#wine cooler bag with glass

[aphrobites]

how can i make this last minute picnic the best and most aesthetically pleasing experience for all involved? why, by being myself, of course

[viking-raider]

🎃 Bumps in the Night 🎃

Summary-> You're home alone on Halloween Night and things are acting up around the house.

Pairing-> (You'll find out in the fic)/Reader

Word Count-> 2.7k

Warnings-> PG: Cotton Candy Fluff, Language, Suspense, Scares

Inspiration-> Halloween and Muse agreeing with one another.

Author’s Note-> This is a work of Fiction!

Divider by->  @FIREFLY-GRAPHICS!

-> If you would like to get notifications for my writing! Just follow my Tag List blog, @VIKING-RAIDER-TAGLIST as well as my @VIKING-RAIDER-LIBRARY and turn on the notifications for it! It’s that easy!’ Ao3-> DRAGON_DWELLER

You were all curled up on the couch, in a darkened home, a pillow clutched in your arms and your eyes glued to horror on the flickering tv screen.

It was Halloween night and you were binging through your favorite horror movies. Usually, you’d have a few friends or your boyfriend over to join the scarefest with you. Watching the Saw movies, followed by the Silent Hills with loads of popcorn and a glass of wine or two. Only taking breaks to refill the candy bowl outside the door, so the neighborhood kids wouldn’t get into mischief against you for not supplying their sugar addiction. But your friends had other plans for the night and your boyfriend was held up with work.

So, it was just you this year.

That was okay, you’d make them all RSVP for Christmas.

You were forty-five minutes deep into Silent Hill 2, when something struck your front door, sending your heart out of your body, like a NASA Rocket, and under the covers in your bedroom upstairs. Swallowing it back down into your chest, you blindly reach for the remote to pause the movie and unfold yourself from the sofa; heading for the entryway.

“Christ, I hope they didn’t egg or toilet paper the front porch.” You mumbled under your breath, pushing up on your toes to peek out the peep-hole; but saw nothing out of sorts. “Hmm.” You grabbed the stash of candy you had by the door and stepped out onto the pouch. “Those heathens.” You growled, finding the remnants of an egg; the clear albumen and runny yoke with bits of broken shell slowly seeping down the mocha-colored wood.

“I should just confiscate the candy bowl!” You barked out into the dark, meeting the eye of every trick-or-treater that walked by on the sidewalk; but filled the bowl nonetheless, feeling bad for punishing the innocent ones.

Going back inside and securing the door, you headed into the kitchen, tucking the empty candy bag into the recycling and pulling another chilled cooler out of the fridge. You stood there for a moment, sipping it and considering if you wanted to order takeaway or pop something in the oven for dinner, as the loudest bang came from the dining room. Drawing a startled scream from your lips. Stumbling towards the entry connecting the living room to the kitchen, your cooler nearly slipping from between your trembling fingers, your eyes were locked on the opposite side of the kitchen, to the entry leading into the dining room. It was just a portal of darkness, like most of the house. The only light was from your paused horror movie, casting light against your back, and only helped your brain find trick shadows in the blackness.

Your throat was tight with fear, you set your wine on the edge of the first counter you could find and continued to back out of the kitchen and into the living room. Dashing around the couch to grab your phone, the moment you were close enough, and dialing your go-to number.

“Hey, babes.” Your boyfriend’s excited voice picked up on the other end.

“Oh my god! Oh christ!!” You blurted out, bouncing on your toes.

“What’s wrong? Are you all right?”

“I think someone’s in the house.” You whined, biting your lip with your eyes panning in every direction.

“Are you sure?” He asked, concerned and agitated.

“There was a loud noise in the dining room.” You told him, antsy.

“Did you go look?”

“GO LOOK!” You snapped out at him, outraged, but quickly gasped and slapped a hand over your mouth, collecting yourself. “Are you crazy? That’s how people get murdered!” You told him, whispering loudly.

