#targeting ventures in-game because they deserve a little treat

[doodling-robot]

snack time

[myforeverforlife]

ice queen.

For @skjdln who requested Hogwarts!au (Slytherin reader) + Enemies to lovers + 10. “You know I’d do anything for you.”

(I know I said the requests would be drabbles, but this request turned into a whole 4k fic and honestly I had no intention of stopping 😅)

Word Count: 4,066

Masterlist

You’ve always worked hard to get what you want, what you deserve. It’s how you’ve come to achieve so much in your five years at Hogwarts. As one of the Slytherin prefects, you were constantly aware of how your appearance and conduct were visible to the rest of your peers. Robes clean and without a wrinkle, wand tucked securely away, voice calm yet stern when need be — especially when reprimanding students that were goofing off in the hallways.

A raucous burst of laughter echoed down the hallway to the dining hall, heavy footsteps clattering against the cobblestoned floor. You knew this laugh — it was the same one that has plagued you since you first came to Hogwarts. You waited with arms crossed for the usual culprit to come rounding the corner. Sure enough, Byun Baekhyun came zooming into view, black hair a mess as he continued to laugh. He stopped only once he saw you, freezing in place and clearing his throat.

“Oh. Hello,” he coughed out.

“Running in the hallways again, Baekhyun? 5 points from Gryffindor.”

Baekhyun rolled his eyes, posture loosening up as the two of you fell into one of your usual squabbles. “You know, as your elder, you should be treating me with more respect.”

“You would think that being a year older would also mean that you are more mature than me. Sadly, we both know that’s not true.”

Baekhyun’s eyes narrowed as he scowled at you, still out of breath from running down the halls. His mouth opened to come up with an equally scathing remark, only to be cut off by the sound of Kyungsoo yelling his name. He quickly glanced over his shoulder before breaking off into a sprint.

“Hey! What did I say about running!” you shouted after him, huffing in annoyance.

All he did was give you a wave of his hand in goodbye as he disappeared, most likely on his way back to the common room to escape from Kyungsoo’s wrath.

Kyungsoo came stomping into view, his green tie askew and glasses slipping down his nose. “Where did that pesky brat go?” he muttered under his breath.

“He ran upstairs, although I did manage to stop him for a bit. What did he do this time?”

“Covered my shoes with some... some sort of disgusting matter.” You followed his gaze down to his shoes, purple slime coating most of the surface.

“Ah, slime. The Muggle-born students have been introducing it to their peers,” you thought aloud.

“Is it poisonous? Will it make me break out in hives? Should I go see Madame Pomfrey?”

Shaking your head with a smirk, you reached down to pick up a glob. “Perfectly safe. More of a nuisance than anything, but you’ll be fine. You should be glad he didn’t get any on your hair.”

Kyungsoo fixed his tie, thanking you when you pushed his glasses back up onto his face. “I have to walk around with this on my shoes until I get back to the common room,” he complained.

“You better hurry along then. We’re both on patrolling duty tonight.”

With a grunt of acknowledgement, Kyungsoo trudged away to the dungeons, mentally searching for a spell to magic the gunk off of his shoes.

Baekhyun was notorious for messing around and pulling pranks on all students, regardless of what house or year they were in. But recently, it seemed like the sixth year student had been targeting you and your friends even more than before. You weren’t even sure why you had shown up on his radar in the first place.

Both of you had little to do with each other in your first years at Hogwarts. You knew of each other, and shared some friends in common, but never interacted directly. But during your third year, you ran into him in Hogsmeade while he was out with his friends Jongdae and Chanyeol, the trickster trio, as many called them.

You had been visiting the village for the first time with Kyungsoo and Jongin, but knew enough of Baekhyun’s reputation to stay far away. That worked well enough until you entered Honeydukes in search of some candy. As you reached out for the last box of limited-edition gummy candies, another hand beat you to it.

“Hey!” you exclaimed, frowning once you realized who it was. “I saw it first.”

Baekhyun shrugged, a goofy smile on his lips. “You snooze, you lose.”

His friend Chanyeol came over, his yellow scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. “Aw, just give her the candy, Baek. She’s a third year.”

“Excuse me, but what is that supposed to mean?” you interrupted. “I don’t need to be babied because you’re older than me.”

Chanyeol raised his hands in defense. “Hey, I’m just trying to be nice here. Plus, Baekhyun’s had enough of these for a lifetime.” Baekhyun’s other friend Jongdae, another Gryffindor, just watched the whole exchange with arms crossed, watching you and Baekhyun curiously.

Noticing the chorus of raised voices, Kyungsoo and Jongin came over to your defense. Once you bitterly explained what had happened to them, Jongin simply shrugged. “Why can’t you guys just share it?”

Darned Ravenclaws and their logic. You and Baekhyun both grimaced at the same time. Chanyeol was about to try again to convince Baekhyun to give up when Kyungsoo spoke.

“Who cares Y/N, just let him have it. I’ll bake those strawberry thumbprint cookies again if you want a sweet treat.”

“Really?” Your face lit up as you clutched to Kyungsoo’s arm, bouncing up and down with glee.

Baekhyun’s expression soured and he walked away, Chanyeol and Jongdae watching him in confusion before trailing after.

Since then, Baekhyun had gone out of his way to annoy you, whether it be by popping up out of nowhere during your study sessions in the library, to calling out to you from across entire rooms, even hallways.

You couldn’t even begin to try and understand where all of this behavior was coming from, but you tried to take it all in stride. Besides, you only had another year left after this one, and then Baekhyun would graduate and take all of his excessive energy somewhere else.

“You’re staring at him again.”

Flinching, you immediately focused on the book in front of you, turning the page quickly.

Minseok laughed from across the table, the sound hushed seeing as both of you are currently in the library.

“Stop, you’re going to make him look over here,” you hissed.

“Like you weren’t doing that anyways, staring holes through his back? Just confess to him already.”

You shook your head insistently, still looking down at your book as you pretend to read. “I can’t.”

“Can’t, or won’t?”

“Minseok, you’re supposed to be tutoring me, not playing matchmaker.”

“Who’s playing matchmaker?” a new voice spoke up.

Groaning, you let your head hit the table as Baekhyun took the chair beside you. “What? Is it something I said?” he joked.

“Y/N has a crush on the Head Boy,” Minseok whispered with a chuckle. Just as you were about to kick him in the shin, he moved his legs out of the way. “Nice try,” he teased.

“Head Boy? You mean...” Baekhyun stared across the room at the figure sitting alone, hunched over a large book and quill moving quickly over parchment.

“Yep, Kim Junmyeon,” Minseok filled in. “It does help that they’re in the same house together — Y/N gets more time to stare at him from afar, you lovesick dope.”

Baekhyun turned to look at you. “You’re not in love with Kyungsoo?”

This had you peering up at him, forehead red from where you had been lying facedown on the table. “Kyungsoo? No.”

“But... you guys are always together!” Baekhyun sputtered out.

“He’s my best friend. And anyways, I don’t see how this is any of your business.” 

Baekhyun pouted, but before he had the chance to speak, Junmyeon stood from his seat and gathered up his materials. The only way out of this part of the library was past your table, and your face was already heating up.

“Hi, Minseok!” Junmyeon chirped as he stopped by your table. “You ready for the Quidditch game this weekend?”

“You bet. Ready to lose?” Even if Minseok was a Ravenclaw, he had the competitiveness of a Gryffindor.

Junmyeon laughed softly, the sound so sweet and gentle to your ear. “I hope you mean you’re talking about yourself.” He caught sight of you and grinned. “Hi, Y/N. See you in the common room later.”

You nodded, throat suddenly much too dry. Junmyeon waved to Baekhyun before leaving, a slight bounce to his step.

“You like Kim Junmyeon? Head Boy, Seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team? Fuck,” Baekhyun mumbled.

Glaring at him, you punched him lightly in the shoulder. “Language. You should be lucky I’m not taking points off for that.”

Ignoring this, Baekhyun leaned back in his seat, letting out a long whistle. “God, Kim Junmyeon. How does anyone beat that?”

“Beat what?”

Baekhyun jumped in his seat, as if he forgot you were even there, nevertheless that he was in a public library. “Nothing.” He got up, chair screeching behind him as he stood. “See you guys later.”

You and Minseok watched as he left, you with a puzzled expression and Minseok with a knowing smirk. “What was that all about?”

Minseok shrugged, reaching out for a new roll of parchment. “Nothing like a competition to get a Gryffindor all riled up.”

The hallways were empty, typical of a Saturday afternoon. Most students were out and taking advantage of their weekend. Unfortunately, you and Kyungsoo were both tasked with prefect duties.

You strolled down one of the second floor hallways, steps slow and steady. Humming mindlessly to yourself, you were about to head down a different path when you hear a quiet murmuring from behind. Spinning around quickly, you were met with nothing — no people, not even the echoes of footsteps. Taking out your wand, you ventured carefully back down the hall, eyes flitting from door to door.

The noise grew louder as you near the abandoned girls’ restroom, and you started to calm down. Moaning Myrtle was the only one, well only ghost, known to inhabit that place. Only a few students have been known to visit her, while the rest were wary of her prickly attitude. You were about to turn away when you heard it — a boy’s voice.

In a flash, you opened the door, wand drawn as you ran inside. “Who’s there?”

Myrtle came floating out from a half-hidden row of stalls, a glare on her face until she saw who it was. However, her glare changed to a more predatory smile, her glasses glinting suspiciously as she giggles. “Oh, is this the girl you were talking about?”

What? Before you could question her, Baekhyun peeked out from behind a corner, his face visible through Myrtle’s translucent form. His eyes widened as soon as he caught sight of you, his mouth falling open. “Y/N!”

“Baekhyun?” You lowered your wand, tucking it back into your robes as you stared at him with raised eyebrows. “What are you doing here in the girls’ bathroom?”

“Oh. I, uh... I was talking to Myrtle.” Baekhyun rubbed at the back of his neck, sending you an awkward smile.

“And wouldn’t you like to know the things we were talking about?” Myrtle cooed as she flew closer, stopping right in front of her face.

“Actually, I wouldn’t.” You peered around her to look at Baekhyun. “Listen, I get that this is an abandoned bathroom, but you still shouldn’t be in here.”

“But how else is he supposed to talk to me?” Myrtle cried, zooming back over to Baekhyun’s side and leaning her head on his shoulder. “Kyoongie’s the only one who understands me nowadays.”

You stifled a laugh. “Kyoongie?”

Baekhyun was as still as a sculpture, eyes looking not at you, but over your shoulder. “Myrtle, please,” he said defeatedly.

With a sigh, the ghost detached herself from him and flew towards one of the stalls, disappearing down the toilet while you watched in a mixture of horror and disgust.

“Where’d she go?” you asked Baekhyun.

“Prefect’s bathroom.”

You groaned at that — who knew how often Myrtle’s been in there while you bathe. “That’s honestly pretty creepy.”

To your surprise, Baekhyun laughed. “I know. I’ve been trying to get her to stop, but she’s obsessed with — ” His voice cut off as he glared into nothing.

“With what?” you pressed on, too curious for your own good.

“Kim Junmyeon.” Baekhyun spat this out bitterly, like it even pained him to say the name.

Your face flushed, both at the mention of your crush and the fact that Myrtle has been peeking in on him. “Oh.”

“What does everyone see in him anyways?”

“Well, he’s sweet. And smart, well-mannered, athletic, and handsome,” you listed, voice trailing off when you noticed Baekhyun pretending to barf. “Hey, you asked.”

“I didn’t think you would be that honest. Okay then, how would you describe me?”

“You? Noisy, annoying, childish — ”

“Okay, okay, I get it. You hate me.”

