#was gonna line it but i never got around to it

[dc-sideblog]

Okay so I said more thoughts would go in the fic, and they did, here's the relevant snippet. Context you need to know: this comes from a Green Lantern Steph fic where she was recruited by Kyle right after Final Night and Batman firing her for the first time. Steph is crashing on Donna's couch because this was the era where she refused to go home to her mom

There was a knock on the window.

Kyle was floating out there. He waved sheepishly.

Donna sighed and pushed her chair back, opening the window to let him fly in. Kyle landed and his uniform vanished in a wash of green light and sparkles.

It occurred to Steph that this was the first time she had seen him out of uniform. Turns out Kyle was a leather jacket, combat boots, Nine Inch Nails t-shirt kinda guy. Who knew?

“So I’ve been evicted,” he said. “Something about not paying my rent for the past two months? Weird. Totally thought I had done that.”

“Uh-huh. So you got evicted and you came straight here? What exactly are you expecting, Mr. Rayner? My couch is taken.”

“Well,” he said. He leaned in, cupping Donna’s face. “I was hoping you wouldn’t want me sleeping on the couch.”

“That’s a bit presumptuous.”

“Is it? I seem to recall you—”

Steph cleared her throat loudly. “Reminder that I am here,” she said.

Kyle jerked back like he was shocked. “Oh! Hi, Steph.”

“’Sup,” she nodded. She twirled her fork around some noodles.

“Would you like some spaghetti?” Donna asked.

“I would love some,” Kyle said.

A minute later, he was sitting at the small table with her and Donna, steaming plates of spaghetti in front of them all.

“Thank you so much for putting us both up, Donna,” Kyle said.

“Yeah, thanks,” Steph agreed.

“It’s no problem,” she said. Her lips twisted wryly. “I’ve heard plenty from Diana about how often Hal was homeless. I expected it to happen sooner or later.”

“Homeless? We’re not homeless,” Kyle said.

“Oh? Then how would you describe it?”

“I’m just temporarily couch-surfing,” he said. “The starving artist bit is tired, Donna. I swear I’m not a bum. I’ll be out of your hair in a few weeks, tops.”

“I’d get over whatever hangup you have about the word ‘homeless,’ Kyle. It seems to be a fact of life for Lanterns. You’re gonna have to get used to it sooner rather than later.”

“The other Lanterns were all homeless?” Steph asked.

“Well, I don’t know about John and Guy, but Hal in particular always had trouble with stability. He was off-planet so often, you know. Didn’t give him much opportunity to hold down jobs or pay his rent on time. It was a recurring problem, especially towards the end.”

“He was a veteran, right?” Kyle asked. He twirled some noodles around his fork. “Was he in any assistance programs for that?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so,” Donna said. “He mainly relied on his friends, Barry and Oliver. Oliver especially. But then…”

“Yeah,” Kyle said.

They ate in silence for a moment.

Steph thought about that. About Hal Jordan, as a homeless veteran. As a soldier, still fighting, just in a very different battlefield. Putting his life on the line every day out in space. Doing the unseen work that almost no one on Earth knew about, much less understood.

She thought about how Batman always talked about him. About what a failure he was, how incompetent he was, how reckless and brash and cocky and a thousand other negative things he thought about the Green Lantern. She thought about how much money Batman had to have. It was coming from somewhere, and it was seemingly limitless, to fund all that tech and gear of his.

Batman had never been homeless. Not a day in his life. Steph may not be trusted with his identity, but she still knew that for a fact.

She thought about his leadership of the Justice League. How they all fell in line with his ideas. How isolated Hal had been towards the end. All his friends dead, his city gone, his support network completely deteriorated.

She thought about the idea of a savior of the planet, the universe, sleeping on the street. She thought about Batman criticizing him at work the next day. She thought about Hal detransforming his uniform and becoming just another homeless veteran in a soup kitchen for dinner afterwards. She thought about Batman going home to gourmet meal and a bed with silk sheets.

She wondered if Hal had even considered going to any other member of the Justice League. Or if they had all been marked as Batman’s friends, not his, not safe options for help. Because Hal’s friends were dead.

And now Hal was dead.

She wondered how Batman talked about her, to others.

She wished she could have met Hal before he died.

At the end of the day Hal Jordan is just another homeless veteran. He does unpaid hard labor every day and gets belittled and blamed by the 1% (Bruce)

[kiwriteswords]

If we're talking angst with Aaron Hotchner, I feel like a miscarriage would do good to break his heart (if you're comfortable writing such a heavy topic, of course!)

No words appear before me in the aftermath [Aaron Hotchner x Female Reader]

Masterlist || Ao3||Word Count: 1k|| AN: Well, this took an emotional toll! Sort of inspired by the scene in Grey's Anatomy with Meredith Grey! Also, peep the new 'taglist' banner! I really like how it turned out!

Tags/Warnings: miscarriage, pregnancy, angst, blood, traumatic event, canon typical events, canon typical themes, canon typical language, BAU team member reader, established relationship, hurt/comfort, concerned Derek, concerned, Spencer, concerned Rossi

Summary: "Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. You were bigger than the whole sky. You were more than just a short time. I've got a lot to pine about. I've got a lot to live without. I'm never gonna meet, what could've been, would've been, what should've been you."

In the muted light, the BAU team maneuvered through the abandoned warehouse, their breaths visible in the chill air. Aaron Hotchner led with the precision of a seasoned commander, his eyes scanning for danger; his heart, however, remained anchored to you. 

His partner in every sense. 

Despite being married for some time now, the thrill of working alongside you never waned. The team admired your synergy, the seamless dance of mutual respect, and whispered strategies. You bettered each other and for that? The team was grateful. 

As gunfire erupted, chaos threaded through the precision. Aaron commanded, "Cover! Now!" 

His voice was the calm in the storm, but his gaze instinctively sought you out. You moved with practiced ease, though your face was pale.

The exchange of bullets echoed a grim symphony. Spencer and Derek flanked you, moving as one unit. But as the final shot silenced the night, halting the unsub, a different, sharper silence fell over you. 

Clutching your side, you staggered slightly, the color drained from your face not just from exertion but from pain--a deep, gnawing pain that didn't come from any bullet. Your knees felt weak; a sour taste filled your mouth. 

The physical manifestation of your emotional turmoil was evident in your trembling hands and the way your body seemed to sag under the weight of the news. 

"Derek, check her!" Spencer's voice cracked through the tension, his youthful face lined with worry.

Derek approached, his brow furrowed. "You're bleeding... a lot. Were you hit?" His question hung heavy in the cold air.

You shook your head, moisture glossing your eyes, not from the icy wind but from a storm within. "No, I... it's not that."

Across the warehouse, Aaron knelt beside the subdued unsub, his duty momentarily anchoring him to the spot. But his eyes were locked on you, sensing the distress in Derek's tone. The local PD was moving in, ready to take over, allowing Aaron the space to be not just a unit chief but a concerned husband. His responsibilities as a leader momentarily set aside, he moved towards you, his focus narrowing to the palpable tension surrounding you.

As Aaron approached, he noticed the stark contrast of the blood against your clothing, and his heart skipped a beat. The scene around him: the flashing lights, the murmur of the police radios, all faded into a blur. 

Only you and your pain remained sharply in focus.

Always keenly observant, Rossi stepped in, his voice gentle yet urgent. "What’s going on?" he asked, looking from you to Aaron, sensing the shift in the air.

The question was too much. The weight of the secret you harbored now bled out in more ways than one. "Stop," you whispered, the single word a dam against your breaking heart. Your eyes met Aaron’s, and in them, he read a thousand chapters of a story you hadn’t yet told him. Miscarriage. The word stood unspoken, a ghost between you. The pain of loss, the fear of the unknown, and the struggle to communicate it all, hung heavy in the air.

You turned away, a lone figure against the backdrop of flashing police lights, walking away from the puddles that mirrored your desolation. Aaron stood frozen, his instincts as a unit chief battling his instincts as a husband. The words to command, to comfort, eluded him.

Seeing Aaron's hesitation, Rossi placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Aaron, she needs you now more than the team does." His voice was low, filled with understanding and a somber recognition of the personal stakes involved.

Spencer, who had hung back, now stepped forward, his voice hesitant but firm. "She wasn't ready to tell us, Hotch. Maybe... m-maybe she wasn't ready to tell anyone yet?" 

Derek, still close by, looked between you and Aaron, regret coloring his tone. "Hotch, I’m sorry, I didn’t know she was..." His voice trailed off, unsure of how much had been understood, how much had been shared.

"Neither did I." Aaron's voice broke, a rare crack in his armor. He hadn’t known about the baby, about the hope you had nurtured silently. Now, all he could see was the future unspooling, threads of joy unraveled into grief. His internal conflict, torn between his role as a leader and his desire to comfort you, was palpable.

The team huddled in a tableau of shared sorrow, the strong men of the BAU grappling with a pain they couldn’t shield you from. As you distanced yourself, the space between you and Aaron felt like miles. He wanted to chase after you, to erase the hurt, but his feet were rooted, his role uncertain, his heart heavy with the shared pain.

He finally found you in the women’s bathroom at the local precinct, the tiles and walls reflecting a cold he couldn’t shake Locking the door behind him, he stood inside. 

You were at the sink, changed from your original clothes into one he recognized as back up from your go-bag. 

Your hands mechanically scrubbing under the relentless stream of water, each motion a futile attempt to cleanse away the tragedy that had stained the day. Stained this chapter in your life.

Water pooled around the drain tinged with a heartbreak that soap couldn’t wash away. 

Your focus was laser-sharp on the pink-tinted water, a cruel reminder of the life that was slipping away from you. Aaron paused at the door, the sight of you grappling alone with your pain tightening his chest.

“Let’s take a minute,” he said gently, his voice a soft contrast to the harsh fluorescent lighting. His words seemed to hover in the humid air, too heavy to immediately absorb.

You didn’t look up, your hands moving to your stained clothes, spot-cleaning the blood that had marked it. The fabric absorbed your focus, your fingers scrubbing rhythmically.

It was a task, something you could control when everything else seemed to unravel. 

“I need to get more jeans for my go-bag,” You said as if it was just an item on your to-do list. As if there wasn’t a life-altering moment happening right before your very eyes.

Aaron moved closer, his reflection ghosting beside yours in the mirror, a shared image of both solidarity and separation. “You don’t have to do this right now,” he murmured, reaching a tentative hand toward your shoulder.

The contact startled you, a lifeline you hadn’t realized you were waiting for. Your eyes met his in the mirror--windows fogged with unshed tears. 

“I need to clean this up,” you insisted, your voice as thin as the paper towels you now snatched up, blotting the damp clothes.

He watched the deliberate way you avoided your reflection, focusing only on the stains you could fight. “You’re not alone in this,” Aaron assured you, his tone threaded with the promise to hold together the pieces of a shared dream that had shattered silently.

The paper towels piled up. Crimson. “I was going to tell you…I wanted to tell you…,” you finally admitted, the words spilling out like the water you couldn’t stop. “A-After the case...”

The confession hung between you, a delicate truth that now lay bare in the most unforgiving of lights. 

Aaron reached for your hands, stilling them. “Let’s just sit for a moment. Together,” he suggested, guiding you away from the sink, away from the relentless reminder of loss.

You allowed him to lead you to a small bench in the corner, the cold of the tile seeping through your clothes, a stark contrast to the warmth of his hand covering yours. Side by side, you sat in a silence that spoke volumes, your breaths syncing in a slow, shared cadence.

Aaron looked at you, really looked. 

Not as a unit chief or a husband seeking to fix things but as a partner sharing in the rawness of the moment. 

“We don’t have to go back out there today,” he said softly, an anchor in the fluidity of grief.

You leaned into him, your head resting against his shoulder. The fight to stay composed ebbing away. 

In the quiet of that sterile space, you found a haven, a shared solitude that didn’t push for answers or action, just presence. He’d always had this effect on you. 

“We both wanted this so much." Your voice just above a whisper. 

Aaron nodded, his cheek resting atop your head. "I know," he murmured. His heart ached with the weight of lost futures. "We wanted it," he repeated, his voice thick with emotion, acknowledging not only the pain of the loss but the depth of the shared desire that had been growing between you.

In the reflection of the darkened mirror, the two of you sat, a poignant picture of what strength truly looked like, not in the avoidance of pain but in the willingness to face it. 

Tag List: @zaddyhotch @estragos @todorokishoe24 @looking1016  @khxna @rousethemouse @averyhotchner @reidfile @bernelflo @lover-of-books-and-tea @frickin-bats @sleepysongbirdsings @justyourusualash @person-005 @iyskgd @hiireadstuff @kcch-ns @alexxavicry

[cece693]

Surfer Boy (SMUT)

pairing: jj maybank x male reader tags: not that well versed in the show, everyone's over the age of 18, adult content, attempted smut from writer, used google to research some of the show, someone requested this character but I lost the request, sorry :(

The golden sun dipped below the horizon, its dying rays streaking the Outer Banks in muted pinks and oranges. You were perched on the worn wooden steps of The Chateau, heart drumming in your chest. You’d never quite believed you’d get to be close to someone like JJ Maybank—reckless, wild, with the sort of grin that could upend your entire day. Yet, here you were, waiting for him to finish checking the surfboards inside.

You could hear JJ’s laughter coming from the shed, followed by the clatter of a board being put away. You inhaled slowly, hands trembling with anticipation and a bit of nerves. You were naturally shy, always second-guessing yourself—especially when you’re with JJ. Despite your reserved nature, you loved making sure he felt cared for. Something about how he unleashed that mischievous spark from your quiet soul...it made you want to give him the world.

Moments later, JJ emerged. He was still in boardshorts, hair an artful mess from the day’s surf, a smirk lingering on his lips. With that roguish tilt to his head, he gave you a look that never failed to make your stomach flip.

“Thanks for waiting on me, big guy,” JJ teased, tapping a finger against your knee before settling down onto the step beside you.

You shrugged, a smile quirking your lips. “I wouldn’t leave you behind.”

He leaned closer, his shoulder brushing yours. “You’re sweet,” he murmured, letting his gaze skip over your face. “You don’t have to be so nervous all the time, you know. We’re past that.”

