#t one book a month. Who knows. We’ll see

[2189114reads]

But it’s not a flop I’m sorry I said that. The only true flop is not reading anything all month

February might be a flop month tbh I only finished 1 book and am nowhere near finishing the 3 I’m reading rn

[thatchickwiththecamera]

Ghost | Noah Sebastian One Shot

Pairing: Noah Sebastian x Reader

Y/N had always loved playing video games. She got settled into her gaming chair and readjusted the round glasses perched on her nose before tossed her hair up into a messy bun. She opened Steam on her computer and got the game she downloaded ready.

Her room was organized chaos. Her bed was unmade in the background in front of walls lined with framed vinyls of her favorite bands and a ‘Bad Omens’ flag covered her window as a makeshift curtain. 

An empty Starbucks cup sat next to her Stanley water bottle on her desk from her writing session that morning.

She was an author by trade, with one of her more recent books sneaking its way onto the New York Times Best Sellers list. So streaming gave her an outlet to connect with fans of the book who were eagerly waiting to see what she published next. But she also enjoyed the thrill of gaming. 

So every Wednesday and Friday night, she’d set up her Twitch stream, ready to chat with her followers while she worked on her newest story on her computer or let them watch as she tried to conquer a new game. 

Tonight was Friday night, which meant Game Night! She adjusted her headset and looked into the camera with a grin. 

"Hey, guys! Welcome back! Since we finished Hollow Souls in the last game night stream, we’re starting a new one requested in the Patreon called Nervous System. I downloaded it earlier today and I can’t wait to get started. So, grab your snacks and get comfy!” 

As the game loaded, Y/N glanced at the chat window. The usual usernames flashed by, but one stood out: TwitchGhost. 

“Hey, Ghost! Is this one of the games you’ve played or is this a new one?” She asked, her tone playful.

TwitchGhost: This one is new to me.

Ghost had popped up in one of her streams a few months ago when she was playing through the new Call of Duty storyline and had since become a regular viewer. She began to look forward to his comments almost as much as she looked forward to playing. 

Week after week her chat box was filled with Ghost’s banter and witty interactions with her and her other followers. He even started to watch her regular streams where she would chat with fans and answer questions while working on the draft of her next book.

As the game loaded and the eerie music of Nervous System filled the room, Y/N noticed Ghost’s usual cheeky messages lighting up the chat.

TwitchGhost: I’m ready for some jumpscares!

Y/N chuckled and adjusted her headset. “Yeah, I heard this game is supposed to be pretty intense. I’m excited to see how we’ll do.”

She clicked to start a new game, and the screen transitioned to a dimly lit hallway with flickering lights. The graphics were stunningly detailed, adding an extra layer of immersion. Y/N began exploring, moving through the unsettling environment and commenting on the game’s eerie atmosphere.

The chat was buzzing with excitement as the game’s tension built. Her followers were actively engaging, offering their own tips and sharing their favorite horror games. Ghost’s messages stood out, though. His comments were always well-timed, blending humor with insightful observations about the game.

TwitchGhost: I love how the game is making the mundane so creepy. The lights and music are driving me insane.

Y/N grinned, glancing over at the chat. “I know, right? It’s amazing how a simple light can make everything feel so unsettling. You’re going to help me out if I get stuck, right?”

TwitchGhost: Absolutely! I’ve got your back. Just don’t let the creepy noises get to you.

The game took a sudden turn as a loud crash echoed through the virtual hallway, making Y/N jump slightly. 

“Fucking Hell!” She yelled. 

She laughed nervously and played along with the chat’s reactions. 

“I’m definitely going to need that backup. This game is already getting under my skin.”

TwitchGhost: If you need someone to hold your hand during the scary parts, I’m only a message away.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. 

“Oh, is that so? I’ll have to keep that in mind.” 

The chat exploded with playful and teasing comments from other viewers reacting to their playful flirting. Y/N continued navigating through the game, her focus occasionally shifting to Ghost’s messages.

As she progressed through the game, Y/N found herself getting more engrossed at one point in the gameplay, her tongue peaking out of the side of her mouth in concentration. 

A short but loud alarm suddenly sounded causing her to jump and clutch at her chest. 

A message stating TwitchGhost played KEM Alarm for 0 bits popped up on the screen. 

It was one of the sound bits that she had added to the list when she was still playing COD and had never gotten around to removing it. 

“Fuck you Ghost!” She yelled after pausing the game to calm her racing heartbeat. 

TwitchGhost: 👀😏😈

“Behave.” She said, shaking her head with a smile. 

TwitchGhost: JK. 😉

TwitchGhost: You are doing pretty well with the jumpscares though. They’re my least favorite part of these games. 

Y/N’s cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment. She replied with a playful tone, “Well, thank you! I’d say you’re pretty good at keeping the chat entertained too. Maybe we make a pretty good team?”

TwitchGhost: I like the sound of that. Maybe we should test that theory sometime—on or off stream.

With that the chat went wild with one user even commenting, “I ship it!” 

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat at the suggestion and her smile grew wider as she continued to play the game.

She took a deep breath and responded, “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you? I’ll have to consider it. For now, I need to survive this game.”

Just as they were about to uncover a major plot twist in the game, Ghost dropped a message that stood out from his usual playful banter.

TwitchGhost: Have you ever thought about adding a horror element to one of your books? You seem to handle the scares pretty well!

Y/N’s eyes widened slightly as she read the message. She paused the game and looked directly into the camera. 

“You know, I haven’t really thought about that. But that’s a really good idea. Maybe mixing some horror elements into a future story could be really interesting. Thanks for the suggestion!”

The chat exploded with excitement, many viewers expressing their enthusiasm for the idea. Y/N smiled, feeling inspired by the unexpected suggestion. She turned her attention back to the game, ready to dive into the next part of the story with renewed energy.

TwitchGhost: Anytime. Looking forward to reading it. 

Another notication popped up - TwitchGhost sent you a friend request

She paused for a moment before eventually hitting the accept button.

Suddenly a direct message box opened.

TwitchGhost: Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to help you brainstorm over a cup of coffee sometime?

Y/N’s heart raced at the thought. She gave a teasing smile to the camera before typing:

Y/NUserName: Maybe. 

The rest of the stream flew by in a blur with Y/N accomplishing the first five objective missions before deciding to call it a night. The stream had left her both exhilarated and exhausted. She closed the game and thanked her viewers for joining her.

“Thanks so much for hanging out tonight! You guys made this game night unforgettable. And Ghost, your suggestion about incorporating horror into my writing might just spark my next big idea. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes!”

She glanced at the chat one last time and saw Ghost’s final message.

TwitchGhost: Looking forward to it. Until next time.

With a contented sigh, Y/N closed her laptop and started to tidy up her desk. 

A few weeks passed and Ghost had been noticeably absent from the chat. 

Another Wednesday had rolled around and Y/N had finished up a full day of meetings with her management and publisher about the press tour for her next book, Michael. It was the first in her new Fallen Angels series and was due to be released at the end of the summer. 

It was completely different from her first book, Ace of Spades. Michael, was titled after the Archangel Michael and was more fantasy based while Ace of Spades was a gritty underground crime romance novel. 

She logged into twitch and the “Stream Starting Soon” graphic appears on the screen going live to her followers. She pulls up her manuscript for the new book she was starting, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the screen. Depending on how busy the chat was tonight she had planned on working on it. When she was ready she switched to the live view. 

“Hey, everyone! Welcome back to the stream. Tonight, we’re swapping out the gaming for some writing and a little Q and A session. I’m diving into outlining a new story and also wanted to let you know a little more about my next release and the series it will be a part of.” She stated.

The chat blew up with excitement and questions about the new series. 

“Okay, the next book is titled Michael and it will be the first in a seven book series called The Fallen Angel series. It will be a fantasy series of sorts and each of the books will be named after one of the seven archangels.” She excitedly answered. “I just finalized plans for the release with my team today and I am happy to announce that it is due to come out at the end of August.” 

She watched as a steady stream of happy and excited replies popped into the chat box on the edge of the screen at the news. 

She let the users chat with each other about the announcement for a bit and started working on the outline of her next story Nightmares. Which popped into her head not long after the stream where Ghost suggested she incorporate horror into one of her books.

She glanced over to take a peek at the chat and noticed someone had used 500 channel points to highlight their message. 

“Oh, that's a good question. Trickster24 asked what was my inspiration for Carter in Ace of Spades was.” She said, before adjusting her headset and looking directly into the camera. 

“So, Carter was inspired by a mix of classic noir heroes and a bit of real-life charm. I took some cues from those figures you would see in old detective films. But there’s also a touch of some famous personas in there as well in an overall aesthetic sense. It really helped shape Carter into a more nuanced character.” 

The chat continued to buzz with interest with viewers dropping comments about who they pictured as Carter when they read the book. 

GoldenGoddess45: Who did you envision as Carter when you were writing the book?

“So…when writing Ace of Spades, I honestly envisioned Carter as someone who looks similar to the lead vocalist of one of my favorite rock bands called Bad Omens.” She began, “If you guys aren’t familiar with them you should definitely check them out.” 

The chat fills with more questions, but her attention is drawn to a familiar username. 

TwitchGhost: Carter sounds like someone I’d love to have a coffee with. How about you? Do you think Carter would enjoy a coffee date?

The comment makes her laugh. 

“Welcome back Ghost! I’ve missed seeing your name in the chat,” She started, “I could definitely see Carter frequenting a little dimly lit cafe. And knowing him, he’d definitely be the type to keep the conversation interesting. What about you, Ghost? Are you as mysterious as Carter?”

TwitchGhost: I like to think I have a few secrets up my sleeve. 😉

She grins at the response and how the chat proceeded to blow up at the continuation of their flirty banter. She almost struggles to keep up with the steady stream of questions and responses flowing into the chat.

After a while one pops up about the outline for the new story that she mentioned. 

“Oh yeah, I’ll give you guys a little hint about what I’m working on. I got some inspiration from one of Ghost’s comments actually during a previous stream. I’m not going to announce the title just yet, but I will say it will be more of a horror based dark romance story compared to my other works. I'm in the very early outlining stages though so I am looking forward to seeing where it goes.” 

TwitchGhost: Glad you liked the idea! I’ll be first in line to read it. 😉

Y/N felt a flutter of excitement at Ghost’s message, a sense of anticipation hanging in the air. She glanced at the clock. Her stream had been going for close to two hours, and she still had a lot of work to do on her outline.

“Alright, everyone, I think we’re going to start wrapping things up soon. But before we go, I want to thank you all for your awesome questions. I love how engaged and creative this community is. It really makes this whole process so much fun!”

The chat exploded with thank-yous and goodbyes as her viewers began to sign off. She glanced back at Ghost’s messages, his usual witty banter making her smile.

A new direct message pops up.

TwitchGhost: Sorry for missing so many streams. I hope you’ve been keeping things interesting without me. 😉

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat at the message. She typed back, trying to match his flirtatious tone. 

Y/NUserName: Oh, you know I always keep things lively. But it’s been a bit dull without your witty comments. How have you been?

TwitchGhost: Busy, had to travel for work and time zones got in the way of tuning in. You’ve been on my mind more than I’d like to admit. 😏

She felt a rush of warmth at his words. 

Y/NUserName: Well, aren’t you a charmer? I’ve missed our little banter. It definitely adds a spark to the stream.

TwitchGhost: Just doing my part to keep things exciting. Speaking of which, I’ve been dying to know—how’s the new book coming along?

Y/N’s smile widened, feeling a thrill at his compliment.

Y/NUserName: The new book is shaping up nicely, thanks for asking. I might even incorporate a bit of the intrigue you bring to our chats into it.

TwitchGhost: I’m flattered. Can’t wait to see how you bring a touch of me into your work. Maybe you’ll make a character who’s just as irresistible as you. 😉

Y/N’s cheeks flushed at his flirty remark. 

Y/NUserName: Well, if I do, I’ll have to make sure they have your charm. I think that’s a winning formula.

TwitchGhost: I’m all for it. And who knows? Maybe your characters will end up stealing more than just my heart.

Y/N’s heart raced at his bold comment. 

Y/NUserName: You’re quite the tease, Ghost. I’ll have to keep that in mind while I’m writing. For now, though, I’m glad you’re back. It wouldn’t be the same without you.

TwitchGhost: Glad to be back. I’ve missed our little moments. I’ll try not to stay away too long next time. 😉

Y/N responded with a flirtatious grin. 

Y/NUserName: I’ll hold you to that. 

She leaned back in her chair and stretched, feeling a mix of relief and exhilaration. She turned off her computer and added a few ideas inspired by their playful exchange to her outline. 

As she wrote, she couldn’t stop thinking about the chemistry she felt with Ghost. She had no clue who he was, but he had quickly become one of her favorite parts of streaming, and the thought of possibly meeting him one day was both thrilling and intriguing.

She quickly finished up her notes and decided to call it a night. As she settled into bed, her phone buzzed. She picked it up to find another message from Ghost.

TwitchGhost: Can’t wait to see where this story leads. Sweet dreams, Y/N. 😘

Y/N smiled and quickly typed back, her fingers dancing over the screen.

Y/NUserName: Goodnight, Ghost. 

She set her phone down, turned off the bedside lamp, and snuggled under the covers. As she drifted off to sleep, her thoughts swirled with the possibilities that awaited both in her writing and her streaming.

A few weeks later, Y/N received an unexpected surprise. Bad Omens had announced their next tour and her manager, Andy, had secured a spot for them both on the guest list for the date in the city a couple hours from her hometown. She not only got to see her favorite band live, but she would get the chance to meet them after the show. 

She excitedly announced the news to her followers on the next stream.

“Hey everyone!” Y/N’s excitement was palpable as she spoke into the camera. “I’ve got some super exciting news to share! I don’t know what my manager did, but I’m going to see Bad Omens next month! Not only that, but I’ll also get to meet them after the show. I’m over the freakin moon right now!”

The chat exploded with enthusiasm, her followers sharing in her excitement and asking if she would be able to get any exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Y/N promised to do her best to share the experience and make everyone feel like they were part of it.

As Y/N wrapped up her stream, she noticed a new direct message notification from Ghost. Her heart raced with anticipation as she opened it.

TwitchGhost: Bad Omens, huh? That’s incredible! I’m jealous. Have you ever met them before?

Y/N couldn’t help but smile, her excitement bubbling up again.

Y/NUserName: I’ve never met them before. This will be my first time! I’m so excited I can barely contain myself.

TwitchGhost: I bet you’re going to have an amazing time. I’m curious, though—what would you say to them if you had the chance?

Y/N’s fingers flew over the keyboard as she typed her reply, her thoughts racing with the possibility of meeting the band.

Y/NUserName: I’d probably gush about how much their music has meant to me. And if I were feeling brave, I might even mention that I have a crush on their lead singer. 😉

TwitchGhost: Haha, that’s a bold move! I’m sure they’d appreciate hearing how much their music means to you. That lead singer would be a lucky guy. 😉

Y/N felt a flush of warmth at Ghost’s words, her thoughts wandering to the idea of meeting the mysterious person behind the messages that had become such a cherished part of her life.

Y/NUserName: Well it probably wouldn’t work out anyway. I kinda already have someone else who’s been keeping me on my toes. 

TwitchGhost: Oh? Celebrity crush has some competition then? Anyone I know? 😏

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat at his playful inquiry.

Y/NUserName: Maybe…

Y/NUserName: I need to get back to writing now. But I’ll let you know how everything goes. 

TwitchGhost: Can’t wait to hear all about it. Good luck with the writing, and remember, if you need any more inspiration, you know where to find me. 😉

Y/NUserName: Thanks, Ghost. I’ll keep that in mind. Talk to you soon!

TwitchGhost: Goodnight, Y/N!

Y/N closed her laptop and set her phone aside, her mind buzzing with excitement about the upcoming concert and the prospect of meeting her favorite band.

As the next few weeks passed, Y/N eagerly counted down the days until the show. She had tried to busy herself with writing Nightmares and unfortunately had to deal with finalizing all of the not so fun logistics of her upcoming book release, but the thought of seeing her favorite band live kept her spirits high.

The night of the concert finally arrived and the excitement was palpable as Y/N and Andy arrived at the venue. They received their passes from the ticket window and were guided inside by a staff member. As they grabbed a spot at the barricade, Y/N was recognized by a few of the fans who were already inside as part of their VIP pass access. She spent the next hour chatting with a few of them about the band and telling them what she could about her new books. 

The lights dimmed and the crowd's anticipation grew palpable as the guitarist, Jolly, walked on stage and the opening notes of Artificial Suicide began to reverberate through the venue. Y/N’s excitement was almost tangible, her eyes glued to the stage as the band’s electrifying performance unfolded. Her and Andy both sang along to each and every verse at the top of their lungs. The music was everything she had hoped for and more. 

As the last few notes of Dethrone echoed across the room an hour and a half later and the final bows were completed, they let the crowd disperse a little before they navigated their way to the side of the barricade. They showed their passes to Ash, the band’s head of security, before he allowed them backstage with a friendly smile. 

The adrenaline from the concert was still coursing through Y/N’s veins as they eventually met with the band’s tour manager, Matt, who introduced himself. 

“The guys are cooling off and getting changed really quick. If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you ladies outside to where they’ll be hanging out while we tear down and finish up loadout.” He said leading them to a makeshift sitting area the band had put together outside their bus earlier in the day. 

After a few minutes the band members slowly but surely made their way outside, each introducing themself as they found a seat and fell into easy conversation with the two of them. 

The lead singer, Noah, was the last to emerge. He wore an oversized merch hoodie, a pair of joggers, and slides. Despite being comfortably dressed, his striking presence was undeniable.

“Hi, I’m Y/N?” She introduced herself, holding out her hand. 

Noah’s smile broadened as he stepped closer and took her hand in his.

“Oh, he knows who you are…” Jolly teased from where he sat at one of the picnic tables. 

