#this is the worst news i’ve ever gotten in my entire life

[robertsbarbie]

babe, wake up, taylor swift hijacked the 1975's show in london, debuted anti-hero, and there's not a single picture of her with matty i'm gonna die 😭😭😭

[angels-sins0]

i beg you to continue with this fic of ghost, i want reader to gain some strength and make something 😭

Ghost x f!reader

Cw: I apologize in advance, emotionally (un)available Simon, age gap relationship (Simon is depicted in his late 30’s and the reader is around 21), older man!Ghost, young & naive!reader, slight spoilers for MWIII, brief mention of a developing alcohol addiction, hurt/no comfort, angst, screaming and crying, please don’t kill me for this.

Six months had passed since you last saw Simon. Truth be told, you’ve never felt better than you do right now.

You had moved out of your apartment three months ago after getting a promotion at your job, earning more money than you ever thought of having.

Life was good without him. You didn’t have to worry about getting your feelings hurt anymore.

Simon on the other hand, had been going through the worst months of his life.

He lost a good friend of his while on a mission which resulted in him frequenting the bar close to his house more than he’d like to admit.

Work was hard then and it was even harder knowing he couldn’t see you or hear your soft voice again.

He hated whatever it is he felt when he thought about you and the last time you were together. He despised himself for the way he treated you.

He missed your sweet laugh and the way your eyes lit up each time you saw him even if he proceeded to ruin you moments later.

What was it about you that made him feel weird inside whenever he thought of you? If only he felt that way when you were still with him.

Simon felt like he saw you everywhere around him, like you were with him no matter what he did. It was a strange feeling at first but he had learned to succumb to the comfort it brought him.

It didn’t help that you were the main star in his dreams more often than not. Whether it be dreams where he fought harder to have you back in his life or him fucking you in your bed, a guilty part of him enjoyed the latter.

He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to see you, had to look at your face one more time, hold you in his arms and never let you go again.

Simon stood in his apartment and contemplated if he actually wanted to do this.

What if you didn’t want to see him?

What if he was too late and you had found someone who treated you the way you deserved?

He had to try, right? Sure he would be hurt if you didn’t want him anymore but at least he would have some kind of closure.

And so, he made his way to your new place. He had gotten the address from Laswell but not before she made some snarky comment about him finally “getting laid”.

Simon knocked on your door and stood looking down at his feet.

Then you opened the door and he swore his heart could’ve popped out of him at that moment.

“Hey,” he breathed out, but you just stood there, rendered completely speechless by the fact that he was actually in front of you.

“H-how did you find me?” You said after a few moments of silence.

“I’ve got my ways.” He said plainly. You weren’t sure what you were supposed to do.

Should you let him in?

All the while, you both just stared at each other.

“Do you want to…?” What the hell do people even say in these situations?

“Only if you want me to.”

And so, you moved to let him in, closing the door behind you and leading him to sit on the couch.

It was awkward. You didn’t even look at each other, just sat there in silence.

“Why are you here, Simon?” You asked. Why the hell would he show up now?

“I’ve been…thinking a lot about where we left things off.” He looked at you and you nodded slowly at his words.

“And?”

“And I think— I know I was an asshole to you and you didn’t deserve the way I treated you.” He sighed, and you stared at him, dumbfounded.

“It took you six months to figure that out?” You didn’t know what it was exactly that made you so angry. Was it his audacity to show up after all that time and think you’d be okay with it?

Simon went quiet again.

You stood up from the couch. “Do you have any idea what it’s been like for me the entire time you were away? How long I spent crying over something that wasn’t real? We had nothing! And i still felt like you were everything to me…even when I knew you’d never feel that way about me. Did you really think that—I would…let you in again after all this time?”

You couldn’t help the sob that escaped you, covering your face with your hands to wipe away your tears so he couldn’t see them.

He got up as well, slowly approaching you and he gently pulled you into his arms. You reluctantly relaxed into him, the tears still falling from you.

“I’m sorry for making you feel like this…I wish I was better—i want to be better…” Simon cupped your face with one hand, the other still wrapped around you and placed his forehead on yours.

With your eyes still closed, you hadn’t realized he’d lifted his mask up above his mouth. Your faces were impossibly close and he leaned in to connect your lips together in a kiss.

You felt like you were being controlled by something and it made you kiss him back, even when part of you wanted to push him away.

It went on for a couple of seconds before you eventually pulled back and stared at him.

“Is this what you’re really here for?” You said, voice laced with a hint of anger.

“No! Fuck, no! I wanted to calm y’down and it just happened.”

“I wanna be better and i wanna make you happy but most of all I want you to forgive me for how things were between us.” He was almost pleading, his eyes searching yours for any emotion.

You couldn’t help but scoff.

“All these words…and you still kissed me with your mask on, what does that tell you, Simon?”

He stayed silent. “It tells you that no matter what we have, you’ll never be able to feel like you can let your guard down around me.”

“But i-“

“And if we really decide to do this, what happens when you think i’m not enough or when you feel like you don’t want me anymore? How the hell am I supposed to be okay with that?! It took me six months to start feeling better even though what we had was nothing!”

“You are enough! For fuck’s sakes, you are all I’ve ever wanted!”

“Then show me who you are! I’m never gonna be able to love you if I don’t fucking know you, Simon!”

“You know I can’t do that…”

“Well, then you have your answer…” You looked down, not wanting to see his face anymore.

But he couldn’t look away from you, part of him knowing this was the last time he’d ever see you so he wanted to memorize everything about you.

“I think you should go.” You said, breaking the silence between you. “Please don’t try to come here again.”

You looked up at him and for the first time since you’ve known him, Simon looked hurt. You couldn’t help but feel a pang in your heart at the sight of him standing there, trying to salvage whatever this was but ultimately failing.

“Right…”

“I’m sorry for everything I did to you.” Were the last words he spoke before leaving.

On his way home, he had this weird feeling in his chest that he couldn’t explain, it made him realize why he was always so closed off and why he never tried to have something with someone.

Simon has always had this unexplainable fear of being rejected and left alone, and tonight, you invoked that fear further into him.

He had two thoughts that kept circling through his head.

He was never going to love again.

And the second one that pained him every time he would think about it.

You were gone and there was nothing he could do about it.

@ghost-is-my-bbg , @evehasdied , @darlingvinny , @dragonstoneshortcake , @dest-nai , @imhereforthespice , @graciewacey , @annoyinglysweetobject , @7thsthings , @kaa212 , @rorylover71 , @deareststhings , @dxrak , @ghostslillady , @kazuhyahs , @spookyboogyuniverse , @dangelus , @kenz-ee , @goodkittyspost , @puppybittingotherpuppy , @skulfan1 , @prttylilkittn , @emmalandry , @justgivingupsblog , @simpforfic , @ciggsaftersex , @massiveduckkidcookie , @c3r3al-k1ll3r887 , @riverbutghost , @spxctorslxxt , @marriedtoeddie , @delightfulwolflawyerfreak-blog , @sixxslut , @ghostslittlegf , @tf141glory , @ghostswife141 , @prazinos , @toastedkjeks , @naio-kummer , @sunsetsimon , @livingdead-g1rl , @chimochai , @yo1mamma , @loving-azerath , @lanadelreygirly777

[yourqueenb]

I thought I’d be able to write a semi coherent post expressing my thoughts on the finale and the book overall after stepping away from it for a while. But as I’ve started thinking about it again, I’ve only gotten more annoyed. So here’s some disorganized rambling on my issues with Blades 2 instead. Probably just gonna make separate posts for my thoughts as they come to me.

I feel like I should start with Valax because she’s one of the biggest reasons why I feel like this book was absolute dogshit tbh. When you create a whole new character who will eventually be instated as member of the main friend group or an LI, there’s a certain amount of prep work that has to go into establishing them as a character. That work doubles when the character starts off in opposition to the MC or other important characters. And in Valax’s case, not only did she start off simply opposing MC and what we stood for, she stole us from our home and family, forced and kept us in a vulnerable state (for a year? 2 weeks? do we even know atp?), and then violated us by quite literally trying to bleed us dry.

MC’s kidnapping and torture were the catalyst for this entire book. Yet the perpetrator doesn’t have to acknowledge anything that she did at all… Our friends can ignore and downplay what happened (even though it was apparently oh so hard without us) for the better half of the book… And worst of all, MC defaults to brushing everything off, placing trust in this person, and even going out of the way to empathize with her at every turn.

We have the option to express some anger and frustration with our friends’ treatment of us in a rushed scene in the second to last chapter of the book. But that’s where the majority of the focus goes. The only mention of Valax is MC expressing confusion about her role in things and a little bit of hurt about being “betrayed”. Yet up until that point, the writers had done nothing meaningful outside of diamond scenes to actually establish her as someone that could be trusted or become a friend, nothing to show that she could empathize with MC and the insane amount of trauma inflicted on MC and friends because of her, and nothing to prove that she was even seeking forgiveness for it in the first place.

Then to add the icing on the cake, they turn around and invoke the word “friend” in reference to Valax at every opportunity in the last chapter. They have her claiming she couldn’t hurt us. Pouting and shedding a couple of tears in what is probably the most ridiculous and melodramatic CG I’ve ever seen. And MC once again empathizing with her at every turn. Placing trust in her, protecting her, standing up for her, offering to leave her friends, family, and entire life behind to go to the Shadow realm with her.

