#take a paid day off while the restaurant gets fixed up

[guilty-pleasures21]

The bodyguard

Sorry this took a while ... 😅

Bodyguard!Jason x Actress!Reader

Part 1

Part 2

Warning: intimate touching.

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     “Jason!” she yelled as she sank onto the sofa with her tub of ice cream. “It’s on! Quick!”

     He sighed as he walked over to the sofa and took a seat at the opposite end to her. “You know, you don’t pay me enough to watch this.”

     X shot him an exasperated look. “Then start paying me rent.” 

     She’d hired him as her bodyguard about three months ago and she liked to think that they’d at least become friends in that time - hanging out at secluded restaurants in the middle of the day, watching trashy reality shows after dinner, sneaking off to the supermarket at midnight, when no one would see her. She hadn’t known anyone in Gotham when she’d arrived - she’d only gone there to shoot some scenes for her latest movie, after all - and it was nice to have made a friend along the way. She shuffled closer to him, searching his person for a spoon as she held the tub of ice cream out to him, then she sighed when she saw that he hadn’t brought one. She handed him the tub with an exasperated look, then got up to go get an extra spoon.

     He lowered his head as he accepted the tub, trying to hide his smile. He hadn’t planned on this being a full-time gig when he’d applied for the job. Tim had suggested it to him when they’d been playing video games one night and though he’d scoffed at the idea at first, he’d slowly become convinced by it: being the temporary bodyguard of the quickly rising starlet while they filmed in the area. It seemed easy enough - a perfect fit, actually, considering all his martial arts and weapons training. And it paid pretty well too. Plus, she’d started letting him stay over at her apartment once she’d gotten more comfortable around him and he had to admit that he didn’t hate her place. He glanced up at her as he accepted the spoon she’d returned with, trying hard to not let his eyes flicker to her chest, but she just sat back down beside him, oblivious to his near lapse in self control. He’d expected her to be beautiful, of course - you didn’t become the heroine of a movie without having some sort of physical charisma that drew people to the screen. But what he hadn’t expected was how down-to-Earth she’d be: kind and welcoming and always ready for a laugh. That was the part that was starting to wear on him. He slid his gaze over to her as she scooped up a bite of ice cream, her features illuminated by the soft glow of the television. She snickered at something someone had said and he smiled softly before letting go of his thoughts and settling in to watch the show with her.

     “Cut!” X held in a frustrated groan as the director yelled for them to stop - again. They'd been working on the same stupid scene for the last hour and she still couldn't get it right! Either her moans were too loud or she was wriggling around too vigorously or her expression wasn't ‘lustful enough’. How the hell was she supposed to know how to fix that last one?! She stayed on the bed for a moment long, delaying the inevitable scolding she was about to receive. Finally, she sucked in a deep breath and sat up.

     The director pinched the bridge of his nose and took a moment to consider his next words.

     “Let's take a break,” he sighed finally. “I need a drink.” He stalked off the set before anyone could approach him, grumbling quietly under his breath. X's co-star turned to her in amusement and held a hand out to help her off the bed. 

     “Thanks,” X said as she accepted Sam's help. But she was careful to avoid his gaze as she covered herself back up with her robes: he'd acted in scenes like this a hundred times already, having been in the industry long before she had, and here she was making his job unnecessarily more difficult.

     Sam shuffled awkwardly in position, trying to figure out how to comfort her. It was pretty obvious that it was her first time doing a sex scene, but she was so sweet and so hardworking and he didn't think she deserved the constant scolding she'd been receiving from the director. 

     “Don't take it to heart. You're doing great!” He patted her reassuringly on the shoulder, but she kept her head lowered as her cheeks warmed with embarrassment.

     “Right,” she mumbled, unconvinced by his kind words, before retreating to her dressing room.

     Jason followed after her, concerned by her dip in mood. The director hadn't said anything that didn't seem true, but he still felt like punching the guy in the face for making her feel so bad about herself. He locked the door behind him after entering the room, wanting to give her a little privacy, then he joined her where she was standing by her dresser. X remained hunched over the table in silence and Jason rubbed his jaw while he waited for her to speak, suddenly noticing how hard he'd been clenching it whilst she'd been working on that scene with her co-star. Was it really necessary to include a sex scene anyway? It didn't do anything to further the plot. And this was a soon-to-be Hollywood blockbuster hit, not some undistinguished piece of pornography buried deep in the archives of the internet! He unclenched his jaw - again - and inhaled slowly before clearing his throat. “X?”

     She sighed and slumped over her dresser table, defeated. How was she ever going to get her big break if she couldn't even act like she was in love with someone?! Well, ‘love’ was probably the wrong word - she was fine at acting in love. It was the ‘lust’ part that she was struggling with.

     “I just … I just …” She covered her face with her hands as she turned to face him, her entire body heating up with shame. “Ugh! This is going to sound so embarrassing!”

     Jason raised an eyebrow as he folded his arms across his chest, but he waited patiently for her to continue. X sucked in a few breaths, gathering her courage. Then finally, “I’ve never … I’ve never done it … before …”

     He furrowed his brows, confused by her vague revelation. X looked up when he hadn't responded, wincing in anticipation of the look on his face. But he just looked … confused. 

     “Done what?” Jason asked when she didn't elaborate. X's eyes widened, surprised that he didn't get it.

     “You know …” she insisted, her voice growing softer and softer with each word. “Had … sex …”

     And now it was his turn to have his eyes widen in surprise.

     “Oh! Okay …” He took a moment to consider her confession … but it didn’t make any sense: she was so hot! So pretty and so sweet. How the hell had no one ever tried it on her before? “Why?”

     “Why?” X repeated, her tone incredulous. “What do you mean ‘why’?”

     Jason shrugged, then gestured to her general being. “I mean … you’ve either got to be really picky or just … have crap taste in men.”

     “What?” X narrowed her eyes at him, puzzled by the statement. Jason waved away her concerns.

     “Never mind. It’s not important.” 

     An uncomfortable silence soon settled around them as they both tried to figure out what to say. Then X decided to break the tension. “Have you … done it before?” 

     Her heart thudded with nervous anticipation as she waited for his response. She wasn’t sure why, but she was terrified to hear his response: to imagine him with some other woman when … when she’d never been with anyone before. But what did it matter to her? It wasn’t like they were … dating or anything. The thought didn’t stop her insides from twisting with unease though.

     Jason pursed his lips in thought. Had he ever been with anyone before? Given himself over to someone like that? Been so intimate with them, allowing them to see all his scars and his pain and his vulnerabilities? Of course not! No way in hell! “No.”

     Now it was her turn to be surprised - even as a wave of relief washed over her at his admission. A wave of relief she didn’t want to acknowledge given that he’d never indicated any interest in her whatsoever. Not as anything more than a friend anyway. “Why?’

     Jason shifted in position, starting to get uncomfortable himself. 

     “Because of the coma?” he reminded her. That was the lie he’d told her: that he’d gotten into an accident a few years ago and then spent the subsequent time training himself back to peak physical health. She'd wanted to learn more about it, but he'd said that he still wasn't comfortable delving into all the details, so she'd left it alone. She was so compassionate like that.

     Her features light up with realisation. “Oh! Right! Okay. Cool.” 

     She nodded to herself as a spurt of delight rushed through her at his confession and Jason raised an eyebrow at the smile he noticed she was trying to hide from him. He studied her for a moment, her features pinched with nerves, then an idea sprung to his mind about how he might be able to help her. He ran over to switch off the lights, plunging them into darkness without any explanation.

     “Jason!” X hissed, lowering her tone to what seemed appropriate for their new situation. “What are you doing?”

     He took a moment to let his eyes adjust to the sudden lack of light. Then he began making his way back to her. He pressed her back against her dresser, placing one hand on either side of her. Then, before he could regret his decision, “use me.”

     Her heart thudded in her chest at his suggestion. He couldn’t really be offering what she thought he was offering. Could he? “W-What?”

     “Use me,” he repeated, gesturing to his body before he could lose his nerve. “Use my body. Get to know what it feels like. I won’t … I won’t kiss you. Or touch you! If you don’t want me to. Just imagine I’m someone you really like and just … just get to know what it feels like.”

     His voice grew soft as he imagined what it would feel like; having her soft body pressed against his, her expression dazed with lust, her sweet voice moaning his name desperately. He leaned over her, focusing on his breathing to try to slow his rapid heartbeat, and waited.

     She raised her hands and carefully placed them on his shoulders. Was that why he’d switched off the lights? Because he hadn’t wanted her to see his face? Because he didn’t know that the only person she really liked … was him? She turned her face to the side, trying not to inhale the clean, masculine scent of him that made her stomach flip. “But … why?” 

     He could see her gaze flicker up to his now that his eyes had properly adjusted to the dark and shit, she was cute. With her round eyes and her curly lashes and her rosy lips that quivered with nerves. F*ck. He was regretting his decision already. “Because you’re too good of an actress to let something … stupid like this hold you back.”

     He really thought she was a good actress? X smiled with delight at the praise, not realising that he could see the way her lips twisted at the ends. “Okay …”

     She inhaled deeply, slowing down all her internal processes, then she fixed her gaze on his lips. He’d said that he wouldn’t kiss her, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t admire how soft his lips looked; imagine how they would feel against hers. She slid her hands down his chest and her stomach somersaulted when she felt his abdominals clench at the same time that he let out a soft gasp. Holy shit, he was hot.

     Shit, shit shit! What the hell had he been thinking? Offering himself up to her like that?! He liked her - he really liked her - and he’d become comfortable enough with her to want to know what it would feel like, having her hands glide across his bare skin, her lips caressing his scars, her body pressed up against his as they explored one another with equal caution. X traced the outlines of his abs through his shirt and another gasp escaped his lips as her fingers hovered dangerously close to his suddenly aching centre. She curled her fingers around the waistband of his jeans, biting her lip as she thought about what she’d like to do next, then she wrapped her arms around his waist.

     “Sh-Shit …” Jason breathed. He gripped onto the edge of her dresser as she snuck her fingers beneath the hem of his shirt and glided them up his back. God, it felt good being touched.

     Wow. She could feel the muscles in his back rippling as she trailed her fingers along them. She'd always admired the way they'd flex whenever he was teaching her self-defence or when they were working out together and she couldn't believe the day had finally come when she could get to feel them herself! She leaned forward, tugging him closer to her at the same time, and her lips landed on the collar of his shirt. She curled her fingers against his back, frustrated by the interruption, then she slid her hands back down to his waist. “Jason … Can I take it off?”

     He sucked in a breath at her hoarse whisper. She’d said his name - she’d used his name even though he’d told her she could imagine him as anyone she’d ever wanted. This was getting dangerous now - it was getting real. He nodded slowly, then realised that she couldn't see him very well in the dark. So instead, he bent over to murmur in her ear. “Okay.”

     Her stomach fizzed at the slight nerves she could hear clouding the gravelly tone of his voice. He sounded so cute when he was nervous! Was he as nervous as her though? And for the same reason? Could he really like her like she liked him? She slid her hands up his torso to take his shirt off and her chest tingled as her fingers brush over the curved planes of his body. He laid his hands back on the dresser once she was done and she took her time trailing her fingers across the defined lines of his abs.

     His stomach tightened at her featherlight touch and he gritted his teeth against the feeling. He closed his eyes as she pressed her lips to his collarbone, not wanting to think about the fact that it was her who was kissing him, touching him so intimately, so gently. But then she ran her hands up his back and moaned softly against his chest and his brain went numb for a second at the sound of her pleasure - at the feeling of her luscious body pressed so tightly against his. F*ck, she felt good. 

     She whined as he started moving his body against hers, his stiff cock pressing against her throbbing hole. God, she needed him - she needed him so bad! With his soft voice and his beautiful eyes and that one smile he only ever reserved just for her. She moved her hands to the back of his neck and let out a choked gasp when he rolled his hips against hers. “J-Jason …”

     “F*ck,” he muttered under his breath. He picked her up like she weighed nothing at all and set her down on her dresser so she could wrap her legs around him. X untied her robe and sighed with relief at the feeling of his bare skin sliding against hers. She closed her lips around the soft skin at the crook of his neck and dragged her fingers down to his shoulders as she sucked on him carefully. Jason let out another soft curse and X giggled against his neck before licking and sucking her way up to his ear.

     God, she could feel herself getting so wet between the legs as he rubbed himself against her front. X wriggled her body even more vigorously as her desire for him crescendoed, trying to slide her underwear off so there were less layers separating them. “Jason! Jason!”

     A gravelly moan rumbled out of his chest as she slid her fingers into his hair and began teasing his earlobe with her tongue. In response, he lowered his head to her shoulder and grabbed her ass in one of his hands, squeezing her tighter against him and causing a soft squeak to escape from her lips.

     “Shhhhit.” He pulled back to look at her and his gaze immediately fell to her lips, parted with desperation as she rolled her hips against his. He bent over to press his mouth to hers, unable to take it anymore … Then someone knocked on the door and they both came crashing back down to reality.

     “Miss X?” one of the PA'S called through the door. “Are you ready to start shooting again?”

     She looked up at Jason with an expression of both horror and embarrassment. Then they both scrambled to tidy themselves up. She avoided looking at him as she raced over to the door, but she hesitated before unlocking it. 

     “ThanksJasonIreallyappreciateit!” She yelled the words all in one breath then ran out the door and back to the set.

     He stayed in the dressing room for a little longer, trying to process what had just happened. His body still burned in all the places that she’d touched him - all the places that she’d run her hands over - but she’d just been practising right? He started making his way back to the set as well, but he couldn't shake the little voice in his head that kept pointing out to him how she’d said his name.

     Sam’s chest heaved with shallow breaths as he looked down at X in shock. Shit! How had she gotten better so quickly?! He could still feel the adrenaline buzzing through his veins from the way she’d trailed her lips along his neck as she’d run her hands all over his body. F*ck.

