purpled booby trapped it and stole everyone’s shit cause he’s just like that

L’Manberg War(s): he dabbled in lmanberg shit my guy had no idea what the fuck was going on all the god damn time he was so confused bro was literally just standing there one time he say ccrimeboys (who were exiled from lmanberg and were absolutely not supposed to be there) and he (a member of lmanberg) decided to just ignore them cause he can’t be bothered to give a shit he literally allowed Technoblade to causally boat home after he massacred everyone at the festival and murdered Tubbo he has zero fucks to give

✨intermission✨: he disappeared for several months and no one knew what was up with that

the following is not in chronological order cause I forgor

but Bad hired him to kidnap/kill Puffy and he was basically like “yeah sure fuck it” and I think he did the thing?? I don’t remember anyways he was kinda working for the Eggpire for a bit and then Quackity was like hey wanna work for me instead to betray them (he attracted his attention by threatening to blow up his UFO talk about foreshadowing) and purpled once again went yeah sure fuck it and betrayed the Eggpire for the money and Quackity did his whole “wait don’t go in yet let the shark guy die” and then they saved everyone and yadda yadda yadda “you’re a hero purpled” “I try my best”

Aftermath: we all know this part purpled is like okay bitch boy pay up and Quackity makes small talk gives him his money and then destroys his entire life right in front of him good times they yell at each other for a bit and Purpled storms off in silence to go be sad

He goes back to his stupid little cottage and is even sadder for a while and then Mr Charlie Slimecicle gaslights him for 30 minutes and he decides to join las nevadas (he’s lying about wanting to be there)

he hangs around lying to people for a bit and then sets up his overdramatic lava trap and yells at Quackity some more and then kills his bf for revenge cause that’s what they do on this server I fucking guess

he kidnaps slimes dead body and holds it captive in a cave purely just to kill him again and then Punz shows up and manipulates him a bit and Dream is there also

they show up gaslight slime bulky Quackity blow shit up purpled and Quackity yell at each other some more and then slime reveals HE was gaslighting everyone the whole time and fucking kills purpled (L + ratio)

then there’s the whole “you’re not a good person” but idc about that sorry quackcicle enjoyers

and then that’s kinda it man idk the whole ass smp ended

Random ramblings: purpled is a petty bastard and I hate him that bitch is full of improperly processed trauma (thank you icarus appollosboyfriend for that quote) and he hates everyone and he only kills people for the money cause he just wants money and power (and friends he just wants to go home) but he only accepts jobs from people he trusts and he’s a stupid bitch and he’s mean and absolutely will insult your mother but your honor he’s just a silly little guy simply a funky little lad and he just lies to people constantly he’s so funny and every time I think about him I go insane

now.

Wilbur. Motherfucking. Soot:

I am mentally ill about him I legitimately get sad often over him he has brought me close to tears unironically multiple times this is a common occurrence I have so much autism about him I’m such a basic bitch 😔

there’s no organization to this part I’m just going to go insane for several paragraphs:

HES SO SAD my boy is struggling constantly 24/7 he has had shit brain chemicals his whole life and he pretends he’s fine cause he has to be fine but he’s literally been putting up a persona the entire smp I just ajrhjabdbwjsj

he’s just a little guy ur honor who wanted to start a little nation for his friends and he tried SO HARD to keep the peace and let everyone live but people continuously fucked him over until he thought he HAD to resort to violence

he has so much trauma and he ignores all of it he’s so stressed all the time and he got beat to death with an axe after his friend betrayed him and and and

and fucking SCHLATT took his country his fucking country from him and kicked him out and his stupid ass lived in a ravine for god knows how long and he developed more mental illnesses then he already had

he legitimately thought everyone hated him and was only staying for the power and wholeheartedly believed that they would leave him if someone else offered something better and he was so scared all the time he was NOT living la vida loca and he just fucking lied about it all the time cause he’s an idiot

and he finally snapped and he was going to press the damn button and his fucking dad showed up and he had made up his mind he was going to die and he was taking lmanberg down with him so he did just that (assisted suicide babyyyyyy)

and don’t even get me started on ghostbur (that’ll come later)

then he fucking died and LIMBO oh my lordy lord he was alone in literal sensory deprivation torture for THIRTEEN AND A HALF YEARS holy motherfuck he lost his fucking mind in there he was not doing well that’s for fucking sure

then his bitch ass got revived and dear god did a lot happen while he was gone and he put on another goddamn persona because he’s fine guys!! he had time to think over everything while he was dead he’s perfectly fine he’s processed all his trauma he’s so much better now he definitely isn’t doing worse he’s fine guys !!! :D (he’s lying)

and one time he tried to explode dream with his mind so that was a thing and also threatened to kill himself despite being apparently happy to be alive again and absolutely fucking terrified of going back to limbo so anyways he still hates himself so that’s a thing

he and Quackity had a homoerotic rivalry and then he went to fucking. Utah so that happened