She turned to look at him before looking back at Noah with a confused look. 

The tall man chuckled in response, before rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. 

“Eh, well, I had to make sure my favorite author enjoyed seeing her favorite band. And, I couldn’t miss the chance to meet the person behind the screen. I mean I am still holding out hope for that coffee date…”

Y/N’s eyes widened as she took in his presence, a mix of shock and delight washing over her. 

“You’re Ghost?!” 

“Guilty as charged,” Noah said with a wink. “I guess I managed to keep my two worlds separate for a while. But I couldn't resist. I wanted to see you. actually, I’ve been wanting to for a while.”

Y/N felt her cheeks flush as she took in his words. “Well, you definitely pulled off an incredible surprise. I never would have guessed.”

Noah’s gaze softened as he took a step closer. “I wanted to see if you’d react the way you just did. And I’m glad I did.”

They continued to chat, and Y/N found herself falling deeper into conversation with Noah. It felt surprisingly natural, almost like she had known him for a while. They talked about music, books, and even the quirky things that had happened during her streams.

As their conversation flowed effortlessly, Y/N noticed how Noah’s eyes seemed to sparkle with genuine interest. It was as if he was completely absorbed in the discussion, and she felt a magnetic connection.

Eventually, the band’s crew finished loading out and a few of them started to talk about wanting to go out before the bus call at 2am. 

“Hey, do you have any plans after this?”

Y/N shook her head. 

“Not really. Why?”

Noah’s smile widened. 

“Well, if you’re up for it, I’d love to maybe take you out for that coffee. There’s a café nearby that’s open late.”

Y/N’s heart raced. She glanced around and Andy gave her a knowing look, mouthing “GO!”. 

Her eyes met Noah’s, and she could see the sincerity in his expression.

“I’d like that,” she replied softly.

They walked together to the café, and as they settled into a corner table, the conversation continued seamlessly. They talked about everything from their childhood memories to their dreams and even their fears. The more they talked, the more Y/N felt an undeniable connection.

As the night wore on, Noah’s gaze lingered on Y/N with an intensity that made her heart flutter. Their laughter and shared stories created an intimate atmosphere.

On the walk back to the venue, Noah paused and reached out, taking Y/N’s hand gently into his. 

“I have to admit, I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you tonight.” 

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat. She looked into Noah’s eyes, her feelings mirrored in his gaze. 

“I feel the same way.”

“I’d really like to keep getting to know you and see where all this goes, if that's okay with you?” He questioned, stepping closer. 

“I’d like that.” She answered, glancing up at him. 

He smiled down at her, his eyes briefly drifting toward her lips and back. 

Slowly, Noah stepped even closer and he cupped Y/N’s face in his hand, his touch sending a warm shiver through her. 

He leaned forward and their lips met in an electrifying kiss. It was gentle at first, but as the moment deepened, their kiss became more passionate. The connection they felt was palpable, and it seemed to solidify everything they had shared that night.

When they finally pulled away, their faces were flushed, and they both wore wide, contented smiles.

“I’m really glad you came tonight,” Noah said softly, his thumb brushing lightly over Y/N’s hand.

“Me too,” Y/N replied, her heart full. “This has been one of the best nights of my life.”

As they walked side by side, Y/N couldn’t help but think about how surreal and wonderful this evening had been. Not only had she met her favorite band, but she had also found her Ghost. 

With an exchange of phone numbers and the promise of staying in touch they went their separate ways. But not before Noah leaned in for one last, lingering kiss, making Y/N’s heart skip a beat.

The night had turned into something extraordinary. An unexpected but perfect blend of their separate worlds colliding into something beautiful. 

[hoedamn-eron]

shut up, kid

You awake to your first Mother’s Day with baby Bateman.

Warnings: Nathan is honestly the only warning you need. I suppose some hints of breastfeeding too (a fed baby is a happy baby, whether bottle or breast). Actually proofread for once, but probably still mistakes that I missed. Word count: 750 F!Reader, no use of Y/N.

This was written VERY last minute (by last minute, I mean at 9:30pm on Mother's Day in the UK 😂). Anyway, happy Mother’s Day to all the parents out there! 😊 I’ve recently been very broody and very Nathan oriented, so I created this mostly self-indulgent fic (loosely based on this post from a few weeks ago).

I struggle to write Nathan, I feel like I can't get his personalty, or his demeanour right, so please let me know if I can improve anywhere! I want to write more Nathan!

It was the sound of a loud, high-pitched, excited squeal, that woke you up.

“Hey,” came the voice of your boyfriend, sounding distant and muffled as the sweet caress of sleep called back to you. “I know we came to wake up your mom, but that’s not the way to do it. You want to deal with the dragon before she’s had her morning coffee? No? I fuckin’ thought not. Shut up, kid.”

“You shouldn’t swear at your son,” you muttered into your pillow, knowing now that sleep was just a distant memory.

“Ah, shit.”

You grin into the pillow before you look up, your eyes blurrily settling on your boyfriend, who had a mug of coffee in his left hand (in your favourite mug – one you got from a Blue Book convention back when you were in college, long before you met Nathan...Nathan hated it), and his other hand was occupied supporting your seven-month-old son, Silas, who was happily sitting on Nathan’s hip, still in his footsie pyjamas, chewing on his pointer finger. It was sickening how you carried the kid for nine months, and going through a 36-hour labour, sacrificing your body and your boobs (your nipples will never be the same again), for him to look exactly like Nathan.

You still love the bones off him anyway.

“Kid doesn’t know what I’m saying, it’s fine,” Nathan continues, coming over to you and holding out the mug. You take it, smiling up at Nathan as he leans down to you and presses a kiss against your lips, murmuring a ‘good morning’ to you before he straightens up.

He’s so hot. Even now, he’s just wearing some old sweatpants and a t-shirt (it even has a stain of old baby throw up, which you just couldn’t get out), but it’s the way he’s holding your son...it does things to you.

“Good morning,” you greeted back, taking a sip of your coffee. You nod at Silas as he continued to chew on his finger. “Lost another pacifier?”

“I don’t know what he does with them,” Nathan said, shaking his head, gesturing with now free his hand around the room. “Spend all my fuckin’ spare time trying to find that blue one that he refuses to nap without.”

“Language,” you tell him, take a sip of your coffee.

“Sorry,” he says, almost on autopilot. “I’ll request more for the chopper next week. Think 50 will be enough? Obviously fuckin’ not, he’ll lose them all within a week.”

You laugh as you shake your head at him before looking at Silas. “Is your dada silly?” you ask him in your most annoying baby voice.

The kid loves it. He smiles widely at you and kicks his legs in excitement.

“Anyway,” Nathan says, adjusting Silas in his grip as he looked back at you, evidently choosing to ignore your comment to your son. “Happy Mother’s Day, or whatever. I made you breakfast, your favourite. The kid had some, he loved it, so now we’ll probably have to make it for him every day. I’ll run you a bath and by the time you’re finished it should be ready. While you’re being a lazy ass in the tub and skirting your duties as a mother - “

You go to swat Nathan on the thigh, but he dodges you swiftly and carries on like he was never interrupted.

“Me and this one,” he nods to Silas. “Will work on some tummy time, see if we can start crawling today.”

“Not all kids start crawling at seven months.”

“Not all kids are mine.”

“Debatable, regarding all the sex you were having before we met.”

“You’re reaping all the benefits from ‘all that sex’.”

“You pig.”

“You love me.”

You do. God, you do. So much. But you’re not going to tell him that.

You take a gulp of your coffee, hiding your smile.

“Get your pretty ass out of bed,” Nathan said, already turning away from you, grabbing Silas around the tummy and tossing him lightly in the air and catching him, causing Silas to laugh that cute baby giggle he has that melts your heart. “Come and celebrate your first Mother’s Day.”

He leaves the room, and you laugh to yourself as you distinctly hear the sound of Nathan giving Silas a raspberry on his belly as he walks down the corridor, the squealing sound of laughter from your son following right after.

It sends a warm feeling of joy and happiness through you.

[1dmonthlyficroundup]

— 1D Monthly Fic Roundup —

Hi, and welcome to the 1D Monthly Fic Roundup for September 2024! Below you’ll find 1D fics that were all published this month. We hope you’ll check out these new fics! If you would like to submit your own fic, please check this post on how to submit or visit our blog @1dmonthlyficroundup​. You can find all our other posts here.

Happy reading!

＊ I long for that feeling to not feel at all by @ineverateakiwi [NR, 2k, Louis/Harry]

When he is not around and Harry needs to feel more grounded, steady on his own feet, he thinks of Louis. It's probably not healthy to rely on someone this heavily, but it's better than nothing. It's what he has right now. And, right now, it's working. Is thinking about that feeling, the feeling of being real, being alive, that he whispers – without thinking – those two words. — "Hurt me."

Harry needs to feel something, even if it's pain. Louis gives what he needs.

＊ where the real you is the superstar by LiveLaughLoveLarry / @loveislarryislove [T, 2k, Harry/Louis]

Louis has lived in his tiny beachfront town his whole life, and doesn't know if he'll ever leave. Harry is constantly moving around, but when he meets Louis, he can't help wishing this could be the place he might stay. Just because the summer is temporary doesn't mean it's not worthwhile.

＊ Just a Little Taste, Babe by @allwaswell16 [E, 2k, Louis/Harry]

Harry’s been pining over Louis Tomlinson since their sixth form days. Now, he’s backstage at Louis’ concert and trying not to embarrass himself.

＊ make sure you kiss your knuckles before you punch me in the face by localopa / @voulezloux [E, 24k, Harry/Louis]

things could be worse. harry doesn’t know what could be worse than being forced to do a tell-all interview with his ex friends with benefits that he still harbors feelings for, the only person he could ever see a future with, the person who truly hates him so much, he can’t help but hate him right back. but surely, worse things have happened at sea, right?

＊ Necessities of Nesting by @haztobegood [G, 5k, Louis/Harry]

“I know this is a sensitive topic and you probably don’t want to talk about your nest with me. But I have a friend that teaches nesting classes. Maybe they could help.”

“So you agree: my nest sucks and I’m a shit omega.”

＊ A Tight Space by haztobegood [T, 2k, Harry/Louis]

Niall pushes the bedroom door open. A huge mass of brown fur bolts between his legs. Louis startles with a hand to his chest.

“What the fuck was that?”

“Oh, that’s the cat. I told you Liam found a stray a few days ago. That’s him.”

“Are you sure that’s a cat?”

＊ The Grundy County Corn Maze Incident by haztobegood [T, 2k, Niall/Greg James]

Niall was getting tired and a bit worried about actually getting out of the corn maze. He had lost track of time and the fun was wearing off. Then, he heard someone shout for help. Part 3 of Grundy County Incidents

＊ Special Instructions by haztobegood [T, 2k, Zayn/Louis]

He didn’t mean for the drawings to become a thing. But they have. Every Tuesday night around eight o’clock, a take out order from Louis T. appears. Each order has new special instructions, requesting some change to the carefully curated dishes that Zayn has concocted. And every Tuesday night, Zayn doodles a response to those special instructions.

＊ A Wrench and a Rodent by haztobegood [T, 5k, Louis/Harry]

Louis just wants to study astrophysics, do some research, and graduate from Casper University. Fate throws a wrench in his plans.

＊ Language Of A Petal by @bittersweetsin [E, 15k, Harry/Louis]

“Wait, you're reading Divin-“

“-Divined Souls? Yup,” Harry finishes for him.

Starving off a grin, Louis says, “Have you actually been stalking me all this time and just lied about not knowing me?”

“Guess we’ll never know.”

or Louis is a librarian, and Harry comes in all the time to return books he’s finished reading. Every time Louis opens the book to check for any damages, there’s always a flower hidden in between one of the pages, specifically on a paragraph that has a deep meaning.

＊ Come and See My Dreams by @lululawrence [NR, 3k, Louis/Harry]

In a world where alphas traditionally built nests as part of the courting rituals for their omegas and rarely outside of that, Louis felt drawn to nest for his best friend from the time he was young.

Now, it was finally time to present the nest to Harry.

＊ a moon, a rainbow, and a carnation by lululawrence [NR, 8k, Louis/Oscar Isaac/Pedro Pascal]

“I swear they’re secretly dating or maybe even married at this point and are just trying to see how long they can keep it under wraps or something. Not quite sure what the deal is, honestly, but they swear up and down that they’re just friends whenever anyone asks.”

Louis chuckled. “Too bad. I’d have happily gone after either one of them, honestly.”

“Or both,” Calvin said, waggling his eyebrows.

Or the five times Louis, Pedro, and Oscar have incredible chemistry and the one time they finally admit to the feelings.

＊ 'Cause What I Want Came True by lululawrence [NR, 1k, Louis/Diego Luna]

Diego had been… unexpected. From the moment that Louis had walked into the coffee shop and seen him sitting there, he was surprised. He’d known Diego was attractive, the few photos he had shared on the dating app had made that clear, but there was something about seeing him in person that made him feel… more.

＊ (Whoops) Here We Go Again by lululawrence [NR, 4k, Louis/Oscar Isaac]

“I’ve got you,” Oscar said as he confidently hit the eight for Louis.

Nodding his thanks as he shyly tucked himself into the corner so the others who needed to could exit easily on their own floors, then Louis sucked his lips into his mouth in an attempt to cover his smile.

It didn’t mean anything, because of course it didn’t. They’d shared an elevator a few mornings a week for months now, but still. He remembered.

Or the one where Louis and Oscar have been seeing each other regularly on the elevator at work for almost nine months. Maybe it’s time for something to finally happen between them.

＊ Duck Crossing by lululawrence [NR, 2k, Louis/Diego Luna]

“So, what exactly are we doing?”

Diego’s brows rose in surprise at the same time Louis started hearing what sounded like quacking. “You don’t know?”

Louis scrunched his nose a bit and looked over towards where the quacking seemed to be getting louder. “I don’t. My sister sent me to the discord without explaining what was so special about the town’s ducks, and when I went to ask about it, I somehow got roped into helping you here tonight instead, so…”

Diego laughed before he looked up and down the road, where several cards were still making their way around. “This is going to be fun for you, then.”

＊ Curiosity by @hellolovers13 [G, 934 words, Louis/Harry]

Fae Harry lets curiosity get the best of him.

Human Louis is intrigued.

＊ Sweetest Poison (series) by @hellolovers13 [E, 7k, Harry/Louis]

It takes all his willpower to keep Harry from devouring it all now. Consume the raw energy that flows through it. Let it become part of him. Let it fuel and rejuvenate him.

But it’s too soon.

or Nothing like starting the day with a little bloodshed.

And coffee.

The barista is cute, too.

or Witch Harry finally gets rid of his latest boy toy. Who will be next?

＊ The Nest by Blue_Green28 / @bluegreen28fics [T, 5k, Harry/Louis]

Harry is a very particular omega who doesn't like to have items of Louis' in his nest until he secretly starts to steal them for it. or, 5 times one of Louis' personal items is missing and 1 time he finally finds them. (5+1 fic for Week 1 of Wordplay Challenge, Prompt: "Nest")

＊ Perfect Now by Blue_Green28 [E, 5k, Louis/Harry]

Timestamp for "We Are World Class" Harry gets frustrated because he wants to wear his wedding suit to the Oscars. After his second pregnancy the trousers don't fit anymore. Louis tries to reassure him that he still looks beautiful. Part 2 of World Class Universe

＊ You make me strong by Blue_Green28 [T, 3k, Harry/Louis]

While Louis is carrying the happiness of Great Britain on his shoulders during the European Championships finale, Harry is carrying something else. (Week 3 of Wordplay Challenge 2024, Prompt: Carry // Time stamp for "We Are World Class", can be read without knowing it) Part 3 of World Class Universe

＊ Home by Blue_Green28 [E, 3k, Louis/Harry]

Louis comes home after his festival tour.

＊ Kiwi - It's your business! by Blue_Green28 [E, 22k, Harry/Louis]

When ex-boybander Louis Tomlinson asks newcomer Harry Styles to be his support act for the next leg of his tour, he has no idea that he will gain more than just a support act. or, the one with the banter on tour

＊ Nest by @kingsofeverything [G, 100 words, Harry/Louis]

Harry wakes up first.

＊ Tight by kingsofeverything [NR, 100 words, Louis/Harry]

Louis comes home early.

＊ Carry by kingsofeverything [NR, 100 words, Harry/Louis]

Baby bump.

＊ Press by kingsofeverything [E, 100 words, Louis/Harry]

Louis asks for it.

＊ now that we're alone (say you hate me) by 28goldensfics / @28goldens [E, 18k, Harry/Louis]

Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson are Co-Project Managers, constantly bickering at work, always finding themselves at odds, and competing to be the best. When a scheduling mishap with their company’s timeshare forces them to share a summer vacation, they're less than thrilled. But, as they navigate their time together, they realize that their animosity might be masking something a bit deeper than the hate.

＊ my sun, my everything by 28goldensfics / @28goldens [E, 5k, Louis/Harry]

based on the top harry fic fest prompt:

41 - Louis has been making a lot of self-deprecating jokes lately and Harry is sick of it. Ensue Harry worshiping Louis’ body like it’s his favorite god.

“You’re like a god,” Harry said softly, his voice reverent and full of wonder as he pressed a chaste kiss to the peak of Louis’ cheek which caused his eyes to shut gently. “Every part of you is so divine.”

Louis' eyes fluttered open, a mix of surprise and coyness in his gaze. “You think so?”

Harry nodded with absolute sureness, his hands moving slowly to undress Louis. He strategically unbuttoned Louis' shirt, his touch lingering beneath the fabric as if to savor each exposed inch of skin he revealed.

“Your body is a fucking masterpiece,” Harry murmured, his breath warm as he leaned to press a kiss against Louis’ bare chest. “Every curve, every line—it’s all so perfect.”