     She furrowed her brows, confused by Sam's reaction. She glanced around at the other staff, bracing herself for another barrage of criticism … but they were all staring at her with the same expression. She turned back to Sam in question and he shook his head slightly before shooting her a grin.

     “Cut!” the director finally exclaimed, pulling everyone out of their reveries. Sam stood up and offered a hand to X, helping her get off the bed.

     “Was I … really that bad?” X asked, cringing as she let him pull her to her feet. Sam smiled. She was pretty cute when she was curling into herself shyly like that. And funny too. He hoped they’d continue to be friends even after filming had ended.

     “No!” he replied quickly, rubbing her back reassuringly. “You did great! You’ve got to tell me your secret: how did you manage to improve so quickly?!”

     X grinned at the praise, then her stomach dropped as she considered the answer to the question. It took everything in her to stop herself from looking over at Jason, standing at the edge of the set like he always did. He was always there when she needed him. Even for things that were definitely not in his job scope. 

     “Thanks,” she told Sam, letting her hair fall over her face to hide her blush. But eventually, she turned to glance at Jason, unable to resist the urge. Her heart sped up in excitement when she saw him already looking at her, his moss green eyes dark with lust. A shiver ran down her spine and she wrapped her robe tighter around herself as she pulled her gaze away from his. “But … Do you mind if I go change first?” 

     “Oh! Yeah! Right!” Sam tapped his head like he was silly for not having thought about it himself. “Of course. You want to grab some coffee after? Jason can come too.” He gave her bodyguard a friendly wave and Jason responded with a nod of greeting.

     She gulped at the mention of his name. But wait, this was a good thing! If Sam was there, then she wouldn’t have to be alone with Jason so quickly!

     “Oh! Yeah! I’ll ask him!” X shuffled over to him and fidgeted with her fingers awkwardly as she stopped just in front of him. “Um, Sam was asking if you wanted to get coffee?” She flicked her eyes up to his and bit her lip as she waited for his response.

     God, she had the most beautiful eyes: big and dark and framed by thick, curling lashes. His eyes fell to her lips and he swallowed hard as he remembered how soft they’d felt against his skin. “Uh, yeah. Sure.”

     He dragged his gaze away from her and clasped his hands behind his back, reminding himself again how she’d called his name as she’d run her hands all over his bare skin. 

     “Great! I’m just gonna go get changed.” She scurried off to her dressing room and some of the tension eased from his body. Shit. How the hell had he f*cked things up so badly?! Argh! He was such an idiot!

[offbranddrpepsi]

Hi. Can I request yandere headcanons for Chamber from Valorant?

Absolutely!

Yandere Chamber Headcanons

Chamber is already known to be incredibly resourceful as well as has the financial power to compensate for what he isn't able to obtain with his own efforts. This becomes his main tactic to keep tabs on you once hes taken interest. Though he heavily skirts the line of stalking he never does, he is still a gentleman after all and lets you have privacy, there are some things he would rather have you give him than him take. He knows your schedule and routine perfectly. He knows your address, your parents address, what their professions are, what yours is/was (if you are in Valorant), were you like to get dinner when you want to spoil yourself, the names of your best friend and any information one could possibly find about them. Before you've even become good friends he knows your likes and dislikes better than nearly everyone you know and uses this to hook you.

Now, Chamber also knows he is attractive so in his mind he realistically doesn't have to put a lot of work into getting you. Even still he starts his pursuit by gifting you your favorite flowers, saying he over heard you talking to Sage when you ask how he knew. Then he is asking you on a date to a higher end version of your favorite restaurant, a knowing smile on his face as you rave about the food and how you can't wait to go again. Finally he starts flirting with only you, others make note of it and do his work for him by teasing you over it.

Of course his flirtations aren't where all his efforts lie. If he knows of anyone you have interest in then he pays them handsomely to avoid you and finds dirt on the ones who don't accept his bribes, causing them to avoid you or have their lives destroyed. Now he doesn't want to isolate you, he still lets your friends be your own though he does make efforts to win them to his side as well with elaborate group trips and gifts for every occasion. If someone causes you trouble they are paid off to quietly go away, if they don't then they simply vanish not to be heard from. He makes sure everyone that loves you loves him as well and removes anyone that would keep the two of you apart one way or the other.

He ensures you have the best day possible when ever he can and is always there when you dont. He listens to you vent and makes sure he is the only one to cheer you up, only sending you on little feel better trips with your friends so he can handle what ever darkened your day. You start having surprisingly good luck. He starts chatting you up more about your day to know if his efforts were enough. If they weren't he fixes that the only way an assassin knows how.

As he sinks his teeth into you he becomes possessive but subtly at first, he knows how quickly someone can pull away so he wants to let you get used to it. He buys you a pair of gold ear rings that match his own, encouraging you to show it off while telling you that you get gold because you deserve the best. Your clothes slowly start being replaced, though he is sure to keep the ones you look the most you in, by ones that match his own so you two always look like a pair in some way. Then he gets you a bracelet with his last name engraved on it, easily folding when you ask him to get one with yours so he can match as it marks his efforts coming to fruition. Its barely two months before you're moved in with him with a room of your own at his apartment though you spend most of your time in his until your room is now your office. He starts seeming to show up not long after you stray from his side, always having an arm around you or holding your hand, saying how he missed you and just so happened to find you. At times he is just silent while others he is just as part of the conversation as anyone else, no one notices just how present hes become in everything you do until its just normal for him to be there.

He uses all of his resources to make sure you absolutely never have a reason to leave him. He bares his heart to you, exposing his deepest emotions he hides from others, pulling you in as close as he can until its far too late to escape. You feel lucky, you're his only confidant, the one person he trusts more than himself, the person who owns his heart which he stresses is very hard to do. You're spoiled constantly and never have dark days. You want it he gets it, you don't want it then he makes sure you never have to see it again. He uses vulnerability like a trap, drawing you in until its too late for you to turn around and escape and then spoiling you so you dont realize just how far you've fallen.

You have a ring on your finger and a wedding date before you know it. You retire from what ever work you do, Valorant or not, at his insistence as he promises to take care of you just as he has been this whole time. Slowly most of your friends simply can't keep up which he consoles you over and eventually you meet his double, the only other man he would trust with you, and soon you too become close to his mirror. Having him becomes like having a body guard that can never stop telling you how beautiful you are and thats only multiplied now. Who needs friends when theres plenty of him to go around?

Eventually you're a caged bird but your cage is gilded with gold and adorned with the finest jewels. You have all your hobbies, you have your family, you have any friends that managed to stick around. Your every need it met and all you have to give is yourself to him. All you have to do is be his and only his. He doesn't make you serve him, you're too good for that. Instead you sit just in eye sight, being the you he oh so loves. When you're not in his sight you're in his doubles though you aren't ever sure which is which some days, they look at you the same after all and give you the same, and only, love that you've come to know.

[nanaxwii]

8 letters.... - Lee Jeno

Pairing: Jeno x reader

Synopsis: Why do all good stories come to an end? Why don't we try to make it work? It just takes 8 letters to fix it all, or does it...? Well in this case.......read more

Genre: Fluff, slight angst

Word count: 1.3k

Why do I pull you close and then ask you for space.....!?

3 years ago Jeno met this one girl, Y/n, the kindest soul he has ever met. They started off as colleagues but soon it escalated into an ever-so-beautiful relationship. She knows him the best, she's seen him in his worst times, seen him hurt but never judged him for anything. It was the scariest feeling for Jeno. His past never bothered her. It was scary, scary to the point that he'd distance himself from her. But it wasn't a problem for Y/n. She knows him better than anyone, even better than Jeno himself does.

Jeno's been trying to meet up with you to talk about how he feels about you and your relationship for quite some time now. But every time he thinks of talking to you, it scares him, maybe you'll leave him like the last one did. Finally, he mustered up enough courage to ask you to meet.

Jeno: Hey

Y/n: Hello!! what's up

Jeno: Can we meet?

Y/n: Suree :) lmk where

Jeno: dw about that I'll pick you up at around 7

Y/n: okie I'll be ready :D

Jeno's nervousness increased as the time approached 7. He left his apartment and drove up to Y/n's place to pick her up. She was already waiting at her door for him to arrive. Jeno was mesmerized when he saw her. She looks pretty, she always does, he thought.

Upon seeing Jeno, Y/n walked down the pavement and got into the car and greeted him.

"Heyy"

''Hi", Jeno responded with a faint smile. "You look pretty'', he said.

The small comment made your heart flutter. You muttered a small thank you. He started the engine of the car and drove it to your destination. The ride was silent, which in a way was comforting to you and probably to Jeno too.

'La Mercerie', the sign read. After about 15 minutes you reached the restaurant, the restaurant where you had your first date with him. Jeno had booked a table for yourselves. From your seat, you had a great view of the city, the city that never sleeps.

You placed your order and were waiting for it to arrive. In the meantime, both Jeno and you caught up on each other's days, about how your boss was giving both of you a hard time. While you were chatting, the food arrived.

You had noticed how Jeno was being awkward and avoiding eye contact with you. He seemed nervous, nervous as if he had something on his mind that was bothering him. It concerned you because you've never seen him like this. It was the complete opposite of his usual self.

"Jeno?", "Hmm?", "Are you okay?" It took a few seconds for him to reply, "Yes, why'd you ask?" You decided not to press on it. "Oh no, it's nothing," you replied. But what you didn't know was that he was indeed not okay.

After your meal, Jeno paid for it and you left the restaurant. On your way out Jeno asked, ''Hey, do you want to go to the park near the lake? There's a fireworks display by the lake". Jeno knew you loved watching fireworks, "Sure", you answered.

It was a 5-minute walk to the park. The lake was clearly visible from there. There were a few food stalls by the lake. Jeno ran up to one of those to get you an ice cream; cookies & cream, your favourite flavour. Both of you sat on a bench to enjoy the ice cream and the beautiful, calm night.

"The show is about to start, let's go," he said, taking your hand in his and walking towards the lake. The air was cold by the lake. The lake felt serene, adorned with the reflection of the beautiful skyline. It was very peaceful.

The fireworks display started soon after. They rocketed up into the sky, the burning light turning the dark night bright, or maybe even turning some clouded hearts clear.

"Isn't it pretty!", you whisper, "Very", Jeno answers while looking at you. He was mesmerized by how the sparkling fireworks shone in your already shiny eyes. It made you look even prettier, prettier than you already were.

"Y/n, I need to get something off my chest". The soft, cold breeze made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. You turned your attention to him. Those pretty eyes, staring into yours, it seemed like they had a lot to say.

"You know how we've been together for almost 3 years now. I want to thank you for sticking by my side in all my good and bad days. Thank you for not judging me for my past. Thank you for always helping me overcome my fears."

For some reason, his words made you feel jittery inside.

"My past relationship ended on a bad note, which made me unable to trust and depend on someone easily."

He was slightly shaking, maybe it was the wind or maybe the nervousness. You took his large hands in your petite ones and squeezed them in an attempt to calm him.

"Y/n, I'm really sorry for always pulling you close when I'm in need and then pushing you away. I'm sorry for not treating you like you should've been. I don't feel like I deserve you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry"

You pulled Jeno into a hug. You reassured him, saying, "You treat me so well Jeno, you too were there for me when I needed comfort, when I needed someone to hold on to, when I needed you. I understand that you need space sometimes, everyone does. You shouldn't think of yourself that way. It's normal for you to require time to trust someone after how your last relationship ended. I'm fine to be by your side when you need me and I'm fine with giving you space that you need.'' Jeno felt tears wet his flushed cheeks.

The fireworks show ended a long time ago, you didn't even notice, nor did Jeno. He wiped his tears off and took your hands in his. He pulled you closer, looked into your now moist eyes and said, " You know, when your hands are in mine, it's like I'm whole again. Maybe it's a sign for me to speak what's on my mind."

You looked into his eyes which seemed to have calmed down a little. "I've said those words before, but it always felt like a lie. It felt like I was lying to myself and also to you. You deserve to hear those words a thousand times. I don't know why but it was always so hard for me to say those words. It's just 8 letters but why is it so hard to say. I ask that to myself every night and fall asleep without finding an answer. But maybe today I found the answer.''

He stared into your curious eyes. "Y/n, maybe through this journey of me pulling and pushing you away, I might have found the answer to my question." You felt tears threatening to spill.

"I love you", he said, "And this time for real. I've realised how important you are to me. Thank you for always being with me, by my side." You pulled him into a hug, nuzzling into his neck and mumbling an I love you back.

Suddenly it started raining. Like always, it didn't bother you, and this time it didn't bother Jeno too. Both lost in your own world, in the warmth of each other's arms.

Maybe speaking your heart out, maybe saying those 8 letters sincerely does fix things, maybe it does make people stronger, maybe it does make the bonds last longer. Maybe the 8 letters do pull people closer.