I’m fucking insane about cwilbur I cannot articulate this to you correctly but I cannot stress enough how feral he makes me

NOW ghostbur I’m insane about him too he’s an amnesiac and he’s so sad all the time and he still hates himself cause ‘alivebur’ hates himself and he considers PERMADYING a happy memory and he can only remember good things and H A T E S talking about his mental health or anything remotely sad and he’s just a little lad with his sheep and he just wants to make people happy and oughhhhhhhhh. anyways how are you guys doing :)

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bi4pan-polls · 1 year

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okay so! i am here with propaganda for Rashmi Jamil and Amelie Macon (Rashmelie) from Entropic Float!

most of my propaganda is reused whole cloth from what ive said for 17 million years of pining, so there will be a significant amount of focus on how long it took them to get together

anyway.

oh. my god. where the fuck do i start with them for real.

okay so, theyve been friends since early childhood, and before either of them came out (Rashmi is agender, they/them, while Amelie is a trans girl, she/her, and they are in fact canonically bi4pan - or pan4bi, if were going by name order, since Rashmi is pan and Amelie is bi). the earliest time that we know that they have feelings for each other is when theyre both 14, and Rashmi - already out, with their entire family (parents and grandma) supporting them without question - is moving. uhhh 90% of american geography names are the same to me so i might lie there. from Nevada, where they both grew up, to New York, where Rashmi is planning on studying dance further, which has always been their plan; around 14 is when they ran out of teachers at home.

they quietly hope Amelie doesnt confess her feelings for them, as they fear it might tempt them to stay, which they cannot allow themself to do.

Amelie, meanwhile, is very carefully not thinking about gender, because her parents are quite frankly the worst. over the course of the years before they meet back up, Amelie has had some dates, but each time, they dont work out, and in her own words, put logs on the flame she carries for Rashmi.

Rashmi, meanwhile. gets married.

one of Rashmi's biggest struggles in their romantic pursuits has been the fact that they are both Indian and queer. it has been a struggle for them to find someone who respects both - someone who respects their gender identity while not throwing their culture under the bus. that is one of the factors contributing to the way their relationship with "Ajay" (we learn that this name isnt his real one, but it was magically replaced in Rashmi's memories of him and we dont know it) played out: he is also Indian, and the first thing he asked them upon meeting them was what their pronouns were. and it was all good.

until it wasnt.

all of that culminates as they return from a short visit to their parents, and he in a fit pushes them down a long flight of stairs.

and who didnt realize that Amelie's workplace didnt know.

her workplace is just. terrible in social terms. she loves the work itself (its food industry, a restaurant in a casino, dont remember the exact job description) but her coworkers are being the absolute worst. a cesspool of toxic masculinity. also an environment for Amelie's undiagnosed psychosis. she is prone to auditory hallucinations.

simultaneously with Rashmi as they are falling down the stairs, they make Wishes.

Oh my gosh,,,couple of all. Not just Pan4bi couple of all time. Just couple of all time in the world.

*Propaganda for Rashmelie from Entropic Float Part 1

#sorry it took me like an hour to respond to this #propaganda #entropic float

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cyarsk52-20 · 1 year

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Denver Sean

Stormy Daniels Speaks Out After Trump Indictment amid Fears for Her Safety

March 31, 2023 9:39 PM PST

Stormy Daniels is weighing in on the indictment against Donald Trump.

via People:

On Thursday, the former president, 76, was indicted by a grand jury in New York, making him the first sitting or former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges. The indictment comes more than six years after he allegedly paid $130,000 in hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels while he was the presidential candidate in 2016.

“Trump is no longer untouchable,” Daniels told The Sunday Times. “A person in power is not exempt from the law. And no matter what your job is, or what your bank account says, you’re held accountable for the things you’ve said and done, and justice is served.”