JJ’s gentle coaxing warmed you from within. A few months into this relationship, and you were still amazed that the two of you fit together. On the surface, you seemed like polar opposites: you, the shy, caring type; him, bold, larger than life. But behind closed doors, your dynamic shifted in intriguing ways—JJ, so confident in every other area, found a certain satisfaction in letting you take control when it mattered most.

“Let’s head inside,” you offered softly, your voice nearly lost in the hush of the evening.

He only needed to see the flicker in your eyes to know exactly what you were proposing. Fingers curling around yours, he stood up and guided you in, your heart thudding against your ribcage with every step. The interior of The Chateau was dimly lit by the small lamp in the corner, shadows dancing in the cozy space.

In the calm, with the door closed behind you, the air changed. Electricity buzzed between you and JJ—an unspoken understanding you’d cultivated over stolen nights and whispered confessions. You took a seat on the edge of the couch, patting the cushion next to you. JJ obliged without question, straddling your thighs and placing his hands on your shoulders. His usual cocksure smile softened into something affectionate. “I like it when you get this look in your eye,” he whispered, “like you’re finally gonna show me who’s boss.”

That made you laugh quietly, cheeks flushing. Even though you were shy outside, in intimate moments you had a way of flipping the script—lips brushing just below JJ’s ear, hands guiding him with gentle firmness. You stroked your fingers through his sun-kissed hair, heart hammering at how easily he melted under your touch.

He sighed, a needy sound from somewhere deep in his chest, and pressed his body closer to yours. “C’mon,” JJ breathed, “I need you.”

You swallowed, a thrill running through you. “I’ve got you,” you answered, voice surprisingly steady.

You let your hand slide over JJ’s back, fingers lingering along each line of muscle. Despite your natural shyness, you felt a surge of confidence blossoming whenever you saw how responsive he was—how his breath caught, how he tilted his head back in pleasure.

Your lips met in a patient, exploring kiss. You pressed closer, savoring the warmth of his skin. JJ parted his lips for you, a soft moan slipping free. His fingers curled in your shirt, tugging it up until your abdomen was exposed to the cool air. His eagerness made your chest tighten with fondness, but before you could even express this, it seemed JJ was tired of the softness. Deepening the kiss, his fingers trailed down to the waistband of your pants, deftly undoing them until you felt the cool air against your skin. Before you even had time to protest, JJ had your length in hand, and a delighted gleam lit his gaze.

“Let me,” he whispered, sliding gracefully to his knees.

His mouth brushed your tip, breath ghosting over your skin. You bit back a groan at the soft, slick warmth that followed—JJ’s lips enveloped you in a wave of heat that made your knees threaten to buckle. “J-JJ,” you managed, voice cracking. Your hips wanted to desperately push further into that warmth, but you held back, arms gripping the seat for some semblance of control. But it was JJ who made the decision for you. Reaching up, he grasped your wrists, eyes lighten with devilish command: Don’t hold back. He guided your hands into his blond hair, urging you to grip.

A faint hiss of breath escaped him, almost a moan, as he moved again, taking you deeper into his mouth, tongue swirling with focused purpose. The pleasure made your head spin, and you tried not to tug at his hair too forcefully. But each time you tried to ease up, JJ pressed you tighter against him, an unmistakable insistence that he wanted—needed—the pressure. The sight of him there, pupils dilated, cheeks flushed, threatened to send you over the edge too quickly.

After several dizzying moments, you gently eased him back, breathing hard. He looked up at you, lips glistening, an unapologetic hunger in his eyes. “Too much?” he teased, voice husky.

You shook your head. “No—just…I don’t want to finish before we—”

“Good,” he murmured, standing up and drawing you into another heated kiss. “Because I want you inside me.” There was a fierce undercurrent in his plea—he wasn’t shy about his desire. He turned, tugging you toward the bed, and you followed, heart in your throat.

The instant you both reached the bed, JJ wasted no time. With surprising strength, he hurled you onto the mattress, a desperate gleam in his eyes. The world spun for a moment, but then he was over you, quickly discarding any remaining clothes in his way. His impatience was almost electric in the air; you could feel the tension in every touch.

“Need this,” he breathed, voice rough with want, as he straddled your hips. You tried to steady him, hands coming to grip his hips but he pinned them to the bed. With hooded eyes, you watched as he sunk down onto your length, no preparation nor lube. Both of you let out a sound that was half-gasp, half-moan. JJ’s head tipped back, blond hair falling across his forehead as he took you in deeper. A rush of heat flooded your chest at the sight—he looked utterly consumed, lips parted in ecstasy.

He rocked his hips, finding a rhythm that was more insistent than you’d anticipated. Each roll of his body sent sparks of pleasure skittering down your spine, and your breath caught in your throat. “Faster,” he panted, eyes squeezing shut, a wild urgency threading through every syllable. You could see the flush staining his cheeks, the way his chest rose and fell with each ragged breath.

You tried to offer some gentle guidance—he was moving so fast you worried he might hurt himself—but he shook his head, a determined gleam in his eyes. “I’m good,” he managed, voice trembling with pleasure. “I want it like this.”

His hands found yours again, this time threading your fingers together for balance. The heat of his grip spurred you on, and you finally surrendered to the fervor in his every movement. Each powerful thrust of his hips drew matching gasps and quiet moans from your throat. As he leaned forward, you pressed a hand to his lower back, steadying him while he chased his pleasure. You could feel the tension coiling in his muscles, the slight shudder in his thighs whenever you hit just the right spot. The sounds he made—those breathy whimpers, the ragged moans—told you he was close to unraveling.

His body arched with a sudden snap of motion, head thrown back, eyes nearly rolling shut in ecstasy. “Oh—” he gasped, voice cracking as he lost himself in that powerful rush. The sight of him at the mercy of the sensations he’d demanded brought you close to the edge too, and within moments, you followed, waves of pleasure stealing your breath away.

You stayed like that, chests heaving in tandem, lost to the world. Eventually, JJ slumped forward, forehead resting against yours. The haziness of pleasure still clung to both of you like a heavy fog. When your vision finally cleared, you could see the flushed grin curving at his lips. “I told you,” he murmured, voice still raw, “I wanted it fast.”

You smoothed a hand over his hair, which was slightly damp from exertion. “You did,” you admitted softly, heart still pounding. “Did I hurt you?”

JJ shook his head, capturing your chin with gentle fingers. “Not even close,” he said, pressing a quick, tender kiss to your lips. Then he straightened and added, a mischievous spark returning to his gaze, “Next time, though don’t make me work so hard for it.”

A breathless chuckle escaped you as you curled an arm around his waist, drawing him down to rest against your chest. You could feel the rapid beat of his heart, the shared sense of fulfillment that warmed your entire body. When your breathing finally steadied, you brushed a stray strand of blond hair from his eyes. He grinned, nuzzling closer.

[startheskelaton]

Can you tell us more about Landlot(Sparkplug's ex boyfriend)please?

Oh gosh I'm gonna go on a huge tangent about this guy, mostly because I feel like it.

So Landlot is the newest version of a character that belonged to my own ex boyfriend. However I was the one to properly flesh out his character, the most my ex did was give him a color pallet and basic personality.

For context, One Spark first started as a fanfiction called "End of the rode" made by my ex. It was a post apocalyptic transformers au where the Optimus and Megatron are dead, the autobots are trying to make another arc to get to Cybertron and the decepticons are now led by Starscream. The story only really got a proper threw line when I suggested adding a character I had thought up, Sal Witwicky, the orphaned daughter of Spike Witwicky. Sal's deal was that she resented transformers because they not only destroyed her world, but let her family die, now she's one of few surviving humans. She gets found by Hound and reluctantly agrees to go back with him to the autoboot base.

At one point, Sal was supposed to be horribly injured by Ravage (who was only there because I really liked Soundwave, and his addition helped fill in plot gaps), to the point she was about to die. However they put her in a experimental protoform body... she would now be known... as Sparkplug. (I also came up with this plotline)

Why am I going on about this? Well because it's important to why Land lot exists on my current story. Landlot in the old fanfiction was a twin and was one of the first transformers built on earth, post Sparkplug getting put into robot body. He was supposed to be the leader of his group, as he was kind of a hotrod wanna be. He was also vary clearly a self projection character for my ex, similar to how I tend to project onto Sparkplug. I had offered the idea for Sparkplug and Landlot to be a couple, I can't remember if my ex was on board for the idea or not, however I do remember it being the only thing close to romance in the whole story.

So here we are a good maybe 6 years later. I had a lot of trauma from that relationship to the point I still dream about him, and the moment I realize it's him in my dream, I try and get away from him, not wanting to be with him at all. I won't say I was a saint during that relationship, but I do resent him for being able to find some sense of peace with intimacy. A lot of shit happened... So when I decided to remake the Transformers AU, I was mean to Landlot.

So who is Landlot in the One Spark AU?

Well he's a 1970's Plymoth GX, who emerged with his twin sister, Defender. They emerged pretty soon after the matrix awakened the energon on earth. They emerged vary close to the autobot base and were taken in and trained like any normal sparkling would be trained back on Cybertron. He fit in vary well as he remined a lot of the autobots of the older days, just a bunch of guys who turned into cars acting like heroes and messing around. He would become a poster boy for the transformers born on Earth.

How did he end up dating Sparkplug? Well I'll tell yah. Despite a lot of my art showing people dotting over Sparkplug, that wasn't the case for a majority of the autobots, yes a good amount of them formed bonds with her, but it was only because they were related to prime. Bot's like Ironhide, sideswipe, Blur, Proceptor and a good amount of other autobot's being vary against Megatron and Soundwave being allowed to join, and some are still convinced that Sparkplug is just part of a secret plan of Megatron to try and take over earth again.

So a lot of bots stayed away from her, and this bias would trickle down to the new earth born bots on the base. So Sparkplug never had any friends her age, the closet being Rumble and Frenzy who were basically teenagers when she was born. However Sparkplug did grow up to be rather pretty... well... as pretty as you can be while being a weird combination of two bots. Even though she tried to talk to the other young bots, her awkwardness and bluntness only made them stay away from her. However Landlot slip in, seeing an opportunity to have a cute/shy girlfriend. Sparkplug fell hard and fast for him because she had never had anyone interested in her romantically. He would try and mold Sparkplug into a sweet, dotting and helpless shy girl that would hang on his arm to make him look cooler. Because how badass would it be to show that he was able to get the notorious Megatron's daughter to be his side chick.

Eventually, Sparkplug got tired of getting the short end of the stick and decided to break up with him after seeing that he was trying to get with other bots behind her back, bot's that vary clearly didn't like her.

So that's where they stand as of now. Landlot is still a celebrated leader for his heroics and fun personality, while Sparkplug just only got passed to go on missions and was put on the most mind numbing job imaginable.

sorry that this is so long, I just really wanted to share all this info

[basil-the-bulbasaur]

Ok so, I might have had plot injected directly into my brain and now I have about 1000 words of mostly unedited (grammar should be fine, but pacing? I do not know her) solidaritek

They're toys. Tango's arm breaks (this is a bit of an understatement) and I tried to make the workshop seem creepy. Body horror if you're a toy. I don't think it's very graphic, but this is your warning if you don't want to read that

The Cowboy and the Snowglobe [working title]

I first saw him from across the shop. The wintery toys had just been moved out: nutcrackers, trains, colourful baubles, dolls, stuffed toys, and–amidst all the other snowglobes–him. 

While most of the snowglobes had people in brighter colors, he wore dark reds and blacks, his yellow hair was as bright as a candle. Some might have said he looked out of place next to them, I just thought he looked beautiful.

As soon as the shop closed for the night I darted off my shelf to greet the newcomers. I wrapped my lasso around the string of banners connecting our shelves, got a running start, and jumped. I let go at the lowest point–muscle memory at this point, especially with the banners in my face–and stuck a perfect (as always) three point landing.

Alright Jimmy, just act cool. I thought to myself as I greeted everyone on my way over to the handsome stranger. And then I slipped on a marble. 

“AAAHHHH!” Gosh, I haven't even talked to this guy and I'm already making a fool out of myself. Great–

“Indiana Jones rope swinging skills and you can do the splits? Who knew a toy could be so multi-talented.” 

He was smirking when I looked up. One arm rested against the snowman standing next to him. His tail swayed behind him. If he could’ve moved his legs he probably would have crossed them.

“There uh, there aren't usually marbles there.” I stood up, trying to laugh off my literal slip up.

“What's your name, Indie?”

I forced myself to smile as I met his–brilliantly red–eyes, “Jimmy Solidarity, I’m the sheriff ‘round these parts,” I said, tilting my hat to show off the badge. Technically, I wasn't the only sheriff, but seeing as the others rarely left our shelf, I didn't think it worth mentioning, “And you? What's your name?”

He stared into the distance for a moment before answering, “Tango um, Tango of the Tek variety, and this is Freezy.”

“Right, nice meeting you, Tango. I guess I'll catch you later.”

“Wait!” I turned back around to face him, “Sorry, I just- you're probably busy sheriffing-”

“Not really, no.”

“It's just, you're the first person I've ever talked to. So-”

“Not gonna lie, I came down here to talk to you.”

“Really?”

Why did I say that out loud? “Yeah, yeah.”

“Well, snookums, you should have just said so.” 

I was incredibly glad my blush was painted. If I had blood I probably would have turned as red as Tango's eyes.

“Right then, what does snow feel like?”

—----------

I started visiting Tango every night after the shop closed. He had a much better view of the floor than I did, even if we both witnessed the same events I liked listening to him talk. 

He also had an amazing imagination. Tango told me all about the mazes and games he would make if he wasn't in a snowglobe. I would've loved to help, but I've never been very technically minded. 

Until one day–I was watching and I'm still not entirely sure what happened. One moment a child was inspecting the snowglobes, then there was a shattering of glass and Tango was lying on the ground in a puddle, his arm shattered.

The toymaker swept up the glass and took Tango into some room where I couldn't see him.

—----------

The moment the lock clicked shut I jumped to the floor and darted under the door into the room where Tango had been taken. 

This room was different. Instead of fully formed toys, the shelves were lined with blocks of wood and clay. Sharp knives, chisels, and files hung on the wall. Even a few saws loomed overhead. 