＊ Do You Know Who You Are? by @eulogiseme [M, 145k+, wip, Harry/Louis]

Doncaster was meant to be a fresh start for Harry, a chance to let go of his past and start a new life. But it doesn’t feel like it when Harry finds himself tormented by the arrival of Louis Tomlinson. Cocky, confident, and a huge flirt, Louis can’t keep away from Harry no matter what Harry says.

Upon his return, Louis is occupied with starting his business with Zayn and dealing with his family’s illegal business. Things start to get messy when Louis is conned by a dealer, and also can’t seem to get a certain pair of green eyes and dimples out of his head.

The one where Louis wants Harry, and Harry doesn’t know what he wants, or who he is. Though, he can take a good chance and guess that perhaps wanting Louis might just cost him everything.

＊ something told me it was you by��we_are_the_same / @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed [T, 1k, Zayn/Louis]

Are you ready, 'cause I'm ready to let go Never thought that I'd be ready again

＊ 'til I let go of this moment by we_are_the_same [M, 3k, Zayn/Liam]

Zayn and his terrible horrible no good Olympics. Where he wins gold and Liam’s heart.

Featuring Liam’s unfortunate big penis

＊ and in those rare moments by we_are_the_same [T, 2k, Louis/Harry]

London, May 23rd, 2025

Interview with Harry Styles, popstar, bisexual icon and philanthropist, by Louis W. Tomlinson.

＊ circling the truth by we_are_the_same [T, 3k, Liam/Louis]

Liam Payne has met his soulmate.

He knows he has, because he woke up with his power this morning.

Problem one: he has no idea who his soulmate is. He saw a ton of people last night, because it was the introduction party for the uni he is now attending. He’d talked to at least a dozen people, and he’s unsure on what counts as ‘meeting’ your soulmate, because it might just be someone he’d bumped into on his way to the loo.

Problem two: his power seems to be that he can read minds.

＊ even if it's strange, it's our love by yeah_alright / @uhoh-but-yeah-alright [G, 520 words, Zayn/Louis]

Zayn makes a hedgehog friend on his new farm and it changes his life in completely unexpected ways.

＊ I drink the honey inside your hive by yeah_alright [E, 3k, Louis/Harry]

Louis comes home frustrated and riled up in the way that only taking exactly what he needs from Harry can fix.

＊ Help me out of a jam? by yeah_alright [M, 2k, Harry/Louis]

Harry's tightened a jar beyond what he can open. He asks Louis for help, because Louis is always more than obliging.

＊ Carry the One by yeah_alright [T, 100 words, Louis/Harry]

Five times Louis carries her best friend and one time Harry carries the love of her life.

＊ Keep You Sweet in My Memory by yeah_alright [M, 6k, Zayn/Harry]

Of course Harry is the type to have a leather bound journal filled with pressed flowers. Zayn stops at one so delicate looking that he can’t believe it withstood the pressing process. It’s simple – a single layer of small, white petals with just a bit of yellow in the center – but Zayn can’t help but stare. His eyes rove over the subtle details frozen in time, somehow maintaining their softness despite having been crushed into two dimensions, and he feels almost hypnotized. He’s not aware of his hand moving until two fingers brush over the petals.

An image so vivid and sudden that his eyes snap shut in shock floods his mind and he pulls his hand back as though it’s been burned. The second his fingers leave the page, the image is gone, too fleeting for his memory to capture it.

“What the fuck?”

Zayn's only just getting to know Harry when he discovers he's able to store memories of people he loves in pressed flowers. At least that's what Harry tells him. Zayn has a choice: run away or accept Harry's invitation to learn more.

Harry's magic may be too powerful to resist.

＊ this time I'm willing to dance on the wire by yeah_alright [E, 3k, Harry/Louis]

A few days after leaving her shitty boyfriend, Harry goes back with Louis and their friends to collect the rest of her things. When her ex comes home to find them there, Niall, Zayn and Liam keep him away while Louis makes it known how much better off Harry is with her. Part 3 of Sin Wagon AU

＊ Deemed and Delivered a Crime by LetTheMusicMoveYou / @letthemusicmoveyou28 [E, 35k, Louis/Harry]

Harry keeps his voice low and calm. “I need you to listen very closely because I’m only going to say this once.”

When he’s only greeted with silence on the other end, Harry continues.

“For every hair that is harmed on Louis Tomlinson’s head, I am going to break one of your bones. And then when you’re reduced to a pathetic little pile on the floor, my men and I are going to kick around your limp carcass in my garden for footie practice. Do you understand?”

There’s a few more beats of silence, before the voice on the other line answers. Still sounding calm and unbothered by Harry’s creative threat.

“I’m glad you received our message Mr. Styles. Are you ready to settle on a suitable sum for Mr. Tomlinson’s release?”

(Or the one where Harry is the most feared mob boss in London. Louis is his ex-husband who left that violent life two years ago to teach Uni. His peace is shattered when he’s kidnapped by Harry’s rivals).

＊ The Road So Far (series) by babyhoneyhslt / @babyhoneyheslt [G, 12k, Harry/Louis]

Harry Styles, an Angel Of The Lord, is sent on a mission to save hunter Louis Tomlinson from the deepest pits of Hell in order for him to fulfill Heaven's plan.

＊ hold all our secrets (series) by @justanothershadeofblue [E, 9k, ot5]

One Direction was unusual as a band with two betas in with the expected omega popstars, but they achieved global stardom in spite of it, traveling the world as a five-part sensation until beta Zayn left and the rest of the band went on hiatus shortly after.

Years later, they're all living their separate lives, pursuing separate careers to varying levels of success, until a headline breaks: One Direction had a secret alpha all along.

＊ Buns of a Feather (series) by @tommokat [T, 3k, Louis/Harry]

Bird hybrid Harry has been with his boyfriend, rabbit hybrid Louis, for a while. They're about to take a big step in their relationship and Harry needs to show Louis just how serious he is about him.

＊ I've Got What You're Craving (For Your Misbehaving) by tommokat [E, 2k, Harry/Louis]

"You've been so patient, haven't you, angel?"

"Yes, Mommy."

Sub Louis gets treated by Domme Harry and the age old question of why women go to the bathroom together finally gets answered.

＊ Stand on Holy Ground (series) by @wishingforloushair [E, 17k, Louis/Harry]

Priest Harry eats Louis out and then fucks him on the altar in the Sanctuary of the Church

“Father Styles?” a voice behind him comes, making him jump slightly. He’s used to people interrupting him. After all, that’s why he leaves the large wooden doors propped open. The church was a sanctuary for everyone. Who was he to stop God’s children seeking out the truth? He closes his book, suddenly aware of how much his knees ache from the flagstone floor as he gets back to his feet, turning around slowly. Standing in the centre of the aisle is Louis. Louis, who comes to confess all his sins to Harry, every day on his knees, little begs of forgiveness tumbling from his lips. Louis, whose ridges and bumps Harry feels under his fingertips almost as often as he feels the ridges and bumps of the Word. “Hello, Louis,” he smiles, placing his Bible on the altar next to the Communion chalice. “Come to confess?” He watches carefully as Louis’ eyes darken a little, his lips parting. “Yes, Father.” It’s part of their charade now, a dance that he knows well. “Why don’t you go close the door then? I think you and I, and God, need some alone time, don’t you?”

- Podfics -

＊ [Podfic] White Stripes by @allwaswell16 read by Panda_Podfics / @pandapodfics [E, Louis/Harry]

Harry’s roommate is gorgeous, kind, generous, and basically everything Harry has ever wanted in another alpha. The only problem is that he isn’t even sure that his alpha roommate is into other alphas. In an effort to finally get over him, he lets Niall set him up on a blind date.

- Fic Fests -

＊ Wordplay Fic Challenge / @wordplayfics

Prompt 1: Nest Prompt 2: Tight Prompt 3: Carry Prompt 4: Press Prompt 5: Interference

[teaberrii]

Chapter 7: To New Beginnings

After ending a five-year relationship, you pour all your energy into work. Your latest assignment? Staying at a popular bed-and-breakfast to gather information. It should be a piece of cake... If only the owner isn't the man you scolded on the street.

Jing Yuan/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on Ao3

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

“Heeey!” March yells. “What’re you two standing around for?”

Jing Yuan looks over his shoulder and sees Yanqing running up with a skewer in his hand. It’s what he says after that takes Jing Yuan by surprise.

“You can share with Mom.”

After Jing Yuan takes the skewer from him, you walk up, and Yanqing runs off toward the rest of the group. “...Seems like he’s calling you Mom.” Jing Yuan looks at you. “If it makes you uncomfortable, I can tell him to stop.”

“Says the man who was teasing me about it earlier,” you deadpan. Then, with a little smile, you say, “It’s… a little strange, I guess. But I don’t mind it.” Jing Yuan passes you the skewer, and you bite the shrimp. “Unless you do, General.”

Quite the opposite. Jing Yuan would love it if Yanqing had someone to call Mom as, apparently, Yanqing hasn’t called his birth mother Mom since that day. Not in front of Jing Yuan, at least.

Despite being on an important work call, Jing Yuan couldn’t stop worrying about Yanqing. His son had returned from his stay with his mother, and Jing Yuan sensed something was wrong. While Yanqing was usually talkative upon his return, he was quiet with an expression that told Jing Yuan something was on his mind.

“...Jing Yuan?”

The investor’s voice snapped him back to the situation, and Jing Yuan put himself off mute, hoping this conversation would end sooner rather than later.

As soon as he got off the call, he saw Yanqing reading on the couch. Jing Yuan sat next to him and looked at the storybook. "What are you reading?"

“...He gave it to me.”

“He?”

Yanqing looked down. “The man that stays with her now.”

Was Yanqing talking about his mother’s boyfriend? Jing Yuan had heard about him from mutual friends. A high-ranking civil servant, apparently, but that was all he knew and all he wanted to know.

Yanqing closed the book and put it aside. “...She changed.”

"...What do you mean? Did something happen?”

“I… can’t describe it,” Yanqing said quietly. “She just… isn’t the same anymore.”

Jing Yuan had always wished that Yanqing could be his… and only his. But he couldn’t make that call, even though this seemed like the perfect opportunity. No matter what happened between him and his ex-wife, she was still Yanqing’s mother who had every right to be part of Yanqing’s life.

“Is that why you’ve been feeling down?” Jing Yuan took his son’s hand. “If something happened, could you tell me about it?”

“Nothing happened,” Yanqing said. “...But, I don’t like him. She keeps telling me to give him a chance, but I don’t want to anymore.” Jing Yuan picked up the book and saw that the genre was far from what Yanqing enjoyed. “You can throw that away.” Yanqing scooted closer, and Jing Yuan put his arm around him. " Could we leave as soon as possible? I wanna go back to Xianzhou.”

Jing Yuan kissed his head. “Just a little longer.”

And once they leave, t he apartment that was once a lively home for Jing Yuan, his ex-wife, and Yanqing, would be empty… again. Jing Yuan had thought about selling it, but as he still had to visit the city, it wouldn't make sense.

“You’ll be starting summer school,” Jing Yuan said. “Are you excited about that?”

“Yeah! I can also see Pom every day!"

“He needs to work.”

Yanqing pouted. "You’re working him too hard!”

“I promise we’ll go for some great hikes while we’re all there.” Yanqing nodded. Then, Jing Yuan kissed the top of his son’s head. “...Get some sleep.”

It’s months after that he met you. But, perhaps he should keep all of that to himself for now.

“I don’t mind,” Jing Yuan answers.

“Don’t tell me I have to compete with Blade and Luocha, though,” you joke.

“I heard my name,” Luocha says just as he places a hot plate of food on the picnic table. Jingliu, already at the table, passes everyone a drink as they gather. “C’mon, give me the details. I can take compliments.”

“...They were talking about how it’s okay for Yanqing to call her Mom.”

Everyone gasps.

“I don’t know what I should be more shocked about,” Pom says. “Whether Yanqing has a new mom or Blade being in the loop for once!”

You and Jing Yuan end up sitting across from each other. March is next to you while Yanqing is between Jing Yuan and Blade.

“...For once?” Blade deadpans.

“Well, you’re always the last one to know about anything,” Pom says.

March laughs. “That’s, uh, pretty true.” Then, after opening her beer, she leans closer. “So, Yanqing, you have a new mom?”

Yanqing shyly looks at you. “Um, yeah, I-I guess so.”

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Jingliu says.

“A new mom…” Everyone looks at Dan Heng who’s cutting open his steak with a fork and knife. “...Sounds exciting.”

Dan Feng rolls his eyes. “You sound thrilled, Brother.” Then, he looks at you. “Should we have the new mom introduce herself—ow!” Dan Feng glares at March who slaps his hand.

“You’re making it awkward.”

Jingliu chuckles. “Why not a toast instead?”

“A toast?”

“It’s something to celebrate, isn’t it?”

Jing Yuan looks at you. “I guess this means you’re no longer in training anymore.”

“And it didn’t even take a day,” you say. “I deserve a gold star.”

“But I’ll still be your favourite. Right, Yanqing?”

“You were a favourite?”

“Ouch,” Luocha says, putting a hand over his heart. “Harsh, Liu Liu.” Jingliu gives him a look, and the doctor smiles. “What? That’s your nickname, isn’t it?”

“Wasn’t yours something like Doctor Cha Cha Cha?” Welt asks.

You smile at Luocha. “Now, what’s the story behind that?”

“You just had to bring that up.”

March squishes Luocha’s cheek. “Aw, no need for the frowny face, Doc. Those hips don’t lie!”

Blade nonchalantly takes a bite of his steak. “Yes. You’d never know that Luocha would be so good at salsa by looking at him.”

“King of the Hips…”

Luocha frowns at March. “How did you come up with that? No. Just no.”

As you listen to the lively chatter, you happen to glance at Jing Yuan. He picks up his glass and nods towards your glass. You pick it up but subtly nod at everyone else—none of whom have noticed you and Jing Yuan.

"A toast between us," he says quietly.

The sound of you and Jing Yuan clinking your glasses together grabs everyone’s attention.

“Hey, we want in on the fun too!” March huffs.

Dan Feng nudges his brother who has just taken another bite of his steak.

Yanqing is the first to hold up his apple juice. “To Mom!” When he’s met with silence, he looks around. “What? I thought we were doing a toast!”

Luocha awkwardly scratches his head. “Well, yeah, but I ain’t calling her Mom. That’s just weird.”

“Ah, but you’re thinking too narrowly, Doctor Cha.”

“Oh, then please enlighten me, Liu Liu.”

Jingliu holds up her glass. “To new beginnings.”

“Ooh, I like the sound of that!” Pom says.

Welt nods. “Yes. Sounds like something exciting is right around the corner.”

Then, with one hurrah, a chorus rings out: “To new beginnings!”

As the evening goes on, March and Yanqing end up getting soaked after a tireless water gun fight. Yanqing, having accidentally shot Luocha, gets the man involved who shoots Blade out of spite. Welt, Jingliu, and the brothers are chatting around the barbeque fire pit. You and Jing Yuan could’ve joined them… if only he hadn’t invited you for a walk around the resort.

“...You asked if my ex-wife had been here before,” Jing Yuan says, and you glance at him. “She has.”

What happened between them? Of course, you know better than to drop a personal question like that, but it’s slowly eating away at you.

“Could you tell me what happened here? What do you know about Star Rails Hotel?”

“Ah… but that information comes at a price, Corporal.”

“Really?” you deadpan. “...Fine. I’ll play your little game. What’re you asking for, General?”

“You.” Your heart almost stops at how direct he is. “...And your time.” He looks at you with a little smile. “I’d like to treat you to dinner.”

“Is this one of your special services?”

“It’s an exclusive service where I’ll cook for you, Corporal.”

“...In your private kitchen, I presume?”

“You remember.”

“That’s kinda hard to forget.” A small pause. “Besides, if I don’t come out alive, everyone will know who did it.”

“I guarantee you'll come out alive, but... after tasting my cooking, you’d want me to cook for you every day.”

If you were drinking water, you would’ve choked. “That confident, huh? Well, now I have high expectations.” You clear your throat. “But, back to the matter at hand… I’ve agreed to pay your price.”

“I told you before that their project kept getting delayed… and that was for building a new hotel. But they tried to acquire a boutique hotel. My ex was in charge of that project.”

You aren't too surprised. Boutique hotels are small, quiet, hotels with personal services. From what you know, boutique hotels are also unique in their design and architecture as they often reflect the personality and taste of the owner or the local community. They're also a multi-billion sector. 

"The hotel she tried to acquire belonged to my friend."

Jing Yuan was working overtime. Now that he was officially the Director of Operations, he had to take on additional training to fully prepare for his new role in addition to his responsibilities. Upon hearing a knock at the door, he looked up and saw his wife.

“Hey, Handsome. Have time to talk?”

Jing Yuan took off his glasses and stood. Then, he followed her into the living room. “Is something wrong?”

“I… I’d like to ask you for a favour.”

“Of course.” Her bottom lip curled inwards, and she wasn’t looking at him. Jing Yuan put his hands on her shoulders, and she slowly turned and saw his warm gaze. “What is it?”

“I’ve taken on a new project at work.”

So, why the long face?

“But, I’ve run into some trouble… and I was hoping you could help me.” A small pause. “Caelus… Your friend who runs that boutique hotel in Xianzhou? Could you convince him to sell it to us?”

Jing Yuan was at a loss for words. This was not what he was expecting to hear.

“I’ve tried"—she sighs in defeat—"everything to try to convince him. If I can get him to sell it to us, it’d be a huge career boost.” She put her hands on his shoulders. “Please, Jing Yuan? T hey can keep their name and whatnot.” She frowned. “I don’t get it. We have so much we can offer them. Why won't they accept it?”

Then, before Jing Yuan could stop himself, he said, “Because not everything is about money.”