It’s already been established that MC was basically just a tool the writers used to tell all of the other characters’ (especially Nia’s) stories. But as of now, I feel Valax far surpasses Nia in that regard. MC had to bleed, lose time that can’t be replaced, have her agency stripped from her, and ultimately suffer in silence through all of it just so Valax (a completely new character) could have her lackluster story told in scenes that you don’t even see if you don’t pay for them.

[ellabsweet]

[*ੈ✩] 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐑𝐘 • 𝐄.𝐖

synopsis: ellie writes in her journal religiously, a foolish attempt at reconciling with her feelings and understanding what it is that happens to her particularly when she is around you

pairing: ellie williams x reader

warning: written in ellie’s pov as the entire story is told through her journal entries, if this is well received it might be a multiple part series, loads of angst and borderline emotional cheating

I saw her again this week. Or better yet, she saw me, and I don’t think I have ever dropped someone’s hand so fast as when her eyes glanced down towards mine and Cat’s intertwined, in the end that only served a purpose to make them both upset. She pretended not to have noticed me after that and deep down I couldn’t blame her for it, though it’s been nearly a month since our last conversation a part of us both know that a friendship shouldn’t experience something that feels like a break up.

Guilt is the second worst feeling I’ve ever experienced and still it comes pretty damn close to grief. Sometimes kissing Cat I pretend that it’s her instead, eyes shut from all reality it’s almost like I can shift her taste into whatever I imagine hers to be instead and in the moment it feels too good for the guilt to settle in, it feels like home. Which is a shame, in the end, because this is about me not deserving that comfort. I remember Cat had to stop me, push me off her to catch her breath with a laugh and she looked me starry eyed to say she’s never felt me so into her before. The strawberry in my lips turned to poison so fast. She didn’t know. Didn’t even understand why my face fell at the comment, felt the need to tell me it was just a joke but we both knew it wasn’t.

Cat is easy. Easy in a way that borders boring which means it’s safe. Life is hard enough as it is for me to keep having these impulses towards devastating gut wrenching love, the kind of love inevitable with her. I told her once when we still liked to pretend we were friends that she was something of a tornado, like this force of nature so inevitable to everything else that sweeps up everything off the ground, and she was so offended. Like I’d said she was destructive. But she is. I haven’t given her the opportunity to abandon me and still it has broken my heart to glance at her across a room and not run straight to her arms, not be the one making her laugh. It’s been too long since I’ve heard the laugh I would bottle and save to get drunk on hard days and now can’t even treasure for good ones.

To be loved by her, though I guess it may be pretentious of me to assume she loved me, was finally coming up for air, was watching a meteor shower, is probably the closest I’ve ever gotten to the moon and understanding what it is to moon over someone, she personified my astronaut dreams and I am a stupid asshole who keeps dropping things on Earth because they’ve got new found gravity. I miss floating and I hate all the things I’ve crashed on the ground, sometimes I’m not sure who’s shattering the most without her. (I do. It’s me. I’m taking this metaphor too far.) But she would hate me if she knew. I thought I had lived long enough as myself so I could find her but not having died for the cure only means I never get to have her, not fully, not if she knew. And I wanted her to know me. More than I wanted her to just love me, which is terrifying. That’s why we can’t be.

[turtletaubwrites]

Lynna Life Update! (good shit)

Passed my background checks. Big Brother either didn’t find my smut, or they’re totally chill about all of us heathens, and our imaginary polycules 😏🥰��

(Below the cut content warnings: discussion of big stress but with relief, brief mention of my mental health disorders, work stress/drama, brief mention of medical visits required for new job, the stress of responsibilities and concerns for clients support needs)

Last week was absolutely wild.

I asked for 3 weeks before my start date so I could get set up before alerting the old job (in case the old one retaliated like they did to other managers that called them out). I put in my two weeks on Friday, then spent the entire weekend in a panic about the conditional requirements for the new job offer.

My OCD, and PTSD were acting up like crazy, no thoughts but the worst possible scenarios. Main concern was references since that company was the only related position I’ve ever held, and before that I was self employed or bartending. I was terrified that these people I gave everything to for five years would be petty (like I’ve seen them be for the past year) (especially since they are fucked without me, this county has literally no one else to manage it).

In one week while working with clients full time, I passed multiple background checks + fingerprinting, got the in person CPR/AED/First Aid certification, got another round of flu and covid shots, passed my physical (isn’t it just so crazy that companies aren’t allowed to discriminate against employees with disabilities when hiring, but if people share their disabilities during their work physical they often don’t get the job? And if they’re caught lying during the hiring process the companies are legally protected when they fire them for those same disabilities that they wouldn’t have gotten hired for 🤔🤷‍♀️ so totally weird right, what’s up with that?), got my tb test started, and supplied all of the necessary documents.

All I have left are the references.

… and I still haven’t heard back from the boss.

But the hiring manager called today and I explained (lightly, lol) my concerns with the previous company, and she said I don’t need to use him, and I don’t even need related or recent references. I still don’t have a lot since I was there for so long, but I’ve got a list to call this week.

Now it’s just the chaos of helping my clients who will have no support when I leave in two weeks.

I’ve only written 2.5 scenes of my outlined draft for chapter 35 😭😭 I’m hoping I can write more this week now that I’m not in full blown panic mode, but I have so much to do to get my clients set up before I leave.

There’s just not enough time to help them with all of their needs, but I’m hoping to leave a roadmap for them and whoever their next support might be.

I’m trying not to feel guilty. I’m trying to figure out a way to tell them to get a different fucking program, but unfortunately I’ll still be interacting with the same government agency they report to at the old company, so I don’t want to be unprofessional.

I’m in mega stress, chronic mama bear, overly responsible brain mode, and my head is spinning.

But y’all…

I’m finally feeling happy and confident that I got that job again after a week of panic.

It’s exactly the job I wanted, it fits every stipulation, and it’s even better! I want to start right this second. The hiring manager even asked if I want to start next week, but I need to support my clients.

I also need to eat some food now though, holy crap. I can’t believe I did all of that in 7 days. Bonkers.

Two more weeks!! Anyone got some tasteful/affordable recommendations for office attire? Lol, I’ll be dressing like Numbers Girl in her boring life soon 😅

Can’t wait to catch a breath and catch up with y’all 😭🥰

~Lynna 💜✨

[waitingonher]

hi can u make some Percy jackson x reader in wich reader is a songwriter or plays a instrument

percy jackson dating a musically talented s/o

pairing: percy jackson x gn! reader

content warning: couplely things?

word count: 897

author's note: sorry in advance if any of the info about the guitar scene was wrong. i wrote it purely based off of what i found on google so!

when i say that percy’s your biggest fan…HE IS YOUR BIGGEST FAN.

no matter what you do, he’s always so impressed and awestruck. it literally could be something as simple as you practicing your instrument and he’d be looking at you as if you just finished performing a life-altering concert. even if you’re just quietly humming a random tune, percy would stop whatever he’s doing to listen to you. he’s so obsessed it’s kinda funny. 

percy absolutely loves hearing your own original songs. he could never find flaws in your art. even if you consider one of them to not be your best work, he’d believe it to be the best thing that’s ever graced his ears. 

sometimes you think he’s lying, because how does he manage to fall in love with every single thing that you write?? honestly, i bet you could write a song about dirty laundry and he’d still find something to love about it. 

“hey perce, wanna hear this new song i’m working on?” you ask your boyfriend.  he immediately turns his attention from a random knick knack on top of your dresser onto you, “yeah, lemme hear it.”  you open your notebook to find the page with your newest song, titled peanut allergies. yes, it’s a stupid name, but that was the point. you wanted to write a song so bad that percy wouldn’t be able to come up with a single compliment for it.  “okay, it’s still a work in progress, but-”  percy interjects, “don’t worry babe, your songs are always good.”  you hold back a grin before reaching for your guitar. glancing up at him for a second, you take note of the wide grin that he has on display. you’re anticipating the moment when his smile begins to falter.  as percy listens to your song about the severity of peanut allergy reactions, you peek up at him only to see his smile still standing strong. then, when you finish performing your song, he gives you a round of applause, “babe that was so good!”  for a hot minute, you narrow your eyes at him, trying to find at least a miniscule amount of amusement behind them. none. percy was dead serious. he tilits his head, trying to decipher why you were staring at him so intensely.  “what? that was like, probably the worst thing i’ve ever written?” you say.  he gives you a strange look, as if what you said was the weird thing, “i for one, thought it was poetic.” 

percy’s favorite camp activity are the sing-alongs. not because he likes to sing, but because he likes hearing you sing. he’s gotten very good at singling out your voice and drowning out the others. 

sometimes the morning after a camp sing-along, one of your friends will tell you that they saw percy staring at you. after inquiring more, they’d say that he had his eyes transfixed on you the entire time, never once looking away. later, an aphrodite kid would tell you that even they were shocked by the amount of love radiating from percy. you make a mental note to give him extra kisses later.  

karaoke dates!! 

