#this part was kinda mid.. however .... i've been planning the last part for a while

[theglamorousferal]

Persephone's Binding Part 7

Hardcover/Anger Management ship Sacrificial Bride au

AO3 Prompt Part 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

As he slid into the booth Jason was glad he had taken Danny's advice on wearing "Mid 2000's American chic". Clad in dark wash jeans, a red Henley shirt and his leather jacket he waited for Danny to come back with their order of "Nasty Burgers". He wasn't particularly excited about the name, but after sparring for four hours he was starving.

"One Double Nasty Burger with Nasty Fries and a chocolate milkshake for you and the rest is for me!" Danny returned to the table with his arms stretched longer than should be possible with four trays of food. He placed one in front of Jason and kept the others for himself. Jason raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"

"You sure you can eat all that?"

Danny smirked, grabbed a fist full of fries and declared "Watch me," and shoved his whole hand into his mouth in an almost cartoon logic sort of way.

Jason gaped for a moment before he chuckled to himself and picked up his burger. It looked like a regular burger, so he took a bite and - dammit it's delicious! He finished his bite and reached for the fries - eh, pretty mid.

"You were right about the burgers, this is delicious. However, once we figure out if or when we can contact my home dimension I am taking you to Batburger and your are gonna try the Jokerized fries." Jason finished his statement gesticulating with a fry before he popped it into his mouth.

"As long as your paying." Danny said, himself gesticulating with a fry. "I mean, flying around and doing ghostly shit is pretty taxing, so I'm always down for food, especially of the high calorie kind."

"Fair enough." They lapsed into a comfortable quiet for a while. Danny quickly worked his way through four Double Nasties, three large fries and two milkshakes.

Jason remembered something he had seen at the training grounds. "So I know we can't use projectiles on each other, but I noticed targets at the grounds. Any chance we can spend the afternoon practicing our aim?" Danny raised an eyebrow at him and Jason rolled his eyes. "Fine. Do you want to spend the afternoon trying to one-up each other?"

"Sounds like a plan, dude." Danny took a long slurp of one of his milkshakes. "So, what do you think of my sister?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

Jason startled at the shift in topic and blinked. Am I about to get a shovel talk? I should probably be serious then. "I think she is very kind and genuine in her care of things. I think she's acting as Atlas and I think it's been that way for longer than she's been Regent. I think she probably should take one if not multiple days off." He brushed the salt from his fingers onto his jeans and licked his lips before speaking again. "I haven't really been able to have a real conversation with her yet. Mostly we've kinda just given each other a summary of our lives and a brief discussion about books after our discussion in the library last night. I've interacted with you more than I have her, but from what I've seen of both of you so far, I'm impressed."

Danny looked at him, his green eyes intense, as if scrutinizing his very soul. He very well might be doing that actually. Jason did not flinch at the inspection, everything he had said was genuine.

"Hmm." Danny took a loud slurp, finishing off that milkshake. He set it aside and grabbed the other. "Do you find her attractive?"

Jason did not waver as he responded. "Just because I do doesn't mean anything without her approval." Danny narrowed his eyes further and took a sip so long Jason wondered if he had to breathe.

Jason sighed. "Fine, I may try and make myself a bit more aesthetically pleasing to her to try and catch her attention besides that I am a person in need and would gladly take pointers if you aren't completely against me attempting to woo her."

Danny smirked. "I knew it! Ha, take that Johnny!" He whipped out a clunky looking device and sent off a message in a group chat. He then leveled Jason with a look. "K, so, I may be new to the whole 'reading souls' thing, but when I took a look as you were talking nothing looked off and I've enjoyed hanging out with you so far today so I'm going to help you." As Jason perked up, Danny held out a hand. "I'm just gonna say this right now; I am not a miracle worker. I'm going off of evidence from past crushes and boyfriends here and it's been years since her last one. She's been a bit too busy for romance with all the training and then everything that happened.

"Anyway, you're on the right track with the biker aesthetic if this is more like your every day clothes. If you had a bike to go with it then we can likely get your foot in the door. I mean, you've already got a leg up on her last boyfriend with talking to her about books." Danny paused in eating his fries. "You know what? Let's rain check on the target practice, I'm gonna take you someplace we can get you a ride. We'll kill three birds with one stone, you get more of the biker aesthetic, maybe you can get Jazz to go on a ride with you, and you can move around the Zone without needing one of us to guide you!" Danny shot off another message to his group chat and then promptly finished off the last of his fries. "Come on, let's head over!"

Jason gathered all the trash and dumped it away as he followed Danny out of the restaurant. Danny grabbed Jason by the shoulders and flew off from Amity and towards a segment of floating land that looked like a winding road.

"It's gonna take a bit to get there at normal person speeds. Mind if I speed this up a bit?" Danny looked down at Jason.

"Go for it, I'm used to flying with the Supers and they can move at light speed."

Danny looked at him shocked for a moment. "Man, your dimension sounds so cool!" At the last word Danny's entire being seemed to flicker brighter and the freckles on his face spun around and were shaped like stars. He cleared his throat, embarrassed for a moment. "I can't go nearly that fast, but my top speed should get us there in five instead of thirty minutes." With that he took off.

