#this reminds me of the stores near the beach I go to

[2amriize]

can i request when bsf riize accidentally confesses to u. It could be thru a kiss too !

i love ur writings theyre amazing!!

tysm love ♥

˚⟡˖ when they accidentally confess to you — RIIZE

ᡣ𐭩 masterlist

note! i loved this request sm!!! it took me a while to think about how each would confess, but i enjoyed writing it! ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა also, i think this is my longest post, so i hope you like!

genre fluff, angst ?

pairing bsf!riize x reader

ᯓ★ SHOTARO

As you did every week, you and Shotaro had planned to go downtown to browse shops and buy things. It was a plan you religiously followed every week, as it was the only time you could see each other. Shotaro had been your best friend since high school, but now that you had both grown up, you were busier and couldn’t see each other as often as before.

You usually followed the same route through the stores to see the new things they had, but that day, a new accessory shop that had just opened caught your attention. You knew Shotaro loved accessories, so you both decided to go in.

Shotaro headed to the sunglasses section, as he loved collecting them. You, on the other hand, went to check out the keychains since you also loved collecting the cute ones. You couldn’t help but smile when you saw some otter keychains, which reminded you of Shotaro, as he looked so much like an otter. He approached you, and you showed him the keychain you had found, to which he laughed.

"Do you want me to buy one for you?" he asked while looking at the selection.

"Mmm, if you choose one for me, then yes."

He started looking through the keychains and approached some couple’s keychains with a smile. Seeing this, you walked over to him. "These would be perfect for us" he murmured.

"Shotaro, those are for couples," you said, laughing.

"Oh, are they? And why aren’t we one?" he whispered the last part before moving to another section of the store.

ᯓ★ EUNSEOK

You and your friends had organized a trip to spend a couple of days in an apartment near the beach. At first, you weren’t too excited about going, but when you saw that your best friend Eunseok was going, you agreed. At least if you got bored, you knew he would always make a joke that would make you laugh instantly.

You spent the days at the beach, sunbathing, playing some games, and swimming in the sea, but finally, the last night had arrived. You were lying in your bed when Eunseok knocked on your door.

"Do you want to go for a walk? The beach looks beautiful at night," he asked, and you quickly agreed.

A few minutes later, you were both walking along the beach, talking about random things as you always did. Noticing that you were shivering from the cold, Eunseok took off his hoodie and offered it to you.

"You always forget to bring something warm... how can you be so clumsy?" he said while draping his hoodie over your shoulders. You laughed softly as you zipped it up. After walking for a while, you stopped and sighed, "Can we sit for a few minutes?" you asked, and Eunseok nodded.

You both sat in silence, watching and listening to the waves before you. You loved being at the beach at night. You really liked the sound of the sea, and it was the only thing you could hear. You leaned back on your elbows and closed your eyes, enjoying the sound.

"The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?" you heard Eunseok say. Opening your eyes, you realized he was looking at you with a smile. You sat up and looked at the sky, but there was no moon visible that night.

"Eunseok, there’s no moon tonight."

He simply sighed and let out a small laugh; "That’s not what I meant..."

"Then what? You’re just talking nonsense again..."

"No, y/n, what I mean is this," he said as he leaned in and gave you a soft kiss on the lips.

ᯓ★ SUNGCHAN

"What’s that game?"

"Haven’t you heard of it? The two people the bottle points to have to spend 5 minutes locked in a closet together," Seunghan answered as he placed the bottle in the center of the circle you had formed with your friends. What was so fun about spending 5 minutes locked in a dark closet with someone? Even though it didn’t seem like a fun game to you, you agreed to join, sitting next to your best friend Sungchan.

"Seriously, you’ve never heard of this game?" he asked, looking at you, to which you shook your head several times. "You’re so innocent about some things..."

You and Sungchan had known each other since you were kids, as your families were inseparable. You had spent many vacations with him, so for a long time, you had considered him your best friend.

The bottle started spinning and, to your surprise, it landed on you.

"Now spin it to see who you’ll spend the time with," Seunghan said, and you nodded and spun the bottle. When you saw that it landed on Sungchan, you sighed, preferring that over being paired with someone you weren’t as close to. But when you looked at him, he didn’t seem as happy as you; in fact, he looked quite serious.

"Sungchan…?" you murmured as you stood up. He seemed lost in thought until he heard you. After a few seconds, he looked at you and got up, walking toward the closet.

"Alright then, see you in 5 minutes, guys," Seunghan said before closing the closet door.

The situation was a bit awkward, as you didn’t talk during the first minute. What was wrong with Sungchan?

"It’s too quiet..." you finally said. "I can hear your breathing, even your heartbeat," you laughed softly, hoping Sungchan would laugh too, but all you heard was his breathing. Why was he so quiet?

Your hands reached out to touch his body in the dark to make sure he was there, bumping into his arms, and you noticed how he flinched.

"You scared me..." he finally spoke, to which you laughed.

"Why are you so quiet? It’s scary to be in the dark and be the only one talking..."

"Sorry, I was thinking about other things." Before you could ask him what, Seunghan’s voice from outside interrupted; "You have only one minute left."

"Oh, well, at least it’s almost over," you said, hearing Sungchan sigh. Your hands were still on his arms, and you noticed how he was getting closer to you.

You felt him take your face in his hands, and the next thing you knew, his lips were pressing against yours. You squeezed his arms, a bit confused. After a few seconds, he pulled back slightly and whispered against your lips, "Sorry, I’ve been wanting to do that for a while..."

ᯓ★ WONBIN

You were at Wonbin’s house, both of you lying on one side of the sofa, scrolling through your phones. It had become a common thing to go to his house after your classes, not to do anything in particular. After so many years, you had enough trust between you to just hang out and do nothing.

While you were looking through Instagram stories, you saw that Wonbin had posted a new one where he was with several of his friends. You looked at it closely, focusing specifically on one of his friends. You sat up a bit and moved closer to him to ask.

"Wonbin, who’s this?"

The guy, still lying down, looked at your phone. "Him? That’s Anton, a friend from my group. He’s really nice."

"Oh, and he’s cute too..." you murmured as you continued looking at the photo. "Would you give me his number?"

Wonbin quickly looked at you and then, after a few seconds, shook his head several times, to which you complained, "Why not?"

"Because... he’s a bad guy."

"Wonbin, you just said he’s nice. How can you change your mind so fast?" He just sighed, ignoring you, so you moved closer to him. "Come on, Wonbin, he’s too cute. I need to talk to him."

"No, never."

"Why not?"

"He’s not the kind of guy I want you to date," he said, still looking at his phone.

"Oh, so you have a kind of guy you want me to date?" you said, laughing. "And who is that?"

"Me."

ᯓ★ SEUNGHAN

"Agh, how is it that everyone has a couple now? It’s not fair..." you said as you picked up your coffee from the table.

You had arranged to meet your best friend Seunghan for a drink at a café, but you couldn’t help but notice all the couples sitting around you, showing everyone how much they loved each other.

It had been a while since you had a partner, as your last relationship hadn’t ended well. You had taken some time to be alone, but seeing so many people in relationships made you want to be in one again.

"When will someone love me...?" you sighed, taking a sip of your coffee.

"Don’t be so dramatic, y/n," you heard Seunghan’s laugh as he looked at you, shaking his head.

"Seunghan, I’m serious. No one has shown any interest in me in all these years. What if no one ever loves me?"

Seunghan looked at you intently from his chair in silence. How could you not see that the person who liked you the most was right in front of you? He always looked at you so lovingly, but you just never noticed. You were always looking at everyone around you except him.

"What if I end up alone?"

"You won’t be alone, y/n, trust me."

"Yeah, well, how can you be so sure?"

"Well, I’ll always be here."

"Yeah sure, but I want someone that loves me in a romantic way, Seunghan."

"Well then, let’s date."

You almost spit out your coffee when you heard that.

"What?"

"Let’s date, y/n. You’re the one I like. It’s always been you."

ᯓ★ SOHEE

You loved going to parties with Sohee. Every time you went to a party and he was there, you had a great time. He would turn into a complete extrovert after a few drinks, dancing and hyping everyone up.

And Sungchan's house party was no exception. Sungchan was a mutual friend and quite popular, so his parties were always packed. While you were grabbing something to eat in the kitchen, you bumped into a guy you didn't know. He apologized several times, and you two started a conversation since he noticed you were wearing a t-shirt from one of his favorite bands.

After hours of dancing and jumping around, Sohee was about to enter the kitchen when he saw you and that guy talking and laughing in a corner. He froze. After a few seconds, he turned around and walked away from the kitchen door.

The truth was, you really liked that guy. You had a lot in common, so you ended up giving him your number to chat later, as you urgently needed to find the bathroom. You said goodbye and left the kitchen, searching for the bathroom in one of the hallways of Sungchan's house.

As you passed by the door to Sungchan's room, you heard Sohee's voice inside. What were they doing? You quietly approached and pressed your ear close to the door to listen to what they were saying.

"So, you don't know who he is?" you heard Sohee say, sounding a bit nervous.

"No idea, bro, I think he's a friend of Jaehyun's..."

"Ah..."

"But what does it matter? y/n isn't dating anyone, right?"

"No, she's not. But I wouldn't be happy if she was, especially not with a guy I don't know..."

"What's wrong with that, Sohee?"

"Because... because I like her."

ᯓ★ ANTON

You were incredibly upset. You had a crush on a guy for months and finally mustered the courage to confess. To your surprise? He rejected you, but not only that, he said some really hurtful things like, "You think you could be with someone like me?"

You couldn't help but start crying as soon as your best friend Anton showed up at your door. He immediately came over, wrapping you in his arms and gently stroking your hair. You stayed like that for a few minutes, saying nothing, until you finally calmed down and were crying a bit less.

You lifted your gaze and met Anton's, who was looking at you with a small comforting smile.

"Are you feeling better now?" he whispered as he wiped away the tears still falling from your cheeks, and you nodded. He looked at you for a few more seconds before sighing. "How could he say things like that to you? If I saw him right now..."

Seeing Anton getting angry made you let out a small laugh. You had never seen Anton angry before, and honestly, he looked really cute.

"It's okay now, Anton… maybe it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have confessed in the first place," you murmured, lowering your head a bit.

"How can you say that? It’s not your fault, y/n. He doesn’t deserve to be with you. I can assure you there are people who would give anything to be with you."

A small smile appeared on your face as you listened to his words. "Yeah, sure... and where are those people?" You noticed how Anton gently caressed your cheek and lifted your chin a little to meet your eyes. Unexpectedly, he leaned in, leaving a kiss on your lips before whispering against them, "Well, right here."

[louloulemons-posts]

Old Bear Diner

Cook!Eddie Munson XFem!Waitress!Reader

Summary : Reader becomes a waitress at a diner where a cook named Eddie works.

Word Count : 5.8k

Warnings : Not proofread, rambly, swears, use of Y/N, original characters, petnames, cuteness, reader gets hurt, douchebag customer, parent loss, grumpy eddie, sunshine reader, fluff, idiots in love, i haven’t wrote a fic this long in a while.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Mom I’m home,” you spoke, as you locked the door behind you. Sliding your feet out of your shoes and hanging your jacket up, you found her.

Face lay on the table, pen in hand and eyes closed. Letters, notices, bills. Just a whole bunch of paperwork lay on the table, it’d been like this for a while. Since your dad got sick. Then he was gone.

“Mom,” you whispered, shaking her lightly. She groaned, body wriggling as she woke up, “Mom go to bed.”

“I’m awake.”

“I know, but go and rest now. I’ll put this away.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, rubbing her eyes. “Yeah.”

“How was work?”

“It was fine, the kids were golden.”

“Good I’m glad. You’ve got dinner in the microwave.”

“Thank you. Now go get some rest,” you said, kissing her cheek. “You’re such a good girl. Goodnight honey.”

“Night mom.”

And that’s how life had been for the last 18 months of your life. Just you and your mom. You sighed, walking over to the table. Stacking up the papers and putting them away.

There wasn’t much mess, your mom had been working all day and you’d been out most of the night. She was a nurse, and you had about any job you could get.

After quickly eating your dinner you picked up a few pieces of washing, swilled your plate and went up to bed. You babysat for a couple people in the neighbourhood, and sure they were fine, but one of the little ones came down with something and was near inconsolable.

Your bed was like heaven, after taking off your jeans you didn’t even bother to swap into pyjamas, falling to sleep as soon as your head hit the pillow.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Morning mom,” you said, kissing her head as you walked passed. There was a plate of scrambled eggs and toast, along with a cup of coffee waiting for her. “Morning, where are you off too?”

“Oh I’m just about to go clean Mrs Harris’, her daughters out of town and she said she’d pay me good. Plus she’s a sweet woman so.” You mom sighed, taking a drink of her coffee.

“What did we say about taking more jobs?”