somehow the stoll brothers managed to smuggle in a karaoke machine…now you and percy are the most frequent users of it. a lot of the times, you’ll bring it to hang outs with your guys friends. you two love seeing their reactions to you guys singing cheesy couple songs. “love is an open door” and “don’t go breaking my heart” are your go-to’s.

despite how bad he is, percy loves it when you try to teach him how to play your instruments. so far you’ve been teaching him the guitar, and he’s slowly picking it up! 

the only reason why it’s taking him so long to learn is because of how much you distract him. he loves the close contact with you. especially when you have to rearrange his fingers or his posture. percy notices the way your hands sometimes linger for a few seconds longer than necessary. 

taking the guitar, you arrange your fingers to play a-minor. looking down at the instrument, you give percy a run-down of how to position his fingers, “yeah so first, you wanna put your index finger on the first fret of your b string. then, your middle finger goes on the second…” you peek up at percy to see him looking at you, “love, are you even paying attention.”  “uh…yes,” he tries.  you give him a look of amusement, “yeah? show me a-minor then.”  “right,” percy takes the guitar out of your lap, and places his fingers on the complete opposite of where he was supposed to.  you chuckle, “um no, that’s actually d-minor. pay attention next time, hm?”  “yeah sorry, i was just uh…distracted,” he says sheepishly. you furrow your brows, “what’s distracting you?”  “you,” percy blurts out without thinking.  feining a look of disgust, you playfully push your boyfriend’s shoulder, “you are such a creep.”  but percy knows that you aren’t really mad. in fact, he doesn’t fail to notice your flushed cheeks and lack of eye contact as you try to return to your lesson. 

in spite of how much he’s been practicing, percy somehow still sucks. he claims it’s because “there can only be one musician in this relationship.” 

there definitely won’t be songs featuring percy any time soon.

[erimeows]

Burnt Out

Working at Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital is brutal, to say the least. As the head of the cardiology department and a member of Gregory House’s diagnostic team, your job is not only hectic but also underappreciated. You spend most of your days cycling between helping your patients, helping your coworker’s patients, pouring over paperwork, being scolded by Cuddy, and being shat on by House, who insists that you stay on his team while constantly dismissing your ideas and implying that you’re an idiot like he does with damn-near everyone else he works with.

So, yeah. Life is great.

Currently, you’re sitting in the diagnostics conference room at the corner of the table. Chase, Cameron, Foreman, and Wilson are also sitting with you. Meanwhile, House is standing at the whiteboard, bouncing his tennis ball with one hand and using the other to write down your most recent patient’s symptoms.

“Eleven year old caucasian female, admitted two days ago after falling unconscious during her first ever track meet. Her family’s medical history is totally clean from what we can tell and she’s had no problems prior to this, though they seem to be way behind on taking her and themselves to the doctor for regular visits. However, since being admitted, she’s only displayed more symptoms and seems to be getting worse,” House explains, seemingly unenthused. You wouldn’t be surprised if he’d already figured it out. He likes to do that- to pretend that he has no idea what the patient’s affliction is and then rag on everyone else for not being able to figure it out. “So far, we’re dealing with high blood pressure, a one hundred one degree fever that refuses to break, hives, bloodshot eyes, and swelling across her entire body.”

“Rheumatoid arthritis?” Cameron suggests, eager to be the first one to get at the new case. “I know she’s young, but she could’ve developed it early and had it go undiagnosed.”

“Before we start discussing the possibility of chronic diseases, shouldn’t we test for strep and scarlet fever?” Chase questions. “If her parents are so bad about getting her medical care, it could have just been a minor illness that’s developed into this.”

“What about you two? (y/n), Foreman?” House pipes up, calling the two of you out since you’ve been totally silent since he started. You can’t help but notice that he doesn’t do the same to Wilson, who hasn’t said anything either. “Nothing to say?”

Foreman shrugs.

“This isn’t my ballpark. I’ll let you figure it out, House. I’m sure you’re just playing with us anyway. Compared to the last few cases, this seems like child’s play.”

Seemingly satisfied with that answer, House turns to you.

“And you?”

“Kawasaki disease? She has some of the symptoms,” You half-heartedly answer.

“Just because you’re a cardiologist doesn’t mean that every patient that comes through these doors has a heart disease, you know,” House scoffs with a roll of his icy blue eyes. “And she only has some of the symptoms for that. She doesn’t fit into the main demographic for it either. That’s the worst answer I’ve gotten out of you for a case all month. Are you even trying anymore?”

When House first hired you, you were excited- always trying your best and working after your already long hours to solve cases. As the years have gone by, though, you’ve lost your enthusiasm and frequently find yourself dreading the mornings where you and House’s paths have to collide. You know he’s only so cruel because he has problems of his own and because he has a motive (just like he has a motive for every other crazy thing he likes to do), but the fact that he picks on you so often when all you’re doing is trying your best gets under your skin.

A couple years ago, you might’ve tried to argue back with him. Now, all you can do is avert your eyes and stare at the table as if it’s the most interesting thing in the world. You’re praying for a hole to just appear underneath you and suck you into the vacuum of space- or at least for everyone to continue chatting until the embarrassing situation is long forgotten- but instead, Cameron pipes up to defend you. 

“Dr. House, was that really unnecessary? They’re trying their best and you’re being needlessly cruel.”

“What, are you jealous that I’m paying more attention to them than I am to you?” House snarks back at her. You hold your head in your hands and sigh. “Because next time, I can include you, too. Now do any of you have any better ideas than the crap you’ve just given me or am I going to be handling this case by myself?”

With that, the meeting continues. House ends up deciding that he’s going to order labs to see if the patient has strep or scarlet fever before doing anything else, leaving you to finish out your work day. 

You rush out of the office the moment he dismisses you all. Cameron tries to catch up to you to ask if you’re okay, but much to your relief, Chase stops her and tells her that you probably just need your space. You rush to your office, shut the door, sit down in your chair, and- for the first time in a long time- bawl your eyes out. 

House being a dick to you is typical, but on top of everything else that you have to deal with at your job, it pushes you over the edge. With the ungrateful patients, admin, and coworkers, the long hours, the physically and mentally draining work, and all of the drama that happens in the hospital, it’s almost impossible to keep going. The only thing- or, person- that makes it somewhat worth the turmoil is your partner, James Wilson, who you’ve been dating for some months now.

He’s a great comfort to you, and he’s always kind, unlike a lot of the people you find yourself surrounded by at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Your relationship is surprisingly healthy despite the amount of problems between the two of you. You don’t want to miss out on more time with him than you already do, though, so you find it hard to quit or even ask to be moved off of the diagnostics team. 

Conflicted and tired, you bury your head in your arms and cry even harder, glad that the walls are soundproof until you hear the sound of your doorknob turning.

And that’s when you realize that you forgot to lock the door.

You pop your head up, tears still covering your cheeks and welling up in your eyes. You probably look like shit and your partner has just walked in to see said display.

There, right in front of you, in the entryway of your office, stands James Wilson, looking at you like a deer caught in the headlights. The worst part is that you’re sure you’re looking at him the same way. The happy expression he walked in with has fallen completely.

“Did I come at a bad time?” He tentatively asks.

“No, sorry,” You answer and rush to wipe your tears away. You try to make yourself look presentable, probably to no avail considering the look of disbelief that James shoots your way. “What do you need?”

“Are you sure? I can leave if you want-” James starts and steps back towards the door.

“Don’t,” You interject, shaking your head. “Please. I know we’re at work right now, but…”

James sighs, then shuts and locks the door behind you. He quickly approaches your desk and sits on the edge of it, facing you.

“House really got to you today, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, I guess he did,” You shrug. “I don’t even know what to do about it anymore, James… I’m considering just quitting and going somewhere else. I feel so burnt out. It’s not even just House, it’s everything else, too. He’s the least of it.”

James nods.

“...I understand.”

“Do you really?”

“Well, maybe not in the exact same way. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice that House is a little less harsh on me than he is on the rest of you, but him and I have been friends for a long time. He knows what I’m capable of. The only reason he pushes your buttons so much is because he’s testing to see what your limits are. In a weird sort of way, he’s trying to get to know you,” James explains, though both of you know that isn’t much of a comfort to you. “I’m sure things have been difficult for you lately. You do a lot, and it goes unappreciated, but I promise you that you’re doing a good job and that there are people who appreciate what you do.”

At that, you smile. You don’t feel completely better, but the weight on your shoulders does feel a little lighter.

“Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

“I love you,” James says.

“I love you too.”

Hours pass. You work on paperwork while James responds to patient emails for you. The two of you knock out most of what’s been piling up on your end, much to your relief. You try not to think about the fact that James has probably neglected a lot of his day’s duties to help you out with this. 

“Should we head out?” You ask, looking at the clock.

“Probably… It is getting pretty late.”

Just then, the doorknob turns, only to go back since James had locked it just moments before. A second later, you hear obnoxiously loud knocking. Wilson goes to open it. Standing there is House, who’s holding a stack of papers.

“All the other tests came back negative. You were right,” House admits, looking straight at you. “It’s Kawasaki disease. Good job.”

Then, as fast as he came by your office, House leaves, just as elusive as ever- and all you and James can do is laugh.

