#the bill was so unexpected though lmao

[captainswan618]

I got my calendar, with a little bonus Bill on the packaging!!

Anyway thank you to @gfhunklescalendar for putting this all together and giving me fanart to put on my wall :D

[hannyoontify]

the way you said hello - kim mingyu

member | executive chef!mingyu x reader (ft. jeonghan & seungkwan)

genre | (implied) soulmates!au, meet cute, strangers to lovers au, fluff, (angst if you rlly rlly rlly squint)

word count | 2.8k

synopsis | after a disastrous blind date, the night takes an unexpected turn when the restaurant’s handsome owner, mingyu, steps in. what starts as an act of kindness quickly becomes something more as sparks fly over a chance meeting

warnings | cursing, lowk kinda suggestive if you squint, kissing, one (1) mention of a knife, mentions of mingyu having previous injuries sustained from his occupation, there is a SIGNIFICANT time skip at the end but i don't specify how much LMAO that's up to ygs discretion

notes | requested by anon! i'm so sorry if this wasn't the direction you wanted it to go in 😭 i swear i tried my best! lowk don't know if i like this or not but i really liked the bickering between oc n seunghan NOT PROOFREAD

this can be read as a stand-alone or as a sequel to this mingyu fic!

You anxiously bounced your leg under the table, gently gnawing on your bottom lip as you glanced around the fancy restaurant. Across from you, the chair in front of you had now been empty for an awfully long time now and something told you that your blind date had ditched, leaving you with the incredibly overwhelming and taxing bill.

Fuck.

You rested your head in your hands and let out a tired sigh. There was no way this was happening.

As you reached for your wallet, you flagged down a nearby waiter to ask for the bill. He nodded at your request and you let out what seemed to the umpteenth sigh of that night. While waiting for the bill to reach your table, you began rearranging the leftover peas on your porcelain plate.

“Didn’t know we had a Picasso in the house.” An unfamiliar voice remarked next to you. 

You yelped in surprise and whipped around to see a tall, handsome young man peering over your shoulder with an amused smile. He was in a black button down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showcasing his prominent forearm muscles, tucked into a pair of dark trousers. “That’s very impressive… is that a self-portrait?”

You snorted in disbelief, your shoulders shaking as you let out a quiet laugh. “No, it’s supposed to be my date. Too bad they left before I could remember what they looked like.”

The mysterious man scrunched up his handsome face, as if to say ‘Ouch’. “Do you mind if I—?” He gestured towards the empty seat in front of you and you nodded.

“Go ahead. That seat’s going to be empty for the rest of the night anyways.” You let out a bitter laugh. He gave you a sympathetic smile and situated himself in front of you with an arm outstretched reaching over the table.

“Kim Mingyu. I’m the owner and executive chef of this restaurant. I received a report that there was an attractive young person who was left on their lonesome after their date mysteriously disappeared.” The man, Mingyu, tilted his head. “Didn’t think said person was going to be this attractive though.”

You blushed at his compliment as you shook his hand. “[Name]. Not sure who snitched on me, though I’m glad to have new company.”

“Are you… on your way out now? Since your date is gone?”

“Yes, I’m just waiting for the bill.”

Mingyu waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. It’s on the house.”

Your eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re kidding.”

After spilling coffee on your blouse this morning and running 30 minutes late for work, you were more than positive that the day was going to end in disaster. The disappearance of your blind date following a very long, tiring day at work only confirmed those suspicions. However, it seemed like that the goddess of luck was no longer hellbent on making your life a living disaster with the way the stranger sitting across from you managed to douse out the fire that had been burning within you for the past few hours with a single smile.

“I’m afraid I’m not. But if you feel pressured or aren’t comfortable with it, no worries!” Mingyu said lightheartedly. 

“Oh my God,” You ran a tired hand through your face and let out a dry, incredulous laugh. “You literally just saved me from having the worst day ever. I was preparing myself to break down into tears once I received the check. Thank you, I really appreciate that.”

He smiled at your words. “Of course, just doing my daily random act of kindness for a stranger. Although…” He trailed off and you quirked an inquisitive brow at him.

“Although?” You asked.

“Although… would it appall you if I said it was my way of shooting my shot?” Mingyu rubbed the back of his neck with a nervous laugh. His eyes nervously darted back and forth between your face and the half-eaten plate in front of him, left by your crappy blind date who was honestly, no longer in your realm of attention. Not when Mingyu was in front of you. 

Shooting his shot? You felt your cheeks burn at a temperature similar to the candle perched on a candelabra on your table at his words and you coughed before fumbling to find the right words.

“I mean… I wouldn’t be opposed to it. Since you’re my savior tonight and all…” Your voice faltered and Mingyu beamed.

“That’s great! Here’s my business card, if you ever want to contact me.” He pulled out a crisp card and handed it to you as he got up from the chair. “Well, I must be getting on my way now. I’d love to stay and chat but I have big boss duties to do.”

Mingyu tipped an imaginary top hat towards your direction. You smiled. “It was nice meeting you, [Name].”

“It was nice meeting you too, Mingyu. I’ll contact you,” You waved his business card and he nodded.

“I’ll be looking forward to it. Bye, [Name].”

And with that he was gone, leaving nothing but the lingering scent of his perfume and the fluttering of your heart.

“Just call him!!” Your best friend urged you. He was sitting on the other end of the sofa, munching on a bag of chips as he watched you metaphorically rip your hair out over the business card you received from Mingyu a week ago.

“It’s not that simple, Seungkwan! What if he hates me now because it took me so long to contact him? I bet he’s forgotten about me at this point.” You pouted and continued to stare at the worn, but still elaborate cardstock in your hands.

Seungkwan rolled his eyes. “Dude, you’re overthinking this entire thing. Listen to me,” He paused to fix his posture to face you. “He gave you the business card, right?”

You nodded.

“Did he ask for your number?”

You shook your head.

“Did he receive any kind of contact information from you?”

You shook your head again.

“But he gave you his business card? [Name], he literally served you the ball on a silver platter. He’s interested in you but won’t make any moves unless you do. The ball is in your court. Take that damn ball and BOUNCE IT!” 

Seungkwan let out a frustrated yell and shoved another handful of chips into his mouth. “I swear, you have the IQ of Jeonghan’s pet rock sometimes.”

“Hey! Doljjong is very intelligent!” Your other best friend yelled from the kitchen. “He has really good hearing too, so don’t insult him like that or else you’ll be dealing with me.”

Seungkwan rolled his eyes and you laughed as Jeonghan came out into the living room to give his own two cents.

“But Seungkwan’s right. The entire fate of a whole new possible relationship with this mythical Kim Mingyu—”

“HE’S REAL. I SHOOK HIS HAND.”

“—is in your hands. Don’t blow it. Or else me and Seungkwan—”

“Seungkwan and I.” You corrected him.

“—will be—Okay, fuck you, grammar police—Will be taking this matter into our own hands so we no longer have to hear your bitching and whining.”

You let out a frustrated groan and threw down the business card that’s been putting you through pain and misery through the past week.

“God, he was literally perfect. I don’t wanna blow it and—”

“That’s what they said.”

“Jeonghan, I’m going to literally throw Doljjong into the bottom of Han River and you’re going to be joining him soon after if you don’t shut the fuck up.”

Seungkwan burst into laughter and watched you and Jeonghan continue to argue back and forth.

“Forget it, it’s useless talking to a person who believes that a rock can be a pet.” You got up from your spot on the couch and reached for your phone. “I’m stepping out for some air. Lock the door if you leave before I come back.”

“See ya, don’t wanna be ya!” Jeonghan yelled from the living room as you left the house and you loudly groaned.

You loved both your best friends but they sometimes drove you absolutely insane.

The sky was dark but the countless lights from the skyscrapers and streetlights illuminated the Han River, making the surface twinkle and shine under the pale moonlight.

You were sitting on a lone bench, facing the river as you mindlessly fidgeted with Mingyu’s business card. The edges were fraying from the countless amount of times you’ve handled it between your fingertips, and you traced the black lettering of Mingyu’s name with your index finger as you silently sounded out every vowel and consonant of his name.

Seungkwan’s words rang in your head. ‘He literally served you the ball on a silver platter. He’s interested in you but won’t make any moves unless you do. The ball is in your court. Take that damn ball and BOUNCE IT!’

Like a switch was suddenly flipped inside you, you reached for your phone. The screen lit up and you pulled up a new message to type in the phone number that was written on the card in your hand. 

Without a single thought, you sent,

hey! it’s [name]!

Before you could even type the first letter of your follow-up text, the status of your message changed from ‘Delivered’ to ‘Read 21:24’ and you let out a gasp.

And then the loud, shrill ringing of your ringtone cut through the peaceful night air.

You gasped louder than before after seeing the caller ID, reaching to frantically turn off the ringer before answering the phone.

“He–hello?”

“Took you long enough,” Mingyu’s voice sounded crisp and clear on the other end of the line. You couldn’t see him, but you could almost hear the smile in his voice as he spoke. “You almost had me thinking that you were ghosting me or something.”

You let out an apologetic groan. “I’m so sorry, Mingyu. I got in my head and kept putting it off. I swear it wasn’t personal…” 

Mingyu’s laugh was bright. “No worries! I assumed you had your hands full. Although, I did jump a little every time I received a text from anyone from the past week.” 

“Oh, man… I feel horrible. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m telling you, don’t worry about it! Better late than never, right?” There was an awkward moment of silence before he spoke again. “What are you up to right now?”

You hummed and looked out at the tranquil water of the Han River reflecting the bright lights of the city. “Nothing much. I stepped out for a minute for some air. What about you?”

“Oh, really? I’m actually out for a walk too.” You swore you heard a second voice near you, echoing the words Mingyu was saying in your phone. “Turn around for me?”

You whipped around with the phone still pressed to your ear to see Mingyu standing behind the bench, a small smile playing on his lips. You ended the phone call.

“Mingyu?”

“‘Morning, sunshine,” He slid into the empty spot next to you and you scooched over to make more room for him. “What a way to run into the guy you’ve been ghosting, huh?”

You snorted at his greeting, ignoring the slight burn you felt in your cheeks from the nickname he had addressed you by. “I told you, it wasn’t intentional.”

Mingyu grinned. “I know. Just felt like teasing you.” 

“What are- what are you doing here though? Do you live in this area?” You asked. He nodded.

“Yeah. I moved into that apartment complex not too long ago,” He pointed to a tall building on the other side of the river. “Has a killer night view. You should come over to check it out sometime.”

You choked on your spit, resulting in you barking out a short, panicked laugh. “Do you—-do you usually say these… these things to people?”

“No, not really. I’m not usually like this,” Mingyu looked over at you with a slight tilt in his head. The night breeze brushed his bangs across his forehead and you felt your breath falter at the way the closest streetlight illuminated his honey-like, gorgeous skin.There was a particular glint in his eyes as he opened his mouth to speak again. “Pardon me if this is too brazen, but I’m only like this when I feel like I’ve met the one. My soulmate.”

Your breath was caught in your throat.

“Does it… usually work?” You choked out. Your face felt incredibly hot and your clammy hands were sticking to the bench.

Mingyu turned back to face the river and your stomach did an odd flip. “I’m not sure. You tell me.”

Oh God. You thought you were melting on the spot with the way he was looking at you. Mingyu was holding eye contact with such intensity, you physically couldn’t look away. Your heart hammered wildly against your ribcage and you decided you were going to sign yourself up for the upcoming Olympics, with the way your stomach was doing flips like an Olympic gymnast. Simone Biles had nothing on whatever routine was going on inside you right now.

“… I’d give it a solid 8 out of 10.” You gave him the most nonchalant shrug you could afford, knowing that there were enough butterflies in your stomach to start a butterfly conservatory. Mingyu looked at you as if he was surprised by the score.

“Really? What would I have to do to win back the last two points?”

You gave him a pointed look, and the next words to leave your mouth almost sent you into cardiac arrest. “Hmm… live up to your words? I guess?”

And the smile Mingyu gave you in that moment was the brightest one of all. His entire being seemed to glow in ecstasy, glowing brighter than the streetlights as he looked at you with a suggestive glint in his eyes. “I thought you’d never ask.”

“Mingyu?” You called from the living room. Mingyu didn’t respond and the only thing you heard from the kitchen was the clattering of plates and silverware. “Babe?”

Pushing yourself off the couch with a quiet groan, you padded over to the kitchen where your fiancé was busying himself with preparing dinner. He was hunched over the counter, his hands and trusty knife busy at work as he chopped away on his chopping block. Careful not to startle him when he had a knife in his hand, you snuck your arms around Mingyu’s torso and peered over his shoulder to watch him work his magic.

“Watcha doing?” You asked sweetly. Mingyu acknowledged your presence with a short peck on your forehead.

“Hi, baby.” His voice was rough and the sound sent shivers down your spine. “Preparing to feed you. Why?”

You hummed and nuzzled your face into Mingyu’s back. He smelled like a mix of spices, sweat, and his faint woody cologne permeated your senses. “Do you think we’re soulmates?”

Mingyu set down his knife and turned around to face you, his back resting against the marble counter with his hands resting comfortably at your waist.

“What’s with the sudden question?” He quirked a well-groomed brow at you and you smiled.

“Nothing… I just read a blog about soulmates and I was curious about whether you thought they were real,” Your fingers danced along Mingyu’s strong, muscular forearms, your fingertips lightly tracing all the old scars and burn marks that signified his experience and years spent working to master his craft. You repeated your original question again. “So… do you think we’re soulmates?”

Mingyu leaned in to press a quick kiss to your lips. “I don’t think so, love. I know so.”

“Really?” Your eyes brightened at his words and he nodded.

“Mhm. I knew from the moment I saw you playing with those leftover peas on your plate that I was going to marry you,” Mingyu leaned in again, nuzzling his nose against yours. You giggled. “Sometimes, I have dreams where I knew you in another life. But those dreams felt so… real. Like they’re fragments of memories from a past I can’t recall.”

“Are we married in those dreams too?” 

“Mhm. We were happily married, just like we’re going to be.” Mingyu captured your lips with his, sighing gently as your fingers combed through his dark hair. 

“I love you, Mingyu.” You whispered against his lips, like a secret only meant for the two of you to know. Something to be taken and hidden away, kept a secret in the deepest depths of the earth. A secret so sacred, it can only be cherished in the deepest, darkest places so that no one else can know.

“I love you too, [Name],” Mingyu’s love confession was more bold. Something he uttered with purpose and intention. He wanted the entire universe to know that he was yours. His heart belonged to you. He was going to love you loudly and boldly. “I’ll love you in every universe. Wherever you go, that’s where I’ll follow.”

reblogs and feedback is always appreciated ^-^

a/n: this is a big personal FUCK YOU to writer's block AHGJSJD i somehow managed to push through and finish this 😭 (it was at 300 words when i started today) albeit it was on my phone, in the dark, at 1 in the morning BUT I FINISHED IT. n now my insomnia's back LMAOO

[foli-vora]

run to you: chapter four

marcus pike x f!reader

A/N: thank you for being patient! shit is hectic in the brain right now, but fuck real life amiright? feels good to write again and to come back to these two. not a whole lot of marcus this chap, or a particularly long one, but it's all about the story building or something like that lmao. i still haven't updated my taglists so i apologise for that. if you've previously requested to be added for this story, please do so again via whatever coz my mind is all over the place and i'll forget to check the previous chapters. enjoy angels! x

Summary: Following on from ‘Traitor’ and 'You’re Somebody Else’. An unexpected visitor throws you right back into the life you thought you left behind. Working beside the man that put you behind bars is one thing, pretending like you never loved him is another.

Word count: 2.8k+

Warnings: the usual... angst, swearing, reader is a stresshead, golden retriever fbi agent who is bestie material, talk of lies/deception, brief talk of being arrested, flashbacks and the usual bitter saltiness one man brings to life in us

main masterlist | series masterlist

This story will have explicit sexual scenes in the future so 18+ only.

The sound of water running fills the empty silence of the bathroom, steam eventually swirling up from the spray and crawling along your ceiling. You pick at the paint dried onto the skin of your fingers as you wait, exhaustion creeping along the edges of your mind with an urge to pull you under.