“Mom come on, it’s not a big deal. It’s just one time.”

“You said that about the babysitting and the store and the tutoring.”

“Mom-“

“You need to take care of yourself.”

“So do you. Do you have a shift today?”

“No.”

“Great, I’ll pick up some movies from Robbies work and then we can have a day together.”

“Honey,” she sighed.

“I gotta go mom, love you.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“You are an Angel,” Mrs Harris smiled as you placed a mug in front of her, taking one of your own in your hands. “Thank you for doing this for me, Anna had this holiday booked for months.”

You hummed taking a sip of the drink, “I bet the kids were excited.”

“You have no idea! Bouncing off the walls telling me all about it yesterday.”

“Well the beach is exciting.”

“It is, now how about you? How’s your mom?”

“We’re good, you know,” you shrugged.

“Hm, I do know. You remind me of myself and Anna when we lost Paul,” she smiled fondly at the thought of her husband.

“We’re just trying to learn how to do this all without him.”

“Of course. I found something for you actually,” she smiled, walking to her fridge. Pulling a piece of paper from under a magnet she passed it over.

“I saw it in the grocery store, thought it’d be better than you doing 20 different jobs a week. You could just stick to 2,” she joked. It was a slip for wanted workers at a diner. Waitressing staff.

“Thank you.”

“Of course Honey, now you get going. Enjoy your day with your mom,” she smiled, nodding you took the flyer with you. “Let me know if you need me to come and clean again.”

The woman chuckled, shaking her head waving goodbye as you headed to your car. You knew the diner, you drove past it going to and from jobs, you’d just never stopped by.

You’d have to pass it on the way to Family Video anyway, so there was no harm in asking.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

It wasn’t too busy in the diner, there were people dotted around, some groups, some alone. Some eating, some not. It seemed like a great place to people watch, to see so many people from different places, with different lives.

Walking up to the counter you smiled at an older woman, crows feet by her eyes, flecks of grey through her dark hair, but her eyes shone, young and playful. “Hiya Honey what can I get for you?”

“Hi, I actually came to ask about the waitressing position, is it still available?”

“It certainly is, have you got any experience?”

“I’ve had a couple different jobs, I worked at a cafe during summer break. I’ve worked cleaning jobs, with kids, in retail.” The woman hummed, nodding, “Well the shifts would change, you’d have to do 4 or 5 a week.”

“I can do that.”

“You’d serve customers, do waitressing, help in the kitchen if needed, cleaning.”

“Of course.”

“Okay, if you leave your name and number we can call and talk about you having a test day and we’ll see how we go.”

“Thank sounds great.” She slid a writing pad and a pen across the counter to you, disappearing to refill someone’s coffee.

“Liz, order up,” you heard a male voice speak from the back.

Two plates of delicious looking food was placed on the window out to the front, but the chef themself wasn’t visible. The woman moved quickly, weaving around stools and booths, taking the plates to a couple at the far end of the diner.

You’d imagine that they’d all know each other forever, the way they spoke like old friends. The woman, Liz, made her way back over to you, taking the pen and pad back.

“We’ll give you a call,” she smiled.

“Thank you.” She nodded giving you a wink and you were on your way.

You could only hope you’d get this job, 4 or 5 shifts a week would be great, then you could have room for a couple of odd babysitting jobs and still keep the house clean for your mom. All you had to do was actually get it.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

You dried your hands with a towel, leaving the dirty dishes to air dry before you put them away. Dinner was cooking on the stove, and your mom would soon be home.

The music of your radio hummed with static, the station hiding the silence of the house. That was until the loud sound of the phone ringing overpowered it.

“Hello?” you answered.

“Hi, is this Y/N Y/L/N?”

“Speaking.”

“Hi there honey, this is Liz from the Old Bear Diner. I’m just calling about the waitressing job.”

“Right I see.”

“Well the position is yours if you want it, we’ll get you trained up.”

“What about the test day?”

“Well Mr Miller, the owner of the cafe you worked at, came here and when I mentioned you he couldn’t stop telling me how great of a worker you are.”

“That’s very kind. When would I start?”

“Wednesday if that’s possible, you’d start at 9am and finish at 5pm.” Quickly looking at the calendar you didn’t have any babysitting gigs, so it’d be perfect.

“Of course.”

“Great, I’ll be seeing you Wednesday Honey.”

“See you then.”

You couldn’t help grinning as you hung the phone back on the hook, taking dinner off the stove. Your mom found you dancing to the music on the radio, plating up your food.

“Good day?” she smiled, as you began to eat. “Mhm, definitely. How was work?”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Liz had shown you all the basics, how to use the till, where everything was stored, along with giving you a dark apron that sat around you waist.

“So when we have food orders, you hang them up here. Eddie will call when they’re ready, write the table numbers on the ticket if that’s easier for you,” she smiled.

“Right, is Eddie the chef?”

“Mhm, the one and only. You can also have anything off the menu for lunch, so just let him know and he’ll make it. I’ll introduce you now.”

Following her into the kitchen it was a lot of stainless steel counters, ovens, grills and deep sinks. “Eddie, got someone for you to meet,” Liz spoke, catching the taller man attention.

Turning to face you, you took him in. Dark curls, pulled back to sit in a bun at base of his neck, he was tall, lean but muscular, with tattoos dotted around his arms. His own apron sat around his waist, freckles and beauty marks decorated his face like his own personal constellation.

And his eyes, they were beautiful, like melted chocolate, you could very easily get lost in them. “Eddie this is Y/N our new waitress.”

“Nice to meet you,” you said softly, trying not to stair at the gorgeous man in front of you.

“You too. You shown her the basics?” he asked Liz. “Course I have, so be nice,” she warned, wagging her finger at him. “Always am.”

The older woman snorted, “You take that back, your uncle didn’t raise a liar.” This made Eddie smirk, smile lines and faint dimples appearing.

“Well we’ve got customers to serve, come on Honey.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Working at the diner was strangely something you looked forward to, something you enjoyed. Your mom wasn’t over the moon about it, worrying that you’d work yourself to sickness.

You were okay, you’d do your shifts go home, help around the house, spend time with your mom and still had time to do your babysitting gig. It worked out quite well.

“Morning Honey,” Liz smiled as you pushed through the door, “Morning.” You headed to the back, hanging up your jacket and your bag, tying your apron around your waist.

You walked past the kitchen, “Morning Eddie,” you called as you went, receiving a grunt of acknowledgment in return. He seemed nice enough, grumpy, but nice and beautiful - but you wouldn’t tell him that.

The diner was a 24 hour one so customers were already dotted around, it was a weekday so it was a lot of people travelling through, especially truckers.

“These are for table 4,” Liz smiled, handing you 2 warm drinks, nodding you went on your way. “Morning, I’ve got two hot chocolate.”

“Thank you,” an older man said, the younger one with him smiling slightly.

“Can I get you anything else?” you asked.

“Could we order some hot food?”

“Sure, let me just get a pad. I’ll be right back.”

Walking around the diner had become like a dance now, bouncing around the tables and chairs, back and fourth to the counter. “Eddie order for table 4,” you said, sticking the paper under a magnet.

Another grunt in acknowledgment, as the ticket was pulled down and into the kitchen.

“Morning Y/N,” a familiar voice spoke.

“Mr Connors, good morning. What can I get for you?”

“A tea for Cynthia,” he said, smiling over at his wife, “And a coffee for me.”

“I’ll bring them over.” The older man nodded, making his way to sit across the booth from his wife.

“25 years they’ve been coming here, and every time it’s like their first date all over again,” Liz said, sighing dreamily.

“Are you married?”

“Mhm, coming up to 15 years. Got a couple kids too, they mean the world to me. How about you Honey you got someone?”

You shook your head, “Now that does surprise me.”

“Why’s that?”

“I mean, look at you. You’re pretty girl.”

“Thank you,” you said shyly, “Honestly I’m just too busy.”

She nodded, filling up a mug with warm coffee and another with tea you heard an order called. “Order up.”

“I’ll take the drinks, you take the orders,”Liz said, sliding the mugs from the counters.

“Is this all of it?” you called over to Eddie, he turned half way so you could see the side of his face. He nodded and you moved quickly, feeling your face flush. Hoping that chatting with customers would take your mind off the beautiful man through the other room.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“I’ll see you later Liz,” you waved to the older woman, “Oh hang on Honey, I’ve got something to ask you.” You stopped in your tracks, car keys in hand.

“Do you think you could do the night shift on Friday?”

“I’ll have to check my calendar when I get home, I’ll call and let you know.”

“Okay, thanks Hun, you have a good night.”

You hadn’t done a night shift yet, Liz did a couple a week and Eddie seemed to live there, often taking doubles. Speaking of Eddie you raised your hand to wave goodbye, as he took a drag from his cigarette.

Nodding your way he let out a breath of smoke, sitting himself down on an old crate at the door. You climbed into your car and we’re on your way.

“Mom,” you called out when you entered the house. It was strangely quiet, her car was on the drive so she must be here. Hanging up your bag and jacket, you slid your shoes off.

Your feet padded across the floor, finding your mom on the couch. Her eyes closed, her chest moving up and down gently. “Mom?” you said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She was burning up, “Mom, come on let’s get you to bed.” She groaned as you helped her up, eyes barely opening as you took her to her room. “I’ll be back I’m just getting you some water.”

Taking a glass from the side of her bed you went to the bathroom, filling it with water and grabbing her some medication from the cupboard. “Here you go mom,” you said, helping her sit up.

Closing the curtains, the room was almost in darkness. “Was work okay?” she croaked out. “Yeah it was fine, they’ve asked me to do a night shift on Friday, gotta check the calendar.”

“You go do that honey, I’ll be okay.”

“Okay. You rest up, I’ll come and check on you later.” The woman hummed softly, snuggling down under her blanket and resting her head on the pillow.

Luckily Friday was free and you could take the shift, and your mom was off so she could rest and and get rid of whatever sickness this was. Dialling the number for the diner you waited for a few rings, a voice finally appearing.

“Old Bear Diner, how can I help?”

“Hi Eddie, it’s Y/N.”

“Oh hello, you alright?”

“Yeah was just calling to tell Liz I can do the Friday night shift.”

“Right, I’ll let her know.”

“Thank you.”

“Hm. See you Friday.”

“See you.” After hanging up you pressed your hand to your chest, how could a 20 second conversation do this to you.

You couldn’t even see him, it was just his voice. Dear god his voice. Get it together. He’s just a hot guy at work, would you find him hot outside of work? Probably not.

Okay that’s a total lie - grumpy metal head. Yes please.

You groaned placing your forehead on the cold wall, suddenly feeling the need for a hot shower.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay?”

“Honey go to work, it’s just a cold.”

“Fine, but you’ll call if you need me?”

“Of course I will now shift it, you’re going to be late,” your mom said, pulling you to the door.

“Drive safe, I love you.”

“Love you mom.”

Arriving at the diner it was already busy, but that made sense for a Friday night. You parked your car up and went in through the back, not wanting to squeeze your way past the customers.

Eddie was there, standing on a cigarette he was clearly finished with. “Hey,” you said.

“Hello.” He held the door open for you, letting you duck under his arm. You held your breath as you did so. How did he smell so nice?

“Is Liz here?” you asked.

“It’s her anniversary, so night off. So it’s us, May and Chris.” You hummed, May was older than you and Eddie, but Chris was around the same age.

“Okay well I’m gonna go and get sorted.” He hummed, heading back to the kitchen, but watching you go first. Soon enough you were out on the counter saying a quick hello to May and Chris.

“Evening,” the man smiled, dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. “How’s it going?”

“You know,” you shrugged. He looked like he was going to continue, but a group of teens sat down at a booth.

“I’ll go and sort them,” you smiled, grabbing a pad and pen from the counter. “Hiya guys what can I get for you?” And so the shift began.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

It was busy, manic even. When one table was dealt with another three seemed to need your attention. By 11pm your feet were burning. “Y/N, you can have your break now honey,” May spoke.

“You sure?”

“Mhm, grab something to eat, have a drink.”

Your shift would end at 5am, so keeping your energy was important. Nodding you headed to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water as you went.

Eddie turned slightly to see who was coming in, “Order?”

“Just mine.”

“What can I get for you?”

“Just some fries please.”

The man raised a brow at you,”That’s all you want?”

“Mhm.” He nodded, turning back to the grill, there were no tickets so it shouldn’t take too long. You opened your bottle of water, taking a swig.

“Go sit, I’ll bring it over.”

“You sure?”

“Do you know you ask that question about 50 times in a shift. I’m sure, go rest.”

You chuckled, pushing back into the main area, taking a seat on the furthest table. You head rested on your folded arms on the table, closing your eyes.

There was the faint sound of music playing from a jukebox, chatter, the sizzling of pans in the kitchen. It had become a soothing sound, a sound you were used too.