In the middle of the workshop stood a large desk and chair. Lights from outside illuminated its surface.

“Tango, are you in here?” My voice echoed in the quiet room.

“Jimmy?”

I used my lasso for extra grip as I scrambled up the desk, coming face-to-face with an image that will haunt me for the rest of my days.

Its surface was covered in half formed bodies. A lump of clay crudely mimicking the form of a giraffe; arms reaching out from blocks of wood, and, sitting in the middle of it all-

“Tango.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief as I ran to meet him, wooden and ceramic fingers sliding together like they were designed for each other.

“Are you alright? Does your arm hurt? Can you stand up?”

“Jim! Jimmy, I’m fine. I can’t feel much of anything with this,” He waved what remained of his left arm in front of me. The sharp edges had been filed down to a smooth stump. “It’s just numb. And I think I can stand. It’s weird being able to move my legs after so long standing in one spot.”

“Do you know what’s going to happen to you?”

Tango looked away. “It sounded like the toymaker was going to make me a new arm and put me in another snowglobe.”

“But, this is the first time I’ve gotten to hold you! I can’t–Tango. Tango, look at me.” I reached out to cradle his face in my other hand, watching for any discomfort, “I love you, and I don’t know what I would do if I never got to hold you again, if you got sold and I never got to hear your voice again. And I don’t know what to do or how to get out of here or what, but please, Tango, please don’t leave me.”

Tango unlaced his fingers from mine and pulled me into a hug, "Alright, we’ll find a way out of here, I promise, but,” he pulled back to look at me, “Sitting here crying isn’t going to get us any closer to freedom, c’mon!”

I gripped Tango’s arm as we stood up, his legs slightly unsteady.

“I love you too, by the way.” Tango murmured as he pulled me into a quick hug. “Come on, cowboy, I bet there’s something in here we could break a window with!”

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

I don't know why I wrote this in first person. It was not easy, but I do like to imagine Tango and Jimmy years later living in a tree hollow or something. Jimmy decides to write a memoir. Tango reads over the intro and calls Jimmy out because "You could not see me well enough from that far away to determine my beauty."

Day 266: very 🤏

[evilbirdy]

🄼🅈 🄾🄽🄻🅈 🄻🄾🅅🄴

𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔~ 𝑜𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝒷𝓎 𝐿𝑒𝑒𝐻𝒾

𝒮𝑒-𝑀𝒾 𝓍 𝒻𝑒𝓂!𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝑒𝓇

𝔾𝕦𝕪𝕤 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟’𝕥 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕥 𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕞𝕖, 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕚𝕗 𝕚𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕘𝕒𝕞𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕤𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕕 𝕘𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤, 𝕀 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕕𝕚𝕖 𝕤𝕠 𝕗𝕒𝕤𝕥. 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕓𝕖 𝕒 𝕓𝕚𝕥 𝕣𝕦𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕀 𝕕𝕠 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕪’𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕖𝕟𝕛𝕠𝕪 𝕚𝕥. <𝟛

When your girlfriend told you about these games where you could earn money, you excepted easy children games, not deathly ones.

“I’m sorry I brought us into this,” she muttered, you turned to her lightly nudging her arm.

“Look it’s not big deal, okay. We just have to survive enough to pay off everything then we leave,” she nods at you then goes to her bunk as you went to yours.

You both had agreed to keep your relationship private from the other players, thinking that some people might get messy and use you guys against each other.

“Senorita can I talk to you?” you turned to see a tall dude with purple hair and another dude with shoulder length hair trailing behind him. You recognized him, he is that ‘underground rapper’ your younger brother gushes over.

You tilted your head, signaling him to continue.

“How would you like to join me and my buddy, Nam-su here,” you pretended not to notice his friend grumble behind him.

“Hmm should I?” You smiled, crossing your arms.

“I’ll keep you safe and help you win, then once I get my share, I’ll help you travel the world and you can be my girl,” you chuckled at his attempt to get with you.

“Not really interested,” His reaction almost made you laugh out loud. You can tell that people normally don’t tell him no.

“But I am in need of a team, this isn’t me accepting your whole ‘be my girl’ thing but I rather have alliances,” he then smiles and drags you over with him to his little area.

Se-Mi couldn’t help but stare from afar. She wanted to go up and tell him to back off but she kept her cool.

You entered the room for the second game, you followed Thanos aimlessly knowing people are practically lining to team up with him.

“Senorita, excuse me,” you look up, finding out that the lucky person he chose was your girlfriend, herself. She glanced over at you for a quick second, you notice her tapping her arm, it was a small signal you guys do to check up on each other when others are around.

You zone out a bit as the two talked. You fiddled with your tracksuit and hands.

“This is Nam-su and this is (your name),” you quickly looked up right, we are pretending to not know each other.

Se-Mi introduces her little friend; Min-su. Hmm he is a little cutie, he reminds you of her younger cousin maybe that’s why she picked him.

When you sat on the ground waiting for the game to start, you had assumed that she would want us to sit far apart but she sat right to you. The game had started and you felt nervous for the players, looked at the clock as the time goes down. You looked down at your shoes, tracing lines on it, you stayed in the small happy place, it was disturbed by a round of gunshots. You felt Se-Mi pull you against her.

You grabbed her hand, hiding it under both your legs so no one gets suspicious. You watched as she fought with Nam-gyu a bit, you squeezed her hand telling her to quit it. She gave you a small smile and squeezed back. You all passed the second game, you sat next to her as we wait for the remaining players to either die or pass the game.

“Hey Min-su, why don’t you go count all the players,” Nam-gyu tells Min-su.

“Why,” Minsu plays with his hands and his suit. You bit your tongue not liking how Nam-gyu is talking to him.

Min-su was gonna get up and do what he says before Se-Mi stops him and pulls him back down.

“Why does he need to count? Are you stupid?” you laugh into your hand as she says that.

“Fucking bitch,” he says

“Hey don’t talk about her like that, just because you never got attention from your own mother doesn’t mean you get to disrespect women,” you heard Se-Mi hype you up holding up a fist bump for you and you returned it.

“enough,” Thanos says. He goes around saying we need to treat each other like friends and asked us our birth years. I couldn’t help but stifle my laugh and side eye Se-Mi when she lies about her year.

As time passed, you did hang out with Se-Mi more than others, Thanos shrugged it off as ‘girl power’ and leaved it be.

The third game had started, you stayed next to Se- Mi the entire time.

“Four” the voice rang out.

You felt nervous, before you even realized it, Se-Mi was pulled from your grasp. She was fighting against Thanos and Nam-guy’s grip. You breathed out heavy.

You are so fucked

You were going to accept your fate when you were dragged into a room. You looked up at your saviors. It was players 456, 001, and 390. You have seen them around.

“Thank you so much,” they nodded at you, then turned to each other hoping their other teammates found a room.

You walked out, almost slipped on some blood. You see Se-Mi in the distance. As much as you wanted to run up to her and hug her tight, decided not to, given the circumstances, you felt your heart break noticing her sad glances towards you.

You were invited by 456 to join their team. You accepted and played a couple of rounds. You hear the voice yell out “2’ and told everyone that you were gonna find someone. They nodded and told you to stay safe as you ran off.

You were looking for Se-Mi and you felt your heart pounding, you were then pulled into a room, you felt relief at the familiar hand tugging you.

You sighed happily when Se-Mi locked the door, you wrapped your arms around her as she wrapped hers around your waist.

“I’m sorry,” you hear her whisper to you, you hug her tighter.

“I tried to fight them off b-but I couldn’t…I thought I lost you..I was so scared,” you pulled back from her, wiping her tears.

“It’s okay baby, I’m safe and you’re safe, that’s all I care about. What happened? Where’s Min-su?” her face falters, her fingers tugging on my suit.

“In the round for the team of three, I told him that we were gonna go look for you but.. he chose to go with Thanos,” You sigh, playing with her hair.

The buzzer is heard before the doors unlocked, we walk out. The once clean floor decorated with blood. You turned to Se-Mi following her gaze to see a guilty Min-su.

She grabs your hand and pulls you to the doors. Thankfully that was the final round and you can return to the common room.

You brought her over to the 456’s team, he looks up and smiles.

“282, you survived,” you nod, then tilted your head down.

“I hope it’s not too late to join your team, I’m ready to go home,” he motions you two over to sit with them. You introduced them to Se-Mi.

You saw her staring off again, noticing Thanos and Nam-gyu glaring at you both. You squeezed her hand and pulled it on your lap, fidgeting with her rings.

You felt your heart drop as you hear players being elimated, but a game never happened, a bunch of players walked out bloodied.

Are you serious? Killing each other counts as a game.

456 told you about the plan and you ran to tell Se-Mi.

“But Nam-gyu might attacked,” you interrupted her by grabbing her face.

“Se-Mi I swear to everything, if you die, I will bring you back to kill you myself,” she smile and kissed your forehead.

“Okay, I’ll stick with you,I promise.”

When the lights went out and the chaos ensured, Se-Mi grabbed your hand the entire time. You guys were under the bed with player 222 and 388. You watched as Nam-gyu went on his killing spree, you pulled Se-mi closer to you. When the lights turned back on and some of them players took the guards’ guns, you and Se-Mi chose to stay in the common room with the others.

You sat at the top of the bunk, looking at the aftermath of everything. You see Min-su looking at you both from the other side, you send him a smile and wave.

“Hey, where do you wanna go after this?” You look up at Se-mi, she was staring at the ceiling, playing with her lip piercing.

“Home,” you scoffed, laying your head on her shoulder.

“Yeah but like other than home, like let’s get away, enjoy life when we have it,” your eyebrows raise, you never except a line like that from your girlfriend.

“Welll…I always wanted to go to the US,” you always wanted to travel the world but you two had only a penny to your name.

“Then that’s where we will go,” she takes your hand and kisses it.

“I love you, (your name).”

“I love you, Se-Mi.”

[shoukokus]

How would the door leaders (Housewardens) react to an extremely flirty reader (if the housewardens flirts back the reader would double down with even more flirt)?

I love this. Where my fellow don't know when they're flirting people at?

Riddle Rosehearts

You'll have to give him the most obvious flirtatious comment for him to realize that's what you're doing. But once he gets it, oh boy.

Turns ridiculously red, whether you're together or not

If you aren't, he says with a huge stutter that you need to watch what you say

If you are, he tries to be smoother with it

"Ah, yes, thank you..." He clears his throat. "You look lovely as well."

Please just don't do it in front of people, he'll clam up and be very uncomfortable

Leona Kingscholar

Bold little thing aren't you?

Don't you know what flirting with a prince means? Are you prepared to spend life by his side, saying things like that in public to him...

He'll flirt back whether you're together or not

It kind of becomes a competition of who can fluster the other one more, but I warn you he's a tough rival, he's got plenty to say about you

I'll give you a little hint though, get really genuine with it. Say how intelligent he is, how his country is lucky to have him, give him all the praise!

The two of you can go back and forth for hours, while everyone around you has died of embarrassment awhile ago

Azul Ashengrotto

Are you trying to kill him?

You know that cliche anime glasses crack? That's him the first time you flirt with him

He doesn't even know how to be suave in response (especially if he really likes you) he's just too flustered

Flirting with him is fun and all, but the thing that's really gonna make him melt is genuine praise. His intelligence, his business sense, his dedication.

I mean you can turn that into flirts.... just saying..

Won't flirt back unless you're in a relationship, and even then it's very awkward. He doesn't know how to do it, but an experienced flirt like yourself can teach him

Kalim Al-Asim

He honestly just thinks you're being friendly

You could straight up say the most romantic pick up line on the planet, and he'd just smile and say it back. Then walk along like nothing happened

If you're serious about him, you'll have to grab him by the shoulders and say that you've been flirting because you're romantically interested

If not, then yall will just have fun!

He can effortlessly make your heart pitter patter, you know he means everything he says

In a relationship or not, you can have a really fun back and forth with him

Vil Schoenheit

He hears basic flirting all the time, you're going to have to get creative

Perhaps compliment his skill, get personal with it! Say that no one else could play the roles he's getting

Once you get there, that's when he starts responding and genuinely enjoying the flirting you do

It's nice to be appreciated in such a genuine manner, and not just someone after his fame or looks.

Occasionally flirts back, but frankly he's not the best at it! You may think he's smooth and a natural flirt, but honestly he's never felt the need to respond back before. He likes learning what makes you blush though <3

Just make sure he's the only one you're flirting with now, okay?

Idia Shroud

Spontaneously combusts. Good job, you killed him

He's fun to tease, he has the best reactions to even the simplest of compliments

However he's not going to do anything in response until you get real with him. So unless you're in an established relationship, don't expect much back

MIGHT tell you not to do it in public, that stuff is too cringe to say out loud!!

But he also gets a sense of pride from it

Can't flirt back to save his life. Tried once, hated it, never did it again. He's fine with you being the flirty one

Malleus Draconia

Is so old school about it, to him flirting means courting

The second you flirt with him, he's giving you hand written notes about how lovely you are.

Honestly? He's better at this than you are and he doesn't even know it

That probably makes you want to up your game though, right? He just likes having all your attention and praise, it makes him a very happy dragon

You'd need to actually explain flirting/pick up lines to him. That you do it when you're interested in the person for a variety of reasons (romantic or otherwise), and want to see what it takes to fluster them.

Maybe gets a little down after that, thinking it was just for fun and not serious. Please tell him it was serious and then swear he's the only one you're interested in <3

Requests are open!

[dbnightingale24]

React

A Stepceat Love Story about Jim

~~

~~

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4,Chapter 5

It took forever, but I finally have this part the way I like it! Thank you for your support, and thank you to everyone who checked in on me. It means so much to me! I hope it was the wait!

Word Count: 5,994

Warning(s): Swearing (MINORS DNI), Fluff, Drinking, Emotional Cheating, Forbidden Love, Crying, Family Drama, Sneaking Around, Stepcest, Step-Daughter/Step-Father, Angst...I think that's it?

Summary: You're officially done trying with your Mother. You've done everything in your power to make things right with her, but after the Christmas dinner you just had, you know none of it will ever be good enough. You'll never be good enough. Accepting this new reality also means that you need to come to a decision about Jim once and for all.

~~

I do not give permission/consent for my works/stories to be posted elsewhere. I do not condone this type of relationship, this is clearly for entertainment purposes only.