Soon enough, Jason saw quickly approaching what appeared to be a brownstone not unlike those from any major US city with an apartment above two businesses. A garage and a stylist's from the look of it. Standing in front of the place was a couple, a blonde and very pale man in a mechanic's jumpsuit covered in various stains, and a very pale woman with green hair and bright red leather jacket and skirt.

"Hey Phantom, so this is the poor schmuck?" The blonde asked after Danny placed Jason back on his feet.

"Hey Johnny, yeah, this is Jason. Poor guy got sacrificed to Jazz of all people." Danny replied with all the air of a younger sibling. "Anyway, I'm pretty sure he left his bike in his home dimension, mind hooking him up with a ride? I don't want to have to carry him everywhere and I doubt a ghostly horse is gonna do it for him." He stuck his thumb out, pointing at Jason behind him.

Johnny seemed to be sizing him up, his arms crossed before he eventually nodded. "Fine, but it's going on your bill." He turned to head into his shop. "See ya later Kitty, I got a big project apparently." He kissed the woman before he walked into the garage.

Jason made to follow, but Kitty stopped him. "If you ever need some styling you come to me okay kid? And if you make the Queen cry, I can make men vanish with a kiss." She patted him on the shoulder before sauntering back into her shop.

"Yeah, Kitty got close with Jazz after a fight she had with Johnny one time. It's kind of weird because when Jazz was dating Johnny, he was trying to get it so Kitty could possess her to exist in the Living Realm. It was a whole thing, but it's behind us at this point." Jason blinked at Danny's back as he floated his way into the garage. Okay then, just casually drop horrifying lore why don't you? Jason followed him inside.

Danny was floating over Johnny's shoulder as the man was drawing up basic schematics.

"Standard Court specs?" Johnny asked the floating High Prince.

"For liminal humans for now yeah. We haven't had the chance to bring him to get a full scan done to find his classification yet."

"Hmm. Okay, hey Sacrifice, get over here, do you like low riding or tight riding?" Jason joined them at the table and they spent the next few hours planning out Jason's ecto-bike. "Looks good, it's gonna take me a bit, but I can get it to you in a week, two tops if I can't get one of the parts. I'll hold off on the engine until we know what your classification is, if you produce your own ecto then we'll need a sample for it." At Jason's hesitation he continued. "It just means that it'll be more self-sustaining and you can summon it to your will. It'll lock-on to your ecto-signature."

"Cool, do you think it'd work in my home dimension? Or will I have to leave this beauty here if or when I leave?"

"Possibly? I mean, at the very least you are death-touched and that kinda manifests ectoplasm in universes. It depends on how much ambient ecto there is around. It doesn't run on gas, it runs on ectoplasm." Danny butted in. "Either way, it'll be good to have here, and who knows, if you have to leave it, maybe you can still come visit?"

"Yeah kid, I'd like that." Jason replied.

Danny smiled. "Cool, well, we gotta head back for dinner. Lunch Lady is making baked Mac and Cheese tonight and I am not missing getting the corner servings."

"See ya around Johnny! Thanks for this by the way."

Johnny waved him off. "Eh it's no big deal, I make all the rides of the Royal Family. You being sacrificed means you're probably bound to this craziness for eternity." Johnny looked at him seriously for a moment. "Do better for her than I did, K? I know that won't take much, but she's been through Hell and back and she deserves someone to take care of her for once."

Jason nodded back, determination set on his face. "If she lets me, I will."

[cellard0ors]

Fic: Pin Me (3/?)

"So, don't take this the wrong way, but I saw you last night."

"You mean when we met?" Laura asks into her cell, grinning at the sound of Travis's voice. She honestly wasn't sure if he was actually going to call. He wasn't her normal type, but there has been something about him that had appealed to her.

She supposes it was the hangdog expression he'd worn at the bar. Sure, a lot of older fellas had that face, but his had been particularly... compelling.

Not to mention it had been a long while since she had noticed anyone period. After she and Max ended things, there had been a few one time flings on the road, but for the most part she'd avoided dating.

Now, however, she found she was more open to it. Probably because Travis wasn't her normal type. It was refreshing, in a way, to actually pursue a man as opposed to a boy.

She was surrounded by boys. Boys who played make believe for a living so much so that they didn't seem to understand the difference between fantasy and real life.

For example, a man, a true one, would call. And while she had doubted he would, the fact he has just proves her point and leaves her feeling delighted.

Delighted until he pauses and says softly, shyly (embarrassedly), "Uh, no...I saw you last night on stage? Or-or I guess you'd say the ring?"

"Oh." Laura tries not to wilt but fails spectacularly, because she's sure she knows where this is going.

Upon meeting him and talking to him, Laura quickly concluded he was not a wrestling fan. Men who were, tended to pick her out quickly, even when she wasn't in costume.

Apparently she'd been incorrect and the truth stung. Even more with his next words, "It sure was... something."