A few minutes passed, lightly dozing as you sat there. A hand pressed on your shoulder, “Hey.” Eddie.

“I’m awake.”

“I can see that. Eat up.” You rubbed your eyes, looking at the food on the table.

There was fries and a burger, “I only asked for-“

“I know. But you’re also falling asleep, so you need the energy. Eat up,” he said, offering you a tight lipped smile.

“Thank you.”

“Mhm. Eat.” You nodded, taking one of the fries, Eddie left you to it. Turning you head to watch him, you saw his eyes already on you.

Both of you looked away quickly, faces flushing. You tried to focus on your food, your shift would soon be over, then you wouldn’t see Eddie for a few days.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

It was finally the end of your shift and you were dead on your feet, you had no idea how the others did it. You threw your apron into your bag, sliding on your jacket and getting your car keys.

“See you later,” you waved to Liz who’d just arrived. “You get some rest Honey.” Heading out the back, you were met by Eddie, he stood by the wall smoking a cigarette.

“You heading out?” he asked.

“Mhm, I’ll see you Monday,” you replied, heading towards your car, feet heavy and eyes sore. “Y/N hang on.”

You turned to see Eddie, he threw the cigarette butt to the ground, “You’re dead on your feet, let me give you a ride.”

“It’s fine Eddie.”

“No it’s not, you look like you’re gonna fall asleep at the wheel. Come on we can even take your car, if you trust me.”

“Sure, but are you-“ he cut you off.

“Honestly, I’m sure. I don’t want you getting hurt. Now key,” he said, holding out his hand. You dropped them into his large palm without another word, heading to the passenger side.

“So where are we headed?” Eddie asked, you mumbled out your address, “Not too far then.”

“No not really. You really don’t have to do this.”

“Sweetheart, honestly it’s not a big deal.”

Holy fuck. Sweetheart. Oh my god. Your half asleep brain couldn’t deal with this.

“W-what about your van?”

“I’ll just walk back and pick it up, no big deal.”

“Eddie-“

“Shush.”

You sighed, knowing you weren’t going to win this fight. You sat quietly, it wasn’t awkward it was nice. It was a comfortable silence. Resting your head against the window, you heard Eddie pull out from the diner.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Hey, Sweetheart, wake up.” Eddies soft tone brought you back. “I’m awake.” A light chuckle came out, “I know you are. You’re home.”

Looking up you were parked outside your house, “Thank you,” you said.

“Anytime.” The pair of you climbed out of your car, Eddie placing the keys back in your hand.

“You get some rest okay?”

“Okay,” you mumbled, looking at your feet. “Sweetheart, seriously,” he lifted your face softly with his fingers, holding it so you’d meet his eye.

“How many jobs have you done this week?”

“Well … I did a couple shifts at the diner, then I babysat Holly Wheeler, then I helped out at the green grocers. That’s about it.”

“And then you’ve been coming home and cleaning? Making dinner?”

“My mom can’t do it all alone.”

“You don’t have to do it all either, you’re gonna make yourself sick.”

“I’m fine.”

“Seriously you need to rest. I’m gonna tell Liz to swap your Monday shift okay?”

“No! Eddie please I’m fine.”

“But you’re not.”

“I need the money, I need to help my mom.”

“Your mom is the parent this can’t all be on you.” You felt anger bubbling up in your stomach, an emotion you’ve never felt towards Eddie.

“Well hospital bills don’t pay themselves, my dads care won’t pay itself off. I need to help her or we loose everything and I won’t do that. So think what you want, but if I don’t work at the diner on Monday I’ll find somewhere else,” you said, pulling your face away from his hand.

“Thanks for the ride,” you slinked passed him, unlocking the front door, not even looking behind you as you went in.

“Shit,” the curly haired boy said to himself.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

You were back in the diner for your Monday shift, and maybe Eddie was right, maybe you were making yourself sick. On Saturday night you babysat some kids down the street. Then on Sunday you helped clean Mrs Harris’ house again, then came home to do your own.

“Order up,” Eddie called from the kitchen, you walked over taking the plates. “It’s for table 7.” You hummed in acknowledgement, heading over to the group.

It was 4 men, older than your mother, but younger than Liz. They seemed to be businessmen, you didn’t have a lot of those passing through here.

“I’ve got the waffles and bacon,” you spoke, sliding the plate in front of one of them. “Blueberry pancakes.” Another man raised his hand, “I’ll be back with yours in a second.”

“Take all the time you need Sweetcheeks,” one of the man said, his voice was sickly and you could feel his eyes on your behind as you walked back to the counter. You skin crawled at the feeling.

“Is this the last of it for 7?” You asked Eddie.

“Yeah, that’s all. You okay?” He questioned, you could see his furrowed brows through the window. “Yeah, fine.”

Turning you headed back to the men, “I’ve got scrambled eggs, bacon and hashbrowns.” You placed the plate down as quickly as you could without throwing it at the man. “And here’s the Old Bear special,” you said, to the creepy man.

“Thanks Sweetcheeks.”

“Can I get you anything else?”

“How about a top up?” he said, shaking his empty coffee cup. “Sure.”

Grabbing the jug of freshly brewed coffee you, took the mans mug, along with the others at the table, filling them up. “Can I get you anything else?” Please say no.

“Actually, I’d love a piece of you,” the man smirked, grabbing you by the waist and pulling you to him. This caused you to panic dropping the coffee jug, the glass exploded everywhere and the hot liquid splashed your skin.

“You stupid girl!” The man exclaimed, throwing himself from the booth, his lap covered in the scalding liquid. “I-I’m so sorry!” you exclaimed.

“How stupid can you be! You burnt me! You absolute fool!”

“What’s going on over here?” Liz asked.

“This stupid waitress spilt hot coffee all over me and my breakfast, I demand that she’s fired!”

“I only dropped the coffee because you grabbed me!” you shouted.

“You stupid bitch! I’ll grab you alright,” the man launched for your throat, but was stopped by a hand around the back of his shirt.

“Get out,” Eddie said in his ear, his tone deadly, his eyes unblinking. “Me? She’s the one who-“

“You come in, you assault my staff and she panics, that’s your fault. You want to press charges go for it, but I doubt your wife will be happy when she finds out you’re trying to get with other women.”

“You asshole.”

“Get out of my diner, all of you. Before I show you how much you’ve pissed me off.”

The four men scrambled out, falling over each other as they went.

“Are you alright Honey?” Liz asked, wrapping her arm around your shoulder.

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine. I’ll uh, go and get a broom and the mop.”

“Oh no Honey I’ll do it.”

“It’s fine, it’s my fault.”

“No. Don’t even think that,” Eddie spoke up, walking over to you, “It was that assholes fault. You’re going home.”

“W-what no!”

“Yes, well actually you’re going to the hospital to get your arm checked.”

You looked down, not even realising the burning sensation on your right arm. It was covered in hot coffee. “I have a shift to finish.”

“Fine, I’ll drive you there now. Liz, you and James will be okay right?” he asked.

“Sure and if not, I’ll call Chris or May or Connie.”

“Great, come on get your stuff, let’s go.” Eddie led you out the back, holding your things in his hand, another on the small of your back.

“We’ll take my van okay, we can pick up your car later,” Eddie spoke. You just nodded, not really having any words to say. Climbing up, you took your bag and jacket from him, placing it by your feet.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine.” Minus the humiliation, the burning on your arm, being assaulted by a man, and you know probably losing the best job you’ve ever had - yeah you were great.

“Sweetheart, hey. It’s okay, you’re alright.” Eddies hands touched your cheeks, wiping away at tears you didn’t even know had been falling. “I’m so sorry,” you sniffled.

“What on earth for? None of that was your fault!” he stated.

“But I could’ve just-“

“Sweetheart he was a slime ball who hasn’t got any in years cause his wife thinks he’s gross. It’s not your fault that he doesn’t know how to behave when a pretty girl is around.”

Pretty.

“I’m just sorry. I really liked working here.”

“Liked? You leaving or something?” he asked. “I thought that after that I’d - well you wouldn’t want me to work there anymore.”

“You’re like my favourite person at this place, if I had it my way you’d go nowhere.”

“I don’t want to leave.” He leaned over and squeezed your good hand, “Then don’t, except right now because you need a doctor.”

You huffed a laugh, and Eddie pulled away, started up the truck and you were on the way.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Walking into the ER, it wasn’t overly busy, and Eddie led you to a seat. “Stay here I’ll get us some help,” he said. You nodded as he went to the desk, speaking to the nurse sat behind it.

The nurse.

Oh man.

Your mom.

“What’s the name?”

“Y/N Y/L/N.”

“What?”

“Y/N Y/L/N,” Eddie repeated. Your mom stood up walking around the desk, eyes meeting yours.

“Baby! What happened,” she said, rushing to your side. “I’m okay mom, just an accident at work.”

“Well thank goodness you came here. Let’s get you fixed up.”

It would probably get her in trouble, but she didn’t care, pulling you through to an examination room. Eddie followed you through, standing at the door.

“So I’m gonna clean it up and wrap it, we’ve got some creams at home to help.”

“I’m okay mom.”

“Thank you for bringing her in,” she spoke to Eddie. “Oh yeah of course.”

“So you work together?” she asked.

“Mhm, yeah Eddies the cook and uh the owner.”

“Well it’s nice to meet you Eddie.”

“You too ma’am.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“I can finish early, take you home,” Your mom said. “It’s fine I’m okay.”

“I’ll drive her, can bring your car by later.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“What a sweet boy. Now go, my shift ends at 4.”

“Okay.”

Your mom pressed a kiss to your head, saying goodbye to the pair of you. Sat in the van, Eddie spoke, “Your mom seems nice.”

“Mhm, she is.”

“I can see why you want to look after her.”

“I’m sorry I snapped at you the other day.”

“I deserved it.”

“You didn’t, how were you supposed to know.”

“I should have backed off, I am sorry about your dad though.”

“Yeah me too, but you know we’re getting by.” He nodded, and sighed before talking, “Sweetheart, I know you’ll hate me for this, but I can’t let you come back to work until that arm heals up a bit okay?”

“Okay,” you whispered.

“But as soon as you’re good to come back, you can.”

“Thank you Eddie.”

“Of course.”

The drive to your house wasn’t a long one, and your arm wasn’t tingling anymore. “Thank you for today,” you said to Eddie.

“It’s okay, uh feel free to say no, but do you want some company?”

“Don’t you have to get back to the diner?”

“I’m the boss, I can go back whenever. So company?” You smiled, nodding, allowing him to follow you into the house.

“Your house is lovely,” he smiled.

“Thank you, uh get comfy, I’m just going to change.” You motioned to the lounge, as you headed to your room, wanting to get out of your work attire.

Changing into sweats and a short sleeve tee, you returned to find Eddie looking at photos dotted around the place. “That was the first vacation we ever went on,” you smiled.

You were stood between your parents, all of you had snowboards, thick coats and pants along with huge boots. You grinned a cheesy smile, a few teeth missing due to your age. Your parents were smiling too, laughing at your enthusiasm.

“You were cute,” Eddie nodded.

“Were?” you joked, but Eddies ears went pink. “I’m not saying you’re not cute now! You’re beautiful! I just mean that-“ You laughed, “Eds I’m teasing.”

The man smiled, face flushed, “You, Sweetheart, are a pain.”

“Hm, sure. Want to watch a movie?” you asked. “Yeah that sounds great.”

“I’ll go make some popcorn.”

I’ve got it, just tell me where it is.”

“I can do it.”

“Seriously, we don’t need another trip to the ER, what would your mother think of me?”

You rolled your eyes at him, making the man chuckle and leave to go to the kitchen. “It’s in the cupboard above the microwave,” you called to him.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

The boy looked down, feeling a soft weight on his shoulder. They were half way through Return of the Jedi when he felt it. Looking down his stomach fluttered.

She looked so peaceful, her eyelashes kissing her skin, her chest rising and falling softly. Her hand didn’t look so red and sore now, her mom had done a great job. Soft breaths left the girl as she fell into a deeper sleep.

The curly haired man couldn’t help but smile, resting his own head on hers, letting his eyes fall shut.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

You felt a comforting warmth beneath your cheek, rising and falling. A hand on your waist and a chin on your head. Shit. You’d fallen asleep.

Looking up slightly, you saw Eddie dozing away. He looked so cute. So calm. “Eddie,” you whispered. “Hm?” he mumbled.

“Eddie.”

“What’s wrong?” he said, voice deep and grumbly from sleep.

It was the sexiest thing you’d ever heard.

“We fell to sleep.”

“So?” You laughed at the sleepy boy, letting your head stay on his chest. “See, isn’t that bad is it?” he said.

“No, apart from the fact my mom is definitely home and has seen us.”

“I should probably go then,” he mumbled into your hair. “You don’t have to.”

“I know, but I need to check on the diner.”

You nodded, pushing up off of him, leading him to the front door. “Thank you for today.”