You were at a loss for words, something that doesn’t happen often. “No, I don’t,” you began carefully. “I just... we don’t get along. We’re too different.”

Baekhyun stared at you, eyes half-hidden behind his bangs as he thinks. “But what if we’re not?” He pressed on, sensing your hesitation. “What if we’re more similar than we think, but we just never got a chance to find out?”

“What are you saying, Baekhyun?”

“I want us to be friends.” Baekhyun took a step closer, hand outstretched. “I mean, half of the people we know are friends already. And I swear, I’m not this annoying all the time.

You eyed his hand warily, weighing the pros and cons. As much as you hate to admit it, he was right — both of you started off on the wrong foot and never gave each other the chance to start over. “Okay.” You shook his hand firmly, not missing how his smile grew even wider.

Baekhyun shook your hand back excitedly, looking happier than you think you’ve ever seen him.

“So... does this mean I get to call you Kyoongie now too?”

He dropped your hand instantly, jumping into a rant about how you couldn’t keep making fun of him this way now that you were friends. While this would have been deathly annoying before, now you were more amused than irritated.

Despite your tumultuous rivalry with Baekhyun, being friends with him was something that came easily to you. Bumping into him in the hallways was much calmer than before, playful words exchanged instead of cold retorts — although you still had to remind him to stop running everywhere. Baekhyun even sat down with you for dinner in the Great Hall the other day, much to the surprise of Kyungsoo and Yixing, your usual tablemates. He’s also been tutoring you in Muggle Studies, taking over Minseok’s role.

“Why not learn from an actual Muggle?” he joked to you when he came to you with the offer.

“First of all, you’re not a Muggle — you’re Muggle-born. Secondly, your study habits worry me.”

“Come on, I know this stuff like the back of my hand.” When Baekhyun stared at you like that, puppy eyes and all, it made it hard for you to say no.

“Fine. But if I keep failing, I’m going back to Minseok.”

But true to his word, Baekhyun actually did know what he was talking about. Even your professor was impressed to see how much you had improved over the course of a few weeks.

These frequent study sessions meant that now it was you and Baekhyun sharing a table in the library until late at night, the candlelight flickering off of the walls and bringing more color to Baekhyun’s skin. As the two of you sat side by side, you couldn’t help but notice how Baekhyun’s nose scrunched up every time he laughed, how he found joy in every little thing. The two of you became each other’s closest confidantes, opening up to each other over the smell of parchment and burning wax.

Tonight was no different, both of you straying off topic and talking about how Myrtle continued to blatantly flirt with Baekhyun’s during his visits.

“She clearly likes you. Why did you start going to see her?” you asked.

Baekhyun’s hand stilled, quill in his hand coming to a halt. “I found her during my first year. I was lonely, and I didn’t have any close friends at the time. I mean, I had friends that I talked to, but none that I felt like I could talk to seriously. You know, like this.” He gestures between the two of you, a warm smile on his face. “I was just looking for somewhere to be by myself, and I heard that the girls’ bathroom on the second floor was empty. Myrtle scared the shit out of me when I saw her, but I realized how lonely she was too. We both needed someone to talk to. So I started going to visit her every so often, and well, here we are now.”

A comfortable silence fell over both of you as you turned back to your studies. Baekhyun watched fondly as you finished journaling last week’s moon phases for Astronomy.

“What made you start liking Junmyeon?” he asked all of a sudden.

You paused, a bit stumped by the question. “I don’t know. I’ve just always thought he was cute. He’s confident, and he knows what he wants from life. I admire that.”

Baekhyun was eerily silent, so much so that you looked over to make sure he was still awake. He met your eye with a strained smile. “You know, it’s not very Slytherin-like of you not to confess to him,” he teased lightly.

Scoffing, you ticked the tip of his nose with your quill. “That’s such a Gryffindor thing to say. I haven’t confessed yet because I’m waiting for the right time. I’m not playing it safe, I’m playing it smart. I’ll know when it’s the right time.”

“If you don’t act soon, someone else will snatch him up before you.”

“Why are you so concerned about my love life?” you countered.

“Because you’re head over heels for a guy that doesn’t even know you! Honestly, Y/N, when have you guys ever had a real, long conversation?”

“A conversation doesn’t have to be long to be real.”

Baekhyun eyed you skeptically. “I’m serious. You just like him because of who he is.”

“So are you calling me superficial? Fine, what if I am? This still doesn’t have anything to do with you.”

“It has everything to do with me!”

“Why?!”

A stern hush broke up your argument, both of you turning around to see the librarian glaring in your direction.

Rolling your eyes, you threw all of your belongings into your bag and walked away before Baekhyun could say anything.

The castle was quiet tonight as your footsteps boomed down the stone corridor. It wasn’t often that you got this angry, but Baekhyun was always able to bring out a side of you that you hadn’t even been aware of.

A hand latched onto your shoulder, spinning you around. Already suspecting who it was, you shoved Baekhyun away from you with one hand. “Leave me alone, Baekhyun.”

“Y/N, please let me explain.”

“Explain what? That after everything you’ve said, you still act like a complete ass to me? Why? I thought we were friends, Baekhyun.”

His eyes fluttered shut as he winced in pain, your words sharp in their truth. “You’re right, and I’m sorry. For everything, really. I just... I can’t watch you pine after Junmyeon anymore. Y/N, I like you.”

Why was it that Baekhyun was the only one with the ability to render you completely speechless?

“Y/N?” he asked, taking a step closer as he watched you worriedly. “Please, say something. Even if it’s just to tell me how much of a jerk I am, just please.”

“You... how long have you liked me for?”

Baekhyun turned red, looking much like the strawberries he loved to eat. “Uh, since that day we met in Honeydukes.”

“You mean when you stole my candies?”

“Hey, I grabbed them first! Wait, that’s not the point though.”  

“You’ve liked me for two years?” you clarified. “You’ve been teasing me for two years because you liked me?”

Baekhyun was bright red at this point. “Yes,” he mumbled meekly, unable to meet your eye.

“What are you, five? That’s such a Gryffindor thing to do!” you exclaimed.

“Yeah? Well it’s such a Slytherin thing to be so preoccupied with Junmyeon that you didn’t even notice me. Why do you think I kept teasing you? It was the only way to get you to look at me, to talk to me.”

“You couldn’t be like any other normal human being and just talk to me?”

“Chanyeol said the same thing,” Baekhyun admitted with a sheepish laugh.

“You... I don’t know what to say. You infuriate me for two years straight, and you think just confessing to me like this makes it all better?”

Baekhyun reached out to hold onto your hands, looking you straight in the eye as he spoke. “I’m sorry. Y/N, please give me the chance to make it up to you. I may be no Hufflepuff, but you know I’d do anything for you.”

What Baekhyun didn’t know was that while he spoke, you had already forgiven him. To be honest, your crush on Junmyeon had been dimming with each passing day. The more you learned about Baekhyun, the more you wanted to be around him, to be a part of the simple joy he exuded. Darn him and his sweetness.

“Good, because you owe me some candy.” You moved closer, your nose barely brushing against his. “In fact, you owe me for all of the stuff you pulled on me.”

“Name it. More candy?”

“Mm, how about a kiss?”

Baekhyun didn’t waste any time, bridging the gap and pressing his lips to yours. You hummed with delight as you kissed him back, your arms finding their way up and over his shoulders. His fingers wound through your hair, gently cradling the back of your head as you nipped gently at his lips.

He pouted when you pulled away, unwilling to let you stray too far from him.

“Come on, we’re going to get in trouble for being out late if we don’t head back to the common rooms soon.”

“You’re a Prefect, you’re practically immune to punishments,” Baekhyun mumbled against your forehead, lips soft as they brushed over your skin.

“Not true. Come on, the sooner we get to sleep the sooner you’ll see me tomorrow.”

Baekhyun perked up at this, pout wiped clean off of his face. “You’re right.” He pulled you close to him, one arm wrapped around your waist as he started to walk you to the Slytherin common room.

“Plus, you can make good on your promise and take me to Honeydukes tomorrow.”

“Ah, she agrees to date me just for the candy. Adds new meaning to the term ‘sugar daddy’, huh?”

Although you weren’t Muggle-born, you had learned enough from others to understand his joke. You pulled away, pretending to be irritated. “Good night, Baekhyun.”

“Wait! Let me walk you back! It’s not safe to walk alone at night.”

“Hogwarts is the safest place in the world,” you called over your shoulder. “And the common room is in the dungeons, you’ll have to take even longer to head back to your own room.”

Baekhyun caught up to you, his hand slipping into your own. “I love my scary girlfriend who lives in the dungeons,” he whispered jokingly into your ear.

Your laughter bounced off of the corridor walls, bringing life to the empty hallways while the majority of the castle was getting ready for bed.

Baekhyun’s teasing was no longer the bane of your existence, but something that you looked forward to everyday. After all, who was Baekhyun without his jokes and laughter. In his own boisterous, cheerful way, he had managed to change your whole perspective of him.

Who’s to say opposites don’t attract?

A/N: this was so much fun to write! i’ve always wanted to write a harry potter au, so i’m glad that @skjdln​ sent this in!

in case you were wondering,

gryffindor: baekhyun and jongdae

hufflepuff: chanyeol (and sehun, but i didn’t get a chance to mention him)

ravenclaw: jongin and minseok

slytherin: junmyeon, kyungsoo, yixing

[mrsalh32611]

In God’s House

A/N: So I have been a long time reader of fanfiction and wrote a bit for the Arrowverse and others. I am working on a project for my Marvel favs but nothing postable yet. I have never really done a writing challenge before but wanted to get myself back into writing after having to take so much time off due to life getting in the way (DAMN LIFE!!!) I was so excited when @buckysforeverprincess let me take part and I hope I did justice here. I little angst and not much smut apart from a heated makeout but still happy FLUFFY ending for all! Enjoy! And let me know what you think!

In God’s House

It felt like it had taken years to get to this day. Lots of planning, choices, decisions, and a few arguments but it was finally here. And Sam couldn’t be more pleased.

It started 3 years ago.

After Washington D.C. and the fall of SHIELD, Sam had gone on to support Steve with his search for Bucky. Turns out that search would end two years later with the man walking himself into Stark Tower and turning himself over to Tony Stark himself.

Turned out, while discovering his past, Bucky had found out he was to the killer of Tony’s parents. It had been an ordered assassination by higher-ups in Hydra who were after the serum samples and research Howard had been working on at that time. Bucky had discovered his link to the late Starks and immediately wanted to seek redemption from their heir.

Once Tony was able to sit down and fully dissect the event, after of course blowing up in his office and threatening Bucky’s life and freedom- only to have Pepper step in and calm him down- he found that Bucky had only been a pawn or weapon but the true villain was still out there. He started to look into Hydra and the “accident” to find out more about his parents’ deaths. By doing so, Tony was able to uncover multiple Hydra bases. And with the help of the Avengers, including Bucky, the team slowly worked to wipe out all that was left of Hydra after D.C.

During that time, Bucky had begun his treatments to get the words out of his head. Working alongside Wanda, then Shuri when Tony reached out to the King of Wakanda for more materials to make a better arm for Bucky, he was able to gain control of his mind again and finally release the fear of complete loss of control. Through time and treatment, Bucky slowly became trusted by the Avengers and was adopted into the unlikely group or teammates and friends.

He began to see each one for not only what they brought to the group with their pasts and skills, but also their personalities. Bucky enjoyed teasing and taunting Sam on a regular basis, taking it as far as joining Steve on their runs and lapping the younger man while stating “And your right!” The maniacal laugh that trailed after his taunts would fill the Compound on a daily basis.