“...Caelus and I grew up together,” Jing Yuan says, “and that hotel had been in his family for generations. Their business was taking off when she approached them.”

“Are they still doing well?”

A pause.

“...They closed.”

Something tells you that there’s more to that story.

“...I see,” you say quietly, wondering if his ex had something to do with it. “...You were put in a difficult position.”

“Caelus poured his heart and soul into that business. I already knew that he wouldn’t sell it. Eventually, the project was dropped.”

His wife probably didn’t take that well.

“Now, hang on… Why are people hostile about that? Don’t tell me it’s just because Star Rails tried acquiring a business which failed anyway.”

Another pause.

“...My ex was the first, but she wasn’t the last.” Jing Yuan looks at you. “But, I can’t tell you more because I don’t know the details.”

“Did Caelus inspire you to open a bed and breakfast?”

“Movin’ on fast, aren’t we?”

“Well… truth be told, I learned quite a bit about you today,” you say, not looking at him.

“Did you?”

“Now, hang on a minute. It’s not like I asked.”

“Telling me makes it seem like you did.”

"Smartass.”

Then, you and Jing Yuan smile at each other.

“...Answering that question will be a long story, Corporal.”

A young couple staying at the bed and breakfast waves to Jing Yuan who politely nods in their direction.

“Then… Won’t you enlighten me over a game of chess? I didn't forget about that either."

“Hm… Dinner and chess… all in the same night?”

“No pressure.”

Jing Yuan looks at you. “It’s the best kind of pressure.” You and Jing Yuan are almost back to the barbeque party when he says, “It’s a shame that you know all this about me, and I’m still at square one.”

“Square one? That’s an interesting way of looking at it.” Then, with a smile, you say, “What would the dear ‘ol General like to know?”

“...Is your ex still bothering your mom?”

“I talked to her a few hours ago… and apparently not. So, that’s a good sign.”

“You’ve only mentioned your mom… What about your dad?”

A pause.

“...He left.” Then, with a small, forced smile, you say, “He remarried.”

“...I see. Were you raised by your mom?”

“I was. I was a teenager when it happened, so I went back and forth a lot. But… eventually, I stayed with my mom.”

It was the first time in a long time you were spending time with your father. The last time you saw him, he'd briefly introduced you to his girlfriend, a woman he'd met at work, and you didn't talk much with her other than basic pleasantries. She didn't show an interest in you and you didn't in her. 

Now, you were sitting in your father’s car as he drove you back to your mother’s house. You were looking out the window when your father dropped the news.

“...We’re getting married.” Your mind went blank at your father's sudden words. You slowly turned to him who kept his eyes on the road. “I’m getting married.”

You couldn’t even pretend to be happy. Because at that moment, all you could think about was your mother. Your mother—who worked tirelessly to raise you when your father visited and left whenever he wanted. It wasn't until later that you learned he never provided child support for your mother who was working two jobs to support you. She never once talked about remarrying nor talked about meeting someone new. All of her focus was on you.

Now, here was your father, whom you hadn't seen in over a year, dropping the news that he was getting married to a woman who could care less about you. Not that it mattered, but it didn't sit well with you that your father had found new happiness while you and your mother were just scraping by.

“...Good for you.”

He looked at you. “It’s not easy getting someone to accept you when you’re my age and have a child.”

You almost scoffed. “You can just say it. Mom and I are baggage.”

Your father sternly said your name. “What are you saying?”

“That’s pretty much what it sounds like.”

And then he went on… and on… about how he was getting older and wanted someone to grow old with. Wasn’t your mother in the same boat?

“...Your mother and I just didn’t work out.”

You still didn’t look at him. This was a story you’d heard before, and you could almost recite it from memory.

“Yeah, because there wasn’t any love and whatnot,” you muttered. “I get it.” Then, you pointed to the library near your mother’s house. “...You can drop me off there.”

“Are you sure?”

“Exams are coming,” you said flatly.

Your father pulled up to the entrance and shifted the gears. He said your name just as you opened the door. You didn’t say goodbye as you slammed it without turning back.

Jing Yuan knows something’s on your mind by your silence. You'd gone quiet after telling him you eventually stayed with your mom. So, in an attempt to bring you back to happier times, he says, “...You and your mother must be very close."

“We still have our moments. But… I don’t know what I’d do without her.” You glance at him with a small smile. “Yanqing’s lucky to have you.”

“Have you ever thought of having kids?”

“Me?” Your lips form a neat line as you shake your head. “Some people will say that you might change your mind when you meet the right person and whatnot, but… it’s not something I’m thinking about.” A small pause. “...Having kids and raising kids are two different stories.”

“...Very true.”

You and Jing Yuan are close enough to hear loud chatter and overlapping voices. March, Welt, Jingliu, Pom, and Luocha are sitting at the table playing cards. The brothers and Blade are sitting with Yanqing around the barbeque fire making smores.

“How? How is that even possible?” March asks, standing.

“Well, at least I beat March,” Luocha deadpans, looking at everyone’s cards. Jingliu had won, ending the game with a royal flush. Pom and Welt came in second. Luocha came third and March was last.

Welt pushes up his glasses. “Seems like we still have a long way to go.”

“That’s the spirit,” Dan Feng says, walking up with his brother and Yanqing. “Take everything as a learning experience.”

“We brought smores!” Then, being the generous child he is, Yanqing starts passing around the smores he had on a plate. As soon as he sees you and Jing Yuan, he brightens. “They’re back!”

“Where’d you lovebirds head off to?” Dan Feng asks.

Luocha takes a smore off of Yanqing’s plate. “Secret rendezvous?”

You and Jing Yuan look at each other. Then, he says, “We were getting to know each other.”

Yanqing walks up to you and holds the plate up for you to take a smore. “I made these myself!”

“Did you?” You’re about to take one off the plate when you notice it’s the last one. “Looks like there’ll be none for Da—” You had to stop. You’d almost called Jing Yuan Dad, which slightly scared you at how natural it almost slipped out.

Yanqing looks at the plate and says, “Ah… There’ll be none for Dad.”

Dan Feng comes up and playfully swings an arm around you. “You can have one of mine.” He holds out a plate in front of you where there’s one more smore left. “Fresh off the fire.”

“...Don’t mind if I do.” Jing Yuan reaches over and takes Dan Feng’s last smore.

“You knew that wasn’t for you,” he deadpans.

Jing Yuan doesn’t spare his friend a glance. Instead, he looks at Yanqing and says, “...Why don’t you give that to Mom?”

Yanqing lifts the plate to you and looks at you with wide, innocent eyes. When you take it off his plate, you say, “I should savour this then.”

Dan Feng lets go of your shoulder just as Jingliu says, “Well, now that everyone’s here… Shall we go ahead with the plan?”

“Plan?” you ask.

“Heads up!”

You quickly turn and see Pom tossing you a volleyball.

Then, March punches the air. “Let’s play ball!”

After pulling straws, you, Pom, March, and Jingliu are on one team while the brothers, Jing Yuan, and Blade are on the other. Welt is the judge.

“Soo… What did you two talk about, hm?” March asks quietly just as you two are warming up for the game.

“Why are you so interested?” you ask with a little smile.

“Because you two are my friends! And… okay. I am a little curious.”

You think about mentioning his ex, but instead, you say, “He told me about Caelus, his friend. The one who ran a hotel here before.”

March’s smile almost falls instantly. “...Did he?”

What’s with that reaction?

“Yeah… Is something wrong?”

“Ah, no! It’s… it’s nothing.”

It most certainly doesn’t seem like nothing, but before you can ask, you hear Pom’s voice.

“Okay… This is kinda unfair. You have literal athletes on your team! Two of them!”

“You have Jingliu,” Dan Feng says, rolling his shoulder. “She’s two people in one.”

“We’ll win this, Pom.”

Pom looks at Jingliu who has a confident look. Then, he looks past her and calls you and March. “Are you two comin’ or what?”

Suddenly, March’s smile returns, and she raises her arm as if showing off her small muscles. “All right! Let’s go!”

“Go Mom! Go Dad!”

Luocha chuckles. “Wanna bet who wins? My money’s on Team Dad.”

“Then, I’m on Team Mom!”

Pom looks over. “Team Mom? Wait… I’m on this team!”

“Focus, Mommy Pom,” March says. “We have a game to win.”

Dan Heng tosses the ball up and mutters, “...Game on.”

The sun has already set by the time the game finishes with the teams tied, something you aren’t expecting. But, here we are. Jing Yuan, shirtless, stands on the opposite side of the net. You know it’s inappropriate, but your eyes briefly wander his body. The muscles. The dragon tattoo. Your heart races and it takes Pom’s shout to get your focus back. The ball bounces back and forth, and eventually, you set an opportunity for Jingliu to spike.

Jing Yuan counters it, however, and sets the stage for Blade’s sure kill strike.

“Huh… Jing Yuan and Blade make a pretty good duo,” Luocha says.

Yanqing, looking proud of his dads, says, “Of course they do!”

“Oh? Are you switching teams, Yanqing?”

“Go Team Mom!”

And it’s then Jingliu delivers the final strike.

Dan Feng, with his hands on his hips, is breathing heavily. “...You gotta be kidding me.”

“We did it!” March hugs Jingliu who exchanges a high five with you and then Pom. “Yeah! Go Team Mom!”

“And there goes my five dollars,” Luocha says, sighing.

“It was a good match,” Welt says. “Both teams did their best.”

“Too bad the Dads being shirtless wasn’t enough of a distraction,” Luocha jokes.

“Yeah, we’ve seen better,” March adds with a little smile.

Dan Feng shoots her a look. “Body shamin’ now, are we?”

Jingliu chuckles. “All right. It’s late, everybody.”

“In other words… Mom’s telling us to pack up.”

“Wait, wait!” March takes out her phone. “Commemorative photo, everybody!” She looks at Team Dad. “Up to you if you wanna keep your shirts off.”

Somehow, you end up standing in front of Jing Yuan. Yanqing is in front of you; his arms are raised, and you’re holding his hands.

March holds out her phone, getting the perfect angle. Then, she looks over her shoulder. “Would it kill you to smile, Dan Heng?”

“...I am.”

“Eh… Fine. That’ll do.” March looks at her phone and says, “Scoot closer to the front, Jing Yuan!”

He does, and you can just feel his body against yours. Jing Yuan feels you tense, and he takes a small step back, thinking he might’ve made you uncomfortable when in reality…

“Say Team Mom!”

And then March snaps the photo.

By the time everyone’s ready to call it a night, Yanqing runs up to you.

“Can we walk you back?”

We?

Jing Yuan comes up behind his son and asks, “Yes, can we?”

How can you say no?

For most of the walk, Yanqing walks between you and Jing Yuan. It isn’t until Yanqing gets a little restless that he starts jogging up ahead. This gives you an opportunity.

“...Could I ask you a little more about Caelus?”

“What would you like to know?”

“Is he still in Xianzhou?”

There’s a slight pause before Jing Yuan says, “...I’d like to think so.”

When you glance at him, Jing Yuan isn’t looking at you. But, you don’t pursue the matter further when you see Yanqing running up to you.

“Will you come pick me up from school again?”

"Where is this coming from?" you ask.

Yanqing shrugs. "It crossed my mind... and I wanted to ask."

Jing Yuan puts a hand on his shoulder. “She might be busy with work.”

“...If your Dad doesn’t mind.” You look at Jing Yuan who meets your eyes. Then, you look back at Yanqing. “I’d love to.”

Yanqing hugs you, and you affectionately pat the top of his head. "Don't forget we still have to bake cookies for Clara!"

“That we do.”

Yanqing holds your hand, and Jing Yuan watches you walk off with him with a genuine smile. And while he's been actively acting on his feelings. This is the first time he feels it.

Hope. Stupid, stupid hope.

Chapter 8

End notes:

As much as I love Team Mom, I'm on Team Dad for this one... XD.

Not related to the story... but I swear I got Wrio fever. 🫠 I have a story idea that's been poking at my brain so much that I lost sleep over it. LOL. Help.

Tag list: @suoshiii @lordbugs @seirenspinel @lxry-chxn @immahuman @queencybow @nqctre @grimreapersscythe @winterpein @asakenajustexistshere

[all-the-things-2020]

Late Night Talking - Chapter Fourteen

Summary: Dieter and Emily spend Thanksgiving break together.

Rating: PG-13 (mention of sex but no real smut)

Word count: 3800

Notes: San Ysidro Ranch is a real place but I’ve never been there. I’ve also never had a massage or a sound bath, but I hope I wrote about both experiences competently. Also, I have family members who are Mormon and any opinions expressed about that religion are my own.

Tag list: @rhoorl @avastrasposts @readingiskeepingmegoing @runningmom94 @gwendibleywrites @weho2kcmo

“Thank you for the invitation, Aunt Helen, but I can’t make it.”

”You know you’re always welcome, Emily. And I understand it’s a long drive to make by yourself, and flying is expensive, but maybe that rich boyfriend of yours could lend you the money. We’d love to see you.”

I was glad it was a voice call and not FaceTime, because I’m sure I grimaced. I’d made the trek to Utah to spend Thanksgiving with Aunt Helen and her family once and that had been enough for me. She was my mom’s sister, my only living relative on either side of the family, but she was … well, I’ll just come out and say it. Mormon.

At the age of twenty, Aunt Helen had opened the door to a pair of missionaries and fell hook line and sinker for the message they brought. It wasn’t a bad thing, it was just awkward for someone raised in a very secular family to suddenly be so vehemently religious. My grandma once said that no one is as fervent as a convert, and she was right. 

Aunt Helen joined the church and within a year she was married to a young man who’d recently graduated from BYU and had a job lined up in Salt Lake City. My mom had confessed that she was glad that Helen and Jeremiah lived so far away. So was I. Every phone call or email from her invariably included some sort of remark about my “lifestyle,” which I understood to mean “being unmarried and childless after the age of thirty and having sex with my boyfriend.” 

“I’d love to see you, too,” I replied, “but Dieter’s booked us a cottage at a resort in Santa Barbara for Thanksgiving week. He has to start a new project soon and we want to have a little getaway before he has to leave town.”

Aunt Helen sniffed. “Doesn’t he have family to spend the holiday with?” Family was very important to Aunt Helen.

“He’s going to his brother’s for Christmas, and he and his dad aren’t on good terms right now,” I explained. “So we’re spending Thanksgiving together, just the two of us.”

”Well, if you think that’s best, but remember, you are always welcome here. Maybe you could come for Christmas, since Dieter will be out of town?”

”We’ll see,” I said. There was no way in hell I was going to her house for Christmas. 

”Give my love to Uncle Jeremiah and all the cousins.”

I ended the call and heaved a sigh of relief. I loved her, I really did, but only in small doses. 

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

The drive up to Santa Barbara was a bit hectic, as all drives out of the L.A. area are, but once we got to the San Ysidro Ranch it was like we were in another world. It was in the foothills overlooking Montecito. The grounds were lush with plants and the cottages were beautiful, built in Craftsman style. Ours had a private patio with a hot tub, a fireplace, and a king size canopy bed, with exposed wooden beams ceilings. I was in love.

”I want to live here,” I told Dieter as we explored the little cottage. “This place is absolutely amazing. Look at that view!” The front terrace faced west, offering a panorama to the Pacific Ocean in the distance. 

“And it’s all ours for a week,” Dieter said, sliding his arms around me from behind. “Great food, great views, great company and privacy.” The last month or so had been rough. Word had leaked out about his brief stay in rehab and that, combined with a new movie project starting soon, had brought the paparazzi out in force. They followed him all over town, and photos of him had popped up all over the internet. There were even photos of the two of us doing mundane things like shopping at CVS and Trader Joe’s. Dieter always shrugged it off, but I knew that deep down it bothered him, mostly because he didn’t think I should have to deal with the paps.

”Yeah, that hot tub looks incredible,” I said, rolling my shoulders to loosen some of the kinks. A week at work combined with the long drive had tightened up my muscles. 

“Maybe we can skinny dip,” Dieter said into my ear.

”After it gets dark,” I said. “I know it’s private but I don’t think I could do that in daylight.”

He chuckled. “Deal. And after we soak awhile, I’ll make sure you release all your tension.” 

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

After dinner at the resort’s restaurant (where Dieter had had ordered and devoured an order of oysters, much to my dismay — I still didn’t like them and they reminded me too much of the night I met Jonathan) we wandered back to our cottage in the dark. I used the bathroom and got undressed, slipping on a bathrobe before I stepped outside onto the patio. Dieter was already in the hot tub, his own robe draped haphazardly over the lounge chair.

”You’d better not pee in there,” I teased as I dropped my own robe onto the chair and stepped into the tub. The cool November air caused goosebumps on my skin and I ducked quickly into the warm water.

”I went at the restaurant before we left,” he reminded me. “Now get over here.” He motioned for me to slide closer on the little bench that ringed the tub. I settled against his side and he wrapped his arm around me. We leaned back, letting the jets of hot water soothe us. I felt the knots in my muscles relax.

”Wanna make out?” Dieter asked after several minutes.

”Not just yet,” I said. “I’m enjoying the water.”

”Okay,” he said comfortably. “I want you nice and supple when we get into bed.”

Ever since he’d gotten out of rehab, things had been easier between us. It was hard to put my finger on what had changed, but we just seemed more settled, less anxious about things. We knew that we wanted each other for who we were, warts and all. 

Soon enough, we started kissing, and it wasn’t long before we were climbing out of the water and pulling on our robes, eager to get inside out of the chill and into bed. We tumbled into the fine Italian linens and made love. Dieter was true to his promise to help me release all my tension, and I did the same for him. Sex with Dieter was easy. He never made me feel like I was anything other than the most desirable woman in the world. He always asked permission before he did anything that differed from our usual routine, even if we’d done it before. He insisted on using protection. And he always made sure I was satisfied before he’d let himself finish. He was the very definition of an unselfish lover.