It’s not as if the work had been hard, in fact, you had relished in the familiar buzz of music and paint strokes. It felt refreshing, despite having a number of works to get started on. So much of your time now consisted of working to pay the bills you only just managed to keep on top of, so there was little opportunity to enjoy your creative side.

No, the stress of the art had been lovely, the whole mental gymnastics and whirlwind of emotions because of him though?

Draining.

You hope Marcus won’t make a habit of waltzing in and screwing up your day. What did he even achieve coming in to get rid of Jacob? What was the purpose of his visit? Surely not to just get you to eat. There had to be some kind of ulterior motive here.

He’s a federal agent—of course there’s a hidden agenda somewhere. 

Well you won’t fall for it. Any of it. Not again.

You would remain on your high guard around him until you finished with whatever they needed from you and then all ties would be cut. You would keep communications curt and simple—there’s no need for unnecessary small talk and chit chat. You’re here to work, and that’s it. Hopefully, it will all be over soon and you can really put it all behind you for good.

The car ride had been spent in complete silence. Your eyes didn’t waver from looking out the passenger door window, and Marcus made no effort to break the uncomfortable energy lingering in the vehicle.

You didn’t even look at him when he eventually pulled to a slow stop outside your building, barely waiting for the car to stop completely before you pushed the door open and slammed it harshly behind you.

He didn’t leave until you disappeared into your building.

The anger still lingers, even after a somewhat decent heavy sleep.

He had deceived and tricked you, again. You had briefly trusted his word, believed his empty promise, and for what? It was all bullshit. Again. It’d been a mistake. It’s all a game to him—lies are all he knows. He seemingly lies as easy as he breathes, for it all to come so naturally.

What else is he lying about, giggling with his little agent friends? Is Jacob in on it all? He seemed friendly and decent enough, and happily kept out of your way when you asked him to give you space the day before, but then again, he wouldn’t be the first man to lure you into a sense of comfort as a ruse.

To hell with all of them.

You won’t be laughed at, not again, not this time.

This time, you were on to them. This time, there was no hiding behind a pretty face, fake ID and false backstory. You wouldn’t give them—any of them—the satisfaction of watching you fall again. Marcus, Jacob, the rest of the team—they won’t break you.

—

Agent Wilson is promptly on time as expected, noticeably upbeat and bouncy, standing just outside of your door in a freshly ironed dark suit and navy blue tie, holding out a carry tray of various drinks that you try not to react to.

It’s all fake—the kindness.

It’s a lie.

“Morning, Picasso!” He grins, “I wasn’t too sure what you’re into, so I grabbed a few choices: cappuccino, tea—English Breakfast, I think?, Chai Latte and a chocolate Frappuccino with extra cream. Although, I’ve kinda been eyeing the frappe on my way here, so don’t break my heart.”

You study the selection carefully before letting your eyes roll back up to meet his bright green ones, careful to keep your face blank of any and all emotion.

“I don’t want anything—I’m not thirsty.”

He blinks at your hard tone, clearly taken aback.

You try to keep a hold of the slight twinge of guilt that blooms in the pit of your stomach, carefully schooling your expression into something firmer, unbothered.

“Oh, okay. That’s cool, guess that extra cream is mine, then!”

The small slither of guilt grows at the slight look of dejection that passes over his face despite the force of the smile curling his lips, but you don’t dwell on it.

He’s one of them.

You had made sure to be ready for his knock earlier that morning, so you simply step out of your apartment with your bag over your shoulder and lock the door securely behind you, shutting him out from your space and keeping him from prying into your surroundings like he had done the day before.

“Do you need help with anything?”

“No. I’ve got it.”

“Okay then,” he murmurs, clearing his throat softly and turning to head to the elevator. “How did you sleep?”

“Fine.”

Silence follows your sharp response, and Wilson takes it as a clue to stay quiet for the rest of the trip to his car. He disposes of the drinks in a nearby trash can and the guilt doubles.

He’d gone to the effort of grabbing you a beverage, probably left his home early to ensure he could do so… maybe you should’ve just accepted one to keep the peace.

You slide into the car and buckle up, staring at the early morning events unfolding outside the windscreen as he slides in beside you and starts up the car.

It doesn’t move however, and you look to him in question, only to find him already staring expectantly at you.

A small wall of defence builds at his gaze, and you start to wonder if now will be the time he uses his authority over you and reminds you of your lowly position in this case. Maybe he’ll tell you that he knows everything, that you deserved everything you got—

“Are you pissed at me for leaving you with Pike?” He asks, and you can’t help the brief flicker of surprise. Okay, maybe not. “Look, I’m sorry—I thought he would’ve cleared it with you, but if you want, I can make sure it doesn’t happen again. I mean, I don’t have much say, but if you’re that uncomfortable I’m sure I can talk to someone—”

He’d do that? For you? You desperately try to come up with a reason why he would even bother. He’d gain nothing from it, the team wouldn’t either. What’s his play? Where’s the catch here?

Maybe there isn't one. 

A part of you refuses to believe that. The part that had been beaten and broken and had its trust torn to fucking shreds. He’s a federal agent, and they think of only themselves and their team. You aren’t a part of the team. You’re an outsider, a criminal. You’re nothing to them. 

Maybe he just genuinely wants to help.

Maybe. Maybe.

You sigh softly, and shake your head.

“No, it’s… it’s fine. I’m sorry, it’s not you. I guess I just… I’m just not feeling great about this whole thing. I’ll cut back on the bitchiness.”

He shrugs it off, another smile coming easily to his lips.

“Hey, if you’ve got history then it’s understandable. Just talk to me, okay? Let me know what you want. I’m here for you, it’s my job to keep you safe and happy, and if fighting my boss is what I’ve gotta do then so be it.”

You can’t help the pull of your lips at the mere image of it in your mind.

“You’ll fight him for me?”

He scoffs lightly, “Absolutely—I can take him. Just say the word, Dalí. I’ve got your back, clear?”

“Clear,” you reply softly. “I’m sorry, Jacob. I’m just not used to any of this. I uh… I don’t trust people very easily, and I’m having some difficulty adjusting to all of this.”

Understatement. It’s all a massive pain in the ass and exhausting.

“Yeah, I get it,” he replies, smiling comfortingly at you before pulling out onto the road and reaching for his drink, “but just know that I’m on your side here, okay?”

You nod quietly, not wanting to speak any more about it with someone who could be potentially relaying everything you say back to his team. Maybe they will take you down once this case is over, using the soon to be mountain of evidence as proof you’ve returned to less than legal painting activities. They’ll put you in for longer this time.

Shit, this is such a bad idea. You should’ve kept the fucking door shut the day Special Agent Pike came knocking.

You’re pulled out of the dizzying spin of your mind and its thoughts by a voice picking up in the car, breaking through the heavy dread quickly building in your system and pulling you from diving any deeper into the what ifs. 

Jacob sings along to the music, completely unbothered by your presence in the car and swaying to the tune. You’re thankful for it, in a way. Thinking for too long on any of it makes you feel sick, so this is a welcome surprise.

And also highly fucking amusing. 

“—hey Jude, refrain…”

He cuts off abruptly at your side eye, straw pausing just below his lips.

“What—you don’t like the Beatles?” he questions, almost shocked by the mere idea of it.

“I never said that,” you try to fight the smile, but it pulls at your lips before you can really help it, “I’d just rather hear them sing their song.”

“Ha, you’re funny,” he drawls sarcastically, rolling his eyes and sipping his drink before licking away the smudge of chocolate building up in the corner of his lips. “You know, when I was little, I wanted to go on American Idol.”

You choke on a laugh before you can stop it. “You did not.”

“I did. Thank god I didn’t—I’m not being remembered as a fucking idiot on YouTube for the rest of my life.”

“You don’t need American Idol, or YouTube for that.”

“Shit. Ouch,” he breathes, making a show of clutching his chest and giving you a playful grin, “okay, I see how it is. Now you can get the full show… NA-NA-NAA, HEY JUDE—”

—

“You’re behind nine weeks of payments. We can’t continue—”

Panic flares to life in your chest. You knew it was bad, you had the mounting bills building at home, but surely this couldn’t be it. They can’t just kick you out. There has to be something. You’d already maxed out your credit cards, you have nothing in the bank. Maybe they could do a payment plan, organise a scholarship or loan or something—

“No, please… I-I’ll work out something, I just—”

“I’m sorry,” the administrator gives you a look of sympathy, “but we can’t continue your education until payment has been sorted. Look, you’re a bright girl, you clearly have talent—maybe you’ll do okay on your own, without classes.”

“No, you don’t understand. This is all I have, I can’t lose this. Please, there must be something I can do?”

“Unfortunately not at this point in time, unless you can come up with this amount within the weeek. I’m sorry, I’ve held this off for as long as I can, but the debt is just mounting. We can’t continue with a promise of payment.”

You’re sure you can feel your heart breaking. You’d found some semblance of normality here… going to classes, doing fun assignments, meeting new people. It was the opportunity you needed, the chance to go further—

And now there’s nothing.

You sink into the chair, fighting the tears that build and clearing your throat to rid it of the uncomfortable feeling growing there.

“I understand,” you mutter, “thank you for your time.”

“Keep your head up, sweetheart. I’ll keep a spot available should you manage to work something out, okay? We’ll get you right back into it.”

There’s no way to work it out. Your job waiting tables paid pennies. You needed something more, something concrete, but with limited experience behind you and the requirements most places wanted nowadays, there was little chance of landing anything else. There’s just nothing you can do, short of robbing a bank.

You’d been expecting it for a little while, the stress continuously mounting with every bill that was sent to your door. You knew you weren’t paying for classes, you knew the debt was growing and growing. You just thought you had more time, more opportunity.

“I appreciate that, but don’t bother—I have nothing. Your waiting lists are huge, someone on there deserves their chance.”

You had yours, and you blew it.

—

Marcus is waiting outside the building.

Of course.

Your heart starts to beat harder in your chest. What is he doing here? He pushes off of the dark SUV he’s leaning against when he catches sight of Jacob’s silver sedan, and waits for you both to get out of the car when Jacob pulls to a slow stop.

“What do you want me to do?” Jacob asks quietly, making a show of reaching for, and struggling, with his briefcase in the backseat to give you a bit of time to answer.

You try not to look at him, doing a final check of your things that you’d previously already triple checked before leaving your apartment and deciding you've probably spent too much time dawdling.

“Can you just get me up there? I want to start my work,” you reply softly, grabbing the strap of your bag and reaching for the door handle, “but there’s not really much we can do if he wants to stay around.”

The breeze bites at your cheeks when you step out of the car, and you catch Marcus smoothing down his tie as you start to walk towards him. You feel your heart thunder with each step, resenting the way he could still stir those little butterflies awake in your stomach.

He’s attractive—that’s all it is. Your body is just simply reacting to it. There’s nothing there anymore. No feelings. Nothing.

“Good morning,” he greets quietly, a strained smile curling his lips, and you briefly decide that you prefer him with a bit of facial hair rather than a clean shave.

Not that it matters.

“Hello,” you return shortly, stopping just a few paces away and waiting for Jacob to catch up.

“I’m not staying,” he mutters after a few moments of further silence, his gaze darting past your shoulder to where his fellow agent walks around his car to reach the path. “There’s been a few developments overnight, so I’ve just come to check in with Wilson and then I’ll be going to the office. I won’t be coming back.”

Your reply is immediate and blunt.

“Good.”

It’s brief, but you see the flicker of hurt that passes through his eyes.

He drops his gaze from yours, desperate to look anywhere that wasn’t you, and soon the scuffle of shoes behind you brings his attention from you completely. It’s almost fascinating how instinctively his posture changes, hardening into something of an authority figure, hiding the swirl of emotions swimming in his eyes behind high walls.

You wonder if Jacob saw it. Does he see the difference between man and agent? Does he catch the certain mannerisms that change? Surely you can’t be the only one who sees it.

“Morning, sir. We’ll talk out here,” Jacob says firmly, coming to stand beside you and holding out a small set of keys, “she has a lot of work to do this morning and she wants to start immediately.”

Marcus blinks, his gaze darting between the two of you almost questioningly before he gives a slow nod, “Of course, that’s fine. I’ll let you get to it.”

You take the keys without another word and stride past Marcus, quickly letting yourself into the building and letting the door shut loudly behind you, dulling them to your senses and giving you a chance to breathe again.

Unrelenting heat washes under your skin, blood rushes through your ears until you can hear the heavy beat of your heart echo in the canals. You take a moment to gather yourself in the dark, quiet hallway, rubbing a hand along where your heart hammers against your chest.

When will it all stop? Would you ever be able to look at him and not feel an immediate burning sense of rage? Of bitterness? Would your mind ever forget the way he would say ‘I love you’? Would your body ever forget how he would touch you, kiss you? Would your heart ever just let it all go?

It would have to. Surely, it would have to.

Time was all you needed.

Once finished with this case, you would be once again free to move on—if you don’t end up arrested—, and forget there ever was an Alex. A Marcus. Whatever his name is. Time would take it all away. It would happen one day, you just had to be patient and wait.

-

Taglist 1: @maievdenoir, @javier-pena, @lv7867, @dihra-vesa, @katronautt, @radiowallet, @januarystears, @missminkylove, @beskarprincessjenny, @mswarriorbabe80, @danidrabbles, @amneris21, @eri16, @absurdthirst, @hnt-escape, @acourtofsnakes, @ezrasbirdie, @mstgsmy66, @lovesbiggerthanpride, @coaaster, @sherala007, @greeneyedblondie44, @wyn-n-tonic, @you-got-me-starry-eyed, @shirks-all-responsibilities, @withasideofmeg, @harriedandharassed, @andruxx, @buckybarneshairpullingkink, @spideysimpossiblegirl, @prostitute-robot-from-the-future, @tanzthompson, @mad-girl-without-a-box, @hope-for-the-best-98, @fangirl-316, @christina-loves, @jediknight122, @hallway5, @xoxabs88xox, @nicolethered, @churchill356, @massivecolorspygiant, @just-here-for-the-moment, @gracie7209, @pinkie289, @lavenderluna10, @goodgriefitsawildworld

[hareofhrair]

Question about the no dignity classpects: since all of them can be either classes or aspects, could you hypothetically have like a cup of cup? Or a fish of fish? What would that mean?

Yes, absolutely! In Adjunct Anomaly, Malfon is a Viper of Vipers.

Doubled titles are unusual but don't convey any inherent mechanical bonus, but their implications in terms of interpretation can often lead to some pretty unique domains and powers.

Viper of Vipers, for example, is interpreted as meaning something like, the viper of all vipers, the king of vipers, but also something a viper would regard with the same mistrust we would show a viper. The reveal of Malfon's title is one of my favorite things I've written:

"Oh majesty of deceit, you who would wield fire against fire, you who would flush out poison with poison. Pale shadow of a dragon, stand on your pillar of sand and declare it is stone! And you, oh viper of vipers! Even you will believe!"

But I don't want to talk too much about what Malfon's powers and domain will be, in case I ever get back on track with writing AA lmao. So I'll talk about the examples you suggested instead.

A cup of cups brings to mind the saying "my cup runneth over," meaning I've had so much good fortune and happiness that I can't contain it all. Cups are also associated with prizes-- the championship cup in sportsball, the holy grail at the end of the quest.

A cup of cups is someone who just can't stop winning. A guy who can just ignore his problems and trust they'll work themselves out in his favor eventually, though his view of what counts as a victory might have become somewhat skewed over the years, ie they forget/don't bother to pay their bills (mostly because they haven't bothered to find a job) and lose their house, but then they stumbled on this abandoned beach house that was only a *little* collapsed from storm damage and now they live rent free on the beach! Score!

Nothing bad has ever happened to them!* (*as long as they ignore all the bad stuff that has happened to them and pretend it didn't happen)

Their good fortune is so overwhelming it spills over to anyone around them. This can be highly advantageous when it gives unexpected windfalls to their allies... and less so when it also gives those same buffs to nearby enemies.

[callipraxia]

Thanks for answering my other Ask!

I haven't read it yet, because I wanted to get this other planned Ask out first, but I am going to try to read ur Answer soon! And once again, thank u for answering it.