~~

Chapter 6

“Angel?” you faintly hear Jim’s voice call as he approaches you on the swing. 

You’re not sure how long you’ve been at the park and, thanks to the whiskey, you can’t tell how cold you actually are. 

A small silver lining on the shittiest day you’ve in a while.

“Go away,” you squeak out with a sniffle, using the back of your hand to wipe your nose.

“Angel-”

“Don’t Jim. Don’t comfort me-”

“She was wrong. Ciara almost lunged across the table after you left, and your Mother and I got into a huge yelling match in the bedroom. She knows that both she and Rose were out of line.”

“I just wanna leave,” you sob with a slight slur.

“Angel,” he sighs, crouching down in front of you and cupping your face in his hands, “I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”

“I didn’t even wanna come!”

“I know, Angel. I know. Lets just go back-”

“No, I never want to see her again. I know what we did was fucked up, but she doesn’t even know about that! That’s just how she feels about me! How she’ll always feel about me! That’s just how she fuckin’ feels, and I...I have no choice but to accept that.”

“She’s drunk-”

“She’s always drunk, always angry with me, always blaming me, and I’m fucking tired of it. I’m tired of her!”

“You can’t stay out here all night, it’s too damn cold-”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Where do ya want to go?” he sighs, getting up and sitting on the swing next to you, taking the bottle from you and taking a drink from it.

“You have to get back-”

“Danielle took the kids with her, along with the gifts ya got ‘em. Ciara and Darragh took Nora home, because Ciara was too furious to think straight. I told your Mother I wasn’t coming back tonight during our argument-”

“Jim-”

“Rose is gonna stay with her, Angel. Whatever you want to do, I’ll do.”

“I just want to be with you, Jim. We don’t have to do anything, I just want to be with you-ya clothes!”

“It’s fine, Angel. I know everywhere is booked, but I know I’ll be able to find us somethin’.”

“What about-”

“Just let me take care of ya, Angel.”

He always makes it all seem so easy. He always seems to have a plan and he’s so damn calm. No matter what happens, he’s always so calm, and maybe that’s part of the reason you’re so tethered to him. 

After a few more swigs from the bottle, and a couple of phone calls, Jim is able to find you both a room for the next few nights. 

“Don’t you have to go back-”

“No,” he answers confidently as he stands up and holds out his hand. “Lets get your clothes from Ciara.”

“What about your-”

“I can get em tomorrow. C’mon, Angel.”

“Jim-”

“I promise to get em tomorrow. Now, lets go,” he smiles softly towards you.

You take his hand and as you stand up, you realize just how stiff you are.

“How much was the room?” you as you two slowly make your way to his car. 

“It’s a gift.”

“Jim-”

“I’m not tellin’ ya, so drop it,” he chuckles softly, opening the door for you.

“I feel bad-”

“Stop feelin’ bad for the mistakes she makes. You didn’t even want to come and, truth be told, I was gonna bring the kids to see ya at school,” he smirks before closing the door.

WHAT?!

“Jim, what do ya mean-”

“They’ve missed you,” he shrugs as he gets into the car, closing the door and starting the engine. “I almost suggested that we take them to see you a few times, but I knew it’d make you unhappy.”

“Jim-”

“I keep tellin’ you I want this, Angel. Yes, the sex is phenomenal,” he laughs softly as you giggle, “but there’s so much more to us than that. I’m not confused or angry, or any of that shite. I love you, Y/N. I’m in love with you. You’re the first thought I have in the morning, and the last one I have at night. I’ve missed watching movies with you, eating dinner with you, cuddling up and talking about nothing...this isn’t just physical for me, Angel. I have a lot to consider with us perusing this, and I don’t think you understand that. I have to deal with the possibility of my children hating me, your Mother berating me, Rose being...Rose, and I can only imagine what Danielle will do and I can’t blame her. Still, with knowing all of that, I still came after you tonight. I’ve been trying to get you to see that since we started this.”

“I just don’t see why ya’d want me,” you mumble before taking a drink from your bottle. 

Yes, you know you shouldn’t be drinking in the car while he’s driving, but you’ve had a nightmare of a day.

“None of the things your Mother says about ya are true. How can I not love ya? Not want ya? Angel, I’m amazed that you want anythin’ to do with me,” he scoffs as he pulls up to Ciara’s place. “I love you for all the reasons I’ve already told ya, and a million more that I’m just not ready to tell ya,” he promises as he kills the engine and looks over at you. “Lets get ya things.”

The second Ciara opens the door, she engulfs you in a hug and is apologizing profusely.

“You were just tryin’ to protect me,” you sigh as you and Jim make your way inside, “and I love ya.”

“Ya drunk,” she sighs, once she notices you stumbling a little.

“Only a little, besides, I’m not stayin’ here tonight-”

“You know you’re always welcome to-”

“I know, I know,” you quickly clarify, “but I don’t want Nora seeing me like this, and Jim got us a room for a few nights, so I’ll be there. I’ll come by before I go back,” you smile weakly.

“I’m so sorry, I really-”

“Ci, you didn’t do anything wrong. It was a dumb idea to begin with,” you sigh as you wipe away a lone tear falling down her face with your thumb. “Let me get my stuff.”

It’s not like you brought a lot to begin with, but you still pack your things with a heavy heart. It’s not like you’d expected the trip be amazing by any means, but you’d hoped for more than...this. You’d expected your Mother to be shit faced, but you really had done your best to keep her happy. You stayed out of the way, avoided Jim, made dinner, kept the children happy and entertained, and even played nice with Jim’s ex-wife even when she showed her claws. All of that work, and for what? You to end up alone in a park, drunk, and your...situationship to rescue you.

Happy fuckin’ Christmas.

“I don’t have my charger,” you sigh once you’re back downstairs with your one duffle bag packed.

You really hadn’t packed much.

“Do ya need it tonight, Angel?” Jim asks, taking your bag from you.

“She’s gonna-”

“Fuckin’ let her call and call!” Ciara snaps. “She deserves to feel like shit.” “Ci-”

“No Y/N. Do not try and protect her. She should feel horrible. Besides, you know that Rose is only over there encouraging her bad behavior. Your Mother never defends you, so why should you defend her?”

She has a valid point.

“I’ll let you know when we’re at the place,” you promise, wrapping her in a tight hug.

“Y/N, do not try and-”

“I promise I won’t.”

“I love you.”

“And I love you.”

The both of you exchange gifts before you and Jim finally leave, and you somehow feel more defeated than you did before.

“What are you thinkin’, Angel?” he asks after a few minutes.

“Just tryin’ to figure out when she really started to hate me,” you chuckle humorlessly. “When did I really start to ruin her life?”

“Angel-”

“Cause it wasn’t always this bad. Sure, she’s never shown up all that much, but we could at least have fun together. We could skate, watch movies, have dance parties...we had some sort of a relationship, but now? Now, it’s all gone to Hell.”

“Angel, we’ll focus on that tomorrow. Lets just try and salvage the rest of this Christmas.”

“I ruined it for-”

“She ruined it,” he sighs, parking the car.

“Where are we?”

“A friend of mine manages this place. He was able to give us a discounted price on a room for a few nights.”

“Does he know about...us?”

“Yes.”

You groan as you put your head in your hands, “Jim!”

“Ciara knows!”

“That’s different!”

“How so?”

“She’s known my Mum for as long as she’s known me. She knows how terrible she is, how terrible she’s always been, and is very understanding of this whole...us. Your friend doesn’t know me from a can of fuckin’ paint,” you mutter, hating how much you feel like a child. 

“You’re right, he doesn’t know you, but he knows about the situation between your Mother and I. It’s fine, Angel.” “Jim-”

“I’d never bring ya somewhere where ya not safe. Lets get inside,” he smiles softly. 

You slowly get out while Jim grabs your bag out of the backseat. As your eyes trail over the building, you can’t help but wonder-

“No, this is not where Yvonne and I would go when we had our affair,” he sighs heavily, walking ahead of you, and you slowly follow after.

Now you feel like an even bigger asshole. 

“Hey, can we speak with Charlie, please?” he kindly asks the man behind the desk. 

“I’ll get ‘im for ya,” the young man smiles before disappearing behind the door.

“Jim, I’m-”

“It’s fine, Angel. We’ll talk in the room, okay?”

“I can stay with Ciara-”

“Angel, please just let me take care of you. I love you, I want to be here with you, and I want to do this. It’s all going to be fine, so please don’t worry.”

“I love you too, Jim,” you mumble, looking down at your feet. 

Today is making you feel so incredibly small and you hate it. 

“Thought you’d be here much earlier,” a man you’re assuming is Charlie laughs as he greets Jim.

“Had to get a few things together, but we’re here now.”

“One bag?”

“I’ll pick up some of my things tomorrow.”

“Really goin’ through with it this time, eh?”

“After tonight? Yeah, long overdue,” Jim scoffs, shaking his head as the man hands him a room key. 

“I’ll get ya when ya leave.”

“You sure?”

“You’ve got enough to think on, just leave it. Is this the little lady?” Charlie asks, smiling at you.

“She’s a little somethin’,” Jim laughs and you roll your eyes. “Y/N, this is Charlie. Charlie, this is Y/N.”

“It’s nice to know ya,” you offer with a small smile shaking his hand. 

“Well, I’ve got food and a few bottles waitin’ up there for ya. Try to enjoy the rest of your night. We’ll talk in the mornin,” he nods towards Jim, who just nods in response, taking the key and heading towards the elevator.

God knows what that means.

“Angel, just be here for now,” he encourages as you two take the ride up.

“You’re doin’ all of this and I’m just-”

“Y/N, please stop. I love ya. I love ya so much, and I’m happy.”

“Jim-”

“I’m so happy to be here with you, and it’s not like I pictured it at all, but I’m still with you.”

“Jim...today has been such a mess and, if we stay together, they’re gonna be a lot more days like this before they get better.” 

“I know that. This isn’t like before for me. I know what’s waiting for me when we go through with this. I’m goin’ to be looked at as the dirty old man who seduced you, and ruined your relationship with ya Mum. I know Danielle is goin’ to be disgusted with me, and she’s gonna have an issue with the kids stayin’ with me. Rose is gonna raise hell and convince your Mother to do the same...I know what’s waiting for me,” he sighs as he opens the door to the room. 

“Jim...” you gasp as you marvel at it.

“I didn’t tell him to do this much,” he laughs, walking in behind you and closing the door, “I just told him I want somethin’ nice for ya.”

“This is...oh Jim,” you smile at him as your eyes start to water. 

Jim honestly could have gotten the two of you a rat hole, and you would’ve thanked him endlessly, but this? The room was gorgeous. Beautiful shades, a spacious bed, bottles of your favorite wine and champagne, food (which you’re more than thankful for because you’re ravenous), a gorgeous bathroom, and a small living area.

“Let me help you pay-”

“No,” he laughs, tossing your bag down. “Let me do this.”

“Jim-”

“I love you,” he whispers, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you close.

“I love you.”

“So lets enjoy this, yeah?”

“Bathe with me.”

“Angel-”

“No tricks, no sex. I just wanna be with you a bit,” you promise, slowly breaking out of his hold and taking your shirt off. “I’ll get the water ready,” you call over your shoulder, grabbing the half finished bottle of whiskey, an unopened bottle of wine, and two glasses along with a wine opener, before making your way into the bathroom.

No, you shouldn’t mix alcohol, or be drinking anymore for that matter, but you’ve earned this. 

You’re quick to shed the rest of your clothes, grabbing your phone from the pocket of your jeans and scoffing when you see that your Mother has called 40 times and has sent 20 texts, then finally start the water. You’re well aware that between the two of you, you like your water hotter than Jim does. However, thinking back on how the whole day went, you know you both can use a bit a warmth to shield you from the cold of life awaiting you.

“I expected you to find you texting your Mother back,” Jim laughs, making his way into the bathroom in just his boxer briefs.

“I am tempted to, but I just want us to enjoy whats left of the day. There’s not much left anyway,” you shrug, turning to face him as he steps out of his boxer briefs. “You get in first, I wanna lay against ya.’

“How bad am I about to get burned?”

“I’m playing nice tonight,” you giggle, pouring the both of you a drink.

He’s slow to stand in it, but the second hes completely seated, he lets out a sigh of content, and looks up at you with the most loving look in his eyes. You hand him his drink before carefully stepping in. Once you’re settled comfortably between his legs, you lean against him and close your eyes as he wraps his arms around you tight.

You’re home.

You sit in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before asking, “Jim?”

“Yeah, Angel?”

“I love you.”

He presses a soft kiss to the top of your head and strokes your arm softly, “I love ya too.”

“What did you mean earlier?”

“Hmm? When?” 

“When you said they’re a million reasons you love me, but you’re not ready to tell me.”

He lets out a heavy sigh before taking a sip of his drink, “ya keep runnin’ from me, Angel.”

You didn’t think it was possible for you to feel any worse, but you stand corrected.

“And I understand,” Jim quickly adds, trying to lessen the pain from the blow he just landed on you. “I’d be a fool if I didn’t, but I’m not gonna lie to ya.”

“Jim...it’s just hard-”

“You have your reservations and rightfully so. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t hurt, but I know how this looks from your point of view. I cheated before, married your Mum, and now I’m cheating on her with you. Her daughter. I know how much of a scum bag I look like right now.”

“Ya told me about the cheatin, though,” you sigh, grabbing your own glass off the floor, and taking a drink from it.

“I can understand why it doesn’t mean anythin’ to you.”

“I don’t want to hurt ya, Jim-”

“I know you don’t, Angel. That’s why I don’t get angry or frustrated. This is a lot and I know it’s nothing either of us ever imagined. All of this is complicated, and it’s worse for you. If you really decide you don’t want this, then I’ll walk away. Either way, I’ll be divorcing your Mother and you’ll never hear from or see me again.”

“I don’t want that.”

“But I can understand if that’s what ya decide.”

“How are ya so sure, Jim? Why are you so confident?”