”I don’t deserve you,” I told him when we were cuddling afterward. He was a champion snuggler, clinging to me like a baby sloth clings to its mother, enveloping me in his warmth. 

“You’ve got that backwards,” he mumbled, already half asleep. 

“Okay, we’ll split the difference. We deserve each other.”

”Damn right.” He nuzzled against my neck and promptly started snoring. 

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

The next morning, we slept in, walked down to the restaurant for breakfast and then strolled through the botanical gardens on our way back to the cottage. We spent a lazy day reading and watching movies, punctuated by a few make out sessions. The day was warm enough that we left the windows open so we could enjoy the breeze off the ocean. 

At one point, Dieter dozed off on the couch, his book open against his chest, his glasses sliding down his nose. I got a sudden flash of his older self, hair and beard gone silver, taking a nap in our own little cottage somewhere, after he’d re-established his career and gotten to the point where he could pick and choose his roles. I wanted to grow old with him. I wanted this to last forever.

Then he snorted himself awake, mumbled “Fuck” under his breath and was his middle-aged self again, slightly grumpy at being caught napping during the day. “This place is too quiet,” he complained. “Made me fall asleep.”

”It’s comfortable,” I said. “I like it.” He lifted his arm and I slid underneath to nestle against his side. He was warm and solid and I laid my head on his chest. “Just like you.”

“Are you saying you like me, or that I’m comfortable?”

”Both.”

He shrugged. “I’ll take it. There are worse things to be called than comfortable, although it wounds my masculine pride.”

“What would you prefer?”

”Hot. Irresistible. Manly. Ripped.” It was my turn to snort. “What?”

”You are hot and irresistible and definitely manly, but ripped you are not.” I poked his belly, which had just enough squish to it. “And I like you that way. I want a tummy I can relax on, not one that’s hard as a rock. Six pack abs are highly overrated.”

”I’m glad to hear that,” he said. “Because I think those days are over.” He frowned down at his stomach. “The muscles are still in there somewhere, but the pudge is slowly taking over.”

”I like the pudge,” I said. “It makes you a real person. Real men have pudge. That should be your new slogan.”

”Dieter Bravo, the man with the pudge. I like that. I could be the new spokesman for Pillsbury.” I poked his belly again and he did the doughboy laugh. He was a huge dork, but he was my dork.

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

We hung around the resort for a couple of days, but then Dieter decided he wanted Mexican food, so we drove down to Santa Barbara for a day. We visited the art museum and then found a little hole in the wall Mexican place. I was content with a couple of tacos and a side of rice and beans, but Dieter ordered something called a Garbage Burrito, which was enormous and contained a little bit of everything, from beans to sour cream to cabbage to shredded beef to three kinds of salsa. 

“You’re going to be sorry,” I told him after he took the final bite. 

He patted his stomach. “Not sorry, just not hungry for about three days,” he said. “You’re on your own for dinner, Miss I-Only-Want-Two-Tacos.”

”You’re forgetting we have a couples massage booked at five,” I reminded him. “You’re gonna have to lay on that full tummy for an hour while they work on your back.”

He stifled a little burp and shrugged. “By that time, my amazing metabolism will have converted most of it to muscle,” he said.

“More like pudge,” I replied. It was our new inside joke. I had started calling him Pudgy Bear.

We left the restaurant and almost immediately were approached by a man who asked if he could get a selfie with Dieter. “I’ve seen all the Cliff Beasts movies,” he explained, “and I’ve gotten photos with three of the cast members so far.”

Dieter agreed. “Why don’t you take the photo?,” he asked me. The man beamed and smoothed down the front of his Hawaiian shirt before handing me his phone. I gave Dieter a quick glance. He had a salsa stain on his previously pristine white t-shirt. I tugged his cardigan into place so that it hid the stain.

”Stop it,” Dieter said, swatting at my hand.

”You have food on your shirt, honey,” I told him, adjusting the cardigan just a bit more. “You don’t want to ruin his photo.”

Dieter looked down and made a face. “Shit, you’re right.”

The guy laughed. “Hey, it’s okay, it’s nice to know that celebrities are real people.”

I snapped three photos, to give him a choice of which one was best, then handed the phone back. “Thanks, man,” he said, swiping through the photos. “Is it okay if I post these on my Insta?”

“Sure,” Dieter said, “and thanks for asking. Most people don’t.” He shook the guy’s hand and sent him on his way grinning from ear to ear. 

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

We drove around a bit on our way back to the resort, taking in the sights, but made it back in plenty of time for Dieter to change into a clean t-shirt before our massage. 

“I don’t know why I have to change,” he grumbled. “I’m just gonna take it off when we get there. They do these things naked, you know.”

”You are not showing up in dirty clothes, even if you are going to get undressed,” I said. “It’s common courtesy.”

”But I’m not a common person,” Dieter said as he stripped off the dirty shirt. I tossed him a clean one from the dresser. 

“You are definitely uncommon,” I agreed, running my eyes over his bare torso. Even with that bit of pudge he was an impressive sight.

Dieter preened. “I’m one of a kind.”

”The one, the only … Dieter Bravo!”

He posed like Superman, which would have made more of an impact if he hadn’t also been pooching out his stomach. He looked more like Jack Black in Nacho Libre than a superhero.

”Put your shirt on, goofball,” I told him. “We’ll be late.”

As Dieter predicted, almost as soon as we arrived for our appointment, the receptionist ushered us into the changing rooms, where we stripped down and put on the plush robes embroidered with the resort logo. 

“Told you,” Dieter whispered as we were escorted to the massage room.

Soft music was playing and the lights were dimmed. An essential oil diffuser filled the room with the scent of lavender. I felt my heart rate drop already. 

“Welcome. I’m Inge and this is Lance. We’ll be your massage therapists today.” Inge was tall and blonde, with just a trace of a Nordic accent. Lance was also tall, but with jet black hair. 

“I think we might have wandered into a porno shoot,” Dieter whispered to me. I shushed him, but he wasn’t wrong. Seriously, who hires a massage therapist named Lance?

They busied themselves with a tray of oils and heated rocks and other massage paraphernalia while we disrobed and laid down on the massage tables, pulling the sheets over ourselves. Dieter, of course, only pulled his up enough to cover his ass, while I made sure mine was up to my shoulders. 

It turned out Lance was the strong, silent type, who got right to work on Dieter’s upper back. Inge kept up a gentle, soothing patter as she kneaded my muscles. “We are trying to achieve total relaxation,” she intoned. “We will work on any tight spots you may have, so that when you leave you will be feeling completely loose and flexible.”

I thought I heard Dieter snicker a bit, but with his head buried in the face cut out, it was hard to tell. 

“Listen to the music and let your body and mind relax,” Inge said. “Inhale the soothing scent of lavender and exhale all your negative energy.”

I could have dozed off, if not for Inge digging into the knots in my shoulders. 

“Surrender to the rhythm of the music and our hands. Take in the good and release the bad.”

Brrr-ppp! Dieter farted loudly.

”Sorry,” he mumbled.

”No worries, man,” Lance said. “It happens.” He grunted as he bore down on Dieter’s back again.

Pppp-rrrr-ppp!

”I told you not to eat that huge burrito for lunch,” I said. And just about then the scent of lavender was overwhelmed by something decidedly less floral and we realized why it was called a garbage burrito.

”Maybe I’ll lay off the lower back,” Lance said, stifling a laugh.

”Yeah, might be a good idea,” Dieter said, giggling.

”I’m just going to turn up the diffuser,” Inge said, and that was when I lost it. I laughed until tears were streaming down my face.

”Only you could turn a romantic couples massage into a fart fest,” I told Dieter once I could talk.

”It’s that damn burrito,” he whined. “I’m not doing it on purpose.”

Inge and Lance managed to maintain their professional demeanor, but Dieter and I broke out in giggles multiple times during the massage. We might not have been completely and utterly relaxed when we emerged, but we were certainly feeling a lot lighter … in more ways than one.

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

On Thanksgiving Day there was a special turkey dinner at seven for all the guests. We spent a relaxing morning in the cottage. We watched the parade on TV (turns out Dieter had to watch the Macy’s parade every year — he loved the balloons) and after a light lunch we wandered over to partake in a sound bath.

”I’ve done these before,” Dieter said. “It’s amazing. Like, life changing type amazing. It’s like the best drug ever, but totally safe and natural.”

I wasn’t so sure that listening to singing bowls and chimes would be quite that earth shattering, but I was open to the experience. I knew that Dieter was less skeptical about things than I was but I didn’t see any harm in him believing in the power of crystals and stuff like that. Although I was pretty sure his aversion to AirPods wasn’t because he thought the wireless connection messed with his brain waves as he claimed, but because he had lost too many pairs and needed a “cool” excuse for his old-school wired earbuds.

The woman hosting the sound bath wore loose linen clothing which made her look like a Jedi knight, but she also had a severe pixie cut and angled eyebrows that made her look a bit Vulcan. I dubbed her the Logical Jedi in my mind, but didn’t dre say anything to Dieter. After the massage experience, I didn’t want to risk setting off another round of giggles.

”Welcome. I’m Diana and I’ll be facilitating your sound bath experience today. Please, lie down on the mats and make yourselves comfortable. If you have any previous yoga experience, assume the Savasana or corpse pose. For those of you who have not practiced yoga, this is simply lying on your back, with your arms out to your sides.”

While we settled, Diana walked around the room. “You will be bathing in sound today. You don’t need to do anything but keep your heart and mind open to receive the healing vibrations. I do ask that because today is Thanksgiving, you keep gratitude foremost in your mind. Think about all the things in your life, big and small, that you are thankful for. And let the sound guide you to inner peace.”

I closed my eyes, feeling a bit silly. I’d never been good at meditation; my mind darted in a million different directions as soon as I didn’t have something to focus on. Dieter told me you just had to empty your head and focus on your breath, but it was hard for me. 

A chime rang and then the hum of a singing bowl filled the room. It was monotonous at first, but after a bit I could hear subtle variations in the tone as the sound waves vibrated the air. It was soothing. I started thinking about what I was thankful for.

Dieter, first of all. Meeting him had brought me so many new experiences, and a depth of joy I’d never known I was capable of. My job. A roof over my head. My health. Those were the big ones, and almost too easy to put on my list. Everyone was grateful for things like that. Then I started thinking about the smaller things: the smell right before it starts to rain, the excitement of opening a box of new books at work, the fierce glow of California poppies in the sun every spring. 

I felt Dieter’s fingertips brush against mine and I smiled. He was thinking about me, too. We lay side by side, just barely touching, but fully connected as the song of the universe swept through us. I get it, Deet, I thought silently. I get it.

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

Saturday morning came all too fast. As I packed our bags (Dieter offered to pack his, but his idea of packing was just shoving everything inside and squashing it until the bag would zip) I felt the familiar melancholy of the end of a work break. I knew I was lucky to have a job that gave me a week off at Thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas and another week in the spring, not to mention a healthy dollop of three-day weekends and a long summer break, but it was always hard for me to switch gears back into work mode after being off for more than a few days. 

“I don’t want to go back to work on Monday,” I groused.

”Then don’t,” Dieter said. “Quit. Move in with me. Find something else closer to my house. Or take some time off. Follow your passion.”

I sighed. “We’ve had this discussion before, Deet. It’s just too early on. I can’t take that leap yet.”

He smiled. “Yeah, I know, but a man’s gotta try. And I know how you feel.” He stretched, his joints cracking. “I’m due on set in five days and I know once I get there and get into it I’ll love it but right now all I can think about is packing and making the flight and meeting the cast and crew and hoping there aren’t too many assholes to deal with. And missing you.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck. 

“I’ll miss you, too,” I said, leaning into his embrace. “But we’ll talk every night. And maybe you can sneak home for a weekend or something.”

”I was thinking … I’m going to Freddy’s for Christmas. Why don’t you join me? I won’t get enough time off to make it to Vermont and California but I‘m sure he and Laila won’t mind.”

”I don’t want to impose,” I said, although the idea of having a ready excuse to not go to Aunt Helen’s — not to mention the chance to spend some face to face time with Dieter — had me excited.

”Freddy wants to meet you,” Dieter said. “And I want you to meet him. Meet my family.”

My excitement shifted into anxiety. Meeting the family was a big step. “Only if he and his wife don’t mind,” I said carefully. 

“I’ll ask him next time I talk to him. And I can tell you right now the answer will be yes.”

[captainnameless]

Hi! Hope the new year is being good to you - you deserve it!

I’m here to beg for any Michael and little Sebastian thoughts/headcanons/ideas you may have. After scrolling through your blog (I love literally everything you’ve written) I’m obsessed with their dynamic. Michael really saw this feral little kid and went oh, I want that one.

the new year’s been…. alright. i had a good week last week but have been bedridden since yesterday morning because (i think) i have a nerve compressed/blocked/entrapped whatever the English term for it is in my lower back and i’ve been in a bunch of pain :/ i’m stubborn though and waiting to call until Monday bc i don’t wanna call for an emergency which is what you have to do here if it’s the weekend. we’ll see. i had this back in 2020 and was bedridden for 2 months 😀 🔫 i’ll cry if that happens again. ANYWAY.

Michael & Seb thoughts !!!! (also i loved the ‘oh i want that one’ made me chuckle)

They’re in Japan, Sebastian’s just become the youngest GP winner 2 races back and it’s been a little bit of a whirlwind. There’s been a change in his media attention and despite Michael not being on the grid, he loves Japan, and Sebastian, so the invite was easily accepted.

“Sebastian.” Michael says, unimpressed with the younger’s outfit. “It’s cold outside, you need at least a jacket if you insist on wearing the T-shirt.”

Sebastian frowns looking down at his own shirt. “This was fine in Singapore.”

“Well, we’re not in Singapore, are we?” Michael replies, sat on the foot of the bed, dressed and ready to go in appropriate wear.

Sebastian pushes himself up from where he was sat on the floor, leaving the jacket and the hoodie that Michael had laid out for him moving towards the door of his hotel room. “I’m fine.”

“We’re not going outside without the jacket, Seb.”

“Are too!”

Michael sighs, already regretting not pushing for a nap before they went out to explore. “Your choice Seb, you know the deal.”

Sebastian whines and stomps his foot down, disgruntled frown edged onto his face. “I’m going without you.” He says, opening the door.

Michael raises an eyebrow. “You go out that door without your jacket and I’ll chase you down and then we’re not going at all.”

Sebastian gawks at him, eyes scanning his face for a bluff. “No you won’t.” He pouts, opening the door further, kicking the discarded jacket on the floor away from him for good measure.

“Sebastian.” Michael warns, already standing up.

“No!” Sebastian whines, body already half way out the door, giving Michael one last look before he’s booked it out of there.

Michael groans, trying to prevent a driver getting sick before the end of the season really shouldn’t be this much of a struggle. He’s up already so charges after Sebastian anyway, who’s already down the hall, a fast little brat off and on track.

But Michael’s been keeping fit despite his retirement, catches up quickly enough when Sebastian makes the mistake of waiting for the elevator, a quick end to their little chase.

“Nooo!” Sebastian whines, batting at Michael as he stalks closer, defiance clear on his face, a little glimmer of amusement shining in his eyes. Sebastian’s always liked a game.

Michael wastes no time snatching Sebastian’s wrist towards him, the momentum stumbling the younger forward enough for Michael to bend down just enough to fling Sebastian over his shoulder.

Sebastian responds by pounding his fists onto Michael’s back, something he stops immediately when Michael sends a sharp swat to the back of his thigh. “You stop that.”

“You’re being mean to me!” Sebastian whines, wriggling about.

“I’m the worst.” Michael agrees, making quick work of walking back to Sebastian’s hotel room, kicking the door shut with a bang before dropping Sebastian onto the bed. “And you’re being naughty, which tells me you need a nap.”

Sebastian squeaks as he disappears into the soft white comforter, trashing about at the mention of a nap.

“No nap!” He whines, trying to tug his ankle free out of Michael’s grasp, who’s already taking off his shoes. “I wanna go! I want my jacket.”

“Too late, buddy.” Michael says gently, getting off Sebastian’s other shoe despite the kicking.

It prompts a meltdown, which Michael saw coming anyway, and would’ve preferred to have in the privacy of their hotel room instead of in the public Japanese streets.

“I know,” Michael says, discarding his own shoes and jacket before climbing onto the bed and struggling to gather a visibly and audibly upset Sebastian. “Shh.” He soothes, tugging Sebastian close against his chest and wrapping him up tight. “You’re okay.”

“I wanna go!” Sebastian just cries, surrendering into the strong hold, dropping his head against Michael’s chest.

It earns him a couple soft kisses and the duvet covering them both. “I know, liebling. I promise we can try again after you’ve had a nap.”

There’s a miserable whine that leaves Sebastian, but it seems to settle him nonetheless, one of his hands coming up to rub at his eyes.

Michael cards his hands through the messy blonde hair. “Rest. I’ll be here when you wake.”

[localplaguenurse]

I am just nosy, forgive me. Can you describe each one of your mutuals?

Buckle up people and prepare to get complimented >:3c

First and foremost, they’re all absolute sweethearts to me.

There are my irl friends, such as @wretchedshade, @granolabird, @siriuscitrus and @scales-of-stardust or beta as I usually refer to them. I share the same braincell with these people.

Wretchedshade has been my best friend since we were ten, we’ve been there for each other for 11 years. I initially got her into anime, and then she got me into jojo, and every once in a while we cry about Doukyuusei again. She’s a great artist and is really good at writing sad shit, which is why I write sad shit; to have the glory of finally making her cry. She kicked cancer’s teeth in a few months ago so it’s about goddamn time something good come her way and I WILL fight someone on that.

Granolabird is the dm for my dnd campaign, and like I said, absolute sweetheart, chaotic adhd haver (actually like most of my friend group is like this lmao we’re all queer and neurodivergent). Either way, we used to share thoughts on each other’s original stories, and we still do sometimes but it’s mostly just sending each other tiktoks/reels like “this you” or “this your oc.”