Anyways, just wanted to say: "From the first seven pages of the School Year Fic manuscript,"

"ut oh, it felt good to work again! So, rather late in the month, I have decided to make so bold as to set myself some 2024 writing goals:

1: Finish my three unfinished experiments (“A Year of Living Magically,” “Tracey’s Journal,” and “The Unexpected Memoirs of Fiddleford H. McGucket”). If successful, then never, ever touch first-person PoV ever again.

2: Complete and begin revising a typed draft of the still-untitled school year fic.

2a: think of a decent title for the school year fic

3: Finally write that essay about “Little Gift Shop of Horrors.”

4: At least finish the reading for the Ford essay, and decide what the thesis of that thing is even going to be at this point.

5: Start a new series. Working title is “Cipher’s Rejects.” I have a first volume worked out in my head and beyond that, my ideas begin and end with a couple of song lyrics, so that should be fun."

Good luck with all these and that I am really excited for these and/or any other GF and/or etc. plans u may have.

(Though, no rush. Like, I can wait and stuff. Motivation can be fickle and writing can take awhile. And etc.).

I am esp. excited for "Cipher's Rejects" just based on that name alone, and the school year fic sounds like the kind of fic I would really love.

Also gonna try to check out ur non-revised and/or etc. Ford essay u posted, that should be fun.

Seeing some recent reblogs talking about Ford and Bill (and others) - which were interesting and fun to read - certainly show the Ford essay(s) will be fine. Like Ford beng kind of trigger-happy (and angey and stuff). LIke in TBOB hiim going on rant about how Rudokoph should have burned down the North Pole to ground or something like for making fun of his deformity (man, people REALLY made fun of ur six fingers, huh, Ford. The poor dude. Though, this reaction is knd of extreme. Funny though, and very Ford honestly).

Or something I always think of (one of my favorite lines and/or scenes from one of my favorite episodes) where Ford pulls out a gun super right away, saying "Your math is no match for math!" (lol). So funnily trigger-happy. Tbf though, this could have worked, but in this case it didn't. Luckily, Stan was able to think of something and help save everyone.

And the talks about Bill being kind of a spiteful ex (lmao) and Ford trying to get Ford to destroy and rule and stuff everything with him.

Anyways, all those talks by you and others were interesting, and I am quite certain the Ford essay; both current and the revised one, will be interesting.

Last of all, that reblog of a post talking about how the Dipper that lost Mabel to Smile Dip hurt me. Like, such a mundane, and a very real feeling kind of death (even though Smile Dip - It is Smile Dip, right? - is kind of out there), and just how much guilt and how destroyed Dipper would feel from this.

Like, The Society of Blind Eye Dipper basically, Soul Dipper, Amulet Mabel (in my mind Amulet Dipper also exists too out there. Considering all the canon timelines and/or universes and fan stuff, it is very likely, at least.. Also, Reverse Falls is real - close to canon/basically canon in my heart - to me. I love it), Gnome Queen Mabel, Digital World Dipper, etc., etc. already got me, and were so dark and depressing, and got me so interested and stuff.

But seeing someone talk about that universe and/or timeline too also made me realize how dark and depressing that one was too, and how much story potential it has too (along with the others. And/or stuff based and/or inspired on the others, but not exactly those universes or something and/or etc.).

Alright, done with my Asks (for) now with this!

See u for now! And have a great whatever time it is for ya. ^^

2/2.

I was...perhaps a touch over-optimistic at the start of the year/after one good day, but I did write half a chapter of the 'Unexpected Memoirs' the other day, and I've had several essays this year, one of which was pretty popular. Slowly, slowly, I claw my way back, lol. Thanks for the support! 

The Rudolph Rant somehow managed to pass through my head without making much of an impression the first time I read it, but I've become a bit obsessed with it since then. It's a moment that tells us so much about Ford's state of mind at the time...and, although it's probably mostly a joke, it could also hint at just how close he might have been to tipping over the edge into villainy. Bill’s great mistake there may (this thought is still only half-formed) have been *over*-identification – either he didn’t/couldn’t quite accept that Ford was, after all, a person separate from himself (and therefore liable to act and react in ways Bill wouldn’t have), or Bill had some kind of Ledger-Joker-esque complex where he deliberately wanted to break everyone down to seeing the world his way, or at least do that to everyone who he takes into his gang, but either way, it may have been the key miscalculation in his strategy. If he had been able to see past that...well, I’m not sure it would have ultimately been very good for Bill anyway, on the millions-of-years scale at least, but if he’d played on Ford’s existing desires and rationalization superpower instead and presented taking over the world as a way to do a good thing, he probably could have slippery-sloped him into pretty terrifying territory in a relatively short period of time.

That was both clever and gloomy of the Death-By-Smile-Dip OP, and it makes a degree of sense. Officially, Smile Dip was expired candy, but it reads pretty clearly as Mabel doing a frightening quantity of psychedelic drugs...plus, if I’m not too far mistaken, the dog she was hallucinating is locked up in the same ward as Bill in the end, and that has odd and unsettling implications in-universe as well. I hadn’t considered that last bit until I typed this, but now that I did...if I’m right and the dog in the Theraprism is the same as the dog in Mabel’s Smile Dip hallucinations, then death might actually have been a good way from the most horrifying outcome she could have gotten out of that experience...I’d reblogged the post because I’d started rambling about whether or not all the angry alt-Pineses were actually dead (since there’s lots of ways the Pineses could have not ended up with the same outcomes which technically didn’t kill any of them), but erased that after I wandered by accident from there and into the multiple levels of horror that could be involved with Mabel the Gnome Queen...ended up concluding that GQM was actually probably luckier if she was dead. Not that this would probably make her any happier about it/about her alt-selves and the alt-Dippers who either escaped or got rescued (since a plausible backstory for GQM could easily involve the gnomes killing or permanently disabling Dipper during his efforts to rescue her).  

...Yeah, I’m not writing that, so if anyone else wants it, steal away and just drop me a link when you post it.  

[true-blue-sonic]

I think you and some other people here have talked about the possibility of the Chaotix just being a money black hole, but do you think Silver could have any vices that would contribute to that? Cause even though I can definitely imagine Silver doing something like becoming fixated on something and wanting to form a collection of it, I also doubt he'd ever want to push it to the point of causing his allies monetary discomfort

I can see Silver be a cause for even more financial stress for the Chaotix, yes, though most of it will probably be inadvertently. But he'll need a quill brush, hedgehog shampoo, some extra clothing that accommodates his mane and spines, and simply things like more food than for three people and a higher energy and water bill. I imagine Vector and Espio try to tackle the topic with him in the same way they did with Charmy: letting him know that there will be occasions that they cannot purchase something essential and that there will be days with less food for them all, but not diving into the bills and the chance they're getting evicted and stuff like that. So Silver knows that there's monetary stress most of the time, and I indeed think he'll try not to cause too much further strain deliberately. Espio and Vector wouldn't dare tell that he's costing them money, that's for sure!

Though, in the same vein, I think Silver might actually help bring more cash into the household to counteract that. I like to think the Chaotix are quite well-known in their city as 'that ragtag but reliable bunch of detectives', so most people are aware of who Silver is and that he lives with them now (even if they deliberately keep his history vague). You try saying no to an overeager hedgehog offering to shovel snow or rake leaves in your garden, happily chatting about how nice the Chaotix are and everything he loves about 'this era'; I'll bet it's impossible! With Silver's strength and PK on top, he can do some physical labour to bring back money, which is a great help. And though Vector and Espio are both absolutely too proud to ask their friends for help, those all know it's difficult for the Chaotix to make ends meet at times. So Amy pops in with hedgehog shampoo and a new brush under the guise of ensuring Silver's quills are cared for properly, Sonic "just so happened to clean out his closet" and brings over a bunch of clothes that "don't fit him anymore", Cream and Vanilla cook the occasional dish they can take home, and so on. With such help, the Chaotix always manage to make it to a new month.

But as for any specific vices, I do think Silver might indeed see cute or cool things he'd love to buy, like plushes or merch from things he likes (the Chao In Space series lmao). But Espio's got a good solution for that: Silver gets his own piggybank that they put some money in every week, as well as a part of the stuff he makes through the above-described physical labour. So if he sees something he likes, he can purchase it with his own money! It gives Silver a sense of Responsibility and Maturity, teaches him about money and how to budget, and doesn't lead to unexpected expenses for Espio and Vector on top. So I think they'll be able to handle having a fourth member in their household with such ways!

[fantasticcloudcreation]

Lil rant about goals and future plans 😇

Ok so I've been here for a week and it's been a really nice time visiting family and I'm grateful to be living this life that gives me all this free time and opportunity to do whatever I want, back when I had an apartment and a "real job" I could only visit my family for holidays and it never felt like enough, but now I get like any significant time off work and I feel guilty if I'm not spending it with my family, even though there's other things I want to be doing... (Like what? Camping alone in the woods? /Kinda but there's always time for that between gigs etc) - enjoy this time and relax about it. Just feeling antsy bc I've been here a week and I'm kinda feeling like I might need to get out and go somewhere, but where, idk. I still need to visit my brother and my grandparents, I desperately need to clean the van, gotta make a mechanic appointment for next week, etc.

Also feeling antsy about going back to work which is hilarious bc like March, April, May, had barely any days off work besides driving all day traveling between gigs; was begging the universe to give me some time off to relax and vibe and whatever and now here I am with 2 months straight which was unexpected and I'm still kinda salty about it haha. But I'm one month down, one month to go, maybe I should be using the time a little better... I mean I'm working on projects which are mostly done, and I think next week I'll take care of the van things (cleaning, organizing, mechanic) and then D will be coming to visit so I'll either be here where he can meet my dad or I'll be at my brother's where we'll have more space/privacy to ourselves; we'll see!

I think the main thing is, I gotta get focused on my goals. What exactly are my goals?? I'm feeling a super lack of confidence lately and it's hard to know how to direct my energy right now. (I say that as if it's ever been different in my entire life lmao.) Usually I just focus on losing weight as if that'll somehow magically get my life in order Oh Yeah I'm Doing That Right Now 😅

Thinking ahead: July is free. August should be at least half filled if all goes well, and then some time to explore/camp in the northeast where it hopefully won't be too hot. September?? Who knows, but making my way towards Texas. October will have work in Texas, November December January should be full of work in Florida. So this is like my last solid free month and I should be getting my van situated, getting my business off the ground, working on my confidence and organization and planning and whatnot. I've been dilly dallying on that bc I lack the confidence and it's easier to avoid everything than to try something new, but it feels so good once you get past that and get started !!!

Maybe I'll lose 10 pounds and cut my hair and start wearing makeup again and get my clothes worked out where they all look cool/good/not like a hobo dad lolol. Maybe that'll give me confidence. Maybe it's time to reinvent my image and personality and break up with this guy I've been low-key ghosting and start putting effort into myself again. Maybe I need to focus on spirituality and prioritize wellness (how boring). Maybe I need to dive into a new skill and get really good at it over the next couple years. Who knows!!!!

I want to build things and paint things and make fun wearable crafts and make YouTube videos with my own music and vibes. I have enough work to pay the bills, if a side business can make enough money just to buy supplies to keep itself going, that's all I need. I want to go out west again, maybe I'll do that in February. Maybe I'll upgrade to an RV. The point: I have ideas and dreams and goals and this is my time to start working on them while I have the space. I have 4 weeks left....... I have money in the bank to get these things started. Make a plan, one step at a time, check things off the list. Clean the van and get it back in shape to start fresh this season. Call that guy and tell him it's not working right now. Stop avoiding. Relax and enjoy the ride!!!! Be grateful for this space and time with my dad. Use this time to your advantage, ask for help with business planning.

Tomorrow I'm going to paint my lil pottery pieces from the garden clay, they didn't turn out great but I have another batch that I'm trying a different process and we'll see how it goes, it's a fun experiment and at the very least I'm gonna make some decorative charms for myself to remind myself that it's fun to make things and try new things just for the heck of it :)

Priorities: exercise, taking care of the van, getting the business first steps rolling. 4 weeks left until the next chapter launches! Stop wasting days! (No days have been wasted but you know what I mean). Stop avoiding and start living.

Above all: life is really good!!! I'm so glad and grateful that I created this life for myself, imagine 3 years from now when my business is rolling and work is flowing and things are just like this except 10 steps better! Plant the seeds now and let the trees grow and in 5 years we'll have plenty of shade!!! Reminding myself that I've been dreaming about all these things for years and it's time to start working towards them. Reminding myself of where I was 3 years ago and how far I've come. Everything is working out, literally, and this is just the next step. What's the motivation? (PLJBF). Living a full and fun life. Feeling good about myself when people ask "what do you do"/"where do you live" ; offering gifts to the world for the sake of the process. Embracing the challenge, trying something new, giving myself the space to see what happens when I actually put myself out there. Is it an ego thing? Maybe. Is it for the sake of the challenge? A little bit. Is it just another girl in pursuit of happiness and a life on her own terms? Absolutely. There are many ways to show up in the world and I'm ready to be a confident independent strong smart capable leader. I'm ready to actually try and succeed. I am good enough and I know I can do it, getting started is the hardest part, staying focused and organized is the second hardest part, I know I can work with those challenges and make something happen. Let it flow. Relax. First: I'm here and I'm grateful and I'm ready to make the most of it.

Thank you, I love you ❤️

[skins-california]

Boy, it’s been awhile since I stepped in here.I only step in here because I’ve come to the realization that I need to step away from all social media apps and delete them. I should probably delete them for good, the irony resorting to tumblr lmao.

I’m turning 27 this year.

I’ve made a lot of great accomplishments these last few years but I also endured so much. I don’t give myself enough credit for all the hard work and commitment I’ve put into myself, my relationship, and with my family.

I finally got a car under my own name and I just finished my first year paying it off. I got an apartment with my girlfriend and we just hit our 1 year living together, paying bills and all that adult life stuff. It was hard sometimes but never to the point we thought we wouldn’t make rent and always kept each other secure. When I step back and take a moment to let that sink in, it’s really nice. I stepped it up with my work and got into a manager role. I hate my fucking job though, also adds to the stress and bullshit I go through everyday but the fact I’ve changed into this person to commit to that role I need to give myself way more fucking credit for that.

Moving out of the bay has been the best decision I’ve made and I love it. But I hate the commute, and this is where it all falls hard on me. I get stuck feeling I’m at a dead end with my job cause I know how hard it will be to find a job that would match my salary out here where I live now without some degree or school under my belt. But I’m staying strong because the amount of effort and life I’ve built to live more comfortable cannot go to nothing. I’m working hard to find a moment to take a break from work and do my nursing program. Or even just CNA.

I feel like I can list so much good things I’m happy and grateful for my life yet I’m always finding myself buried underneath and feeling so stressed that I cannot have a normal day without panic disorder. And most of the time , it’s for no reason at all and I’m feeling so helpless. I’m starting to hate that Lani has to see me go through this. It’s not fun, I hate feeling like I’m bringing the both of us down. But no matter what’, she sticks by me and I’m so thankful to be loved and cared for.

Being diagnosed with severe depression on top of my severe anxiety was pretty unexpected but I guess I’m not so surprised. Then I wonder what’s leading me to this? I’m blaming social media as a big factor among other things. I know it’s important to be woke but I know for a fact , every news I hear and my heart feels their pain is starting to kill me mentally, drain me mentally. I’m constantly in a war with my mind and I feel like I’m losing. I refuse to keep feeling like this and I’m glad to took the steps to get treatment for it again. I really can’t wait for the meds to help me get through a day feeling normal again.

Every time I see myself level up, the work and the pain just gets harder. I get stressed so easily, I know I’m working too damn hard. I have been working 6 days a week nearly since October of last year. And I didn’t think losing two pets would fuck me up so hard but it did and no one around me comforts that besides Lani. I don’t expect them to. But I didn’t think how hard it would be to cope through the days and it’s been so hard.

It’s hard cause watching whiskey die was watching my mom’s heart get broken all over again. No one wants to see their mom cry like that. It hurts me to see my mothers routine gone, worse that she found him pass in his sleep. And that was my first dog, I watched him grow old and I will never forgive myself cause I feel like I’m to blame for his death. I’m convinced I gave him a heart attack for getting that excited the night before and all of a sudden he looked so weak. Not even 2 minutes apart, I know in reality it can’t be my fault. None of us knew it was coming; but still I cannot help but feel that way. Losing a pet just is a ugly type of sad because this pet has never once looked badly at you, all they have is joy and excitement when they see you and all they know is you for their entire life and they’re just a chapter in yours.