His side of the line filled with chest rumbling, amused laughter.

“Why are you laughing!” You scolded him, moving from scared to angry. “Someone could be in the house, trying to rob and/or kill me!”

“Baby, how many horror movies have you watched tonight?” He asked, through his fit of giggles.

“I don’t know.” You sighed, pressing a hand to your forehead, starting to feel silly. “All the Hills Have Eyes, the IT movies, Don’t Breathe, and now, I’m on the second Silent Hill.” You confessed.

“All alone in the dark.” He said, matter-of-factly. “Maybe I should have taken this work thing off and stayed home with you.” He mumbled to himself.

“No, I’m fine.” You said, shaking your head and steeling yourself. “You’re right, I’m just over hyping myself. I’m sure it’s something stupid and explainable.”

“I’m sure it is, love.” He agreed, his voice soft and loving.

“I’ll let you off.” You sighed, glancing back at your unfinished movie. “I’ll see you when you get back tomorrow?”

“Obviously.” He chuckled. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Hanging up, you clutched your phone in your hand before deciding to brave the dining room to find out what had almost sent you to an early grave. Turning on your phone’s light and hugging it against your chest, you tiptoed through the kitchen and pressed yourself against the wall beside the doorway, taking a moment to maximize your courage, before flashing your phone into the space. You had hoped to blind whoever could be hiding in there, gaining an upper hand, before jumping out of your hiding place and into the dining room. But there was no one there, shielding their poor blinded eyes. You couldn’t spot anything out of place either. All the chairs were pushed neatly into the table, the book shelves against the walls were right and their contents in their rightful places.

“What the fuck.” You cursed, rounding the table twice, looking for any explanation, even underneath it.

Nothing.

You pressed a hand to the side of your face, at a loss. “I’m losing my mind.” You decided, shrugging and going back into the living room. “Out of my damn mind, Pyramid Head.” You told the eerie figure on the screen, popping down on the couch, appetite completely forgotten about. “Whatever.” You sighed, pressing play on the movie and tried settling back in.

Silent Hill was almost over and you had finally relaxed again, when yet another bump sounded through the house. This time from upstairs. You flew off the couch and all but ran out of the house, toes barely touching the floor as you went.

“Crap, crap, crap!” You panicked, pacing the foyer, heart thudding against your chest like some cartoon character. You yelped at the sudden sound of your phone going off, but didn’t go for it, where it still sat on the couch cushion. The upstairs between you and it. “Christ alive!” You growled, skittering sideways through the dining room, bolted through the kitchen and all but dived for your phone.

“Yes?” You hissed, kneeling between the couch and coffee table.

“Hey baby.” Your boyfriend’s voice replied cheerfully, but faded. “Did I scare you?” He asked, hearing the panicked terror in your voice.

“No.” You snapped at him, testily.

“Honey, why don’t you call the Horror-thon short for the night? You’re clearly spooking the life out of yourself. I’d hate to come home to you all sleep deprived and paranoid, cause you were too stubborn to call it.”

“It’s a tradition.” You argued with him.

“I know it is. But this is the second call we’ve had that you’re terrified over something; be it something in the house or just the sound of the phone ringing.”

Or something else in the house! You thought, glancing up at the ceiling.

“How about this, when I get home, we’ll do the Horror-thon together. I’ll get us our favorite takeaway and everything for it.”

You wanted to argue with him. You didn’t need him to be there as a safety buddy, so you wouldn’t be afraid of the dark. There wasn’t anything to be afraid of. They were just horror movies, actors acting things out. But something was making noises in the house with you. You were sure of it. But you did like the idea of having a horror date night with your boyfriend.

“All right.” You sighed, conceding. “I’ll turn it off.” You felt around for where the remote disappeared to, pressing your hand between the couch cushions for it, brow creasing in frustration. “I swear, I’m going to super glue an AirTag to this damn remote.” You growled under your breath, turning towards the coffee table.