-The end

note: thank you for reading. Idk how this turned out. I tried to write a fic for the first time. Lmk if there's a typo or such ;) and thank you @winwintea for helping me through \^o^/

[kieonu]

boyfie! yuta okkotsu x cosplayer! reader

gender-neutral reader

category: sfw, fluff(?), yuta's a very supportive bf !!

cw: none !!

boyfie! yuta who was surprised when you told him you're a cosplayer. he just came over to your place one day in the early stages of your relationship, unannounced, and had a question mark on his head when you opened the door in full cosplay

boyfie! yuta who admires and compliments you every time you cosplay. sparkles and hearts fill his eyes as he watches you parade around your place in cosplay. he wonders how he's gotten such an attractive s/o

boyfie! yuta who learns the rules of photography to assist you in taking your cosplay photos. he's willing to do whatever it takes to help you get the shots you like ! even if it does make him look silly in public (he's definitely feeling embarrassed), but it's worth it !! 

boyfie! yuta who works on creating small photoshoot sets for you. he works as if he's getting paid for quality work and not by the hour. wanna do a simple underwater shoot for just your upper body? he's got you. he's watched enough cosplay tip videos beforehand just for this. although this, there are some times where he physically cannot create an entire set for you, so he'll contribute to renting out a studio just for these shoots !! 

boyfie! yuta who gets jealous easily. after the first few times you've cosplayed a couple with another cosplayer, his heart couldn't handle it anymore. he then offered to cosplay couples with you !! he'll cosplay no matter the character and costume details (need me someone like this </3) 

boyfie! yuta who feels awkward posing as a couple in character whilst getting photos taken. he eventually warms up and gets used to taking photos, though he's still very shy

boyfie! yuta always attends conventions and cosplay events with you. he's there to hold whatever you purchase (he's your #1 gofer) and have whatever you need. water? of course he's got it. a piece of your costume keeps slipping? he's got tape for a quick fix !! a solo cosplayer wants to take a photo with you? he'll take the photo !! truly the best support boyfriend ever

boyfie! yuta who's eyes widen and feels a little sense of panic when someone asks him for a photo. his nerves calm and agrees when he sees you smile at him, encouraging him to take the photo. if they ask him for his socials (most likely to tag him in the photo once they post it later), he'll give them your social. he's gotta support his partner as much as he can, even if it means giving people a different person's social. close enough though, right? 

boyfie! yuta who would slip away while you're in the bathroom at the convention to buy something you were eyeing earlier. he then runs back to the bathroom just so you don't suspect him to have wandered off

"why are you breathing so heavily?" 

"it got a little hot here earlier as a large wave of people walked by. it seems to have calmed down though so no worries ("⌒▽⌒) ". totally not because he ran across the cramped artist alley, nooooo.. he would give you what he bought you when you guys get home and have a little haul for the day. he'd also be just as excited over the things you bought

boyfie! yuta who walks behind you to make sure no creeps try to take weird photos of you as they pass by. don't worry about him getting lost though, he's holding your hand :D. for a pretty shy guy, he likes to hold your hand in public to show that you already have a lover and anyone else can back off

boyfie! yuta who secretly takes photos of you while walking or when you're staring off somewhere after the convention. walking to a restaurant nearby? he's snapped a photo of you. your resting on the railing on a balcony? he took the perfect photo that he'll later set as his lockscreen

boyfie! yuta who loves his s/o so much and would do anything for them. he loves supporting you in anything you do !!

nsfw edition here

[yandere-fics]

♡ How They React To You Rejecting Their Proposal On Valentine's Day ♡

"I-I don't understand babe, is this because I asked on V-valentine's Day? I-I'm sorry! I can give you a better proposal!" Miriel was sure this would have been the most idyllic day for her to propose to you, lots of yanderes chose this day to propose and yet you seemed genuinely upset about her proposal. It couldn't have been that you were upset about her proposing in general, it must of been the way she proposed that bothered you then because you loved her so you obviously wanted to marry her, you must of just been upset she'd been so basic with her proposal.

"Miri, I don't want to marry you-" You knew better than to continue speaking with how she was hyperventilating and looking around the restaurant frantically trying to figure out every little thing that might have been less than perfect about her proposal. You hated seeing her like this but you had to put you foot down this one time, you didn't want to just be dragged along into a marriage with no prior discussion at all.

"No just tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it babe! I'm more than happy to redo my proposal, you aren't leaving me though! I-I'm sorry this wasn't what you wanted, just please babe, tell me how I can fix it!" Was it the ring? She paid more than any other elvish leader had paid for their wifes rings in the past but maybe it still wasn't enough, oh who was she kidding herself, of course it wasn't enough, she had briefly pondered also getting a necklace and bracelet set to go along with it but bringing those to the restaurant would have been bulky but maybe that was what you wanted. Aww her cute mate said no because they wanted a more traditional elvish proposal, you must be so upset with her, it's okay she would fix this!

"No Miriel, that's not it, I just, I don't want to marry you!" Her heart dropped, were you really not interested in the idea of marriage? She knew you loved her, you definitely loved her so the only other reason you must not want this is for some weird human objection to marriage, perhaps you thought her affection would change in some way after marriage, she'd need to prove to you that would never be the case.

"I feel like I'm suffocating when I'm not with you. Rest assured babe, I know I want to be bound to you forever and I know you want to be bound to me forever. I just want you to love me, forever." She reached over the table, slipping the ring on your finger gleeful that there wasn't anything wrong with her proposal after all while you wished you had protested just a bit harder.

"You're so cute, puppy, gosh I just want to keep you forever!" She picked you up and spun you around in a circle while you frantically tapped her shoulder for her to set you down because you were becoming dizzy.

"Oh right, I forgot, it's so cute that your human body is so fragile! Anyways we're almost where I wanted to take you! Can you guess what we're doing today?" Her tail wagged behind her and you prayed she hadn't dragged you out to a deserted part of the park just to show you how good she was at hunting. She'd mentioned wanting to do that with you several times before but you didn't think she would do such a thing on Valentine's Day, then again it did seem exactly up her alley so you would not be shocked in the slightest.

"For a date hopefully?" You chuckled, trying not to give away your anxiety as her ears perked up in alarm, smelling something in the area, oh god she's going to hunt something you were completely right and then you'd have to sit there petting her as she laid her head on your lap tired from the hunt and just wanting praise. Yet as she ran off you didn't hear an animal scream, instead it was very clearly a person begging for their life and you could hear her chowing down on them. She trotted back very quickly with a frown on her face and covered in blood.

"Well now that they're gone we can get back to what I wanted to do- Wait, why are you crying, puppy? W-who made you cry? I'll go rip their fucking throats out right now for making my puppy cry! Just you fucking watch." You hadn't even realized you had begun to cry, more focused on how she was darting her head around looking for who had made you feel sad in the brief moment she was gone, and paying attention to the ring box covered in blood she was fidgeting with in her hands.

"That fucking bastard ruined my proposal but there's no time like the present is there? Puppy, will you marry me?" Her tail wagged but as you shook your head and began to look at her in horror, her ears slowly began to droop, wondering where she had gone wrong, she had taken you to her favorite place, wasn't that what she was supposed to do? And then you bolted and her entire day was ruined, that stupid bastard coming into her proposal spot had caused her puppy to reject her proposal and run from her, she wished she could kill him again.

"Puppy! Don't run! Please, I'm all you need and you're all I need, it's perfect, just please come back!" No way in hell were you doing that when she was covered in some random dude's throat blood though it didn't seem like you had much of a choice with how fast she was closing in on you.

It was two days ago when you'd said no to her proposal, you had assumed Kassien would be fine waiting for you to be ready for marriage, she'd always been a very patient, at least for a demon, mate but well now here you were locked in her apartment and trying to starve yourself to death as she came by with food almost hourly demanding that you eat.

"Sweetness, I'm going to give you two choices, okay?" Her voice seemed calm through the door but you knew better at this point, there was rage constantly festering at the surface and she could blow up at you any second. "Either you start eating, willingly, or I ram in down your throat. There's no world in which I am allowing you to starve yourself sweetness so get that through your thick head."

"I hate you." You heard a light growl through the door before she let out a loud sigh trying and obviously failing to calm herself down. She had to be patient if she wanted you to and yet clearly you were not going to even at the threat of your own life.

"Why do you keep resisting me?! This isn't fair, don't we deserve to be happy?! If you would stop resisting then we could be so happy together. Until you eat I will not be eating a single thing, maybe if we starve together then you'll finally be a good little mate for me." You had said you hated Kassien but that really didn't mean you wanted her to starve which she knew very obviously when she made the threat.

"Please don't-" "Why do you care if I hurt myself all of a sudden, sweetness, you trampled all over my heart and you were going to fucking leave me. I'm going to make you care though sweetness, you'll see and then you'll regret not instantly agreeing to be my sweet little mate once I show you how good it could have been, you just have to eat first and we can be happy again."

You didn't really understand why Nikki even had bothered to take you out on a date today, she had just spent the entire night holding herself back from snapping people away and the other half gripping your hand because it annoyed her to no end having to sit across from you at the table even if it was human date etiquette. Plus there were two things she kept looking at in her bag, trying to decide when the right time to show them to you was. Probably never because you were sure she likely had something awful to show you.

"Mate, I brought you a gift for this day. Do you know what it is? It's alright, I wouldn't expect you to remember, it's the eyes of that person who kept staring at you yesterday." How... romantic? Well as romantic as this sadist could possibly get at the very least.

"Nikki, can you please not be so jealous today? Please it's Valentine's day, can't we have a nice night?" It wasn't going to happen when you were mated to a high ranking demon who could never take responsibility for her own poor behavior but at the very least you could dream, couldn't you?

"Do you actually believe I'm jealous mate? You haven't seen me jealous yet, I could show you what real jealousy would look like, if you wish." Yeah you were going to have to pass on that 'wonderful' offer. "It surprises me that you have no clue how far I am willing to go for you mate."

"What's in the other thing?" She had a small box in her hand, you weren't a moron, you understood what this meant, you just really hoped you were wrong and she had just bought you a nice piece of jewelry for Valentine's Day even though that didn't sound like her at all.

"Ah this, it's a human custom, a marriage proposal, us angels don't do it but I assumed you would appreciate it. Would you like to marry me?" You shook your head very aggressively and she hummed in thought furrowing her eyebrows. "It seems my coworker led me in the wrong direction, whatever the case it doesn't matter since even without this you are still mine."

Nora had a surprising ability to act like everything was normal even as she had you tied up she still fidgeting with the strings on your hoodie like you had just lent it to your cute fiance despite you rejecting her proposal, causing her to tie you up like a maniac.

"I know the restraints hurt, I'm sorry, I'll untie you as soon as I know you aren't going to run. You l-look so beautiful tied up like this though, it takes my breath away every time." Yeah you knew that because the freak tied you up every chance she got, including right now. It'd be weird if she didn't enjoy the way you looked tied up and was just tying you up for no reason at all.

She withered as you glared at her, trying not to make eye contact, things had gotten out of hand for her too quickly, she didn't mean to take you but well she was sure you would have said yes and when you didn't she got so worried that you were actually breaking up with her even though you weren't and well now you were here in her bed glaring at her as she tried not to cry while also feeling a sick satisfaction that you were trapped here.

"I-I'm sorry I took your hoodie by the way, I just saw it on the ground when I went to get your things and well it smells like you and I just couldn't help it." That seemed like the least of your problems when she literally moved your stuff into her apartment as you were tied up on her bed.

"Let me go."

"I can't, you know you're my reason for living, I can't." Yeah you knew that, she said you were her reason for living fifteen times a day, you just didn't know she was actually batshit before. "You can use me in any other way you want, you just have to stay with me."

You had to admit you were a little worried about your serial killer kidnapper, mainly because if anything happened to her you would be stuck in her apartment and likely rot away to nothing but it was still worry nonetheless. It was about midnight when she stumbled in to the apartment, much sooner than she had been returning recently which did not make you feel any better in the slightest cause this just meant she'd thought of some harebrained scheme to get you to finally agree to her proposal.

"Love, I had an i-idea while I was gone, I h-hope you l-like it!" She lifted her sweater revealing she had carved your name on the side of her stomach which was barely visible because of how intense the scabbing was at the moment. "L-look, I carved your n-name into my skin so everyone will know I'm y-yours!"

"Rudie, what the fuck?! Why would you do this to yourself?!" You rushed over to her trying to see if you could gauge how much blood she had lost, you would probably starve to death if she bled out from this, it did seem majorly scabbed up but it could reopen at practically any time which was very worrying to you.

"Maybe I should hurt myself l-like this more frequently, t-then you'll finally admit how much you l-love me!" She grinned as you examined her wound, god it was going to heal so poorly, you'd have to force her to go on bedrest just so she didn't rip it open again just walking around casually. You hated how she was acting like you were madly in love with her just because you didn't want her dead but if that's what it took to get her not to do anything worse then you'd play along so you simply hummed and nodded.

"You d-don't understand, if you just a-accept me now, I-I'll be your servant forever." She sniffled into your shoulder as you guided her into the kitchen, sitting her down so you can wrap her wounds.

"I know honey, first we have to wrap your wound though, m'kay?" She nodded, sweat and tears matting her hair against her forehead.

You knew what Sawyer was going to do tonight and you knew you were going to say no, sure she was going to make you marry her anyways but you wanted to know you had put up somewhat of a fight against her even if it was a weak fight that didn't last very long. You just hoped it would get your point across that you really did not want a part in this and you would never want one.

"You've been a very good girl these past few months, perhaps I should reward you. Would you enjoy that?" You sneered at her, sure you no longer kicked and screamed at her but that didn't mean you enjoyed your little arrangement any more than you had before. "Don't give me that look dearest, we're at a very nice restaurant, let's try to have a good night."

"So what's the reward?" You knew what it was but you wanted to drag it out for as long as you could, just to make her life as difficult as you possibly could at the very least. "Better be a good reward and not something stupid that's only a gift for yourself."

"You know, when other people look at you, it makes me feel like throwing up. Luckily I plan to put an end to that tonight, it's not as if you could have been with anyone else anyways but now I won't have to even think of you ever being with anyone else." She sighed as she saw you curl your lip at her engagement ring placing your hands off the table so she couldn't grab them.

"All you ever do is think about escaping, I see you daydreaming about it constantly, can you not simply enjoy the night with me dearest? Or do I have to put you in the isolation room when we return home and trust me, when you walk out you will be wearing this ring, dearest." You shook your head and she huffed. "I suppose you intend on being a brat tonight dearest, I was so hoping you wouldn't do this but I suppose here we are."