[stellar-solar-flare]

I have to know, is there anything in the works for Astronomical Odds? It’s by far one of my favourite docs I’ve read and I can’t wait to hear more about Starstuff and Little Star. I figured it was easier to reach out through tumblr than on AO3 ❤️

Hi, thank you for asking about Astronomical Odds (AO3)! I am very flattered to hear that it's one of your favorite fics ever and that you're looking forward to an update. And I always welcome readers reaching out, be it throuhg Tumblr or throuhg AO3!

I have the next chapter in the works; life was one giant hassle July-August, and I have only this month been feeling like my creative energy is recharging at least a little! But the chapter is in progress and I'm hoping to get it out before the end of the month, although due to offline life, I can't make a firm promise on that. But it always warms my heart to hear that someone is interested in the continuation of a story, so thank you for reaching out.

Here is a small sneak peek from Chapter 28 (aka the next one). Spoilers to Astronomical Odds if you aren't caught up.

Warnings: Implied sexual content, mention of brain aneurysm, mention of bad behavior from press.

You couldn’t recall when was the last time you had felt so recharged. It was certainly possible that it was simply the fact that the first trimester of your pregnancy was starting to pass — at least considering the accelerated time line of yours — and you’d read that many had gotten relief to their worst symptoms when it did.

Or, it could be the absolutely great good night’s rest you’d gotten in the giant hotel suite bed, with Steve’s arms wrapped around you, after having drifted off into sleep feeling entirely loved and thoroughly satisfied. You’d slept for the almost twelve hours, and when you had finally woken up, Steve had already been awake, reading right next to you. He had put his book away and smiled at you, and suggested ordering a giant breakfast from the room service — unless you wanted to head down to breakfast, which was still being served. You’d chosen remaining in bed, being close to Steve, and not having to put on clothes. Or more clothes than his blue button down you’d slept in, that was.

Stuffed with a delicious continental breakfast, you dropped your cake fork down on the tray on the bed and leaned back against Steve, who had sat back down next to you once he had fetched the tray from the door. Conveniently, since you had stolen his shirt, his upper body was bare, and you could press yourself against his chiseled, warm chest and drop your head back so that it rested against his left shoulder. It left the right side of your neck open for him, too, and he seized the opportunity to move aside the collar and kiss your neck. You hummed with pleasure, even as the touch was more soft than anything asking for more, and craned your neck up to look at him. Fuck, how had you gotten so lucky? His blue eyes sparkled down at you, and his blond hair was still ruffled by the pillows.

“I love you,” you murmured.

“I love you too,” he said. “Anything you’d like to do today?”

You set your tablet down on the bed, having skimmed most of the morning news during the breakfast, and Steve folded away the newspaper he had been reading. Before meeting him, you would’ve never guessed how lovely the simple task of reading next to each other and eating a meal, even if neither of you spoke, could be. “Will you get cabin fever if we just stay here? The room’s paid for seven days and after the day before yesterday, I really don’t feel like going out there,” you grimaced.

Even as Harriet’s press release had gotten some of the news outlets to focus on it, you were fairly certain some reporters were still camping outside the hotel. Steve’s eyes flashed with a protective darkness.

“Not at all,” he said. “I might go to the hotel gym at some point, though. Unless I feel like getting my exercise by throwing a few punches into well-deserved directions.”

He wasn’t serious, but the idea of him just absolutely decking the press members outside still made some age-old instinct inside you hum.

“I feel like it’d be rather impolite of us to cause Tony to have a brain aneurysm after he paid for the suite, dear,” you grinned, and Steve laughed.

[abitohoney]

So after a recent Big Move™️, I’ve finally gotten my household goods delivered to my new home. WOOT WOOT.

And as I pulled out some baking/muffin pans, I thought

Damn. I’d like to think I’d be rough and tough and a “don’t look at me wrong or I’ll punt your ass over a high-rise” sort of girl boss in the Arcane world.

But realistically all I want is to bake some treats for Sev and Ran. Make sure they’re eating good. Dust off and adjust their collar before they head out on a mission/task or to a meeting or whatever. Pack them little snacks or lunchboxes. Pretend to not be fussy over them since I also have my own work but actually unintentionally show ✨affection✨. Give them a goodbye kith. Be a lil Susie-homemaker in denial.

Also this moonshine is kind of hitting hard send help

OMG congrats on the big move! I still remember my first big move! Exciting (and exhausting)! Hopefully you're past the exhausting part and slipping into chill mode.

Hard same on thinking I'd be a kick ass girl boss in Arcane but really just wanna be Sev and Ran's little Honey homemaker. 🤓

Some silly, cute, fluffy thoughts inspired by this below the cut. SFW believe it or not.

Fussing over them and packing them lil snacks and lunches sounds like a dream! 🤩 Gosh, just imagine packing them both a little paper sack lunch for the first time. They just give you a look like "Seriously? What am I, 8?" Meanwhile you're just smiling at them adoringly.

Maybe they both sit with the rest of Silco's cronies come lunch time. They're already feeling ridiculous carrying they're matching paper sack lunches, but they're just assuming it's gonna be some lame old bologna sandwiches and stale leftover chips from the last Jericho's dinner.

They simultaneously open their bags to pull out not just any old sandwich, rather it's the freshest looking bread they've ever seen, holding equally fresh greens, meats, and cheeses. And best worst of all, you'd used cookie cutters to cut them into heart shapes. Sevika and Ran exchange glances, brows raised. They both set the sandwiches down, behind their bags, hoping to hide them from the rest of the gang, only to pull out more incriminating lunchables. Several slices of pineapple, cut into disgustingly cute little stars. Then comes the veggies, cause of course you made sure their lunches were a complete balance of nutrition. Chubby little baby carrots arranged on a thick homemade hummus in a flower design. One little cherry tomato decorates the center.

The coup de grâce to their humiliation? Custom, tiny cupcakes decorated in bright pink, red, and purple icing and bedazzled with heart shaped sprinkles of the same colors.

Another exchange of glances, cheeks flushed, then eyes averted downward. Neither dare make eye contact with anyone else at the table. Not that any of them would dare to even so much as snicker at Silco's second in command or top assassin. Not if they valued their life.

So Sevika and Ran consume their entirely too cute lunch in silence. It's an uncomfortable one, but deep down, beneath those hard exteriors, their hearts swell with pride and joy. They have someone like you- who cares so much- to so lovingly select, create, and craft the sweetest of lunches. And just for them. ♥️

Sending help ASAP! (It's just me in a box with holes so I can 'help' you finish off that moonshine)

Also, every time you send me something ISTG I get such a strong itch to write my poly Sev x Reader x Ran fic. I will some day. (Still anxiously patiently waiting for your writing too! <3)

[sarahmadisonxoxo]

A vampire taking shelter in a church with one of the most beautiful men he’d ever laid eyes on. It was almost enough to be funny without mentioning the gorgeous man’s condition that made his blood completely undrinkable.

It was one of the main reasons Astarion hadn’t decided to drain him dry earlier on in their travels. That and the gorgeous man known as Gale Dekarios came along with the worst kind of baggage in a girlfriend. Morreo? Mildly Annoying? No that wasn’t her name and she was far more than mildly annoying…. treating Gale like he was nothing more than an a pack mule.

They were the first people Astarion had come across in what felt like years. So while animals were wonderful for food, even the vampire had to admit at some point he enjoyed the company of another person.

Gale was resourceful and easy to talk to. His unwillingness to let… Morena? No that wasn’t it… Moses? have anything but the best even in a survival situation had Astarion seeing things again he once thought were luxuries of the past.. Like hot showers or sleeping the entire night.

Unfortunately such luxuries… even so small, made him forget about the real dangers that could exist out in the world. Just because people weren’t freely walking around in the daytime didn’t mean they weren’t there.

It was something Gale had to learn the hard way as milkshake was taken right before his eyes by a group of raiders.

No her name wasn’t milkshake either.. but it was irrelevant now.

Gale tried to rescue her but all his efforts earned him were new future scars.

Neither of the men spoke as they raided the church for supplies. Gathering what little they found in a pile on the alter floor.

Once they finished picking over every corner of the church and securing the entrances inside both men sat around the pile. Gale mindlessly reaching out to begin using the little bit of supplies to treat Astarion, who had gotten out in much better shape than himself. Tears freely streaming down his beautiful face making Astarion’s heart ache for not being able to do more.

His friend was hurting and he could do nothing.

“Gale.. we really need to patch you up first. “ the vampire whispered, cupping his hand over Gales to still it.

Their eyes met and for a moment the rain outside was the only thing to be heard.

“ Astarion… I’ve already lost Mystra today.. I can’t risk losing you to. “ he swallowed the lump in his throat. Pausing before he completely broke down. “ I won’t survive out here on my own”

“ oh you.. “ Astarion paused feeling tears well up at his own eyes. “ I’m not going anywhere Gale. I promise.”

Neither one of the men could sleep that night. Cuddling one another under a pile of blankets they sat behind the alter jumping at every noise until the sun crept through the windows the next morning.

Gale would only later come to know the attack was planned by Mystra and was meant for Gale. A mistake saved Gales life .

[chickensarentcheap]

A little flashback for the Taesme fans

I know some of you are missing them and I am working on things, I promise. In the meantime...