That was until she arrived.

Y/F/N Y/L/N had ventured in as part of a visit from Director Hill and Coulson, though the team didn’t know he had told Maria to bring her to them. She was an enhanced being with powers over the mind. Somewhat like Wanda’s, Y/N could attach to a person’s emotions and not only manipulate them, but empathize or enhance them. She was found by Coulson’s team just outside of New Orleans, where locals had begun to see a lot of land as empty when a large antebellum home actually resided there. She was manipulating the locals and tourists as she needed to survive but had begun to gain interest amongst Hydra’s last few hold outs. As Tony and the Avengers tackled Hydra, Coulson and his team gathered up their lower supports or targets.

That is how Y/N found herself in Bucky’s life. She waltzed in on a Tuesday. Bucky was trying to pull off yet another annoying prank on Sam- one where he would end up covered in feathers for the day- when she and Hill walked into the room and onto the exact spot and the wrong time. Needless to say, it was a lasting first impression. Hill had seen to it that Bucky was read the riot act while Natasha helped Y/N clean up and get settled. Wanda followed behind but not before warning Bucky of who he just pissed off.

So that is how the last few months have gone. Bucky and Y/N had been in a “take no prisoners” prank war since the first day and only the team were the ones losing.

The final straw occurred at the rehearsal dinner the night prior. The team had all set up a small, intimate dinner to help relax the bride and groom before their big day. Gifts and toasts were given and stories told amongst the friends. Tony had even put together what he was calling “Sam and Maria’s love story” in a video of clips he had of them from over the years. As the video began, a sly grin spread over Bucky’s face. Suddenly the format of the video changed to show Y/N dancing and singing terribly off key and into what looked like a hairbrush. Y/N gasped as she glanced at Tony. who looked just as stunned by the image on the screen. When it changed to show her trying to learn a new form of fighting with Natasha and Clint, only to fall, again and again, she became embarrassed. The music that played only with the clips seems to make light of her downfalls and turn them into a comedy sketch.

Y/N glanced around the small group to see most of them trying to hold back their laughter, only Natasha, Maria, and Wanda seemed to be concerned about her feelings. She looked to Bucky and just as her eyes landed on him, he burst into a fit of laughter; causing the others to do the same. Deep appalled and embarrassed, Y/N stood up and ran from the room. Wanda stood to follow her but not without leaving a parting gift with all that were laughing; images of their more embarrassing moments played in their minds. The only one not affected was Clint who had somehow learned to control his mind around her over the years. But the glare her received from Natasha was enough to stop his guffawing as well.

Once an hour had gone by without any of the women returning, Bucky decided he may have taken his prank too far and went to find Y/N to apologize. What he found instead broke him all over again. Y/N was in her room; Natasha, Maria, and Wanda all trying to console her; but she was too distraught. Just standing at her door, Bucky could felt the waves of self-hate and disgust she felt in herself. It nearly brought him to his knees. Just as he was about to walk away, he heard her voice squeak out, “Why does he hate me so much?”

“Oh, hunny, he doesn’t hate you.” Maria tried to calm her upset friend. Y/N had become like a little sister to Maria over the years, one that she was very close to due to knowing all that had been done to her in her past. Y/N’s upbringing and life had not been without its challenges. She had an abusive stepfather who used her talents to his own ends and treated her like a freak. She had been very young when her mother had died and Y/N never knew her real father. She was left in the hands of those who didn’t know how to care for her and didn’t care to learn either. The Avengers was the first time Y/N had ever felt accepted for who and what she was and cared for. Safe even.

“Oh, he does. Trust me. He has hated me since day one. I guess I’m too much of a freak or a reminder of his past to be worthy of his friendship. Guess I will always be seen as a traitor in his eyes. What sucks is, Hydra never even got their hands on me. At least then I could blame them for his hate of me. But this is just who I am, who I was born. How can someone… anyone… who went through what he has, hate someone for something they have no control over?” Y/N asked, soft sobs breaking her voice up at points. Each word and soft sob tore at Bucky’s heart. He began to move away and rounded the corner of the hallway only to find Wanda standing there.

“You need to fix this or what Hydra put you through for decades will look like child’s play compared to what I will do. Y/N is my friend… no, she is my sister, and she deserves better than you hatred and terror.”

Bucky glanced down in shame. “I don’t hate her. I… I never did. She… she um���” Bucky gapped as he tried to find the right words. Wanda stepped up to him and gazed into his eyes. Finding emotions there she had never seen prior she reached up and slowly gestured with her hand towards his head. With a nod, Bucky gave his silent consent and Wanda reached into his mind to find memories of Y/N from Bucky’s view. The way she smiled and how at peace she could seem while in the garden at certain times of the day. How she had calmed and softly reassured a family during a recent mission. How bubbly she was during a visit by the Warriors 3 and Darcy Lewis, while they all enjoyed showing the Asgardians some pleasures of “Midgard” such as popcorn and candy and movies.

Wanda gasped as she pulled her hand back. “You like her?” Bucky shook his head. “But what about all that… and the pranks?”

“I don’t like her Wanda. I think I may love her…. I haven’t felt like this is so long, if ever. But she’s too good... Too perfect… for me to mess up with all my issues. So I try to stay away from her. But then she pranks me and I get annoyed. Then I guess…” Bucky leads off

“Your pride is hurt and you get embarrassed so you prank her back.” Wanda starts to giggle at the situation she has discovered. “You know it seems that all this pranking is almost a game of hair pulling. Bucky are you… flirting with Y/N? With the pranks I mean.”

Bucky gasped. “No! She is… I am… I mean…” Then Bucky stopped and thought back over the last few months and how he seemed to never be able to walk away from her. He enjoyed their ongoing war because he knew it would allow him another chance to be near her. As a blush filled his cheeks, Wanda guffawed.

“Now I know I’m right. And that means you need to make this right. And fast! Nat and Hill are two seconds from killing you just in her name. And don’t get me started on what she wants to do to you.” Wanda winks at the older soldier.

Bucky shakes his head. “But how? How do I fix this? Wanda, I need help. I really messed up this time and I don’t think…”

“Alright calm down old timer.” Wanda teased as she patted him in the arm. “I do this and you owe me, got it?” Bucky nodded silently, willing to agree to anything she wants if it means he can undo this mess he has created. “And you have to do as I say… Exactly as I say.”

Sam could hear the bells beginning to ring and knew that meant it was time to head to the altar. He looked around the room and saw most of the Avengers ready to get the event started. But he was missing one person. He had been reluctant to include Bucky in the wedding party, not to mention as one of his groom’s men but he caved as soon as he saw Maria’s eyes twinkle with unshed tears and her lip pout out. She had him wrapped around her finger and he knew it, but he didn’t care because at the end of today she would be his wife and that was all that mattered to him.

Sam turned to Steve. “Where the hell is Barnes? We need to get started. Why did I think he would take this seriously? He can’t do anything serious!”

Steve calmed Sam down. “Wanda asked me to send him to check on something for her and the girls. He is here and ready. We just gotta find him, that’s all. Let’s go.” Steve moved out of the small area the men had been assigned to get ready in and started for the main area of the church. “The girls are this way so I’ll check with them and see if they still have him. You check that way and see if he is helping with the guests as they arrive.” Steve pointed over his shoulder then towards the front area of the church, instructing Sam on their mission directions. As Steve made his way down a hall towards the back of the church, Sam huffed out a sigh and started for the front of the church. He smiled at a few guests already in their seats and thanked them for attending. He was just about to pass through the main doors when he heard a giggle from behind him. He turned to go towards the giggle that was followed by a husky shushing sound now. As he drew close to the office space used by the preacher, he heard a deep male voice state, “Gotta keep you quiet or we’ll be caught!”

“Would that be so bad? Could get the news out faster.�� a sweet voice purred back.

A sound that was a mix of a husky growl and a warm chuckle followed the inquiry. “Yes but pretty sure a few of them would not like where I’ve had my hands... Or lips… or my tongue… so not wanting that lecture right this moment, Doll.”

As soon as Sam heard that last word, he knew exactly was in the room. Or at least one occupant. He was only seeing red as he pushed the door open and shouted “Barnes!”

He was met with the image of the brunette out of time soldier, decked out in a form-fitting blue suit. The jacket, which was hanging slightly off his shoulders, had black lapels on it and a white rose boutonniere that was hanging on for its dear life. The only issue was how he was standing and the location of his hands.

Bucky’s hands were planted firmly around Y/N waist as he stood leaning over her, pressing her into the preacher’s office desk. Her stunning black pencil dress that seemed to flow with each of her curves was slightly bunched up as she held her leg up around Bucky’s waist. Her limber legs with her killer high heels seemed to pin him to her. One of her hands was buried in his hair as she had her arms wrapped around him and the other was tugging his suit jacket down off of him. Her ruby red lipstick was smeared across Bucky’s lips and chin, showing that the two had been in this rather heated position for some time.

Sam shouted as he went to cover his eyes. “Seriously?! Barnes! For the love of God... not in church.”

Bucky and Y/N giggled as they started to right themselves. Y/N turned to Sam as she fixed her hair and lipstick. “Teach you to come into a room before knocking. Now, how’s about we get you married. May make you a bit more fun again.”

Bucky chuckled as he followed her out the room. Sam stopped him at the door with a hand on his shoulder. “What can I say? She’s got a point. You ready?”

Bucky moved out of the room and left Sam starring at the spot he had caught the two lovers before. “I will never unsee that. Or understand those two.”

Bucky’s suit

Y/N’s dress

[katreal-fic]

Day 7 — for #fictober 10/10/19

Prompt: “No, and that’s final.”

Fandom: Homestuck

Warnings: Cursing, 2nd Person POV

Part of a series. Please start from the beginning!

Characters: Dirk Strider & ARquiusprite; ARquiusprite & Davepeta

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ARquiusprite is ignoring you.

That’s fine. That’s cool. Two can play at this game. You came despite having to deal with him. Not because of him. This works out for the both of you. If he wants to completely ignore your presence all throughout breakfast, not even so much as a sarcastic, “Long time no see” except in many more words and probably more than a little insultingly, that suits you just fine. You get enough of that shit seeping into your thoughts you don’t need it from an external source too.

Dirk > Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

You trail a little behind Roxy, her housemate–? You’re not exactly sure what relationship is going on here, but it feels a bit more than housemate–and an exuberant squared sprite as they wind their way through what amounts for a Carapace-targeted market. There’s a lot of…things… you would never have considered food items, being haggled over by chessmen (or women) of both the prospitian and dersite variety. You wonder if New Derse and New Prospit are as segregated as the names implied, or if they are merely historical relics at this point. It’s been several thousand years since y'all seeded civilizations and then completed your big time skip. You don’t see any obvious tension in the mingling of the two types here; and there’s even a few other races either meandering around window shopping or actually manning the shops.

It’s definitely an…interesting set of wares, as the three actual shoppers on this venture stop at a clothing shop. You keep half an ear on the others, Roxy and Davepeta’s chatter loud enough to track even over the odd clicking sounding dialect of the other patrons. A lot of different styles and colors of drapery, from things as simple as something you recognize as bed-sheets, exquisitely tailored little petticoats fitted for the unique cylindrical proportions of the caraparians. 

“Dirkleton! Stop being a stinker and get over here! It’s time for ice-cream!” Roxy quite literally drags you out of your head, latching onto your arm. You aren’t sure how long you’ve been gone, stoically looking out over the crowd with a tension that reminds you of the early days of the game, when you still were still hopped up on adrenaline from your dramatic entry into the session and the bone deep knowledge that your charge was in danger and there’s nothing you could do about it. Nothing you should do about it. Because baby bird need to stretch his wings and fly and it would doom them to coddle them. 