Laura grimaces, prepared for an ugly turn to the conversation only for his tone to take on an awed inflection, "I mean it was...spectacular. Seeing you up there, doing those moves. How do you do it?"

The last is asked with the kind of sheer astonishment she's heard people turn towards firefighters or military men. As if what she does out there is a life risking feat.

And it can be, under the right circumstances,but it's never been something she's viewed as worthy of respect. But the way Travis makes it sound as if it is floods her with pleasure, "Oh! Um. I mean, it's... it's not that difficult..."

The sound of disbelief from him makes her giggle and she beams, "Just some simple gymnastics. I was on the team in middle school and high school. I'd planned on going into veterinary training when I graduated, but a friend of mine suggested the wrestling circuit as a way to pick up some cash over the summer between and, I dunno, I kinda liked it."

"Well it shows. You were something else out there."

"Really?"

"Yeah. My brothers are the wrestling fans. I just went along with them as a family thing. Didn't expect to see you out there - doing backflips and all."

Laura shakes her head to herself, "Didn't you tell me you're a sheriff?"

"Yeah, but it's not an enviable job. Most people hate the police - I take it you experience the opposite, being face and all," At her laugh he suddenly adds (with no small amount of insecurity), "... that's what it's called, right? Chris only told me about a lot of this stuff recently, so-?"

"Yes, yes," she manages between her chuckles, "I'm currently playing a face. I was a heel, back when I was Screamin' Siobhan, but once I moved up from the midcard-?"

"...mid-what now?"

Laura is just over the moon. He really doesn't know! And his genuine curiosity is almost novel. Clearly, it's been too long since she's really struck up a relationship with someone outside the circuit.

She explains a bit about her position in the roster and how far she's come. When she gets to how much and where she's traveled she notices a cool silence and sighs, "Yeah, I...I don't get a lot of breaks. This job is like being in the circus in more ways than one. It's a very transient lifestyle."

"Where are you headed next?"

"Detroit."

"Yeah?" He asks and then, tentatively, "I've always wanted to go to Michigan..."

The knot of excitement that forms in her belly is tangible, "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Not to mention, I have been putting off my vacation for or, I don't know, six years?"

"Really? You don't say?"

He just hums and she avoids (and fails) wiggling about in her seat in excitement, "Well, if you happen to be that way on Thursday the fourteenth I might have some free time - what with the show being Saturday night and all."

"Sounds like a date." Travis returns and there's a certain tune to his voice that makes her shiver.

Sounds like a date indeed.

[baked-hylian]

I started a little late on my new years resolution to read more (I started mid february to be specific,) but in no particular order here is my full list for 2022

Novels

Black Water Sister — Zen Cho

The Jasmine Throne — Tasha Suri

Gideon the Ninth — Tamsyn Muir

Harrow the Ninth — Tamsyn Muir

Nona the Ninth — Tamsyn Muir

Tian Guan Ci Fu (Heaven Official's Blessing) — Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (volumes 1-4)

Mo Dao Zu Shi (Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation) — Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (volumes 1-3)

Iron Widow — Xiran Jay Xhao

The House of the Cerulean Sea — T.J. Klune

Under the Whispering Door — T.J. Klune

1984 — George Orwell

Among Thieves — M.J. Kuhn

Ishmael — Daniel Quinn

Shutter Island — Dennis Lehane

Frankenstein — Mary Shelley

Jurassic Park — Michael Crichton

The Hollow Ones — Chuck Hogan and Guillermo del Toro

Good Omens — Terry Pratchet & Neil Gaiman

Howl's Moving Castle — Dianne Wynne Jones

Novellas/Short Stories

Animal Farm — George Orwell

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water — Zen Cho

Spirits Abound — Zen Cho

Manga

Cells at Work: Code Black — written by Shigemitsu Harada, art by Issei Hatsuyoshiya (volumes 1-4)

Chainsaw Man — Tatsuki Fujimoto (volumes 1-11)

Delicious in Dungeon — Ryoko Kui (volumes 1-11)

Jujutsu Kaisen — Gege Akutami (volumes 0-18)

Made in Abyss — Akihito Tsukushi (volumes 1-10, plus the 4 anthology volumes by multiple authors and artists)

My Dress-up Darling — Shinichi Fukuda (volumes 1-6)

Spy x Family — Tatsuya Endo (volumes 1-8)

Witch Hat Atelier — Kamome Shirahama (volumes 1-10)

Light Novels

Ascendance of a Bookworm — Miya Kazuki (part one: volumes 1, 2, 3)

The Faraway Paladin — Kanata Yanagino (books 1, 2, 3)

Re:Zero—Starting Life in Another World — Tappei Nagatsuki (volumes 16-19)

Re:Zero—Starting Life in Another world Extras — Tappei Nagatsuki (volume 1)

Further thoughts and comments on some things below the cut

I never thought I'd clear through this much in under a year? Especially considering the last couple months I've been a little lax in reading. Typically I read at work on break and before my shift starts if I'm early, but I've been hit or miss for that so it wound up taking nearly a month for me to finish Good Omens.