Though she added that the grand jury’s decision is “vindication,” she also said, “It’s bittersweet. He’s done so much worse that he should have been taken down [for] before. I am fully aware of the insanity of it, being a porn star. But it’s also poetic; this p—- grabbed back.”

She went on to share her thoughts on the inevitable fallout over the indictment.

“It’s monumental and epic, and I’m proud,” Daniels said. “The other side of it is that it’s going to continue to divide people and bring them up in arms. He’s already gotten away with inciting a riot, and causing death and destruction. Whatever the outcome is, it’s going to cause violence, and there’s going to be injuries and death. There’s the potential for a lot of good to come from this. But either way, a lot of bad is going to come from it, too.”

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, told the outlet that since the indictment she has already been the target of threats on “all social media platforms, and email, and phone,” adding that she’s afraid “for the first time ever.”

“Part of me is hesitant to say that, because you don’t want blood in the water. It kind of encourages the sharks. It’s especially scary because Trump himself is inciting violence and encouraging it.”

She clarified that Trump isn’t the one she’s afraid of.

“The country is more divided and people are more desperate. I’m not afraid of him, or of the government, but it just takes one crazy supporter who thinks they’re doing God’s work or protecting democracy.”

She’s also not “as scared” to see Trump in court, pointing out, “I’ve seen him naked. There’s no way he could be scarier with his clothes on. And after what [Michael] Avenatti put me through last January, I’m not as scared.”

Avenatti, Daniels’ former lawyer, was convicted of fraud after he stole around $300,000 of the $800,000 advance for her October 2018 book Full Disclosure about her alleged affair with Trump prior to his presidency. He was his own counsel and grilled Daniels for hours when she was on the stand, per The Times. He was sentenced to four years last year.

Daniels said she’s ready to serve as a witness for the historic trial in the charges against Trump.

“I hope that I do have to. I’m not afraid, I have nothing to hide, and I look forward to telling everybody what I know.”

Revealing her first thoughts on Trump’s indictment, Daniels said it was “a shock. There was no warning.” She had just woken up from a nap and was outside riding her horse.

“There’s something really ironic and hilarious that I got the news about the indictment while I was sitting on a horse named Redemption,” she joked, noting that she purchased Redemption with a portion of the alleged six-figure payout she received from Trump.

Though Daniels has alleged she and Trump had sex in a hotel room in Nevada back in 2006, Trump has denied the claim. His now-former attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to charges related to the lump sum in 2018 and was sentenced to three years in prison. He was also disbarred.

Asked what the money was for if she and Trump allegedly didn’t have sex, Daniels said, “I don’t know. I don’t think he’s ever answered that question.”

She went on to share her thoughts about Cohen, who she made amends with in February 2021. “I know that he is worried for his safety and his family — and even my safety.”

“He was sort of responsible for making my life hell, indirectly. But part of me understands that he was trying to be loyal and do his job and really thought he was trying to do the right thing. And it takes a brave person to do what he’s done.”

Adding what she believes was the turning point in her alleged encounter with Trump, Daniels continued, “If I hadn’t signed the NDA, and I hadn’t taken the hush money, then he didn’t do anything wrong. He banged another hot chick — which he’s kind of known for doing — and nothing about that is illegal. Signing the NDA and taking the hush money was actually the greatest gift that I gave. Because it’s what made it illegal, which made it possible to actually go after him.”

She added that her work as an adult film star was “used to ruin my credibility.”

“Can you think of a single time that ‘porn star’ wasn’t put in front of my name?” she told The Sunday Times.” Imagine if I did something else — would ‘school teacher Stormy Daniels,’ or ‘accountant Stormy Daniels’ have ever been printed? No, it was salacious and used against me and used to ruin my credibility.”

She did, however, use the title to her advantage. “Because I couldn’t be shamed. I couldn’t be threatened with nude photos — they are everywhere.”

When she first shared her story, she said she “would get messages that my daughter should be euthanized.” But when she tied the knot with another porn star, Barrett Blade, last year she thought the drama “was behind me. And now I’m responsible for subjecting another person and another person’s family to s— that they didn’t ask for. I feel like I’m a danger to anybody who I love or care about, or supports me or I’m friends with.”