And not even four months apart, Kitty had just passed before. The pain was different but just holding her during her last moments fucked me up. Losing both of them felt like losing my teenage hood. I know that’s been done but them no longer here really sealed the chapter off.

Anyways. Maybe I just needed to let that all out. As much as I’m struggling in life, I will always remind myself I’ve come such a long way. I’m almost 3 months free of nicotine and I’ve only drank twice since the new year. Ain’t perfect but it’s a real improvement than the damage I’ve done to my body the last 2 years.

Next step is to get my PCP and HRT reevaluated.

This is the year I focus on my health, my mental health and mind state.

We’re getting ready to build our family and there is nothing more I want in this life than to become a father. I need to better myself if I wanna stick around and be here for that. I know I can do it.

[bimrsadler]

Graphite and Gratitude

Pairing: Arthur Morgan x F! Reader

Summary: After a difficult day in camp coming to a head when Micah crosses a line, Arthur comforts you in an unexpected way - by sharing his journal with you.

Warnings/tags: Pure fluff, established relationship, Micah is a gross jerk, very minor sexual mentions and angst

Word Count: 3,082

Notes: This has been sitting in my drafts forever because for some reason I’m more embarrassed about writing fluff than smut lmao, I also got a little emotional thinking about his journal and it shows. 🤡

—————

You lifted your arms above your head, trying to stretch the ache of a hard days work out of your muscles. The sun was hot that afternoon and toiling for so long in it soured your mood and paved the way for exhaustion to set in. Arthur had been away from camp for several days now, working on a job with Javier and John. Details were scarce as usual but he departed with a kiss for you and said to not worry, though you always did. The relationship was fairly new but you’d spent long enough not acting on your feelings for each other that it felt as though you were making up for lost time. You missed him, the stress and exhaustion amplified this terribly.

You had only just finished your work for Miss Grimshaw when you saw Micah, boots up and leaning back smugly at the table - reading your journal.

You had written in a journal since you were a teen, a way to get your most personal thoughts off your chest and express yourself. Seeing Micah handle it was nauseating. On this day he was being particularly vicious with this teasing around camp, which you guessed had something to do with Abigail spurning his advancements again and well, he had to take it out on someone didn’t he?

When he noticed that you noticed, he made sure the flipping of the pages was loud and exaggerated, chuckling like he was so proud of himself. “Quite the thoughts you got inside that head sweetheart,” he said looking up at you while slowly licking his thumb before turning another page.

“You’re so funny,” you snapped sarcastically. “Now give it back.”

When you reached to snatch the journal back he played keep away with a juvenile laugh. “Gonna have to be quicker than that.” He stood up and moved away from you, still browsing the pages. “Besides, I wanna read more about these girly little dreams you talk about. Livin’ in a little cabin with Morgan, raisin’ animals. That don’t sound like the thoughts of someone who should be in a gang honey.” Bill snickered in the seat beside Micah.

“Micah that ain’t yours, it’s private!” You lunged again but the taller man only raised the journal higher and turned his back to you.

“Speakin’ a private, I didn’t know you two were so…intimate,” he chuckled lecherously. “I didn’t know Morgan had it in him at all, actually. But still, if you ever wanna take a ride with a real man...”

“Mr. Bell that is enough!” Miss Grimshaw boomed suddenly.

You were shaking at this point. This was the last thing you wanted to deal with after finishing the chores you hated so much. You knew you weren’t above doing them, but you wanted to be a part of the action more. You were good at pickpocketing and acting, you could shoot and hunt as well. You knew you could do more for the gang and wanted to prove it. Micah undermining you in front of everyone for indulging in your softer fantasies was mortifying. You loved being a part of the gang and wanted to be Arthur’s partner in crime, but was it so bad to imagine a life after that?

While Miss Grimshaw had spent most of the day working you to the bone there were times when you felt that she saw the potential in you. As she scolded Micah you considered that she was defending Arthur as well. The two of you weren’t open about your relationship yet but it was clear you were sweet on each other. The more observant of the gang - Hosea, Charles, Abigail, Grimshaw - could see it had blossomed into something meaningful. Grimshaw was hard on Arthur, like she was with everyone, but she had a soft spot for him and was aware of how happy he was with you. Maybe she wasn’t just annoyed at Micah for the usual reasons, maybe she was also standing up for you and Arthur.

“I don’t wanna hear another word outta you Mr. Bell,” Grimshaw stormed over to him and snatched the journal out of his hand.

“Aww but I was just havin’ some fun.”

“Like hell you were!”

She hurried over to you and shoved the journal into your arms. “I’ll see you bright and early for your chores. Til then, go rest.” Her tone was strict but again, you detected a hint of sympathy.

“Think about my offer princess!” Micah hollered as you stormed away in a huff, tears streaming down your face. They were angry tears primarily, but you couldn’t deny the embarrassment and sadness either. You headed towards a tree that lined the beach on the outskirts of camp, your favorite spot to read, write and have a moment of peace.

Enough time had passed that the sky above the lake had taken on shades of pink and purple, stars beginning to glimmer at the top. Although you managed to calm down somewhat, the anger in your gut was not subsiding. Footsteps gently approached behind you and a familiar voice came with them, "hey sweetheart, heard about the little uh...altercation."

You turned to see Arthur, leaning against the tree above you with a concerned look on his face. You were happy to see him but not thrilled to talk about what happened.

"If you're gonna tell me that's just how it is in the gang and I need thicker skin, I don't wanna hear it," you grumbled.

"Err well no, weren't gonna say anything like that," he was speaking gently and with consideration, "I uh...I brought you back somethin' actually, kinda silly I guess but..."

He sat in the grass and leaned against the tree next to you, broad shoulder brushing against yours. You watched as he shuffled through his satchel delicately until he found what he was looking for; a bundle of orchids and vanilla flowers. He sheepishly handed them to you and shrugged, a sideways grin on his face.

"You...you brought me flowers?" You handled them as if they were expensive jewels, butterflies dancing in your stomach.

"I know it doesn't make up for me bein' away, but I thought you'd like em," he looked away blushing slightly, voice barely above a whisper.

You were enamored seeing Arthur like this, the wanted outlaw who normally appeared brutish and rugged was instead boyish and nervous as he awaited your reply. You loved both sides of him but guessed that not many saw this one and felt privileged. He must have missed you too.

Tears welled in your eyes again as you felt a rush of new emotions combine with the negative ones still lingering, unable to keep from letting out soft sniffles.

Arthur stammered, "shit I...I'm sorry darlin' did I do somethin' wrong? You don't have to accept em if I'm bein' too forward..."

You felt guilty that he could think that at all and brought his face to yours for a gentle kiss. "No you sweet man, you didn't do anything wrong at all," you let go of him and wiped a tear away. "I'm sorry for being snappy when you got here, it's just been a bad few days and Micah was the last straw."

"He usually is..." Arthur remarked, relief in his voice that it wasn't about the flowers. He put his arm around you and pulled you close to his side, squeezing gently. "Mary Beth just told me he stole your journal but didn't really go into detail. You can talk about it if ya want but...no pressure." He ended the statement with a kiss to the top of your head.

"It's embarrassing Arthur. It's bad enough that he made a scene outta keepin’ it away from me but he was loud about private things I wrote." You hesitated to continue but Arthur stayed quiet, not pressuring you either way.

"Well...you're probably gonna hear the rest from someone else anyway," you sighed. "I wrote about how I think of living with you someday. Somewhere quiet, you know...domestic. It's just silly daydreams and I don't want it to scare you away. I love the gang and this lifestyle, at least until we can't anymore. Which is why it was so humiliating, I don't want them all lookin’ down at me like I'm some schoolgirl with a crush. I've been so frustrated just cleanin' up the camp all the time instead of going out. I feel like this set me back in proving myself..." You spoke all in one breath and your voice wavered, happy to have gotten it off your chest but scared about the revealing nature. It left you feeling exposed.

Arthur gently grazed your arm with his fingertips letting a quiet moment pass before replying, "first of all you ain't gonna scare me away girl," he leaned away so that there was enough space for him to look you in the eye while saying this. "Second, there's no reason to be embarrassed...I think about them things too. Whether we wanna admit it or not it's gotta end someday. I never thought much about the after til I met you though..."

Hearing this made your breath hitch in your chest and your head spin. You never considered Arthur thought about those things as well and it filled you with relief and admittedly, anxiety. Would there be an after?

He continued, "besides the folk here who matter already think of ya as one of us. You ain't gotta prove shit, least of all to Micah Bell." He brought his hand to your face and wiped away a tear with the back of his knuckles, "I don't want you to waste no more tears on him darlin, please." You nodded and buried your head into his warm and secure chest, feeling his heart beat. "I could kick his ass if you want me to though, bastard deserves it."

"No Arthur, I'd love to see that but it's fine," you laughed appreciatively.

"I think I'd like to show ya somethin’..." he broke from your embrace to root through his satchel again before pulling out his own journal.

"You...you don't have to do that." Although you’d caught glimpses, most times anyone came near him if he was doodling or writing he would place it flatly against his chest or on the table before anyone inquired. Admittedly you'd wondered so often what it contained. What contents did Arthur Morgan spend so much time and effort putting to paper?

"Nah I want to, now c'mere," he stated nonchalantly before motioning for you to sit in front of him in the grass. You did as he requested, placing your body in front of his, back against his chest. Although you were on the outskirts of camp you were certain they could see you if they glanced over. Arthur had never been this public with his affection for you before. A quick kiss or hug occasionally, an arm around you or hand holding when it was dark and camp was sparsely populated, a quiet romp in his tent when everyone was sleeping, but it was never more than that.

He placed one arm around your stomach and rested the journal against your thighs. “Ain’t really showed these to anyone before,” he glanced nervously behind the two of you, “…but if I’m gonna it should be you, ’specially if it helps ya feel less embarrassed.” You weren’t able to see his face but could feel a smile as his stubbled cheek rested gently on your temple.

He flipped it open to a sketch of the mountains near Valentine. It was gorgeous and you felt flush with heat as your admiration of the man behind you overwhelmed, lucky to witness these portraits of his adventures and of his life. Snapshots of well-defined strangers, some drawn with a smile, some worn and grizzled, each shown with their own beauty, forever captured in an outlaws journal. A testament to a life well lived and the happenstance that allows people to meet. You found yourself unexpectedly emotional pondering what the future held for the pages in front of you. Would it be lost to time and the elements, the paper yellowed, rain soaked or burned? Would a loved one keep it as a precious memory after the two of you were gone? Or perhaps a sentimental stranger would come across it and think it was worth preserving with its insights into a time passed, people mourned, and landscapes changed.

You quietly observed his writings and art filled with gratitude that he trusted you enough to be open this way. It took some time before you could find any words and still struggled to express them properly. "Arthur...I...I don't know what to say. These are beautiful and you're so talented."

Feeling his large frame shrug dismissively behind you he murmured, "never really thought about it like that, 's just somethin' I like to do. Helps me relax."

"Well, I love them. I wanna hear some of the stories about these places and people if I haven't yet. They look like interesting folk."

"Oh they most certainly are," he laughed, "and I’m happy to do that."

His rough and calloused fingers turned the pages delicately to sketches of all manner of nature and manmade wonders. Trees beside waterfalls, rocky rivers, mysterious carvings, sunsets reflected in lakes, predator and prey.

Eventually the pages turned to a doodle of what you assumed was...a duck? It was practically a stick figure and maybe the size of a quarter, inexplicably the only drawing on that page, juxtaposed next to sweeping sketches of stunning landscapes. It was, well...cute, and slightly silly. You couldn't help but giggle.

"Now...the damn thing weren't sittin' still and this is all I could manage," Arthur murmured defensively but still in good humor.

"It ain't bad, it's just...he's so small and cute," you wiped a stray tear from before away, unable to contain your laughter. "I'm sorry darlin’ he just doesn't match the style of other drawings does he?"

"Yeah yeah sweetheart…” You turned to see Arthur roll his eyes with a smirk before softening his demeanor, nuzzling your neck and planting a kiss there. He moved his lips up to your ear. “See? Feelin’ better now ain’tcha? All I had to do was show ya my silly drawing.”

You never thought he would let his guard down this way, all to cheer you up. “I am feeling better Arthur, thank you. And I love all of your drawings.”

“Well, might as well show ya one more thing…”

Rustling through the journal for a specific page he carefully opened to something you never expected to see.

There you were on the paper in front of you. A small scene sat at the campfire, a beer in your hand. The world around you was more roughly sketched, while you were detailed. He caught the cascade of your hair perfectly and the toothy smile you so often had when enjoying the camaraderie of a relaxed evening with the gang.

You turned to look at Arthur and caught a rosy tint in his cheeks as he asked shyly, “whatcha think? This wasn’t too long after ya joined us and I just….couldn’t get ya off my mind. Always caught my eye sittin’ around sharing laughs with everyone.”

You gently ran your fingertips along the drawing as if you could feel the lines and depth, “I don’t know what to say Arthur, it’s lovely and I’m…so flattered.” You were stunned knowing that he admired you enough to draw you, especially that long ago.

“Easier for me to draw somethin’ when the inspiration’s so gorgeous.”

Arthur had been many things when the two of you began your courtship. He was kind, thoughtful, protective, but he bumbled through the flirtations, eventually needing you to take charge and show your interest. Mostly oblivious to it before then, partially from thinking someone like you couldn’t possibly be interested in him. This new confidence and smooth talk suited him. You laughed and turned to look at him again, “Arthur Morgan, where have you been hidin’ all this charm?”

“Gotta wait for the right time I guess,” he leaned forward to gently kiss you, his thumb holding your chin up to him.

“Your timing is impeccable.”

“Glad to hear it beautiful.”

Arthur put the journal back in his satchel and you settled comfortably against his back and lap, arms wrapped around your waist and chin rested on top of your head. The two of you sat melting into each other, watching the fireflies flicker and listening to the chorus of crickets as the sun dipped even further below the horizon.

Eventually Arthurbroke the comfortable silence, “whaddaya say I grab us a few beers and we can find a more secluded spot?” He gave a subtle wink.

“Sounds like a perfect end to the night.” Arthur gingerly removed himself from behind you and stood up as you suddenly realized one detail of the incident you forgot to mention, “oh…uh, another thing…I kinda mentioned us bein’ intimate in my journal - just ya know, how good it’s been. So…they all heard that too.”

Arthur stood slightly bow-legged as he rested his hands on his belt, “that don’t bother me, just happy to hear ya enjoy it so much,” he said with a cocky smile.

“Well Micah had to be nasty and comment on it, said if I wanna ‘take a ride with a real man…’ ”

Arthur scoffed. “Yeah well, I can make it so he hears ya with a real man tonight.” He said with more boldness than you’d ever heard from him.

You feigned propriety, “Mr. Morgan, is that really any way for a gentleman to talk?”

“Oh darlin’ I never said I was a gentleman…” his husky voice stated. Christ was it easy for him to rile you up. “I’ll be back in a bit beautiful, sit tight.”

You watched Arthur saunter back towards camp, excited for what was to come. You stretched and basked in the cool evening air, the weight of the day becoming considerably lighter. All of the stress and anger from earlier faded, tenderness and affection taking its place.

You found yourself thinking of how you would appreciate the sound of graphite on paper in Arthur’s tent during the early morning hours more now. Those peaceful moments when he awoke before you, the birds would chirp their sunrise songs, and he thought you were still asleep beside him.