Some of the series above are definitely in the reread category, but there's others that left me a little disappointed. Like I had heard so much positive talk about Klune's works, but I was left kinda disappointed with Under the Whispering Door, however maybe it was the subject matter, because I did also enjoy The House on the Cerulean Sea from him. And others like some of the classics I've read through, Idk maybe I'm spoiled, but I like having frequent paragraph breaks? And at least with Orwell in particular, he seems to really enjoy going nearly a whole page without one break. Which wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't nearly ever 5 or so pages.

Definitely going to be rereading The Locked Tomb series entirely once Alecto the Ninth is out, I love the batshit wild ride that series puts you on.

Anyone who is curious may have noticed that I started with volume 16 for Re:Zero—that series is long okay? I opted to start with the beginning of arc five, since the anime ends with the conclusion of arc four. I do however plan to go back and read the other arcs, however I'm not in a major rush to finish them off since I doubt season 3 is coming any time soon.

I've also discovered that I enjoy some movie/television adaptions of books, now that I've read multiple while having watched the movie back to back. Maybe it has to do with a more mature understanding of good and bad in everything. However that still isn't going to make me rewatch The Last Airbender anytime soon lol

It's also super true: anime is just a commercial for the manga. Seriously, nearly every new series I picked up and really enjoyed I picked up the manga. The quickest was Spy x Family, next Chainsaw Man but holy, I only have two manga series I've been reading that don't have an anime adaption (although Witch Hat Atelier has an anime announcement from last year, so probably only another couple until that happens.) Although I would love to see J.C. Staff animate a Dungeon Meshi anime.

I think going into 2023 I'm going to look for more non-fiction books to check out as that seems to be an area I'm greatly lacking in.

[dendrograna]

Respite Hereafter Pt. IV

im gonna be 100% w yall i would not have continued this if it weren't for @nicebonescomrade's drabble they wrote based off RH

everyone say thank you bones for giving me a turn with the Brain Writing Juice

tw:// past violence/trauma mention

The world you’d descended into was… not the Teyvat you’d known and loved.

As it had been described to you, this Teyvat experienced an event they called the Creator’s “Descending” several thousand years ago, an event even Zhongli failed to remember. Somehow, another "powerful deity" had managed to invade Teyvat, bending its very fabric to their will. Teyvat's history was entirely rewritten, now including this "creator" sitting on their throne for eons and eons. There was no telling how long they'd actually been there, but they might as well have descended several millennia ago as they made their followers believe.

And after a few thousand years of being socialized to act, think, and feel the way the impostor wanted… Getting out of it wasn’t exactly easy for them. All of Teyvat had been frog-boiled so hard they truly, honestly believed what that impostor said, and it nearly made them kill their true creator.

You tried your hardest to hold your tongue when you were in their presence, carefully choosing your words so as to not make them fear you more than they already did. Oftentimes you would travel throughout the nations, and every time you entered a new city, someone was there with an “offering” for you. Liyue was often the worst about this, Ningguang struggling to give up the old habit she had with your impostor, which naturally spread to her people.

Whether you’d simply gone to Mondstadt for a few days or you’d been traveling for months, there were gifts waiting for you when you returned to Liyue. You’d already ordered all of their temples be demolished, so instead these people would meet you at the edge of the city to give them to you personally.

It’s a very sweet gesture, and you can’t be mad at them when they’re only trying to make you happy! Yet… with each beautiful jade pendant or sweet-smelling bottle of perfume or fine silk clothing set they pressed into your hands… the horrible feelings of guilt and embarrassment only grew in your stomach. These people were so happy to see you, even if you’d just been gone a few days, and you couldn’t help but feel bad for dreading walking into Liyue Harbor.

You often berated yourself for how overwhelmed you were, especially in moments like this. If anyone else were put in your position, plucked out of their average life and placed on this "holy" pedestal, surely they would get exhausted too! But not you, never you. You're their god, you're not a person like them. You often wonder if they even see you as a person, or just an idolized statue with the capacity to kill. That kind of exhaustion is strictly a human concept, so of course they can't imagine their god dragging themself back home after being showered with praise, laying in silence for several hours until they can fall asleep. The situation that'd been dumped in your lap was more than you could handle, especially completely alone like this.

That's how you ended up here, spending a night at Wangshu Inn with your bodyguards before heading south toward the Harbor. You'd intentionally asked to take a detour to Qingce Village, stalling your return until it was "too late" to get there before nightfall. Your guards didn't question you or try to convince you otherwise, of course, so you checked in a few rooms for the night.

It must've been at least two or three in the morning when you snuck out to the balcony. Very rarely did you have any time to yourself like this, so you basked in the silence nighttime brought with it.

You'd become very well acquainted with everyone you recognized, The Crux fleet in particular as they often helped you reach Inazuma. Beidou was one of very few people willing to joke around with you, offering you a drink not as some holy offering, but as a friend might to another. You'd also gotten to know Heizou fairly well, who read you like a damn book. Almost everyone approached you, eager to earn your favor. All except one.