Asked if she has regrets about going public with the allegations against Trump, she said she has mixed feelings.

“Sometimes in the moment, I’m like, ‘What the f— was I thinking? Was it worth it?’ But I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror. If I could go back far enough to where I did go to the hotel that night, I wouldn’t have done that. But…coming forward, I would do the same thing again. Because it was the right thing to do.”

The charges against Trump may be made public next Tuesday, when the former president is expected to appear in a Manhattan courtroom for his arraignment, according to his attorneys.

Who would’ve ever thought that Stormy Daniels would end up being the person to send Donald Trump to jail?

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addictedtostorytelling · 2 years

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I LOVE your insight to GSR! I am re-watching the entire series and I have a question. If Grissom and Sara had a relationship before she came back to Vegas how does Grissom reconcile perusing other women? Is it because he doesn't think he can have Sara so he's trying to fill that void? I am interested in your thoughts!

hi, @i-collect-things!

i've previously written a bit about this topic here, if you're interested.

however, to elaborate (and update) a bit:

the short answer here is that while grissom falls in love with sara at first sight and has a kind of nebulous romantic and possibly sexual connection with her prior to her moving to vegas between 1998 and 2000, he is never in a committed, monogamous relationship with her at any point prior to 2005.

furthermore, for as much as he loves her from the first time he meets her in 1998, before october 2000, he never has any reason to believe that they can be together as a serious, committed couple, given that they live in separate states.

those things being the case, while i don't believe he dates a lot of people outside of her during this time and especially none seriously, he is technically at liberty to do so if he so chooses—just as she is technically at liberty to date other people if she so chooses—which is something he does at least one time that we know of (i.e., when he takes charlotte meridian to the dark side of the rainbow show sometime before mid-october 2000).

the reason why he does go on at least that one date (and possibly others unknown to us) is not because he's trying to move on from sara or because he "enjoys playing the field" or even because he is seeking to fill the hole in his life caused by her living faraway from him but rather just because he seeks social companionship.

certainly, he has no intentions to fall in love with anyone not sara and he's not searching for any kind of "deeper connection" outside of with her. likewise, by the same token, he also (as i read things) isn't interested in seeking out sex with anyone who isn't sara, either.

he is just interested in spending time with a person he finds intellectually and socially stimulating in the only way social conventions will really allow him to (i.e., by taking her on a date).

as for how he can justify pursuing other women (in this case, teri miller) after sara moves to vegas in 2000, at that point, he is very much trying to distract himself from sara, as he feels he cannot ever have her.

however, he is wildly unsuccessful in doing so, which is why his relationship with teri miller ends so abruptly and disastrously.

longer answer after the "keep reading," if you're interested.

so let's put the issue of grissom's romantic adventures between 2000-2005 on ice for a second and focus instead on the precanon era of his and sara's relationship between 1998-2000.

in order to answer the question "if grissom falls in love with sara the first time he meets her in 1998 and then they have some kind of ~relationship~ between 1998 and 2000 before she moves to las vegas and joins his team, why would he date other people besides her during this time?," first we have to deconstruct it.

point of deconstruction #1: for whatever grissom and sara's pre-vegas relationship is, it is not an official or labeled one. while during this period, they fall in love at first sight, may go on some sporadic dates, may potentially have some physical component(s) to their dynamic, etc., they aren't "boyfriend and girlfriend," per se.

given that they are living 400 miles away from each other and have no opportunities to see each other regularly, while connected, they are not committed.

in no sense is their relationship a formalized one, particularly since at this point in their history they have no reason to believe that their situation will ever really resolve itself, as she is living and working in california while he is living and working in nevada, and neither one of them has the intention to quit their job and/or move without first having some other place to land. as far as they see things, for as strong as their feelings for each other are, their separation from each other is interminable.

ergo, there is no expectation for monogamy between them at this point.

though they both are secretly heart-set on each other and would gladly give up seeing other people were the option to be exclusive with each other somehow suddenly to appear on the table, with her living in san francisco and him living in las vegas, they aren't actually in a position to build their lives around each other in that particular way yet.

so, though in love, they are still technically single.

and as single people, they are technically at liberty to date other people, if they so choose.