Siriuscitrus is usually pretty hyper, but also tries to be v considerate of everyone’s feelings. If you said that the McDonald’s employee put pickles on your burger when you said no, they’d probably be the one to tell them. They’re also scarily good at vibechecking people and told me I give “future he/they vibes” and like a week later I said “fuck you’re right oh my god.”

You’ve probably seen me and beta’s interactions on here or in the ao3 comments. We enjoy our like playful rivalry/enemyship. I like to torment tease her and she usually gets me back pretty good, it’s all in good fun. It’s also really funny to me whenever we meet up, I tell myself “you are friends with them for reasons other than fic so do not make it about fic” and then we’ll spend literally hours talking about and brainstorming fic ideas. It just Happens.

I’m also gonna add @memory-mortis into here because while we’ve not met irl I’ve introduced him to my friend group. Yet another sweetheart, love her art style a lot, and she was one of the first comments I got on ginkgo trees to motivate me to keep going. I was kinda worried about bringing him into my friendgroup because like if I’m not overthinking I am not thinking At All. I was super relieved and happy that she like IMMEDIATELY fit in with everyone so :D

For some of my other close but only on tumblr/ao3/outside my general friendgroup mutuals! (There are too many so I’m sorry if you’re not here it’s mostly people I interact with more regularly ;-;)

@crimson-ashes who I have occasionally with absolute love called my “askbox gremlin” because they live in my inbox. I need to stress this is affectionate because genuinely, I love opening tumblr and seeing I’ve got asks from them. They gotta stop posting Astarion though because I’m feeling So Tempted to play BG but I know my laptop would kill itself (joking).

@crystalflygeo and I know I’ve called everyone sweethearts but genuinely, she’s probably one of the sweetest people I’ve had the pleasure of talking to. She’s really wholesome (unlike her writing which is never gonna be a complaint in my book, good soup) and super supportive of other people.

@madamemachikonew who’s super polite and really kind. She’s also really creative/smart when it comes to referencing real world art and philosophy in her writing and integrating it into her own worldbuilding. I would have never thought to have done that, and it makes her writing very unique!

We don’t interact as much but @probably-doesnt-exist, @ethve, @euniveve and @ainescribe are such talented artists and super sweet, have literally made me screech and cackle with utter joy whenever they draw the characters from ginkgo trees. I rotate through which art becomes my phone’s lock/home screens.

This is long af but fuck it, I wanna brighten people’s days and I told myself to say “I love you” to my friends and family more, so consider this one big “I love you!” to y’all. It’s a pleasure talking to y’all!

[adreama-writes]

2023 Fanfic Wrapped

Thank you for the tags @inexplicablymine @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @littlemisskittentoes !

Idk who else hasn't yet done this so @onthewaytosomewhere and OPEN TAG TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO DO THIS!

I actually wrote a lot this year! Many of them surprised me. I'm usually an outline writer - I make notes for the stories and then that tells me where to take the story. However, several of these were kind of "let's just write and see where it takes us!"

It got long so here's a cut to save your dash. 💜✍️✍️

Watch it All Unfold (a collection of drabbles)

40 chapters added in 2023 at 100 words each

That's 4,000 words!

Over the course of the entire year; I won't be breaking it out into individual months

February:

Nora and Tu B'Shevat - 1300 words, focused on June/Nora, part of the series Nora and the Holidays. Last year, I was chatting Nora with some other fans and I mentioned that I write Nora celebrating her holidays. Someone commented (half-joking) "Tu B'Shevat fic WHEN??" I replied "When Tu B'Shevat happens!" so I wrote this little fic, dedicated it to them on Ao3, and they haven't read it. Still happy I represented for the trees 🌳 though.

June surprises Nora on her holiday with plans and a gift. Happy new year for the trees!

March:

March Book Club - 2 chapters, total 17,388 words. Rated T. Focuses on Alex/Henry and the Henry-June friendship

working title: henry gay english major

A kid at Henry's shelter inspires him to pick the Little Women series for his book club with June. Meanwhile, Alex is there, by his side, supporting him always, and Henry starts thinking more about their future in all the good ways.

Blanket Fort - 600 words. Rated G.

Alex is anxious during a storm, and so is David. Henry has a late night at the shelter.

July:

of fathers and sons - 7651 words. Rated T. Focuses on Alex/Henry and the relationship between Oscar and Henry.

Henry’s been working on the new LA shelter for months. He’s had countless conference calls with investors, contractors, city council, and more. Now, they’re ready for the final touches before opening, and Henry needs to be hands-on, literally. He knew this time would come, but he hates being away from home. He’s on the phone with his assistant, discussing hotel options, when Alex interrupts. “Why do you need a hotel in LA? My dad lives there. Stay with him. He’d be thrilled to have you there.” Henry stays with Oscar Diaz his father-in-law while he's getting the new LA shelter up-and-running. It's a bit of an adjustment, but it's actually nice. He even picks up a few new skills in the kitchen to show Alex!

October:

June and Weddings  - 1216 words. Rated G. A little something I threw together for June's birthday.

5 weddings June is in + 1 time it's her own

November:

talking about feelings is a sapphic cliche - 1200 words exactly. Rated G. Another one that just happened quickly.

Nora nods. She knows June’s telling the truth, but she also can tell there’s something more. “And?” she prompts. “And,” June continues, a hint of a smile on her face, and Nora knows it’s for her, that June appreciates that she knows her so well. “I’m nervous.” “Okay,” Nora says, shifting so she’s sitting cross-legged across from June on the bed. “Specifics. Let’s hear it. You know how this goes: you tell me what you’re worried about and we’ll talk about it logically.”

December:

Christmas Visit - rated G. 3525 words. This was originally a drabble, and then people demanded more, and it actually worked.

It's Christmas Eve at Kensington. Alex's niece tells him about the ghost she saw the other day. Then, in the middle of the night, Alex sees him too.

Untitled New Year's Eve story - to be posted December 31

Total: 36,889 words over 7 new works + new chapters for 1 existing work. Does not include word count for New Year's story.

[dream-beyond-the-fantasy]

Prompt-oween Day 17

@occreatorexchange

Prompt: Shopping for costumes with a partner.

Fandom: The Karate Kid/Cobra Kai

Characters: Jimmy and OC Julie Lawerence, brief appearance by their daughter Lily

Rating: T

Word Count: 930

Summary: Jimmy and Julie try to pick out costumes for their first Halloween as a couple.

It’s the beginning of October.  Julie is sitting on the couch reading a Fear Street book, using her left foot to keep Lily’s bouncy chair going.  A thought comes to her.  It is her and Jimmy’s first Halloween as a couple.  And their child’s first Halloween.  The weight of that is not lost on her.  She puts her book down, checking on her little girl.

“You fell asleep on me,” Julie says in a quiet sing-song voice.  She takes Lily out of the bouncer, placing the baby on her back on the blanket on the floor.  “Have a good nap.”

 ***

Julie enters the kitchen where Jimmy is cooking dinner.  She comes up behind him.  Jimmy is stirring a pot of tomato sauce when he feels his wife’s arms slip around his waist.  He smiles as she kisses his bicep.  Turning the heat on low, he leaves the spoon in the pot.  Then he turns to face Julie, wrapping his arms around her.  “Can I help you with something?”

She lifts an eyebrow.  “I have an idea.”

Jimmy grins.  “Dinner can wait.”  He leans down to kiss her.

To his dismay, she pulls away and lets go of him.  Her nose crinkles, amusement glinting in her dark eyes.  “That’s not what I’m talking about.  And I’d rather not do what you’re thinking about on an empty stomach.”

Jimmy gives a mock sigh.  “Okay.  What’s on your mind?”

Julie takes his hand.  “Halloween.  Namely, that it’s our first Halloween as a couple, married or otherwise.  And it’s Lily’s first Halloween.  What do we want to do?  I mean, she’ll be five months old.  Is that too young for trick-or-treating?  Obviously, she can’t eat candy, but there aren’t any rules saying we can’t.  Or do we stay in with Lily, watching scary movies but have candy ready for trick-or-treaters?  If the latter, do we dress up and decorate?”

Jimmy raises his brows.  “That’s a lot to have on your mind.  I’m all for free candy, but maybe we should wait a year.  But I think Bobby’s going to have a small get together.  Not really a party, but costumes are encouraged.”

***

The next day, the couple walks into a costume shop.  Julie starts looking at the nearest rack.

“So, do you have any ideas?” Jimmy asks.  He flicks through a few men’s costumes on the next rack.

Julie shakes her head.  “Not really.  But I don’t want anything too fancy.  We’ll have Lily with us, so I need to be able to slip it off for feedings.”

Jimmy nods.  He puts a prince costume back.  He glances at Julie.  “How do you feel about couples costumes?”

She smiles.  “I’m not opposed, but we have to agree on a good theme.”

Jimmy slides some clothes down the rack.  He holds up a maid’s costume for her to look at.  Grinning, Jimmy asks, “Want to be Magenta?”

Julie laughs.  “I don’t think you could pull off Riff Raff.”

Jimmy scoffs, putting the outfit back.

Julie, still giggling, walks over to him.  She pulls her husband into a hug.  “Honestly, you make a better Brad.”  She trails a hand to his waistband.  “But you know, I wouldn’t mind seeing you dressed up like Rocky or Dr. Frank-N-Furter,” she whispers in his ear.

Jimmy groans, starting to get aroused.  He pulls away.  This is neither the time nor the place.  “I bet you would.  But, uh, maybe we should hold off on that until we can go to another midnight showing and make other plans for Lily.”

Julie smirks.  “Oh, I’m gonna hold you to that.”  She walks over to another rack.  She makes a face at a sexy nurse costume.  “Nope.”

He picks up a gold Starfleet uniform, holding it up to his body.  “Do you think I’d be a good Captain Kirk?”

Julie gives him a halfhearted shrug.  “I think you could pull it off.  I’m just not a Kirk fan.  And who would I be?  Lieutenant Uhura or one of the women of the week?”

He puts it back.  “Not a Star Trek fan, I take it.”

Jule shrugs again.  “It’s okay.  If I had to watch it, I prefer Spock and McCoy.  But I will admit the movies are better than the show.  Also, I prefer The Next Generation.  And it’s no Star Wars.”

Jimmy perks up.  “Hey, now.  There’s an idea.  We could be Han and Leia.”

Julie smiles at him.  “We already were.  Don’t you remember?”

Jimmy stops going through costumes.  He appears confused.  “What?  In 1983?  We were both kids then!”

“Doesn’t matter.  I still consider it a couple costume, considering that we did in fact become a couple.”

“Nearly a decade later,” he argues.

“I don’t care.  It was our first couple costume,” Julie insists.  And I’m not ready for a repeat.”

Jimmy and Julie continue looking through the options.  They are facing opposite directions.  Each one picks up a costume.

“Jimmy, what do you think?”  Julie turns to him.  She is holding a red dress with white polka dots in one hand and mouse ears with a matching bow.

Jimmy laughs.  “I think we’ll match.”  He shows her his costume, a black bodysuit with a pullover hood that had mouse ears and red shorts.

Julie smiles.  “Mickey and Minnie, a classic cartoon couple..”  Then she bites her lip.  “What about Lily?”

He thinks for a minute.  “I’ve got it.  She has that yellow onesie with a matching hat.  I’ll sew on some black ears and she’ll be Pluto.”

Julie claps.  “Oh, I love that idea!  It’s decided then.”

[once-upon-a-pirate-ship]

Emma Swan versus Packing Tape

read my new (short) college au on AO3 here!

or, read it below the cut.

summary: As Emma and the gang near the end of their senior year, her roommate Ruby pushes her towards one last setup (you know exactly who it is)

rated T for language only

1.5k words

you can find my other works on AO3 here.

to people who want to be on my tag list: I'm so sorry but I don't yet have the energy to rejoin the discord and make that list and tack it on here...please forgive me and I'll work on that for next time

Packing tape was quickly becoming Emma’s nemesis. No matter how many angles she tried, she couldn’t get the stupid metal teeth to slice the tape correctly, and every attempt was met with the irritated screech of the roll. 

A groan escaped her lips as she was once again forced to surrender to the scissors, and after flattening the piece against the cardboard, she dropped the tape gun onto the floor. It made a dull thud when it landed on the shitty carpet she still had to clean. 

“Geez, what’d that tape ever do to you?” Ruby asked.

Emma flinched at the unexpected noise, turning to find her roommate staring at her teasingly, her arms folded over her chest and her eyebrows raised. 

“I thought you were at Belle’s,” Emma said as she returned her attention to the now closed box, moving it onto the stack to her right. 

“I’m happy to see you, too.”

Emma rolled her eyes, suppressing a sigh and instead bending to pick up the stupid tape gun. “I’ve just got a lot left to do,” she said, glancing around to find the next box that needed to be filled and taped up. 

“Three boxes, Emma. That’s, like, fifteen minutes. Tops.”

“I have reorganizing to do, Ruby,” Emma replied. 

Ruby crossed to sit on the arm of the couch. “I don’t see why you can’t come to the party with us.”

“Oh yeah, that sounds like a blast. Third wheeling—until you two ditch me to go make out in some frat boy’s room.”

“We wouldn’t do that,” Ruby said. Emma shot her a glare, and Ruby added, “Again.”

“I’m good here, I promise. And besides, I was over the whole ‘college party’ scene like two months ago.”

Ruby released a heavy, dramatic sigh. “Come on, Emma. One last hoorah. David and Mary Margaret will be there, and I know they won’t ditch you to go make out.”

“No, they’ll just gaze wistfully at each other while I stand there feeling ill.” 

“You say that like it’s a new development.”

Emma kept her eyes on the books she filed into the box, chewing on the inside of her cheek. “I’ll be just fine, Ruby. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“We graduate in two days, and then we’ll all be in different places doing different things—grad schools and internships and full-time jobs, and then I won’t have time to worry about you anymore. Let me be pushy and concerned this one last time.”

Emma paused, her fingertip grazing against the glossy book jacket of her favorite novel. Her eyes flickered up to Ruby. “What’s the real reason you’re pushing me on this?”

Ruby shrugged, but it wasn’t nearly as casual as it should’ve been. 

“You gotta be fucking kidding me,” Emma snarled. “Really? Again?”

“Emma,” she pleaded. 

“No. No way. I told you last semester, Ruby. No more setups. No more perfectly engineered meet-cutes. I won’t allow it.”

“Last one, Emma, I swear. Then I’ll leave you to your singledom for the rest of eternity. Please?”

Emma glowered at her, though it did nothing to soften the intensity of the pleading eyes Ruby stared at her with. “No way.” She shook her head.

“Please?”

Emma’s jaw clenched, and she let her hand drop from the box. She forced her arms to lock over her chest. “No.”

“Please,” Ruby said firmly.

“What’s in it for me?”

“Other than the possibility of fantastic sex?”

Emma narrowed her eyes. “Ruby,” she snapped. 

“Twenty bucks?”

“You’re so cheap.”

Ruby groaned. “I’m so broke right now, Emma. Fine, okay, I’ll get Belle to bake you those cookies you love so much.”

Emma despised herself for how much that made her pause. “Snickerdoodles?”

“Two batches.”

“Fine.”

“Really?”

Emma was going to get a headache if she kept glaring like this. “Ruby. Don’t push it.”

Her roommate jumped up, bouncing a little as a wide grin spread across her face. “Yes! Okay. I promise you won’t regret this. It’s gonna be so great. Really.”

“If it sucks, I’m still making you give me twenty bucks.”

“And when it’s magical, you can give me twenty bucks.”

Emma’s eyebrow shot up. “What makes you so confident about this one?” 

Ruby shrugged. “I dunno. Just a feeling. I don’t actually know him that well. He’s a friend of Belle’s.”

Emma hummed with the slightest bit of interest, turning back to the box she’d stopped packing. “I gotta finish this if you want me to go out with you guys tonight.”

“Of course,” Ruby replied, slipping around the mini-maze of boxes and heading for the door. 

“Oh, and Ruby?”

“Yeah?”

Emma didn’t look up when she added, “No way in hell are you picking my outfit for this thing. Don’t even try. Consider yourself lucky that I even agreed to go in the first place.”

“But you’re just gonna wear jeans and your red jacket!”

“I sure am. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

-

She couldn’t believe she let herself get dragged into this, cookies be damned. 

She’d never been anti-party, per se, but she’d always been fairly anti-people—particularly when they were obnoxious frat boys who never seemed considerate of people’s personal space even when they weren’t completely drunk. 

Ruby and Belle had made themselves scarce before the end of the first song, but as expected, David and Mary Margaret refused to abandon her, too. 

“He’s late,” David grumbled, looking resentfully at his beer. 

Mary Margaret gave him an admonishing look, a hand coming to pat his arm. “This is hardly a dinner date, David. I think we can cut him some slack for not being punctual to an event with a keg or three.”

David grumbled again, this time emitting a sound that sounded somewhat like “fine.”

Emma resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Look, guys, I don’t need a babysitter. Go, have fun.”

“Emma,” Mary Margaret said.

“We’re not leaving you,” David added, nearly scoffing at the idea. 

Emma took a swig of her beer, knowing that further encouragement would be futile. It took her twenty minutes to give them the slip, which wasn’t her finest work but not her worst, either. She’d had a lot of practice these last few years. 

The wrap-around porch was littered with cans and bottles, but at least it was relatively quiet, enough so that Emma could lean against the rail and relax for the first time that night. She reached up a hand to message at her stiff shoulder—from tensing for an hour straight or from packing all of those boxes, maybe both—and she huffed out a breath, willing her mind to settle. 