[peculiarpatches]

𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 - 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐱 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐱 𝐟𝐞𝐦!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

this is part 1 of 4 or 5 (??) parts. if you like this, please give it a like and or reblog (or both). feedback is appreciated, always!! this first chapter contains smut. so if that makes you uncomfortable, this isn’t for you. and again, this is part one of others so there will be more :) 

WARNING: public sex, dirty talk, unprotected sex, angst slightly??? but not really??? it’s going to get angsty more later down the road, lmao. so, buckle up. it’s one hell of a ride. enjoy :)

*~*

A flush of regret wipes over my body. The moment our lips touch,  it washes over me like a waterfall. One drop then thousands of drops came pouring down, soaking me until I was drowning in it. Regret & anxiety; Both washes over me and yet,  I  know  what I am doing is wrong but I can't bring myself to stop. A tiny part of me didn't want it to stop, either.  He knew that, I knew that.  Yet, nobody said anything. We didn't have to. We were too busy, too caught up, in each other that we didn't need to talk. No words needed to be spoken, to be said. We knew it was wrong but... if it was so wrong, why did it feel  so right?  A moan escapes past my lips and drips onto his tongue. His hands found their way to my hips, fingers sneakily trailing up my shirt and he curls his fingernails deep into my skin, making another whimper slip out from me;  no matter how hard I tried not to speak or let any noise out, he got me to do the complete opposite.  "Now, now, remember what I said... We've got to keep quiet, okay, baby girl?" He had said this earlier  and yet, it seemed as if he wanted nothing more than to get me to scream and shake.  To be putty in his hands, to melt under his touch..  The little shit was trying anything - everything - to get me to make noise.  And unfortunately, it was working.   I  shouldn't love him and he  shouldn't love me. Yet, here we were; Tangled together  with our lips locked and our hands caressing every body piece we could manage to find.    We were in the most uncomfortable place to do this at, though. We were in one of the closets  of Hawkin's community pool. It was after hours now,  the pool had been closed for some time, they always closed when the sun went down and when the children's fathers got off of work and the mothers had to be quick on their feet and head home to cook them a meal.  A few people were still in the parking lot, a few life guards were also gathering their supplies and getting ready to set, sail, and go home. Yet, Billy told me he had a surprise for me if I stayed past my curfew and past my work schedule.  Of course, I knew what he wanted. I knew what he had up his sleeve.  (The so called surprise, as you may have guess is... *drum roll*  his cock!! What an amazing present to gift someone, right?)   I, being the dumbass that I am, agreed, though.   It wasn't bad, per say. It never was bad. Hell, it only got better within each sacred and secret moment we shared together.  That's where the problem was at; I was tired of being a secret. Tired of hiding from everyone. Tired of feeling used. I wasn't Billy's rag doll he could use and carry with him wherever. I also wasn't his personal sex toy that he could slip his dick into whenever, wherever.  I was tired. So, fucking, tired. I was  exhausted, mentally and physically. Having to keep the secrets buried away, hiding them in a place they can't be broken or seen, it was truly going to be the death of me.  Especially from Steve. I was tired of lying to him.  Steve Harrington was my best friend. Best friends since kindergarten, he and I. I hated that I was hiding my relationship - was it even that? - with Billy to him.  Steve and I went to each other for everything.  Always have, always will. When he and Nancy broke up, he came to me, crying his heart out and drowning my shirts (and pillows and blankets) with tears and snot.  (Thankfully, he cleaned them up so I didn't have to. I would've done it in a heartbeat, though. I loved Steve. Steve is my best friend, I'd do anything for him, as I know he'd do anything for me.   So, lying to him made me feel like the shittiest person alive.)   That night, along with many other restless ones, we  talked  and talked until the sun came up.  I did everything I could to make him happy, to cheer him up. I baked him his favorite cookies and favorite meal once as well to try and make him feel better. Almost burnt the kitchen down while doing so, too. And, okay, maybe, the meal and the cookies didn't work out and I failed. In the end, it put a smile on Steve's face which is all I had been dying to see.  Soda dripped from Steve's nose and burnt his nostrils, he was laughing so hard when the fire alarm went off, letting us know the cookies in the oven were bursting in flames. Luckily, we saved the kitchen from exploding with fire and clouding with smoke. Can't say the same for the cookies, sadly.  From that day and onward, he and I still made jokes about burnt crisp cookies and nearly dying because of trying to bake them together.  It was one of our favorite inside jokes, actually.  ("I went to the store yesterday and I walked up and down the aisles and guess what? Not a single one had burnt crisp cookie dough.")  ("You see this bullshit, Harrington? All the cookies in the world are at this fundraiser expect for burnt crisp cookie dough!"  "Oh, man, I'm going to have to talk to the principal about that one... I cannot believe they'd do something like this.") When I got dumped by  one of the basketball players on the Hawkin's high school team, Steve was the first (and only) one who reached out to me and cheered me up. He rented out a few of our favorite movies together and before they could close, Steve and I were quick to rush to the grocery store and we picked up as much junk food as our arms could carry.   That night - along with others - was full of nothing but contagious laughter, sweet and salty foods, and horrible but too good to put down and look away movies.   All the thoughts of Steve wash away once I  feel Billy's hand dip  into the opening of my underwear, his calloused fingers pushing the thin layer of fabric aside  as his index finger slips between my folds, a gasp leaving me as I feel his touch.  His touch felt like fire among my skin, and I was an ice cube, melting in the palm of his hands.  I could feel myself sinking and sinking, slipping away into the pleasure he was about to bring onto me.  "I love when you make that face," He whispers against my neck, lips drifting across my skin, not quite in contact but not so far away either where I couldn't feel him. His breath was hot and I could smell the peppermint gum as he talked.  "Love hearing those pretty but pornographic moans of yours.... gets my cock so hard, you get me so worked up, baby girl...." Billy's scent was intoxicating. Even right now with the  left over smell of coconut lotion smeared across his skin from lathering himself up early in the morning, he smelled perfect. As perfect as can get. He smelled of coconut  mixed with peppermint and a cologne I couldn't pinpoint on exactly what  or which brand. All the scents together may sound odd and unsatisfying but I was nearly drooling as the different fragrances overwhelmed my senses. That and the fact he pushes his index and middle finger inside me, so easily, without any trouble whatsoever. Him, doing that earned another  gasp to fall off  of my lips as it was so sudden, so unexpected.  I knew I was wet, could feel the puddle of wetness coating the bottom half of my underwear but I hadn't known I was so hot and bothered he could easily slip two fingers into me. I shouldn't act so surprised, this was Billy Hargrove, after all. Billy was one, if not, the most attractive guy in Hawkin's, Indiana. Well...in our age group, anyways. A lot of other students and fellow classmates were far from attractive. (Minus Steve, but of course, he doesn't count. He knows he's attractive, just as much as Billy does. Me, telling him he's cute and everything wouldn't change the fact. He already knows it.) Moments like this, I wish I had a jar I could bottle these memories up and store them away, have a look back upon them some day with a smile on my face. I've never felt so alive, so wanted, needed and loved... not until I met Billy.  He made me feel as if I was on cloud nine and he made me feel as if  I could do anything - everything -  and I wasn't just some girl, some hookup, to him. I was special. Sure, hiding and keeping secrets wasn't the greatest feeling in the world, I'll have to have a talk with him about it, about the way I felt, but as of right now, I wanted to touch him the way he was touching me. I wanted to make him feel the butterflies in the pit of his stomach, the ones I was feeling right now. The ones I always feel when he presses his lips against mine or when he just touches me, in general. Hell, even when he smiles in my direction, holds my hand with his much larger one and or laughs at a not so funny joke I tell. I wanted to make his heart skip a beat, as he did with me. I wanted to make him feel as special as he makes me. Before I could register what I am about to say, those three little words leave my lips before I could put a stop to them.  "I love you."  I couldn't stop the sentence, even if I tried.  Billy said nothing. He hums in reply, but no words leave his mouth. He continues to move his fingers back and forth, curling and scissoring his digits deep inside me. I groan quietly, leaning my head back against the shower tile wall, holding myself up the best I could from the position I was in. "There's a good girl," is all he says. He either doesn't acknowledge what I said or he chose to ignore it. My heart aches at the second option but the feeling goes away rather fast as he's sinking to his knees and spreading my legs far apart, his head guiding up to face my cunt and before I know it, his tongue - his mouth - everything is inside and I feel as if I'm on fire.   "Oh... Oh, Billy..." I mewl,  slowly my eyelids drift close on their own as I press my lower half into his  welcoming mouth, my breathing began to grow heavy as his tongue swirls against my cunt which hardens underneath him.  He grips his fingers into my thighs, more  than likely putting imprints of his nails into my skin by  how hard he pressed them down. I didn't mind a few bruises. The bruises were  a reminder this was all happening and not some form of my imagination.    Even from the position he was in, I could feel the outline of his lips curving upward and I didn't need to look down to see the famous Hargrove smirk sitting there across his face; I could feel him smiling in between my thighs.    He, to my disappointment, pulls away, but he doesn't stay far back for too long. The cheeky little shit only wanted to lock eyes with me, shoot me a wink before diving back down in between my legs, eating me out as if he was starving. Saliva dripped down his chin and I could feel it sliding off of my thighs, too.  His tongue was everywhere, going from my pussy to the inside of my thighs to my clit back and all over again. He was devouring me, eating me out as if we were running out of time which was far from the truth.   I didn't mind it one bit. Wasn't complaining in the slightest.  My only  issue was how close I was getting to an orgasm. The signs were all there, slowly building up. My heart was pounding faster than before, my legs were shaking and my knees began to buckle. It was getting harder to keep upward.  My eyelids  could barely keep open, the familiar fluttery feeling grew bigger and stronger in my stomach. Billy, probably knowing I was close to my peak, pulled away and before he stands up, he pushes his shorts down, letting them hang by his feet. "Next time, princess, I want to see that mouth of yours stuffed with my cock; see you gagging for it, all around me. As of right now, I just want to fuck you and leave you  breathless, now bend over and let me see that pretty pussy of yours, baby. 'm gonna wreck it, have you feeling me for days, have you feeling this cock in your stomach. That's what you want, isn't it? To be fucked like I hate you?"    Before I could reply, he's taking me by the wrist and bending me forward, laying my body against one of the shelves in the closet as he rubs my opening with the head of his cock, sending a shiver to run through my body, goosebumps prickling my skin as I breathe through my nose, closing my eyes. I wait for him, wait for the stretch and the opening of his cock but it doesn't come as quickly as I would have liked.  "I don't, by the way. Hate you." He said, leaning forward whereas his back touches my own, "I'll fuck you like I do but I don't. The feeling is mutual." He said and before I could reply - before I could ask what he meant - he's pushing forward, pressing his cock deep inside me, sinking into me with a growl.   "You're so fucking tight, always so fucking tight." He grunts, hissing through his teeth as he rocks his hips back and forth, his cock going deeper inside me, inch by inch, I feel him. He's all I could feel.  He's all I want to feel.  "Please..... please, Billy." My words are crumbling together, my body was breaking apart.  "Tell me," He purred,  his breath lightly  fanning against my ear as he spoke,  his voice was low and irresistible, it made every part of me shake as he spoke. "Tell me what you want. You have to speak up in order to get what you want, love.... So, tell me." "Just you, you, you, you." I'm begging now. I can feel myself getting closer and closer. I'm holding onto the shelf so tightly because I'm afraid I'm going to fall over.   The feeling is growing, the bubbling sensation is getting larger and I can feel myself getting ready to burst.  "Please, Billy, fuck me like you hate me. Fuck me like I'm some whore on the street. Fuck me-" My words are cut off by the way he pulls out only to slam back into me. Him, doing this  - the sudden force and movement - is what makes me come undone. I knew I wasn't going to last long.  Luckily, neither does he. "Oh, fuck. Already came, did you? Such a good girl. Fuck~ you're such a good girl for me. 'm gonna cum too, fuck, I'm so close, (Y/N)." His words, much like mine were, slur together, his thrusts become sloppy and messy. And before I know it, he's cumming with a cry of my name, filling me up as he does so.  "Shit...." He groans, pulling back slowly as he then pulls me up with him, pulling me around to face him as he kisses me suddenly,  the taste of myself still strong on his tongue. It shouldn't be a turn on but it was. However, I was too exhausted for a round two any time soon.  I kiss him back, smiling against his lips.  We stay in this position for a few seconds, saying nothing because the kiss says what all that I needed to hear. He loved me too.  Pulling back, Billy smiles and moves a few pieces of hair out from my face, leaning forward, he captures my forehead with his lips, kissing it with so much softness and affection, I feel all warm and tingly on the inside.  This is the Billy nobody but me got to see. This is the Billy I was in love with.  Not the one he portrayed for everyone in town to see. He didn't have to play pretend, to put on a show, I loved him for who he was. Even the fake persona he wore. I knew it wasn't him, not at all.  "I love you."  Something flashes across his face the moment I say those three words, there's a certain  look in his eyes I can't make out but he grins nonetheless and pulls me closer to him, hand finding their way to my cheeks as he  moves to kiss me the way he had done before. "And I love you."  Of course, I should have known he was lying.  It was Billy Hargrove, after all.  He didn't date.  Didn't fall in love.  All he cared about was the person that looked back at him in the reflection of his mirror and getting into girl's pants, no matter who it was.  More importantly, he didn't fall in love with me.  It was all a lie, all a trick, and I was nothing more than a puppet on strings for him to toy around with.  I didn't know this until the next day. If I had known, I wouldn't have given myself up to him so easily. 

I was -  I still am - a fool for falling for his little white lies.  I should have known.  All the red flags were there but..... I guess I was just color blind.  I just wanted to be loved. And I thought he loved me..... I really did. I guess I was just another girl to put on the top of his list. 

[xpeachesncream]

Hi love!!!! Can write a drabble of prefectly wrong tae where it’s YN birthday and he has a romantic night night planned 🤩

perfectly wrong | drabble [5]: when your birthday takes an unexpected turn. 

word count: 2.0k

warnings: not much honestly besides cussing, very brief implied smut and a fluffy/sweet tae. (i didnt want to focus too much on adding smut towards the end because i really wanted this to be cute lmao)

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BABY!" Jungkook tooted the little toy horn, along with Yoongi, Hoseok and Jin throwing confetti in the air and tossing their small paper birthday hats in the air. Jin had closed down the cafe for majority of the afternoon just so you and your friends could spend time together in a private setting. Your friends and Jin spent quite some time decorating the studio in all sorts of decorations and balloons, plus you were fed your favorite foods and dessert. You slipped yourself into a simple, black camisole dress since the boys stated they "wanted to dress up for your birthday so you should too." You agreed without any complaints, although you wished Taehyung was around to see you. You were actually a little bummed despite it being your birthday, since Taehyung had gone off on a quick camping trip with Jimin and Namjoon. You couldn't say much being that he had already promised he'd go way before you two had gotten together. He was supposed to be back later today, but you hadn't heard much from him and the hope in you was dwindling down.

Oh well. I mean, you have your boyfriend on other days, right?

"Aiiiiiish, cheer up Y/N. I hate when you're sad. It's your birthday." Jin engulfs you in a big bear hug. Little did you know, all your friends had something up their sleeves and they would never let you be this upset on your birthday.

"I'm sorry, I know. I'm really happy to be here with you guys. I just.. miss Tae."

"He'll be back soon, right?" Kook pinches your cheek. "He's not going to miss out on your birthday, Y/N."

"I know, it just feels incomplete without him."

"You're a weenie." Yoongi said, running away from the attempted hit you tried to throw at his arm. "Aghhh I'm kidding. You mean everything to that guy, he wouldn't do that." He throws his arms around your neck and tightly hugs you. The rest of the time, you all are finishing up the food and desserts all while they watch you open the presents they've gotten you.

When packing up the things into Jungkook's car, you realize Tae still hasn't texted you or updated you about when he'd be back. You felt like texting him, but at the same time, you didn't wanna bother him, so you leave it be and slightly sulk in the passenger's seat.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Jungkook asks, keeping his eyes on the road.

"I don't think Tae is going to make it back today." You look as the sun is setting.

"He hasn't updated you?" Jungkook purses his lips together, afraid he'd laugh or bust into a big smile and give away your surprise.

"No." You pout in your seat, throwing your knees up to your chest.

"I'm sure he'll make it up to you. You know that, right?"

"Mhm." Is all you say. You lean your head against the window, unsure if you're more sad or upset about how this day actually turned out. Then, you suddenly realize that Jungkook is completely passing your exit and taking you deeper into town. "Kook, where are you going?"

"I just have one more surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"We planned hard for this, so don't even think about it." He turns to you with a blank expression before returning his attention back to the road. You were getting a little restless, being that you were already slightly annoyed and in your feelings about your boyfriend.

"Where are we goiiiinggggg?" You whine, the ride almost taking an hour.

"We're almost there, jeeeeeez." Kook's tone rose as he pulled up on a street full of beach vacation homes and bungalows, the beach right in their backyards. Why you were here, you had no idea. Quite frankly, you weren't really in the mood to do a bonfire with your friends.