—which brings us to point of deconstruction #2: we don't actually know what either sara or grissom chooses in this regard.

like.

we don't know how much they do actually "date other people" after meeting each other.

doug wilson is the only even potential non-grissom "gentleman caller" from sara's past we know of whom she could possibly date during this time. however, not only is it unclear exactly what kind of relationship she and doug actually have—are they just mutually attracted to each other or do they actually hook up?—but it's also unclear when exactly during her san francisco days sara knows him; he is just as likely to predate sara meeting grissom as postdate it.

that so, we can't definitively say whether or not sara actually dates either doug or anyone else after the time when she meets grissom or not.

meanwhile, while we know grissom goes on a one-off (bad) date with charlotte meridian sometime prior to the events of episode 01x01 "pilot" in 2000, we can't actually speak to the fact that he sees any other women besides either her or sara between 1998-2000 before sara moves to vegas.

though it's technically possible that he may date julia holden during this time, it's also possible that he dates her before he ever meets sara (i.e., sometime prior to 1998).

excepting his unnamed college girlfriend (see episode 09x08 "young man with a horn"), whom he breaks up with long before even meeting sara, his only other confirmed "lady friend" on the show at all besides those two is teri miller, whom he meets and takes on a date in 2001, which, for those of us playing along at home, is only after sara moves to vegas and he begins trying, ineffectually albeit, to distract himself from her.

so while of course it's possible that he may date other women between 1998 and 2000—either casually or seriously—the fact is that we just don't have any explicit evidence that such is the case.

and, in fact, we have circumstantial evidence to suggest that maybe it isn't.

recall that in episode 01x04 "pledging mr. johnson" (which takes place, within the universe of the show, in november 2000), catherine accuses grissom of living "alone in [his] hermetically-sealed condo" and "[having] no relationships, so [there is] no chance one will slop over into a case."

again, though it's technically possible that grissom does have romantic relationships during this time and catherine simply doesn't know about them, based on how perceptive she is and how much she tends to be interested in his personal life, it seems unlikely to me that if he were in the habit of regularly dating, she would be entirely oblivious to that fact (especially since if the women he were dating weren't coworkers, there would be no reason for him to try to conceal his relationships with them from her a la what he later does when dating sara).

if catherine is savvy enough to pick up on the fact that he's attracted to and has some kind of romantic connection to sara right away when sara moves to vegas, then it stands to reason she could probably also do the same regarding other romantic relationships that grissom were to be having at this time if said relationships existed.

so the fact that she seems to be under the belief that he has no personal life/doesn't really date to me implies that maybe he is not in the habit of entertaining female companions very often during this 1998-2000 time period.

honestly, it's possible that charlotte meridian is one of just a very few women he dates after meeting sara—possibly even a singular anomaly unto herself.

—which brings us to point of deconstruction #3: there is a difference between going on dates and dating, particularly where grissom, with all of his nontraditional views on sex and romance, is concerned.

we know he feels that he and sara have been "connected" and have always had a relationship from their very first meeting (see episode 08x02 "a la cart"), but, as discussed above, just the fact of them being in love with each other from day #1 doesn't automatically mean they're dating in the sense of having a formalized relationship.

by that same token, just going out with someone for an evening doesn't necessarily mean one is dating them in the sense of having a formalized relationship, either.

there is a difference between a date (noun, singular) vs. dating (verb, present continuous).

and, to my mind, that distinction is very much in play with charlotte meridian, as grissom is concerned.

of course, i read grissom as being demisexual, so i don't think it's in his m.o. to approach random women with sexual intentions anyhow, but even if one doesn't share my views re: his orientation, we know for a fact that with charlotte meridian in particular, baby boy views their outing to the show as a social activity rather than a romantic one—hence why he doesn't even attempt to kiss her during the course of the evening, much less initiate sex, despite her sending him clear signals that she would like him to do so.

as i talk about in this post,

through grissom is certainly “smoother” and more charming with charlotte than he will be with other women throughout the course of the show, he is also seemingly oblivious to her sexual cues until she states them to him outright.

when she makes her quip about wanting to be pinned to a wall, grissom raises his eyebrow, surprised and intrigued, as if the thought had never occurred to him. his explanation of why he planned the date he did points to the fact that, for him, the object of the date was something other than sex. he wanted to do something new and interesting. in his view, the date was a means to explore a curiosity.

were sara in vegas at this time, there's no question grissom would've taken her as his date to the show instead.

now.