"Xiao?" you whispered, hoping not to wake anyone.

The man appeared in a puff of smoke on the balcony, kneeling with his face tilted toward the floor and his spear tight in his hand. He didn't say a word.

You took a step forward and knelt to look at him, placing one hand on his face and guiding him upward. “You don’t have to kneel like that anymore, y’know,” you mumbled, helping him to his feet. He only nodded.

“You’re the only one I haven’t met yet,” you said, leaning against the railing. “Since I’m here, I thought I’d drop by and say hello. I hope I’m not disturbing you…” Xiao shook his head.

“Hey, why aren’t you saying anything?” you asked. “You know you can talk to me, right? I’m not like them, you don’t have to do that.”

“…If that’s what you want, Your Grace,” he finally said, hand still gripping his spear tight. “What do you need from me?”

“Oh, I just wanted to finally meet you,” you said. “I’ve met everyone else so far except for you. If I'm interrupting your work, you don't have to stay."

"You came all the way out here just to... talk to me?" he asked, finally putting his spear away. "Why are you interested in me when there's a million other people throwing themselves at you, begging for your attention?" There was a bitter twinge to his voice, mostly undetectable if you hadn't noticed the way his eyebrow twitched downward as he spoke.

"Well, I thought it'd be nice to get to know you," you mumbled. "I know I'm not supposed to have favorites, but you've always been one."

Xiao sighed and leaned an arm against the balcony's railing. "You really aren't like them, huh..." he muttered to himself.

"What? Did they not like you or something?" you asked.

Xiao closed his eyes as he thought of his next words. "I am a Yaksha. I was created to kill, and it's all I'm good at. I'm a breathing weapon, and they treated me as such," he said. "They didn't like nor dislike me, not that it matters. I did what they told me to and that's where that ended."

"That's why you wouldn't say anything to me earlier, isn't it?" you asked. "You expected me to give you an order for you to follow and that be the end of it." He nodded.

Xiao sighed and crossed his arms. He'd heard the chatter about an "impostor," he'd seen the celebrations down in the Harbor, he'd somewhat overheard what was going on. The person they believed was the creator was actually another being entirely, similar to the creator, but definitely not the creator. Their blood gushed the same dull red as everyone else's, and the "impostor" they'd ordered Mondstadt's Knights to execute bled rivers of gold when hurt. The impostor was actually in Liyue at the time, and Zhongli dealt with them himself. Other than that, he had no idea what you were really like.

"Sometimes people still try to bow when I go somewhere," you said. "It just... It really upsets me how horribly you were treated. Of course I understand them being a little cautious of me, but... I figured word would've gotten around by now that I'm not like that..."

"What could possibly motivate someone to be so cruel?" you ask to yourself. "Every person I've talked to has had some kind of traumatic experience with them or their cult, and it makes me feel sick."

Xiao shrugged. "I don't think anyone knows but them."

You chuckled a bitter laugh. "Yeah, but the dead can't exactly spill their secrets."

Xiao stared at you for a moment, a concerned look on his face. "Your Grace... Did Mondstadt ever tell you what happened with them?" he asked, gloved hands gripping the rail. You shook your head.

He took a deep breath and looked away from you, out at the fields surrounding Wangshu Inn.

"They're not dead, Your Grace... They're being kept alive."

@transpostsblog @laurafaye13-blog @karmawonders @samsmidnightthonks @uchihaerin @peachytears11 @fuyu11037 @lukerycyja @sweetsandwichgardener

(if you'd like to be added/removed from the taglist, please lmk !!)

[5-seconds-of-fuck-me-please]

I Do. (Post 1/2) (part 1 of ?)

Ashton.

"I just want a nice, normal guy to sweep me off my feet, and support my carmel vanilla coffee addiction. Is that so much to ask?!"

My best friend gave me an amused glance before dropping her gaze back towards her phone. I swear, that girl could hold two conversations face to face, surf facebook, and hold a buisness Skype call, all at the same time. A.D.D., they name is Rae.

"I've set you up on five dates so far, and you havent lasted longer then ten minutes with any of them," she countered. "So how about this...you tell me your dream guy, and I'll work off of that."

I sighed, tapping my foot nervously against the metal rung of the coffee shop table. I was always fidgeting. Whether it was shaking my foot, drumming my nails along the table, or pacing aimlessly around, I was always moving.

"I don't know," I sighed out on a breath. Picking up my iced vanilla, butterscotch, and chai latte, I took a sip before responding. "Dont you know anyone that actually has a life?"

Rae glanced up at me, cocking an eyebrow. "A life? Like, the other 5 were dead?"

I groaned. "The first guy had the ambition of a goldfish. Second guy wanted me to move into his mother's basement with him. Third guy was perfectly content to be a cashier th erest of his life and didnt want to even think about making more than minimum wage or he would loose government assistance.....shall I go on?"

Rae gave a throaty chuckle, causing three random guys to stop their conversations and look her way. She just had that way about her.