[changbinsboiledegg]

Hey :D

May I request headcanons with bf! Felix when is a kind of some home person if you get me. I mean really calm, introverted, have few friends, carrying and love to cook sweets ^^

Aw this is so cute! Thank you for the request and I'm sorry if it's too short or if they don't make sense :((( 🫶🫶

BF! Felix w/ GN! introverted S/O.

Warnings: None? It's just fluffy headcanons.

Note: I'm an introvert so if I said anything offensive here, I promise I didn't mean it in a bad way!!!! I also held back on any introvert jokes because I know all of us introverts are not the same LMAO anyways, I hope y'all enjoy and as always, ILY. Take care 🫶

♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎

➫ I see Felix as a calm person so catch him vibing with a calm and introverted S/O.

➫ “I’m hanging out with my friend today.”

➫ Cue the “You have friends?” joke. Felix never means them in a rude way though. I just see him as a playful person (and calm), so expect a ton of jokes. Whether you’re the type to joke back with him or not, you’re both still everybody’s relationship goal.

➫ “Imagine being an extrovert.” - “Imagine being an introvert.”

➫ No but if you’re a caring person and he’s a caring person… Who cares for who?

➫ Both.

➫ Felix is feeling homesick? You’re already available and there to cheer him up in any way, giving him things that remind him of home or letting him tell stories/ swapping stories.

➫ You’re feeling down and don’t want to go outside? Felix has you covered. Your place is like his second home and so he has a spare key. If you’re a ‘hug’ type person, he’ll definitely have his arms around you until you decide you don’t want to hug any longer. If you’re not a ‘touchy’ type of person, Felix is ready to just listen to anything you have to say and offers words of encouragement and orders takeout so you won’t have to cook while you’re feeling down.

➫ I can see him also cooking for you himself. Depends on what you’re craving.

➫ You’re a homebody so dates out and about are pretty rare and once every week or two. The majority of your time spent together consists of cuddles on the couch or bed or a blanket on the floor while watching Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, or breaking out the DVD player to watch a movie or TV show you both like.

➫ Let’s not forget baking. Sweets are a must. You and Felix swap recipes and dedicate entire days to make and try each others ‘recipe of the day’.

➫ One time Felix suggested a bake off and now you two have an annual monthly bake off. But he always let’s you win so you had to get other judges to determine this. Whoever has the highest number of wins is up to you.

➫ Felix would also order for you when out at restaurants, call certain places for you, fix an order that was wrong because he knows you want to avoid the social interactions that come with getting the thing you ordered.

➫ “It’s okay, I’m fine with this.”

➫ “You paid for it. I’m going to get it corrected.”

➫ “No, seriously—” - “Sweetheart, I’m going to fix it.”

➫ Felix is not a Karen by the way!!!! He asked politely!!!!

➫ He just loves you and doesn’t want you to settle for less. ♡

[btsficsandsuch]

Mentions of cheating below

Let’s Go Back Home

You were super excited to be spending time in your home city. It was everything you needed. You were especially excited because it was the first time you had brought your boyfriend Jimin with you. The two of you had been dating for a little over a year now. You had taken him to see your old high school, you drove past your childhood home, and introduced him to a bunch of your old friends. Now you and him were sat with a few of those friends at your favorite restaurant waiting for dinner to arrive.

You were listening to one of your friends talk about the new job she was working at when someone suddenly came walking up to your table, “Y/N is that you? You turned around and your heart skipped a little when you saw your ex boyfriend. You hadn’t spoken to him in over three years. Not after you ended things when you found out that he was cheating on you. This all being part of the reason you decided to take a job in South Korea, leaving shortly after you broke up. He still looked just like you remembered. He was tall being well over six feet and looked like he had gained even more muscle. You always thought he was your type until you met Jimin. Jimin was kind and gentle, he was there for you in your worst moments, and never once let you be insecure. He also had beautiful eyes that you could look into for days and soft lips that would kiss you all over, a smile that made you melt to this day.

It took a few moments for you to be pulled out of your day dream about how amazing Jimin was to realize your ex was still waiting for an answer. Not wanting to say much but also not wanting to cause a scene in the middle of dinner you simply gave him a smile while grabbing Jimin’s hand underneath the table. Your ex not taking the hint continued, “Where have you been? You like fell off the face of the earth.”

You couldn’t believe that he was acting like nothing had happened and that the last time you saw him he wasn’t naked on top of another woman, “I live in South Korea now. I took a job there. I’m just home visiting for a week with my boyfriend.” Your ex glared over to Jimin and Jimin reciprocated the action, you could feel the tension between the two of them beginning. Your ex was about to speak again when a woman came walking up to him and started pulling on his arm, “Baby come on. We have to leave now or we’ll miss the movie.” You instantly recognized her as the woman that you had walked in on while she was naked underneath your now ex boyfriend. “Well at least he didn’t break your heart for nothing”, you thought to yourself as he gave you a quick wave and walked off.

Thankful that he was gone you turned your attention to Jimin. You squeezed his hand and he gave you a slight smile, but you could tell something was off. After the bill was paid and goodbyes were said you and Jimin made your way back to the hotel, but you couldn’t help noticing his mood had significantly fallen since dinner.

“Babe did something happen during dinner or did I say something to upset you.” He thought for a moment then shook his head, “No Y/N I’m just tired. I’m gonna take a shower and get in bed.” Not wanting to push it, you quietly nodded and went to change into your pajamas. After sometime he joined you in bed and you waited for him to open his arms so you could cuddle together like you always did before falling asleep, but to your dismay he pulled the blanket over his shoulder and curled up facing away from you.

Now you knew for sure something was wrong, but you had no idea what. You thought the entire day had been great. After some time and noticing Jimin continuing to fidget as sleep was not coming to him you decided to speak up, “Hey, you know I don’t like playing games like this right. Did something happen today? I thought we were having such a good time. Please tell me if I did something wrong so I can try and fix it.” Jimin stayed silent for a while and you were beginning to struggle with trying to prevent yourself from getting angry. It wasn’t until you heard a few sniffles come from his side of the bed that all your anger instantly vanished. “Hey hey hey babe why are you crying?”, you said slowing pulling him to lay on your chest.

“Why are you with me Y/N?” Not sure where this was coming from you continued to rub comforting circles onto his back,” What do you mean why am I with you? I love you.”

Jimin took a few shaky breaths before looking up at you, “I am the exact opposite of your ex. He’s super tall and looks like lifting weights is his full time job. I overheard your friends talking about how they couldn’t believe the two of you broke up and how when you described your perfect man you always described him. They said that they didn’t think you’d stay in South Korea more than a few months before you’d want to go back home to him. I’m not good enough for you. I’ll never be like him.”

It was then you remembered that you never explained to anyone why the two of you had broken up. You just said it didn’t work and left it at that. You also felt terrible that Jimin was laying here crying thinking he wasn’t good enough for you.

You pull him up so you could look into his eyes, the same eyes you had been dreaming about earlier, “Babe you are more than good enough for me. You make me feel more loved than anyone ever has. You are just right for me and I don’t need anyone else. I don’t want you to be like him at all. I just want you to be you. Besides he was a jerk who cheated on me. I hope I never have to see him again.”

With some times the tension in the room started to lessen and you continued to dry his tears, the two of you started to relax. Jimin snuggled further into your chest, “I’m sorry for getting so upset Y/N. It’s just when I saw that guy I thought there was no way I could compete and I got scared. I don’t want to loose you and I want to be everything that I can for you. I love you Y/N.” You smiled and kissed the top of his head, “I know baby. I love you too. Let’s get some sleep. We have an early flight tomorrow. It’s time to go back to home where we belong.”

[genocidehim]

Ojos así (Tuco Salamanca x dealer!Reader)

Just two idiots thinking they can be drug dealers. Domingo isn't exactly a good role model, but money is convincing enough. If it weren't for your boss, everything would be fine.

notes: one-shot, use of pronouns she/her. words: 1118

In the last five years, your life has taken so many turns that what you're experiencing doesn't even feel real. Recently, you started university, but the money you have is not enough to maintain a decent standard of living, especially when your parents are living in a very difficult economic situation.

You had started working at Tampico Furniture a year ago and were lucky enough to become close friends with Domingo Molina and his father, the owner of the furniture store. Although the salary was decent, it did not fully cover the expenses of your life. You mentioned this to Domingo one afternoon while they were having lunch together, and he mentioned that his friend knew someone who knew another person who was offering a job that paid a lot of money, something you could verify when Domingo once showed you a large stack of bills while you were eating reheated nuggets with cold rice. You could hardly believe it at that moment. However, it was not a job that could be done easily, much less something that was moral. You didn't know how a young man like Domingo could be involved in a drug distribution network. Was it necessary to question that? It was the least expected thing you would learn about him, but even if it was problematic, your morals were capable of turning a blind eye and even contributing to it if it meant being able to have a higher extra income to cover your needs. This is how you ended up caught up in this shit as a small drug dealer, a role you could play with discretion because your "good girl" profile didn't raise suspicions. The police wouldn't be able to keep an eye on you when you looked like a little puppy about to run away with its tail between its legs all the time, or at least that's what you tried to convey and you were doing a good job of it. Domingo and you were good at your job, and you even received a compliment from your boss Nacho once, a tough-looking guy with broad shoulders who didn't seem opposed to the idea of having a woman selling his merchandise.

Although Domingo usually took care of delivering the money to your boss, that day he had asked you to accompany him. You didn't understand why until you met him at that Mexican restaurant.

Domingo and you were sitting at one end of the cold plastic table, while on the other side were Nacho and a slightly stockier man with a killer gaze who didn't take his eyes off them as soon as they entered the place.

It was a ridiculous situation in the eyes of this man, watching two kids come in through the tinkling door while wearing the same uniform with a horrible green color and the most pathetic looks of fear he had ever seen. Tuco, that was the name Nacho revealed to you when they introduced themselves before sitting down. The man remained silent throughout the whole ordeal while Domingo trembled as he took the money with his shaking hands and placed it on the table for the two of them to count. You could see how Tuco was the first to count the money, observing how his large hands carefully sorted through the bills while his dark gaze lingered on the money, Domingo, and you. He took longer pauses to look directly into your eyes without a clear intention.

In the face of his hard gaze, Tuco only saw two trembling children seeking comfort in Nacho, who seemed totally indifferent and only concerned himself with rolling up the money to put it away. He also noticed how Tuco seemed somewhat more curious than usual, with a less accusatory and more curious look.

Genuinely, he was somewhat surprised. When Nacho told him that there was a girl working for them, he laughed with contempt and imagined that she would be another junkie in need of money who would sell anything to get some fix. But seeing you there, timid and trembling, made something twist inside of him. At the end of the day, he was just a man and he could admit that he found you somewhat attractive. The first thing he noticed was your fresh perfume scent. Had you dressed up to see them? It was a tender gesture, even with that horrible uniform, he could tell that you were attractive to the eye. And your eyes.

That was the first thing he tried to decipher when you sat right in front of him. Your small eyes looked at him with terror and he found it fascinating. He normally didn't scare girls, or at least not "his girls" who looked at him with desire and a certain playfulness.

And then there was you, with your nervous gaze that shifted between Nacho, Domingo, and him.

Tuco began to feel uncomfortable when an idea formed in his head, and that was that he wanted you to look at him with more attention, to leave the man beside you and only have eyes for him. Only for him.

"Tuco" Nacho's demanding voice snapped him out of his mental trance.

Although he continued to maintain his gaze on you, you could tell how his shoulders relaxed and his back leaned back. Hoping that this intense gaze exchange would end before you fell apart from nerves.

The whole situation felt dangerous from your point of view, well, from everyone's point of view except Tuco's.

For some reason, you were filled with true terror that paralyzed you and made you swallow hard until Nacho decided to end your torture.

"Okay... Go."

It was the first time you heard Tuco's voice and you almost trembled. It was ridiculous how much power he had over you without even trying. When you received approval, you and Domingo sighed in relief and said polite goodbyes, almost as if you were twin siblings acting in sync. Very ridiculous.

"See you next week, Tuco" Domingo said in a more confident tone accompanied by a nervous smile, which you decided to imitate.

"Nacho" you said your superior's name as a farewell and last words before following Domingo out with a forced nervous smile, which Tuco would notice instantly.

He allowed himself to be bold and watched you walk away, confirming his theory that the horrible uniform looked better on you. He even found it adorable how your voice trembled when you said the other guy's name, something he would regret because he wished to hear his name coming out of your lips, and now this became personal.

Domingo was just happy not to be the intimidated one this week.

This will probably become a series of Tuco x dealer!Reader one-shots because I have fallen in love with this dynamic aaaaaaa

[amunyan]

On Sunday evening, your bad mood began to improve. Yes, the mug hadn't been the best gift for Mereoleona. Maybe, just maybe, you should have listened to Yami. But you still had about a week to find something else.

And if necessary, you could just ask her out on Christmas Eve and spend some time together. Take a walk through the festively lit city. Go to the spa to unwind after all the hustle and bustle you tried to avoid on your list. Yes - just the two of you spending quality time together. Like you did today. Well, at least the last hour you and Mereo spent eating at your favourite restaurant.

You are really tired after this long and stressful day in your uninhabitable apartment and the latest information from your landlord. Cooking was not really an option for you, so you suggested going out to eat.

Mereo has accompanied you to your flat today. To get the rest of your stuff out and to talk to Henry, your landlord. He was still very sorry about the situation, but he had managed to rent some storage units for his tenants, where they could put their larger items until the water damage and the electricity thing was fixed. Although the damage was already greater than previously thought, the full extent was still not yet clear. It was also unclear how far the damp in the walls had secretly seeped into the individual flats...