“Of course, I hope you don’t mind if I call to check how you’re doing.”

“Not at all, I mean you could drop by if you want.”

“Well I have to bring your car back so, yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“I’ll see you,” you smiled softly. The man raised a hand, walking to his van.

Shit, you couldn’t let him go.

“Eddie!” you called, jogging over, feet cold on the concrete beneath. “What is it?” he asked, concern in his eyes.

“Um, I just,” you began, but stood on your tiptoes, pressing your lips to his plush ones. They were warm and soft and made your stomach burst. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” you whispered.

“I’ll see you,” he smiled.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Thank you so much for reading!

Please leave any requests 🤍

[hyperfixiation-station]

The Filler Fics Pt.1

Beach Day Pt.1- Travel

Part 2

TW: Canon divergence, military inaccuracies, mentions of injuries/hospitals Inspired by @shyravenns art Summary: This is the first of many sitcom-style filler fics. Yk, the ones where they go to the beach, or go to the store, etc, etc. I am open to suggestions, as I don't really watch sitcoms, so please comment or request or DM me ideas!! This one is, of course, a beach-day fic that I have spilt into 2 parts. this is the getting there portions, pt.2 will be the beach :) WC:1080

It had been a long few months. The threat of global annihilation, the hunt for Makarov, Soap getting shot, it was just a lot, and they all needed a break.

Price had watched Gaz and Ghost spend night after sleepless night at Soap’s bedside, refusing to do anything until the Scotsman woke up. And he had been right there with them, although Ghost wouldn’t talk to him, the Lt. still pissed that Price’s actions, or rather inactions, may have gotten Soap killed. Price couldn't blame him. It’s not like he hadn’t been fixated on that one moment, mentally berating himself for stopping Soap from killing Makarov in the first place. He would have gotten in a shit-load of trouble for it, but anything would have been better than…well, he didn’t even want to think it.

The team couldn’t take another loss so soon after Roach’s death. Price knew that. Knew that if Soap didn’t make it his team would fall apart. And it would be his fault. 

Thankfully, Soap was alright. He’d woken up a little disoriented, with no recollection of the week leading up to his…head wound. Other than some faint ringing in his ear and occasionally bouts of dizziness, he was alright, much to the relief of his squad members. However tensions were still running high. Just because the Scotsman was awake and talking didn’t mean the very real fear that his friends had felt over the past few weeks had vanished.  

There were nights Price found himself studying Soap, watching the rise and fall of his chest proving he was alive. He’d seen Ghost reach up from his bunk and grab the Scot’s wrist, checking for a pulse after waking from what Price assumed was a nightmare. Things got a little better once Soap didn’t have to wear gauze over the wound anymore, but the scar was still an ugly reminder of what had almost happened.  

Soap was constantly mother-henned now, not allowed to do training, having meals brought to him, never going anywhere by himself. It was starting to piss him off, and Price could see it. Tensions were running high, and it was only a matter of time before someone snapped. 

“Give the boys some time off, time away from the battlefield. Time to recuperate and settle back in. They’ll be okay.” Laswell told him at their bi-weekly meeting they hadn’t had in 3 months. Price booked 4 flights and a week-long stay at a beach-house off the Coast of California that same night.

However, the flight left in 5 hours and he still hadn’t told his men. He moves through the base, heading towards the rec room that he knew they hang out at, hoping they are all in one spot. 

Aaaaand bingo!

 Ghost is sprawled out on the couch, Soap sitting on the floor, leaning against his thigh, with Gaz in the armchair opposite, watching some stupid show on the little TV they have. Price can’t help but stare at the long, inch wide streak where Soap’s hair hadn’t quite grown back, a grim reminder of how close he came to losing one of his men. His eyes are drawn from Soap's skull by Gaz’s laughter, the man's head tilted back, shoulders shaking at something that was said on the T.V. 

The show cuts to commercial, and Price figures it’s as good a time as any to cut in. 

“Alright boys, pack your bags. We’re going stateside.” All three of them look up at Price in varying degrees of confusion, “Laswell decided after Soap's near-death experience we all needed a little R&R, so we’re heading to the beach.” 

“Ah’ll finally get tae see that ‘impeccable bronze’, eh Lt?” Soap nudges Ghost, a grin splitting his face.

“We’ll see Johnny.” 

“The beach, captain?” 

“Yes Gaz, the beach. You got complaints, go talk to Laswell.” 

“Hey, no complaints here sir! Just makin’ sure.”

“Good. Because we leave in an hour so you don’t have time to complain anyway.” 

“An hour??”

“No time f’r y’r beauty regime, Gaz.” 

“Ah shaddup, just cause you’re jel-”

“Boys! Get to going!” 

“Aye sir!” Price shakes his head as he watches them file out, Gaz and Ghost subconsciously sandwiching Soap in between them. The Scot shoves Gaz, his shoulders shaking as the shorter man lets out an angry squawk.  Things have been tense, sure, but he can’t help his smile as his boys walk off, alive and well. 

Ghost hates flying. Well, sort of. Military transport ain’t bad in his opinion, but when he has to fly commercial? With civilians? And screaming babies? He hates it. Hates it hates it hates it. 

He's dressed in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, a black surgical mask adorning his face. HE may have gotten comfortable with his team seeing his face, but the rest of the pubic had not lived through numerous near death experiences alongside him, and thus did not get that honor. Covid had at least helped with the stares, nowadays no one really batted an eyes at him, which did, surprisingly, ease his discomfort.

He shifts in line, sandwiched between Gaz and Soap as they wait to board. Soap is turned slightly, placing the scar on the side of his head directly in Ghost's line of sight. Gods he wishes he could look anywhere else. But its to no avail. No matter how many time Johnny had reassured him he was 'okay', Ghost couldn't get the image of his teammate, his brother-in-arms, his friend unconscious in his own blood, out of his head. He just couldn't.

Yeah, sure, he should have told the court-mandated therapist about that, but the she wouldn't have signed off on him going back to service and then where would he be? That right, no-

"Ghost!" He's snapped out of his reverie by Price, who is giving him the look. Whatever. Price should know by now that he wasn't gonna spill his guts to anyone, much less someone with the power to kick him off the team.

He hands his ticket to the attendant, mumbling a 'thank yo' before following along after Johnny, hands shoved in his pockets. Johnny takes the window seat, so he takes the aisle, condemning Gaz to the middle. Besides, he was the only one that would fit there anyways.

The plane takes off and, as if on cue, a baby starts screaming in the front. Ghost sighs and slouches in his seat. This was going to be a looooong flight.

Let me know what you think:))

[marlynnofmany]

The Ability to Smell Beauty

“Do you smell that?” Paint asked, flicking her tongue out to taste the air, just like the orange-scaled lizard she resembled. “That is LOVELY. Where is it?”

I looked around the forest-lined landing pad. All sorts of plants that I’d never seen before waved on the breeze: tree-things shaped like willows that someone had coated in enough hairspray to make them stand on end, bush-things with leaves that snapped at flies, moss and mushrooms and lumps that could have been frogs or seedpods, or maybe oddly-shaped rocks.

“I have no idea,” I told Paint honestly.

“Help me find it,” she said, striding away from the ship with her shoulder bag held tight and determination on her scaly face.

I glanced back at the captain and several others, who were passing time with an alien card game. The person who was supposed to have delivered our next shipment was late. Nothing else to do but hang around and try not to be bored.

“We’re going to look around a little,” I called, walking after Paint. “We won’t go far.”

Captain Sunlight nodded, her own scaly yellow face focused on the cards. “Scream if you need anything.” Then she triumphantly played a card that made Mur flail his tentacles in aggravation.

I said that I would, and followed my shorter crewmate as she waded into the undergrowth with her tongue flicking madly.

“So what exact smell are we looking for?” I asked, wondering if that was the right word. “Smelling for?”

“It’s kind of sharp, but in a good way,” Paint told me distractedly. “Sharp like a good kitchen knife, like string music, like a poignant memory.”

“Right,” I said, taking an experimental sniff. Everything smelled like alien plants, and not like violins or whatever. “Hm.”

“I think it’s this way. Low to the ground.” Paint scrambled under bushes, getting her bag caught on one of the flytrap mouths.

“Do you want me to carry that?” I asked.

“Yes please.” She held it up, still under the bush. Flytraps slapped at both of us, but weren’t strong enough to do any damage, even to my soft human skin. Paint probably didn’t even notice through her scales.

I shouldered the bag that held Paint’s sketchbook or novel or entertainment screen; whatever she’d brought out for waiting in the sun. I’d been about to go back in for something similar when she’d hared off on this quest.

“Over here!” Paint said, sounding more sure. She rustled out the other side of the bush and made delighted noises. When I made my way around the shrubbery, I found her at the base of a large boulder, gathering walnut-looking things into a greedy pile.

“Is that it?” I asked.

“Yes! Smell one!” Paint thrust one toward me.

I took it and sniffed. Not bad. Kind of like cloves, that sort of spicy sharpness that just felt festive. “Huh. Pretty good.”

“Isn’t it amazing?” Paint asked, holding up a double handful and taking an open-mouthed whiff. “Gimme the bag back; I’m taking these with me.”

“Are you sure they’re safe?” I asked as I handed it over. “Do you know what kind of plant they are?”

“Yeah, it’s that one from the store on the beach back home,” Paint said, shoveling eagerly. “The good one I could never find again. I forget the name. Sunlight will know.”

“All right,” I agreed. They really didn’t smell that special to me. It would be interesting to see if Captain Sunlight also treated the things like lizard-alien catnip, or if this was just something that Paint liked. A lot.

When she’d gathered everything on the ground — a few good handfuls — she looked around for more. I spotted one growing from the spindly sapling that poked out of a crack in the boulder, and Paint happily added it to the rest.

“I wonder if there are any other bushes like that,” she said, standing with the bag and studying the trees.

“We shouldn’t go far,” I reminded her. “Gotta stay in screaming range.”

“Sure, sure,” Paint said. “Just a quick look over this way. I think those plants grow near the beach, and I hear waves.”

Remembering Kavlae’s description of the landing pad as being “within dancing distance of the sea,” I put more attention toward the ambient sounds. That wasn’t all windblown foliage after all.

Paint was already disappearing into more bushes, so I hurried after, not wanting to lose track of her. “Slow down! I’m sure they’re not going anywhere.”

“Yes, but they’re so beautiful!” she said from somewhere ahead. “There are whole worlds in that smell. Don’t you think so?”

“It’s okay, I guess.”

“Okay?? It’s gorgeous! I want to decorate my room with them, and smell these every day! You really don’t think it’s that big a deal?” Paint sounded insulted.

“I think my nose just works a little differently from yours,” I said gently. “I’m sure they’re very nice.”

Paint huffed, pushing through the leaves harder and muttering something uncomplimentary about a nose that couldn’t smell beauty.

I had to laugh. “There are plenty of good smells out there,” I said. “And I don’t need my nose for beauty; I have my eyes for that.”

“Really,” Paint grumbled. “If you can’t appreciate this, then forgive my doubts.” She was still grumping about loveliness and the ability to sense it when she shoved through the last of the bushes. “Well, there’s the beach,” she said. “No trees, crackle it. Let’s go back.”

I ducked under a leafy branch to join her just as she turned to go. The view stopped me in my tracks.

Blue waves crashed against a beach made of glittering gemstones, sprawling as far as the eye could see in either direction. Every color under the sun, fist-sized and head-sized and a fine shimmering sand, washed bright by the waves. I could swear that native birds somewhere were singing a dramatic crescendo of a symphony, though maybe that was just in my head.