Your boyfriend chuckled in your ear. “That would make finding it easier.”

Pushing aside empty candy wrappers and empty wine coolers, you came up empty for the remote. “Where did I put this dam-” The TV flickered off, plunging the living room, and you, into darkness. “Jesus Christ!” You squeaked, frozen in place, eyes locked on the deactivated screen.

“Babe?”

“The tv turned off…on its own.” You told him, voice thick.

“Did you accidentally hit the remote?” He asked, his voice trying to guard his concern.

“Pretty sure I didn’t.”

“Go, look out the patio window, see if the neighborhood lost power or something.”

Nodding, you pulled yourself up onto your feet and crossed to the sliding glass window leading out to the backyard. Peeking out to the houses on either side of you, you could see lights on in their windows and back yards and a couple street lamps in the neighborhood over. A cold chill ran down your spine, everyone around you had power.

“Well?” Your boyfriend asked expectantly.

“They have power.” You whispered softly, slightly trembling.

“All right, love. Why don’t you go to my place?” He suggested, his voice calm.

“I think I like that idea.” You agreed, turning sharply on your heels and heading towards the door, forgetting everything else in the house, except your keys, which weren’t on the hanger by the door. “They’re not there.” You whimpered, every bit of resolve and bravery you had seeping out of your body.

“What’s not there?”

“My keys.” You answered, your voice high-pitched.

“Did you leave them in your purse?” He asked, hoping to instill some of his soothing tone into you.

You turned around and looked up the stairs, gulping thickly. “It’s very possible.”

“Okay, grab it.”

Easy for you to say!

“Yeah, grab it.” You echoed back, taking a deep breath and mounting the stairs. “I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.” He answered, chuckling softly.

You teetered at the top of the stairs, glancing at the hallway bathroom and the guest room, then down the great length of the hallway to your master bedroom. It never seemed so far away since you lived there. Digging deep, you grasped the last bit of courage you found and hurried down the hall for it, diving inside and closing the door for extra measure.

“Give me a second, I need my flashlight.” You told him, too scared to turn the bedroom light on. You used your phone light to guide yourself around the room for your purse, finding it on a chair beside the closet. Your hands shook as you rummaged through your purse. “Come on, come on!” You hissed, bouncing on your toes, impatient.

I’ve gotta clean this thing out!

“Ah-ha!” You laughed, hand closing around your car’s fob, feeling a rush of victory go through you, only for loud steps to fill the hallway outside, like someone running towards the door. But they stopped short and you froze in place, waiting for the door to open and your tormentor to show themselves.

“Babe?” Your boyfriend called through the phone still clutched in your shaking hand, but you were too deer in the headlights to answer him calling your name.

Your door didn’t open, but one of the other doors upstairs slammed with such force the floor rattled. Whoever this was, was having a crack at your expense before they finally stopped tormenting you.

“Get out of the house!” Your boyfriend’s voice yelled through your paralyzed fog, having heard the door slam through your connection and activating your fight or flight mode.

“I’m going!” You snapped, rushing out the door and into the hall, knowing they were between you and the stairs, but you were ready to throw hands if you needed to, to get by. “Ha!” You giggled manically, making it to the stairs, feeling triumphant, until you reached the second step and felt an arm snake around your waist, picking you clear off your feet.

You let out a squealing scream, arms and legs flailing, a huge hand clamping over your mouth; cutting off any more screams or noises you could make to alert the neighbors or people coming up to the house for candy of your danger. You felt your intruder’s chest vibrate as they held you against their body, a laugh bubbling past their lips at your terror.

“You’re so easy to scare.” They teased into your ear.

Eyes flaring, your fright was replaced with shocked anger and you bit down on their palm, forcing them to let go with a surprised hiss. “HENRY!!” You yelled, turning around to shove your boyfriend in the chest and stomping your foot, outraged. “It’s been you all night!”

Henry grinned at you, apologetic mischief on his face. “Yeah.” He nodded, feeling bad about tormenting you the whole time.