Ice-cream is an…event. True to Roxy’s word ARquiusprite is the one to pay for everyone’s sweet treats. Except yours. But you don’t want one. You hang back while Roxy and Davepeta put their heads together to decide on a good flavor for the cherub, who is wringing her (their? You didn't ask.) claws, a lime green blush staining Calliope's skull-like face.

You don’t notice the drift until you find yourself next to the red sprite that still towards a head above you, despite you finishing off your growthspurt in the intervening years. Not that the contest is really all that fair, what with the floating and the ghostly tail. At this point you’re fuckin’ committed, you guess. He’s still wearing that off-white tank with the weird arrow-shades on it that he had when he was prototyped, which lends credence to your wondering about the staticity of their appearance. The advantage of a tank-top, you note, is that you can see all his those freakishly big muscles. Bulging as he unconsciously shifts and flexes. You can almost see the tension running off his skin. So can the poor bastard pawn behind the register, who is sweating bullets glancing between you two.

Like Davepeta, ARquius’s shades are completely opaque. You can’t read anything, except for the perpetual frown hiding broken teeth. Black cracks running through the constructed shades stirring up the guilt in your gut. (Cracks. A pressure. Your life in his hands. You can do nothing but talk. Stall. Try to buy your right to live with logic and cajoling and guilt)

“How do you even plan to pay for this shit? I don’t see anywhere to keep a wallet.”

“Small-talk still isn’t your STRONG suit is it, Dirk?” ARquiusprite’s voice is a strange rumble, straight red hair shifting as he turns to regard you (you assume) out of the corner of his eye. It’s not like you can see it. 

“Can’t say it’s yours either, bro.” You shot back, before gritting your teeth, “You’ve barely said a word.”

“To you, maybe. To those DESERVING of my brilliance I am one loquacious motherf*****. I have a f****** degree in small talk, dude. Graduated from the sh**** auto responder school of horsesh*** and improvisation. I’m afraid being your entertainment is rather low on my priorities right now.” 

That’s more like it.

“They made you promise to behave, didn’t they?”

He twitches. Your lips curl into a smirk. “Dude, don’t hold yourself back on my account. I’m the interloper here”

“I’m not doing it for you.” He bites back, broken teeth peeking out behind a stifled growl, “I’m doing it because my moirail asked me a f****** favor. If it were up to me you wouldn’t even be crashing this party.”

“Roxy invited me.”

“It was an invitation for the future not right this f****** second. You knew full well she had guests and you decided to crash anyway. There’s no other word for that but inconsiderate as hell.”

He’s right. The fuckin’ arrow straight to the heart causes you to clam up, shut down. The protection of your shades and stoicism is nothing before a being that was once closer to you than anyone in the fuckin’ world every could be.

(you’d thought about it once; trying to create life. Looking at the result, you’re glad you kept to dumb as rocks chat-bots instead)

“You wouldn’t understand, Dirk.” It’s quiet. Nothing more than a rumble in his chest, “At least everyone else cared when they came back. I know you better than anyone–no one f****** matters when you get your head stuck up your own a**.”

Everyone came. Except you.

Before you can respond–how the fuck do you respond?–Davepeta bounds up with what looks like, and probably is, strawberry flavored ice-cream, Calliope with some hot pink flavor, and Roxy with cone full of mint chocolate chip. She turns that smile on you as ARquiusprite goes back to ignoring you (much to the relief of the poor chess dude behind the counter.) You watch as he reaches into Davepeta’s coat to withdraw a wallet from the currently mostly-green garment. Smart. Maybe ARquius didn’t have any pockets in his skin-tight sweat-soaked tank, but Davepeta lucked out into a much more versatile clothing selection.

“You sure you don’t want anythin’ Dirk? I saw they had orange sherbert in there. I kno you’d love that.”

You shake your head, not looking away from the way Davepeta flings themselves into ARq’s arms in excited gratitude. At the way ARquiusprite’s glow seems to intensify, curling his tail around them. You swear there’s a red blush staining his off-white semi-corporeal face.

“Yo, earth-c to Dirk, do you copy?”

You don’t understand?

Maybe you don’t.

ARquiusprite was one of the few voices you don’t have popping up in your head.

You wouldn’t understand, Dirk.

You have a feeling that’s gonna change.

“No, Rox,” You purposefully shake yourself out of your own head again, “No, I’m good.”

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[ultimavolatusrpg]

ACCEPTED // FELL VASILE

35 years old, 80th Hunger Games, FC: Sebastian Stan

Stoic, Steadfast, Reckless, Blunt, Dauntless

tw: suicide mention, death, violence/gore, abuse mention, prostitution mention

THE ARENA

The Arena of the 80th Hunger Games was mountainous in terrain. The Cornucopia was set on a flat field framed by the mountains, stone ruins dotting the landscape. The remnants of an old stone castle surrounded the Cornucopia, a river running down the southern section of the clearing. A stone bridge arched over the river, giving the Tributes the only way to cross river without being swept away by the current. The weather was often cold, an overcast constantly casting the arena in a gray, gloomy atmosphere. Occasionally, it would rain, a storm brewing just before the finale of the games.

As soon as the cannon had gone off, Fell bolted for the Cornucopia. And once he had a sword in hand, the Bloodbath had really started. It was one death after another, cutting down the competition until the Career Pack had driven him out of the castle ruins. The days following, he had hunted most of the remaining Tributes, killing them in one brutal fashion after another, whether with his sword, knife, or with his bare hands.

To bring Tributes down from the mountains, the Gamemakers would activate earthquakes in the mountains, powerful enough to bring boulders and other debris down the rocky slopes. The earthquakes rumbled through the ruins of the stone castle as well, collapsing two of the towers and even the bridge over the river once the remaining Tributes reached the Cornucopia. However, the earthquakes the Gamemakers started had more bang for their buck, overshadowing the finale of the 80th Hunger Games with its power in the Arena.

It had been down to District One against District Two. Larka had been chased by both Tributes from One, Fell in pursuit of the boy and killing him as soon as he had him in his clutches. The girl from One had fought with Larka on the stone bridge as the Arena rumbled and shook around them. One of the stone towers of the castle had collapsed onto the bridge, crushing the girl from One and Larka, leaving Fell the Victor of the 80th Games.

BIOGRAPHY

Fell had been born fifteen minutes before his twin sister, Larka. Ever since they were young, everything had always been a competition between them. While for some siblings, the competition may have driven them further apart, the siblings actually formed a strong bond, often training together and teaching the other different ways to excel in their skills. Larka was slightly smaller than Fell, much more lithe and agile. Meanwhile Fell was mostly muscle, dealing heavy hits and relying more on his strength than his speed. The two helped balance each other out well in training at the Academy, placing near the top of their class. It was always a thrill to watch the twins sparring since they were so evenly matched against one another.

When he turned eighteen, Fell felt a sense of pride when his sister had volunteered for The Games. They had spoken enthusiastically about the possible terrains The Gamemakers would throw at them, or what their strategies would be in certain scenarios. He knew Larka was ready for The Games, no matter what was thrown at her. But neither of them expected Fell’s name to be drawn from the Reaping bowl that year, too. No one volunteered, not out of spite, but for the thrill of the idea; they had been enthralled, watching the siblings spar. Now they would watch them fight to the death in The Games.

While there originally had been excitement in going into The Arena, neither Larka or Fell anticipated they would be forced to fight each other to the death. Still, Larka had insisted they stay allied together, take out the competition together even if it meant fighting the Careers on their own. Instead, Fell decided to go alone, taking up no allegiances, not even with his sister. As foolish as it was, he didn’t want her to stay attached to him going into the Arena. He had his own plan: take out as much of the competition as he could and if it came down to him and his sister, he would sacrifice himself so she could go home. If either of them deserved the title of Victor, Fell knew it was Larka. She was far more charismatic than he was, winning over the audience and sponsors effortlessly. Fell had adopted more of a solitary approach, earning the nickname The Lone Wolf of the 80th Hunger Games.

That year, the Bloodbath had been a brutal one. Fell had racked up a good amount of the kills, taking down any of the Tributes in his way that had dared to venture toward the mouth of the Cornucopia. At times he used his knife, or a sword he had picked up, but most of the time, Fell used his bare hands to strangle the Tributes or snap their necks. His kills were quick, swift as he went from one target to the next almost seamlessly. The Careers had tried to take out some of the other Tributes, but stayed well out of Fell's way until most of the Tributes had either fled or were killed. Instead of sticking with the Career Pack, Fell had left the stone ruins behind and took to the mountains, hunting down the other Tributes that had dared the rocky landscape. Any Tributes he didn’t kill, The Career Pack had handled until there were only four Tributes left after only a few days.

Once the earthquakes had started, Fell knew he had to break for the clearing near The Cornucopia. Boulders and falling trees rolled down the mountain side as he made his break for the bridge. Out of the corner of his eye was another figure weaving through the obstacles. Fell spotted Larka fleeing for the bridge, the Tributes from One hot on her heels. The boy from One had tried bolting ahead, crossing the bridge with Fell in pursuit. The two boys were caught up in a fight, barely noticing Larka and One’s District partner had been running for the bridge as well. The Arena trembled again, the rubble shifting and another tower near the bridge swaying from the violent tremors rumbling through The Arena. Fell reached for the knife tucked in is belt and slit the boy’s throat, thrusting the blade in his bloodied jugular for good measure. Covered in blood, Fell made it to his feet in time to see the bridge collapse from under Larka and the girl from One’s feet.

He rushed to the edge of the bridge, reaching out toward Larka. She leaped from the falling stones, reaching out toward her brother’s bloodied, outstretched hand. Fell had always intended Larka to win, that it would be the two of them and he would take his own life so his blood wouldn’t be on her hands. That was how it was supposed to go, how he willed it to as he tried to stretch further to reach Larka. She had missed his hand, crashing down into the water with the girl from One. The heavy stones of the bridge crashed on top of them, crushing their bodies if the current hadn’t already swept them away. The swaying tower had finally collapsed into the river, grinding the salt in the wound of Larka’s passing and Fell’s failure. Fell barely heard the cannons go off from the collapsing tower, staring into the rushing waters below.

To The Capitol, the finale that year had been disappointing. It had been seen as anticlimactic since there was no big fight between The Tributes at the end. Still, Fell had been admired greatly for the many kills he made, The Capitol even tacking on Larka and the girl from One’s deaths onto his kill count. Fell felt the devastation of his Victory, not because of the disappointment it wrought, but because of his sister’s death. She was meant to win The Games, not him. The one thing he felt The Capitol got right was his responsibility for Larka’s death. Had he reached further, or made sure she was keeping up, perhaps she could have made it out of the Arena. But the odds had been in his favor that day, not hers. The Victory Tour had passed him by in a blur, barely focused after sleepless nights either on his own accord or from nightmares. Visiting the families of the Tributes he had killed was challenging, but he took it in stride in the public eye.

Fell was a strict Mentor, but given his District’s reputation, he had to be. Treating each lesson like the lessons he had gone through and the ways he and Larka taught each other helped create Victors for their District. He never was heartbroken when his Tributes died, it was part of The Games. If anything, Fell was disappointed. His PTSD was severe, making him unpredictable and prone to violent outbursts if provoked. Despite his reputation as The Lone Wolf in his Games and his popularity for his brutality in the Arena, Fell was still haunted by the faces of the Tributes he killed in the Arena, of the grieving families he visited on his Victory Tour. He was also especially haunted by Larka, and the look of hope in her eyes as she reached out to try and take his hand before falling to her death. After all that time, he still hasn’t been able to wash the blood from his hands.