"What am I doing here?"

"Honestly, if you don't chill out, I will drop your ass off right here." Jungkook playfully says, stopping the car deadass in the middle of the road. "Finished?" You roll your eyes as you lean back and let him continue driving a little further down the street. He pulled up in front of a house that was completely dark, it's surroundings quiet besides the waves crashing against the shore. Jungkook pulls out his phone for a quick minute before he turns to you and smiles. "Okay, I'll be in there in a minute, I'm gonna grab all your things. You can go up first though."

"Why can't I just wait for you?"

"And do what? You're not gonna be carrying a thing." He laughed and shrugged. "Just go in, it'll be fine."

"Fine." He snorts, pretending to hop out and get your gifts even though he's not gonna do a damn thing and just bring it over to your place himself.

You walk into the bungalow, a little afraid of how dark it is. The entrance leads into the small kitchen and living room area, and there isn't anything in sight besides one lit candle on the kitchen counter top. You make your way over, noticing a note in front of the candle.

Follow the candles to find me.

"What is this?" You hear the soft humming of 112's Cupid coming from the bedroom, you assume, which is where the candles lead to. There were small, tea light candles in a single formation, leading towards the room, with rose petals accompanying them on the sides. You push open the sliding doors, only to see a room lit with candles left and right, rose petals and plastic tea light candles in the form of a heart on the bed. The ceiling was covered in red heart balloons, and the table at the end of the bed had a small cake, with chocolate covered strawberries on a platter next to it.

But that's not really what caught your attention the most - it was your handsome boyfriend, standing at the end of the bed, holding a huge bouquet of red roses. He had on a black button up shirt, the sleeves rolled up close to the elbow, black pants and boots on. His curly hair fixed and all proper, a smile on his face as he tilted his head and looked at you up and down.

Like a goddess in his eyes.

"W-what?" Is all you can say as he approaches you. "W-what are you doing here? I thought you were gone."

"Did you really think I'd miss out on my babygirl's birthday?" The tears are streaming down now, and he can't help but laugh a little. He sets the bouquet down to wipe the tears coming down from your eyes, his thumbs gently swiping across your skin.

"I really missed you."

"Aw, baby." He says, kissing you softly on the forehead. "I'm here now." You can't do anything but pout in his hands as he cups your cheek and smiles down at you. "Happy birthday, love."

"When did you plan this? Did the rest of the guys know?" He nods.

"Sure did."

"I'm gonna kill Kook." He laughs.

"Don't do that." He takes your hand and takes you over to the table where your cake is. "Come."" He sets a single candle onto the cake, lighting it with the lighter he pulled from his pocket. "It's your favorite cake." Your eyes light up as you look at him.

"Tres Leches?!" He nods as you squeal and clap. Good lord, you loved Tres Leches cake. Tae knew that too, being that's the only dessert you ever talked about. He traveled around just to find the right one for you.

"Made sure I found the right one for you." He gently caresses the small of your back. "Make a wish." You silently stand there, hands clasped together while your eyes are shut. This day took an unexpected turn and you couldn't have asked for anything else. Part of you was upset that Taehyung was really going to miss out on your birthday. You didn't wanna be that girlfriend though, being that his friends also meant a lot to him. Your birthday was just your birthday and he could easily make it up if he wanted to.

But to Taehyung, this wasn't just a birthday. He really wanted to make this night special for you and he took weeks to plan this out perfectly - looping in all your friends, Jimin and Namjoon, spending bills to reserve this bungalow for a weekend getaway, the decorations, the roses, the cake, planning how the surprise would go down, everything. He didn't care how much effort it took. He just needed this to be perfect for you. He wanted to show you what you truly meant to him, even though he tries his best to do that every single day, birthday or not. Honestly, the rest of the night, he doesn't have much planned besides making you comfortable. He just wants you to relax, whether that meant cuddling in bed with him playing in your hair, or if it meant other things. Whatever you wanted, he was here to give it.

You make your wish, Taehyung instantly pulling you into a deep, passionate kiss afterwards. You throw your arms around his neck, his hands caressing your sides as he looks down at you.

"Hungry?" He asks.

"Not right now." You look out onto the patio that overlooked the beach. You make your way over,  Taehyung silently following behind you. The breeze was picking up quite a bit, but the sound of the waves were too relaxing for you to care. You leaned against the railing, Taehyung coming from behind, placing a kiss on the back of your head before he rubs your arms.

"Cold?"

"It's alright."

"You sure?" He chuckles.

"Maybeeee." He doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around you, placing kisses along your temple as his hands rest on your arms and hold you tightly. "Thank you for all of this, babe. How'd you pull this off?"

"Mm, I have my ways." He laughs. "Anything for my lady." You smile into the kiss he places on your cheek, feeling overjoyed by the love and care this man is showering you in. "What do you wanna do for the rest of the night?"

"Besides each other? Watch a movie, cuddle." He laughs and nods.

"Sounds like a good plan."

You look down at your dress, realizing you were probably gonna go into the weekend with one outfit. "Except, I don't--" He shakes his head, pointing towards the bathroom. You walk over from the patio and into the bathroom to see your duffle bag packed of clothes, your skincare and necessary toiletries lining the bathroom counter. Hanging from the bathroom's storage closet are two silk robes, a pink one for you and a black one for him. "Hey, how'd you know what to bring?"

"I pay attention."

"I really do love you." Is all you can say when you look at him.

"I really do love you, too." He chuckles. You two get into your robes and make your way to the bed, Taehyung making sure to arrange the petals and candles around the floor of the bed before pouring you and him a glass of champagne. You bring the platter of chocolate covered strawberries in front of you as he pulls up a light-hearted movie for you two to watch. You both finish the champagne bottle and the chocolate strawberries as the movie progresses, the exhaustion slowly hitting you after eating such luxuries. You laid on your side, your head resting on Taehyung's lap as he sat up against the headboard. Your eyes began to shut as his hands gently stroked your hair and massaged your scalp.

"Tae." You say softly.

"Mhm?"

"How did I get so lucky?"

"You didn't, I did." He chuckles. "I hope you enjoy this weekend with me."

"Of course I will."

"Good." He looks down at you as he continues to play with your hair. "Happy birthday again, baby. I hope you know how much you mean to me." You look up at him before sitting up to kiss him and straddle his lap, figuring it was time you showered him with your appreciation. You undo the robe, letting it fall of your shoulders as Taehyung watches and marvels at the sight of your exposed chest. He wastes no time gripping you closely as you kiss him, his hands softly traveling to caress your entire body, feeling you as if he needed to prove to himself that this was real - that you were real. 

He could never get enough of you.

[equustenebris]

New drabble time! The Mad Ducktor falls off the top of the Money Bin, but things don't go as expected when he drags himself to the hospital.

Bill is apparently the name I’m giving Gyro's unseen sibling, Newton's father. It was meant to be a temporary placeholder name for me but I guess it's stuck, so this is me committing to it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Also, so car-cans have an official English name, coco-no-nos, but that is not happening lmao. I try to use the official English names wherever possible, but I prefer "car-can" so much more that I'm keeping it.

This was supposed to be a really short drabble aksjfnsb IT GOT AWAY FROM ME

for Whumptober 2021

Eight. Coughing Up a Lung

Prompt - pneumothorax

He staggered back into his hideout, gasping for breath, holding his aching side. Well, that little escapade could have gone better. The tumble he had taken from the top of the Money Bin, courtesy of Mr. McDuck, was a lot longer drop than it looked like from the ground. Fortunately, nothing was majorly injured -- except maybe his ego.

So the direct approach worked about as well as his broken shrink ray, which is to say, not at all. Clearly, next time he needed to do a lot more field testing before he showed up at his nemesis's with a new invention. Having a Plan B couldn't hurt either, lest he get unceremoniously shot off the side of the Money Bin again. He was beginning to understand how Magica still hadn't swiped the Dime despite literal magic at her fingertips; that old man was fierce, and an excellent shot with that salt-loaded blunderbuss.

He closed his eyes, slumping into his desk chair with a miserable groan. Well. He might be covered in bruises, but at least he had managed to escape before the Duck Avenger showed up, so there was that. Small favors.

He winced, carefully tugging off his cape and gloves, not exactly eager to see the damage. His coat followed, admittedly more difficult to remove with the searing burn in his side. He bristled suddenly, seized by a coughing fit. Oh, how his lungs ached -- having to make a fast getaway all the way back to his hideout in the shipping district from Killmotor Hill was definitely not his idea of fun.

He managed to finally peel off his jumpsuit, carefully lifting his undershirt to get a better look. He winced, flinching. His entire left side was already smattered in deep, large bruises and scrapes, feathers speckled with dried blood. It looked bad, he supposed, but nothing a long epsom soak couldn't take care of, and a few days' rest.

He abruptly doubled over, fitfully coughing again, each little movement sending sharp pain tearing through his side. Worryingly, when he finally managed to soothe the tickling in his chest, he struggled to catch his breath. For a few moments he just gasped, each breath laborious, like sucking air through a straw. Maybe it was just the pain? Maybe he bruised the lung? Can you bruise a lung? (Despite the play on words for his villainous title, he was an inventor, not a doctor.)

The pain only seemed to be getting worse. He struggled to his feet, figuring maybe he could start a bath now to help soothe himself, but only made it a few steps before he was seized by another coughing spell, covering his beak with his hand. This time, however, when he finally managed to catch his breath, his palm sparkled with bright red blood.

"Oh...no," he managed breathlessly, dread sinking through his stomach. So yes, he was not a doctor -- but clearly he was going to need one.

---

"Gyro Gearloose?"

He struggled to his feet, following the nurse to the ER bed. Somehow, he had managed to pull on his other self's familiar clothes, and more or less pinned down his head feathers for the blond wig. Breathing was getting more difficult by the minute, but he couldn't exactly go to the hospital as the Mad Ducktor, so his thrown-together Gyro disguise would have to do. Fortunately, the staff was already pretty familiar with Gyro after all of his mishaps in the lab, and didn't ask him for the ID he didn't have. Small favors -- that were rapidly growing smaller in light of the circumstances.

He groaned, lying back on the bed, preparing for the long, mind-numbing wait for the doctor. The long, painful wait, breathing like someone had a weight set on his chest. He closed his eyes, just trying to rest in the meantime, drowsily drifting in and out of sleep as he shivered under the thin, scratchy sheet.

It wasn't long, however, before he was roused by an extremely familiar voice out in the hallway. "Uh, let's not tell your dad about this one, okay?"

"Yeah, Uncle, I think that's probably a good idea... It doesn't hurt that bad, though."

"Yeah, but we should still get it checked out. I'm sorry, Newton. I can see there's still a few bugs to work out!"

He startled awake, heart suddenly slamming in his chest. Here?! Of all the places in all the city, Gyro Gearloose had to be here?! He panted breathlessly, panic rising, sweat beginning to prickle down the back of his neck. He was a wanted criminal, and if Gyro or any of the staff found out about his little deception, his goose was cooked. But what exactly was he supposed to do?

"Hey, Uncle...why are you listed on the board?"

"Hmm?"

"Under the list of patients, look, it says 'Gyro Gearloose' Shouldn't it be my name? Oh, no, wait, there's 'Newton Gearloose' already over on that side..."

"What?"

"Yeah. Do you think you're on there by mistake? Someone should probably tell them."

The Ducktor squeezed his eyes shut, just struggling for breath. Well, come what may, there was certainly nothing he could do about it now.

There was a soft rustling at the curtain separating the Ducktor from the rest of the emergency room. Gyro gave a warning shh to his nephew, then pulled it back, peeking in. The Ducktor met his eyes, wanting to call to him, wanting to say anything, but the air he had to speak with was suddenly gone; he started coughing again, ending the fit with a pained yelp.

Newton made a murmur of confusion, but Gyro quickly slipped inside and pulled the curtain shut behind him. "What are you doing here?!" he demanded, hissed in a low whisper.

The Ducktor wanted to respond to that with some snarky quip, some aggressive hey, captain obvious remark -- but as he struggled for air, he just shook his head, eyes pleading. "I can’t breathe," he whispered back, clutching the sheets.

Gyro's face abruptly softened, as if he hadn't even considered the possibility that his evil counterpart might be at the hospital for a reason. "Are you sick?"

He shook his head, trying to keep his voice low and words short. "I fell," he gasped, grasping his side to illustrate. He decided it was probably for the best that he not share why he fell, or from where.

"Uncle?" Newton attempted to pull back the curtain, but Gyro quickly pinched it shut.

"Just wait, Newton." He turned back to the Ducktor with an uncertain sneer. "He's got a burn on his arm we're getting checked out. A...bit of a mishap with a new invention of mine." He frowned, looking the Ducktor over, considering, then quickly fluffed up his head feathers and took off his button-down, untucking his T-shirt underneath to attempt to change his appearance. "Okay, Gyro. If you can promise me you're not planning to hurt anybody, then Bill and Newton will go wait to see the doctor."

The Ducktor gave a short, breathless laugh, stunned at this sudden change of fortune, and Gyro's unexpected generosity. "Not hurting anyone," he gasped, trying to suppress another cough, "just -- need help."

Gyro nodded, frowning, and slipped out of the curtain and back to Newton, shirt over his arm. "C'mon, Newton, just -- call me Dad for now. I’ll explain later..."

He closed his eyes again, resting back against the hospital bed with a pained wheeze. Not so small favors.

---

Nearly three hours later, he stumbled out of the emergency room, limping, the one pain pill they gave him barely blunting the searing ache. A collapsed lung, they said, but not bad enough to warrant any treatment except waiting and watching. Try to rest and try not to cough. As he began dragging himself on the long journey back to his hideout, badly suppressing another coughing fit, he wondered how exactly he'd be able to do either of those things.

He was so distracted by the pain, he didn't immediately recognize the car that had pulled up beside him at the edge of the hospital parking lot. Hesitantly, Gyro rolled down the window, peeking his head out. "...do you need a ride?" he asked, concern knitting his brow.

As much as he wanted to say no, he found himself already eagerly tugging open the back door. "Yes," he gasped, still struggling for air, "the shipping district."

Gyro frowned to himself, stealing a glance to the anxious-looking Newton squirming in the passenger seat. It had been a long time since he'd gotten to see his nephew. He'd certainly grown. The Ducktor thought he heard his other self mumble something like I hope I don't regret this as he began driving, but he was far too caught up in the elation of not having to walk to care.

Newton peered back at him over the seat, looking uncertain. The Ducktor sat back, just trying to rest.

"...are you the Mad Ducktor?"

He opened his eyes and refocused, trying to concentrate through the pain medication haze. "Yes."

"Oh." He paused for a moment, contemplative. "...are you okay?"

"Collapsed lung," the Ducktor wheezed, "and a fractured rib. Apparently, I’ll be fine."

"Mm." Newton held up his bandaged arm for the Ducktor to see, grinning awkwardly. "Second degree burn. But I should be healed before Dad comes back next month."

The Ducktor smirked tiredly and nodded, turning his attention back to Gyro. "Go left at the light."

"Do you need any help?" Gyro asked, glancing up into the rear view. The Ducktor sat back, grimacing.

"No," he said finally, shaking his head. "You've done enough. Drop me off here."

"Here? But we're in the middle of nowhere!"

"I’m not leading you to my hideout, Gyro," he rasped. "I’ll walk the rest of the way."

Gyro reluctantly pulled over, parking under a hazy streetlight. "Are you sure?"

But the Ducktor was already out of the car, up on the sidewalk. He went to respond, but ended up in a coughing fit instead, leaning on the car for support, tissues he swiped from the hospital held to his beak. Finally, he managed to gasp a few labored breaths. "I'll be fine."

Gyro looked less than convinced, eyeing the blood-speckled tissues clutched in his hand. "...really, I don’t have to tell the Duck Avenger anything about this."

"Can’t risk it," he muttered, straightening up. "Go take the kid home, it's late."

"...I could take a car-can."

"I'm not doing that to you," he snapped, patience wearing thin. "Just go home."

Gyro paused for several moments, clearly reluctant. Finally, he sighed. "...okay, fine, okay. If you're sure."

"It was nice meeting you," Newton called from the passenger seat, so innocent and genuine that the Ducktor couldn't help but give a breathless laugh.