"Tell you what," she mused out loud. "Since the last five was a complete disaster, and I thought they would have been perfect for you, the next guy I pick will be the one who I think you'll hate the most. So.... Here's what I want from you. You pick what you want him to wear. You pick if you want flowers or not. And you pick the place to meet for drinks, dinner, movie...whatever. deal?"

I thought about it for a moment, the shrugged. "Fine. I want to come here. This coffee shop. No flowers. No expectations. I'll even pay for the both of our drinks. But he has to have a job. A good job. Or at least have a goal in mind," I amended.

Rae nodded. "Tell me more. Actually, tell me your dream. What's your fantasy date for this coffee. Close your eyes and describe the guy to me. What is he wearing. What does he look like. What is he drinking?"

I laughed, but saw the amusement in her eyes. Deciding to play along, I closed my eyes and tilted my head slightly back.

"White button down shirt with the sleeves rolled back a bit. Nice jeans, probably faded with a hole in the leg," I laughed out. "Gorgeous smile because he laughs a whole lot and has an amazing sense of humor. Eyes that are kind and sparkle. Shaggy hair that probably falls into his eyes...." I trailed off.

"Sounds like quite the catch," Rae laughed out on a breath. She sounded amused, which kind of worried me a bit.

I opened my eyes and glanced at her. "Why do you sound like you just ate a canary?"

Rae's eyes sparkled as she tried to suppress a smile. "I know who would be perfect for you, and...he should be here in about two minutes."

My jaw dropped to the floor. "What?! Theres no way you could have called someone and set it up so fast. You had this planned!" I shrieked. Not because she set me up, but because she didnt warn me.

I was dressed in my -I dont give a shit, today is my day off- clothes. A pair of faded dark grey sweatpants with a hole in the left knee, dark green jumper with a faded brand logo running down the arm, and hair unbrushed and tossed into a messy bun. Plus I was still wearing yesterdays makeup which had faded to a lovely raccoon inspired look.

"This wasnt a setup," she argued lovingly, tossing her hands up to her side quickly. "Swear it. You know i was meeting a few friends here today. One of them would be perfect for you."

I eyed her warily. "The so-called friends that are mysteriously out of the country doing something tha you refuse to tell me, along with their names? The ones who you are best friends with...yet I know nothing about, and we have been best friends since middle school?!" I mused, scrunching my nose up at the thought.

Granted, my and Rae are best friends for over 15 years now, but there was a random 2 year period where were were heavily into the party and drug scene. We kinda split ways and didnt talk for 2 years, then both of us, separately, decided to get our lives in order and somehow reconnected as if nothing had happened.

Strange how life works out.

"They aren't...." I trailed off.

"They were, " she nodded. "Not anymore tho. I used to hang out and binge with them tho. They cleaned their lives up as well. Just took them longer."

I nodded, glancing down at my almost empty iced coffee as I dragged my nails along the styrofoam, making patterns on the cup. "I'm willing to give it a go I guess. Coffee never hurt anyone, right?"

"Right," she agreed, glancing down once again to her phone to resume whatever multi-conversation she was having.

I didnt realize until a few minutes later that I was humming and singing along the the songs playing over the cafe speakers.

"Do you like this band?" She asked randomly, not taking her focus from her phone.

"Love them," I remarked, not really paying attention. "I just got their new album yesterday actually."

She made a small chuckle. "Let me guess then...you were always a guitar or lead singer chick. So.... Luke?"

I grinned, breaking my gaze away from all the pretty little designs my nails etched into my now empty coffee cup. " Usually , yes you would have been correct. And while he is hot, as is the othe guitarist...my heart lies elsewhere in the band."

"Bassist?" She chanced, finally placing her phone down and looking up. Her eyes darted over my shoulder, then came back to focus on my face. A grin broke out, smile so wide it reminded me of the Cheshire cat.

"Um, nooo," I drawled. "I actually seemed to be drawn to.....why the hell are you staring a time like that?!" I asked, breaking the conversation. "You look fucking creepy."

Her eyes seemed to dart over my shoulder again to where the cashier counter was, then back to me again. "So the drummer then?" She mused, not bothering to hide the grin. "You have a thing for the drummer?"

I continued to stare at her, trying to puzzle out what the hell was making her act so weird. "Yeah...?" I dragged out.

"Hmmm, and why would that be? I'm honestly curious. Usually you always go for the guitar rock-God type for looks."

I cocked my head to the side. "You really want an answer?"

Rae grinned again. Nodding her head emphatically. "Oh yes. Please, by all means."

I shrugged, taking the last small sip from my coffee. "He always seemed the most put together. Knows how to laugh, but always seems polite. Has an amazing voice, but would rather be in the background playing his heart out. And he gives out total Daddy vibes," I joked. "Plus, he is seriously hot. They all are in that band actually."

Rae burst out laughing, covering her mouth with both hands. I swear, tears started to form in her eyes.

I just stared at her. "Seriously Rae, what has gotten into you today?! What's so funny?"

Her eyes darted behind me once again, but this time she nodded. I didnt even have a chance to turn around to see what she was looking at before an arm snaking over my shoulder, placing a styrofoam cup in front of me.