@tragiclyhip @watermeezer @youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @mrsmungus

@asirensrage @residentdormouse @kmc1989 @karimac @ninjasawakenedmystar @alisbackalleybbq @bardic-tales (I remember this time! My brain is much, sorry lol)

“I’m surprised you’re up,” Tyler remarks, as she moves to the stove to tend to the boiling kettle. Offering a mug with the tea bag already in it; his hand briefly resting on the small of her back as he places a kiss on her temple. “You were sleeping pretty good when I went on my run.”

Sighing, she sets the mug down on the stovetop and fills it with water. “I probably still would be if your spawn didn’t wake me up out of nowhere and send me on a mad dash to the bathroom. I’ve come to expect SOME sickness, but this?”

“This one’s giving you an extra hard time, huh? What did the doctor say? Something about making too much human growth hormone? I don’t know. She completely lost me when she broke out the science speak.”

“A variant of it. And it’s too much of ALL the hormones. Kind of weird; that the last pregnancy would be the worst. You’d think it would be the easiest; your body totally used to everything, able to push that sucker out with only two tries. I swear to Christ, Tyler. If this is another Millie labour…”

“You’ll cut my dick off?”

“That’s a little extreme. You need your dick. It’s still very useful. I’ll just chop your balls off. So you can’t make any more swimmers.”

“How about we not do that and just let the surgeon handle things?”

“I want a goddamn guarantee from him that this isn’t going to happen again; your penis remarkably healing itself and letting those swimmers of yours have free reign.”

“I’m going to jump in here for a second. You realize your body fucked up too, yeah? That it took BOTH of us to make this baby? Your tubes were tied. Right after you had Kota and Brookie. You’re not supposed to be able to get pregnant in the first place.”

She stares at him over the rim of her mug. “Even if I hadn’t gotten them tied, you weren’t supposed to be able to produce any sperm. Ever again. For the rest of your natural born life. But low and behold…”

“You…” He points the knife at her. “...need to accept some responsibility in all of this.”

She huffs, taking a sip of tea and then setting it on the stove; hands on her hips in a show of defiance. “I will do no such thing.”

“Come on, this can’t all be pinned entirely on me. Both our bodies had to screw up for this to happen. So be a big girl…” snagging her by the front of her t-shirt, he gently pulls her into him. “...and take some of the blame.”

She stares up at him; a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth and those enormous, dark eyes sparkling mischievously. “No. You can’t make me.”

“Listen pocket wife, I’m a foot and three inches taller than you and almost a hundred pounds heavier. I can make you.”

“I’d like to see you try. You don’t intimidate me. Your muscles and your resting asshole face and all those tattoos and scars. They don’t scare me a bit.”

“You realize I have ways of convincing you, don’t you? Ways that don’t involve intimidation. “

“Yeah?” Both hands clutch the front of her shirt as her body leans into his. “What kind of ways are we talking about then?”

He swipes the tip of his tongue across his bottom lip. “Sexual ones.”

“You realize that sounds more like pleasure than punishment, right?”

“You remember that thing we did back in New York City. In the bathtub. The thing you claim to hate but always seem to love? The one thing that I always can count on to make you squirt? Do you know what thing I’m talking about?”

“I know EXACTLY what you’re talking about.”

“Well next time around, when you least expect it? I’m going to do that twice as much. Only this time there won’t be a happy ending. For you, anyway.”

Her eyes narrow. “You wouldn’t.”

“Yes. Yes I would.”

“You’re evil.”

“Most evil husband out there.”

[writeforfandoms]

Welcome to New York 5

Find the series masterlist

Things are better, work is going fine.... Until work spills over into personal life in the worst possible way. 

Warnings: Violence, blood, reader gets injured (cuts and a bruised ankle), Miguel is still mean. 

Word count: 2.3k

Before you knew it, an entire week had gone by. Work was just that: work. But it was also kind of fun. Lyla wasn’t always around, but she was funny and sassy. Peter B. checked in on you, often with Mayday in tow. He was just a little disruptive, but that was okay.

(You’d gotten trapped for thirty minutes holding Mayday and playing with her while Peter went on a convoluted explanation of the last mission he’d been on to a black-and-white world. The video from the mission, when you found it later, had been extremely weird to watch.) 

But you were at least making progress. 

“Any plans for your weekend?” Peter asked as he and Mayday walked you to the cafeteria. You’d worked through lunch and were consequently starving. 

“Not really. I was thinking I might try going somewhere new.” You shrugged, unconcerned, even as you stepped around two Spiders stopped in the middle of the walkway talking. 

“Oh yeah?” Peter raised an eyebrow at you. 

“Well, I was reading about this restaurant that sounds really good, and I’ve never been. It’s in the undercity, which will be an adventure.” 

“You should ask Miguel,” Peter suggested, as if that wasn’t the worst advice anyone had ever given you. 

“You’re joking, right?” You glanced at him to gauge his sincerity. 

“Why would I be?” Peter grinned at you. “It makes perfect sense! Miguel lives here, he knows lots of places, I bet he can give you advice.”

“I’ll pass, thanks,” you mumbled, shaking your head. 

“Why?” Peter looked confused, the poor clueless man. 

“Pretty sure Miguel is too busy for that kind of trivial thing,” you tried, heading for the elevator in hopes that making it clear you were leaving would halt this trainwreck of a conversation. 

“Nah, he’s probably bored,” Peter said, waving an unconcerned hand. 

“I’ve got things to do,” you tried again, dodging around yet another clueless Spider-person in the middle of the walkway. Honestly, weren’t they supposed to have that tingle-thing? Or were they all just socially clueless? Seriously. Rude. 

“Well, alright.” Peter sighed. “If you’re sure…”

“I’m sure. Thanks, though.” Your smile was small and a little tight. 

“Just be careful, alright? Can’t be losing my favorite archivist already!”

“I’m the only archivist.” You frowned at him.

Peter just laughed and waved you off before shooting a web. Mayday laughed and waved to you as her father swung the two of them away.

Well fine then.

But you couldn’t deny your little smile as you took the elevator back down to ground level. 

There were some good things to having no real friends in the city. You could live by your own timeline. So if you wanted to get up early and go on a lazy meander to a little coffee shop, then down to a park, there was nobody to argue with over timing or where to go. 

On the other hand, there was no one to help you figure out how to get the tram down to the undercity, or how to navigate down there. You hadn’t expected just how different it would feel, without sky above your head. Sure, streets were marked and there were maps and you could navigate, but it felt… different. Weird.

You weren’t sure you liked it.

Fortunately, you had time to explore a little. You didn’t stray too far from the restaurant you wanted to try, you weren’t quite brave enough to really explore. Another day, you told yourself. Another time, after you’d had another successful adventure or two down here and knew you could do it. 

You were not really brave, and you knew it. You liked exploring, but you liked being safe while you explored. It made sense to you. 

The undercity was fascinating in its own way, because it was so different. Much more densely built, the lighting was almost orange, fading to red at points. Buses and trams passed constantly, the press of humanity somehow more claustrophobic down here. 

Which made sense, given the lack of space in any direction. 

You’d just finished in a shop when you heard the crashing and the screaming. You froze, gaze darting around, trying to determine which way that had come from and what exactly was going on. 

You didn’t have to figure it out. Because it came to you.

It turned out to be a man with mechanical legs grabbing onto buildings and hauling him around. But the edges of him were soft, the colors muted and almost runny. 

He wasn’t from this universe.

You were forced back into the shop as people swarmed past, getting out of the way of the villain. Which was fine. Not at all like the shop was in the line of danger or anything. 

You really hoped the Spiders knew about this one already. 

“Get away from the windows,” you said to the shop assistant, already backing away yourself. There was a chance this would get ugly.

The person outside glitched, something you’d seen in footage but never in person. It was a riot of colors and shapes mixed with screaming, and you winced. It looked painful. It sounded painful. 

And it apparently only made him angrier. 

Four of the legs hoisted him back up while the other four lashed out. Windows broke, glass shattering and scattering through multiple stores. One limb grabbed a car, sending it careening off course. 

You hit the floor, pulling the shop assistant down with you. They definitely didn’t deserve to be caught in the middle of this. 

“Stay quiet,” you murmured, hoping they were able to listen and understand. “Help will be here, I promise.” 

They nodded once, shaky, scared. They couldn’t have been older than 19, still a kid, still figuring themself out. 

You really hoped they made it past 19. 

Your work bracelet chimed softly and you jumped, spooked. But you still tapped it. A line of glowing orange text appeared just above the band. 

Stay out of trouble, help is on the way.

Well. They definitely knew something was happening, at least. Cool. You could work with that. 

One of the flailing limbs crashed through the remains of the window, sending more glass everywhere. You covered your head briefly before peering out again. The glass reflected the orange light from the street, almost like tiny glimmers of fires scattered across the floor of the shop. The villain was moving away from the shop now, roaring something about Spiderman and revenge and something something. You weren’t quite paying attention to him now that it seemed like he was going the other direction. 

“Stay down,” you hissed, motioning the assistant. They just nodded, eyes huge, hands over their mouth. Okay. Good. Not moving.

So, naturally, you moved. 