"Nice 'meeting' you too. Take care of that arm."

"I will."

"Say hi to Bill for me."

"Don’t do that," Gyro warned, looking from Newton back to the Ducktor. "We're going to keep this a secret, okay? Just between us three." He pulled the car out of park, frowning worriedly. "...if you need help with anything, I can help you, all right? Just ask."

"Your generosity knows no bounds, sweetheart," he said, gesturing dismissively. "I’ll make do alone. I always do."

Gyro frowned, hands on the steering wheel. "You might be evil, but you're still a person. You shouldn't have to make do alone." He sat back against the seat, eyeing him up and down. "Take care of yourself, all right?"

"Darling, it's almost like you care."

"I do," he snapped, blurting it out without thinking. There was an aching pause between them before Gyro finally turned away, staring straight ahead though the windshield. "...go get some rest."

"Hm. You too," the Ducktor told him, straightening up and giving the roof of the car a soft couple of slaps. "Thanks for the ride."

"Yeah."

He watched them pull away, waiting for the car to disappear over the horizon before he finally started walking, taking slow, drudging steps back to his hideout. He was ready for a nice warm bath, his bed...and the rest of the long night, all alone. He winced, more than just his lungs and bruises suddenly aching.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #454

“last thing i remember, i was running for the door  /  i had to find the passage back to the place i was before”

Last thing you bought online? Did you like it? I have no clue. Could you date someone who didn’t drive (and didn’t show an interest in ever getting their license, either)? I don't know. Public transportation isn't a big thing here at all, and even whenever I get my license, my partner needing to get somewhere while I'm needed elsewhere could be problematic. I think it would also depend on why they don't want their license. Like if they had a traumatic wreck, I couldn't blame them. How would you react if your artwork became famous? That'd be fucking amazing. Would you get your nipples pierced? I've briefly considered it. I ultimately wouldn't, though. How many people know your birthday? Without the assistance of Facebook, a few, I guess. My immediate family, Sara, uhhhh... Has anyone ever tried to ruin a relationship you were in? Yes, and it worked. For the better, though. He had a bad reputation. Have you ever watched a whole hour long infomercial? Ha, yes, this one time with Girt. It was a vacuum infomercial. We were just really bored at my place and... okay, I have no justification for watching that whole thing lmao. What is your current MySpace song? I still remember it was "Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Beddingfield lmaooo. What is your favorite kind of meat to put on your sandwich? Ham. Which one of your exes do you feel like you have the most chemistry with? Sara or Jason, idk. How do you feel about people who make Facebook profiles for their pets? I don't care. Have you ever personally known a pair of conjoined twins? No. What was the most disturbing thing you have ever heard your mother say? Mom and my older sister got in a fight once and Mom yelled that she was a slut. I don't know why, but... it never left me, and I GUARANTEE it never left Ashley (who is not a "slut," by the way). This was when she was a teenager, so it's been many years and I can absolutely promise you Mom regrets it, big time. I don't even have to ask. Is there something in particular you like to look at photos of? What is it? Mark and meerkats, ha ha. Chewy chocolate-chip cookies: like or dislike? Chewy is the way to GO. If your boyfriend/girlfriend wanted to dress only in the opposite sex’s clothing, would you support that? If not, would you leave them? I wouldn't care. I'm pansexual, anyway. Anyone can be attractive to either gender's clothes to me. I think assigning clothes to a specific gender is dumb, anyway. Do you think your grandmother is/was beautiful? I only remember how my maternal grandmother looked, and yeah, she was a pretty lady. Which of your fields of interest are you a total expert on? Mark, ha ha. I know way too much on a person I've never met. When was the last time you got all dolled up? Not since last October when I did a witchy Halloween shoot with friends. Do you ever name objects? (i.e. mp3 players, guitars, cars, etc.) No. Do you have a criminal record? No. Last person you took a nap with? Sara, years ago. Well, unless you count my cat. He always comes running when he hears me getting comfy in bed, ha ha. Does seeing your mother cry automatically make you feel sad as well? Yes, and angry because I want to stop whatever it is making her cry, but I usually can't. Do you think someone likes the same person you like? I have no idea. Do you want your life to stay the way it is right now forever? God no. Have you ever been to craigslist.com? Yes; I've adopted and rehomed pets from there. What about eBay? Mom's bought stuff from there. Have you ever used Nair? Yes, on my legs. It's just as exhausting as shaving with how thick my hair is. Are you medicated? I think I'm on too much medication, personally. I want to try weaning off my OCD prescription, because I haven't had problems in a long time, but my psychiatrist doesn't want to? Which is odd to me because when I came to him, he was stunned by how many different meds I was on. He's concerned that the symptoms will just re-emerge, but like... I've beaten OCD before, for many years. I can do it again. I trust him with my life though, because he saved it, so I just go with what he says, honestly. Do you shape/fill in your eyebrows? No. Have you ever stolen/borrowed clothes from an ex? I've worn Jason's pajama pants before because I found men's pj pants more comfortable, and besides, sometimes I spent the night when I didn't plan to and needed something more comfortable than jeans. Could you make a statement about anything political? Texas' new "heartbeat bill" is fucking bullshit and is going to get so many women killed from DIY abortions. Do you think you’ve already met your soulmate? I don't believe in soulmates, but I do believe I met the person I loved more than I could ever possibly love somebody else again. Do you get the feeling something good will happen in your life soon? Fuck if I know. Do you enjoy romantic movies, even when they’re cliche? Yes. Have you been to McDonald’s in the past month? Yes. Have you ever slept over at your best friend’s house? I have. How often do you go bowling? Very, very rarely. I haven't been since I was on a date at the end of 2017, I wanna say??? Or was it '18??? Last time you were in an apartment? Not since Colleen still lived in one and I was visiting her. Have you ever seen a live seahorse? Yeah, in aquariums. Would you like to have your own yacht? I mean I wouldn't say no if you offered it to me for free, but I'm not exactly interested in one. I'd probably just give it to my dad. He'd be on Cloud 9. Winnie the Pooh or Tigger? Pooh! :^) What’s the unhealthiest thing you’ve eaten today? A brownie with caramel drizzle. Mom bought a box of them to split between Ash and her family and us, so I had one. :x Thankfully though she gave more to Ash, because I don't like having treats in the house for my weight's sake, but a little something sweet occasionally keeps you sane when you're trying to lose weight. Has a stranger ever offered to buy you a drink? Ew, no. What is something you’d be happy to receive as a gift, that doesn’t cost a lot? I'd really appreciate something hand-made, like a drawing or something. What kind of music does your significant other/crush like to listen to? He likes mostly the same stuff as me, but also more indie-ish stuff than me. Who did you have your first kiss with? Do you remember what colour his/her eyes were? Jason. His eyes are brown. Are there any themes from TV shows that you like to sing along to? Supernatural. It's inevitable that I'll sing, ha ha. Do you eat dessert after dinner? Very, very rarely. Have you ever had too much to drink and felt embarrassed about your behavior the next day? No. When you go out drinking, what do you prefer to drink? I don't go out drinking, but if I was to order a drink right now, I'd go for a sangria. That sounds soooo good rn. What was the last animal that you saw? My cat. Venus is in her hide as I'm answering this, so I can't see her. What was the last thing that you said to one of your siblings? I told Nicole bye when she was leaving the other day. What is the most expensive thing that you’ve purchased that you paid for: My snake. What is your favorite messaging program? Discord, nowadays. Do you eat fast food more than 5 times a week? Yikes, no. Have you ever almost drowned? No. Have you ever learned something shocking about someone through Facebook? It wasn't shocking in a bad way, just very unexpected. One of my friends has been an egg donor twice, I wanna say? What’s the scariest living animal that you’ve petted? I have no clue. Nothing that dangerous. Well wait, I shared the story of holding a tarantula before, and I was still kinda nervous to do so when I did. She was a total sweetie, though. Do you remember the first conversation you ever had with the person you currently have feelings for? I actually don't. Other than he got my attention with "lip ring girl," lmao. Do you dread certain days of the week? If yes, what day/s and why? No, because they're all the same to me. If you eat oatmeal, do you have it plain or do you have certain toppings that you like to add to it? I add a bit of sugar. What is the funniest or strangest thing you’ve ever heard somebody say in their sleep? *shrug* Choose one - Butterfinger, Milky Way, Snickers: Milky Way, 100%. Do you use Mozilla Firefox? No, I use Chrome. Who is your favorite person to hug? Sara. Have you ever had to have a mug shot? No. What was the last thing you carried to your room? Water. When was the last time you had a late night phone call? Damn dude, I couldn't possibly tell ya.

[tellywoodtrash]

immj2 30.10.20 lb

lol ishani is suchhhhhhhhh a messy bitch. not even pretending to look less than outright gleeful.

le, iska rona shuru. god sis, you knowwwwwww these bitches have it out for you, then why do you give them the satisfaction of seeing this reaction???

yeh aadmi hai ya bhagwaan? koi bhi jagaah koi bhi time marzi se prakat ho jaata hai.

THAT FUCKING STUPIDASS SCARF IS RUINING THE WHOLEEEEEE LOOOK. GOD WHY DO THEY DO THIS TO HIM?????????

TUMNE JITNE TELLYWOOD FANS KO KHOOOON KE AANSOON RULAAYE HAINNNNA SHIRALI, BHAGWAN TUMHE IN PAAPON KE LIYE KABHI NAHI MAAF KAREGA!!!!!!!!!!

also, just noticed the set and production design credits and finally have names to put on all the hate mail i wanna send.

naaaah jk, i think it's really nice that they got employment in this pandemic, even with their OBVIOUS lack of taste. so much so, that it seems to be a medical condition! 

anyway, he said he got this sargi for ishani on behalf of angre, but since she's got hers anyway, this one can be given to riddhima. noice. this fucker be worming his way into my heart with shit like this.

inka phir se popat bann gaya.

mummy biting out and giving the worst blessing of all, “sadaa suhaagan raho.” which is just an elaborate way of saying "hope you die before your husband does, because life without a man is worse than death itself!!!!!!"

“thank you mummyji. aapne ~~sachchi neeyat~~~ se sargi taiyyar kii thi toh dekhiye, mere haath khaali nahi hain!”

lmao nice. where was this riddhima allllll along?????? i've been waitinggggg for this snarky bitchhhhh who doesn't take shit!!!!!

le, aadarsh bahu mode is back on. sab ke liye koi paath ka intezaam kiya. chanchal chachi was right, she's suchhhhh a annoying suck-up to dadi, honestly.

husband is like here, no one's looking; sneak some almonds, come on. yes, i approve. this the kinda man* you want ladies. one who's willing to have a few hours taken off his lifespan so you don't get hangry.

(*T&C strictly apply: only in this feeding waala criteria wrt this dude. baaki sab toh disaster hi disaster hai iss mein.)

“kaisi baat kar rahe ho??? vrat sachchi nishtha se kii jati hai. koi nahi dekh raha par bhagwaan dekh rahe hain!”

lmao, the most appropriate response. 

wait you guys genuinely need a gif of this moment, coz it’s priceless:

i can't believe they don't let this dude move his face in this show when he is the MOST ENTERTAINING when he doessssss.

he's like dude i'll adjust with the 2 hours less in my life, but dharampatni is i won’t let you escape a minute of suffering existence in this flesh prison we’re all trapped in, so help me god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

who the fuckkkkkkkkk is this????? and you know you didn't need a needle on the syringe for this whole thing, don't you???

vansh's "baaz ki nazar" toh i've long given up on, but riddhima's peripheral vision also seems to be completely shit if she didn't notice a wholeass person wrapped in all black skulking around directly in her eyeline, not 10 feet away.

lmaooooooo dadi is like tf you doing here, and the hasty retreat he beat. scaryass men soft for their sweet old grandmas is a trend i really do love in tellywood.

oh i like ishani's outfit.

blah blah blah KC gyaan idgaf.

riddhima has lit diya and instant cough attack from the smoke.

it's her. she's the one who did this. looks like she's okay with bhai dying a few days earlier than fated, as long as it means she knocks riddhima down a few pegs.

mummy rubbing it in saying dekho yeh akhand paath hai, beech mein rukna nahi chahiye, apshagun hota hai. godddddddddddddd.

I HONESTLY CANNOT WATCH HER COUGH AND CHOKE THROUGH THIS THE SHEER RIDICULOUSNESS OF THIS IS FUCKING KILLING MEEEEEEEEE

yeh lo ji, parmeshwar prakat ho gaye to save the day and read the paath himself.

all dudes in the world should be in whatever business this guy and angre are in. ki biwi mil gayi toh it manages itself while he devotes himself to her.

lmao the sheer earnestness with which he's narrating the KC paath. both wholesome and fucking hilarious. looks like those primary school kids at their first public speaking contest.

i am ishani. god, why won't this scene just endddddddd already, i'm dying of cringe.

whoooooooooooops. bhai is pointedly asking ki how riddhima's throat got messed up when she was fine like 3 min ago.

behen is giving earnesttttttt excuses and he's really "sure jan"-ing her.

dadi's all no matter what issues crop up in these two's lives, i'm sure they'll win over it with their lurrrrrrrrrrrrrrve. yeah, it looks that way rn, but i wouldn't be quite so optimistic yet, dadi.

literally no one is surprised by this revelation.

oh god, she has something more planned. man who are these ppl with so much energy in their lives WHILE PREGNANT, to do such scheming and plotting??????? just my period cramps have me taking 2 hours off work to curl up on my heat pad and cry about ouchieeeeeee.

great. ragini ko ab daure pad rahein hain.

and poor angre is saddled with getting her treatment. WHY DOES HE HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THESE TROUBLESOME WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE VANSH?!?!?! EK ADIYAL BEHEN ISKE SAR PE BAANDH DI HAI WOH KAAFI NAHI THA, KI AB INVALID EX KO BHI ISKE HI HAATH MEIN THAMAA DIYA. i know you got your hands full with that disaster wife of yours, but come on man.

oh god is he gonna blow up at her again for eavesdropping!?!!?!?!?

thank the lord above, she had airpods in. (also lmao, ofc she's literally the airpods meme.)

isn't HE supposed to give HER a gift today???

i liked his other watch better. but this watch is supposedly riddhima “ke dil ki dhadkano se judi hai” so........ i'm no expert in cutting edge watch technology, so sure. sounds like something that would be available for the wives of billionaire gangster’s wives to buy.

oh man she got herself a matching one. which ofc is “tumhare dil ki dhadkano se judi hai.” lord, she CHEESY CHEESYYYYYYYYYYYY. and i'm mildly lactose intolerant, so 🤢🤢🤢

this dude is not though. he falling for this hard and fast. which is....... unexpected. nice, but also suspicious.

“yeh ghadiyaan chahe rahein naa rahein riddhima, lekin tum mere dil mein hamesha rahogi.”

that's sweet. and i'd believe and squee over it if this was any other show. i would. but in this show, literally everyone other than dadi/siya is out to fuck each other over and i don't trust a single goddamn word out their hissy snake mouths.

aaaaaaaaaaaaand ofc he's vrat-ing for her too. BECAUSE THIS IS A FEMINIST SHOW WITH THIS VERY FEMINIST HERO OK?!!!!!!?!?!!!!?!? THIS ONE EPISODE ABSOLVES ALLLLLLLLLLLL THE OTHER 98 EPISODES FILLED WITH HOT FLAMING TRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!

“apni umar badhaake kya karoonga main, agar tum saath nahi ho. main chahta hoon ki tum meri zindagi ki aakhri saans tak mere saath raho.”

again, very very sweet and all, esp. with these soft melty eyes; but it's this show. and we saw the upcoming promo. sooooooooo, kill bill sirens in my head, i'm afraid.

both mann hi mann mein deciding to tell each other the truth about their backstories after the vrat. which should work out splendidlyyyyyyy.

lo ji dream sequence shuru. voot blocked the music but colors put up the scene with bol na halke halke on instaTV so i watched it there.

yesssssssssss you messy trainwrecks. get it onnnnnnnnnn.

this is literally alllll i am watching this show for. the moment y'all bang in canon, i'm outttttttttttt. it's always the best time to quit a tellywood show. always. take this protip from wise, old TT. quit the show the episode the lead couples fuck. just trust me on this.

idk WHOSE dream sequence this is, but lmao it's got the vibes of a not-that-great wedding "promo" thing ppl have got going on these days. which one of y'all is binging these on youtube and thus has their subconscious filled with it/??? it's gotta be riddhima, but it would be absolutely fucking hilariousssssss if it was in fact, vansh.

yup. it was her dumb ass. i bet she had the exact video in mind for kabir and just cut-copy-pasted vansh's face in there from the last week onwards.

oh chachi's back from maayka for vrat kholing.

mans literally do be looking like the chand today. because they eased up on his yellow foundation, thank god.

poor ishani. god, this is why we need feminism. so our sisters don't get pushed into shit like this against their willllllllllllllllll.

dadi and siya shipping riansh to the point of making ppl uncomfortable. what next, you gonna be writing mature fanfic about them on IF????? BACK THE FUCK OFF, YOU WEIRDOS.