“When I cheated on Danielle...that was me being stupid. Yes, a large part of me had feelings for Yvonne, I thought she was pretty, but it wasn’t love. It was so exciting at the time, that I told myself it was love and made excuses for my actions, but I knew better. That’s why it was so easy for me to turn the idea of trying again with her down when she brought it up. After everything settled and I could think clearly again, I knew it was just a moment. It wouldn’t have lasted. That’s probably why I rushed to be with Orla. God, what a fuckin’ nightmare that was,” he mutters, before taking another sip of drink.

You start making little circles on his chest with your index finger, “what went wrong there?”

“You’re gonna think so much less of me,” he groans and you giggle softly. “I could never.”

“The first time I met Orla, she was a mess. Swearin’ in front of my kids, short tempered, combative, and I later found out that she drinks a bit much, which is a lot comin’ from me. That’s why I fell in love with your Mother, or, at least thought I fell in love with your Mother. At the time, she was the exact opposite. No, I didn’t feel as strongly for her as I do for you, and maybe all it was, was a sense of relief. She didn’t drink as much, she wasn’t so short with me, she didn’t assume that I was always out cheating...it felt like it used to with Yvonne. Then...”

“Then I came home,” you scoff.

“You came home.”

“What do you feel for me now that makes all of those times different?”

“None of it is gonna make any sense,” he chuckles, pulling you closer to him. “I just felt it when I first saw you in person. I had seen pictures of you and thought you were beautiful, but seeing you in person...I really wish I knew how to explain it. I just felt this...”

“Connection?”

“You felt it too?”

You hang your head and sigh in defeat, “yeah, I did.”

“Angel, I need you to understand that I didn’t intend for any of this to happen. I honestly did my best to try and stop this, but you...you are everything. This isn’t about the chase, this isn’t for my fuckin’ ego, and I won’t be someone else to hurt and let ya down.”

“Jim...it’s gonna be so bad.”

“I’ll face all of it with you, Angel.”

You turn a little in his hold and look up at him. You can tell that he means every words, but that he’s just as terrified as you are. Not that he’ll fuck it up, but that you’ll go running for the hills again. You reach up and cup the right side of his face into your hand and closes his eyes and leans into it.

You’re both so tired of fighting and running from what you both truly want.

“I love you, Jim.”

He dips down and kisses you passionately, “I love you so much, Angel,” he breathes once you two break apart. 

“Can we stay in here just a bit longer?” you question with a small smile as tears come to your eyes.

“We can do whatever ya want, Angel.”

You resume the position you were in before and lay your head on his chest, as he plays with the ends of your hair that are in the water. Why can’t it always be this easy?

“Have you always had Charlie’s support about us?”

“Fuck no,” he laughs softly and you giggle a little. “He asked me if I was out of my fuckin’ mind, and told me that I can’t be with you.”

“You told him-”

“After the first night I met you. I met up with him at that pub round the way and told him that I fucked up.”

“Were you and my Mother having issues before I came back?”

“Honestly? No, not really. We had little arguments here and there, but nothin’ to make me think there was a completely different side to her. After the first night, he convinced me that I was just angry and I’d get over it, and I tried to get myself to believe he was right.”

“What changed his mind?”

“At first, it was that every damn thing that came out of my mouth was about you,” he chuckles sheepishly, moving some of your hair off of your shoulder and kissing it. “No matter what we were talkin’ about, I always found a way to bring it back to you. Then, when I’d come ‘round with ya Mum, he could see the difference in the way I looked at her. The way I touched her. He saw me at her birthday party, and saw that I was constantly lookin’ around for ya. The way I smiled when my eyes finally found you...he could see it was much more than physical. He saw your Mum gettin’ worse, and the way you were always there, even when ya weren’t. When I told him that we...he wasn’t the least bit surprised. I guess anyone who knew what was goin’ on with us wasn’t. I could tell that he wanted to be angry with me, but he understood. He hated that he did, but he did nonetheless.”

“What does he know about me?”

“What doesn’t he know about ya? He knows that you’re in ya final year, he knows what you’re studyin’, he knows your favorite food, your favorite movies, he knows what my favorite things about you are, he knows that you’re scared...I tell him everything,” he shrugs, placing another soft kiss on your shoulder.

“When did you meet him?”

“His ex is best friends with Orla. We both broke up with them around the same time, and we just started hanging out. He’s a good one.”

“Can I ask-”

“I never cheated on Orla,” he sighs and it breaks your heart.

“Don’t get mad-”

“I’m not, Angel. I expect the questions. I just feel horrible that you feel like you need to ask.”

“I just-”

“I know.”

“I do believe ya, Jim. I believe that you love me and want this just as much as I do. I just...” “You’re scared, and you’d be a fool if ya weren’t. This isn’t gunna make things perfect overnight just because we want them to. I know I have to show you, and I know it’s gonna take time, and that’s fine with me.”

“I just know-”

“Angel-”

“Just let me get this out, please,” you sniffle softly. “I know ‘ve said some things that weren’t the nicest in an attempt to keep ya away. I want you to know that I’ve always loved ya, I was just tryin’ to do what was best. What I thought was best. I just want you to be happy, and I know you want the same for me. I know it’s gonna take some time and it’ll be tough, but I truly do want this. I’m all in,” you promise softly.

This time, he’s the one cupping your face and forcing your attention to him.

“Angel, don’t say it if you don’t mean it.”

“You know me well enough to know better. ‘m not gonna say somethin’ to make you feel better. If I’m sayin’ it, I mean it.”

“Say it again.”

“I’m all in.”

“I need to hear it one more time, Angel. Only say it if you’re sure.”

You take a deep breath as you turn in his hold and face him on your hands and knees.

“I’m all in.”

You laugh as he kisses you, pushing you back a little as water splashes around, and you kiss him back just as enthusiastically as you finally feel peace for the first time in a long time.

“I want to give you one of your gifts tonight,” he breathes once you two break apart.

“One? Jim-”

“One tonight, one tomorrow, and one when you’re back in school.”

“Jim-”

“I’ve already bought them, so you may as well let me do it,” he laughs as you shake your head.

“Jim?” you call softly once his laughter subsides.

“Yeah, Angel?”

“Say it for me, please?”

He smiles as his thumb caresses your cheek, “I love you.”

Yes, his smile is reaching his eyes, but you still see a bit of trepidation in them.

“What’s wrong, Jim?”

“Nothin’, lets just-”

“We’re not startin’ off like this. What’s wrong?”

“It’s dumb and it doesn’t-”

“Jim, it’s not dumb to me and it matters to me. What’s wrong?”

He sighs and leans back a little, “it really doesn’t matter.”

“Jim.”

“Remember when you rang your Mum...two months ago? She was askin’ about school and boys?”

You already know where this is headed.

You sit back down as you mutter, “yeah.”

“Did ya really-”

“It was only two dates and it didn’t go any farther than makin’ out. I felt so guilty the entire time, but I was tryin’ to get over you. It was wrong and, while ya still married to my Mum, it’s still wrong.”

“I’m changing that once you’re back at school. You don’t need to be here for that.”

“Jim, tell me that ya aren’t mad.”

“I’m not, Angel. I promise. I know why and I understand, it just...”

“It just...?”

“It irritates me because I don’t want you with anyone else but me. It scares me because maybe you’ll realize you don’t actually want this.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“It’s not lost on either of us that I’m the older one. Maybe you’ll realize you actually do want someone younger-”

“Jim, no. That’s not...no. I love you. I’m in love with you. Those dates only happened because I was tryin’ to get over ya, and....maybe get a reaction out of you.”

“A reaction?” he scoffs, sitting up and taking a sip of his drink.

“I know I kept tellin’ ya to stay away, and maybe it was just because I wanted to feel like I was a good daughter after everything that happened over the Summer. I think it’s clear that, that’s not what I wanted at all, and in the back of my mind...I was jealous. She had you and I didn’t. Yes, that was my doing, but it didn’t change the fact that I hated that she had you and I didn’t. I wanted to see if you’d react. How you’d react. I wanted you to show up and tell me that I’m yours or...somethin’,” you scoff sheepishly. “It was childish and dumb, but it’s the truth.”

“You really are somethin’ else,” he laughs, shaking his head and you smile sheepishly. “Lets get out of here.”

You lean forward and pull him close, wrap your arms around his neck, and kiss him passionately. It’s not sexual and it’s not teasing. You just want him to feel that you truly do love him as much as he loves you, and you’re in this for the long haul.

You want him to feel and know that you’ll never need or want anything or anyone else ever again.

When you two break apart, he’s smiling wide and you giggle softly. Once you’re both out, you drain the tub and Jim wraps you in a towel, holding your waist tight.

“I promise, it’s all going to be okay, Angel,” he whispers in your ear before kissing the shell of it.

It’s so hard to be afraid of anything when you’re with him.

“C’mon, I’ anxious to give ya your gift,” you giggle before squealing as he kisses your sweet spot.

Soon enough, he’s back in his boxer briefs and you’re in a pair of panties and an old Bangles t-shirt.

“Alright,” you start, reaching into your bag. “Don’t scold me.”

“What did ya do?”

“You need it.”

“Angel-”

“It’s fine,” you promise, handing him a neatly wrapped box and a card.

“You need to focus on yourself.”

“I’m fine,” you laugh. “Open them!”

“I’m openin’ the card first,” he smirks, and you roll your eyes as you finish off your drink, pouring yourself another glass. “Jim, I’m hoping you’re reading this after everyone’s gone to sleep. Also, burn this letter after reading,” he laughs, giving you a quick wink. “I know that this...relationship (I guess) between us hasn’t been anywhere close to ideal, but I want you to know...I want you to know that I truly do love you,” he reads a bit softer, clearing his throat. “It’s never goin’ to be ideal for us, and I’ve accepted that, but I don’t want you to think I hate or resent you, or any of the time we’ve spent together, because being with you is the happiest I’ve ever been. I don’t regret a second of it and my heart is always with you. No matter what happens...my heart will always be with you and it will always be yours. I love you, Jim. I am so in love with you, and I hope you never forget that. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your gift. Before you try and argue with me, the one you have now is a piece of shite and you’re too stubborn to buy yourself a new one. Happy Christmas and I love you. Yours, always; Angel,” he finishes with a sniffle.  “You are so fuckin’ precious, ya know that?” he laughs, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. “I love you, Angel, and I’m not gonna burn this letter,” he laughs as he reaches for the box.

You sit back, crossing your legs as he rips up the paper like a child.

“Angel...”

“You need it!”

“You have so much to save for-”

“Stop it, Jim. I’m happy to do it for you.”

“I’ll pay ya-”

“That’s not how gifts work,” you laugh.

“Angel-”

“I saved up for it. Just take it.”

“I love it, thank you,” he smiles and you laugh as he tackles you with a hug.

You hadn’t initially meant to buy him a Mac Book Pro, it just kind of happened. The first few nights you were at your Mother’s, you’d heard him silently gripping about it. A few days after that, you just decided you’d start saving for the damn laptop. You honestly hadn’t meant to, it just happened. You liked him, you could tell he’d never buy it for himself, and you knew your Mother hadn’t even thought to. The more you got to know him, the more you liked him. By the time you two started fooling around, the money was more than half way saved.

You told yourself that this would be the last thing you ever gave him, and that seems to have been a complete lie. 

“How are even making money?” he laughs, looking over the box.

“I write papers for other students, I write little stories here and there, dog sit-”

“You should be spendin’ that money on yourself.”

“Jim, I was happy to do it and I love you. Enjoy ya gift,” you smile. 

He cups your face again, capturing you in a soul stealing kiss, before grabbing a small box and handing it to you, “I love you.”

“Jim-”

“If you’re allowed to give me this, I’m allowed to give this.”

“Jim...”

“Just open it, Angel.”

You timidly take the box, but you’re quick to rip off the wrapping paper.

“Jim...”

“It’s not gonna bite ya,” he laughs, eyeing you with small hints of amusement in his eyes.

“Did ya spend too much?” “Nothin’ is too much for you. Now, no more questions, open it.”

“Jim-”

“Open,” he laughs.

Slowly, you open the small velvet box, and gasp at what’s inside. Two bracelets that have your favorite charms on them. You’d been eyeing them a few months ago, but decided against getting them because you wanted to make sure you had enough for everyone’s gifts.

“Jim!”

“Read the inside.”

You cocked an eyebrow holding them up and reading the inscription.

‘Mar sin, más rud é, a stór, is cosúil go mbeidh uaireanta Sean droichid ag briseadh idir tú féin agus mise’ the first one reads.

‘Ná eagla. B’fhéidir go ligfimid na scafaill ag titim muiníneach go bhfuil ár balla tógtha againn’ finishes the second.

“You are so...I love them so much,” you sniffle, tackling him with the biggest hug.

“Top marks if you can guess the poet,” he chuckles, pulling you into his lap before hugging you back just as tight.

“Seamus Heaney,” you giggle as you try and reign in your emotions. “The poem is ‘Scaffolding’.”

“Looks like school is paying off,” he teases.

“I love you so much, Jim.”

“I love you too, Angel. No matter what.”

“I really want this to work, Jim. I don’t want this to end. I don’t was us to end.”

“We won’t. It’s not gonna be easy, but we can do this.”

“Promise me.”

He presses a soft kiss to your head as his hold on you tightens, “I promise.”

You two stay like that for a while, and you honestly can’t remember the last time you felt this safe and happy. You can’t remember the last time you felt this loved.

This is probably the best Christmas you’ve ever had. Setbacks and all. 

“What are my other gifts?” you joke with a sniffle, wiping your eyes with the back of your hand.

“I told you when you’ll get them.”

“Why not tonight?”

“Because you need to learn patience,” he teases. “Do you wanna watch a movie?”

“I don’t care what we do, as long as you’re here,” you mumble, putting on your bracelets and settling under the sheets. 

“You need to eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Love.”

“I’m not.”

“You’ve had water, a few bites of potatoes, and too much whiskey. You need food,” he reaffirms as he makes you a small plate of food.

“Jim-”

“Eat,” he tells you as he hands you a plate of many different things.

All of which are your favorite. “You take such good care of me,” you tease, taking the plate from him.

“I plan on doin’ it forever.”

“That’s awfully long time.”

“Not long enough if you ask me, Angel,” he smiles towards you softly. “I love ya.”

“I love you too, Jim. Always will.”