There were two other people in the shop, and you managed to check on both of them. They were both okay, scared but okay. 

Okay. So far so good. 

And then you made a mistake. You lost track of where the villain was and where the fighting was. 

A red and blue blur flew past the shop, and you jerked around to watch. The blur didn’t even hit the villain before one of those mechanical arms batted it out of the air like a fly, sending the blur away from the villain.

And towards you. 

You were not sure how the Spider did not hit you, but they didn’t. You did end up flat on the floor, staring up at the ceiling and shaking. 

Yeah nope. No more moving around until you got the all clear. 

“Sssssspidermaaaaaan,” came the low hiss from outside. The ground shook gently with the impact of those mechanical arms, getting closer until two arms landed just outside the shop. 

The Spiderman who’d been sent flying sat up, a little dusty now. “Is it just me or have you been practicing?” he asked mildly. 

“Spiderman,” the villain hissed, face contorting in rage. “At last.” 

“Definitely been practicing,” Spiderman quipped, getting to his feet. “I think you need less time in the batting cage, doc.”

You didn’t see what happened next, because you went from too scared to move to being dragged across the floor. Shards of glass caught against your clothing and your skin, pain sharp and sudden. 

And then you were dangling upside down, blood rushing to your head, ankle protesting the tight grip something had on you. You jerked, reaching for something to try to steady you, only to yelp when you were moved further away from the floor. You were pretty sure people were talking - you could hear voices, kind of, past the rushing in your ears. But you were stuck looking at the one Spiderman, hands out at his sides, tense but unmoving. 

Oh great. You’d turned into collateral damage. You choked back the hysterical laugh, trying not to shake. You were absolutely going to die and there was nothing you could do about it. 

Several things happened at once. There was a roar, like a motor, the Spiderman in front of you shot out webs, and the mechanical limb holding your ankle tightened to the point you cried out in pain… and then let go. 

You barely had a chance to fall before someone caught you. 

“This time, stay put,” Miguel growled, setting you down surprisingly gently. He stayed for a moment, the blanks where his eyes should be narrowing. “You’re bleeding.”

“Am I?” You blinked rapidly, head still rushing with the change in directions. Which way was up and could the room kindly stop spinning? 

He muttered something in Spanish that you didn’t catch, low and hard. “Lyla, let medical know we’ve got an injured civilian coming in,” he ground out. 

“Yup, already told ‘em,” Lyla said, familiar voice comforting now. You blinked. 

“Wait here.” Miguel set you down carefully. Or, he tried to. One of your hands grabbed him, needing the steadying contact. His grip was surprisingly gentle as he removed your hand. 

And then he was gone, running off to join the fight in bringing down the villain. 

You huffed softly and focused on your breathing, because that was better than focusing on the pain. Which was a lot. And kind of all over. Your arms and back hurt the worst, but your ankle wasn’t exactly painless either. And all of it throbbed in time with your pulse, still rapid and hard. 

“Oof, you’re not looking so hot.”

You peeled open your eyes to glower up at Peter. For once, he didn’t have Mayday with him, even her carrier absent. So was the pink bathrobe, actually. He actually looked more or less respectable. “Thanks,” you muttered dryly. 

“Come on, let’s get you back to HQ.” He stooped and picked you up carefully. You stifled your pained noise by biting down on your lip. Hard. “I know, I’m sorry.”

“You got her?” Miguel loomed larger than life over Peter’s shoulders, the faint orange glow behind him drawing your attention. Two other Spiders were pulling the villain through a portal, undoubtedly to HQ. 

“Yeah, I got her. You go do your thing.” Peter nodded to Miguel. One arm kept firm hold of you while the other shot a web, quick to pull you both up and out of the undercity. 

You did not even try to resist the urge to cling to him, dignity be damned. This shit was terrifying. The webbing looked far too thin to support your combined weight, and the fact that you had no control over any of this was just making things worse. 

Fortunately, it was a quick trip to HQ. Because if it had been any longer you might have cried. 

“Here we are,” Peter said, cheerful once again. “See, you’ll be fine.” 

“You’re the worst,” you breathed, eyes closed tightly to try and combat the motion sickness. “How are you so cheerful.” 

“Force of habit.” He chuckled as he set you down. “Right, I’m gonna leave you be, let me know when you’re done!” He backed out of the room, waving to you when you looked. 

Medical was not bad at all. Like the rest of HQ, it was a little higher tech than you were used to - all top of the line equipment and even specialized things that looked custom built. (Which made sense when you thought about it, because, y’know. Spiders.) 

A few stitches, one ankle brace, and several bandages later, you were cleared to go home. And given some spare sweats, since your clothes were bloodstained and ripped. 

You were just sitting on the bed trying to gather the energy to get back home when you heard the Spider doctor’s watch beep. And, well, you didn’t mean to overhear, but she was hanging out right outside your room. 

“Yes, Miguel?” 

“How’s she doing?” Miguel didn’t waste any time on pleasantries. That tracked with what you knew of him. 

“She’ll be fine,” the doctor said, voice quiet. You leaned forward a little to hear better. “Nothing major to worry about.”

Huh. Miguel was worried about someone? You knew he had a heart but damn. 

“Keep me updated.” Miguel definitely made it an order, not a request. 

The doctor chuckled to herself, her footsteps starting up again and fading as she walked away.

Huh. Weird. Well, kudos to whoever got Miguel to care enough to check in. You didn’t waste any more time calling a cab to pick you up outside, groaning softly as you hobbled out of medical and to the elevator. 

Time to go collapse at home now.

[thetriplets3]

❊ never alone ❊

TW: mentions and alludes to mild to severe depression, descriptions of physical signs of an eating disorder, allusions of an eating disorder, talks about nightmares, and panic attacks are mentioned

You have the sweetest soul there is. You are so mindful of how I’m feeling and always asking if there’s anything you can do for me or if I’m okay. Usually I find this annoying because the answer almost every time is no, every day is a struggle for me, every day is the same. But I’ll never get annoyed hearing you ask because you care so much and would take my problems in a heartbeat if you could. You’re my medicine. You radiate this comforting and healing energy that is slowly healing all my wounds.

The wounds you have started healing in me are beginning to open back up. I’ve moved 2 hours away for school, 2 hours away from you and anyone I know. I’ve gotten to the worst place I’ve ever been mentally, and it’s noticeable physically. Whether you say it or not during our facetime calls, you noticed everything. You noticed how much weight I had lost, that I was merely just a skeleton. You checked in on me occasionally but never brought up the change in my appearance, not entirely sure how to approach that. I don’t think I realized just how bad it had gotten. When you deal with something every day for so long, it becomes a new normal for you. It makes you blind to the things around you.

I had tremors 24/7, graphic vivid nightmares that I can still see when I close my eyes, permanently scarred in my mind. I could barely sleep because I was so afraid of the nightmares. I’d start my days with a shower hoping it would add a little pep in my step but that was always unsuccessful. Putting my music on, I’d turn the water to scolding hot and just think about how I couldn’t stand every day being the same, it was a never ending nightmare. From the moment I woke up to the moment I fell asleep I would cry and cry until I cried myself into a panic attack to the point of not being able to breathe. I didn’t recognize the face staring back at me in the mirror, it was as if I was a ghost watching myself bleakly trying to survive. Food was impossible. Everything tastes different. Barely able to get a snack down, I was on a fine line between life and death, and no one seemed to notice. All I needed was for one person to realize I was barely able to keep my head above the water and no one did. I was desperately and silently pleading for help.

Waking up everyday and knowing exactly what will happen, as it’s been like this for weeks, knowing there’s nothing you can do to make it stop, knowing you are merely just an empty vessel of a skeleton leads me to think of only one option. To think those thoughts weighs so heavily on my mind it will forever haunt me. I’m laying in bed, crying so hard I’m on the verge of a panic attack, I hear a knock on the door. Waiting to see if my roommate will answer the door, the knocking stops, must have been for her. I’m sucked back into my thoughts and tears, clawing at my chest desperately gasping for a breath when I’m interrupted by a knock. I freeze, confused as to who would be knocking on my door. I crawl my way out of bed, bringing the blanket that’s wrapped around my shoulders with me. With a heavy sigh I opened the door not really wanting to see anyone. I was in shock, you were the last person I thought would be at my door but the one person I needed.

“You gonna say hi or just stare at me?” You ask with a smirk on your face.

I attack you in a hug, causing you to stumble backwards. My blanket covered body engulfs your torso as you wrap your arms around my shoulders and back comfortingly rubbing them. I refuse to let go because this is the one thing I’ve been needing so badly and I’m afraid if I let go it’ll all disappear. One thing I love about you is that you won’t let go of a hug until the other person does first, so we stay hugging each other in my doorway like our lives depend on it. Pressing a sweet kiss to the top of my head, you briefly pull away from the hug to wrap your arms around my torso, lifting me off the ground. I move my blanketed arms to wrap around your neck, burying my face in the crook of your shoulder and neck. I can’t help but let the tears continue to fall, wetting your neck.

“Oh sweetheart, I’m here it’s okay, let it out I’ve got you” you coo into my ear, resting your head against mine. You walk to my bed with our bodies still clinging to each other. Placing yourself under my covers with my body laying partly on yours, holding on to you for dear life. You reach up to remove the blanket that’s been hiding my body.