“Paint,” I said, not moving. “Can I borrow your bag? I’ll carry it back for you.”

~~~

Further adventures in backstory for this book. More to come!

[callsigndragon]

Prompt list:

#25 for a himbo Rooster pls (not a surprise…I bet you’re tired of writing for Rooster…but I couldn’t resist 🙈) 💖

𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕚 𝕘𝕠 𝕚 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 | B.B

pairing: Bradley Bradshaw x reader (not use of y/n)

prompt: being reminded of them by random things around them

warnings: mentions of Goose

A/N: Best boy for my best baby <3 hope you like this one

Rooster didn't travel light for someone who had spent his entire life traveling, never settling down and always moving on to the next port as soon as a new mission became available.    

He had several items with him. Some were just aviator stuff: his glasses, his uniforms, patches from past units he had been at in the past... The usual.   

Some of them, on the other hand, were quite personal and random. You swear you see bits and pieces of him everywhere you go.  

Ugly Hawaiian shirts at the store near the beach.   

A small foldable moustache comb you end up buying as a joke, but something tells you it is going to be in his pocket everywhere he goes.   

You pay for a rooster plush as soon as you lay eyes on him. Your imagination begins to devise a scheme to grab one of Bradley's old t-shirts and dress the plushie in it. You know, to keep you company during those long weeks he's away.    

An old Polaroid camera, like the one his father had. The one he lost so long ago…   

He only told you about the camera once, but the excitement in his eyes as he showed you the massive Polaroid collection Goose amassed during his short time as an aviator was enough to make an imprint in your mind.    

You weren’t actively searching for the camera, but every time you saw a photography shop or an antique store, you had to look out for it.   

Today, luckily, you found it in the only place you weren’t expecting to: a garage sale.   

"What's this, honey?" He asks, dropping his phone on the sofa and giving you his full and undivided attention.  

"I went to a garage sale."   

He places a hand on his chest, opens his mouth, and gasps. "Without me?"  

"Yeah, but that wasn't my intention!" I was driving by and had a sense. I needed to get out of the car and look around." You nudge the package closer to him, expecting him to open it.    

"At least you brought me something."   

"You know you’re like a kid sometimes."   

"Charming, I know." He smiles while opening the box, his heart stopping for a bit once he holds the camera in his hands. "H-how... I only told you once."   

You smile, taking a place on the sofa with him and watching his face light up like a kid on Christmas morning. "I made it my personal mission to find you one."   

"I love you so much," he whispers while his lips brush against yours before pulling you for a kiss.   

@novastories

@purplevortexx

@kmc1989

[featherandferns]

guilty as sin : where are they now?

jj maybank x routledge!fem!reader

word count: 700

read guilty as sin (part 1) | Thank you so so much for 1000 followers!!! Since starting this blog in May of 2023, I have written so many characters and storylines. I get so many lovely anon messages telling me about their favourite universes and wondering what happens next after my fics have ended. So, I thought to celebrate 1000 followers, I’d indulge. Here’s the (current) where are they now for all of my fics so far…

Raleigh airport was rather slow paced compared to Denver. People moved with minimal urgency and staff didn’t feel the need to yell at half-asleep passengers at three in the morning at TSA. It didn’t feel all that long ago that you were here last, but as a person, you feel years older. Your eyes stay steady on JJ, who’s wandered up to a departures board and is studying it intently. He turns around, half-smiles, and walks back over to you, hands in his pockets. 

“A’right,” he says once he’s near. “Says Gate B21. They ain’t boarding yet but…”

“I should probably go through soon,” you mumble, finishing his sentence for him. You purse your lips and look at the TSA queue. It’s not very long. Sensing your hesitance, JJ runs a hand down your arm, guiding your attention back to him. There’s a queasy smile on his face. It’s reassuring but also somewhat reluctant. 

“I’ll see you soon,” JJ says, “just two weeks.”

“In hell,” you mutter. 

Chuckling shortly, JJ shrugs. “Yeah, well, two weeks for a life in Kildare. A deal’s a deal.”

“True,” you sigh. “Just kinda wish you could come with.”

“Same.”

The PSA announcement for a different flight serves well as a prompt to go through TSA. There’s no point in delaying the inevitable. Besides, JJ was right: only two weeks. You had your bag full of ever growing art supplies, including the paints from JJ, to keep distracted. Your mom had “requested” you return to Colorado at least three times a year, one of which being for one of the holidays. It was finally time to hold up your end of the deal. 

“Well, guess I’ll see you later,” you say, smiling up at him. 

JJ dips his head and plants a kiss to your lips. It’s short and fleeting, but stings just as much knowing that you won’t feel it for two weeks. It’s a tough pill to swallow after being attached at the hip for the past three months. 

“See you around, Little Routledge,” JJ tries to joke.

He picks up your carry on and hands it to you, and you begin to walk towards the TSA line. You turn one last time to give him a wave and JJ waves back, smiling that same smile from before. Two weeks, you tell yourself. Two weeks of your mother’s prying questions and her boyfriend’s abusive arrogance. Your friends from Colorado made you somewhat excited to return. They’d been making plans since you said you were coming back to visit, including a three-day stay at a campsite by the lakes, which already granted you some escape. Besides, you knew this time that you were coming back to Kildare. More importantly, you knew you were coming back to JJ. With that final reminder, you pass through security and venture to your gate. As promised, you drop JJ a text when you board and another just before you take off, switching to aeroplane mode. 

About an hour into your flight, you decide to dig through your backpack to retrieve your smallest palette of paints. The pocket sized sketchbook you pull out serves almost as a journal for Kildare, keeping track of the houses, the stores, the beaches and the marshes. Littered amongst the scenery are sketches and paintings of your friends and, of course, JJ. There’s a couple of pages littered with JJ’s doodles too. Cartoonish things, one of which is you circled in a love heart. It’s purposefully sappy and sweet, and it makes you smile every time you flip through that page. Just before the next blank page, something catches your eye. A short note that you didn’t write. You recognise the hand though. It’s JJ. 

Little Routledge

I’m not good at writing letters so I’ll keep it brief. I miss you and can’t wait for you to come back home. Stay safe in Colorado and call whenever you need. Happy Thanksgiving. 

Love JJ

You smile to yourself. It’s nothing that Shakespeare might envy but you know JJ isn’t the sort to write letters or leave love-notes. These few lines mean the world and more. You’re careful not to mark the page as you begin to sketch on the opposite side of the book. Today’s drawing? Of JJ, just moments before, as you recalled him in the airport, waving goodbye (for now). 

[sommerflue-22]

Little Things They Do...

Little things they do to show you they love you

Read the other parts: Part 2 // Part 3

Featuring: Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert, Jean Kirschtein, Connie Springer, Sasha Braus

Warning: Modern setting

Word Count: 572

Author Note

Something I wrote in a whim after listening to this song. No beta, we die like Erwin. These actions can be perceived platonically or romantically, whatever suits you. Let me know if you want me to write for other characters as well!

Read the next part here

Eren

Eren will hover above you, as you're sitting down in your sofa reading your book or just scrolling in your phone. He'll ask you what you're reading, or if you found something interesting on twitter. He'll leave you alone if you're too immersed in what you're reading. He'll stay and sit next to you if you want to tell him about it. He loves hearing you talk about things that excite you, how your eyes widen, and your random hand gestures. You won't notice it at first, but Eren will crack a subtle smile that reaches his eyes.

Mikasa

Mikasa will let you sleep anywhere around her. She'll let you rest your head on her shoulder. She'll let you snooze on her lap. She'll cuddle you no matter what time it is, as long as she doesn't have anything else to do (you're her number one priority, so...) It doesn't really matter where you both are. You can be in your living room, in the library, in one of your friends' house, sitting next to each other during a bus ride. Mikasa will let you sleep and she will let you sleep as long as you need to.

Armin

Armin loves to leave you small notes here and there. You will find it everywhere. In between your textbook pages, inside your jeans pocket, taped on your lunchbox. He always have the time to scribble a few encouraging words and slip it somewhere for you to see. If he really has the time, he will write you a longer note or even a short poetry. Telling you how your laugh reminds him of the crashing waves by the beach, how your lips are as soft as the most expensive silk ever existing, how your hands are as warm as the summer breeze.

Jean

Jean insists he'll take you to wherever you need to be. You're heading to the convenience store down the street? He'll walk you there. You want to go to the library and stay there all night to study? He'll go with you (he will probably fall asleep a few times, but it's fine). You're visiting a friend somewhere far where you need to take the subway? Worry not, he'll drive you there. There's something about having you near him that makes him feel at ease.

Connie

Connie will probably send you songs that remind you of him. He'll text you the link and tell you, hey this song is really cool! You should listen to it! It doesn't have to be a romantic song, because what matters is how the vibe feels for him. He might send you a song by an unknown artist, with a language you both don't understand. However he'll tell you how he loves its tune, and how he wants to slow-dance to it with you forever and ever.

Sasha

You probably think Sasha will share her food with you but there's so much more to her than her love of food. She will give you the most random thing she found throughout her day. It can be a wild flower, a pretty round pebble, a penny, a safety pin, a Disney princess band aid, everything. She'll come to you, grab your hand, and drop something in your palm, kissing your cheek before walking away to do something else. They might be mundane, everyday stuff, but it has been something programmed inside her mind. Find something, give it to Y/N.

I hope you like it! Please let me know what you think :D

[broomsick]

Personal ideas for simple devotional acts to Njörðr

Let us all praise the Lord of Ships, the Vanir King. He is the bestower of wealth and the guardian of seas, and his gifts are many! If you’re looking to start working with Njörðr, or worshipping him, these ideas make for quick and simple gestures that showcase your interest. They’re also perfect for a pagan who already maintains a close relationship with the sea, water spirits, or a sea deity. After all, spiritual practice gets hard to sustain when you’re working on a tight schedule! Which is why I hope these little personal ideas can inspire even those of you who already actively worship/work with Njörðr. 

First things first: pondering on what Njörðr stands for, what you think he can bring your life and what you think he would appreciate in return. 

Going for walks on windy days. Njörðr is said to raise winds that are favorable to sailboats! 

Cooking and eating sea products, especially if you can find them fresh! I usually keep an eye out for fishermen’s markets. It’s a good idea to buy locally if the opportunity presents itself. The most important thing is to make sure you’re buying from sustainable fish farming companies, especially if you’re at a restaurant or buying from a grocery store.

Putting the sound of waves as background music before sleep. You can visualize the sea, or the ocean, and use this image to connect with Njörðr either by simply meditating on him and his gifts, or even by praying to him.

If possible, spending time near bodies of water: water is a network which connects the land to the ocean. In the end, all rivers, no matter how small, are bound to the ocean. 

Watching documentaries on the sea, or on marine life! The simple gesture of learning about his domain, developing your understanding of it, can make you feel that much closer to the Father of Light-Bringers. 

Whenever you’re at a local beach, collecting seashells or rocks which catch your eye! They’re a way to bring a piece of the sea home with you! 

Since I cook a lot, there’s this little habit I’ve come to develop, of adding a pinch of sea salt (or fleur de sel) to every recipe. Of course, I won’t do this if I’m cooking a simple sandwich for myself: I’m talking about large pots of soup, meat pies, stews, etc. It’s a way of reminding myself that the Vanir bring about the fertility which allows us sustain ourselves. 

Learning sea shanties!!! Did you smile? That’s because sea shanties are fun, and what better way to honor a God than by having fun in their name! One of my favorite songs ever is a folk ballad about an old woman who begs her husband to leave the city and go back to the island where they used to live, where she could watch the seagulls and where he would fish their dinner. Songs such as these can make for beautiful and deeply personal offerings. Once you’ve learned a fisherman’s song, you’ll find yourself humming it in your day-to-day, and thinking of Njörðr as you’re doing so.

Making offerings of coin to him. I’ve heard that he was particularly fond of the coin-shaped chocolates that are wrapped in gold foil! Generally, anything that is made of gold or silver makes for a beautiful offering to him. You can, of course, keep such objects after offering them! The act of sharing them with Njörðr is symbolic, as are many offerings, and you are as entitled to keeping these valuables as you are to drinking offering alcohol after the ritual is done. Placing your silver/gold object on a windowsill or an altar for a day, a week or a month is enough to act as an offering.  

When it comes to the Vanir, you usually can’t go wrong with buying local products! What does your area specialize in, in terms of food? Now that summer’s at our door, we’ve reached the perfect time to look into local farmer’s markets. If, like me, you’re in the habit of offering alcohol to some or most of your deities, local draft beer is a great idea for Njörðr. In my area, grocery shops sometimes sell this one beer that’s made using salt water! It’s my go-to for Njörðr, understandably.

Acting generously, taking opportunities to share with others! It’s a way of honoring and embodying the Vanir King’s own benevolence.

As a follow-up, working on your ability to be compassionate: putting yourself in somebody else’s shoes, forgiving a wrong that has been done to you, finding compromise during a conflict with loved ones... If you are put in a position of leadership, lead others with care and attentiveness. Njörðr’s mythological son Freyr is heavily associated with peace. By protecting peace, you are honoring them both. 