admittedly, we don't know the exact nature of grissom and charlotte's dynamic, and neither do we know how he approaches her to go to the show with him.

are they longstanding work friends prior to the time that he makes his invitation or is their acquaintance perhaps more nascent? is it the kind of deal where he calls her up one day after shift and asks her out with him in a formal way (giving her every expectation that the outing will, in fact, be a date, in the traditional romantic sense) or is it more the type of thing where somehow the topic of the show comes up while they are talking at work and he mentions his desire to go and then asks somewhat spur-of-the-moment if she might like to accompany him? does she possibly float the idea of them hanging out after work together to him (though she leaves him to determine the activity) or is he the initiator? are they in the habit of flirting before the date takes place or have they always maintained a professional rapport prior to this first foray into "extracurricular activities"? how does charlotte feel about him before they end up on their date—has she been nursing a crush on him for a while or had she never really thought about him in "that way" until he asks her out?

honestly, we don't know.

only headcanon can say.

but what we do know is that however everything goes down, grissom doesn't even attempt to "put the moves" on charlotte while they're out, despite the fact that she is sending him all sorts of signals that she would like him to do just that.

grissom's lack of sexual/romantic intentions with charlotte raises the question: "why does he even bother asking her out if he has no interest in pursuing a physical relationship with her?"

and that's where the whole "grissom has some different views about sex and romance than most folks do" angle comes into play.

again, regardless of whether or not one shares my view that grissom is demisexual, the fact is that he is somewhat "old fashioned" in how he socializes.

he isn't the type to try to sleep with someone on the first date (even if that someone would perhaps like him to); he likes to get to know the person first.

he also doesn't assume that one date will necessarily transpire into others, even if the company is relatively pleasant and the date itself goes well.

you know in the reboot how sara talks about how the "gears don't shift for [her] husband until he sees how they work" with regards to how he approaches his cases (see episode 01x04 "long pig")? well, the same principle applies to his social relationships: he likes to see how things play before he commits to anything (his falling in love with sara at first sight here being a notable exception to what is otherwise his standard operating procedure).

so him asking charlotte out for one night doesn't necessarily (to him) mean that he is trying to get into a relationship with her and/or sleep with her.

he's much more of a "one step at a time" guy (again, with everyone but sara).

maybe charlotte is under the impression that if he's asking her on a date, he must want to sleep with her and be nursing at least some hopes that they could eventually have a long-term romantic relationship.

but his thinking is way more discrete.

to him, it's just one date, and it will likely only ever be "just one date."

because that's the thing:

putting all of these points of deconstruction all together, what we're left with is a situation where we have a grissom who has met the love of his life but isn't in a formalized romantic relationship with her because they live 400 miles away from each other. though he has no real interest in dating (in the present continuous tense) or even with having casual sex with anyone in lieu of her, he does on occasion want for social companionship and so he will—rarely—go on one-off dates with other women.

were sara available to him instead, she would be his first (and only) choice for these activities.

but in her absence, he has to make do with others.

how many of these "others" there are, we can't say—though my personal sense (again, based on the fact that catherine seems to view the grissom of this era as being perpetually alone and single) is that there aren't many; maybe just charlotte meridian or possibly one or two more women beyond her during the entire two-and-a-half-year period between when he first meets sara and when he invites her to move to vegas and join his team.

it's not something he seeks out often.

just when there is an activity that he would enjoy having a companion for.

he's not stupid, of course: he knows that when he asks a single woman to spend time recreating with him outside of work, he's asking her on a date.

however, he also doesn't assume that just asking a woman on a date is the same as dating her, and neither does he have any expectation that the date will include any "physical activities," particularly as it is a novel occurrence.

so, to tie all of these loose threads together, here's how i parse the charlotte meridian situation in particular (as described in the first post linked at the top of this reply):

i believe grissom and sara have some kind of nebulous relationship going on between 1998 and 2000, while sara is living in san francisco and grissom is living in vegas.

they’re both in love with each other, though they haven’t said so aloud. they see each other at conferences, and grissom occasionally visits sara in san francisco. they’re intimate in their own way, though not necessarily regularly. there’s a lot of assumptions held on both sides.

i tend to think that this relationship isn’t formalized and that there is no expectation for monogamy with it—i.e., that neither party presumes that they are dating each other exlusively or considers that the other will forego dating and sex with other persons, despite their interactions with each other.

when they meet at conferences or grissom comes to visit sara in san francisco, they’re together, but sara imagines—and cringes to do so—that grissom sometimes picks up other women when he’s home in vegas.