“Work thing?”

“Mmm…” He shrugged, bashfully. “I fibbed. It was just an excuse for you to think I was gone and wasn’t probably in on pranking you.”

“Do you know how many heart attacks you gave me tonight!” You demanded, poking him in the chest. “You egged my front door!”

“Oh no, that egg wasn’t me.” He admitted, biting the corner of his lip. “That was Trevor, next door. I may have paid him a week ago to toss it tonight, at a specific time, to get things rolling.”

“I’m going to kill both of you.” You declared, nodding, then punched him in the chest again. “You’re such an ass!”

Henry laughed, folding you into his arms and kissing the top of your head. “I’m sorry, love.” He chuckled, swaying gently. “I couldn’t help it, just this once. It was so perfect, with you all alone and stuff. Or at least you thought you were.”

“How did you turn the tv off?” You asked, cocking your head back to look at him.

Henry pulled his phone out from his back pocket and showed you the remote control app he had for your smart tv. “I debated changing the channels on you and stuff, but I didn’t want to muck with you too much.”

“The noise in the dining room?”

“I dropped your leather bound copy of War and Peace, then returned it to the shelf, before going back upstairs.” He explained, with no small amount of pride.

“Footsteps?”

He laughed, cupping your face in his hands. “I was just going to sneak up on you, when you were looking for your keys. Which I moved from the hook by the door to your purse, while you were checking to see if the neighborhood lost power. But you closed the bedroom door, so I just ran up to the door and quietly went back to the half bath, where I’ve been hiding. Then you know what happened after that.”

“How did you even get into the house, while I wasn’t looking?”

“That was what the egg was for. While you were dealing with that, I slipped into the house through the slider, and just tip-toed around you.”

“That’s pretty impressive for a man your size.” You complimented him, impressed with how thought out Henry had made this. “I really hate you though. That was so mean, Hen.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” He chuckled, kissing you sweetly. “I’ll make up for it. How about some takeaway and Saw?”

“Takeaway, yes. But I think I’m done with all things horror and scary for now.” You informed him, pressing your forehead to his chest.

“Fair.” Henry smiled, kissing you once more.

Calmed down and torment over, the two of you went downstairs, ordering food and turning on a Rom-Com to finish the rest of your Halloween night, curled up together on the sofa; without another bump or thump in the night.

[roosterforme]

Hands to Yourself | Rooster x Reader

Summary: Normally Bradley would encourage you to touch him as much as you want, but not when you've invited everyone you know over for a cookout.

Warnings: Smut and fluff

Length: 2500 words

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader

This was written to accompany my series Is It Working For You? along with a bunch of my one-shots! (But it can be read on its own) Check my masterlist in my profile for the reading order!

You and Bradley had been engaged for just over a week when you invited everyone you knew over to the house for a cookout. The two of you had a lot to celebrate, including Bradley's big promotion to Lieutenant Commander and his return to work after his injury. 

Bradley walked into the kitchen to find all of the food you were preparing for later that day. "Baby Girl, these people do not need anything fancy. We can just dump some beers in a cooler and serve them hot dogs." 

"Sangria and marinated chicken isn't fancy, Roo." You rolled your eyes. You weren't about to invite people over for dinner and then toss a bag of chips at them. Even if it was just the usual crowd.

"Nat and I once ate sushi from a gas station, so really whatever you want to do is fine," he told you, and you couldn't help but laugh. "I'll be outside setting up."

He kissed your cheek as you continued to cut up fruit for the sangria, and you watched him walk into the dining room. He tapped out a few notes on the piano before heading outside. Then you watched him through the kitchen window while he played with Tramp and got the patio furniture cleaned up. God, he looked so good. You knew he was still struggling with his new scars and his body image since his injury, but just looking at him had you practically drooling. 