Keeping a symbol of his on you as an amulet: representations of fish, anchors, lighthouses, ships, or anything else that symbolizes the sea all make for beautiful reminders of Njörðr’s presence. Especially if they are silver or gold-colored! In fact, a simple silver or gold coin, or even just a coin with special meaning in your heart, is the perfect amulet to keep in your wallet/purse in his honor. 

Learning to tie knots, or any other simple skill that is useful on a boat is fun and a great way to feel connected with the sea. This goes without saying but if you’ve got the chance to go for a boat ride, take it in his honor!

Asking him to grant you a safe journey before traveling long distances.

Art, Njörðr statue

[izznts]

Bahamas Double Meal

The soft breeze that hits the white cotton curtains, flowing in the room shining some daylight. Sol gets hit with the bright sun, squinting his eyes and yawning. Leaning up, his muscular biceps and soft toned pecs in his plaid boxers stretching. Next to him his boyfriend Izzy, laying with his cheetah print top and pant set, sleeping softly. Sol smiled laying on top of him, giving his neck some kisses making Izzy squirm underneath him waking up.

"Sol, Jesus you couldn't wake me up properly?" Izzy asked annoyed, rubbing his eyes to show his dark chocolate color. Sol smirked, giving Izzy a soft kiss getting up.

"And where would the fun in that be? Now get up, we got to enjoy the rest of our vacation!" Sol cheered, running to the bathroom with clothes in hand. Izzy rolled his eyes getting up himself and looking through his suitcase. The both of them were on an anniversary trip to the Bahamas for a week. The first day they enjoyed the spa and massages that was provided, the cuisines that were made to their delight, and some shopping in stores they have never thought of enjoying.

Today was the day of the beach, Sol coming out of the bathroom with his white tropical swim shorts, with a matching top that was left open too show off his toned body. Izzy staring too long, Sol pec bounced to have Izzy's eyes hungrily dart to them, making him roll his eyes blushing at being teased.

"Don't worry, there's enough of me to go around~" Sol purred, Izzy turning around and changing in front of him. Izzy's smaller frame putting on his tight rose shorts with a white-lace kimono, topping it off with a black and rose ascot, tying it around his neck. Sol hugged Izzy from behind, kissing his neck softly, getting a small giggle from him.

"Alright, let's go to the beach!" Sol cheered, grabbing Izzy's hand and their packed belongings for this day, running off out of the room to walk to the beach.

Seeing the huge crowd tanning on beach chairs, playing volleyball in different areas, children playing with sand, swimming in the oceans, and many of those with pets throwing toys for them to chase. Both of them looked for a spot to sit, seeing an empty area with a beach umbrella placed near the front of the ocean. Izzy walked too it (more like speed-walked) to claim the spot. Sol following behind dragging the cooler. Laying their towels on the chairs, Sol opened up a water bottle drinking it quickly.

"Sol, can you close the umbrella, I just want to tan for a few minutes." Izzy asked him, Sol nodded, getting up and closing the umbrella, getting a thank you in return. Sol took off his shirt and placed it on the chair.

"Hey, I'm going to go for a quick swim." Sol reminded, Izzy giving a thumbs up and placing himself to lay on his stomach, taking his kimono off too get the heat on his back. Sol runs off in the sand to the shallow waters, the small waves touching above his ankles, making him shiver with delight of the cold water. He was about to walk closer to swim till he heard Izzy turning around.

"Jesus watch the hell you are going you prick!" Izzy yelled holding his head wincing at a couple surfers who ran with their surfboards in hand, cockily laughing and jokingly saying sorry. Sol got out of the ocean and sprinted too him, passing by the surfers earlier.

"Izzy let me see, is it bad?" Sol asked trying to get him to move his hands out of the way. Izzy slowly moving his hands down to see a small scratch and redness on his head.

"Is it bad?" Izzy asked, Sol shook his head, getting a cold water bottle and having him hold it on his head. Izzy wincing from the coldness. Sol looked at the ocean and gritted his teeth, getting up.

"Keep on tanning, I will be right back." Sol stated, Izzy nodding his head and laying down with the water on his head, putting his sunglasses on to cover his eyes from the sun. Sol sprinted to the ocean diving in swimming further towards the deep end of the water. Hearing laughter, he saw the surfers from earlier together waiting for the next wave. They both were far from shore, and even far from anyone else, making this a lot easier than he thought. Sol gave them a death glare, swimming underwater towards them. He swam closer, pushing both of the surfers into each other falling off their surfboards. Grabbing the first surfer that fell, unhinging his jaw and swallowing their head. The first surfer thrashing as he was being swallowed, the second surfer keeping his head above water looking for his friend. Ducking his head underneath just to see his friend having half of his body in Sol's mouth. The surfer swimming trying to tug his friend out. Sol grabbed the other surfer dudes hands and kept it locked onto the first ones hips, taking a big gulp, swallowing both hips and the hands, keeping the second surfer in place. The surfer duo thrashed as Sol kept swallowing, finishing up the first surfer dude and getting up too the second one's head. His toned abs now expanding immensely in the cool water, a face imprint was seen above his bellybutton making the surfer friend scream underwater as his friends fate is sealed. Sol grabbing the head and forcing him into his mouth, his belly slowly squirming with his first meal. Sol swallowing up to the friends butt, he swam up to the top of the water, the friends thrashing legs being slurped down burping loudly. Sol swam too shore, his belly squirming violently each stroke.

"Man, you guys are heavy." Sol commented, patting his belly as he makes it to the shallow end. Getting out of the ocean, people were staring and whispering amongst each other, Sol smiling widely as he winks at the bystanders near him. He walks too Izzy, lifting his belly up and letting go, his belly hitting Izzy's legs, making him scream lightly. Before he could get yelled out he stares at his boyfriends belly.

"Sol what did you do?" Izzy asked curiously concerned. Sol smirked rubbing his belly, joking around by tapping his chin.

"I might have gotten a double meal of surfer dudes from earlier.~" He teased, wiggling his eyebrows. Izzy rolled his eyes, staring at the engorged belly, giving it a small rub, Sol purred from the touch.

"Next time, give me a heads up that you are going to hunt." Izzy stated, Sol nodded sitting down in the sand in front of Izzy, letting him rub his belly as it thrashes around. Both of them enjoying the rest of the day at the beach.

[aturnoftheearth]

top 5 places you’ve stopped on a road trip or while camping :]

omg okay dani said “top 5 places you’ve been” so for this one i will do stops along roadtrips :D

most love’s travel stops lmfao. in 2021 i made an offhand joke about “loves my beloved” bc “my beloved” was a huge meme back then and we went to one and i liked it so. the meme was born. and to this day everyone in my family will say “where’s the nearest love’s my beloved?” and we stop at sooo many on our trips

greensburg, kansas. we went in 2022 and actually stopped for the day, went to the museum there, and got ice cream at a nearby parlor. but basically the town was hit in 2007 by an ef-5 tornado and was all but destroyed. i believe that it was the first tornado to be classified as an 5 on the enhanced fujita scale due to it being introduced earlier that year. anyway, the town built back greener than most cities and towns in the U.S. and they have a museum there with pieces from the tornado’s damage, stories from survivors, the town pre-tornado, and how they built back. anyway i loved it!

golden spike tower in north platte, nebraska. my dad likes to go because it’s a train yard and he just sits and watches the trains but i love it because there’s an open-air observatory 6 stories up and i get to feel the wind in my hair and see the fields of crops for miles and it just feels so staunchly different from my home that i love it .

any wawa. i love the roadtrip vibes of a good gas station and store and this one has it !! plus i love getting delicious little drinks at a fair price and every time i walk into one i feel like im on vacation in central florida about to go to a theme park or beach house. probably because of the palm trees and also the fact that, before we got one near my sister’s old apartment, nearly every time i had been to a wawa was while in central florida on my way to a theme park or beach house (so 2 times lmfao) . omg and also for my destiel mutuals out there, going to a wawa immediately reminds me of early 2021 when my sister and i would walk there once a week to get a little treat for doing our schoolwork and me excitedly telling her the newest silly behavior or tea or whatever that was happening.

lebanon, kansas - HEAR ME OHT HOLD ON LSITEN. i think its beautiful that, because my sister and i were obsessed with spn in 2021 and managed to sneak us there via telling my dad that it’s the center of the geographical US, we now make an effort to stop there every year. like go out of our way to stop there. and my dad still doesn’t know that it’s because castiel supernatural died there.

[mariacallous]

Have you been to any Ukrainian restaurants/shops in NYC? I'm Ukrainian living in the US but I've never been to NYC (Technically been in one of the airports for an hour so I wouldn't count that) but I want to visit soon and would like some recommendations. Thanks <3

Absolutely! I will say that due to covid, among other reasons, a lot of places are no longer in business, unfortunately.

Veselka (specifically the one on 2nd Ave near Astor Place, but there are other locations - the first time I had Veselka was at their Essex Market location) is one of my all-time favorite places to eat in NYC. I like the varenyky, of course, as well as their borscht and mushroom barley soups and the potato salad (like a meatless olivier saiad) plus the holubtsi, bigos, and the medovyk and blintzes.

Nearby is the Ukrainian East Village Restaurant (inside and I think technically underground) which is a bit more old-school but also really good. Here I recommend the salat olivier (which is a perennial favorite of mine), the kholodets (although chicken aspic isn't for everyone, I will admit), the letcho, halusky, and borscht, of course.

If you're more in the mood for a takeaway and eat in your hotel room (or wherever you're staying) kind of vibe, in addition to ordering from either of these places for delivery or pickup, NetCost Markets have a really awesome deli and prepared food section with all kinds of options. (Which reminds me that I need to go to one again soon).

I know that there's more locations to eat in Brighton Beach, but I haven't been there as much as I'd like and not usually when I'm able to get food, unfortunately.

The Ukrainian Museum (which is near Veselka) has a really neat gift shop with lots of different items (they had a lot of stuff inspired by or part of their exhibit featuring Maria Prymachenko works) and I've enjoyed browsing it when I've had the chance.

Arka, also nearby, has some really interesting stuff, and is a bit like a vintage store featuring Ukrainian items.

Obviously, any mutuals/followers, please feel free to add!

[drops-of-june]

CHAPTER I : "Highway to Hell"

• I don’t own the characters, this fanfic is based on the TV-Show Stranger Things (second season) from a Hargrove!Reader POV.

• Quick reminder to readers, I'm not a english native speaker, so I'm sorry if there are any mistakes. Hope you understand.

• You are not allowed to translate/repost inside or outside tumblr this fanfic.

• TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mentions of violence.

Summary: Neal Hargrove and his new wife want a fresh start, so they decide to move from California. Y/n says goodbye to her friends to begin the journey to a new home in Indiana.

Word Count: 2.2K

CHAPTER I: 'Highway to Hell'

The sun was slowly descending, bathing the city in a golden light that reflected off the buildings and the waters of the bay. The sky, tinged with oranges and pinks, promised a spectacular sunset. 

Near the bay, the ocean breeze was fresh and salty, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of the sea. Families strolled along the pier, children ate cotton candy and gazed in awe at the boats bobbing gently in the waves. Some teenagers skateboarded, and from a car radio with the window open, music played. 

Sitting on the beach in San Diego, a girl watched the sea water with a mixture of nostalgia and melancholy. Her long, wavy blonde hair caught the light and swayed gently in the ocean breeze.

Her blue eyes, normally full of defiance and confidence, reflected a deep sadness as they followed the coming and going of the waves. She was sitting cross-legged on the warm sand, barefoot, her fingers absently playing with the grains of sand. She wore a tank top with the faded logo of a rock band and worn denim shorts, showing off her tanned legs from the californian sun.

At her side, rested her leather jacket and combat boots, contrasting with the serene atmosphere of the beach. On her wrist, several leather and metal bracelets jingled softly, and a small fresh tattoo on her ankle peeked out every time she moved her foot. It was a star, a reminder of days spent under the California sun.

The girl looked out at the ocean, her thoughts filled with memories of sunny days, shared laughter and moments of freedom. Each wave breaking on the shore seemed to take a piece of her heart, while the sky was tinged with shades of orange and pink. The beach, her refuge and home, slowly faded into the distance, leaving behind an emptiness that the new town she was going to could hardly fill.

The salty sea breeze caressed her face, wiping away a lone tear that slid down her cheek. She stood up slowly, shaking the sand out of her shorts and sliding her leather jacket over her shoulders. With one last glance at the ocean, she stored every detail in her memory before turning and walking to her car, where a group of boys were waiting for her. 

‘I told you she'd be here.’ said one of them. ‘You weren't thinking of leaving without saying goodbye properly, were you, y/n/n?’ He joked, wrapping a quick hug around her. The girl let out a giggle, and looked at the tallest of them pleadingly. He shook his head, as he raised both hands in the air.

‘I couldn't stop them, I told them you wouldn't want too much fuss. But… here we are’. He apologized. Then the other girl in the group, who had definitely been crying judging by her puffy eyes, pouted.

‘I'm going to miss you, babe.’ She muttered shuffling towards her, looking at the ground. ‘And I hate you for leaving me alone with these two morons.’ She complained as she hugged her friend. The two boys pretended to be offended, but she ignored them. Y/n let herself be hugged and blinked rapidly to keep from crying. Sam, the taller one, pretended not to have seen anything. All three knew the Hargrove girl didn't like to be seen vulnerable. Sam stood idly by for a moment. 

‘Can I have one hug too?’ He asked, timidly. She laughed, and stretched out her arms so he could say goodbye too. The boy dug his nose into her hair and murmured softly, just enough so that only she could hear him, ‘I'll take care of them, you don't worry, okay?’ He blinked rapidly as well, but couldn't stop a tear from falling down his cheek, so he quickly brushed it away with the back of his hand. He handed her a book, and she looked at it curiously. As she paid closer attention to the object, she noticed that it was a notebook. ‘I've also written down our mailing addresses and phone numbers in there, so you have no excuse for not communicating from time to time.’ 