As you both settle in and find a movie to watch, Jim pulls you close and you feel as if you’re finally home. Yes, the road ahead is going to be scary and bumpy, but you know that as long as you have Jim, it’s all going to be okay. However, you don’t want to think about any of that right now. Hell is headed both your ways, and you just want a little calm before the storm.

You just wanna live in this moment you’ve been dreaming of.

~~

[kezdispenser]

Breaking Character pt12/?

Summary: You are the new cast member of 'The Boys' and you play Butcher's cousin and Soldier Boy's new love interest 'Solene'. You're introduced to the cast by the director at a dinner and you're seated next to Karl and Jensen to "bond".

Pairing: Jensen x reader

Warnings: SMUT, language, fluff, 18+, KINKS

The drive to Jensen’s parents' home in Texas stretched ahead of us, a mix of nerves and excitement swirling in my chest. Jensen, ever the rock in my storm, drove with one hand on the wheel and the other resting on my thigh. Every so often, he’d give it a reassuring squeeze, his green eyes flicking toward me with a soft smile.

"You good?" he asked, his voice warm and steady.

"Define 'good,'" I replied with a nervous laugh, twisting the hem of my shirt between my fingers.

Jensen chuckled, his dimples flashing. "You’re gonna be fine. They’re not the scary kind of family—they’re the kind that’ll try to feed you until you can’t move."

"Great. Death by casserole," I teased, earning another laugh from him.

When we pulled into the driveway of his childhood home, my nerves ramped up again. The house was exactly what I’d imagined: warm, inviting, with a wraparound porch and flower pots lining the steps. Jensen parked the car and turned to me, his expression soft but serious.

“Y/N, listen. You don’t have to be nervous, okay? My family already loves you. You could do literally nothing but sit there, and they’d still adore you.”

“That’s sweet, but what if—”

“Nope,” he interrupted, leaning over to kiss my forehead. “No ‘what ifs.’ You’re perfect, and they’re going to see that.”

With that, he got out and came around to open my door. As we walked up the steps, the front door swung open, and a petite woman with short blonde hair and the warmest smile stepped out.

“Jensen!” she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug.

“Hi, Mom,” he mumbled into her shoulder before stepping back to motion toward me. “Mom, this is Y/N.”

Donna turned to me, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, my goodness, you’re even prettier than your pictures!” she gushed, pulling me into a hug before I could react. “Come on in, sweetheart. We’ve been waiting to meet you.”

Inside, the house smelled like vanilla and home-cooked comfort food. Jensen’s dad, Alan, greeted me with a firm handshake and a kind smile, while his sister Mackenzie and brother Josh welcomed me with the kind of teasing that told me they’d all been anticipating this moment.

“Finally, we meet the famous Y/N,” Mackenzie said, giving Jensen a playful nudge. “He never shuts up about you, you know.”

“Can you not?” Jensen groaned, rubbing the back of his neck.

Josh grinned. “Oh, we’re definitely going to. Welcome to the family initiation—relentless embarrassment.”

Over lunch, Donna served up a feast that could have fed an army. She made sure my plate was full, despite my protests, and asked a million questions about my family, my work, and how Jensen and I met.

Jensen, sitting beside me, jumped in every now and then to add details or crack a joke, but mostly, he let me handle it. His hand stayed on my knee under the table, a steadying presence that I was grateful for.

“Do you cook?” Donna asked as she passed me another helping of potatoes.

“I try,” I admitted, laughing. “But I’m pretty sure Jensen’s been too polite to tell me if I’m terrible at it.”

“She’s great,” Jensen cut in, squeezing my knee. “Way better than me. I burn toast half the time.”

“Baby, you could burn water,” Mackenzie teased, making the whole table laugh.

While Jensen and his dad worked in the garage, Donna and I found ourselves alone in the kitchen, tidying up after the feast. The warm, cozy ambiance of the house made it easier to relax, even though my nerves still lingered.

"You’re a natural," Donna said, handing me a dish to dry.

"At what?" I asked with a small laugh, taking the plate from her.

"At fitting in here. You’d never know it was your first time meeting us."

"Well, you all make it easy," I replied, genuinely touched.

Donna smiled, but her expression shifted, turning more serious. She leaned against the counter, her dish towel twisting in her hands. "Can I ask you something personal?"

"Of course," I said, setting the dried plate aside.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "How has it been, dealing with...everything? With Danneel, I mean?"

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. "It’s been...challenging," I admitted, choosing my words carefully.

Donna nodded, her face softening. "I know she’s their mother, but, sweetheart, she put Jensen through the wringer. And those kids, too. I’m not saying this to badmouth her—"

"You can, if you want to," I interrupted with a dry laugh.

Donna chuckled, but there was a sadness in her eyes. "She wasn’t good to him. I watched my son lose himself trying to hold it all together, trying to make it work for the kids. He’d show up here, exhausted, drained, pretending he was fine. But a mother knows."

Hearing this hit me harder than I expected. I’d always known Danneel had caused damage, but hearing it from Donna put it in a new light.

"He deserves so much better," Donna continued, her voice firm. "And seeing him with you...it’s like he’s alive again. Happy. And those kids adore you."

"Thank you," I said softly, my voice catching.

Donna reached out and squeezed my hand. "You’re doing more for him than you know. And I’m just so grateful he found you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and managed a smile. "I just want to be good for him—for all of them."

"You already are," she said with a certainty that felt like a balm to my soul.

Later that evening, as everyone gathered around the fire pit, Donna’s words lingered in my mind. Jensen, sitting beside me, kept his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close as the night air cooled.

At one point, Mackenzie leaned over with a grin. "So, Y/N, now that you’ve survived meeting the Ackles clan, what’s next on your bucket list?"

I laughed, leaning into Jensen’s warmth. "I think surviving Jensen’s embarrassing childhood stories is the real challenge."

"Don’t worry," Josh said with a smirk. "We’ve got plenty more where those came from."

Jensen groaned, but his smile never faded. "You all are the worst."

"And yet you keep coming back," Mackenzie teased.

Jensen leaned down to whisper in my ear, "You’re handling this way better than I did when I met your family, by the way."

"That’s because you’re a lightweight," I whispered back, grinning.

His low chuckle sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was to be here, in this moment, with him.

As the fire crackled and the stars came out, I caught Donna watching us with a soft smile. And for the first time, I felt like I truly belonged.

The room buzzed with energy as we stepped inside Jared and Gen’s house, the unmistakable hum of laughter and conversation filling the space. It was warm and lively, just like every Supernatural gathering I’d heard about.

"Y/N!" Gen’s familiar voice rang out as she came over, pulling me into a welcoming hug. "It’s so good to see you again. And finally, at one of these reunions! I was starting to think Jensen was hiding you from us."

Jared appeared a second later, his grin as wide as ever. "Look who it is—the woman who’s been putting up with Ackles." He scooped me into one of his signature bear hugs, making me laugh.

"She’s not putting up with me," Jensen said, wrapping an arm around me. "She’s thriving."

Jared snorted. "If that’s what you need to tell yourself, man."

As if on cue, Misha Collins popped his head out of the kitchen, a mischievous smile already in place. "So, this is the Y/N we’ve heard so much about," he said, stepping into the room. "You’re braver than I thought."

"I’m starting to notice a theme here," I joked, earning a laugh from everyone.

"Don’t worry, Y/N," Misha added, giving Jensen a teasing grin. "If he screws up, you’ve got an entire cast ready to take your side."

Jensen rolled his eyes, but his smile didn’t waver. "Appreciate the vote of confidence, guys."

The Cast's Welcome

As the night unfolded, I felt more at ease with every passing moment. Jim Beaver shared stories about Jensen’s early days on set, and Rob Benedict and Richard Speight Jr. kept everyone entertained with their quick wit and banter.

"And then there was the time Jared locked himself out of his trailer wearing nothing but a towel," Misha said, leaning back in his chair with a grin.

"Why is that story still a thing?" Jared groaned, though he couldn’t keep from laughing.

"Because it’s hilarious," Jensen said, his hand resting casually on my knee.

I laughed along, feeling completely at home among them. These weren’t just colleagues—they were family.

At one point, Jensen and I found ourselves alone in the kitchen, refilling drinks and grabbing snacks.

"They’re amazing," I said, leaning against the counter as I watched him open a bottle of wine.

"They’re a lot," Jensen admitted with a chuckle. "But they mean well. They’ve been through everything with me."

"It’s obvious how much they love you," I said softly, reaching out to take his hand.

He looked at me, his expression warm. "They love you too. It’s impossible not to."

I smiled, leaning into him as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

By the end of the night, I was laughing harder than I had in ages. The stories had gotten wilder, and the teasing more relentless, but I loved every second of it.

"Alright, I’m calling it," Jensen said, standing up and stretching. "We’ve got to head out before Jared convinces us to stay for another round."

As we said our goodbyes, Jared pulled me in for another hug. "You’re stuck with us now, Y/N," he said with a grin.

"Good," I replied. "I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Jensen’s arm found its way around my waist as we headed to the car. As we drove back to the hotel, the quiet settling around us, I couldn’t help but smile.

These people weren’t just Jensen’s family anymore—they were mine too.

Flashback: Jensen’s POV

The beer in my hand felt heavier than usual as I sat in the familiar circle of chaos that was Jared, Misha, Rob, and Richard. The room was filled with the warm glow of nostalgia, the air humming with laughter and stories. It was the kind of night where walls came down, and you could talk about anything.

"Alright, Ackles," Misha said, leaning back in his chair with a grin. "You’ve been unusually quiet tonight. What’s up? You’re not brooding about some The Boys scene again, are you?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "No, it’s not that."

Jared squinted at me, his grin widening. "Oh, shit. I know that look. Spill it, dude. What’s going on?"

I hesitated for a second, my thumb running over the label of my beer. These guys had been through everything with me—hell, they were my brothers in every way that mattered. If there was anyone I could talk to about this, it was them.

"I’m thinking about proposing to Y/N," I said finally, the words feeling heavy and exhilarating all at once.

The room went still for a moment, and then it erupted.

"Finally!" Jared practically yelled, throwing his hands up like he’d won the lottery.

"About damn time," Misha added with a grin.

"Wait, wait," Richard cut in, holding up a hand. "Are we talking full-on, down-on-one-knee, romantic proposal here? Or are you gonna wing it, Ackles-style?"

I smirked. "A little of both, probably. You know me."

Rob leaned forward, his expression softening. "You’re serious about this, huh?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "I’ve never been more sure of anything. She’s... everything. She’s smart, funny, and she gets me in a way no one else ever has. She’s good with the kids. Hell, she’s good for me."

Misha raised his beer. "Well, then, here’s to Y/N for being a saint and putting up with your ass."

The laughter rippled through the group, but Jared wasn’t done. "Okay, so, how are you gonna do it? Big and flashy? Or are you going for the quiet, intimate vibe?"

"I haven’t figured it all out yet," I admitted. "But it’s gotta be special. She deserves that. And I want the kids involved—JJ, Arrow, Zeppelin—they adore her, and I want them to feel like they’re part of it."

"Smart move," Rob said. "The kids’ll love it. And she’ll love that you thought of them."

Richard nodded. "Just don’t let the proposal get overshadowed by Jared being Jared."

"Hey!" Jared protested, though he was laughing.

I leaned back, the weight of my decision settling in a little more. "It’s just... it’s a big step, you know? I’ve been through this before, and I want to make sure I get it right this time."

Misha clapped a hand on my shoulder. "You’re not the same guy you were back then, Jensen. And she’s not anyone else. You’ve got this."

The room fell into a comfortable silence after that, the kind of silence that only comes with people who know you inside and out.

"Alright," Jared said eventually, breaking the quiet. "When it happens, we expect details. And pictures. And maybe a reenactment."

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah, yeah. You’ll be the first to know."

But in that moment, surrounded by these guys who were more family than friends, I knew one thing for certain: I wasn’t just ready to propose to Y/N—I was excited. Because if there was one thing they were all right about, it was this—she was my everything.

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

A/N: Heyyyyyyyy, im back. probably gonna end this series soon and maybe start a new one or just write oneshots (which i may continue as a series if you guys like it a lot)

@justwhisperingfantasies @impala67rollingthroughtown @deansimpalababy @jackles010378 @winchester @barnes70stark @nancymcl @oceean @spnaquakindgdom @ladysparkles78 @sexyvixen7 @spxideyver @stoneyggirl2 @star-yawnznn @quietgirll75 @iloveeveryoneyoureamazing

[vivwritesfics]

Bones

Chapter Two

You, a behavioural analyst. Rooster, a trainer. Hangman, a rich kid. Bob, a palaeontologist. Phoenix, an archaeologist. It kinda made sense that you'd all fall for each other

Jurassic Park AU

Eventual Poly!Squad

Warnings: Light sexual content

Chapter One

Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd removed his hat and wiped his brow. It was so damn hot on the dig site, the prescription sunglasses covering his eyes both shielding his eyes from the sun and the dust surrounding him. 

It was an unsuccessful dig, not allowing himself and Natasha to discover anything new. Just some bones, Sauropod bones that didn’t allow them to discover anything new about them. It supported his theories on their migration patterns for the paper he hadn’t yet released. 

“Anything?” Natasha Trace asked as she walked over to him. 

Bob shook his head and sat back on his legs. The team around him tried their best to keep the disappointment from their faces. This dig sight was supposed to hold so much more promise than this. Bob had expected a carnivore, a Carcharodontosaurus or something. But they had turned up with nothing. 

No, the Sauropod bones had been something. They could still teach them something, could still help with the paper he was trying to publish. “This is still really cool,” Nat said as she pulled on a pair of gloves. She used her fingers to brush some more dirt away and carefully pulled the bones from the sand. “We’ll find out what it is and then work out what it can tell us.”

A sigh left Bob's lips as Nat pushed the bone back. Their team began to brush away the sand around the bones, trying to unearth what the dinosaur was. 

Standing up straight, Bob brushed the sand away from his knees. “I’m gonna go into the trailer,” he muttered. 

Natasha patted his shoulder. “Try not to be disappointed, Floyd,” she said gently and brushed the dirt away from his cheek. It was gentle and sweet, as most things between the two of them were. “We’ll find something good.”