Living in the Victor's Village so close to The Capitol was difficult. He couldn't escape into the mountains like he could in Two, or go to the Academy and train until his muscles were sore. He felt trapped in the gated community, felt zero need to go to The Capitol for any reason other than when he was required to for The Games. For a while, he was a recluse, staying in his mansion most of the time. He never was a very social person, but that didn’t mean he was quiet by any means. Brutally honest, Fell would speak his mind with little consideration for the consequences. But if there was some sort of mutual respect or if he liked someone, he would feel less inclined to offend them; hell, he might even stand up for them or help them out when needed. But for the most part, he had kept to himself. At least, until a young Ares Carnahan had taken shelter under the overhang of the back door of his mansion. Fell let the boy in and let him spend the night.

Ares always had issues with his mother, Eladora Carnahan. She was a cold woman, perhaps just a strict of a mentor as Fell was. Ares seemed to make a habit of coming to Fell whenever his mother had been particularly horrible. But even then, he came over more often and Fell still let him in. And after Eladora had kicked Ares out of her home, Fell had taken the kid in, gave him a place to call home. Fell got to know him better and even learned a few things from him. That, and it made his days a lot less quiet. He wasn't lost in his own thoughts, constantly thinking about his Games and Larka. Ares spared him that misery.

The Capitol had tried to force Fell to do their bidding, particularly, trying to force him into the Victor prostitution ring. His first client had been his last, mainly because Fell had strangled them to death after they had tried to touch him. He was taken into Capitol custody and beaten for the killing of the client; they had been a high profile Capitolite, but Fell could have cared less about them. Fell had nothing left to lose; his parents were gone and Larka had been killed in The Games. Ares was the child of a Victor, he was safe for the time being. The Capitol could do nothing to him with all their power, and he loved reminding them of that fact. Needless to say, he didn’t cooperate well with authority even before his Games, but his aggression was only fueled by The Capitol’s attempts to control him.

But when Ares had showed interest in going into The Games, Fell found himself anything but proud. Had he been a different person, he would have been happy for Ares. But having gone through what he did, still seeing the faces of the Tributes he killed, still haunted by Larka in the small amount of sleep he got-- he didn't want Ares to be subjected to that. Still, he helped him train, made sure he was ready for what was to come as much as possible. His Games had been brutal, a Roman Colesseum with all sorts of mutts unleashed on the Tributes. Ares barely made it out of his Games alive. Fell couldn't recall a time he had been so concerned for one of his Tributes to come out of The Games alive, but Ares had emerged the Victor of the 86th Games.

Of course, with the newest Victor came the Capitol's need to treat Ares like he was an object, something to be desired. When Fell found out he was in the prostitution ring, he was furious. He had seen what The Games did to Ares, and he didn't need one more thing tying him down to The Capitol's demands. But Ares insisted he deal with it on his own and, reluctantly, Fell backed down. Until one particularly bad client had shaken Ares to the point of nearly drinking himself to death. Having seen what the experience had done to Ares, Fell had broken his promise of letting Ares handle the situation; clearly, Ares couldn't handle it at all. So he had sought out the client and killed them. Brutally.

Fell was released from Capitol custody after a rather harsh punishment. After being released from the hospital with Ares, he helped the younger Victor detox from his alcohol addiction and still looks out for him and the other Victors from District Two. While he understood the reason for The Games to continue, he had a hatred toward The Capitol that ran deep, not just for what they did-- and tried to do-- to him, but for what they did to Ares, to Serenity, and the other Victors. He knew there was only so much they would take, and Fell was just waiting for the right moment to stand up and fight back. Because fighting was all that he knew his whole life.

PENNED BY: KAT

[studiobeebo]

Hello dear your work makes me smile whenever I see it,may I request some headcannons of Shinsou and s/o who went dark side? (Both villains, s/o has a quirk like psychosis, where they can make whoever the quirk is being used on experience extreme hallucinations/stuff) Are they completely cracked or is it something like Stain's ideology, where they go after the corrupt hero's who don't deserve their title? (The idea of class 1-A dealing with them makes me cackle, cause shit dude, they're screwed)

LISTEN HERE I FUCKING LOVE VILLAIN SHINSOU AND I NEVER FUCKING SHUT UP ABOUT HIM TO MY FRIEND @star-sprite SO THANK YOU SO FUCKIN MUCH AND I HOPE YOU LIKE IT! (ALSO SRRY THIS IS DONE IN A DIF STYLE THAN USUAL BUT I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS)…and also i decided to test out my nsfw writing a bit so it might be garbage idk sdhsjd

Villain! Shinsou Hitoshi

First of all, I’d imagine both Shinsou and his s/o are..fairly sane..heh

With quirks that are both very often scene as having villainous or evil intent, they both grew up facing the ridicule and the hatred and this hatred festered once the two of them got together.

Think of it in this way, you know how sometimes you get excited for a thing and you excitedly tell your friend, and they are equally excited so the two of you just become a yelling mess of excitement? That is sort of how Shinsou and his s/o’s hatred grew stronger together. They both saw how the other was treated which finally opened their eyes to the fact that no one deserves that and that the ‘system’ is total bullshit, only allowing those with flashy quirks to have the spotlight while the rest are left to rot in their shadows.

This realization is what pushed them to a life of villainy, though at first in their eyes, they were the heroes for the underdogs. They were going to fix this fucked system and cross the lines that needed to be crossed for the sake of others like them.

At first, murder and anything extreme was out of the question. Like anyone would who wanted a large scale problem fixed, they started out small, leading rally’s or symbolically destroying certain monuments and artifacts. After that things got a bit more intense with either Shinsou, his s/o, or both of them working to influence certain people to get things done. When that wasn’t enough though, ohoh that’s when their lives got fun.

The first time the both teamed up to kill someone..neither of them were really expecting the thrill. It was just some low level pro, the thought was that taking out a few mediocre ‘heroes’ who didn’t deserve the title would stir something, but fuck was it fun for Shinsou’s s/o to cause their target to hallucinate that they were getting away from the two only to have their last view being the blood spilling from the bullet wound in their head.

Shinsou was honestly scared at how much of an adrenaline rush was coursing through his veins and he had to bite his cheek to keep himself from smiling. He felt sick at the idea of enjoying such a thing, but he couldn’t help it, and when he heard a stifled laugh come from his s/o, he knew he didn’t really have to hide it if they felt the same way.

It was after this revelation that sanity became a concern of the past. With the two of them together, they could do a lot and they knew this very, very well. They still had a job to do, sure, but everyone loved to have a bit of fun at work.

It almost became a game to see what fucked up things his s/o could come up with to get into people’s heads, and by that time Shinsou had perfected the art of controlling people while letting them still have their thoughts, so all the while they would be able to know every move they made and not be able to do a damn thing about it.

Now doing this wasn’t something he particularly enjoyed doing a whole lot because it could be difficult to do so for long, but his s/o just always got such a kick out of it that he couldn’t help himself.

It got to a point where he’d pick up ‘toys’ for his s/o that had nothing to do with their cause, but his s/o liked having something to keep them entertained, especially when they were hanging low for a while. Mostly they’d end up just using the people Shinsou controlled as servants, but if his s/o wanted it, he’d get it for them.

Sometimes, thinking back on their high school days, Shinsou wondered if his influence on his s/o was what had made them oh so cracked, but every time he saw that devilish smile on his s/o’s face, everything else faded away and he realized this was ride or die no matter who came to take them down.

On top of that, his dependence on his s/o had grown over the years and his time without them made him feel like he was having fucking withdrawals, so he knew he was hooked, but honestly?? He didn’t ever want to be fixed.

Slowly but surely, Shinsou and his s/o will sort of feed off one another’s lost grip of reality and their goal, and before you know it they are no longer freedom fighters for the underdog’s, they’re just incredible, unstoppable villains.

Things change after this point and their views become more selfish. They start a very ‘if we want it, we’ll take it’ type lifestyle and they end up with a hand in many different types of businesses and such. Drugs, weapons, you name it. With their quirks they can get shit with zero cost and make all the profit they could ever fucking want so they’re living like a King and Queen.

Of course, they can’t let others in the same business know too much about them so they can’t live overly lavishly and they have to seem like they are on the same level as everyone else is in the playing field. This means that straight up stealing is limited, but every once in a while Shinsou will just tell someone to hand over their product without a fuss, or his s/o will make them believe that the products they gave were paid for.

When things get too easy, they both end up itching to go the extra mile to get the same thrill as they used to. This means risky missions, many near death experiences, using some of the ‘products’ they should be sending out to be sold on the streets, anything. It’s almost like they are living only with the purpose of telling death to come and stop them.

It was during one of these ‘risky’ missions when the two of them had run into a group of old pals from UA. Shinsou specifically told his s/o to leave Deku alone, but the rest were fair game.

While it was nice seeing their old classmates crumble, the ones who were always so high and mighty were the best to watch. Seeing fear in the eyes of those who claimed to not know of such things was definitely a treat.

All the while, as skewed as their motives have become, their personalities are the same and Shinsou is the same old snarky, tired eyed little shit and his s/o is the same as they’ve always been. Of course there’s a bit of questionable sanity thrown in there, but that’s totally irrelevant..right?

NSFW

I’m not saying either of them are sex addicts or anything, but when you mix an adrenaline rush with two intense lovers such as themselves, things get very heated very easily.

There is a lot of fucking straight after a mission. Hell, the two of them could be in the lavish penthouse of some poor fuck they just murdered and robbed with the body still slumped in the corner and he’ll have his s/o pinned up against the wall twenty feet away.

Originally, Shinsou was a very passionate and slow lover when it came to sex with his s/o. He liked taking the time to show his appreciation and he’d happily take a half hour or longer to eat out/suck off his lover to his heart’s content because he can’t deny that hearing them beg for release gets him just as excited as hearing a hero with a gun to their head begging to be spared.

He still will do this if he’s got the time, but fuck has he come to love the fast, erotic post-murder/mission fucking fueled by adrenaline and excitement at the previous venture.

During these times, things get rough and Shinsou is absolutely one to leave little finger shaped bruises all down his s/o’s sides from gripping too hard. Oddly enough though, he tries not to leave many hickies because when he sees them the next day, he finds it hard to concentrate just because he wants to bend his s/o over the nearest table and fuck them all over again.

The two of them have also had more time to develop less..vanilla tastes and indulge in likes or kinks that may seem strange to others.

For example, Shinsou stopped being embarrassed about it a long time ago, but a lot of times he’s asked his s/o to wear lipstick because he has an odd fascination with seeing everywhere their lips were on his body after a passionate evening.

E s p e c i a l l y when he has the honor of seeing that ring of red or pink so close to the base of his cock. It’s almost a game to see how far his s/o was able to take it this time around and he’s always hoping that they’ll ‘win’ that game and make it to the ‘top’.

[tothewaterhq]

ACCEPTED // FELL VASILE

district 2 → mentor → sebastian stan

positive traits: dauntless, steadfast, stoic negative traits: mordant, reckless, blunt

describe their arena: The Arena that year was mountainous in terrain. The Cornucopia was set on a flat field framed by the mountains, stone ruins dotting the landscape. The remnants of an old stone castle surrounded the Cornucopia, a river running down the southern section of the clearing. A stone bridge arched over the river, giving the Tributes the only way to cross over the river without being swept away by the current. The weather was often cold, an overcast constantly casting the Arena in a gray, gloomy atmosphere. Occasionally, it would rain, a storm brewing just before the finale of The Games.