She quickly flipped through the notebook and glimpsed that it was filled with photos of them and encouraging messages for her new adventure. She closed it, knowing that if she saw it there she would end up crying right there. Y/n looked at her friends one last time.

Molly was the bass player in the band. With her short red hair, always neatly styled in a carefree style that framed her freckled face, she stood out wherever she went. Her green eyes, bright and always filled with a spark of enthusiasm, caught everyone's attention with their friendly and understanding gaze.

Her style reflected a mix of casual and bohemian, in keeping with her sensitive and cheerful personality. She tended to dress in distressed jeans and band t-shirts, but always added her own touch with colorful accessories such as beaded bracelets, long necklaces, and printed scarves. On her feet, she almost always wore Converse sneakers decorated with drawings and phrases she had written herself.

Of slim build and average height, Molly had an infectious energy that made everyone around her feel more alive. When she played the bass, she gave herself completely to the music, her fingers moving deftly over the strings, and her body swaying to the beat, showcasing her passion and talent. Her smile was constant, a genuine expression of her giggly and optimistic nature.

Molly was the most sensitive of the group, always ready to listen and offer words of encouragement. Her friends appreciated her ability to empathize and her ability to find the positive in any situation. Her laugh, light and melodious, was a frequent sound that filled the band's rehearsals and shared moments, creating a welcoming and happy atmosphere around her.

Adam, the band's drummer and quintessential jokester, was an unstoppable force of energy and good humor. With his short dark hair, often tousled as if he had just come out of a concert, he had a mischievous smile that never disappeared from his face. His brown eyes sparkled with a playful sparkle, always ready for a joke or a sarcastic comment to make everyone laugh.

His casual, laid-back style was reflected in the way he dressed: punk band t-shirts, ripped jeans and worn Converse sneakers. He always wore leather bracelets and flashy rings, giving him a rebellious and distinctive touch. Although he wasn't the tallest of the group, his presence was magnetic and his energy infectious.

When he was behind the drums, Adam became the engine of the band. His beats were powerful and precise, setting the rhythm with a skill that showed his passion for the music. Off stage, he was the one who always found a way to lift the band's spirits when they were tired or discouraged. Whether it was with a funny quip, an exaggerated story or simply his positive presence, Adam ensured that everyone was ready to face any challenge with a smile on their face.

And then there was big Sam. The band's lead singer and the most focused figure in the group, he was a young man with a serene presence and a wisdom that transcended his youth. With an athletic build and imposing stature, his broad shoulders and confident posture inspired confidence. Although his appearance could appear somewhat unkempt, with slightly tousled dark brown hair and the shadow of a stubble, his calm, deep gaze revealed a mind that was always alert and reflective.

As a vocalist, Sam had a powerful voice that captured the attention of everyone on stage. Together with y/n, they formed a guitar duo that seemed to be in sync on every note and chord, displaying a musical connection that only years of friendship and collaboration could forge. Despite being the oldest of the group, Sam was not only a natural leader but also y/n's closest confidant, with whom he shared a deep understanding and a special connection.

Responsible and attentive, Sam was always willing to listen and offer wise counsel when his friends needed it. His kindness and understanding nature made him easy to approach, even if his reserved appearance could sometimes give a different impression. Although Sam and y/n had dated in the past, their friendship was the cornerstone that held them together, proving that their relationship was much deeper than any passing romance.

Sam was the anchor of the group, the friend they all trusted and the leader who guided the band with firmness and affection. So the girl knew they'd be ok. 

Y/n was the embodiment of the band's rebellious soul, a force of nature both on and off stage. With her tousled blonde hair and blue eyes full of intensity, she radiated a magnetic energy that instantly captured the attention of everyone around her. 

As lead guitarist, y/n was a performer with an exceptional command of the instrument. On stage, her presence was electrifying; her power chords and fiery solos not only elevated the audience's energy, but also conveyed deep emotion and defiance. 

Offstage, y/n was equally impressive. She was known for her unwavering determination and willingness to defy convention. She was unafraid to voice her opinions and fight for what she believed in, inspiring her bandmates and fans to follow suit. Her presence in the group was more than just musical; she was a beacon of authenticity and passion that had united them as a band from the beginning.

Y/n smiled at them. Those people were like her brothers and sister, the kind you choose and you don't get just by blood. 

‘I'm going to miss you, guys. Misbehave and make me proud.’ she joked, causing them to burst out laughing. Then she got into her vehicle, and watched them in the rearview mirror. They were with their arms around each other's shoulders, side by side. She started the engine and shifted into gear to head one last time toward the place she had considered home until now. 

When she arrived, she found that almost everything was loaded into the cars. Max, her adoptive sister, was waiting for her so she could stow things in her Impala, which she did as soon as she parked. Then she quietly climbed into the vehicle as if seeking shelter in a storm.

Not to lose the habit, Neil was in a bad mood. 

Consequently, Billy was in a bad mood too. 

Y/n watched her twin, leaning over his camaro with a serious expression. When he saw that she was watching him, his gesture eased gently, almost imperceptibly, one that only she could notice. 

Y/n entered the house for the last time, and made her way to her room. It was amazing how her life could fit into three boxes and a guitar case. Without the furniture, and her things, the empty place looked sad. She carried the guitar on her back and stacked the three boxes before lifting them. They were heavy, but she still managed to walk out of the room with them. 

Without any need for her to have asked for help, or for anyone to ask him, Billy appeared out of nowhere and picked up the topmost one, freeing it a bit from the weight and clearing her view a bit. When they reached the Impala, he set the box down on the ground beside the car and retreated to his own, to climb in and start the engine. Although she didn't need the help, his sister appreciated the gesture.

Y/n/n was the only one who fully understood Billy. While to everyone else, Billy was rough and gruff, he had always assumed a protective role toward y/n. Although he often displayed a harsh and rebellious attitude towards the outside world, with her he was softer and more understanding, showing a more tender and caring side to his personality. Something he clearly only showed when they were alone. 

Since their mother had disappeared from their lives, the Hargrove twins' world seemed to be turned upside down. Not that their life before had been perfect, but after her departure, the violence in the home had worsened. While they suffered the loss of a mother, Neal seemed to blame everything on his children. Insults, beatings and punishments were commonplace in the home. 

Although Billy was physically stronger than his twin, it was she who had the courage to put a stop to her father's abuse. And while the violence did not end, the siblings learned to protect and cover for each other, to avoid punishment and beatings when Neal came back drunk to the house.

With Susan's arrival, things didn't change much, and they only added two more people for Neal to assault. Once, y/n tried to convince Susan to leave, but she insisted that she was in love with her father, and that she hoped that someday she would end up changing for the better. 

And Max, being the youngest in the house, ended up being protected by y/n/n, and consequently, although it wasn't much to his liking, by Billy. 

After stowing everything in the trunk of the car, she placed her guitar case in the back seat, next to Max's skateboard, and climbed into the driver's seat. The girl was looking through the notebook Sam had given her, and stopped on a page. On it was a picture of y/n and her friends, all smiling at the camera. 

Underneath the picture, the Hargrove girl was able to distinguish Sam's neat handwriting.

‘Hey princess, don't hold back. The rest of the world deserves to know how wonderful you are’.

[badassomens]

Noah Sebastian x f! Reader

Genre: from friends to lovers, fluff, +18, smut

Warnings: Alcohol, smoking,p in v, unprotected sex, oral sex

Author: I really hope you enjoyed it. This is my first such fic with Noah. And in general, the first big fic. I would also like to remind you that English is not my native language, so I apologize for the mistakes❤️

Part 4

In the morning, after spending the night on the beach, Noah drove you home. After saying a hasty goodbye, he hurried away, referring to important matters.

That was the last day you saw him. He just disappeared. It's like he never existed. You called and texted him, but there was no answer. Mutual friends and acquaintances didn't say anything either.

Your search was unsuccessful. It was only a month later that you found out that someone you knew had seen Noah at the airport that ill-fated day. And all you had to do was hope that he was alive.

~

You were returning home from the store when you saw a familiar figure near your house. You were already beginning to think that it was a hallucination, but as you got closer, you realized that it really was him. Three months have passed, and you still couldn't forget that asshole. Noah, in turn, looked like a naughty puppy. He was standing near the gate of the house, his head down, obviously thinking about something.

"Noah?!" you still called out to the guy, attracting his attention "You... what are you doing here?"

"Hello, sunshine." Noah looks up at you, which literally screams about how guilty he is in front of you "I'm kind of waiting for you here."

"Are you kidding me now?!"

You feel how everything inside begins to boil from the accumulated pain and resentment, and unbidden tears come to your eyes.

"Please wait. Let me explain everything first, and then do whatever you want with me." Noah holds out his hand to you. "And please... come closer, sunshine"

You came closer to the man, restraining yourself so as not to beat him, and then rush into his arms.

"Noah Sebastian Davis, I'm waiting for an explanation! And don't delay it. I'm in a hurry."

"Well... I was flying away on business..."

"Why didn't you warn anyone?! Do you have any idea what my thoughts were when you disappeared?"

"I had my reasons. I needed to be alone."

"Well, if you have to, then stay alone. I've had enough. I have an important meeting.…"

You turned back to the house. Naturally, there was no meeting. You just wanted to show Noah how angry you are at him.

Without saying a word, the man walked up to the motorcycle he came on, took off his helmet and handed it to you, calling out.

" Margot… I beg…"

Turning around, you take the guy's helmet and get on the bike behind him, hugging the guy tightly across his chest.

You missed that asshole too much to refuse at least one trip.

You drove through the streets of the sunny city in silence. You just nuzzled into the guy's back, inhaling such a native scent of perfume and feeling the warmth of his body.

After a while, Noah brought you to his house. You've been here before, but this time he took you to the backyard.

After sitting you down on a wicker chair, the man went into the house and returned after a while with two bottles of beer, one of which he kindly handed to you. You sat in silence for a while, but when she started to escalate, you decided to ask Noah the question that bothered you the most at the moment.

"So... are you going to tell me what made you run away without saying goodbye?"

"You.". He looked at you and turned away, taking a sip of beer from a bottle

"What, I'm sorry? What do you mean, I am?"

"I was scared. So I left."

"I mean, what are you scared?" You absolutely couldn't understand what Noah was talking about and looked at him in disbelief.

"I was scared of a kiss during our sleepover in the car" .

"I still don't understand you..."

"I just thought that maybe the next morning you would understand everything and you would feel disgusted by our kiss." He looked at you, "in case you decide to end our friendship because of this... so I decided not to complicate it all and left."

"God, why are you like this… I remember perfectly well that I was the one who climbed up to you with a kiss. So I owe you an apology." you covered your face with your hands, realizing the absurdity of what happened "I just drank a little too much, and you were imagining something incomprehensible to yourself ... and, by the way, I liked it. I would even repeat it, but only on condition that you don't run away anymore."

"Margot, I'm going to take the beer away from you now, it's a bad influence on you." Noah looks at you seriously for no more than half a minute before he breaks down and smiles.

"Hey, don't be a bore, I was just kidding."

"I was just joking too, sunshine" Noah turns away, but you don't have time to notice how something seems to go out in his gaze.

You were glad that you discussed everything, but after looking at Noah carefully, you realized that he had not told you the whole reason for his escape. Deciding that he would tell you everything later, you did not interrogate him.

You were still sitting for a long time, having drunk more than one or two bottles of beer, when Noah suddenly asked

" Today my friend has a party. Do you want to come with me?"

"In general, I don't mind. Especially with you"

From the author: somehow everything turned out to be messy, sorry

[moonlightazriel]

Like honey /// Azriel X F!Reader

Summary: “Hey, Can you write something like Azriel and reader decided to go on a vacation and they spend the most loved romantic quality time with each other....like walking down the streets of new town together, shopping and Azriel buying lots of stuff for reader.....and ofcourse lots of intense sex ,like something about their honeymoon phase ( smutty and fluff )”

Warnings: SMUT ( minors DNI) and fluff

Word Count: 1,6K

Note: I had so much fun writing this, thank you again for this request. This was my first smut, i must admit that i'm a little bit embarrassed but i hope you'll like it.

Main Masterlist

Adriata was a beautiful place, the tall buildings in shades of sand contrasted with the bright blue sky, the pleasant heat and the smell of the sea filled my senses as Az and I walked the cobblestone streets, people sat outside, enjoying the sun and laughing. Children ran and ate ice cream, my heart was pounding happily watching the scene.

“What do you think about having an ice cream and going to the beach?” Azriel looked more relaxed than I'd ever seen him, the light clothes that Mor made sure to put in our suitcase fit him very well, he wore a white T-shirt with a few buttons open, showing the tattoo on his chest. The sun lit up his face, his hazel eyes shone brightly, a light touch of gold colored his irises, and his hair looked even darker. He would always be the most handsome male I'd ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on, and knowing he was also my mate and husband made the moment seem even more magical.