"You can call me Daddy if you feel the need to, but I prefer Ashton on a first date," a voice said.

I closed my eyes tightly, slowly opening them as panic filled me. My eyes traveled from the coffee, up to a bare forearm dusted in dark golden hair, to a shoulder and chest that had a white button shirt...sleeves rolled back.

Damn, but did Rae tell him how to dress?

He smirked at my dazed expression, while Rae finally got herself under control. "I didnt tell him," she rasped out, still trying to hide the amusement as she spoke. " He really was randomly dressed like that to come here."

Ashton raised a brow as he pulled up a chair, leaning over to give Rae a quick one-armed hug before sitting on the chair backwards between us.

He reached over, palm up while smiling at me. "She did however, demand that I randomly walk in and order you a vanilla butterscotch coffee without even telling me your name, or why I was buying you one. I'm being set up on a date, I take it?" He questioned again, glancing to Rae for affirmation before looking back at me, then down to his still extended hand. "Do I get a name? Or should I introduce myself again?"

I shook my head, trying to snap out of the surreal experience going on. Placing my hand in his, I cleared my throat. "You're Daddy, right?" I smirked, trying to fight the blush rising on my face. God, but do I hope he can take the joke.

His face split into a grin, laugh bursting out of his lips. "I like her," he chuckled, looking over to Rae. " This one actually knows what a joke is."

I grinned at that as he looked back at me. "I take it that Rae has tried setting you up before as well?" I questioned.

He nodded, a faint smile still gracing his lips. "One girl who decided living in her car way her dream goal. One who only ate foods that were yellow. And one who wanted to be a psychologist because she didnt understand how people laughed or why we smile at things."

My eyes went wide. "Wow. And here I thought I had it bad with the guy who only showered on days it rained cause that's how the bathtub got refilled."

Ashton let out another bark of laughter, breaking eye contact to speak to Rae once again. " You suck at setting people up. You know that?"

She raised a brow at that, stopping her cup of coffee in mid air before she could take a sip. "Oh, so should I not have introduced the two of you?" She asked, feigning a look of hurt. "And here I thought you were getting along fairly well."

Ashton shook his head. "Are you kidding me? this girl is horrible! Wont tell me her name, wont call me by mine, and she laughs at everything I say!" He rambled out. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, but he didnt stop looking at her.

"And he isnt the greatest catch either, " I added. "Eavesdropped a private conversation, assumed I wanted him to pay for something. I didn't ask for without asking me. And he wont let me go," I added, flicking my gaze down to our still entwined hands.

Rae nodded, a huge, fake sight escaping past her parted lips. " okay, I give up. Sorry to waste your time, Ash. I'll take her home and be back in a few minutes to catch up with you all. I assume the others are on the way?" She asked, standing up and motioning for me to follow.

Ashton shook his head. " They are on the way. But you cant take her."

Without warning, he turned and licked a wet line up my jaw. "I licked her. Shes mine now."

My jaw dropped open, but rae looked amused. "Are you gunna pee on her too?"

He turned to look at me finally, slightly swaying our hands back and forth. "Is that your kink?"

"What?! No! Why would you ask that?!"

He shrugged. "Well, I know you have a Daddy kink, just had to be sure."

"I do NOT have a Daddy kink!" I hissed out, trying to pull my hand out from his grasp. "And why the hell did you lick me?"

He was having none of it. Keeping hold of my hand, he slowly brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of my hand before finally releasing his hold. "Cause I wanted to see what you tasted like. Vanilla, I like it." He winked.

"You do have a daddy kink," Rae interjected, laughing through her words. "I'm going to go get another coffee and grab 2 other tables for the guys. You two enjoy yourselves."

Ashton glanced at me before looking at Rae. "If I did that, we would be arrested and barred from this shop."

I think my heart stopped. Was I breathing?

"Mind if I go grab myself a drink?"

I blinked, trying to focus on his face once again. "Didn't you just order one while you were up there?"

He shook his head. "Only ordered yours. I wasnt sure if I wanted to stay once she told me she had a girl with her for me to meet."

"And now you are sure you want to stay?" I questioned.

He smiled. A sweet smile that lit up his eyes. "I think you are fucking perfect."

I blushed at that. "Yeah, right. Cause messy girl with raccoon eyes in your kink, right?"

He gave me an amusing look. "Like a guy in jeans and a white shirt is yours?" He retorted. A small sigh left his lips as he pulled out his phone and scrolled through a few messages. Once he found what he was looking for, he stopped and put the phone down on the table in front of me.

Raelyn- her fantasy sounds like you, in a white button down and a pair of worn out skinny Jean's. Just get your asses here!

Ash-and you are so sure I would like her? I sisnt agree to another date with your wacky high maintenance friends. They just want a sugar daddy.

Raelyn- shes sitting here in pajamas, messy hair, and yesterdays makeup. And she insists on buying our coffees every week. Still wanna pass her up?

Ash- ....be there in 5.

Raelyn- get her a butterscotch vanilla iced coffee.

Ash- thought she didnt want people to buy her shit?