So you and Mereoleona took a few boxes of your belongings. Just small, loose things that you didn't really need at the moment, but didn't want to leave in the flat either. Sometime between the holidays, you and your dad would get the bigger furniture. You also meet Vanessa and Finral there, who are also packing some of Vanessa's stuff into the storage room. She also has a little early Christmas present for you, although she thought you already knew what it was and would have seen you before the holidays. But she wanted to give it to you anyway.

Besides, Henry had said that as soon as the weather will get better, the damage would be repaired as quickly as possible. And so - all the stuff had to be removed from the flats anyway to make way for the renovation. Yeah, let's not put anything away - it's a shitty situation. But Henry is doing his best to solve the problems.

"The food was good," Mereoleona praises the food to the waitress after you have paid. Like a thank you for the day's help. "Now just a good shot of liqueur for the digestion and I am more than happy." A huge grin appears on her lips as she leans back in her chair. You, too, smile from ear to ear - just to see her so happy.

"Any of you?" The waitress looks at you, but you shake it off as you start to get up. "I'm fine. I don't need anything."

"Are you sure? You know they can make you something non-alcoholic."

The hostess nods and lists a few options, but you stay with it.

"No, don't worry. I just need to do one more thing before we go. Get your drink, okay?"

When you left the table to go to the toilet, you didn't take your bag or phone with you. Why would you do that? And while Mereoleona was getting her drink, a message arrives on your phone. Because it was on the table, she notices it vibrating.

In any other situation, this would not bother her. But she saw the sender's name on the screen: Yami.

She still sees him as some kind of threat. The way he and you spoke to each other. The intimacy between you... She just doesn't like him. So... She dares to look at your Lookscreen.

"Hey (Y/N), about that date you suggested the other day. Please..."

"Date? And she's the one who suggested it?" Her heart starts to beat faster. "She's my prey - not his. What are you doing, sweetheart?"

"Oh! Yami has thought about it."

Shocked and surprised, Mereoleona spins around, your phone still in her hands. But you don't mind, you just open the screen by putting your finger on the fingerprint sensor.

Now she can read the whole message from your friend. He just wanted to know the name of your favourite restaurant to make a reservation for Christmas Eve.

"Finally - he wants to ask Charlotte out on a date."

Mereoleona makes a sign of relive and leans her head against your arm.

"You can answer him if you want," you tell her.

"Better do it yourself," she hands you your phone. "I'd write him anything but the name of the restaurant."

"Don't tell me you're still jealous?"

In reply, Mereoleona sits up and crosses her arms. Her gaze wanders out of the window. It is still snowing outside.

"Come on - he is a friend I have known since childhood and he has a crush on Charlotte and besides; he is a man." You wrap a hand around her and plant a kiss on her head. "Dummy. You don't have to worry about him. No more than about Charmy or Vanessa. You are the only one for me."

She turns again and looks at you. Still a little uncertain.

"You can believe me, Mereo. I am not the type to lie to someone." Again you plant a kiss on her hair, before you get your jacket and bag, and the other bag with the early Christmas present from Vanessa; of course she made you a wrist band. But one in the striking colour Crimson Red.

You put it on and smile at her. She seems mollified. At least for now.

"All right, sweetheart. Let's go home."

[rudytubooty2107]

I can't stop the rain.

Today I saw a rain cloud in the far-off distance. So of course, I paid it no mind thinking that it wouldn't reach me as I take a nice long walk along the roadside. As I continue enjoy my walk, I see children playing in their backyard with their friends. Parents watching close but at a distant from the window inside their homes with cups of coffees smiling as they see their child laughing as if the day would never. Two elderly couples holding hands on a park bench feeding the birds while gazing into each other's eyes as if they were reminiscing about the younger days without even uttering a single word. It was as if it was not even necessary to do so. They already knew what was on each other's mind. I saw two birds on a small tree chirping the day away without a care in the world. It felt as if they were singing a song of love and happiness. They could feel the energy that was brought about within their environment. So of course, they knew what song to sing, what song to chirp, what feeling they needed to bring to the world around them as the day continued. There was no other way, no other word, that could describe this except beautiful. And yet, somehow, something seems to have changed. The children rushed inside their homes. The parents closed their curtains. The elder left their park bench. The birds ceased their song and flew away. And I could do nothing but wonder what could cause such an abrupt change within my surroundings. It just seemed so sudden for such a thing. But as I watched those same birds fly away into the sky which once shined so brightly, I saw something that I did not perceive to occur so suddenly. It was not something that I thought could happen outside of my notice. It was those same rain clouds that I saw before that were so far in the distance that I thought would not reach me in such a short amount of time. And just like that, the rain began poor down instantaneously without hesitation. Of course, I didn't take a second thought into what I should do next. I ran as fast as I could to closest place, I could find that could cover me from the rain. But as I approached somewhere dry from the rain. And yet, as soon as I saw this place that could shield me from the rain, I realized that this would not protect me forever. It would only be a temporary fix. A band aid on a wound that would last forever. So instead, I ran past it and hurried home with the quickness of a little blue hedgehog. And as I hurried home, I had a realization. This was what life its selves hard ship. In life, there will always have great days full of beautiful things and people. As if you were eating at the fanciest restaurant in the world, and you were sitting in VIP sits. But eventually, the bill comes due, and you have to pay for it. As if those sweet, sweet moments were exactly what it was. A moment. And shortly afterwards life will throw you the fastest curve ball you've ever seen hitting you right in the forehead, knocking you clean out on the pavement. But you can't just wake up laying their looking at the sky. You have to get right back up on your feet and do just like the Robinsons. Keep moving forward. No short cuts. Go hard or go home. Because you can't stop the rain from falling in your window.

[urg1rlfri3nd]

4*town headcanons

Jesse James O'Connell

Birthday: June 22nd, 1976

Age: 26

Race: Irish and Italian

Jesse was born with dark brown hair but dyed it in 1988 due to not liking how his eye color and brown hair looked together.

Jesse's an only child but has a very supportive mom, Emily Roberson, that never made him feel alone (most of the time at least). Jesse's dad, Rowan O'Connell, was there but not really there. Rowan would go out a lot and barely paid Jesse any attention unless he needed something from Jesse like favors.

Rowan and Emily got into a huge argument over Jesse in 1983, it ended in Rowan leaving and Emily in tears. Jesse wanted to help his mom get over his dad but couldn't due to how young he was. Emily was severely damaged from this since she was now a single, heartbroken mom with no help. Emily's mom was a very successful business woman, but didn't care about Emily due to the fact that Emily couldn't have kids. Emily's dad was kia during his stay in North Korea for the military.

As Jesse grew up, he realized that he had a broken home and family. His mom was depressed all the time and he didn't have any other family members, so he was basically alone. He figured that if he wanted a happy-go-lucky family that would always be joyful then he would have to make one of his own.

In 1993 he got into a relationship with this girl named Ana Carter and they even graduated high school in 1994 together as a couple. They got married when they were 19, 1995, and were happy for the start of their married lives. They got an apartment together and even got jobs at the same restaurant. Jesse's mom was okay with Ana but Jesse's grandma didn't like the girl one bit, sensed that there was something off about her. Jesse ended up ignoring his grandma after that because he thought that Ana was an angel and so did his mom.

Jesse went to college for a Bachelor in Fine Arts but Ana thought college was for people with nothing better to do. At the age of 20 (1996) they had their first kid, Justin. At the age of 22 (1997) they had their second kid, August. Jesse had to drop out of college to help take care of their kids. They were both excited and truly loved each other, but one day Ana changed.

Ana refused to help Jesse take care of their kids, but she refused to let Jesse spend time with them because she felt as if Jesse was "not doing his job right". She even went out to party with her friends most nights. This went on for one year until Jesse had enough.

In late 1998 they had a huge argument about it and it ended in them both wanting a divorce. Ana wanted custody of both of their kids (for the benefits) but Jesse wanted them both to have equal custody. They went to court and they were both granted equal custody over their kids.

Ana moved out and took both of their kids with her. Jesse could see them but only on the weekends. Jesse found out about the auditions for a boy band, he was 23 at the time. He knew he could sing and auditioned, and to Jesse's surprise, he got in.

Fast forward to present day (2002) and Jesse is now 26, one of his kids is 5 and the other is 3. He is still in 4*TOWN but Ana hates it and recently dropped off their kids to him. Now Jesse has to watch them while also dealing with the band. Emily wants to help watch Jesse's kids but Jesse doesn't wanna burden his mom with his choices. His grandma found out about what happened and ended up bragging about how she was right. Jesse apologized to her and now they're on good terms...mostly. As for Emily and her mom's relationship, it's still rocky, but Emily tries to fix it when she can.

[muzzlemouths]

Sun/Moon in a wheelchair? badass y/n on crutches? light as eldritch horror? I’m holding a microphone at u and asking for details/rambles on Astra AU because I’m vibrating at outrageous speed - @clxckwork-sun-n-moon

SO ABOUT ASTRA AU....

You've triggered my trap HAHAHAHA. this au is my trump card. my secret weapon. my ace in the hole. I've been building it from the ground up for months while keeping it mostly under wraps because I have no intention to post anything until I've at least caught up more with my current AUs. But you're here and you're asking and I am a glutton for self indulgence so TAKE A SEAT, this is gonna be long.

Astra Au (only a working title) is a story taking place in the not-so-distant future. It starts off canon compliant, with Fazco initially launching as a restaurant that features animatronics. This investment soon puts the company in the big leagues of machinery and robotics, and as any good economically savvy company does, they use this newfound reputation to push the boundaries even further. Animatronics become old news. Children's entertainment is out, high tech personal equipment is in. Phones, computers, security systems… weapons. Think tony stark if his business was rooted in furry propaganda.

By the pass of the second decade, Fazco is a leading name in the industry and working closely with both police and military. They've got a hand in everybody's pockets and a finger on your information, personal or otherwise. Nefarious acts from their devices (phishing, data mining, identity collecting, etc) are swept under the rug. After all, why would the government put a stop to their largest source of efficient weaponry?

It's around here that the company realizes they're dominating every department of apparatus but one; medical. An easy fix! They begin development of equipment immediately. Monitors, pacemakers, receivers, wheelchairs, etc. Most importantly, prosthetics. I don't have to explain to you why this is bad, right?

But their prosthetics aren't bad. In fact, they're very, very good, and Fazco charges up the nose for them. They're top of the line devices, however, so naturally the company gets away with it — especially when the government makes the jarring decision to make their devices law. You can keep your old devices, but if they break or need repairs you're shit out of luck, cause it's Fazco or Nothing.

As it happens, you're one of the developers hired for this project. Head the of research and production team, in fact. With a background in the medical field and several degrees in the field of technology, you're top of the food chain around here, and as such you're given a front row seat to the ensuing tragedies.

You're company loyal. They've kept your pockets full and your head big for years now, and aside from a few nefarious secrets between coworkers you've been given no reason not to trust them or their word.

That is, until the accident.

A direct result of the company's negligence, this event changes your life forever. Your new injuries mean you'll be using mobility devices for the rest of your life, not to mention intensive therapy for coordination. It takes you out of a job immediately.

Fazco covers your medical bills without hesitance. A number of paid days off, too, despite already knowing your former position is out of the question. It's a nice bribe to keep your mouth shut and your loyalty high. Little do they know that distrust has already begun to take root.

A close friend of yours calls you up soon after, requesting your help with a secret project — one that will force the company to answer for their crimes. Not a hanging by any means, but enough to throw some dirt on their reputation. A place to start. Though hesitant, you eventually agree to help.

A poor decision, really. Fazco catches wind of the operation and stomps it out before the match has a chance of becoming flame. It's a horribly traumatic ordeal to begin with, made all the worse when your friend winds up missing, never to be seen again, and it suddenly becomes apparent that their blood is on your hands.

After all, it was the tracking device in your own head that lead the company right to them. A real shame they implanted something like that amid your surgery!

This moment is the last straw. You cut all ties with the company, have the chip removed underground with the money you've saved, and disappear from society entirely.

A year passes. Your whereabouts are compromised by someone claiming to be a member of AISNO CORPS(E) — the same group of which your ill fated friend spearheaded, a group dedicated to eradicating Fazco's iron grip — and they need your help.

Though it takes some convincing, you do eventually agree. You've been stewing in guilt and vendetta for some time now. You promise to help on the condition that your part is kept in the shadows, and a deal is struck. Too bad that only lasts for so long.

A few months in and you're practically leading the entire organization. Despite never claiming the title, your every decision is trusted and relied on.

You've made a name for yourself under the table in the art of mechanics; that is, the repair and creation of devices — prosthetics, mainly — that Fazco has no part in. No chips, no gimmicks, just aids as they need to be and for a price everyone can afford, considering most of them are coming out of your own pocket. You're a big name underground. Unfortunately, that means the company is always hot on your tail, and you're quickly running low on both resources and time. If something doesn't change soon it could spell the end of your organization.

Still with me? Good!

That's only the prelude.

The real story begins when you send out the first order to look for equipment — parts, pieces, even scraps — anything. You're desperate and willing to work with what you've got in order to keep churning out your own devices.

An AISNO member returns in the evening with a whole crate of loot claiming to be from Fazco's own decommissioned entertainment beings. You know, the ones that are two decades old, broken, burnt down, and long since abandoned?

You're incredibly hesitant to accept the crate despite your desperation, as any pieces from Fazco have a high chance of being rigged and tracked, but you're assured that this shit is OLD and most of it long since broken, anyway. You can search it for anything with a semblance of battery and safely trash the rest. With this in mind, there's few reasons to refuse.

Inside that crate is the DCA.

BUT we're in First Chapter territory now, so my lips are zipped past this point. You'll just have to trust me on this and wait it out 😊

[rey-jake-therapist]

Lost Souls: chapter 2

Chapter 1 is here.