It had been less than two days since we arrived in town, a gift Feyre gave us. Two weeks of vacation at the summer court, since according to her, we couldn't spend our honeymoon in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. We were staying in a house near the beach, the view from the master bedroom was directly to the infinite blue sea.

Az and I decided to explore the city and in the evening he had reservations for a dinner at a restaurant on the sea, despite all the dresses I had, he insisted that I choose something new, I ended up opting for a light blue dress, with a flowing skirt and a crossed neckline, simple but elegant enough for the occasion.

Before I could even respond, he was pulling me to the nearest ice cream shop. We waited our turn, thanking them when our order was delivered, and we walked back towards the beach.

Az stopped in front of a window, the jewelry attracting the attention of anyone who passed by. He looked at me and pulled me into the store. “That way you'll buy me the whole city” I said with a smile on my face.

“If this keeps that beautiful smile on your face, I'll even buy Tarquin's castle” I rolled my eyes playfully, he started talking to the clerk while I looked at the store, everything looked extremely fancy and expensive, but a piece caught my attention, It was a shell-shaped necklace, encrusted with sapphires, which reminded me of the siphons Az wore. “That one over there too” He pointed over my shoulder and shot me a wink. Turning to the counter, I looked at the piece he had chosen, a pair of black diamond earrings, it was beautiful, he knew me very well. “I think this one suits your dress a lot, let's take both.”

Before we finally made it to the beach, Az made sure to stop at a few more stores and buy more gifts, his arms full of bags as we sat on the sand.

“You know you don't need all that, right? That just being with you makes me feel like the happiest female in the whole world, I doubt anyone could be happier than I am right now.” I said, leaning my head on his shoulder as we watched the sunset. His head turned towards me, leaning his forehead against mine and looking deep in my eyes, I could see all the love he felt for me there, reflecting my own feelings.

We enjoyed each other's company in comfortable silence, these were one of our favorite moments when we could be silent just feeling each other's presence.

“I think we should go back if we want to get to the restaurant on time.” He stood up, his hand pulling me up, he turned me around, brushing the sand off my clothes.

Later

The restaurant was surreal, a staircase took us to a large hall covered by a glass dome that allowed us to see the bottom of the sea, fish and other creatures swimming around, it was quite a sight.

“This place is breathtaking.” I commented, still looking around in wonder, but my husband's gaze remained fixed on me.

“You are breathtaking, I don't think I'll ever get tired of saying how beautiful you are, the most perfect piece that the cauldron has ever created.” Even though we'd been together for quite some time before the bond snapped, I never got used to his compliments, my cheeks heated up violently and I laughed like a little girl.

“I absolutely don't deserve you, whatever I did was definitely pure luck. I thank The Mother every day for giving me you.” This time Azriel who blushed, his shadows brushing gently against the exposed skin of my leg making me shiver.

The night was perfect, the food served was of the highest quality, we laughed and danced. As we left, Az picked me up in his lap, making me laugh, he took off, the night breeze ruffled our hair, and I clung to him with all my might, my head buried in his chest, inhaling his scent. He landed on the wide porch, moonlight illuminating his face as he let go of me, completely intoxicated by him, I pulled him to me, our lips in sync, I was hungry and I could feel my arousal building, I needed him even more than air to breathe.

His hands landed on my ass, and with one thrust, he lifted me, my legs wrapped around his waist, and he led us into the room. My back was placed carefully on the soft surface of the double bed.

Azriel positioned himself between my legs, the scent of our arousal filling the room, he kissed me intensely, and I pulled him closer, our bodies merging into one.

My hands desperately tried to open the buttons of his shirt, he laughed as he broke the kiss, taking the piece off he kissed me again, my nails scraped the tanned skin of his back, and I felt him harden even more against me.

“I could never get tired of this.” He whispered in my ear as he brushed his erection against me, his kisses went down to my neck, kissing the sensitive spot near my ear, while his agile hands untied my dress, in a single movement I was only in my panties, his smirk grew as his eyes devoured every bit of my bare skin. “Absolutely perfect.”

His hand gripped my left breast, thumb and forefinger squeezing the nipple in a painfully pleasurable way as his mouth circled the other, biting and licking, making a moan escape my lips.

My cunt throbbed in anticipation, his free hand slipped between us and he slipped a finger under my panties. “Already so wet for me love.” His voice was barely a whisper as he trailed the kisses down my body. My skin burned with his touch and a loud moan escaped my mouth when he put my underwear down and his tongue found my hot core. He licked from up and down, testing and humming in satisfaction. “Tastes just like honey.” His tongue circled my clit, making my eyes roll back in pure pleasure, he inserted a finger inside of me, making me grind my hips, looking for more. “So greedy.” he hummed against me, sending an electrical wave over my body.

My belly tighten as they orgasm grew, my hand held his hair, keeping him in place as he devoured me. The sound that came out of me we’re complete primal, a wasn’t able to contain myself anymore, and this only encouraged him to go faster. My orgasm hit me on a strong wave, tears of pure bliss escaped my eyes. He got up, looking at me, the only light In the room being provided by the moon.

“I need you, I want to feel you.” I said pulling him closer as i controlled my body again. He smiled, his thumb caressing my cheek as he rise to get rid of his pants. His naked figure was beyond words, it was like a god was standing in front of me, sending everything I was feeling through the bond, he came onto me again, positioning himself on my entry, he looked me in the eyes waiting for my approval. I nodded slightly and he entered me slowly, his size filling me completely, we both sigh at the feeling.

“So tight for me my love, do you want me to move?” I couldn’t force myself to speak so i just pulled him closer, he got the hint as he started moving, in a slow pace, ever so gentle, he waited for me to adjust before starting getting faster.

He was pounding faster and faster, my moans only got louder to the point that I was just screaming his name. He rubbed my clit and i felt my walls clenching around him as my second orgasm got closer. Azriel was so good at this that I knew I wasn't going to be able to last any longer, he knew it too. Touching my forehead with his own, he spoke:

“I’m right here with you, this time we go together ok?” I nodded to him, too lost on him to form a sentence that make sense. Pulling him impossibly closer, we both moaned together as we reached the skies , our orgasms hitting us at the same time. He kissed me again, before slipping out of me and pulling me closer to sleep in his chest.

“I love you so much.” I whispered, feeling my eyelids heavy with sleep.

“I love you even more.” He said closing his wings around us.

[pearlescent-princess]

In my dream, I fell through galaxies upon galaxies. I remember being on a ring shaped station, more of a waiting place. It was like an overlook to the rest of the universe, or at least to what was below. I looked at the surroundings in this open-air place, at least at the sides to see what was there. I could see the world below. It was different, as if I had to pass through a nebula, or this storm of green, yellow, and red all blended together. It reminded me of cotton candy.

I wasn't scared as I jumped over the side. I finger waved to the people I was near and let myself go. It was unique feeling as I dove down before I caught myself again, perhaps magically. Or I had come into contact with another ring station. I am not sure. It gets muddled. From there, I had seen more cascading universes and galaxies. They were not like the static images, they moved in a more viscous manner than I expected. I was trying to find mine, but even with help I do not think I found it.

Other tidbits I remembered were about being on a train. I sat in the front and remember it turned into a boat after. Something about it went on the water, and almost was enveloped in it. There were dolphins, a whole pod of them, I saw between my small points of dozing off in-dream (where I remember seeing more space scenes). I was at a beach after, dolphins swam around there, and I was to find three people to speak of a prophecy to them. I knew what was in store, and I was to tell them how to solve it. Somewhere along the lines I saw a male lion, there was something about him not being fed, but that mystery wasn't for me to solve.

Don't remember much else.

[columjoe]

Pls tell abt your Joe and Columbo headcanons? 👀

Thank you for your ask Anon :) I have quite a few headcanons for Joe and Columbo :) The main one being that I like to think that they met once (or maybe more than once) when they were younger. I think this is very possible with what we know in canon about their characters. Columbo grew up in New York and we get to hear his lovely family anecdotes throughout the series including in this episode. One of the first things Columbo says to Joe is the pinball reminds him of going to the corner candy store when he was a kid. Joe also fled to New York as a kid when he escaped from prison. So it could be possible that they met when they were both kids. Maybe just briefly or maybe they became friends. That could be why they have such a connection in the episode - they maybe aren't aware of it but they've met before.

This could even be alluded to in canon when Columbo says they have met before even if it was just Columbo seeing Joe doing his show without Joe realising. This is fascinating to me too as Columbo seems genuinely impressed with Joe and not just flattering him.

More like flirting tbh :) Then later when they are playing darts together at the Irish pub the story of Sergeant Gilhooley - his sergeant back when Columbo first joined the NYPD is shared. This is one of the few times we hear Columbo specifically reference that part of his life. I think it's really significant and shows how he's comfortable enough with Joe and prepared to share these little things about himself and his background. And he does it in such a way that's natural, friendly and warm and doesnt come over as just a ploy or distraction as it does with other suspects throughout the series. Joe too shares little pieces of his background. We don't get to read his book like Columbo does (although imagining what's in there would make great fanfic and headcanons) but we get a lot alluded to over the episode. It gives the viewer lots of scope to fill the blanks in themselves which is another reason I love this episode and this pairing. There is just so much subtext!!!! :) We hear Joes tales told in public with humour but when he talks to Columbo about being a kid alone on the streets of New York he becomes sad and distant for a moment as he remembers before his ready smile returns. This is a glimpse of the sadness beneath his outwardly jovial self. I think he had suffered real trauma and lost some of his family to the conflict. And that can also be a reason for his drinking. Trying to cope. And also for why he feels so strongly for his cause. I see Joe being taken in by the O'Connells first as a worker and then as an ally and this is why I think he is loyal to them. It isn't stated as such in the episode but I see Kerry as Joes nephew and his mother as Joes sister. And I see him being very protective over him to the point where Joe would definitely go to jail to spare Kerry and keep him safe. I also have thoughts about Joe and Kerry being a cute little found family with Columbo and Dog. And sometimes with Columbo's wife who I see as more his childhood bestie in my universe. I love Joe's collection of floofy jumpers and I think Columbo does too :) They are so snuggly. The way the episode ends with that whole hand holding 'we are getting engaged' scene and Joe's offer for Columbo to 'join him ' and Columbo actually accepting - it just gives me so many thoughts :) So many directions this could go in post-canon. In my 'verse where Joe gets a redemption arc and gets to use his writing and fundraising for peaceful, healing purposes I can see them going on little adventures and even Joe helping out on Columbo's cases. Like Columbo's wife gets to do in canon but Joe is helping out and being a sounding board actually on screen :) This would be my little spin off series:) I can picture them together in Joes lovely little house near the beach (which is one of my favourite houses in the series btw as it's not too fancy and just matches Joes personality perfectly) A beautiful sunset over the sea and Joe doing some writing while snuggled up with Columbo and Dog on the sofa or in their little garden. I see them sharing coffee in the mornings, going for walks along the beach with Dog, getting an ice-cream together, talking through cases or about Joes latest book…..

So many possibilities…… I just can't see any other suspect going bowling with Columbo but Joe so would. Perfect date night………bowling, dinner of chilli, then darts and drinks in the pub :) We actually get these lunch and drink dates in canon so we are blessed :) I love that we get a Columbo and suspect relationship that is on a more equal footing. They both even know that the other knows Joe did it but they are still just so friendly with each other and genuinely enjoy each others company. I love the chemistry between the characters and the actors. It made me seek out other films and shows that Clive Revill has done and he is such a lovely, talented and interesting person too. I love the subtext. There are just so many fascinating choices made throughout the episode from a shipping point of view……. To name but a few……. The whole first meeting with the pinball, crawling around on the floor together, the resting on the beds together, the lunch date, the casual hugs and touches, the sharing of their respective backgrounds, the pub crawl date complete with moonlit stroll and romantic backdrop, the hand holding over the table in the last scene…….etc…… It's just impossible not to ship :) And fun to put the characters in different situations. Being cute and fluffy together. Columbo has always been a special show to me because of childhood memories and the character is so wonderful. And with my fangirl gaze that just picks up any kind of subtext and runs with it - it was inevitable I'd eventually ship him with Joe. The case can be made with other suspects through the series of course and I can see that too….. But these two will always be my OTP of the series. I have so many ships that I love but these two were one of the first. And one of the only ones with hardly any content online (this was before Columbo became popular on Tumblr). So I thought I'd remedy that by creating a lil sideblog :)

Sorry for rambling on…….I was just so excited to answer an ask! Thank you again Anon :) Please feel free to ask anything else about what I've written here or anything at all about these two! Also please feel free to share your own headcanons for Columbo and Joe! Id really love to hear them :)