(how could he not, being as handsome and brilliant and charming as he is?)

grissom likewise grits his teeth as he supposes that sara probably has dates and hookups in san francisco.

(she’s young and beautiful and full of life, and he’s seen how younger men look at her when they’re dining out or walking around conference centers together. how could he ever hope she’d confine herself to him, particularly when they only see each other a few times a year?)

of course, because it’s gsr, neither one of them ever broaches the topic with the other, and they each suffer in private as they consider the possibilities surrounding the other one’s love life, which they presume must include more persons than just themselves.

the truth is actually that neither one of them really has a great interest in dating other people, now that they’ve met each other, so they don’t really date around.

they’re more monogamous than either one of them would expect, but neither one of them knows it.

that’s not to say that neither party ever takes notice of someone else or that there aren’t a few times during those nearly three years—they meet in february 1998, and sara moves to vegas in october 2000—that they don’t occasionally go on dates with others, either because well-meaning coworkers set them up or they chance encounter someone interesting in their work or leisure time.

after all, they’re not technically a couple, and they don’t even live in the same state, so there’s no harm in it. it’s just that, in the backs of their minds, they both tend to think, “what’s the point? i’m already in love with someone else”—which means that even when they do go on dates with other people, these dates never transpire into anything bigger or more lasting. they’re both just kind of biding time and are emotionally loyal to each other, even if they’ll sometimes socialize with others.

so the thing with charlotte meridian?

that’s not something grissom goes into thinking, “i want to take a woman other than sara out on a date. i’m looking for someone else.”

that’s something where grissom hears about this “dark side of the rainbow” show playing at a drive-in movie theater in the desert. he’s read about the synchronicity, jungian theory, apophenia, and confirmation bias behind the whole phenomenon, and he’s eager to observe it for himself. if possible, he would like to bring someone from work in order to have partner with whom to discuss his observations.

he tries hinting at the possibility to catherine, but she shoots him down before he can even extend her a proper invitation: “alan parsons said the whole thing is a coincidence,” she tells him. “there’s no way i’d waste a night off watching ray bolger dance to ‘brain damage’ when i could be home with lindsey instead.”

nick and warrick he doesn’t socialize with outside of work, especially at this point. they’re his subordinates, and, while he enjoys their company, there’s a boundary there he isn’t going to cross.

so then grissom thinks of charlotte. he has had conversations with charlotte at work. she’s his friend. she’s whip-smart and fun to banter with. he asks charlotte to go to the show with him for exactly the reason he later states to her: he thinks it will be something different, an interesting pop culture adventure for two scientists to embark on.

her powers of observation have always impressed him, so she’ll make good company at an event like this one.

he is vaguely aware that an unrelated man and a woman attending a public event together can be construed as a date, and he isn’t opposed to thinking of it that way or of allowing charlotte to do so herself. to him, there is a difference between going on one date and being “involved.”

(involvement implies an emotional connection and devotion that he doesn’t have with anyone but sara.)

he really doesn’t intend or expect for this one event to turn into a ~thing~. he also doesn’t suppose that all dates have to be romantic or that this date carries with it any expectation for intimacy. he’s old-fashioned. he’s not looking to kiss charlotte or take her home with him. he just wants to converse with her and pick her brain about correspondent accidental symbolism and meaning-making.

of course, since he doesn’t want a repeat of what happened with catherine, in asking charlotte, he extends a blanket invitation first—i.e., “would you honor me with your company next friday night?”—and only tells her it’s the pink floyd thing after she actually says yes.

what he doesn’t realize is that charlotte has had a thing for him ever since she started at the lab. he’s kind of got this silverfox charm going on, and he’s so mysterious. she’s been playing her best flirt game with him for months, trying to be witty and forthcoming and send him all the right signals, so when he makes his invitation, she thinks all her hard work has finally paid off, and they’re really going to connect.

unfortunately for her, grissom spends the whole night paying attention to how the songs match up with the visual cues. never once does he try to get “on base”—not even when she purposefully leans up against him during “us and them.” hell, he doesn’t even try to hold her hand! occasionally, he asks her if she caught this or that lyrical allusion and points out that some stanford study describes people’s willingness to adhere to discredited notions as a form of psychological preservation of the self and world-schemas, but he seems oblivious to the fact that, if she had her way, they’d be rounding third in the back seat by now.

she has a terrible time, not only because he ignores her but because she can’t stand pink floyd. he has a great time because he gets to see his show, and charlotte ultimately agrees with him that the coincidental synchronicity between the film and the album is less than remarkable.