Her irritation with her friends was so petty at this point in her life, with only a handful of days left before everything changed forever—who knew when they’d all get to see each other again, when jobs and money and time and life didn’t get in the way, but it was impossible for her to stamp out the frustration she felt because her friends didn’t always understand. They meant well, of course they did, but they were so reliant on their own worlds, their own experiences, so how could she possibly expect them to step outside of their own perspectives and imagine hers? 

A not-so-subtle creak startled her from her thoughts, and she wheeled around to face the figure who’d been the culprit. “Sorry, love,” the accented voice called, “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Emma’s hand still gripped the porch railing as she watched him move closer somewhat hesitantly. Once he stepped out of the shadows and into the glow cast from the window, she watched him watch her, his gaze studying her, waiting for signs of rejection or any other indication that he shouldn’t cross to stand beside her.

“Is the party that bad?” he asked, a teasing smile curving his lips. “I’d planned to be here an hour ago, though perhaps the delay was a sign I should not have ignored.”

“The party is…” she trailed off, less than enthusiastic. 

“A travesty?”

“Typical,” she amended. 

He chuckled softly, his hand sweeping over the scruff on his chin. “A travesty, indeed,” he said. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have come.”

“Why did you?”

A dark eyebrow shot up, and she didn’t miss the glint in his stormy blue eyes. “I was meant to meet a lass.”

“A lass?” she repeated, wrinkling her nose.

“I’m British, love. We can hardly avoid the word.”

She almost snorted at that. “Love,” she echoed, like the word tasted bad on her tongue.

He huffed, almost exasperated but there was a fondness to it, like he loved a challenge and found her to be the most intriguing one. “What shall I call you, then?”

“Not love, that’s for sure.”

“A name?”

It clicked for her, then. She considered her reply, humming to herself. “I think you might know it already.”

His eyes glimmered with something unexpected. “Don’t tell me you’re—”

“Emma.”

A beat passed, and the air between them stretched taut, stealing breath and heartbeats and thoughts. 

“Emma.” His voice caressed her name, his accent curling around it with warmth. He said it like he knew things about her that he couldn’t have known. “I’m Killian Jones. And I’m terribly sorry I’m late.” The tenderness hadn’t vanished entirely, but the charm had returned, and it made her feel steady again.

“I have a feeling that you’re going to figure out a way to make it up to me.”

[infiniteorangethethird]

anyway here's part 2 to my paracosm snippets

(previous / next)

ignore the fact it took me more than a month to post this

-

It was exactly midnight when Mike opened his eyes.

At least, that’s how he would’ve written it, if his life was a book. It would’ve been a headstrong introduction. But alas, his life was not a book, and he had no idea if it was actually midnight.

All he could tell was that the sky was clear, the stars were beautifully visible, and that there definitely was no second nor third moon the last time he went to sleep.

He would’ve kept admiring the sight, if not for the head appearing right above his own.

“Hey there! Are you alright?”

Mike stirred at the question. He tried to recall the last thing he saw before waking up. He remembered Leo’s message with a “call for adventure” (his words, not Mike’s), how they were supposed to meet at a cave entrance of all places. Strange place for a first ever meeting in person, but Mike wasn’t one to judge. He remembered entering the cave with Leo, wondering how many people have died following strangers into weird caves. He remembered getting lost, he remembered the weird berry bushes inside, the ones that then began moving around and that spoke to them about stories and dimensions and imagination coming to life, he remembered Leo’s friend showing up alongside Rowena, then a flash of light and-

A wave of dizziness hit him at that last memory. He swallowed a groan.

“…yeah, sure. Just admiring the stars. Although, if you ask me, some of those constellations have changed place since I last went stargazing.”

“Oh thank god,” Leo sighed, vanishing from Mike’s vision as he straightened up. “For a sec I thought I accidentally teleported your internal organs separately, or something.”

“Certainly would’ve made for a much different evening, don’t you agree?” Mike couldn’t help but smile. Leo was a nice guy, but he had a habit of worrying just a tad bit too much at times.

Except when he was about to plunge himself and his friend into a completely different reality, apparently.

“Speaking of teleportation.” Mike sat up, taking in his new environment as much as the moonlight allowed. “Where are we anyway?”

He turned around slowly, inspecting his surroundings. On his left, the edge of a coniferous forest, sparse enough for him to see the stars between the trunks. In front of him, a large clearing rolled into a low hill, rising lazily until its dark form became indistinguishable from the inky sky. To his right, the other edge of the forest continued.

And behind him, the midsection of the forest, in front of which he could vaguely make out Leo’s thin frame.

Leo’s eyes glinted with excitement. “I have no idea,” he whispered.

“Well, that sounds like a surefire way to get lost and then starve to death,” Mike noted, taking Leo’s hand to stand up. His words had no venom, though.

Leo chuckled. “Between my magic staff and your willar abilities, I supposed we could easily come up with something if need be. Plus, who knows? We might even run into civilization at some point.”

Mike dusted himself off, shaking his wings and using his fingers to comb out the grass blades from between his feathers. By the time he deemed himself clean enough, Leo already stood by the edge of the trees, waiting impatiently for his companion.

“Ready whenever you are, princess,” he said as Mike caught up. Mike ignored the bitter taste in his mouth at the nickname.

“So, uh, just to be absolutely and definitely sure,” he began instead. “Is it true that we’re currently in a book?”

“A book, a movie, a series – anything that counts as a fictional story,” Leo replied nonchalantly. He walked with a spring in his step, lighting the way with a magic flame at the end of his staff. “But, yes. This alternate reality – this dimension – is, in fact, the same as one of our stories in our homeworld.”

Mike pondered the idea for a moment.

“Can you imagine?” Leo continued enthusiastically. “The worlds we will see! The people we’ll meet! All this time, an infinitely vast universe hid right under our noses – and now we finally get to be the first ones to explore it all! The limit is, quite literally, only our imagination!”

He turned back to face Mike. “Can’t wait to see one of yours in person, too. I mean, can you?”

Mike didn’t know what to say to that. Despite a writer himself, he appeared to have run out of words to properly express the swirling tornado of emotions within him.

“Uh, sure,” he replied.

[wordforwordbiblecomic]

July Newsletter: Discounts, new Book of Judges and more

We’ve got news on the new edition of Judges, discounts, blogs and more this month

New Judges with more pages!

In September, we will be officially releasing the new version of The Book of Judges. This new edition features the NIV translation but also even more pages! Now, I know what you’re thinking but we didn’t add anything to the biblical text, we spread the existing panels over more pages making it so the pages are not so cramped and the illustrations are larger, we also lightened up the images as our first edition was very dark.

In this example below, the top left page is the original page, which becomes three pages in the new edition including two new panels and verse reference numbers in the corners.

If you can’t wait until September you can preorder it via the UK online shop and pay postage to your location and you’ll receive it before the official release. (Note: Kickstarter Backers of Song of Songs who added Judges will get this new version)

The new Judges graphic novel was showcased at the American Library Association Convention of over 10,000 librarians last month and this month will be at the Christian Product Expo in Kentucky.

Discount!

If you are ordering books direct from us (via the UK online shop), you can now get a discount when you spend £50+ you’ll get 25% off! Just enter the discount code FIFTYQUIDPLUS at checkout. Includes books, t-shirts and digital items!

(T&Cs: Offer works on direct purchases from the UK, not available on US and Canada domestic delivery which is handled by our distributors).

Patreon Hangout

On Saturday 15th July, we’ll have one of our Patreon Hangouts, a Zoom call between myself, some of the team and our patrons will be there to chat, answer questions and connect. The talk will likely be around the new title The Book of Acts which has started production but won’t be Kickstarted until next year. To get the inside scoop, see pages before anyone else and join us at the hangout, become a patron today:

The Gathering

We had a great time at the Gathering in June despite nearly melting in the sun. I did some sword training and we saw dozens of men make a first-time commitment or recommitment to Christ on the weekend. Welcome those that joined the newsletter at the event.

Blogs

I wrote a couple of blogs on the research I’ve been doing recently, I showed the top one to Dr. Mark Woolmer (our history consultant and history lecturer) and he said he’d have given me a First for the essay if it had been submitted in his class which made me happy

In this blog, I explore the question of whether the Golden Calf of Exodus was likely a statue of an Apis Bull?

https://www.wordforwordbiblecomic.com/blog/was-the-golden-calf-an-apis-bull

In this blog, I ask if Moses was tall.

https://www.wordforwordbiblecomic.com/blog/wasmosestall

Kickstarter Update

The creation of the Song of Songs is complete and the digital copies will be sent out to you very soon. They've had their first round of proofreading and corrections are being added. Once the second round of proofreading is complete will be sending it out, before the end of this month.

They'll also be heading to the printers in the next month or so in good time for delivery to backers by the end of November (or before). They will be released in shops in March 2024.

Prayer

Books in libraries: As you saw above our book was featured at the ALA con. Please pray with us that libraries really discover the benefits of the Word for Word Bible Comic and decide to stock them all across the USA. Spanish editions: We have some potential leads to getting distribution of our Spanish editions in Latin America and Europe. Please pray we can get these books into the hands of Spanish speakers very soon!

Technical issue: We have had some trouble with the ISBN registration on Amazon and other places for the new books. Some progress has been made since last time but please pray this is miraculously sorted out very soon so it does not hamper sales.

[divkazkdovikde]

life update

(a vomit of random thoughts)

my insomnia is kicking again, and i’ll be sooooo fucking tired when they’ll call me to the work during the day. but. anyway.

guys guys guys. i’m manifesting so hard rn. i’m looking for flats with my friend, okay. and we found the prefect one. and we fell so much in love with that flat? like we would have each our own room? with a fucking french windows? (french fucking windows!) and it’s only a little over our budget? and an ideal location just between our unis? huh what really oh my god?

yeah yeah yeah

we absolutely must get that flat. we have a tour planned in a week, so we hope everything goes alright and they’ll rent it to us. we’re not the only ones who want that flat, but damn we hope we’ll get it. so, manifesting. everyone must manifest in our favor. oh i’m begging the universe like i never did before.

yeah, hopeful very. i’ll go insane if this won’t work out, so it better will, because no one wants that to happen, me to go insane, that is.

also i’m currently slowly planning how i want to furnish etc my future room. my dad is a joiner, so i’ll have to ask him to help me re-do a bit of some of our old furniture that’s waiting for me to take to a new home. and there’s some stuff i’ll have to buy (really how fucking hard it’s to find an ideal chest of drawers? fucking hard and annoying, i’ll tell you. and too bloody expensive, for no fucking reason. i would have my dad make it but has enough work as it is, but goddammit, just let me have some nice drawers, i beg you.) and i’ll make some stuff myself too. can’t wait.

when we’re at spending money, i bought me marshall headphones last week, for no fucking reason. i absolutely didn’t need them, i had a perfectly fuctional headphones at home already. but nahh, little ol’ me decided she wants to throw some money out, but damn they cute and the sound? oh, i definitely do not regret it. i have the brown ones, so cute.

i’m currently reading a little life, guys. yeah… not doing okay, no. and i’m only at page 100-ish. i actually haven’t touched the book in two weeks. i needed a break already and now i don’t really have time to get back to it. but i will! it will destroy me, that’s for sure, though. also you know what i found out just yesterday? the name jude means among others also ‘praised’ and ‘prince’. and i haven’t been the same ever since. cuz like in the book, jude is basically everyone’s in the group centre of life, consciously or not. and if the author did this intentionaly? oh my, genius. if not, what a hell of coincidence.

oh and, i discovered this new theory about folklore by taylor swift. there’s this specific order in which you can listen to the album and it’s like a whole story based on the folklore love triangle betty-james-augustine. and it makes so much sense, it’s insane. so i absolutely have to pass it further. look look look:

insane. i know taylor said something else about the love triangle, but this absolutely makes sense too. also, i found this playlist on spotify, where are both folklore and evermore in a specific order, and that order makes such sense as well, it’s amazing.

4am now. i’m dead already. i’m so tired but can’t sleep, i hate this.

day before yesterday i saw my friend i have a huge crush on, and lemme tell you, i’m so deep in friendzone, he didn’t even need to say it. i actually don’t know shit. i have such huge mixed signals from him, i just wanna die. we were on a beer okay, didn’t see each other for a few months and it was a spontaneous rendezvous among friends. and he paid for me. you don’t do that on friends rendezvous dude- but like he did it so casually, jesus christ. also when we were saying goodbye, we hugged, which we normaly don’t do, cuz we have this weird history and thus we’re too awkward with each other in those stuff. see? mixed signals! and i’m not even talking about how much i enjoy talking to him. anyway. i freaked out about this to my friend after. then i calmed down and came to the conclusion, that he’s litterally just a guy and went on with my day.

hmmm. i made me four new playlists.

oh and i bought these georgeous rings and star-earings from this one small business and i’m so excited, they are so cute! i have the rings already, earing are on the way, yaaayy.

i really should stop spending so much money. i’m doung that a lot lately.

also i’m going to austria in two weeks. can’t wait. i love it there. but i’ll probably die on some hill there because i lost all my sport abilities since i stopped competing. my lungs will betray me, that’s for sure.

and i’m booked for another two tattoos! can’t wait for that either. especially since the tattoo artist is my friend and i haven’t seen her in a while. will be nice to catch up again!

mhm. there’s so much and nothing happening at the same time these days. it’s kind of weird. but, well, it is what it is. could be better, could be worse. ew, anyway. i’m too tired for talking deep shit. there will be time for it some other day. so i’ll go try to fall asleep. because, yeah, i’m surely gonna die at work today. wish me luck, bye.

[goldensugarywaffles]

Oops I Summoned a Succubus!

Summary: The maknae line summoned a demon and now it’s everyone’s problem.

Warnings: Innuendos, discussions of sex, and Y/n and Taehyung being slight perverts?

Author’s Note: New series! Less edgy than my other one. Don’t really write smut so we’ll see how this goes. Practice makes perfect and I have now given myself an entire series to practice with T-T...inspired by @sunshinerainbowsbts​ because she is the one person who can make me cackle and leave me scandalized in the same fic. She made me laugh and now everyone has to suffer. Forgive me if the fic is bad I swear I tried...

Taehyung was bored and horny. An often-dangerous combination with horrible consequences. After the last incident, it took months before Jimin could look at cucumbers again without a chill going down his spine. Rolling off the couch with a groan, Taehyung set off on his search for some entertainment. While he would usually quell his arousal with help from one of his six boyfriends, he wasn’t in the mood today. With the group becoming increasingly popular by the day, the time for romance and sex was virtually nonexistent. Even when they had the chance to engage in such things, there was no spark. It was practically a chore to relieve stress. Sighing sadly, he wandered into the gaming room, hoping to drown his boredom with video games.

Walking into the room, he was met with a familiar sight. Jungkook was at his computer, grumbling out curses and aggressively smashing the buttons of his keyboard with no strategy. Across the room, Jimin sat watching the younger boy in mild amusement. “How many times has he failed this level?" Planting a kiss on Jimin's cheek, he flops down next to the dancer with a huff. Jimin merely chuckles in response, "I've lost count after fifteen. He's been here for hours, and I don't think he plans to leave anytime soon." Taehyung hums in acknowledgment, watching as Jungkook’s character dies and the screen fades to black flashing the words “Game Over” across the screen. With an angry shout, Jungkook tosses down his mouse. Grumpily making his way to his older lovers, he collapses on their laps without a single care in the world. Jimin fondly pats Jungkook’s butt while Taehyung runs a comforting hand through the younger idol’s hair.

“Guys, I’m bored. Let’s do something fun,” Taehyung whines. If anyone was going to entertain his antics, it would be Jimin and Jungkook. The three were often known for getting into all kinds of mischief. Lifting his head from Taehyung’s lap Jungkook gave the singer a curious look. "You aren't horny, too, are you?" Jimin shivers at the statement. He would never trust a bored and horny Taehyung ever again. Taehyung scoffs, “If you must know, yes, I am feeling a little worked up right now.” Jimin subtly shifts in his spot, preparing to make his escape. Taehyung cuts him off before he gets the chance, “However, I am mostly bored and do not feel like having sex right now.” Jimin instantly relaxes while Jungkook pouts, the youngest’s sex drive insatiable.

“Well, what do you want to do?” Jimin questions, not fully convinced about Taehyung’s innocent intentions but willing to play along anyway. Taehyung hums, "I want to do something mischievous but not necessarily harmful.” Jimin raises an eyebrow at the vague statement. “Like a prank?” Jungkook excitedly suggests. Jungkook was a master at pranks and knew exactly how to set everyone off. “Let’s prank Namjoon! He’s the least scary while angry and will probably only lecture us,” Jungkook gushes, “Oh! Or he’ll do that thing where he looks at us, sighs, and then walks away.” Taehyung nods in agreement. For now, Namjoon was the safest choice to prank, especially because he was in a good mood today when Taehyungs last saw him. “How should we prank him? He’s already clumsy,” Taehyung muses. “We could rearrange his books by size instead of the genre,” Jimin offers. Namjoon’s room was extremely organized, or he would often lose things. Namjoon was especially adamant that his books remain organized by genre and hated when people tampered with them.

Taehyung shrugs; while this wasn't the most exciting activity, he figures it could alleviate at least some of the boredom. Hopping off the couch, the boys make their way to Namjoon's room, knowing that all the others are out for the day. Yoongi was probably locked up in his genius lab, Hoseok was at the dance studio, and Seokjin had gone to the grocery store dragging Namjoon with him. “Okay, what are we waiting for?" Jungkook hops off the other two and rushes to Namjoon's room, far more excited than he should be. Grabbing the younger's hand, Jimin drags Taehyung along to the leader's office. By the time they arrive, Jungkook has already removed various books from the shelves leaving them scattered all over the floor. With a shrug, Jimin starts helping, picking up books and looking over them as if he is interested in what they have to say. Taehyung groans, this was one of the most boring pranks they had ever come up with, and he couldn't believe he agreed to it. Sitting on Namjoon's desk, Taehyung yelps when he sits on something. Looking at the offending object, he suddenly becomes intrigued.  