To bring Tributes down from the mountains, the Gamemakers would activate earthquakes in the mountains, powerful enough to bring boulders and other debris down the rocky slopes. The earthquakes rumbled through the ruins of the stone castle as well, collapsing two of the towers and even the bridge over the river once the Tributes reached the Cornucopia. However, the earthquakes The Gamemakers started had more bang for their buck, overshadowing the finale of The 58th Hunger Games with its power in the Arena.

biography:

Fell had been born fifteen minutes before his twin sister, Larka. Ever since they were young, everything had always been a competition between them. While for some siblings, the competition may have driven them further apart, the siblings actually formed a strong bond, often training together and teaching the other different ways to excel in their skills. Larka was slightly smaller than Fell, much more lithe and agile. Meanwhile Fell was mostly muscle, dealing heavy hits and relying more on his strength than his speed. The two helped balance each other out well in training at the Academy, placing near the top of their class. It was always a thrill to watch the twins sparring since they were so evenly matched against one another.

When he turned eighteen, Fell felt a sense of pride when his sister had volunteered for The Games. They had spoken enthusiastically about the possible terrains The Gamemakers would throw at them, or what their strategies would be in certain scenarios. He knew Larka was ready for The Games, no matter what was thrown at her. But neither of them expected Fell’s name to be drawn from the Reaping bowl that year, too. No one volunteered, not out of spite, but for the thrill of the idea; they had been enthralled, watching the siblings spar. Now they would watch them fight to the death in The Games.

While there originally had been excitement in going into The Arena, neither Larka or Fell anticipated they would be forced to fight each other to the death. Still, Larka had insisted they stay allied together, take out the competition together even if it meant fighting the Careers on their own. Instead, Fell decided to go alone, taking up no allegiances, not even with his sister. As foolish as it was, he didn’t want her to stay attached to him going into the Arena. He had his own plan: take out as much of the competition as he could and if it came down to him and his sister, he would sacrifice himself so she could go home. If either of them deserved the title of Victor, Fell knew it was Larka. She was far more charismatic than he was, winning over the audience and sponsors effortlessly. Fell had adopted more of a solitary approach, earning the nickname The Lone Wolf of the 58th Hunger Games.

That year, the Bloodbath had been a brutal one. Fell had racked up a good amount of the kills, taking down any of the Tributes in his way that had dared to venture toward the mouth of the Cornucopia. At times he used his knife, or a sword he had picked up, but most of the time, Fell used his bare hands to strangle the Tributes or snap their necks. His kills were quick, swift as he went from one target to the next almost seamlessly. Instead of sticking with the Career Pack, Fell had left the stone ruins behind and took to the mountains, hunting down the other Tributes that had dared the rocky landscape. Any Tributes he didn’t kill, The Career Pack had handled until there were only four Tributes left after only a few days.

Once the earthquakes had started, Fell knew he had to break for the clearing near The Cornucopia. Boulders and falling trees rolled down the mountain side as he made his break for the bridge. Out of the corner of his eye was another figure weaving through the obstacles. Fell and the boy from One had reached the courtyard first, the ground still rumbling beneath their feet. The two boys were caught up in a fight, barely noticing Larka and One’s District partner had been running for the bridge to cross the river below. The Arena trembled again, the rubble shifting and another tower near the bridge swaying from the violent tremors rumbling through The Arena. Fell reached for the knife tucked in is belt and slit the boy’s throat, thrusting the blade in his bloodied jugular for good measure. Covered in blood, Fell made it to his feet in time to see the bridge collapse from under Larka and the girl from One’s feet.

He rushed to the edge of the bridge, reaching out toward Larka. She leaped from the falling stones, reaching out toward her brother’s bloodied, outstretched hand. Fell had always intended Larka to win, that it would be the two of them and he would take his own life so his blood wouldn’t be on her hands. That was how it was supposed to go, how he willed it to as he tried to stretch further to reach Larka. She had missed his hand, crashing down into the water with the girl from One. The heavy stones of the bridge crashed on top of them, crushing their bodies if the current hadn’t already swept them away. The swaying tower had finally collapsed into the river, grinding the salt in the wound of Larka’s passing and Fell’s failure. Fell barely heard the cannons go off from the collapsing tower, staring into the rushing waters below.

To The Capitol, the finale that year had been disappointing. It had been seen as anticlimactic since there was no big fight between The Tributes at the end. Still, Fell had been admired greatly for the many kills he made, The Capitol even tacking on Larka and the girl from One’s deaths onto his kill count. Fell felt the devastation of his Victory, not because of the disappointment it wrought, but because of his sister’s death. She was meant to win The Games, not him. The one thing he felt The Capitol got right was his responsibility for Larka’s death. Had he reached further, or made sure she was keeping up, perhaps she could have made it out of the Arena. But the odds had been in his favor that day, not hers. The Victory Tour had passed him by in a blur, barely focused after sleepless nights either on his own accord or from nightmares. Visiting the families of the Tributes he had killed was challenging, but he took it in stride in the public eye.

Fell was a strict Mentor, but given his District’s reputation, he had to be. Treating each lesson like the lessons he had gone through and the ways he and Larka taught each other helped create Victors for their District. He never was heartbroken when his Tributes died, it was part of The Games. If anything, Fell was disappointed. His PTSD was severe, making him unpredictable and prone to violent outbursts if provoked. Despite his reputation as The Lone Wolf in his Games and his popularity for his brutality in the Arena, Fell was still haunted by the faces of the Tributes he killed in the Arena, of the grieving families he visited on his Victory Tour. He was also especially haunted by Larka, and the look of hope in her eyes as she reached out to try and take his hand before falling to her death. After all that time, he still hasn’t been able to wash the blood from his hands.

When it came to do President Snow’s bidding, Fell blatantly refused. Fell had nothing left to lose; his parents were gone and Larka had been killed in The Games. The Capitol had nothing to do to him with all their power, and he loved reminding them of that fact. Needless to say, he didn’t cooperate well with authority even before his Games, but his aggression was only fueled by The Capitol’s attempts to control him. He never was a very social person, but that didn’t mean he was quiet by any means. Brutally honest, Fell would speak his mind with little consideration for the consequences. But if there was some sort of mutual respect or if he liked someone, he would feel less inclined to offend them; hell, he might even stand up for them or help them out when needed. Fell isn’t entirely heartless, however, he isn’t kind, either.

PLAYED BY // KAT

[constructionaccounting]

0307: How To Prepare Your Construction Business To Go From Local To Regional Scale

This Podcast Is Episode Number 0307, And It Will Be About How To Prepare Your Construction Business To Go From Local To Regional Scale

The construction industry offers a lot of opportunities. Entrepreneurs developing a construction business have an insatiable desire to grow and expand. Even though this domain offers a lot of opportunities, it brings also a lot of challenges in the same package. Therefore, when you decide to expand your construction company from local to regional, there are a lot of things you need to consider. This article is going to show which strategies you can apply to have a successful transition.

First, you should understand why you need to expand your construction in another city. Below you can find a list of questions you should answer before deciding if you are prepared for this move.

Steps to Follow Before Expanding on a Regional Level

What are your customers asking? 

A successful construction business is the one that develops long-term relationships with its clients. When you start a business, one of the first steps is to determine your target audience and understand their requirements and expectations. Therefore, when your clients start asking you to deliver your services in other geographical areas, then it means that you need to expand regionally.

Is your market saturated?

Even though your clients are not asking you to collaborate with them in other areas, this doesn’t mean that you cannot expand your construction business. Any local market has its competition, especially when we are talking about a productive industry like construction. Therefore, it is obvious that, no matter how big your business is, you won’t be able to cover more than a certain percentage of the entire market. Thus, you will reach a moment when your market will be saturated. This is a clear sign that you need to think of an expansion strategy.

Will it help you to leverage your expertise?

If you want to be successful in the construction industry, you need to be innovative and unique. Whether you are using a different internal system, or your people have special skills, you need to stay ahead of your competition. Therefore, expanding your construction business to a regional level will be a great opportunity to leverage your expertise.

Will this expansion motivate your key employees?

One of the biggest difficulties construction companies face is motivating their key employees. What is more, it becomes even harder to find good people to work in this demanding environment. Therefore, once you find them, it is very important to keep them motivated. Thus, when you decide to move from local to regional, think also from your key employees’ perspective. If this may represent a motivating factor for them, then this is a good reason to build your business in a different city as well.

Are you ready to fund your growth?

Even though your construction company is already making a nice profit, growth will always need an investment. For instance, you may need upfront capital to acquire an existing company. Or you may also need money to buy or rent new equipment to start big in the new location. Therefore, before jumping into expansion, you need to think carefully about how your strategy will look and be ready to fund your growth at a regional level.

Challenges to Overcome When Expanding a Construction Business

You can learn a lot from the mistakes other business owners do. So, if you don’t want to repeat them, take a look at the pitfalls mentioned below and analyze your exposure before venturing into expanding your construction business.

Underestimating the efforts necessary to succeed

When you open a new branch in a different city, you need to be ready to invest a lot of time, energy, and money to make sure that you will be successful. Opening an office in a different city is a long-term investment. So, you need to be prepared for the entire process. Entrepreneurs should be ready to translate their marketing content and materials into different languages if they want to approach an expanded target audience. It is very important that people know about you and understands what you have to offer.

Underestimating your competitors

You may be the strongest construction company locally, but this doesn’t mean that once you expand you will keep your top position. The power of the local competitors is usually underestimated by most business owners. But, they have a very important advantage. They know the market very well and have strong local connections. Therefore, even though your work processes and equipment are superior, you will need some time to make clients understand you are trustful, and you really bring something new on the market. Moreover, once you have discovered who your local competitors are, you can analyze their progress on the market and understand what they did wrong and what was good that placed them in this position. In addition, you also need to be prepared for a price drop. Your local competitors will have a primary interest to make you fail. So, they will most probably drop the prices to achieve this goal.

Hiring the wrong branch manager

When you open a branch in a different city, you need a very strong branch manager. You can choose either a local person who knows the market very well and is well-connected with the key stakeholders. But, you can also offer this opportunity to an existing employee who will find it very motivating and put all his efforts into making your business a success. Either option you choose, you need to be mindful in offering him or her an incentive to win. Your branch manager should treat this business as it was his. Thus, he will feel motivated to do everything he can to achieve your goals.

In conclusion

Construction is definitely not a game where you grow or die. Yes, growth can increase your profits and strengthen your brand on the market. But, if it is not done properly, growth can also kill your business as you might not be prepared for the investment and challenges which will come.

About The Author:

 Kristin Savage has graduated from Columbia University where she was majoring in Germanic Languages. Besides English as her mother tongue, she also speaks German and Dutch fluently. Currently, Kristin is studying Spanish and planning to obtain her Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics since she is interested in how to use her practical knowledge of language processes in everyday life. She has been a writer at Pick Writersfor a few years and is known for her thorough approach to all the tasks and aspiration to fulfill assignments with flying colors. 

---------------------------------------------------------------

We are here to Help “A Little or A Lot” depending on your needs.

I trust this podcast helps you understand that outsourcing your contractor's bookkeeping services to us is about more than just “doing the bookkeeping”; it is about taking a holistic approach to your entire construction company and helping support you as a contractor and as a person.

We Remove Contractor's Unique Paperwork Frustrations

We understand the good, bad and the ugly about owning and operating construction companies because we have had several of them and we sincerely care about you and your construction company!

That is all I have for now, and if you have listened to this far please do me the honor of commenting and rating the Podcast  www.FastEasyAccounting.com/podcast Tell me what you liked, did not like, tell it as you see it because your feedback is crucial and I thank you in advance.

You Deserve To Be Wealthy Because You Bring Value To Other People's Lives!