(postulate debunked!)

grissom doesn’t think anything more of the adventure until charlotte brings it up a few weeks later. it’s only then he realizes that he disappointed her. he’s not quite sure what to do about her disappointment, as, honestly, he has no intention to ask her on another date.

the trouble completely slips his mind when the holly gribbs debacle busts wide open—and especially because, even after everything’s settled, charlotte eventually switches to day shift, and he doesn’t have reason to talk to her much anymore, especially considering that sara’s moved to town.

while the above conjecture is focused on charlotte meridian specifically (as she is the only non-sara "female companion" we know grissom has between 1998-2000), i believe the same principles outlined for this scenario would apply to any other potential dates grissom might go on—if there are any—during this same era, as well.

it wouldn't be a deal where grissom was super attracted to some other woman than sara and wanted to have sex with her or commence a committed romantic relationship.

it wouldn't even be a thing where he was trying to distract himself from sara or "fill the void" without her, either.

it would just be a thing where he'd be looking for a social companion for a particular event and so asked someone on a (completely chaste) one-off date.

and because he and sara aren't technically themselves dating at this point and have no expectation for monogamy, he wouldn't feel any degree of guilt in what he was doing or feel the need to justify it were she to somehow find out.

"involvement" is different than just going on a date with someone, in his mind.

and, besides, it's not like he was going to sleep with this other woman anyway or likely even ever go out with her again.

he would presume sara was probably doing similar things on her end (i.e., that she occasionally was going out with other guys aside from him)—and though that thought wouldn't necessarily please him, he'd be resigned enough about it, because, really, what other choice would he have?

for as long as they weren't actually together and couldn't be because of the distance, they'd both just have to keep "living their lives," you know?

it'd be unreasonable to expect both of them to never spend time with another person even though they weren't technically together.

of course, all of the above said, getting back to the 2000-2005 era of grissom's life, i do think that once sara moves to vegas and after her and grissom's relationship dynamic starts changing around mid-s1, grissom's approach to dating other women besides her does change, at least for a while.

again, teri miller is his only confirmed non-sara romantic companion from this time (as it is uncertain, per canon, whether he has ever had a romantic relationship with heather kessler or not).

so just focusing on teri miller, she is definitely meant to be a distraction from sara.

—and, indeed, it is noteworthy to me that within the universe of the show, grissom asks teri out in episode 01x14 "to have and to hold" only about a week after the events of episode 01x13 "boom."

to me, that choice on his part suggests panic, like he spends the serial bombing case working in very close proximity with sara, basically treating the investigation as if it were a date with her, but then he realizes what he is doing, freaks out (because by this point he knows that he and sara can't be together, despite finally living in the same state; not if they want to keep their jobs), and, in an effort to convince himself that he isn't actually still hung up on the her, he asks another woman out as soon as the opportunity to do so presents itself to him.

even so, while grissom does go through the phase of trying to distract himself from sara during s1, i think he very quickly gives up on it, not only because he blows things with teri after just one half of their first date but also because (deep down) he recognizes the futility of the exercise.

his heart is still with sara, and no amount of seeing other people will change the fact that it is, so why bother trying to date anyone who isn't her?

better to just focus on trying to resign himself to the fact that he and sara can't be together, you know?

anyway.

rambling now.

suffice it to say, i think that the best way to view grissom's relationships with other women between 1998-2000 is through the lens of him seeking social companionship, and the best way to view his relationships with other women between 2000-2005 is through the lens of him trying to distract himself from sara (whom he believes he can never have).

however, the bottom line in both cases is that no matter whom he may go out to dinner with, his heart is ultimately always with sara, and he realizes as much.

thanks for the question! please feel welcome to send another any time.

#answered #i collect things #asks: csi #**#my meta #meta: csi #meta: grissom #meta: precanon #season one #let's talk shop #csiverse #charlotte meridian #teri miller

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