Summary:

"She knew it was foolish, but in that moment, it made her feel like she was in control again. She didn't have any expectations for anything to come of it, but she didn't care. At best, he would ask for her number and never call her. At worst, he wouldn't even bother because she was just a girl he picked up in a bar. And that was fine. He looked at her so intensely that her knees went weak." What would Mina refrain from doing what her husband seemed to do so easily? That's exactly what Mina thinks as Jake, the handsome stranger she met outside, comes back for her. Quickly, things get steamy... Too bad her past will abruptly get in the way.

Notes:

I've got to put a TRIGGER WARNING on this one: there will be a flashbacks of a rape that Mina went through in this chapter. It will be very brief and I don't go into details.

"You came back!" Mina replied, amused, before settling onto a barstool. She took off her coat, deciding to stay a little longer after all, and pretended not to notice her new "friend's" eyes following the movement of her coat and lingering on her bare shoulders.

"Yeah, I realized I gave you my favorite lighter," he said nonchalantly. "I miss it."

"Do you want me to give it back? I can do that," Mina offered cheekily.

"Nah, it was a gift! But you can have a drink with me, so I know where it is when I need it," he replied. "If you want to, of course."

"It's not like I have better plans," Mina admitted. "But I've been trying to get a drink for half an hour now. Do you think you can do better?"

The man chuckled. "Nothing could be easier," he claimed.

Here, in the mottled ambiance of the dimly lit nightclub, Mina could see him more clearly. He was incredibly handsome, with prominent cheekbones and a sharp jawline. His sharp blue eyes looked deep enough to get lost in. He knew he was attractive, as evidenced by his irritatingly smug smile. But as much as Mina wanted to wipe it off his face, she also didn't want him to leave. Not yet, at least.

And yet, Mina knew the type. Most likely a jerk. Everything about him screamed "I'm broken, I need to be fixed," but she had met too many men like him when she was younger. They were all so charming, with eyes full of empty promises, who took but rarely gave and were too lost to care. Mina had shed a tear or two over men like him before deciding to avoid them at all costs.

However, tonight was special. Nothing mattered anymore tonight, and how could he hurt her more than she already was anyway? Besides, he seemed to know the bartender, who approached them, swaying her hips and smiling - at him, of course - and Mina desperately needed a drink, maybe a fix even.

"Jake, it's been a while!" The beautiful, dark skinned brunette swiftly collected empty glasses from the bar, cleaning as she went.

Mina mentally noted his name, Jake. She liked the sound of it. It suited him.

"Has it really been that long? Did you miss me?" Jake asked, his voice sugary sweet.

The bartender laughed, admitting that she had missed him a little. Jake ordered a whiskey on ice and nodded towards Mina, signaling for her to place her order.

"She's been waiting for two hours, she's dehydrated! What are you paid for?" Jake teased, receiving a playful tap on the arm.

"Says the guy who serves pricey wines to snobby customers at a fancy restaurant! I bet you make twice my salary with your tips, you lazy bum," the young bartender retorted. "You couldn't last a day in a place like this!"

"Ahem," Mina cleared her throat. She appreciated their playful banter, but she was thirsty and eager to be served at last. She ordered a beer from the bartender, who apologized for being swamped with work. She returned shortly with their drinks and then went off to attend to other customers. But before leaving, she told Mina,

"Watch out for that guy!"

Jake looked mildly offended, but Mina just shrugged and responded after taking a sip of her beer, "Well, I'm not perfect either."

Jake gave her an intrigued look, but he was wise enough not to question her. Instead, he suggested they clink glasses, which Mina gladly accepted.

"So, Jake," Mina began. "You're a bartender at a restaurant. Is it your day off, or have you just finished your shift? By the way, I'm Mina."

"It's my day off. But like Corinne said, I'm a clown with an easy, overpaid job," he admitted, sounding almost proud. "But enough about me. Mina, Mina... What a lovely name. I don't hear it often, but it sounds familiar," he added.

“It’s from Coppola’s Dracula,” Mina explained, feeling slightly embarrassed. Jake looked surprised, prompting her to elaborate, “It's my mother's favorite movie. She watched it while she was pregnant with me. It's about Mina, who's believed to be the reincarnation of Dracula's dead wife. My mom ate that stuff up,” she chuckled nervously.

“I remember that movie. There are lights of red in your hair.. Isn't the redhead girl called Lucille, or Lucy? Something like that?” Jake inquired.

“Yeah, Lucy! I suppose my parents didn't want to name me after Dracula's whore,” she laughed nervously again before taking another, larger sip of her beer.

Mina suddenly realized how long it had been since she last talked to a stranger. It was exciting and refreshing, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she sounded like a dimwit and that Jake would soon abandon her to find someone more intriguing to chat with.

She froze as she noticed something unexpected. When Mina paid attention to a man's eye color and his ring finger, it meant she liked him a lot, which was why her heart skipped a beat when she saw a ring on Jake's left hand.

“I didn't think you were married!” Mina feigned relaxation, but her heart wasn't in it. It was one thing to mess up her own marriage, but it was another to ruin someone else's.

“Married? Since when? With whom? Why didn't anybody tell me?” Jake asked, astonished but also amused at her claim. He seemed genuinely surprised, so Mina pointed to the large ring on his finger, which, upon closer examination, looked more like a signet ring than a wedding band.

“What's this?”

Jake quickly looked at his ring, then burst into laughter.

“Oh, this! Okay, it's on that finger, but it's not that type of ring. It's a gift from a young lady who's very dear to me, and I'm never going to take it off. I can't, I promised her.” He explained with a solemn tone.

“I see,” Mina whispered, not entirely satisfied with the answer. “And why aren't you with her instead of having drinks with a stranger in a bar?” She teased him.

Jake winced.

“Because it's already late, and she's probably asleep now, dreaming of princesses or whatever else twelve-year-old girls dream about,” he explained earnestly.

Mina groaned but couldn't help but laugh. Jake smirked and continued, “It's from my goddaughter Emily. She gave it to me two years ago to protect me. See, there's a cat! She says I'm like a cat because I never answer her father's calls but show up whenever I want to. She's a clever one!”

His smile grew wider as Mina's face turned red. She giggled and admitted, “I suppose I look foolish now.”

“No, you look jealous. It's alright. I like that,” he teased her, his smug grin returning. She rolled her eyes but didn't protest. She smirked and finished her beer instead. She was so thirsty that she had drunk it quickly, but she knew it wouldn't be enough.

“Speaking of…” he paused, mimicking the gesture she had made moments earlier. “…wedding rings, I have eyes too. What brings you here?”

Mina smirked and let out a long, weary sigh.

“It’s complicated,” she conceded.

Jake appeared receptive, even ignoring a phone call to give her his undivided attention. Mina shared fragments of her recent history, carefully chosen. She recounted her husband's infidelity and the searing betrayal she had experienced due to the unique circumstances. She also confided in him about their dysfunctional relationship and her urgent need for distance. She even admitted she wasn't entirely certain she wanted to return home anymore, not after the conversation she had had with Johnny earlier. She withheld certain details she had only divulged to Keisha. Disclosing all these facets of her life to a stranger was much easier than she had anticipated, Mina realized with a sense of satisfaction. Perhaps it was due to the numbness she had felt after her last conversation with Johnny, but she no longer felt anything at all. It was so liberating...

Jake was a good listener. He abstained from offering any commentary or guidance, which she was grateful for, but suggested that she might need something stronger than a beer.

"I loathe whiskey if that's what you're implying," Mina retorted, wincing at the thought.

Jake leaned closer and whispered with a seductive tone that sent shivers down her spine, "Nah, that's not what I had in mind. Do you trust me?"

Mina arched her eyebrows.

"Trust you? Trust you for what?"

Jake didn't respond, a behavior she instinctively identified as his modus operandi.

He summoned Corinne again with a commanding voice, already shouting for the second time. Even though the bartender cast an irritated look his way as she was already serving other patrons, she hastened over to them. Mina smirked, still pondering what Jake had in mind.

"Still here?" Corinne teased Jake. "Shouldn't you be with your girlfriend by now on Valentine's Day?! It's already past eleven, her shift must have ended by now!" She teased him, before winking at Mina. Mina was slightly disconcerted to learn that he had a girlfriend, but Jake's flustered expression was too comical not to chuckle.

"What girlfriend?" Jake queried, feigning ignorance but sounding unconvinced.

"You're asking me? Simone told me that you have a new girlfriend from the restaurant! I trust Simone when it comes to you. Plus, I know you've slept with all your coworkers, so it was just a matter of time before you banged the newbie!" Corinne added, while serving another client, who had taken advantage of her availability to order a drink.

“Ouch, bad idea…”Mina couldn’t help but comment on the ongoing discussion between Corinne and her new friend.

“You know Tess?” Corinne asked with curiosity.

Mina wondered for a few seconds what made her think that and looked puzzled, then shook her head and replied after an embarrassed giggled,

“Absolutely not, I’m not even from here. I was just saying, it’s always a bad idea to date a coworker. For me, at least! I never do it. It’s surely fine as long as everybody’s having fun, but it can quickly turn a workplace into hell on earth. I saw it happen too many times!” She added.

"Thank you!” Corinne exclaimed, before pointing a varnished nail on Jake. “See? It’ll cause you trouble someday. But don't come here to complain, ‘cause I’ve warned you!”

As Jake scoffed but side-eyed Mina, who grinned mischievously in response, Corinne continued,

“Anyways, Simone: she said that girl had spent the year chasing you, what took you so long? Oh, and that you'd probably break her heart. She also said it wouldn't be her problem, this time. Are you at odds with Simone? She seemed pretty upset a couple of days ago…

"Simone's full of shit," Jake grumbled. His smug smile was gone and he looked uncomfortable. "If Tess was my girlfriend, I would be with her, it's that simple. We're just having fun. That's it! Now can you be a doll and bring us two shots of tequila with lemon and salt? Please?" He then asked, slightly aggressive, and visibly nervous.

Corinne must have felt the sudden tension he displayed, as she grew cold and served them what he asked.

Mina, who had wisely remained uninvolved in the strife that opposed Corinne and Jake, raised her eyebrows when she heard his order.

"Tequila?" She asked, an ounce of skepticism in her voice.

"Yep! That's why I asked if you trusted me. I intend to get you really drunk tonight because my gut tells me you need that, but I need you to be comfortable or… it won't work," Jake explained, mischievous. He then took off his jacket, revealing a white t-shirt and an athletic torso.

"Honestly, it's way too early to trust you yet. Good luck for getting me drunk though, I'm a tough one,"

Mina then smirked and licked the skin between her thumb and her forefinger before sprinkling a small pinch of salt onto this area. Jake imitated her. They both licked the salt and raised their glasses to clink, downed their tequila shots and bit their limes, eyes locked on each other. Mina always enjoyed the sourness of the lime on her tongue and how it broke with the bitterness of the tequila. And she was enjoying Jake too, a little bit too much.

Another round of shots followed, then a third one, a fourth, a fifth... They chatted about everything and nothing: Mina especially caught herself being chatty about her current situation, while Jake remained very quiet about his.

After each round he came closer to her and almost never broke eye contact, except to look at her lips. His eyes, made of the deepest blue, seemed to gaze directly into her soul and made her feel weak, in a strangely good way. She knew now he wanted to kiss her as much as she did, and enjoyed the delicious feeling of being desired but wanted this moment to last as long as possible. Everytime she met someone she liked, this moment between the first words exchanged and the first kiss was the moment she preferred. There was nothing at stake yet, nothing life changing anyways. It was a comforting realization that if they parted ways now, no harm would be done.

Perhaps, in the future, they would reflect on this brief encounter with fondness. The moment was a respite from the pressures of life and the uncertainty of what the future held.

Mina felt a strong urge to touch Jake's bare arm as it casually rested on the bar, but an invisible string seemed to hold her back. She relaxed a bit when Jake pointed out her inhibition and began to giggle. “Mind you, I’m still not drunk. Only jetlagged!" she claimed, before laughing out loud as Jake put on a skeptical face. She revealed that she had been working as a waitress at a fancy restaurant for six years, but had decided to pursue a professional reconversion. After much contemplation, she had decided to return to her abandoned informatics studies and found a school. As she had experience in hacking, she explained to Jake that it seemed only logical to specialize in cybersecurity and pursue “a more lawful path”, as she proclaimed with a touch of mock solemnity in her voice.

It seemed to impress Jake, especially when she disclosed that she had hacked into her school's computer network at fifteen to lower her ex-boyfriend's grades after catching him cheating on her. Not stopping there, she had also exposed the illicit pictures stashed on her math teacher's hard drive, involving underage students.

“I would have never guessed. You don't strike me as a computer geek at all,” Jake pointed out.

Mina scoffed. “You mean I don't fit the stereotype? We're not all like Sheldon from Big Bang Theory!” She playfully teased him. “My stepfather’s a computer engineer and a genius who once hacked the FBI just for kicks. So, I don’t really have much credit; he taught me… Everything.” She emphasized the word ‘everything’, but Jake was way too impressed to catch on.

“He did what, for kicks?!”

“It was a bet with a friend,” Mina responded, shrugging.

No longer wishing to dwell on the topic of her stepfather, she abruptly turned to the bar and, after a few minutes of waiting, ordered another round of tequila shots. Jake seemed to sense she was shutting herself down, so he proposed they head to the lounge for a smoke. Mina cheerfully agreed. She knew she would quit smoking again eventually, but now was not the moment to exercise prudence.

The smokehouse was as crowded and smelly as Jake had described it. It was so cramped that moving without bumping into someone was difficult, and Mina had to apologize three times before they found a corner where they could smoke and talk quietly.

Jake stood so close to Mina that she could still smell his intoxicating cologne. His presence and the way his deep blue eyes stared into her soul were captivating. Mina still had Jake's lighter, so she lit his cigarette. They exchanged a brief smile as they puffed on their cigarettes, but Jake's phone started ringing again. Although he groaned and seemed reluctant to answer, Mina saw the name 'Tess' on the screen and felt empathy for this girl she didn't know at all.