Raelyn- then get it for me.

Ash- do I have to buy flowers or anything?

Raelyn- only if you want her to hit you with them.

Ash- I like her already.

I glanced up at Ashton, a small smile gracing my face. "So I guess it's my turn to buy you a coffee?"

He shrugged, swinging his leg back over the chair to sit down backwards on it once again. "If you insist. Pick whatever you think I would like."

I grinned this time. " whipped cream, cherries, and handcuffs?" I joked.

He beamed at me. "Nah, that's the second date. And woulsnt you know it....you already know what to call me then," he teased.

I laughed, walking away to get him a drink. I slid up alongside Rae, elbowing her in the side gently. "Are the other three coming?"

She smiled at me. "Yeah, be here any minute."

The barista asked up for our orders, while I pushed Rae's card back towards her. "I got them."

"That's 7 drinks you are paying for today," she reminded me.

"Glad your good at math," I remarked. "You can get the next round. And if they like me as a friend and we hang out in the future we can all take turns. If not, then I get to say that they are forever indebted to me. Win-win I say."

She shrugged, but didnt argue. "Fair play, that. I'll go shove the tables together and be back to help you carry them all."

But it wasnt her who came back over when the order was ready. It was Michael.

"HI," he practically yelled, squeezing me in a tight bear hug. "I'm Michael. Or Mike. Whatever."

"You seem overly happy to meet a stranger, " I laughed out, hugging him back just as tight before letting go.

"You made ashton happy," he shrugged, a huge smile on his face. "Anyone who can make his smile in the first few minutes of meeting him...especially lately, deserves to be treated like the fucking queen they are."

My brows shot up at that. "I'm a queen now. High praise. Does that make you the court jester?" I asked, handing him a cardboard tray with 4 drinks in it.

He grinned. "Sure. Anything else you wish me to carry, m'lady?"

I laughed and gave a curtsey. "Not at this time, good sir. Go forth and conquer the bistro que!"

Michael laughed, draping an arm across my shoulder while walking back to the now full tables. He set his 4 drinks down, then took one out of my hand and gave it to Rae before distributing the 4 he had.

"They're marked, and we all drink the same shit every time we go out," he explained. "The one you have is the only one I dont recognize so I assumed it is yours."

I shook my head and resumed my seat next to Ashton, with Luke next to me on the other side now. Michael and Calum were sat across from me. "Its for Ashton actually. He bought me my coffee and forgot to get his own."

"Trying to ditch her," Calum asked.

"Nope." Ashton stated. Simple. Direct. One word.

"Finally found a girl that will put up with your crazy-ass for longer than 10 minutes?" Like remarked.

"Gunna marry this one, mate," Ashton laughed out.

"Shit, you move fast," Michael snorted. "And here I was being engaged for over a year already. What am I doing wrong?"

"You actually asked your fiancee," Luke answered. "Ashton will just be standing in front of the magistrate with a blowup doll."

Everyone laughed, including me Ashton fake pouted, poking me in the side before lacing his fingers through mine. My heart gave a little flitter, but I didnt pull away.

"Come on, Love, you're supposed to defend our relationship!"

I chuckled. "Yes sir. Would you like to get married now, sir? I think I still have my old bicycle pump in my garage if you need it. And some duct tape in case your fiancee gets a hole."

He threw his head back and laughed, tightening his grip on my hand. Not hard, but in acknowledgment that it was a good laugh. "Fuck the lot of you."

"Damn, already cheating on me. And with three other men no less," I crooned, pouting my lips.

That caused another round of laughter.

"I think I'm in love with your girlfriend, " Calum huffed out. "She knows how to give back shit we dish out."

"Dont be hitting on my wife," Ashton fake growled. "I worked hard on this relationship!"

"Oh yeah? What's her name?" Rae jumped in, bemused laughter lacing each word.

A slow silence fell across the table, followed by abrupt laughter for everyone.

"Oh. My. God. You didnt even ask her what her name is yet?!" Michael bellowed, tears forming in his eyes. "I can see it now. The priest standing there like do you take this girl for your wife? And you being like, who's that?"

"Fuck all of you," Ashton gasped out through laughter again. "I'm gunna marry her one day and then shes gunna kick your asses for making fun of me."

I grinned, reaching over to poke my finger into his dimple. "Yeah? I'll kick their asses for you if you ask, darling." I agreed. "Just as soon as you get my attention and ask me. Oooh, right. You can't. Dont know my name," I beamed.

He threw back his head and chuckled. "Fuck you too, sweetheart," he remarked, leaning over to place a quick kiss to my cheek.

"Only if you scream my name out while you do," I joked.

"Fuck, but do I love a smart mouth," he agreed.

The conversation flowed easily. Two more rounds of drinks were bought over the course of a few hours, until the cafe was getting ready to close.

We all agreed to meet up next weekend, have enjoyed each others company and realizing the six of us were going to be amazing friends.

"Can we bring our girls next week?" Luke asked.

"Hell yeah " I agreed readily. "Me and Rae need all the help we can get against you four."