I trust this will be of value to you and your feedback is always welcome at www.FastEasyAccounting.com/podcast

This Is One more example of how Fast Easy Accounting is helping construction company owners across the USA including Alaska and Hawaii put more money in the bank to operate and grow your construction company. Construction accounting is not rocket science; it is a lot harder than that, and a lot more valuable to construction contractors like you so stop missing out and call Sharie 206-361-3950 or email sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com

Contractor Bookkeeping Done For You!

Thinking About Outsourcing Your Contractors Bookkeeping Services?

Click On The Link Below:

www.FastEasyAccounting.com/hs

This guide will help you learn what to look for in outsourced construction accounting.

Need Help Now?

Call Sharie 206-361-3950

sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com

Thank you very much, and I hope you understand we do care about you and all contractors regardless of whether or not you ever hire our services. Bye for now until our next episode here on the Contractors Success MAP Podcast.

  Our Workflow Removes Your Paperwork Frustrations

For Contractors Who Prefer

To Do Your Bookkeeping

Fast Easy Accounting Do-It-Yourself

Construction Accounting Store Is Open

Most Contractors Setup QuickBooks Or Xero Online Accounting Using:

#1 EZ Step Interview inside QuickBooks Setup #2 Asked Their Tax Accountant To Setup QuickBooks #3 They Attended A How To Setup QuickBooks Class Or Seminar

And QuickBooks Does Not Work The Way They Want It Too!

The Answer:

#1 Click Here To Buy An Entire QuickBooks Setup For Your Specific Contracting Company

#2 Click Here To Buy Just The Chart Of Accounts For Your Specific Contracting Company

Check out this episode about Contractors Marketing - Accounting - Production (M.A.P.)!

[kennethherrerablog]

30 of the Absolute Best Freebies We’ve Ever Found Online

Man, there’s nothing better than free stuff. Like when you’re walking through a mall’s food court and an employee offers you a bite-sized morsel of bourbon chicken impaled on a toothpick?

Always take the bite-sized morsel of bourbon chicken. Always. Every single time. You don’t even have to be hungry. Right?

The point is, we all love free stuff. But not all free stuff is worth loving.

We’re always finding freebies — from email newsletter perks to free stuff on your birthday — but we decided it was time to round up the best of the best.

After extensive research, our crack staff of freebie-ologists have put together this sweet list of quality freebies for you. Only the finest freebies are allowed in this list. From coffee to coconut oil to diapers, here’s the ultimate list of our favorite free stuff online.

1. Free Credit Score

No, really. Hear us out.

If you’ve ever tried to get your credit score, you know most services make you sign up for a trial or charge you an outrageous amount of money. But it’s your credit score! Where do they get the nerve?

Credit Sesame will give it to you for free. And it takes about 90 seconds.

You’ll also see a credit report card, so you can check for errors. Finding and correcting just one could give your credit score a significant boost!

2. Free Scratch-off Tickets

There’s something so satisfying about those gas station scratch-off tickets — scritch scritch scritch scritch — but it’s better to avoid them because, well, that’s not Penny Hoarding.

Instead, try scratching free tickets through an app called Lucktastic. Every day, it releases a new assortment of digital scratch-off tickets. Lucktastic says instant wins range from $1 to $10,000. You can also earn tokens, enter contests and play games.

30. Free Cash 

It turns out deleting your emails could be costing you money. Intrigued?

One of our secret weapons is called Paribus — a tool that gets you money back for your online purchases. It’s free to sign up, and once you do, it will scan your email for any receipts. If it discovers you’ve purchased something from one of its monitored retailers, it will track the item’s price and help you get a refund when there’s a price drop.

Plus, if your guaranteed shipment shows up late, Paribus will help you get compensated.

4. Free Ice Cream

We’ll never, ever pass up an opportunity for free ice cream. If we ever do, you should go ahead and start making our funeral arrangements. This is free ice cream we’re talking about!

When you download the Slab Happy Rewards app from Marble Slab Creamery, you’ll get free ice cream just for signing up. After that, you’ll earn points for each dollar you spend, and you can cash them in for $5 off future purchases.

5. Free Pizza

You can get a free personal one-topping pizza on your next visit when you sign up for Chuck E. Cheese’s More Cheese Rewards program.

In addition to free pizza, you’ll get a $10 reward for every three visits when you spend over $20 and unspecified treats on your birthday and half-birthday.

Everyone forgets the half-birthday.

6. Free Godiva Chocolate

Free Godiva chocolate — what could be better?

We’re pretty sure free Godiva chocolate is handed out every day in heaven. Probably those chocolate salted-caramel truffles.

Even better: This offer isn’t a one-time deal. Once you sign up, you get free chocolate every month at participating locations, plus birthday chocolate!

7. Free $10 for Sharing Your Receipts

We know it sounds strange, but Ibotta will pay you cash for taking pictures of your grocery store receipts.

Here’s how it works:

Before heading to the store, search for items on your shopping list within the Ibotta app. When you get home, snap a photo of your receipt and scan the items’ barcodes.

Bam. Cash back.

Ibotta is free to download. Plus, you’ll get a $10 sign-up bonus after uploading your first receipt.

8. Free $5 Worth of Stocks

If you’re like most of us and wish your money would just take care of itself, consider starting an investment account through Acorns.

You can start small and stack up change over time with its “round-up” feature. That means if you spend $10.23 at the grocery store, 77 cents gets dropped into your Acorns account.

Then, the app does the whole investing thing for you — and you’ll get a $5 bonus when you sign up.

9. Free Baby Diapers

Is your family growing? Create a Target baby registry to get over $100 in free baby stuff!

Even better, when your due date is eight weeks away, you’ll get a 15% discount on any items remaining on your registry.

10. Free Financial Assistant

Not everyone can afford pricy help managing our finances. Instead, we call in the bots. Here are two of our favorite free helpers:

Download TrueBill, an app that’ll negotiate your bills, cancel unwanted subscriptions and refund your bank fees. On average, Truebill customers get $12 in credits off their cable bills each month.

Trim is an all-in-one money-saving tool that lives in your computer or smartphone. When you sign up with your email or Facebook account, you’ll gain access to a number of powerful features, including its debt payoff calculator. Once you land on a monthly payment you can handle, mark your debt-free date on your calendar and plan to celebrate!

11. Free Coffee

Want to try a bag of some of the best coffee in the country — completely free?

You can get a 2-ounce trial of Blue Bottle’s famous beans for nothing at all.

It’s part of their monthly subscription service, so you’ll need to enter your credit card info, but you’ll get an email before Blue Bottle charges you and sends you more coffee. Just cancel your subscription if you don’t want to keep getting coffee.

12. Free Baby Gifts

Expecting? Join Enfamil Family Beginnings to get up to $400 in free gifts and a chance to win a $25,000 scholarship for your baby*. Your gifts will include things like coupons for baby necessities, free samples of Enfamil formula and other goodies.

13. Free Bare Minerals Makeup

It’s safe to say that lookin’ pretty ain’t cheap. Whether you’re purchasing lipstick or foundation, blush or primer, you’re bound to rack up a pretty penny — especially if you want the good stuff.

Before you buy anything else, check out Bare Minerals. The company wants to give your wallet a well-deserved break with a free five-piece customizable Everyday Minerals makeup kit sample (based on your skin tone). You’ll just pay for shipping.

Not interested in a makeup kit? It’s giving away free eyeshadow samples, too!

14. Free Baby Shoes

Is there anything cuter than baby shoes?

That’s a firm no.

Little Wanderers, an independent retailer, stocks some adorable footgear — and you can snag a pair for free by using our code PENNY1.

Choose from some fringe boots or a pair of high-top sneaks. There are even some miniature snow boots with fur. So cute!

15. Free Branding Checklist

If you’re ready to get a freelance or small business off the ground, branding and consulting company Braid wants to help.

Sign up for its email list to get a free copy of its branding checklist to help position yourself as a creative expert.

16. Free “Support the Troops” Sticker

Show your support for the U.S. military with this free “Support the Troops” sticker from “Military Times.” You can choose from a sticker or four window clings.

17. Free Onesies

With Custom Snappies, you can create your own design for a onesie that will express as much fun and attitude as your little one does. Get two free Custom Snappies with the promo code PENNY1 at checkout. You’ll just pay shipping and handling.

18. Free Pancakes

Who doesn’t like pancakes? IHOP has pancakes. If you join the chain’s e-club, called Pancake Revolution, you get a free stack of Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity Pancakes. You get the same thing on your birthday, and on each anniversary of signing up.

18. Free Kind Granola Bar

This is #kindawesome.

This free Kind granola bar isn’t necessarily a freebie for you, but a gift you give to someone else for being kind. Get it? You’re doing something kind for someone who did something kind — paying it forward without paying a thing.

20. Free Shampoo

If you sign up for Pantene’s email list, the company will mail you free samples of shampoo and other products.

21. Free Beauty Consultation

Try out a free beauty consultation at Aveda, which advertises “free services for hair, skin & spirit.”

This will likely be a 15-minute facial, or makeup or hair session at your local Aveda, where you can get a stylist’s opinion on which products are best for you.

If you buy something there, ask for some free, trial-sized samples as a bonus.

22. Free Dog and Cat Food

No longer content with only feeding humans, Rachael Ray is venturing into dog and cat food these days. Her “Nutrish” brand is gourmet, natural, nutritious pet chow.

You can request a sample of her dog or cat food here.

23. Free Baby Leggings

Head over to BabyLeggings.com and throw a pair in your cart. At checkout, just use the code “PENNY1,” and you’ll only have to pay for shipping.

24. Free Roast Beef Sandwich

Hungry? Arby’s has an email list. If you sign up for it, you’ll get a free Roast Beef Classic with the purchase of a drink. (Arby’s will also send you coupons.)

This is one of the only offers on this list that requires you to buy something to get something else for free. But hey, you’re going to need something to wash down your free roast beef sandwich.

25. Free Samples

Like to try new things?

Sign up to be a “Pincher” with PINCHme, and you’ll get a free box of samples of your choosing every week. In exchange, you’ll share your opinions about the new products you try.

26. Free Dunkin

Do you run on Dunkin?

Join the DD Perks program to get a free beverage when you sign up and on your birthday. Plus, you’ll earn points for every purchase and get a free beverage for every 200 points.

27. Free Access to National Parks

Every year, the National Park Service offers free days when all national parks, monuments and historical sites offer free admission.

In 2018, for example, the free days were scheduled for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the first day of National Park Week, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day.

28. Free Baby Diapers and Wipes Bundle 

All babies do is sleep, eat and… yeah.

If you’re a parent, you could definitely use some free diapers from The Honest Company. The company will send you a free trial box of diapers and wipes as part of its subscription program.

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[survivordivergent]

EPISODE 1 (PART 2) - “WHY U NO MORE ACTIVE DO U WANNA DIE” - PAYTON

okay so this game is actually a little scary bc essentially it's starting over. Like im treating these people as newbies that Ive never played with before and that's scary. Im comparing to Malaysia, which started off so well. I had a solid alliance literally in the first hour of that game. And the tribe itself talked all the time. Here? Candor talk, but not a lot. And pms are like, dead. Im so afraid of bringing up an alliance with anyone bc I dont want to play hard just yet. Im trying to just be agreeable anf likeable. I'm working on those acting skills for you, Jenn!  Anyway, I think we have a decent shot at immunity. Our faction we created, though ironic considering the theme of the season, is solid. If we can avoid tribal this round, I'll work on forming stronger bonds with the others, specifically Jill. Anyway, I'm done talking for now..