"Why don't you pick up? You could say that you're busy and not interested in seeing her, perhaps? She might be worried about you," she said with a voice she wanted to sound severe.

Jake expressed his disapproval with a scoff, although Mina could sense a hint of regret in his sour expression.

"She shouldn't," he grumbled. Despite his reluctance, he eventually answered his girlfriend's call after an exasperated sigh.

"Yeah, I missed your call. Sorry... I'm not going to the Home bar tonight, babe. No, I'm at home. I was just dozing off. Why? There's music playing because I turned it on. Are you doubting me now? ‘Cause this shit ain’t gonna fly with me, you know that!"

Mina found it amusing how Jake was trying to avoid his inquisitive girlfriend's questions, but she suddenly remembered her obligation to her best friend and her baby.

"Christ! I forgot about my best friend and her baby," she whispered as she slapped her forehead.

Jake looked confused, but he was still busy arguing with the girl over the phone. Mina pulled out her phone from her bag and switched it on for the first time since she had returned to the Omega Lounge.

She dreaded what she might find on her phone. She had hung up on her husband and hadn't given him a chance to call her back. She knew that there would be at least one, if not several messages waiting for her, but she wasn't in a rush to find out.

The first text was from Keisha, who informed Mina that everything was fine and that she, Ewan, and Zahra were back home. Mina felt slightly guilty for not responding to Keisha's message, but she promised herself that she would make it up to her friend in the morning.

The second message was a voicemail from Johnny. Mina took a deep breath and listened to it while Jake was still on the phone arguing with his girlfriend. She thought she was prepared for the worst, but she had clearly underestimated Johnny's anger. The atmosphere in the smoking lounge was hot and stifling, but Mina couldn't help but shiver as she heard her husband's voice tearing down their marriage, calling it a "scam," and regretting the day he had met her. He also said he was happier with Lyla than with her, claiming that it was only natural for him to laugh and communicate with someone, something he had always found impossible to do with Mina. Johnny repeated that he had never been happier or felt more free than he did now that she was gone, and urged her to stay in New York and never come back.

Despite knowing that Johnny was only trying to hurt her as revenge for her sudden departure, Mina was overwhelmed with emotions and tears streamed down her face. She wanted to stop the pain, but her fingers seemed frozen on her phone. When the voicemail finally ended, and the artificial female voice informed Mina that there were no new messages, she wordlessly dropped her phone into her purse.

" The child is grown

The dream is gone

I have become comfortably numb, " she heard Pink Floyd sing in her head.

Mina finally became aware of Jake's genuine concern as she turned to him, her eyes now awash with tears. She realized he must have finished his conversation long ago, and her heart sank as she wondered for how long he had watched her.

"Is everything okay? Did you get bad news?" Jake inquired, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Mina recoiled and stepped back, overcome with emotion. She turned away from him, ashamed of her tear-stained face. She had hoped to keep her emotions in check, but Jake's kindness had opened the floodgates, and she began to sob uncontrollably.

"I need to go to the bathroom," she choked out between sobs. "Please watch my things. I'll be right back."

Mina did not look back to see Jake's reaction. She knew it was risky leaving her purse with a man she barely knew, but her intuition told her he was not a thief and wouldn't leave before she returned to the smokehouse. Being alone in this unfamiliar place scared her more than the thought of her money being stolen. She rushed through the crowded nightclub, determined to find the bathroom.

As she gazed at her reflection in the mirror, Mina was appalled to see mascara streaks running down her cheeks, giving her the appearance of a haunted, grey-eyed witch. She quickly wiped away the smudges and tried to tame her wild curls, which she hated. They reminded her of him - the man who used to love them. She scrutinized her cleaned face in the mirror, taking note of her striking features - her glamorous curls, her perky cheeks, her full lips and her big grey eyes made her undeniably pretty. Mina knew Jake would eventually invite her to his place for a final drink, but she was unsure if she was ready to take that leap. What seemed so simple to others always terrified her, raising questions she wasn't sure she was prepared to answer.

Mina longed to retrieve her phone from her bag to listen to Johnny's voicemail again, but she remembered she had entrusted her purse to Jake and shook her head in frustration. The realization that she might lose not only her means of payment and identification but also Keisha's and Johnny's phone numbers paralyzed her. She had never bothered to memorize Johnny's number or backup her contacts online. If Jake decided to abscond with her purse, she would be stranded and forced to file a complaint that would most likely be futile. She imagined herself on the street, standing at her apartment door, begging Johnny to let her in and confessing she had made yet another mistake. She recalled his harsh words echoing in her mind - "You always think you're better," "Find someone who loves you more," "I knew her better in two days than you in three," "You say we're toxic, but you're toxic," "Don't bother coming back…"-

Suddenly, Mina was jolted from her reverie by the sound of female voices, signaling the arrival of other women in the bathroom. Without a second thought, she retreated into one of the stalls and waited for the strangers to leave. But to her dismay, it soon became evident that the young women were here to stay, snorting cocaine away from prying eyes. Hearing these familiar sounds stirred up old demons in Mina, reminding her of a time when she would take anything that could be snorted or injected, without any regard for herself or others.

The temptation to join in became too strong, and she couldn't resist leaving the stall to ask the girls if they had any left to sell her. She explained that she didn't have her purse, but her boyfriend was waiting for her in the smoking lounge with it. She offered to pay them there, and to her surprise, one of the girls, a brunette, offered her the remainder of the cocaine with a smile, insisting she didn't need the money.

Mina felt a twinge of guilt as she walked back to the lounge, knowing she was on the brink of falling back into her old habits. But as she caught sight of Jake's handsome face in the crowd, all her reservations dissipated. He was smoking, as usual.

"Hey, I'm back!" she exclaimed, relieved to see him.

Jake teased her, "Long time no see. If you hadn't left your stuff here, I would have thought you ran away!"

Mina couldn't help but smile, and impulsively snatched the cigarette from his mouth and put it in the ashtray.

Taken aback, Jake didn't resist when Mina pulled him towards her and kissed him. It was a brief, impulsive kiss, but the delighted surprise in Jake's eyes made it all worth it. She knew it was foolish, but in that moment, it made her feel like she was in control again. She didn't have any expectations for anything to come of it, but she didn't care. At best, he would ask for her number and never call her. At worst, he wouldn't even bother because she was just a girl he picked up in a bar. And that was fine. He looked at her so intensely that her knees went weak.

"I've been wanting this for a while now," Mina admitted with a tender smile.

"I've been wanting this since the moment I saw you," Jake whispered huskily.

He brushed her lips gently, teasingly, sending shivers down her spine. She knew he was testing her. As the tip of his nose brushed her cheek, Mina opened her mouth, inviting him in. Emboldened, Jake's arms wrapped around her, enveloping her in his warmth. He pushed her roughly against the wall, and Mina moaned as he deepened the kiss. She clung to him, running her hands under his shirt and across his soft, sensitive skin. He shuddered and grabbed her hands, raising them above her head.

"Slow down, we're in a fucking smoking den," Jake whispered, followed by a short laugh.

Their breaths were heavy and loud as a growing fever took over them. Jake pushed her against the wall, still keeping her hands up and locked, and gave her another passionate, deep kiss. He wasn't just kissing her but devouring her like a feisty meal. His lips tasted of cigarettes, whiskey, and danger. Mina almost lost herself when he began to focus on her neck, licking and biting it. He was everything she had tried to escape from for years, but it was too late to turn back now. Not that she wanted to.

Recalling what she had in her pocket, and suspecting that Jake was a user, Mina gently pushed him away and, showing him a naughty smirk, revealed the small pouch of cocaine given to her by the girl she met in the bathroom.

"Hey, look what I found... interested?" she asked.

Jake raised his eyebrows and claimed he did not expect her to be into drugs, to which she replied that she was full of surprises. He then stated that he knew of a place where they would not be disturbed, and before Mina could ask where it was, his knuckles were sliding against hers and her hand was in his. She felt a warm rush over her whole being as he pressed his palm against her own and led her through the dancing crowd to a staircase she had not noticed before. She attempted to get an explanation from Jake, but he only encouraged her to follow him, his hand still holding hers.

They found themselves in front of a door that Jake opened and closed behind them as Mina entered. The room was dominated by a large table with eight chairs that occupied almost all of the space. Only a green plant in the corner provided a bit of cheer, but it was clearly parched. Mina watched Jake remove his jacket in silence and toss it onto the nearest chair back.

"It's a conference room," Jake announced. "They sometimes rent it during the day to companies that require a venue for their meetings," he explained.

"I thought you didn't like it here, but it seems you know every dark corner of this place!" Mina scoffed. She took off her coat slowly, relishing the sensation of his hungry eyes devouring her.

"I didn't say I wasn't offered a tour once or twice," Jake retorted.

"By Corinne?"

"Possibly…"

Jake grasped her by the waist and pulled her firmly against him. Mina squirmed, but suddenly her husband's face appeared in a corner of her mind, condemning her. Mina froze and shied away from his lips. Then she remembered that Johnny had done far worse. Keisha's advice was: “have fun”. Keisha would probably not approve of her using what she had in her pocket, but she was not present to stop her.

Mina shook the small pouch of white powder under Jake's nose.

"Guests first!" she quipped, with a small smile at the corner of her lips.

Jake chuckled, but took the pouch and used his credit card to prepare two lines. He then snorted the first one before making way for Mina. She hesitated for a few seconds, too brief for Jake to notice that she was not as confident as she seemed, but enough for her to convince herself that she was in control. She had quit drugs seven years ago when she met Johnny, who had been a tremendous support in helping her stay away from drugs. There was no danger of her relapsing. Not for one line... She wanted that line, and she wanted that man.

Everything will be fine.

As Mina swiftly snorted her line of cocaine, she sensed Jake's eyes fixed on her. The sensation of the drug infusing into her bloodstream was all too familiar, as if she had never stopped doing it. She felt instantly rejuvenated and more self-assured.

Suddenly, she gasped as Jake lifted her hair and delicately caressed the small hairs at the back of her neck. She knew he was teasing her, but she relished the attention. A shiver of pleasure ran down her spine when his finger traced a line down her bare back, only to be halted by the barrier of her synthetic dress.

"You've got a tattoo down there," Jake murmured, his breath hot on her neck. "Is it a cherry tree?"

"It's a cherry branch," Mina replied, smirking. "It runs all the way down to my lower back."

"Nice, can I see it?" he asked, toying with the zipper of her dress. Mina's heart raced as she gripped the table with her hands, but she still answered weakly, "Sure..."

She heard Jake's breathing quicken as he unzipped her dress and pulled it apart to reveal the tattoo it concealed. He traced the pink flowers and followed the light brown line of the branch. Mina bit her lip in excitement, allowing Jake to continue. He pressed his body against hers and slid a hand under her dress to caress her thighs, while his other hand went to her shoulder and slowly slipped the straps of her dress off. Mina bit her lip harder, shivers running down her spine as Jake's fingers followed the curves of her body down to her hips.

"Your skin is so soft," Jake whispered into her ear with a deep, hoarse voice, before his mouth ravaged her neck with sudden, passionate kisses. Mina let out a cry of pleasure, which turned into a long moan when he pulled her hair to gain better access. She squirmed and pushed her hips against his erection. Jake growled and bit her tender skin, then slipped a hand into her panties. Mina stopped him, however, and turned to face him, eager to touch him as well.

She realized his eyes were a dazzling shade of cobalt blue as he looked at her breasts and whispered, "You're gorgeous..."

They exchanged a brief smile before Mina pulled his face towards hers and kissed him passionately. She then cheekily asked, "You don't expect me to be the only one like this, do you?"

Mina fiddled with Jake's shirt, indicating that she wanted him to take it off. He chuckled, but complied, revealing a torso and arms covered with tattoos and inscriptions. Mina blushed and ran her fingers over his silver necklace, stroking his chest hair before drawing him close and kissing his neck with the same fervor he had shown her. Jake moaned with pleasure, sliding his hands back under her dress and pulling her panties down to her feet. Mina gasped with excitement as he lifted her effortlessly onto the table.

"Spread your legs," Jake ordered.

Panting, dripping wet, Mina obeyed without a word.

"Good girl," he murmured, smirking.

"Don't be so sure of that…"

Jake’s smile grew larger. He dove on her to steal a kiss. Grinding her against the table in a tight embrace, he then put a hand between her legs. Feeling her wetness, he groaned with satisfaction and toyed with Mina’s desire for a few seconds, visibly enjoying the sight of her squirming and the strangled sounds that came from her mouth. Her moans intensified when he slid first one, then two fingers inside of her. She circled his waist with her legs and bit his shoulder to smoother the waves of pleasure that shook her to the core while he kept circling her clit. When she felt the orgasm coming, she pulled on his hair while her nails digged on his flesh so hard Jake let out a small scream followed by a brief laugh.

And then, as unexpected as it was unwelcome, the first flashback came.

The sound of another laugh, a way more sinister one, followed with the vision of her stranded on the hood of a car, helpless and terrified. ‘No!’

Mina blinked to chase the vision away. She kissed Jake and whispered in her ear,

"Fuck me,"

Jake met her words with a grunt of approval but kept caressing her, letting Mina unbuckle his belt and drop his pants to reveal his thick hard member. She took it in her hand and started stroking, making him moan and groan while he looked for a condom in the pocket of his jeans. Jake then pushed her down the table and lied on top of her, panting and grunting. Mina gasped, once again taken aback by the violence of his moves. She didn't dislike it, but she was once again unpleasantly distracted by another flashback.

Her shirt brutally ripped off her chest. A slap on the face, and injunction:  "Shut up!"