Bob offered her a weak smile. He walked back towards the trailer he and Natasha had shared since the beginning of their dig. They usually shared a trailer; it made the dig cheaper. Once upon a time they slept on opposite sides of the trailer, but that had changed. Bob couldn’t remember when it changed, but he wouldn’t want it to go back to the way it was for the world. 

As soon as Bob got into the trailer, he swapped his sunglasses for his usual glasses and opened up his laptop. As usual, a flood of emails came through. His sponsors wanting progress updates on the dig, another email from Tom Kazansky that Bob ignored and an email from Bones. 

Never before had Bob replied to Bones. The emails he received were always interesting, were always something he could reply to, but he never did. Opening a line of communication with somebody he didn’t know that well, when he didn’t have time to get to know them better, wasn’t exactly at the top of Bob’s priority list. 

The criticisms he received from Bones were fascinating to read. Here was the thing, the evidence Bones had for her criticisms were based on ‘real life, in the field research’. As usual, Bones attached a photoshopped picture of a dinosaur. It was good work, someone who had enough time to read through each of his papers and photoshop a picture of a dinosaur in an open field. A new picture each time, too. 

This time, there were several pictures of a Brontosaurus. Very good photoshop work, the Brontosaurus looking the exact same in every picture. 

‘This is Bertha. After problems with hatching, I raised her from an egg. Her behaviour isn’t like many of the other members of her herd because of the way she is raised, so my research partner and I use her to compare to the other members of her herd. While raising her, I used your paper on the behaviour of Herbivores in the late Jurassic period. 

I would love for you to meet my girl, Bertha, as well as see the other work I have done in the park. That is why I am officially extending an invitation to the both of you. Please find them attached to this email. 

I hope to hear back from you.

-  Bones’

Sure enough, there were two invitations to Jurassic Park attached to the email. One had his name on it, the other was for Natasha. It made sense. After all, the email was addressed to the both of them. 

Bob kept looking at it, went back to look at the pictures. Bertha. She couldn't have been real, it wasn't possible. 

He clicked out of the email from the mysterious Bones and clicked on the email from Tom Kazansky. Jurassic Park. Even looking at Tom's email, it couldn't have been real. But there he was, begging for Bob and Nat to attend, for their approval. 

“Shit, Bob.” Natasha threw open the trailer door as she ran in. “Have you seen the pictures in this email?” 

He immediately knew she was talking about Bertha. “They can't be real, Nat, but…” He trailed off, unwilling to admit it. 

But Natasha knew what he was trying to say. “I think it is, Bob. And I think we have to go.” 

“Nat.” His voice was soft, yet still full of warning. “What if this is a trick, a wild goose chase?” 

She stared into his blue eyes, a frown tugging at her lips. When she first met Bob, she thought he was dorky. That hadn't changed, but it was something she had grown to love about him. They weren't together, free to fuck other people, but Bob had his own place in her heart, carved out just to fit him. 

She didn't kiss the other people she fucked in the way she kissed him. 

Stepping closer, she pushed her fingers through his hair, upsetting the way he had styled it (combed back to stay out of his face. He had been keeping it short while at dig sites, but Nat knew he preferred it to be long), and kissed him quickly. An attempt at reassurance. “What if it's not, Bob? What if it's real?” 

Her hand was on his chest, over his heart. “We don't have to reply right now,” she muttered, feeling the way his heart beat beneath her fingertips. “Sleep on it.” 

Bob nodded his head. “Okay,” he said, resting his hand over her own. “Decide in the morning.” 

“Atta boy,” she whispered and kissed him again. 

***

Bradley's arm was around you as you laid awake, staring at the window of the trailer. The stars seemed prettier on the island, shined brighter than they did back home. 

You turned in his arms and pressed a kiss to his chest. Bradley stirred slightly, but he didn't wake up. He pulled you closer and rolled over, nearly rolling on top of you. 

“Rooster,” you whispered, pushing at his shoulder. “C'mon, lemme go.” 

His snores grew louder, as if he was making a point. You gave up, accepting your fate as a pancake. A pancake made by Bradley Bradshaw? You didn't mind that. 

You glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand. The time displayed something obscenely early, but you liked early. Without early mornings, there wouldn't have been enough hours in the day for everything you wanted to do. 

“C'mon, Roo,” you tried again, smacking at his shoulder. “Let.” You pushed, trying to roll him onto his back. “Me.” He rolled more onto you, caging you in with his arms. “Go.” 

“Fine,” he groaned out and rolled off of you. You took the opportunity to climb out of the bed. “If you hate my cuddling that much…” 

You pulled a sweatshirt over your head and shoved your arms through the arm holes. “That isn't cuddling, Bradley. That's suffocating someone. Actually, in most countries I think it's called attempted murder.” 

He lifted his hand, flipping you off. 

Laughing to yourself, you pulled open the fridge. Provisions were running low, but that was fine. A shipment would be arriving soon. (That was the one problem with the park, keeping the kitchens stocked. The chefs had the difficult task of rationing everything so that it lasted until the next shipment came. A job you certainly weren't jealous of). 

Bradley sat up in bed, hands behind his head and dinosaur blanket slipping down his chest. It could slip all the way off, there was nobody on this part of the island but you to see (and you'd seen it plenty of times before). “What's on the agenda for today?” He asked, eyes still shut. 

He looked so pretty, so peaceful. You stopped your rummaging to stare at him. “I dunno,” you answered, entirely lost in the beauty of him. 

He opened his eyes and you snapped out of it. Clearing your throat, you grabbed a yoghurt. “I might go down to the lab, see how the eggs are doing,” you muttered, rummaging through the drawer to grab a spoon.

Sitting on the end on the bed, you folded your legs beneath you and began eating. You licked the back of the yoghurt lid before folding it up and placing it on the chest at the end of the bed. 

Bradley's hand touched your knee. “You're supposed to be having a day off,” he told you, looking at you with a stern gaze only an older man could accomplish. He wasn't that much older than you, but he sometimes felt like it. 

You had started your job barely in your twenties, shipped off to a strange island when you were still so unsure of the world. Sometimes it was incredible to watch you, watch you demonstrate just how much you knew. To Bradley, it was incredible to watch how much you had grown since you first met. 

You shrugged your shoulders. “I know,” you said, “and I wanna spend my day off in the lab. Reuben wanted to discuss a breeding programme.” 

Bradley raised his eyebrows. “What has that got to do with you?” 

You rolled your eyes at him. “Everything, Roo.” 

“Come back to bed, Bones,” he whined, hand moving higher. “Come deal with a different type of bone.” 

You didn't mean to pull a face at him. “That was terrible, Rooster,” you said as you dumped your yoghurt carton and spoon in the sink. “Besides, aren't you showing that rich guy around today?” 

He nodded, his face almost glum. You pulled on some trousers and underwear, climbing onto his covered lap to kiss his cheek. His boner was beneath you, begging for attention you wouldn't give. “Don't take him to see BB without me, okay?”

“Okay,” he agreed, a soft smile beneath his moustache as he pulled you closer for one more kiss. “Give me a minute to get dressed and I'll drive you to the lab.” 

Bradley's version of getting dressed for drive you to the lab was a pair of grey sweats and a white vest. Not the usual hawaiian shirt he wore on his day off. He grabbed the Bronco keys, grabbed your bag, and led you out of the trailer. 

Your legs were crossed as you sat in the Bronco, driving away from your trailers. They weren't situated too far from the park, just far enough to offer you a little privacy. The rest of the staff lived in these nice little apartments, but you and Bradley were perfectly content in your trailers. Nearly a year into your position you were offered an apartment, but one glance at Bradley had you turning it down. 

He drove you through the park, around the enclosures. It was too early for morning feedings, so none of your animals were active. You relaxed into your chair, watching as the sunrise turned the sky orange. 

He pulled up outside of the back entrance to the visitors centre. The park wasn't open yet, not yet full of screaming children getting in your way, but you still went in the back entrance. 

“Thank you, Roo,” you whispered and leaned over to kiss him. As badly as he tried to pull you into his lap, to keep you there, you didn't let him. 

He pouted as you pulled away and climbed out of the Bronco. “I'll see you later, Roo! Good luck!” You cried and headed into the visitors centre. 

Even at this early hour in the morning, the lab was up and running. They started early, earlier than you, and finished so damn late. It was hard work, trying to recreate everything Charlie had done. As terrible as she was, she was a fucking genius. 

“Bones!” You looked up at Reuben called your name. 

You walked over to him, joined him at the eggs. Five in total, under the warm lights of the incubator. “What are they?” You asked as you dropped to your knees to get a closer look.

They were in very good condition, but the eggs Reuben manufactured always were. Synthetic eggs, made to incubate the embryos created in the lab. The entire process was truly fascinating. 

“Raptor,” Reuben answered quickly as he took the temperature of the eggs and noted them down. 

You stood up quickly. “Raptor? What do you mean, Raptor?” There were so many different species, you just had to hope he didn't mean…

“Velociraptor, yeah.” 

The grin you had been wearing all morning fell. You loved your job, but you loved it when people listened to you. “Reuben, seriously? I told you a few months ago why this was a bad idea.” You looked towards his lab partner. “Mickey, tell him.” 

But Mickey raised his hands in defeat. He was no use to you. 

“You can't put new Raptors in with the girls!” You insisted. “They'll eat them!” 

“You don't know that for a fact,” Mickey said as he took the clipboard from Reuben. “You've never tried to add to their pack.” 

Your expression was unimpressed as you sat up straight. “Put one of these eggs in with them and see what happens. Because I'm telling you now, they'll eat them.” 

“What if they don't, Bones?” Reuben continued as the lid of the incubator lowered over the eggs. “Imagine the studies you'll be able to do if the Raptors take on these eggs? Imagine Roy-” 

“Rio,” you corrected.

“Imagine Rio raising a baby! She could be the most nurturing mother.” 

“She'll eat it,” you insisted. 

Reuben rolled his eyes. You knew exactly what that meant. No matter what you said, they were going to hatch these Raptors and put them in with your girls. And there would be carnage. “Just one egg, Reuben, please!” You tried. “Let me see if my theory is right before you put these poor babies in.” 

“And, if you're right?” 

You shrugged your shoulders. “Feed the rest of the eggs to The Girls.” 

They looked at you. It seemed like everybody in the lab was staring at you. This game had been played before, though, and they all knew how it ended. 

“Fine,” he finally said. After pressing a few buttons, the top of the incubator lifted. “Just one.” 

You took the egg closest to you and stashed it in your bag. “You're the best,” you said and kissed his cheek. 

Tags (including people I think would like it): @nurse-floyd

@biancathecool

@sebsxphia

@finnydraws

@sugarrush-blush

@magicalmorg

[broareweabouttoviberightnow]

"Can you hold still?" Soda leans over Darry's stomach, puttin' his full weight into it, and Darry laughs. Soda shoots him an agitated little frown he doesn't mean at all and jabs him matter of factly in the stomach. "It's star day this is important."

Darry rolls his eyes but settles back down. "I can't help it." Soda leans sits back, spins the marker in his hand over his fingers. "I'm ticklish."

"Well, figure it out or I'm gonna sic Pony on you." Darry tips his head back 'n looks at Pony upside down. His youngest brother pulls out a more than passin' imitation of the Darry's glare. Though, he should be good at it. He's seen it nearly every day. Darry reaches up 'n baps him on the head 'n Pony cracks 'n laughs.

He's layin' on his back on the living room floor, Soda at his side and head restin' in Pony's lap. Soda brings the marker back against Darry's ribs and he does his best not to laugh. He only half succeeds until he glances down at Soda's tongue bit between his teeth 'n the furrowed brow he only gets when he's focusin'. It's not funny but glory he looks so much like when he was six 'n drawin' horses at the kitchen table with the concentration of Michael Angelo, Darry can't help but snort.

"Darry!" Soda opens his mouth in mock frustration 'n that just makes Darry laugh harder. "That's it. Pony. Sic 'em."

"Wait-!" Pony worms his hand down before Darry can bat it away 'n jabs him in the ribs. "OW! That's it, you're cut off." He fights to sit up but Soda 'n Pony both jump down on him, howlin' with laughter.

"Nuh uh, mister! I'm not done!" Pony presses both his palms down on Darry's shoulders 'n Darry humors him by pretendin' that it makes any difference in him gettin' up or not.

Soda puts his marker back down 'n Darry valently bites his lip 'n doesn't even squirm. He lasts forty-five seconds. "Soda-"

"Finished!" Soda presses the cap back on 'n tosses it to Pony who snatches it out of the air.

"Can I see?" Soda studies Darry's torso for a second 'n then nods happily. Darry grabs the shavin' mirror Soda offers him 'n admires the nonsensical lines connectin' the freckles dottin' his body from his stomach up to his neck. The ones all the Curtis' only got in summer. He smiles, runs a finger along the ink fondly. "Damn Soda! You went all out this year, huh! Care to, uh, explain?"

Soda grins at Pony and points to six freckles on his side. Darry tilts his head 'n furrows his brow. "One guess on this one." Oh, well that narrowed it down.

"That one Pony's?"

"Ding ding ding!" Whenever Soda drew constellations he always managed one for Pony, a horse, 'n one for himself, a pop bottle. If Darry squinted he could see it. He could also see a dog, cat, 'n just about any four-legged animal with a tail but he would keep that to himself.

"Where's yours, Soda?" Soda points to a sort of temple that started on his collarbone 'n ended on his shoulder. It takes Darry a moment longer but he can pick out the vague shape of the bottle.

"Alright, now the rest of 'em." Soda carefully explains each one, two more horses, naturally, a fish, Orion's belt, a wonky set of three dots along a rib, a lasso, 'n two little smilies. Darry carefully traces each one, more than a little impressed by how his brothers could take a handful of random dots 'n find so many little pictures.

"My turn!" Pony jabbed Darry in the side 'n took his place on the floor. He slaps nearly every pocket before he refinds the marker, handin' it over to Darry with a mischievous lil' grin to Soda.

He pulls his t-shirt straight over his head even though most of his freckles are clustered on his arms 'n face. He never picked up his brother's tendency to walk around all summer in no shirt. Dallas always made teased him for that. Glory, Pony's playin' modest 'n makin' the rest of us look like whores. 'N Two would always howl well if the shoe fits! 'N then duck out of Dallas' grip fast as he could. Only Soda 'n Darry knew the real reason. The kid didn't tan one bit. No siree, Pony burned.