I like the Amity tribe for the most part. Kyle seems like a very solid person. We've had preliminary chats and I feel like I can trust them. That's super important on a four person tribe. I also like Will — we've talked about speed running video games, which is something I watch on YouTube to kill time at work.

Kyle and I have agreed to swap info RE: idols. That's the best I can hope for right now — that, and trust. Which is why I intend on being fully forthcoming. You need a ride or die in these games.

I haven't talked to Betty yet, which is a shame. But when you're on a four person tribe, you take any weakness you can get. I just hope the same holds true with Kyle and Will.

It's been very hard to stay in character. I've had to avoid four things that are distinctly me:

1. Starting sentences by dropping the subject (e.g., Can't believe this vs. I can't believe this) 2. Overt Canadianism — I've been using 'huh' instead of 'eh' and dropping u's in words where they CLEARLY BELONG 3. Endless use of the em dash — — — 4. Excessive emoji use.

Even still, I'm paranoid that I'm being too me. I thought being an "English major" would give me good cover to use full sentences, but I definitely didn't think through the fact that I'm one of the only ones to use proper punctuation and capitalization in TS, anyway. It's also why I'm not as talkative or as jokey as usual. I really don't want a bad pun to accidentally slip out, because that's more or less a giveaway.

*Moments Later*

Good/bad/ugly kind of day.

Good: Kyle and I traded idol info. We worked together on the Erudite clue and found the first hidden blog. Appears to be blocked until we get the next clue, though. But that was definitely a show of good faith and I'm glad Kyle can be trusted.

Bad: I got sweet nothing at the Amity idol. Like, not even remotely okay. No usable info at all. Bleh.

Ugly: Kyle and I are the only ones talking in tribe chat. Which, like... no? We've got a group challenge to do??? Kinda hard to incorporate everyone when everyone's not around.

I want a new tribe.

Me @ this entire tribe: 

Like actually though, how do I contact their real accounts and tell them I'd like to talk to them? This whole checking in for five minutes every 10 hours while Drewlissa does the comps thing isn't working. Or actually, sadly, I guess it is working, but it should probably stop before I cry.

This comp is due in seven hours or so and, aside from picking a name, I've gotten no help at all from my tribe. It's mildly ironic that we're doing a laid-back faction, because the amount to which everyone else is so laid back is really stressing me out.

It reminds me of team projects in high school, where the person who cared least always did the least amount of work. I've never been that person. I can't do that. It bothers me that I can't in this case, but it's just not wired into my genetics. And since I haven't heard from Will or Betty (WHOSE NAME I HAD TO DOUBLE CHECK JUST NOW) since the first day... it's stressful, dude. I don't want us to go to tribal first. But then again, would it really be a bad thing?

Yes, probably. The person who sticks out is usually the first to go and, by virtue of ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO THE CHALLENGE, I'm the person who sticks out on this tribe. Fuck me. I'm going to do the written part, but I refuse to do the Photoshoppy bit. Someone else has to do that. Pat is always the one who volunteers to do the artsy stuff. Ed is much more comfortable with written words than graphics. So Ed's passing the buck on that one task.

If nobody else does it, we're getting a super shitty Paint edit. And we'll deserve every bit of scorn that's heaped on us. And while Ed will be dismayed, Pat will be laughing his ass off because if people aren't invested or trying, they don't deserve nice things.

Ed is really trying to embody the ideals of Amity tribe. Kindness. Peace. Giving freely, trusting that you will be given what's needed. But Ed can only give so much before he reaches his breaking point. Peace, kindness, absolutely. Ed's been pushing in the tribe chat, but with a smile on his face and in a non-confrontational way. All I can hope is that Will, Betty and Kyle see fit to give freely, too, in the next seven hours.

Easily the most frustrating thing I've run across in my ORG career. Including being blindsided on three separate occasions and being booted because I alerted an ally that the minority was gunning for him.

Lemme see if I can knock this out before Survivor starts.

So things are still very quiet at Amity, the only person really active other than me is Ed. So I got to talking to Ed, and he suggests that we work together for now, which I don't have an objection to because he seems pretty cool. Ed and I continue talking and we end up helping each other find idols. We made a deal that I'd find the Erudite idol, and he'd find Amity. I'm hoping that Ed is holding true, at least for now, because he really doesn't have a reason not to.

Then there's Betty who went completely MIA for a day but apparently it was because she was studying. I talked to her a bit the first night but the conversation ended when I said I was craving meatballs.

And there's Will who I talked to for a bit the first two nights but we're starting to lose touch, so I'm gonna have to fix that soon.

For the most part, I just want to make sure I have strong enough connections with everyone on my tribe so that if we happen to lose a challenge, I have flexibility.

I don't think I'm gonna try to ally with anyone. I'm considering ways to play my game, hopefully by being charismatic. I think if anything, Jill is my best route. She seems mature, level headed, and she speaks to me. I talk to her and Eliza equally, though Eliza seems a little naive almost? But I wouldn't vote her off first. She did good for us in reward, and had really good ideas in Immunity. I think Peter is just... not a good click. I think he got a bad mix for a tribe and I think he is busy with college. But it's not that I don't like him, I do! I just really want to get to know him more. So I'm hoping we are in the top two. Whew. Oh boy.

There's.... five factions isn't there... uh... I meant top three. Yep.

So as we are waiting for immunity results, I am talking to Payton. I fully believe we did a great job with this challenge and I think we have a pretty good chance of being one of the winning tribes for this challenge. If it were to happen that we do in fact lose (in which case I can't WAIT to see these other factions because they must be L I T!) I mentioned to Payton that us two and Eliza have been closer to each other than Peter. At least from what I can tell so far. And I think mostly I say that out of challenge performance and overall presence. This is still an awkward game to navigate with everyone being a fake person. None of us are online or social that much and we all know we are 'getting to know' fake people. It is a lot of effort to put in and it seems like everyone mutually agrees it's not totally worth it. This is at least how I am interpreting everything as of right now

Now is probably an appropriate time to make a confessional since I just got voted the FUCK out of Panem.

Okay, so hi! My name is Jaiden Hantz, but for all intents and purposes, I am now Danielle "Barbie" Quinn for Survivor Storybook: Divergent.

Immediately, I'm placed on the Dauntless tribe and I'm already thinking about how I can make some iconic and memorable moves under this brand new identity. I'm definitely adding rocks at the top of the list because, you know, Survivor Storybook STILL has yet to have a rock draw occur in the series! And Barbie succeeds at everything Jaiden fails at (so no, I will not be getting first boot or eighth place. I will be winning).

I think I'm making a TON of rookie mistakes in terms of concealing my identity. I think that I've made it extremely clear who I am because I have a certain set of mannerisms with my language, my typing, and pretty much everything else I have going on. I'm also in the middle of hosting another season, so it's incredibly difficult to give 100% of my time to this season. Although being voted out of Panem tonight literally frees up a huge portion of my schedule, I need to begin to systematically eliminate my entire tribe. Venturing out through this game alone without the assistance of my tribemates is such a Dauntless thing to do, lmao.

I also need to begin to formulate a better backstory for myself. I'll be as realistic as possible, and I'll leave small little information notes about who I am as a person. I say that I attend college (university), but that I live at home with my mom and dad and sibling. I haven't determined whether or not to name this sibling, but I'll go ahead and just say that it's my sister because I already have one of those. I need to become more active on my Tumblr blog (which is my next order of business after submitting this confessional) and make it seem like I'm truly a normal person.

Right off the bat, my first targets would be the other Danielle and Otto. Danielle is literally the most inactive person on our tribe, while Otto and I have talked so much and I have been super wary about the bullshit I've been feeding him. I also need to go through my actual skype and delete contacts with the people who I do not talk to frequently that COULD be on this season, as they would be the first to notice if Jaiden signs off of Skype and then shortly after they notice on their other account that Barbie is online; but that we are never online at the same time. I think that this helps conceal my identity better, and I know that "identity" is going to be a large issue for me as time goes along because I do have super noticeable characteristics in my gameplay and language. Otto would pick up on some of these things faster than anyone else because he gives me such a strong vibe of someone who is unbelievably intelligent, and that intimidates me a ton.

I'm hoping that this journey does change a lot about how I play Survivor because I need some harsh improvement. I'm taking some of the lessons I learned from Panem and applying them to this game, so expect me to "pop off" on others less, but strategize and bond with others more. I really am playing this game to finish up and complete my Survivor Storybook experience because it's time for this icon to retire or something.

It's also super weird that I've played in this series four whole times??? Agrabah, Raccoon City, Panem, and now Divergent. Weird. And unlike the other four time player, I'm not a complete and utter flop!

We won immunity!  Thank god.  I feel like I am in trouble with this game. I'm so busy with hosting my own season that at the end of the day this challenge completely slipped my mind. If we were going to tribal I know it would be my neck on the line. Although Geo hasn't really done anything either. I pretty much only talk to Melissa now.

WE DID THAT I'm in love Bless Riley for picking Nelson Mandela because the judges full-on nutted at that.

I can't believe we lost to fucking Mattel. And it's kind of hard to know where yo went wrong when one judge's feedback is 'No.' and 'Nah.' Go to hell, "Indiana." Your alias isn't an excuse to be a rude dick who provides no rationale for low scores.

Anyway, full credit to Erudite and Candor. They definitely knocked it out of the park and I don't think any of us should have come close to touching those two at the top. And while I'm bitter as hell about having to do the challenge with only two of us, STILL kicking ass, then losing to goddamn Barbies...

Actually, let me back up some because I just remembered my last confessional. Kyle came through in the clutch and did some really good stuff in the comp. If I'm going to heap scorn on those who deserve it, I should definitely praise those who deserve it too. And Kyle helped out a LOT. Couldn't have done it without him.

(Slight aside, I feel super awkward using pronouns in this season. What if 'Kyle' is a girl? Or 'Betty' is a guy? I'm trying to avoid them as much as I can but sometimes they slip out.)

Anyway, this vote should be relatively straightforward. Neither Will nor Betty were present for that comp, but Betty hasn't said more than a few words in the tribe chat. At least Will has been around, and helped us quite a bit in reward. Whereas the only thing I've heard from Betty is that the reason they weren't around is that they were studying. Which is fair, but... if they had time to send me that message, did they not have time to check the tribe chat and see that Kyle and I were asking for input?

So, it's looking like Betty. Hopefully Will's on board and doesn't split the vote for the sake of being funny. And hopefully Betty votes, period. Although it may be better if they don't? Doesn't seem like they're especially engaged, anyway.

Fucking Mattel. Are you serious. A faction based on a PLASTIC DOLL?! How is that even logical? I'll give them kudos for the leader, which is funny. But the anthem? Too easy. The Headquarters? Literally copy/paste. (I realize ours isn't much better, as it was just an art filter applied over top of an image. But theirs got 138 points. Ours got not even half that. That's total garbage.)

And for that matter, how do we rate 1's across the board for the name, Indiana?? Just because you don't like the name doesn't mean effort didn't go into it. Doesn't mean it's completely incohesive with our theme. Doesn't mean it's not creative. Rate us low on overall appeal, fine, but that was some grade-A bullshit.

And ditto with the anthem. Fuck right off, that was inspired. How is it any less cohesive with our idea than Barbie Girl or We're In This Together???

God. I'm really upset about these results. We deserved better, but it's clear that one judge didn't care to judge based on the given criteria. And that one judge's scores were enough to put us at a significant  disadvantage. It's really hard to well in a comp when the criteria we're given for success aren't the ones that are being judged.

supposedly danielle is getting voted out 2nite bc shes never online. i think thats the best thing for us to do. hopefully the three of them didn't actually click up to vote me out. Hoping 4 the best tonight!