Mina tried to close her eyes and shook her head to kick the memories out. But it didn't work; soon, she couldn't tell if she was still in the conference room of the Omega Lounge with Jake, or battling with two men in an isolated parking lot in Los Angeles. She felt Jake's hands on her but could only hear a voice that haunted her nightmares for weeks,

"Hold that bitch down ".

" No," she whined. She begged, swore she wouldn't tell anybody. But he wouldn’t stop hurting her. He had told his friend he'd be next. "Just hold her down!"

"No, please stop it!" she screamed, forgetting where she was. “Just stop!!" She yelled again, trying to push an invisible enemy away.

Dumbfounded, but quick to react, Jake stood up immediately and retreated, taken aback. When Mina recovered her senses and saw his face showed no anger but only deep concern, shame took over her as she swiftly jumped off the table. Jake asked what happened but she shut him down and put her clothes back on as quickly as she could, all while avoiding eye contact with him. She was mortified, unable to speak after what was one of the most embarrassing moments in her entire life.

"Mina, don't…"

"I'm sorry, it's not your fault. I'm so, SO sorry," Mina abruptly interrupted Jake, before storming out of the conference room. She stubbornly ignored Jake as he tried to stop her and ran down the stairs so fast she almost missed a step. 

Barely conscious, Mina tried to run through the merry crowd of the Omega Lounge, but was slowed down by the dancers who bumped into her. She was crying and probably looked like a freak, Mina thought, but she didn't care about that now. She only wanted to leave the damn place but was still too disoriented to find her way out. The beats of the music resonating in her head were so loud it gave her a headache, and her head was spinning. Mina soon felt sick as if she was going to puke and the shivers on her arms made her realize at last she had left the conference room without her coat. She let out a groan of frustration as her empty hands also told her she had left her purse there. .

"I just need some fresh air. I'll go look for them after. Jake will probably be gone.

Feeling her cheeks were wet with her tears, she calmed down and dried them, then spotted the main entrance of the nightclub and walked decidedly towards it.

Just as she was going to open the large heavy door guarded by the tall and hulking Tony, a hand firmly grabbed her arms and stopped her progression. Taken aback, she abruptly pulled away and turned around to find herself in front of Jake, whose handsome face showed concern and disbelief.

"He must think I'm crazy,"

Mina still refused to meet his eyes, certain that she would die of shame if she did.

"Look I said I'm sorry," she muttered between clenched teeth, "I don't know what to tell you! It has nothing to do with you. I just want to go home now." She bit her lower lips as she realized she had said the word 'home', despite knowing that where she was coming back to was nothing like 'home'.

Tony, Keisha's friend who Mina had met the first time she had entered the Omega Lounge and had told her she could ask him anything, put himself between her and Jake and asked her, not before throwing a cursory glance at Jake who rolled his eyes,

"Are you alright? Does he bother you?"

Mina opened her mouth to speak, but was abruptly interrupted by Jake, who ignored Tony and addressed her with undisguised impatience.

"I thought you might need these," he said, proffering the black coat and handbag he had been carrying under his arm. They belonged to Mina, and she felt her face turn crimson with embarrassment. Jake could have simply left her things on a chair and forgotten about her, but instead, he had chased after her.

Mina was flabbergasted and stuttered out an incoherent apology as she put her coat on. She stared at the floor, praying that it would open up and swallow her whole. However, Jake's tone softened, and he said, "You need food."

Mina was puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?"

"When was the last time you ate something?" Jake replied, his concern evident.

Mina scoffed but then had to admit that she hadn't eaten a proper meal since she had boarded the plane to New York. "I don't know… Does a cookie for lunch count?" she asked with a tired voice.

The shadow of a grin passed over Jake's lips. He suggested that she head to a nearby burger joint, which he described as "not bad." After an awkward silence, punctuated only by the loud electronic music blasting through the nightclub speakers, Jake wished Mina a good night and left the Omega Lounge.

Mina stood dumbfounded for a few seconds and stared at the large entrance door, her mind blank. Then, driven by an impulse, she left the nightclub and spotted Jake's tall, lean silhouette already far away from the Omega Lounge. She didn't know why, but she ran after him.

"Jake, wait!" Mina shouted, running as fast as she could to catch up with him.

Let me introduce you to the characters Mina and Jake

Chapter 3 is up here!

[billconrad]

Karma Is Difficult to Write For

     I strongly believe in karma, meaning that karma immediately punishes me when I intentionally do something inconsiderate. The good news is that karma rewards me when I intentionally do something nice.

    For example, five years ago, my wife and I celebrated my birthday on a date night. My wife made reservations at a nice restaurant for the occasion, and we both wore our best. On the drive, I was excitedly talking about how good the food would be as I merged onto the Fifteen freeway. I neglected to check my mirrors, and the car beside me had to slam on its brakes to prevent an accident. Meanwhile, I blissfully moved into their lane.

    When the driver locked up their tires, this caused a blowout, and the driver rapidly pulled over. When I noticed what happened, I could not merge into the breakdown lane because it was blocked off due to construction. Of course, I yelled in frustration and felt terrible. This event cast a dark mood over what should have been a pleasant evening. Yet, that is not the whole story. I could have pulled over a mile later and returned to compensate the driver for their blown tire. But I was wearing dress shoes… Karma was watching.

     The next day, my car ran out of gas even though the gas gauge indicated a quarter full. It took three weeks (because the part was not in stock), and $1,000 to fix my dashboard gas gage. Two weeks later, my car ran out of gas again because the sensor was bad (a double failure, not the garage’s fault). This took another three weeks and $1,500 to fix the fuel tank sensor/pump/filter. A week later, I found my gas gauge stuck at half full, and the garage had ordered another part. Fortunately, the garage paid for the labor and part. Taking an impartial view, these are unrelated events, but in my mind, this punishment came from my driving failure.

    I did not always believe in karma, but my life changed in my mid-twenties. I was working at Kinkos (a chain of copy stores) and began noticing patterns. My job was making copies and working the cash register while getting a dollar more than minimum wage. (I was supposed to make minimum wage, but accounting made a mistake, and I did not correct it.) This employment was after college, and it was degrading to have an electrical engineering degree and not get a real job because of the bad early 90s environment. 

    The pattern I noticed was that when a customer acted friendly, I was on my best behavior. I still had to act friendly when they were mean, but I did a sloppy job and sometimes overcharged them. I began observing this logic in other parts of my life and saw the strong connection between my behavior and other people/events.

   Now, when something terrible happens to me, I take a moment to examine the past few days and can always identify an action I took that led to the misfortune. I want to stress that this is an immediate/proportional cause and effect.

    However, I am not explaining my relationship with karma with the hope that the readers of this article will follow my path. That is something that you will have to discover for yourselves or not. I have learned that this pattern is vague, and the feedback is difficult to follow.

    Instead, I wanted to discuss that while the influence of karma is powerful in my life; it is difficult to include in a story. Readers require clear causes and effects in a character’s actions. Unlike my life, this means readers do not automatically expect a direct correlation between a bad/good action and consequences. Instead, all consequences need to be rationally and clearly explained.

    On the flip side, readers dislike it when the bad person instantly loses while the good person always wins. Those kinds of awful plots are right out of bad ‘50s westerns. Modern readers need bad characters that are a constant threat, meaning that the only way they can be stopped is by the good characters. And good characters must fail so they can push through bad situations. Do some good deed and then be rewarded? Too campy.

    This means that karma makes plots read wrong to me. The bad guy musts be punished. That’s life! Fortuity, I understand this limitation and try hard to develop enticing plots where karma takes a back seat. Honestly, it has been an uphill battle. Or is that just Karma fighting to be heard? I will never know.

    You’re the best -Bill

    August 10, 2024

    Hey book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:

    Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.

    Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.

    Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.

    Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.

    These books are available in soft-cover on Amazon and eBook format everywhere.

[rhondarossano]

BACK IN BELIZE-EVERY DAY IS AN ADVENTURE

Merry Christmas and prayers for a Blessed New Year!

We had a lovely Christmas with our family. We were able to spend time with good friends and hear the beautiful music at St. Joseph's Christmas Mass. We miss everyone and look forward to the next visit.

We welcomed 2024 with our return to Belize; it did not unfold exactly as we had planned.

After Christmas with the girls, Matt flew to visit his mom, so he was going to return to Belize from there. We originally tried to get him a flight that would allow us to meet in Houston and continue to Belize together, but that didn't work out, so he had to get a connection in Miami. We would both land in Belize within 30 minutes of one another. Matt had arranged a service to drive us back to our house from the airport.

My trip was going quite smoothly, but when I arrived in Houston, I received a text from Matt saying he had missed his flight and wouldn't be getting to Belize until the following day. I confirmed with the car service that I would still need a ride. After arriving in Belize, getting through customs, and finding my driver, we were on our way; I paid particular attention to the route taken because I was going to go back to the airport to pick Matt up the following day. You may think finding my way back the next day wouldn't be a problem, but Matt had the Belize phone, so I didn't have Google Maps, and there aren't many street signs to help with navigation. Landmarks are the key to finding one's way here. While Rinaldo, the driver and I had quite a pleasant conversation, i did my best to take note of the old tree or corner grocery that marked each turn in the route.

When I went to get Matt the next day, I needed to get gas, but the first station I stopped at was closed since it was New Year's Day, and I wondered if any stations would be open to fill up my thirsty car. Thankfully, I did find one open before the tank was empty.

I took the wrong exit off a roundabout, taking an alternate way to the airport without even knowing it. This error, however caused delays in my progress. I came to an intersection where all traffic was being stopped for the KREM Radio annual New Year's Day Cycling Race.

And yes, they were going my direction. The other drivers and I followed (and led, and were surrounded by, and traveled amongst) the bikes for about 25 miles. Time was ticking away, and I thought Matt would now be waiting for me for quite some time. Because of the distractions the bikes caused, I missed the turn into the airport and realized something was wrong when I was in Belize City proper; more time ticked by.

Because of the race, many police officers were out. I asked one if I had passed by the airport; he confirmed my error. The fix was fairly simple: drive to the roundabout and head back the way I had come. I was, however, still a bit unsure of the exact location of the airport. Fortunately for me, there was also road construction and the public buses were not running because of the race. The road construction caused traffic to go very slowly near the officer who had helped me. When I returned to that area, a gentleman flagged me down. He had overheard me ask the officer about the airport, and his mom and young daughter needed a ride to their home near the airport because the buses weren't running. He asked if I could take them, and I happily agreed. I know that Teresita was sent to help me find the airport to get Matt who I supposed had arrived nearly two hours earlier.

Once Matt was in the car and I introduced Teresita as my guide, I said I hoped he hadn't been waiting too long. He replied, "No, I just got through customs; you must have seen my flight was delayed." I had no idea!

We took Teresita and her granddaughter home. Teresita said she hoped we would see each other again. We had a fabulous lunch at Fu Wi Flavaz restaurant and marveled at how everything had worked out.

There are no coincidences in life; there is purpose in every circumstance. I had a grand adventure, learned about a little Belizean New Year's tradition, and made a new friend. We have so many blessings and are thankful for each one and for the adventures that help us see them clearly. I will keep my eyes and heart open for those sent my way in 2024.

[anthonysstupiddailyblog]

Anthony’s Stupid Daily Blog (366): Sat 18th Mar 2023

I tuned into the Lakers game against the Mavericks from last night and I really wish I hadn't. It was a competitive game and the Lakers were leading heading into the final minutes. It looked like the Lakers were going to win and all they needed to do was run out the clock but the Mavericks scored at the buzzer and won. I was fuming because just before this Davis was awarded two free throws and missed one of them. If he’d have scored it would have gone into extra time. This guy has fucking sucked lately. Not only does he miss crutial shots but the ball keeps slipping through his fingers and the opposing team keeps stealing it. When the towel boys go on to wipe the sweat off the court they should give Davis' hands a quick drying too, or maybe he should play with some rubber gloves. If they'd have beaten the Rockets the other night (which they should have, easily because the Rockets are in last place) and won this game the Lakers would be in eighth place but they fucked up and now they're still fighting to scrape their way into the playoffs. I was majorly pissed off this morning. Not just because the Lakers blew a sure thing although that certainly didn’t help but because of the realisation that the next few weeks is going to make a real dent in my savings. As well as getting my pounds changed to dollars for my US trip I’m going to have to pay to get the bike fixed AGAIN! Also the price of taxis to work is going to be ridiculous but I refuse to risk getting the bus because with this job being late can affect your chances of being made permanent and although there should be plenty of time for me to get to work on time if the buses where on time they often just turn up when they fucking feel like it.

After spending the morning on stow and the early afternoon delivering tubs to stations I left at 2:30 and headed to the town for Mam’s Mother’s Day meal. I booked a place called Roma in all honesty because I put off booking a place at any of the good restaurants and when I tried they were full up. So the fact that this place was one of the only ones still taking bookings on Mothers Day told me that it probably wasn’t going to be that good. I was expecting paint peeling off the walls and cockroaches doing a conga line across the floor but the place was actually really nice. The pizzas Lacey and I ordered were fucking enormous as was Mam’s Lasagne and my sisters Carbonara, two courses for £12.95 is not a bad deal at all. As the rest of us were eating our meals Luna kept saying “I WANT CHEESECAKE!”. We finally ordered her one and she refused to eat it until I challenged her to see how fast she could finish it which appealed to Luna's competitive side and she wolfed it down in less than a minute. While she waited for the rest of us to finish she watched a video on my sisters phone of something on YouTube that's just called "The Dolls" and it's basically a little girl filming herself playing with dolls and doing all the voices. I put up with this shit for a little bit when I'd watch Luna but I've put my foot down on having this on in the house and insist that she watch something else because while this show started out really layered and delicately written I think it really went downhill after season three. I paid for the whole meal because my sister is a mother now too and this is a day for her to be spoiled as well and also because I'm lovely.