He lays flat on the floor, eyes closed, Soda playin' with hair idly. Darry picks up Pony's arm 'n twists it, lookin' for anythin' that sticks out to him. Darry always did Pony's. Pony enjoyed just layin' there 'n Darry needed more time to study where the dots could become shapes. Pony would do Soda's since, out of all of them, the kid had an imagination that could spin 'n spin 'n spit out ideas 'n drawin's n' stories the fastest. 'N Soda had an incredibly short patience for not movin'.

"Hey, look." Soda brushes back Pony's bangs 'n gently traces a jagged line across his forehead. "Hand me that." Before Pony can swat his hand away Soda's connected the freckles from one temple to the other so they form a mountain range across his skin.

"Our little prince, huh." Pony opens one eye 'n glares down at Darry but his oldest brother is just lookin' at him with that fond little smile he gets.

"Oh c'mon." He wriggles around on the carpet 'n gets nothin' for his troubles but rugburn. "Hurry uppppp."

"You sound like me now, Pone." Soda ruffles his hair 'n Pony reaches up blindly with his free arm to swing at him.

"Well, maybe I'd be done faster if you'd stop wigglin'." They drift into a soft silence, Soda standin' up halfway through to cue up the Beatles' latest record, The White Album, which had been a joint birthday gift for Darry last month. Half of the gift had been them toleratin' Darry's affinity for that McCartney kid's weepy grandma songs.

"Alright, I think I'm done." Pony jolts up, grinnin' down at his arms.

"Lemme see, lemme see." Darry twists the mirror around so he can see the back of his biceps, pointin' out what was what.

"Look, this is Soda's." Darry's linked four freckles into an elongated diamond 'n penned in DX. Soda cracks up, twistin' Pony's arms so he can see better 'n forgettin' it's attached to the kid.

"You're a walkin' ad, kid! They should hire you!" Pony snatches his arm back 'n wrinkles his nose up.

"'N work with Steve? Yeah, hard pass." Soda howls 'n Pony tries 'n fails to look put out.

"Hey, this must be yours, Dar." Soda positions the mirror so Pony can better see the lopsided Superman logo on the back of his shoulder.

"Yup, but this one's my favorite." Down the hollow of Pony's throat 'n up under his jaw are three little stick figures all facin' different directions.

"Hey! That's us, right?" Darry ruffles his hair and drops a kiss to the freckle on his temple that makes up the end of his crown.

"Yup," He shoots Soda a grin 'n wiggles his eyebrows conspiratorially, "the shrimpy one is you."

"They're sticks! They all look the same!" Soda grabs him by the chin so he can get a better look.

"Nope, Darry's right." He nods solemnly. "The good lookin' on is me." Pony shoves him off 'n he lands on his ass. Darry hoots a laugh 'n manhandles Soda so his head is restin' on Darry's knee.

"See, Soda gets my creative vision." Soda peeks up at him, upside down, 'n cackles.

"Oh shut up." Pony snatches the marker from Darry 'n instantly goes to work. Soda starts squirmin' less than a minute in 'n Darry leans over 'n flips the TV on, an episode of Scooby-Doo is playin' 'n Soda grins 'n crains his neck to watch.

"You got our north star this year, Pepsi." Darry taps Soda on the tip of his nose where one single fair freckle stands out against his tan skin.

"No kiddin'? Pony's had it the last three years, the hog." Pony sticks his tongue out 'n goes back to drawin'.

The episode's not even half over before Pony nods, self-satisfied. "Alright, c'mere."

"Oh my God, Pony, why do we even try?" Pony's blushes, the tips of his ears goin' red.

"They're just doodles."

"Do I need to bring up Soda's horse?"

"Hey-!"

Pony's joined vast groups of freckles into three distinct shapes across Soda's chest 'n stomach. A horse, that looks far more identifiable than Soda's drawin', across his side, a record 'n the player on Soda's left ribs, a map of some of the actual constellations Pony would drag them outside on clear nights to point out over Soda's heart. Darry can pick out the big dipper, one of the triangles, 'n the bear.

"Wait, this one's my favorite." He points to two little hearts on each side of Soda's face made from four little freckles each.

Soda twists this way 'n that gigglin' between the horse 'n the freckles. "God, Pone, you missed your callin' as an artist."

"Damn straight!" Darry laughs 'n pulls both his kid brothers in tight for a hug. Pony whines but buries his head in Darry's chest beside Soda. "Well, I dunno about y'all but I'm hungry after all that."

Soda whoops already clamberin' off the floor 'n divin' for the keys before Darry can get to them. "Dairy Queen!"

Pony throws his shirt back on, carefully rollin' up the sleeves so Darry's Superman logo can still be seen. Darry reaches over 'n pulls him in for another hug.

"You sure you don't wanna wipe any of that off?" Pony gestures to the mess of marker 'n Darry laughs, brushin' Pony's hair back.

Soda's already climbed in the truck, shirt still off 'n Pony's drawin's on full display.

"Hell no! I got stars to show off."

[puckpocketed]

why is kopitar so underrated? maybe it's bc i'm not a kings fan (and that i'm quite new to the nhl), but i never hear anyone talk about him. as someone who wasn't following the league back in 2012-2014 i'm sure there was more of a buzz then, but he's doing really well right now, especially considering he is the same age as crosby and one of the best players on a (likely) playoff bound team. even if he isn't as good as crosby or ovi, he's still by far one of the best older guys in the league. ofc he doesn't have the same international prestige, but slovenia is a country that has been consistently promoted from and relegated to wc d1a, so he's not going to be winning medals at worlds or the olympics no matter how good he is. i am aware that hockey prestige tends to be focused more on north americans, so does the fact that he's not from NA - and more specifically not from a typical hockey nation - play into it? and how much longer do you reckon he'll play for? it would be nice to see him stick around for a bit longer as i'm quite keen on him (if you couldn't tell)

Why is he underrated? -> Your guess is as good as mine! probably even better than mine since I don't have the data or the expertise. I also just got here. AND im very biased lmao i think he's cool as fuck and so are the Kings... my sillies........

if you put a gun to my head I'd say i think lak play late night games + LA is not a Traditiional Hockey Market + also he is... not flashy?? <- probably why he's aged so well. he's not reliant on a speed/power game.

i dooo wonder how much of QB's emergence as a defensive center this season has to do with being around Kopi and learning from him... ough... i don't have enough of a skilled eye to tell.. i suppose my point is who the hell watching lak games except for me and the 2 moths and 3 dust bunnies that inhabit lak lb.

and I can't speak to NA biases except to shrug and say yeah I'd believe that. people love dismissing foreigners LOL!! xenophobia is all around us!! wheehehee!!!

How long will he play for? -> He's signed for 7M until 2025-26. He'll be 38 by then. He hasn't shown decline. He STILL leads the Kings in scoring (though right now that's by 1 point ahead of Kempe) and remains a locker room stalwart. His leadership, as far as I know, has never been in question. I can't see him asking for a trade or being dealt unwillingly seeing how well the whole team is playing and how he contributes to that.

Furthermore, much as I malign Jim Hiller for it, I do believe the lak youth movement has truly arrived <3 I'm so so so happy for Laferriere, Turcotte, Byfield, Clarke, Moverare, Helenius, Thomas, Lee.... Everything that could go right this season has gone right, with regards to bringing in so many of the Ontario boys (i LOVE home grown talent... love how weirdly attached they are to each other from marinating for years in the AHL)

Byfield in particular is taking on more responsibilities; just in the last couple games we've seen him butt heads with Kucherov's line as a matchup center and get rotated into Kopi's line when the Kings were in a pinch. He's gained Hiller's trust, skating just as many if not more minutes than Kopi. Going into the future this can only be a good thing for Kopi's longevity.

So given the team isn't on the decline, and the fact that Kopitar has remained remarkably healthy, and his game has never been dependent on being particularly fast/strong, and given there are young legs available to insulate him as he slows down... I'm gonna be bold and say if circumstances allow (cap, overall health, role) he plays into his 40 year old season in a reduced role <3

I hope he's a Kings lifer. He means so much to the org, to all the boys he's raised... I'm tearing up just thinking about it... ough...

thank you for dropping by!! A great reminder that i am NOT immune to beautiful goth gf...........

[webco-dawnn]

Panic Attack.

HELLO!! I want to take a moment to apologize for my absence !! I got caught up in Christmas and New Years that I just didn't have enough time to get on here and write something good. But, with all the holdiays and special days out of the way, I'm free to write to my hearts content!! :)

Also, before you read this, I just want to let you know that the reason I wrote this was because I suffer from frequent anxiety/panic attacks and I guess I just wanted to feel a little reassurance through it. I also hope to bring you guys some comfort reading this. Also, this is a little bit different from my usual posts. they're usually lists of different hcs or just little scenarios. instead, this is kind of like a headcanon/fic in itself. so I hope you enjoy :)

(also this includes M!user since this is a boys volleyball team)

The sounds of volleyballs smacking against the floor echoed throughout the gym as the Inarizaki boys practiced their spikes. they were filed into two lines along with two letters to the side who would set the ball up high as the person next in line would run and spike it. then the next person would, and so on. It was their usual warm ups. stretching, practicing spikes, serves, sets, hits, etc. etc. But the captain of the volleyball team noticed something was wrong. different. missing.

"has anyone seen y/n?" kita called out to his teammates. He looked at each of them, waiting for a response. instead, every single one of them either replied with a short, "no, haven't seen him," "no," "nah," or just a shake of the head.

being the team captain, he kept his eye on his teammates. it was partially his job to count attendance. (only partially because that was the coach's job, but their coach wasn't here since this was a Saturday morning practice, which the team's coach doesn't usually attend.)

"He might've skipped," Suna suggested with a shrug.

Kita thought about it for a moment, but eventually decided on the fact that, no, you wouldn't do that.

"No, y/n's pretty passionate about volleyball. I doubt he'd skip a practice without at least messaging one of us to tell us why."

kita stared at the floor for a minute, internally debating whether he should go to the clubroom to grab his phone from his bag and either message or call y/n to ask where he was. well, that was until Osamu spoke up.

"Well, I saw 'em earl'r this mornin'," he said, his words laced with his thick accent. "Iunno where he went though." Osamu shrugged and looked up at Kita.

well, great. that didn't help one bit

"no one saw him walk away or something?" kita asked, looking around again at the boys. he was met with, yet another, disappointing shake of heads.

the captain let out a frustrated sigh. he truly cared about you. hell, he might as well have had a crush on you. he would never admit it out loud though. but he did care about you and was concerned about your absence.

"right, well, get back to practice, I'm gonna go search around and see if I can find him," he instructed his team, before turning around on his heel to go search for his missing teammate.

he immediately went to the supply closet at the corner of the gym. he felt it was the most obvious place to hide or be in if you were trying to avoid someone. he didn't know exactly if y/n was trying to avoid anyone, but he decided to check anyway. Kita opened the door to the supply closet with a short creaking noise. Light poured into the dark closet as a result of opening the door and Kita could see y/n sitting down near the corner of the closet. A soft, confused frown made its way to Kita's face at the sight. He cautiously walked over, not wanting to alarm you or scare you in any way. "Are you alright?" Kita whispered in a soft, quiet tone. The sudden voice was enough to make you flinch, immediately whipping your head up to look at the source of the noise. When you realized it was Kita, your captain, you somewhat relaxed, body less tense now. Kita kneeled down next to you, trying to get a good look at your face. He could see the tear stains runnning down your cheeks, the way your eyes were red and the skin around it puffy and raw from wiping your eyes. You soon realized you hadn't given Kita an answer to his question before, so you murmur out an, "not really." Kit anods at the answer, not really knowing how else to react. He takes a minute to fully sit down next to you. He isn't sure what's wrong, but from the tears and the quiet, but heavy breathing, he couldn't help but to put two and two together and figure out you were currently experiencing a panic attack. Kita himself has had panic attacks in the past and he knows what works for him, but everyone's different. What usually works for him might not work for you. So he decides to stay cautious. He hesitantly places a hand on your shoulder, scanning your face or body language to see if you were uncomfortable or not. You weren't uncomfortable. Far from it, actually. So he took it as a sign to go a bit further by gently rubbing the palm of his hand up and down your back. "it's gonna be okay," he murmured quietly. He carefully squeezed your shoulder and flashed a warm smile at you. Kita was always optimistic. He was always looking at the bright side. You couldn't help yourself and let a small smile lay on your lips at his reassurance. "We can stay in here for as long as you want." Kita had no idea if isolating yourself into a small, dark supply closet usually helped with your panic attacks, or if you were just hiding away from everyone because you didn't want anyone to see you in this state, but he still offered to stay in there with you because he thought it might be a little more comfortable for you.

[didderd]

some messy ketches i did a bit ago of the version of my sona from Swapfell Facet with Stone and Jewel('s hand). my sona can shrink down to just under 5 inches (the last doodle is the most accurate to this), and these came from a conversation with Kins about how Stone and Jewel might react to that.

(Swapfell Facet, Stone and Jewel belong to @skelekins)

[takaraphoenix]

Laying on my floor with my hands folded over my stomach staring up at the ceiling listening to Little Wolf from Epic: The Musical overwhelmed with Luktavercy energy.

Percy has such little wolf energy, but the particular of using that term had me immediately go Roman and damn if Octavian doesn't have the taunting angle of this song covered, but not the fighting angle and the song, on the fight part, gives me such Luke-Percy PJO-saga enemies stage energy and now I'm just rotating some scenario where Percy faces off against Luke and Octavian, as a united front.

[bunnieswithknives]

sorry if idk this but what do you think about Wordgirl now in 2024 do you still like it do you still want to make art or talk about it or are you just done with all of it forever and plus i seen that you haven't made art of it since 2022 so you just done with all of it oh yeah and what about The Magnus Archives + Wordgirl ao3 fic too like is that just going to be and i know that your working on 2 au's now just wanting to know that's all

My interests tend to come in intense bursts and then fade. Unless something like, big happens like it gets a reboot its unlikely I'll be coming back to it anytime soon. As for the fic I don't have any current plans to finish it unfortunately.