Your period had ended, and you wondered if there would be time for a quickie once you finished up with all of the food. You rushed to get everything else ready. At least it was mostly things that needed to be grilled. You laughed and pulled out your I Love Meat apron for Bradley to wear while he was grilling. 

You mixed all of the sangria pitchers and tried a sample of each one. "Delicious," you said out loud before pouring yourself a full glass and taking it outside. "Do you want a drink, Roo?" you asked, taking a long sip. "It's insanely hot out here!"

"Yeah, just some water, Sweetheart," he told you as he was cleaning the grill. You watched him in his gray tee and gym shorts, his biceps working hard as he scraped and scrubbed with the wire brush. You bit your lip as he swiped the back of his hand across his forehead. Even the sweaty spots on his shirt were doing something to you right now. 

"What time is everyone coming?" you asked, finishing the rest of your drink in an attempt to keep yourself from touching him while he bent to pick up the propane tank. 

"In about an hour," he said, grunting as he tightened the tank in place with his big hands. He really had no idea what he was doing right now, and you ran back inside to get him some water. 

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

You put out some snacks while Bradley took a shower. You had been so tempted to join him in there, but everyone would be arriving shortly. You were a few sangrias deep at this point, and when your fiancé walked out sporting damp hair, a snug white tee shirt and gray chino shorts, you moaned. 

"I know what that noise means," he said, eyeing you with a smirk.

You pressed your lips together. "Call everyone. Call them and cancel. Please?"

"Baby Girl," he whispered, and you felt like your head was swimming. The wine was mixing with your neediness, and you were reaching for him. As soon as you pulled him down for a kiss that lingered and got your fingers under the hem of his tee shirt, someone started knocking on the door. 

"Let's pretend we're not home," you whispered against his lips. He chuckled and gave your butt a squeeze. 

"I'll take care of you later, Sweetheart. After everyone leaves."

You pouted in the kitchen as he walked to the front door. You recognized Maverick's voice right away, and you had to act totally normal in front of him, pretending you weren't thinking about his godson naked and inside you.

Soon your kitchen was filled with all of the aviators along with Cam and Maria. Everyone started to filter out to the backyard with drinks in their hands, but you pulled Bradley to the side and kissed him again.

"You look so hot right now," you told him, running your hand along the front of his shirt before letting it trail down his scarred left arm. "Good Lord, Bradley."

"Is this because we haven't had sex in a few days?" he asked in that raspy voice that made your eyes flutter closed. "I'll lay you on our bed later and take care of you. Don't I always take care of you?" He kissed your forehead before he strode outside. 

You whined and squeezed your thighs together, and then you poured another huge glass of sangria and went out to socialize. You talked to Cam and Maria for a while about work. Your lab was collaborating with their lab on an upcoming project, and you couldn't wait to see more of them every day outside of lunchtime. But you watched Bradley slip your apron over his head as he laughed with Payback, his big hands making quick work of tying it in place. 

"Want me to grab you a beer, Angel?" Jake asked as he walked past you, and you must have told him yes, because soon you were drinking both your sangria and a beer. Bradley was preheating the grill now, and you had to press your lips together to keep from making a seriously needy noise as he squatted down on the ground to open the tank valves. 

You finished both drinks and went to wrap your arms around his waist as soon as he stood up.

"Having fun?" he asked with a smile. The playlist you made was perfect, everyone was eating your snacks, and you could overhear pleasant conversations everywhere. 

"I'd be having more fun if my hands were down your pants," you told him, and he choked on his sip of beer. 

"Sweetheart," he gasped as he coughed. "Later." He turned away from you as Bob called his name, and you sighed as you started talking to Jake about his girl problems. 

After a few minutes, you were still shaking your head at him and sneaking glances at Bradley through your tipsy haze. "Jacob, just be less of a fuckboy."

"I don't know how!" he replied, but you had to bite your lip, because now Bradley was standing with his hand on his hip while he grilled the chicken you had prepared along with some burgers and veggie burgers. "The two of you are absolutely disgusting. You know that, right?" Jake drawled once he saw where your focus had drifted. 