“humaare plans kamyaab hote toh vansh iss waqt riddhima ko zeher ki pyaali pilaa raha hota. hmph.”

lmaoooooooooooooooo mummy is an eternalllllllll mood.

this one is getting overly emotional about her first completed karwachauth vrat. eat a snickers, bitch.

dadi overpromising and saying shit like evennnnnnnnn god himself can't shake your love for each other, tumhari prem kahaani billlkulllll pooori hogi and what not. oh dadi, did YOU not see the promo?????

this one got the footage she needed and has duly handed it over to bhai. both of vansh's sisters have the trait for going straightttttt to him with their sordid discoveries, albeit for completely polar reasons.

lmaoooooo the way she peaced out.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand he's started growling about how all this KC naatak was fake and and vowing revenge and games for her dhokaaaaaaaaaa. i hate to say it but............ i told you so.

also abbe oh gobar ganesh. itna CCTV footage mila hai kahin se, toh baaki ka bhi toh dhoond, where you see how she got into the bloody dickey?!?!???! nahi, 2 out-of-context second hi dekh ke paagal saand ki taraah bekaabu ho jaana hai. shit for brains, literally everyone in this show has.

anyway, if i was vansh’s murti maker, i’d be expecting a call righhhhhht about now. riddhima yahaan rahe na rahe, uski murti zaroor rahegi, which vansh and his next paramour will demolish together as a bonding/foreplay exercise.​

[spelviin]

the end of this ep threw me for a fkn LOOP since i’d convinced myself that it would end with prosecution calling nick (or maybe even morgan somehow 👀) to the stand to testify against glenn but THIS is a v unexpected play

even tho i dont fully have a grasp on bill yet as a character the way i do the other o-dads, i doubt the dude has an ounce of altruism in his body, so offering to free glenn has gotta be some sort of play. my bet right now is that he’s going to offer to ONLY free glenn, giving him the opportunity to fuck the other dads over AGAIN. and honestly? at this point im kinda 50/50 on whether glenn would actually take him up on it. 

like on the one hand, it’s v much in glenn’s nature to look out for number one, (and, occasionally, as a distant second, nick) so he’d take any change to get out of this situation and avoid having to actually Face a Consequence for once in his life. there’s also the fact that it was bill who handed glenn the phone back at ravenloft, so he has some means of putting him in contact with morgan. i feel like that alone would be a motivator. 

but on the other hand, using that same argument... glenn was a total fucking basket case in the immediate aftermath of ravenloft, and specifically, that same phone call with morgan. like, not just his usual self weird, the dude was acting fucking UNHINGED in his insistence that the o-dads had to be fake. which, i feel like could just be how his suuuuper-repressed grief was manifesting itself at the time, but it also points to the fact that glenn clearly doesn’t trust bill (with good fkn reason clearly), so that mistrust might outweigh any desperation to get out of this trial. there’s also the possibility that darryl was right on the stand and not perjuring himself for the umpteenth time when he posited that glenn has “developed as a character” during the adventure, and actually wouldn’t fuck over the other dads for his own benefit. but even that i’m honestly not sure of lmao. 

tbh tho i kind of wish he would, because that would be a super fucking interesting scenario. bill pretending to bust glenn out, leaving the other dads behind in the supermax, but then double-crossing him, turning him back in to the authorities, and using his escape attempt and cold-blooded betrayal of his legal counsel as ammunition for ratticus during the next day’s proceedings. if he proves glenn is a flight risk (heh heh) and turns his counsel fully against him, the defense won’t have the will or opportunity to put together a decent case for him. then glenn will lose the case, and bill will try to claim guardianship of nick under the guise of civil forfeiture, even though that’s fully not how that works but fuck it this is a law podcast as much as it’s a dnd podcast with a consistent timeline lmao

anyways this is shaping up to be a super interesting arc and i can’t wait to see what comes next 

[spidercakes]

It continues!

Edit: my stupid ass forgot the tag list posting so here it is (though some of you still found it lmao): @prettieststarker @readysetstarker @lover-starker @starkerprince @starker-flame @i-am-irondaddy @blush-reincarnated @c6h12o6-work @von–gelmini @caseysroses @darkobsidianquill​

Part One | Part Two

Its been a long time since Tony has done this but sometimes things just feel a little more out of control and this is an easy way to get some of that back ethically. Plus he enjoys it, maybe more than he should. Its not like he’s never considered why he likes the control so much, if that means he’s controlling, and then by extension just like Howard but he’s long ago come to the conclusion that that’s not it. He doesn’t want to control someone per se, what he wants is control over a situation. The fact that other people are involved it more a symptom of how he chose to go about gaining that level of control. And he’s always taken care to not take that away from whoever he’s with because, as Pepper pointed out, he’s not much like Howard if you look further than skin deep.

Still, he hadn’t initially planned to just throw himself back into one of these things, mostly he was catching up with Sam and feeling things out but then he saw Peter. Sam’s not stupid, he knows his type, so he said he’d work something out. And Peter, fuck he’s perfect. A little inexperienced for his taste, and a little on the young side, but Tony is willing to look past that on account of he knows he’s not going to get anything better. He’d done this enough times to be able to pick up on small signs of compatibility and Peter might be inexperienced, but Tony happens to know he’s got more of a submissive side than he knows. Makes sense, for his age, that he hasn’t figured that out quite yet. At his age he’s probably still experimenting with things.

Normally experience is something he prefers but in this case he made an exception. The way Peter responded proved him right enough that he’s not entirely worried about it beyond Peter finding his voice. But the way he’d responded to Tony, handing over his other wrist without him having to ask, lifting his head a little so Tony could put the blindfold on, the way his uncomfortable squirming immediately stopped when Tony had settled a hand on his knee. Yeah, Tony knows Peter will be more than compatible with what he’s looking for.

As it is he’s disappointed that he’s going to have to wait until later to see Peter again but they both have things to do. Maybe this is one of those situations where patience pays off. Tony doubts it on account of he’d be just as excited if not more if Peter showed up now, but he’ll take what he can get. There’s also the slight disappointment of stretching things out a bit, giving Peter time to adjust to something new rather than jumping right into it but its necessary. Tony wants to give him time to gain a level of trust in him before he starts taking away his senses and leaving him to rely more on Tony than not. If he were more experienced it wouldn’t be much of a problem, but he’s not so Tony needs to start fresh.

Not ideal, considering his usual impatience, but he knows that it’ll be well worth it to wait for Peter to catch up.

*

 Peter bites his lip, unsure what to expect aside from what Tony told him in the beginning. He does have to admit that having his own key is pretty cool, mostly because Tony’s penthouse is nice as hell. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing,” he hisses at Liz over the phone.

She sighs, “didn’t you say he like… gave you an outline of what to expect?” she asks.

He rolls his eyes, “if I gave you an outline of child birth do you think it’d prepare you?” he asks.

Liz snorts, “Peter, that’s such a guy thing to say. This is in no way comparable to child birth. But your point is taken. We should throw a party there, seems like a swanky place,” she says like Peter doesn’t desperately need this job.

“Liz, I have hospital bills to pay,” he points out.

“I’m kidding Peter, mostly. But if he’s a dick we can totally trash the place, you know MJ would do it in a heartbeat.” True, and Peter loves her for it but Tony has been more than polite so far and he’s talked to some of the other people Sam employs. Turns out he’s a real stickler for not being a douchebag and he takes his employee concerns very seriously so he’s gained a bit of trust that this won’t turn into a massive shit show.

“I actually think he’s pretty nice,” Peter says, looking over the directions to the room Tony told him his stuff was in. For an apartment this place is a fucking maze.

“Yeah, he hires prostitutes, how nice can he be?” Liz says, distain in her voice.

Peter frowns, “you know I’m the prostitute, right?”

“Obviously, Peter.”

“Yeah, well acting like only losers and assholes pick up prostitutes doesn’t exactly make the job less stigmatizing. Maybe he doesn’t have time for a relationship, or doesn’t want one, you don’t know.” He does know that Tony doesn’t want a relationship with him, which is fine because he doesn’t want one with Tony either. Aside from you know, a good relationship with the guy who is also his boss, technically. God, this is messy.

The good news is that he finds the room finally and breathes out a sigh of relief as he steps inside and goes on the hunt for his outfit. Thankfully Tony has laid it out on the bed for him so he doesn’t need to go far.

“Okay, but do like… normal guys go to prostitutes?” she asks and Peter frowns.

“Yeah, probably. Why is it that sex for money somehow makes the sex dirtier or whatever? Its not like being in a relationship is free and you’re totally financially independent of them unless you make good money. Even platonic relationships don’t escape that, remember the time we all talked Ned out of moving across the country to live with his girlfriend because we’ve be fucked for rent? Anyway, I just think that paying someone to have sex with you is hardly demeaning or whatever.”

He picks up the white teddy and frowns at it for a moment, unsure how that’ll look on him. The pink frilly booty shorts are cute, though, even if they’re not something he’d pick out for himself. He shrugs and tosses Liz on the bed so he can change.

“Yeah but like. Can guys who go to prostitutes even get relationships?” Liz asks and Peter snorts.

“The sheer amount of politicians that go to prostitutes say yeah, they get into relationships just fine. Like, what is the correlation people draw between prostitution and not being able to get sex for free? Is it really less degrading to pick someone up at a bar when you’ve only known them for a half an hour? At least I get paid for my trouble now, my last Tinder date was shit in bed and I paid for dinner.” That was like, forever ago but still. He’d consider what he’s doing now considerably less degrading than that. Tony buys nice lingerie and, to Peter’s surprise, it actually looks pretty nice on him.

He fully expects Liz to have some kind of response for that but she remains silent for a moment. “I guess you make a point there. Did you figure out where you were supposed to go?” she asks.

“Yeah. Also, turns out I look cute lingerie,” he says.

The squeal of surprise is unexpected but more pleasant than their last discussion so he’ll take it. “Send me a picture!” she says and he frowns. “In like. A not sexual way,” she clarifies.

“Is that like… normal for girls? Do you guys just send each other pictures of yourselves in lingerie?” Because that seems like a dream world to him, throw some guys in there and he’s in bisexual heaven.

“Sometimes. Guys don’t do that?” she asks.

Peter squints as he opens the camera app. “Liz, in what world do guys where lingerie?” he asks.

“This one if you’re to be believed,” she points out.

Right, good point. “You know what I mean. No, guys don’t just send each other random pictures in sexy clothing. I sent the picture and if you make fun of me I’ll move and screw you all for rent,” he tells her.

She remains silent for a moment before she makes a small, approving noise. “That actually does look good on you,” she says. “What the fuck.”

“What the fuck what?” he asks, checking himself out in the mirror. He… didn’t expect to actually like this but he doesn’t mind.

“That style of lingerie looks like total shit on me and I’m mad it looks good on you,” she says. Peter grins because jealousy is a good emotion to have in this case. And if Liz thinks he looks good Tony definitely will.

“Die mad about it,” he tells Liz, who snorts and starts laughing.

“Don’t let the lace give you too much confidence,” she tells him despite the fact that he’s not wearing any lace. Its more of a sheer gossamer material that shines a little and compliments his skin nicely. He thought the white on his pale as shit skin would make him look like a fucking ghost but instead he looks etherial. Huh, so maybe this is why women like lingerie so much.

He chats back and forth with Liz for a few more minutes but she has to do homework and frankly so does he so they hang up to go do that. And Peter means to do homework, really, but the closet beckons and he has to hang up the clothes he changed out of anyway so he goes over to check it out.

His opinions on Tony’s taste mostly improve minus the yellow… thing that’s probably the most hideous shade of yellow Peter has ever seen. But the rest? Its clear that Tony has a thing for red and black, which makes his current outfit kind of a strange choice and that makes him curious but he does like most of the rest of the stuff in the closet. There’s a few things that are… well, strappy enough that he’s confused how to put them on, and a couple things that don’t look that great, but otherwise Tony clearly has talent in aesthetics.

“I didn’t think you’d take to the lingerie,” someone says and Peter lets out an accidental scream and tosses the garment thats in his hand. He turns to find Tony in the doorway looking amused.

“Oh my god, give a guy a warning!” he says, hand pressed to his heart.

Tony doesn’t look any less amused, eyes bright as he looks Peter over. “That looks nice on you,” he says, gesturing vaguely at him.

Peter looks down at himself and grins, “it does, doesn’t it? I was worried I’d come out looking like fucking Casper but thankfully that was not the case,” he says.

Tony snorts and starts laughing, “god, its been forever since someone has referenced that around me. I’m kind of surprised you even know what Casper is,” he says.

Peter doesn’t mean to say it but it slips out anyway. “Okay, boomer,” he says out of pure instinct and thankfully Tony bursts out laughing.

“One, I’m not that old. Two, you always this sassy or is this new?”

“Um. Depends, usually its a comfort thing. Sorry I called you a boomer,” he says.

“Its fine. The youths know how to make a good meme, I’ll give you guys that,” Tony says, smiling still.

“Well, the economy is shit so all we’ve got is depression humor and memes so we gotta make it good,” he says, considering his choices for a half a second before figuring fuck it. He could stay here all day or he could figure out what the rest of the night will be like and go over to Tony, see how he reacts. As it turns out he mostly looks like he wants to devour Peter but he keeps his hands to himself even if his thoughts are pretty obvious on his face. Peter wraps his arms around Tony’s neck, a silent way of giving him permission to touch him, and leans into him. “So we’re watching a movie, right? What am I supposed to expect?”

Tony looks pretty ready to abandon the movie idea but he doesn’t. “Your choice,” he says and Peter grins.

“Star Wars?” he asks excitedly.

“Baby, which Star Wars movie? And if you list any of the prequels I’ll fire you,” he jokes.

Peter wrinkles his nose, “A New Hope, obviously. Ew, why would I subject us to Jar Jar?”

Tony snickers, wrapping his arms around Peter’s waist. “Thank god. I met someone who liked Jar Jar Binks once and I’ve never been the same.”

*

He’s been staring at the skirt for like fifteen minutes and no one is home. Everyone else has classes or work in MJ’s case so really, there’s no harm if he steals Liz’s skirt from the floor of her room. No one will ever know and he’s never even had thoughts like that before and- well, okay, that’s not exactly true. He’s always liked the aesthetic of skirts, its just that he never really considered them on him before. But the way Tony reacted when he saw Peter in that lingerie, the way he kept looking at him all night…

He didn’t expect to like that feeling so much and skirts are pretty, he’s always liked them…

Fuck it, if he hates it he can put it back and its not like Liz would ever know so he sneaks in, snatches it from the ground, and sneaks back out. They’re probably the same size so this should be fine. Once in his room and slips it on and sure enough, it fits perfectly though it sits different on him than Liz. Probably on account of she has hips and he doesn’t, not really. But it does sit nicely over his butt so there’s that.

He grins, snatching his phone out of his abandoned pant pockets and moving his mirror in front of his bed so he can try and take a decent picture. It takes some finagling and a little work but he finally manages to get a good angle and-

“Oh shit,” he says, desperately snapping pictures as his free hand slips and he falls headfirst off the bed. He sighs, picking himself back up and smoothing out Liz’s skirt before examining the pictures.

He smiles, saving the good ones and deleting the rest before he sends them off to Tony. His favorite is the one with his back arched, the skirt sitting just too high to be appropriate, exposing a little cheek underneath. If he ignores his messy bed in the background its pretty much the perfect picture given the proportions of it. Tony’s response is pretty much immediate.

Wear that tomorrow.