It wasn’t a book that Namjoon would typically read. It looked old and didn’t even have a title. There was an intricate design of red flowers all over the cover with gold embroidered around them. "Taehyung, why aren't you helping? You were the one who was bored,” Jungkook whines draping himself over the singer to get a look at whatever had caught his hyung’s attention. Giving up on his work Jimin makes his way over to the other two. “What are you two doing?" Taehyung traces his fingers over the book, a sudden chill going down his spine. For some reason, it felt ominous. Flipping the book open to the last page, he reads the passage aloud.

The Demon of Eros Summoning Spell:

From the blood of Eros and blessed by the hands of Aphrodite, a creature of passion and pleasure was born. A gift to mortals and mystical creatures alike, their one true purpose is to serve and provide in the most intimate ways. To fulfill your deepest desires and mend the wounds of the heart, summon the demon if you dare and follow the ritual exactly:

Obtain the flowers born from Eros’ demon:

Coriander for Lust, Roses for Love, Camellia for Desire, and Chrysanthemum for Death

Obtain the demon’s spices:

Cinnamon, Ginseng, Nutmeg, and Ginger.

Spread the ingredients in a large circle, and add three drops of blood from the summoners.

Chant the spell: I summon the sinful demon of lust, pleasure, love, and desire. To pull your soul from the pits of fire. Reveal yourself to the great cosmos; I call upon you, the demon of Eros!

The boys stood in confusion around the book. Why did Namjoon have a demon-summoning book? Ignoring the feeling of unease in his stomach, Taehyung speaks, "What if we summon it?” Jimin scoffs while Jungkook’s breath hitches. “You want to summon a demon?” Jungkook questions the older vocalist, trying to understand if he heard correctly. Taehyung nods, “It would be a great prank. We’ll wait until everyone gets home and then summon the demon!” Jimin raises an eyebrow at the younger man, “You do realize this won’t really summon a demon, right? Demons aren’t real, and this is probably just an old occult book Namjoon found." Taehyung nods in confidently, "All the more reason to do it. Demons aren't real, and no one will get hurt." Jungkook hesitates; while demons aren't real, he still feels uneasy with the whole idea. However, looking at the excitement on Taehyung and Jimin's faces, he relents.

“Alright, where do we get all this stuff?”

Yoongi was tired. He had been locked away in his studio all day long and probably wouldn’t have left if it wasn't for Hoseok. The two men shuffle towards their home, ready for a decent meal and a good night’s sleep. Hoseok leans into Yoongi, almost ready to pass out after an intense session of dancing. The younger rapper pushed himself far beyond his limits despite Yoongi's protests. Placing a gentle kiss on the dancer’s temple, Yoongi unlocks the door, ready for a peaceful night.

Unfortunately, peace is not a thing in the Bangtan household. As soon as he opens the door, his poor ears are assaulted with shouts and shrieks. Seokjin is red in the face speaking so fast that Yoongi can barely understand him. It would have been an almost sight if it wasn’t for the scene in front of him. There are flowers and some sort of powder scattered around his living room. Jimin is standing on a couch arguing with Jin as if the height gave him an advantage. Jungkook is holding Seokjin back from snatching Jimin up. Taehyung has some book in his hand, declaring no one can stop him. Sitting in the corner, Namjoon merely watches, clearly giving up on de-escalating the situation at hand. While Yoongi would ask what's happening, he doesn't have it in him to care. He drags Hoseok over to the couch, flopping down on it and forcing Jimin to move over. Closing his eyes he decides to wait until the commotion dies down before attempting to engage with anyone.

Suddenly Taehyung shouts, “I summon the sinful demon. Of lust, pleasure, love, and desire. To pull your soul from the pits of fire. Reveal yourself to the great cosmos; I call upon you, the demon of Eros!” The room immediately gets quiet. While Yoongi was not completely aware of what was happening, he managed to put two and two together. Taehyung was trying to summon a demon, Jimin and Jungkook were in on it, and he just chanted the spell. Looking around the room, everyone waits for something to happen. Even Hoseok, who had woken up out of his sleepy state after hearing the word demon and summon in the same sentence. After a solid minute, Jimin laughed, "I told you it wasn't real, Jin!”

As if on cue the power went out and suddenly shrouded in darkness. Hoseok immediately screamed and followed it up with a violent slew of curses. Seokjin immediately went into a tirade against Jimin while the latter defiantly claimed it was a coincidence. "Um, guys, look," Namjoon's voice echoed throughout the dark room, and everyone turned their attention to the mess on the floor. The flowers and spices were glowing a faint pink color. Soon they started shifting as if they were being pushed by a breeze, swirling up into a glowing tornado. The boys stood in horror as the tornado burst into a bright light.

“What the fuck is happening?”

“I told you not to summon the demon! Now look!”

“We’re all going to die!”

Suddenly everything stops. The wind no longer blows, and the light disappears. Even the power comes back on.

Rubbing at his eyes, Namjoon looks around to see the men doing the same. Namjoon attempts to compose himself before flinching at Hoseok’s signature scream. In the center of the room stood a girl. An alarmingly attractive girl. At first glance, she seemed normal, dressed in a hoodie and some joggers with white sneakers to match. She didn’t even glance at the seven men in the room, her attention captivated by the cell phone in her hand and the headphones signifying she couldn’t hear a thing. But looking closer, Namjoon saw a pair of dark horns protruding from her head and a striking set of sparkling eyes with flecks of red and pink. Looking up from her phone, her smile immediately dropped from her face, “Oh fuck.”

And for the third time that night, Hoseok screamed.

Jimin wasn’t exactly sure how demons worked. After all, he didn’t believe they were real until five minutes ago. But from what he gathered so far, you were not a normal demon. Almost immediately after being summoned, you had changed your appearance, your horns disappearing and your eyes a more natural color. You merely observed the idol band lose their shit and even allowed Seokjin to tie you to a chair and attempt to banish you with a twenty-four-karat gold necklace with a cross charm that he found in Jimin’s room. Namjoon had immediately fetched a notebook and began taking notes about every detail he could find, while Taehyung bombarded you with so many questions it made your head spin.

After a good thirty minutes, the men had seemed to calm down, and you decided now was a good time as any to introduce yourself. After all, while you usually enjoyed being tied up, there was nothing sexy about this situation. In a puff of bright pink smoke, you suddenly appeared on their couch, no longer restrained by the ropes Seokjin had taken the time to put you in. You held your hands out in a surrendering motion, hoping your usage of magic wouldn’t set off another freakout. “Everyone, let's calm down. I’m not going to hurt anyone. Well, unless you want me to, but that's a conversation for later. Sorry for the dramatic entrance. It's a typical thing we demons do so that mortals have no room to deny our existence. Just some basic stuff. Anyway, my name is Y/n, and I’m your personal demon.” The boys blink in shock at your clearly practiced and polite tone, fully expecting you to take their souls and suck their blood. A minute of silence passes before you decide to prompt the men, the awkward silence suffocating.

“So, may I ask who I am speaking to? Something I can call you other than daddy?” Jungkook choked at the thought, and you gave him an innocent smile. Seokjin, on the other hand, scoffs, far more concerned about your supposed lack of knowledge about who they are. “Wait. You don’t know who we are?” This causes all seven of the men to look at you incredulously. While they never considered themselves to be arrogant or narcissistic, they found it virtually impossible that'd even a demon wouldn't know who they were. Rolling your eyes, you figure that they are no longer freaked out if they have the time to worry about their popularity, “Yes, I am aware of who you are. I was simply being polite. But shouldn’t we be focusing on the more serious topic at hand?”

Tilting his head Hoseok regards you wearily, “What serious aspects?” He was concerned that this was the moment you’d reveal your bloody fangs and kill them all. However, he was relieved when all you did was give a half-hearted shrug. “It is extremely clear to me that no one in this house summoned me intentionally. Luckily for you unlike most demons I have a passionate hatred for killing mortals so there will be no repercussions for reckless summoning.” Yoongi quirks a brow at the statement, “I thought you said you were our personal demon? Are you saying we could have summoned someone else? Maybe someone less chatty?”

Ignoring the cat-like man's jab, you decide to give the men the general rundown of summoning Eros’ demon. “Yes, I am your personal demon. Think of it as a matchmaking system. Every person has a specific type and specific needs, and I fit all seven of yours. If anyone else outside of you seven had cast the spell, a different demon would have appeared." Yoongi nodded, seemingly satisfied with your answer, but Seokjin, however, was not. After furiously flipping through the pages of the book that summoned you (hoping he could find a way to send you back), he was scandalized to learn just what type of demon you were. Pointing at the maknae line accusingly he shouted, “You three idiots summoned a sex demon! Did you even read the book?”

“Woah, not to ruin the already awkward mood, but sex demon comes off as kind of derogatory, and I'm not into degradation. I’d prefer if you’d use the more politically correct term succubus.” Seokjin flushes, mumbling out a quick apology, caught off guard by your constant sexual references. Hoseok would have almost found it funny if he wasn’t still scared out of his mind at the fact that there was a demon in their living room. In fact, he found it disturbing that everyone else was seemingly okay with the concept.

However, Taehyung still had one very important question, “Where does the sex part come in?” In an instant, the serious tone of the conversation was broken. Jimin immediately slaps his palm to his forehead, Namjoon chokes, Seokjin sputters, Jungkook and Hoseok blush a furious bright red, and Yoongi nods in genuine agreement wondering how you are going to explain that. Surprisingly, you weren’t fazed by the question at all.

“I mean we could go at it now if you wanted.”

Taehyung’s eyebrows immediately shoot up at your bold statement, and you swear he's considering it. However, Namjoon clears his throat gesturing for you to go on and give a more serious explanation. With a sigh, you tap on the book in Seokjin’s hand, “Since you guys clearly have something against reading, I'll give you a basic breakdown. I’m basically a kinky therapist. I bring the spark back into your sex lives and help you explore your kinks while also helping you strengthen your relationship. I’m your personal demon so I already know your kinks now that you've summoned me. So really, my only goal is to get you to embrace them.”

Hoseok nods slowly, though he is still quite cautious. “What exactly do you get out of this? Are you going to take our souls?” Making finger guns at the dancer, you continue, “You know how vampires need blood to survive? Think of me as an energy vampire. While most just drain energy from their prey, leaving them feeling tired and exhausted, succubae choose to feed on sexual energy. It's enjoyable, consensual, and doesn't hurt the person they're feeding from, unlike most other energy ways of energy feeding.”

Every so subtly, Taehyung chimes in, "So how much sex do we need to have? Is this like an everyday thing?” Seokjin slaps the younger man on the back of the head, chastising him for speaking without tact. You only shrug as if he asked about the weather, “I can survive without it for long periods of time. It’s kind of like getting a craving for certain food and just ignoring it. Nothing you need to be worried about.”

Not knowing what else to say, the room gets quiet. It was a lot to take in in one night. Though after some consideration, none of them were necessarily against the idea of having sex with you. You were extremely attractive and seemed genuinely friendly. Fooling around with a succubus with no strings attached even seemed appealing. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?

“I’ll bet a hundred bucks that Jimin has a mommy kink.”

“Taehyung what the hell?!”

“Make it two hundred and I’ll tell you if you’re right.”

“Y/n!”

“Deal.”

“Guys seriously?!”

[misschimotosuwa-blog]

Study Date Confession

Genre: fluff

Characters: Iruma-kun, Reader (fem), Opera, Sullivan, Alli (Gluttonous Feeder Ring)

T/W: none

A/N: wow, fanfic writing is fun, I see why y'all do it. I wrote this for some comfy feelings tonight, and it worked ☺️💕🥺 hope someone out there besides me enjoys this haha

Still the same Iruma I fell for ❤️

You’ve had a crush on Iruma for about 3 months now

No, not because he has been “standing out” or because he is the Grandson of the famous demon Sullivan — but because he’s shown and taught you things you’ve never known or realized before in the Netherworld

You’ve started studying together quite frequently — but you desire more — yet you’re still too shy to do anything about it

Today will be another study date with Iruma — this time, at his house

You finished up with class, then met up with him outside of The Royal One.

You then proceeded to WALK to his house??  You wonder why you would not fly?  Does he want more time alone with you?? 

You blush hard as you continue the walk to his house.

You finally arrive

Wow his house is huge

You begin to show a concerned look on your face

Iruma notices, and reaches out his hand to you

“It’s alright (Y/N)” Iruma smiled and stretched out his hand to you.  Ba-dump.  Your heart began to race as you took his hand, and squeezed it tight as you continued through the gates of the Sullivan mansion. 

An androgynous looking demon with cat ears and red hair opened the door for you.  “Welcome home Iruma — and a welcome to you miss (Y/N)”. “Thanks Opera” Iruma gestured you through first, and Opera whispered something into Iruma’s ear that made him turn bright red as he rushed in right after you.  

“Welcome home my darling Iruma!!” a tall elderly demon rushed to hug Iruma and spun him around.  He set Iruma down “my goodness me, is this (Y/N), the demoness you’ve been spending all of your precious time with??  Ooooh how beautiful!  Isn’t my Grandson just the GREATEST?!” “Grandpa!!!!” Opera grabbed Sullivan by the collar “we’ll be heading out for errands now”.  “Awww but I wanna see this momentous occasion in my Grandson’s liiiiife…. Bye bye my sweet Iruma…..” The front door closed.

“Well, should we get to studying?” Iruma smiled awkwardly as your heart began to race even faster and harder. (We’re all alone now, oh my gosh oh my gosh… ok.. be cool… just be cool).  “Yes, yes.. let’s do just that!” You stammered.  

You and Iruma headed to his room

Geez it was enormous!

His bed was so luxurious and you were so tempted to jump right in

Iruma sat on his bed and opened his text book “so what should we study first?” He smiled at you.  But today, you just couldn’t pay attention.  Your heart just wouldn’t calm down.  I mean, you’re in the boy you like’s room!!  “I-I.. I need to use the restroom…” (what am I saying?!) You headed out the door to search for the restroom.  

Meanwhile Iruma’s POV

Iruma flopped over onto his bed “…I wonder what’s up with (Y/N)… she’s been silent all day… did I upset her?”.  Alli popped out of the glutoness feeder ring “my, I wonder?”  “Huhh???” “It’s obvious, my dear little Iru.” “Wh..what’s obvious.” “You really don’t get it do you?” Alli face-palmed “the poor girl is in love.” “In Love?  With who?”  Alli sighed “with YOU!”.  “Huh?!  With me?!?!  There’s no way.”  “You really are clueless.  Well, what’re you gonna do about it, small fry?”  “Me?  I.. I don’t know… I’ve never had a girl be in love with me before.. I’ve never even been on a date.. I was always too busy working back in the human realm.  I’m not even sure I’ve ever had a crush on a girl — there just wasn’t any time.  Well, what do you think I should do, Alli?”  “Well, that depends on you.  Do you fancy her too, hmm?”  Iruma put his hand on his chin and began to think.  He began to picture all of the times he’s spent with you, all of the laughs, smiles — everything.  And for some reason… began to smile… a whole-hearted genuine smile that radiated from his entire being.  You could almost see beams of light surrounding him.  “Well, I’ve never really experienced any romantic feelings before.. but I do know that (Y/N) is very special to me… maybe I’ll try and see how I feel when she gets back.”  

The door creaked open

“H-hey Iruma-kun, sorry I took a bit” you smiled very awkwardly and hesitantly sat down beside Iruma.  Ba-dump!  Just after you had left to get your heart rate in check, it sky rocketed almost immediately being in such close proximity to such a beautiful angel.  “It’s alright (Y/N) no worries!”  Iruma smiled his usual cheerful smile.  “Shall we continue our studies?”  You nodded as you admired his big beautiful eyes and adorable smile.  Iruma began reading the textbook passage, but no matter how hard you tried, you just couldn’t focus on anything other than his soft and soothing voice.  “(Y/N)……(Y/N)…… (Y/N)?”  You finally snapped out of it.  “Y-yes, Iruma-kun?”  He closed his text book.  “We don’t have to study tonight, I think we’re pretty much caught- up on the curriculum by how often we’ve been studying recently.  May I ask what’s bothering you?  I’d really hate it if I hurt or offended you in any way.”  You shook your head and hands frantically “No, no! You’ve got it all wrong!”  “I have?  Well, that’s a relief”. Iruma reached out and put his right hand gently on your head and gazed at you in a sweet and heartfelt manner “mind telling me what’s really going on?  I’d like to help if I can.”  Out of instinct you took his hand that was on your head and placed it against your cheek.  “I-I….. I love you Iruma-kun!  I can’t keep that from you any longer!”  Your eyes widened, and you immediately curled into a shy ball hiding from whatever happens next. 

You were now surrounded in your own thoughts, insecurities, and darkness.  (What will Iruma say?  What will he do?  Is our friendship now over??). 

Light peeked in through your pit of self-doubt and darkness.  Iruma swooped you up into a princess carry and nuzzled your face.  “I guess I didn’t realize until now… but, (Y/N), I love you too”.  Iruma stared at you with such an honest and earnest gaze, even though you’ve been burned by many demon boys before.. this time… it truly seemed different.  “Oh, Iruma…” you smiled back so tenderly.  You two connected foreheads and gazed at the beautiful Netherworld moonlight beaming through his balcony window.  You ran your fingers through his soft, feathery blue hair.  “Oh how I love you Iruma… can I ever say it enough?”  Iruma’s knees buckled and his face turned red… the two of you toppled over.  You giggled profusely and pet his head “still the same Iruma I fell for”.  You smiled at each other, and you proceeded to hug while still toppled over.  You laid atop Iruma as he gently pet your head, and the two of you drifted into a soft and blissful sleep.

A highschool study date turned into a sleepover... Huh. I wonder how Sullivan and Opera reacted?