"Mmm," you hummed in agreement before making a beeline toward Bradley. "You need anything, Roo?" you asked sweetly, slipping one hand inside the apron and stroking his belly before letting your hand glide lower. You watched him glance around to see if anyone was looking and you giggled.

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

Bradley grunted as your hand rubbed him through his shorts. "You need to knock it off," he whispered in as stern a voice as he could manage. Because God, your hand felt good on him right now. "Go find someone to talk to. I told you I will take care of everything you need later tonight." 

You just whimpered. Your cheeks were flushed, and he knew you'd had a few drinks. He had honestly never seen you this poorly behaved before. Thank goodness he'd already locked you down with a ring, because this was delightful. He had to reach for your hand and remove it from inside the apron, because you were refusing to listen to him. 

"What has gotten into you?" he asked, nodding at Fanboy when he asked if Bradley wanted another beer.

You looked up at him and licked your lips. "Sangria and lust. And hopefully you, soon."

Bradley tried his best not to laugh, so he pressed his lips together and nodded until he was able to speak. "You know we can't do that right now. Go talk to Nat."

He watched you pout and head away from him, your sundress swirling around your thighs. Great, now he was a little hard. He watched you conversing with his best friend, and he flipped the chicken before anything burned. Fanboy and Payback joined him at the grill and helped him get all of the food off when it was ready.

"Congrats again, Rooster," Fanboy said as he drank one of your fancy sangrias. "You two look so happy together. When's the wedding?"

Bradley glanced at you across the patio, and you were already looking at him. "We haven't made any solid plans yet. I'm hoping for this year though."

You winked at him, and he shook his head in response. He couldn't believe you. When he carried the grilled food to the table, and everyone started to dig in, he turned to face you. "Are you ready to behave now?" he asked you softly since everyone was gathered around the vicinity. 

"No, I'm still feeling a certain way about how sexy you look today."

He heard Nat snicker and look at him over her shoulder. "The two of you are a serious problem," Nat told Bradley. "Plus, I am honestly shocked you found someone who can stand your personality and your looks."

Bradley sighed. He supposed he was lucky, but he still shook his head at you. "Eat something to soak up all of the alcohol you drank. I'm going to wash my hands." Bradley barely made it inside and to the laundry room sink before you slipped inside the room with him. 

You closed the door and leaned against it, chewing on your bottom lip and eyeing him up and down. Bradley slowly dried his hands, taking a moment to wipe his brow with the paper towel before throwing it away. 

"You're acting like a brat," he told you, but that just made you gasp. "You're being a bad girl."

"Oh my god," you moaned, and he knew he wasn't getting out of this room unless he took care of you. "I am so horny, Roo. I don't know what it is about you today! Or maybe it's because we're engaged, but I just... I can't...."

He smirked at you and nodded toward the washer and dryer. "Put your hands on top of the washing machine." He watched you do as you were told, and when he pressed the front of his body against your backside, you pushed back making him groan.

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

"Please," you whispered, and when Bradley's right hand reached up the front of your dress, you wiggled back against him.

"I can't believe you today," he growled next to your ear, his mustache brushing you softly. His fingers traced your slit through your underwear before he reached his entire hand down the front and circled your clit. "I told you to wait."

"I couldn't," you moaned. He worked his fingers through your wetness and he groaned. "Are you going to fuck me?"

"No," he said, sliding one finger inside you. 

"Why not?" you asked as he held you snug against him and used a second finger to fill you up. 

"Because that's what you want me to do."

You gasped as he started to pump his fingers into you, fucking you with his hand. His left forearm was wrapped around your breasts, and the veins bulging in the back of his hand had you feeling wild. 

"Please, fuck me with your cock," you gasped, but he was grinding your clit with the heel of his hand now. He knew exactly what you liked.