“You’ll be too warm honey, you gotta take the blanket off” you say.

I release my grip on the blanket letting you put it to the side, covering me with my bedding. Now that my blanket is gone my body is revealed. You can see and feel just how much I’ve been struggling. A tear slips your eye as you quickly wipe it.

“I see you sweet girl, I see that you’re not okay, I’m here to help” you whisper in the sweetest voice, rubbing my back soothingly.

That’s what I’ve been needing to hear, to know that somebody sees I’m not okay and is willing to help. Cuddling into your side, you delicately trace your fingers along my back. You can feel the tremors that have taken over my muscles. You knew I had hard days but weren't aware they got this bad. I didn’t know what was happening to me and I was scared. Seeing me in this fragile, vulnerable state breaks your heart. Your gentle tracing on my back is lulling me into a much needed nap.

“You’re not alone now sweetheart, I’m here I’ve got you. We’ll get through this together” you whisper in my ear as I drift off into sleep.

You stay awake and watch me for a while to make sure I don’t need anything. Your eyes graze my face watching as it contorts and slightly reacts to the nightmares. You tighten your hold on me, reminding me that you’re here. You eventually drift off into sleep yourself. I’m awake at 5am, unable to go back to sleep. You’re a heavy sleeper so I know reaching over you to grab my laptop to put on a show won’t disturb you, even putting my headphones in to make sure I don’t wake you. Putting on my comfort show, I try to relax. I zoned out that I didn’t see you wake up.

“Good morning sunshine, how are you feeling today?” you say with a sleepy voice that makes my heart skip a beat.

I grumble in response and shove my face into your neck. “Nightmares, only slept till 5” I mutter into your neck.

“I’m sorry honey that’s gotta be unpleasant” You say sincerely.

We stay in bed for about an hour watching tv as your hand rubs against my back, in an attempt to soothe my body. “We should get up and get ready” You tell me. This is the hardest part of the day for me. It always feels like the most difficult thing for me to do. I stay in bed while you go to the washroom to do your business and get changed. Coming back to my room you find me sleeping. Letting me sleep for a little while longer you pick out something comfy for me to change into. You even go as far as pairing items together to make outfits for me, so it takes less effort. You tidy up my room a little just by straightening and putting things where they belong. I wake up as you're doing so and sit up in bed stretching. You hand me a hoodie and sweatpants to change into, you turn around as I change.

“Shower? Skincare? What do you want to do?” You ask.

“None, too challenging” I mutter, embarrassed that I couldn't manage basic self care.

“I can do it for you, well at least the skincare. I can stay in the room while you shower if you don't wanna be alone” you suggest. I nod knowing that I should take care of myself.

I hear you enter the bathroom and you announce that you're just on the counter. It feels easier knowing that you're here encouraging me every step of the way. I take my time and wash my hair while I'm in here, not knowing when I'll be able to manage it again. I call out to you letting you know that I'm done and I see your arm stick through the curtain holding a towel that you must've thrown in the dryer to warm it up. My heart melts at the small but meaningful gesture. Drying off in the shower I reach for my robe and put it on, stepping out to see you. You pat the counter telling me to hop up so you can begin my skincare. You know my routine by now having seen me do it plenty of times. My eyes flutter shut as your fingers delicately take care of my skin. You’re always so gentle with me it makes my heart do backflips.

Everything feels easier when I have you here. I no longer feel like I’m drowning, you keep me afloat. It’s been about a year since I’ve moved back home, it’s a long healing process and you’re here to help me every step of the way. With you by my side, I’m never alone.

[ceilingfan5]

@taznovembercelebration joking/serious

“Hey, so like, this is Taako, you know, from TV,” Taako drawls, twirling his hair while he speaks into Kravitz’s phone. Kravitz has gone from sweating bullets to sweating laser beams, and if you put your ear up to him, you’ll hear either his heart beat inventing a new time signature or the soft pew pew pew of his worst fears being confirmed in real time.

“Heeyy, Taako from TV,” Sloane teases on speakerphone. “What’s up. Thought you were having a boys night.”

“Oh, we are,” Taako confirms, making smug bastard eye contact and winning the shit eatingest contest there ever was held. “And get this, we’re playing truth or dare.”

“Fun. And this involves me, who was busy, how?”

“I just need a little confirmation from Kravvy’s past life, and you’re the seeker of keeprets.”

“Yeah, I know a few secrets, but you’ll have to buy ‘em.”

“Sloane!” Kravitz hisses, utterly betrayed.

“Pay it,” Magnus insists. Merle nods emphatically, intent on the truth.

“I have your venmo. I mean it. This is very important to me. I am not joking even a little bit.”

“Sloane, don’t say anything???” Kravitz tries to reach for the phone, but he is still duct taped to the chair. This hinders his progress somewhat. He tries to tip the chair and nearly falls over, which would theoretically impact his bones and the flesh they love so deeply. He considers risking it.

“Oh, sorry bud, I’ve just checked my venmo, is the thing?” Sloane snickers. “And he did make good. So our deep bond is dollar store plastic and this fake Barbie’s head has popped off. What secrets am I spilling about, your seriousness?”

Taako gets as close as he can to the phone’s mic and stares right at Kravitz.

“Was he, or was Kravitz not. A member. Of a Werewolf Themed Boyband.”

There’s a long silence. And then a lot of laughter. It goes on for an embarrassingly long time, and Kravitz closes his eyes and wishes for some kind of smiting event to take him to the nice farm where Kravitzes go when they have been literally mortified.

“Yeah,” she says, audibly wiping tears, and still giggling. “Yeah, he sure fuckin’ was. I’ll send pi-”

“DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE-”

“Oh sorry, beloved, I’ve, um. I’ve gotten another donation here, and uh-” she can barely hold it together to get the words out, even as the other guys fall all over each other to grab Taako’s phone and see the evidence. “Boyz 2 Wolves was just, just too much of a cultural phenomenon to let it rot in the past-”

Taako’s phone vibrates.

Taako opens the text.

Taako’s eyes go wide, and he chucks the phone across the room entirely. His cheeks burn.

“What the fuck, Taako,” Merle says, gravely. “I need to know.”

“For the good of the order!!” Magnus agrees.

“Order of breadsticks, maybe-”

“Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen-” Taako physically grabs Magnus and tries to stop him from running after the phone. Sloane’s muffled voice hollers from behind the futon. “Listen. That- we don’t need to- we don’t hafta-”

“Oh, you think he’s a pretty werewolf, huh?” Merle grins. Kravitz revises. This is the shit eatingest grin. Call Guiness World Records right now immediately. “Wanna keep that to yourself?”

“I think I’m going to pass out,” Kravitz says to no one, because the other three are about to brawl for Taako’s phone, and Magnus can pick Taako up like a cat that was born in a wet cardboard box all alone, and Merle is at the perfect height to commit some heinously illegal moves. “Thanks for nothing, Sloane. I’m going to die and they’re going to write bye, bye, bye on my tombstone.”

[themculibrary]

Barista!Bucky Masterlist

A Dash of Skim Milk (ao3) - howlingbuck steve/bucky M, 12k

Summary: It's not everyday that Bucky spills an entire gallon of milk on a paying customer at Sam's coffee shop.

Especially when the man is probably the most gorgeous person Bucky has ever laid eyes on.

all my emotions feel like explosions when you are around (ao3) - orphan_account steve/bucky T, 2k

Summary: When Steve steps into The Winter Soldier café at 3 AM, he doesn’t expect to see the prettiest man he’s ever laid eyes on and develop a dumb crush on him.

But then again, life is full of surprises.

Bucky's Three Plans (ao3) - violets_in_your_eyes steve/bucky T, 4k

Summary: Bucky wants to quit. Just hang his little apron up that he's forced to wear and leave the dreaded coffee shop forever. This mentality especially kicks in when the poor barista has to work the closing shift by himself and deal with the slew of rude customers.

That's until this one customer comes in, after closing. It's unlike Bucky to not just yell at the lost-looking man that they're closed, but there's something about this man in the sunglasses that makes Bucky want to help him out. And so he does.

It's only a few hours later when he realizes that the mystery customer was no other than Captain America, and Bucky is going to do anything to see him again.

Bucky the Smitten Barista (ao3) - nekomas_heart steve/bucky T, 2k

Summary: Bucky decides the best option for flirting with Steve would be to purposely spell his name wrong every time he orders a drink. Steve, as usual, fears the worst.

Cafe Solace (ao3) - orphan_account steve/bucky, natasha/clint T, 45k

Summary: On the run from Nat's unwanted matchmaking, Steve stumbles upon a cafe and meets Bucky Barnes, aka Hot Guy.

Caramel Macchiato (ao3) - persikovaya steve/bucky T, 1k

Summary: Bucky works at Starbucks and plays for both teams — and never before have these two circumstances caused him any trouble.

Until now, that is.

Covert Coffee & Flirtation Special (ao3) - glittercake bucky/sam G, 5k

Summary: The reporter says "—for Captain America to—"

And Bucky rolls his eyes. "Oh, here we go."

Sam looks at him then tips his head sideways, got a weird grin on his face. "Not a fan?"

"Not that. Just… the guy seems too good to be true, right? Wings and a shield? Come on."

"Uh, is that why your eyes are like glued to the screen whenever he's on?" Kate says. "Is that why you call him Captain Tight Ass?"

"He's a goddamn show-off, and you know it. Tight ass or not."

Just then Sam snorts, real loud, grabs his coffee and suffers a horribly controlled laugh on his way out the door.

i'm already falling (ao3) - lord_is_it_mine steve/bucky G, 2k

Summary: Bucky is a barista. Steve just wants to draw him. And date him. A lot.

It's a Coffee Shop, I'll Have Coffee (ao3) - Marv_aka_kitten_writes bucky/m'baku M, 12k

Summary: One rainy afternoon in New York City changes everything for M'Baku. He's always known that James Barnes owns his heart. The question has never been whether love is enough, but rather, whether it's enough for Bucky.

Keep Calm and Enjoy Fall (ao3) - attackofthezee (noxlunate) steve/bucky G, 2k

Summary: “Ha! I told you. Stick around til the end of my shift Rogers. We’re going on an adventure and I’m going to make you fall in love with fall.”

Steve cringes and Bucky looks far too pleased with his terrible pun.

“That was horrible. You’re horrible. Oh my god, who lets you speak?”

“I’ll have you know I’ve gotten Best Barista for six months in a row. People love me.”

Aka Barista Bucky Barnes teaches Steve Rogers how to appreciate the season of pumpkin.

mainline (ao3) - sonatine steve/bucky E, 6k

Summary: A perpetually sleep-deprived Steve keeps showing up at Bucky's hole-in-the-wall coffee shop at the crack of dawn

No Use Crying Over Spilled Coffee (ao3) - whiskeyandsparks steve/bucky E, 3k

Summary: Steve hasn’t been to the coffee shop across his street in two years. To his surprise, the barista still remembers his order. There’s no way that means anything though, right? (Spoiler alert: it does).

Once Upon an Early Morning (ao3) - tak_cajaz bucky/clint, steve/peggy M, 20k

Summary: As the shots finished pulling, he swirled the milk a bit before pouring it in. He did his best to make a nice design in the foam, ending with a tulip.

Bucky glanced up again, and the man looked impressed. "Real pretty," he said in a smooth, low voice.

Bucky could listen to him talk all day.

He sent Clint one of his most charming grins, because he had already had his coffee and no one had pissed him off yet. Besides, this gorgeous man could have all of his charming smiles, if he really wanted. He secured a lid and put a sleeve on, handing it over. "Only for you."

Pecan Pie (ao3) - pquill steve/bucky N/R, 9k

Summary: "I don't need a boyfriend," Bucky said, because it was true. "I'm perfectly happy as I am."

"But you could be even happier, if you just let me help," Nat whined.

"I have everything I need," he replied.

Unfortunately for Bucky, on one cold, wintry January afternoon, he realized just how wrong he was.

OR, the purely self-indulgent coffee shop AU no one asked for.

Pride in Every Cup (ao3) - EmptyPages steve/bucky G, 4k

Summary: There was no name written on the cup, instead sloppy handwriting promised a secret message with an arrow pointing towards the bottom of the cup, where some printed words have been blacked out, so that it said Careful, the beverage you're about to enjoy is extremely hot.

Something in Your Eyes (ao3) - christinefromsherwood steve/bucky G, 1k

Summary: After ogling Bucky (and pining after him) for a couple of weeks Steve finally decides to go into the coffee shop and actually order something.

Third Best Skill (ao3) - Giveusakiss4132 steve/bucky T, 2k

Summary: Bucky Barnes has the world's worst work ethic. It's a good thing he's so pretty. Featuring dubious sandwiches, no threesomes (sad!) and stolen coffee.

[emetogirl]

I thought I’d do a throwback to what was, to this day, probably the worst throwing up experience I’ve ever had. I was a freshman in college and had just gotten back to the dorms after thanksgiving break. My family had celebrated the day before, and I made the drive home the next afternoon to get back to school in the early evening. I was hungry after the drive, so I stopped by the dining hall for dinner. Afterwards I settled back into my dorm with a bowl of my favorite ice cream and was watching some Netflix. It was after finishing my ice cream that my stomach suddenly shifted. I went from feeling fine to sick in a matter of seconds. I thought that maybe the ice cream upset my belly and hoped it would go away soon, but over the course of the next few hours the nausea just kept mounting. It was miserable. The nausea slowly shifted from an uncomfortably full feeling in my belly, to a sick twisting feeling, to the full blown I need to puke to feel better.

I grabbed my tiny trash can and lined it with a new bag. The first gags came pretty easily, but my belly wasn’t bringing anything up. I stuck my fingers down my throat, hoping to get my stomach contents coming up quicker so I could have some relief in my belly. I gagged hard, but still nothing. I started panting and my belly was churning hard. After taking in a sudden deep breath, my stomach suddenly squeezed and a thick wave of puke rushed out of my mouth and into the trash can with a splash. I immediately felt better and thought it was a once off thing. Like, all the pressure in my stomach was suddenly gone and the nausea went away, so I was fine, right?

Boy was I wrong

Half an hour later and my tummy is hurting again. It was the same familiar belly ache that told me I needed to throw up. I had gotten a new bag put in the trash can and thrown the bag full of puke away in the dumpster outside my dorm, so I set the bucket between my legs as I sat on the floor of my dorm room. It happened quicker this time. Another rush of puke came up and splattered into the bag, which was quickly followed by a deep, wet burp and another wave. It was super thick and chunky and burned my throat coming up. I remember barely getting any breaths in between these waves of gagging and throwing up. Once again, I tied up the plastic bag full of puke and threw it away. At this point I knew I was super super fucked. I had thrown up a lot at this point and was feeling feverish and dehydrated. My head hurt and the room was spinning. I decided to move to the communal girls bathroom for the rest of the night to be able to be close to the toilet when I had to puke and so I didn’t have to keep throwing up into he bag in my room.

About an hour after moving in there some girls who had definitely been partying came in to redo their makeup. I heard one of them say, “who’s that? Do you think she’s okay?” To which I replied “i’m alright, but I think I got dining hall food poisoning.” They told me I should sue and get free tuition, and I laughed a little before my stomach slammed into my ribs again and I was gagging up another mouthful of dinner. They told me to feel better soon and left the bathroom to go back to whatever room they came from. The rest of the night is a blur. I started to realize that I was getting really dehydrated, but at the same point realized that I was too weak to get up and get water from my room (and too sick to be able to keep it down). I texted my roommate, who was at work, letting her know I was sick. She replied that she got off at 1am but would get to me as soon as she could. At this point everything is starting to blur together. My heart is pounding constantly, my ears ringing, and everything is spinning. I don’t recall ever feeling so sick in my entire life. I’m sitting up only when I have to puke and then immediately slumping back down. I started fading in an out of consciousness and barely register anything around me. It was probably around 12:30 at night when the RA’s were doing their nightly rounds, and had they not thought to check the bathrooms, I might not have been found by someone until the morning. As I’m laying curled up on the bathroom floor, I hear the doors creak open and two male voices talking to each other, but it sounds like I’m underwater. I immediately hear one of them say, “oh, SHIT!” I was trying to open my eyes but I felt so weak that they were just fluttering, and when one of the boys asks me what happened, all I can get out is “call an ambulance.” I hear one of them leave to make the call and the other kneels down beside me and puts his hand on my forehead. He asks if I’ve been drinking, and I shake my head no. I then hear the other RA come back inside the girls bathroom and announce that EMS is on their way. I feel the familiar sensation of my belly twisting again, and say, “I’m gonna throw up again,” which probably came out more like “m’gonna throw up ‘gain” to which the boy closest to me responded, “do you need me to help prop you up?” Which in hindsight is very caring and responsible but in the moment all I could think of was “if anyone touches me right now I will die” and so I somehow mustered the last ounce of strength my body possessed to sit up and hunch back over the toilet for a final couple mouthfuls to come up. I spit a few times and start to slip back down, but find myself suddenly being held up by two strong arms. The room is quickly filled with the voices of several more people and I realize thank fuck, actual medical professionals have finally arrived and I’m no longer in the hands of two very terrified college boys. I feel someone slip a thermometer in my mouth and I gag around it but they keep it in my mouth until it beeps. And then I am being lifted up and onto a gurney which brings me to an ambulance that arrives at the hospital a few short minutes later.

At the hospital, I get some fluids and antiemetics and get all fixed up. I remember there being a point at one time that I literally pass out on the hospital bathroom floor after puking and they have to find another nurse to lift me up off the ground and carry me back to my hospital bed. It was a terrible time and, apart from the doctors and nurses there to help me, I was mostly alone. But I got through it, Norovirus be damned! Later in college my friends gave me a stuffed animal norovirus plush to reminisce on those lovely, lovely times.

Anyways, this post was inspired by a convo I had with a friend who reminded me that IT IS NOROVIRUS SEASON. Fun fact! Hand sanitizer does not kill norovirus so you HAVE to wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Wash your hands before meals, before and after touching your mouth or face, and after having contact with others!! This has been a PSA from Ro, who threw up in her dorm bathroom so many times she should have gotten a reward for it💕✨