"No." he told you again, his voice firm and unwavering as his breath teased your ear. "You know I'm never quick, and we only have a minute. And frankly, I don't think I should be rewarding this behavior." 

"Ohhh," you moaned, and he hissed as your ass bumped him while he worked his fingers in and out. 

"You're such a filthy little thing, Baby Girl. Gonna have my hands full for the rest of my life."

You were so close now, you were squeezing your eyes closed as the wave of tension inside you grew. "You asked me to marry you."

Bradley grunted. "Of course I did. I love you. Even when you act like a needy little princess."

You bit your lip and let your head fall back against his shoulder as he rubbed his thumb across your clit, making you clench around him.

"You cum for me right now, and later tonight, I'll spread you out on our bed and do you the way you deserve." 

You were whining and gasping for air, your fingers bending against the top of the washing machine as you came. Your skin felt so hot from the combination of sangria and Bradley's attention. When he withdrew his fingers, he brought them up to your mouth, and you licked and sucked them clean. 

"You better behave now," he threatened, grinding himself against your backside before leaving you alone in the laundry room. 

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

Bradley watched you make your way back outside on shaky legs. Nobody seemed any wiser; the two of you had been inside for less than ten minutes together. You looked at him as he took a bite of his burger, and the soft smile on your lips had him smirking back at you. You absolutely owned his heart and his body, but he still couldn't believe your behavior while you had company over. 

As soon as everyone had finished eating and drinking and the sun had set, your friends started to leave. Bradley watched you saying goodbye to Coyote and Bob, the last two stragglers. 

"Everyone's gone," you told him, standing under the strands of fairy lights that you had hung up outside. 

Bradley just looked at you for a few seconds, your ring sparkling on your finger. "Go get in bed and wait for me," he said. Now his voice was deep and needy. He watched you smile and dash inside. 

Bradley shook his head and cleaned up some of the food and dishes, making several trips into the kitchen. He decided he'd make you sweat for a few minutes, make sure you were even more worked up for him. He washed his hands and started to unbutton his shorts as he walked into the bedroom. 

And there you were, curled up in bed with Tramp. Both of you were snoring softly, your cheeks still flushed from all the wine you'd had to drink. Bradley just watched you sleep for a moment before he sighed and walked around the bed. He gently extracted the worn out dog and set him down on his own bed. Then Bradley covered you up and kissed your forehead before he got himself ready to go to sleep next to you. 

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Thanks for reading Roo and Baby Girl! I hope you liked this one where she was being a bit of a brat...

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[unseededtoast]

Turtle Doves | Joel Miller x F!oc

Part One

Chapter Directory

Series Summary: In which two broken souls connect so deeply, that if one should perish, the other would surely die of a broken heart. (slow burn, timeline changes. After TLOU1, before TLOU2, assumed knowledge of infected, uses elements from both show and game)

Series Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, death, and sexual content.

Also cross-posted on Wattpad and AO3. Link to my masterlist for everything else I’ve posted!

wc: 2.9k

a/n: Thank you for checking out this story! This is by far one of my favorites that I've ever written and I am beyond ecstatic to finally be able to share it with you all. I will be uploading a new part every week, and let me know if you'd like to be tagged! Once again thank you so much!

"What do you think of all this?" My voice is unusually hoarse as I take in the images before me. There have been reports of some sickness going around, mainly in the bigger cities, far enough from here to make us feel safe, for now.

(use this link for geographical reference points)

Upbeat music sounds through the house, bright sunshine beaming through the open windows. The crisp breeze whips in every few seconds, blowing the sheer curtains and cooling the house. It all makes it seem more real that summer is finally here. I lightly bob my head to the beat, enjoying the first day of warmth and excited for our first cookout of the year. I hear a few of the guests in the back yard already, laughing and clinking bottles together.

I turn around and open the freezer door, grabbing the ice tray off the top shelf and breaking up the frozen water inside, so that I can dump the cubes into the glass pitcher sitting on the kitchen counter. The ice clings as it falls to the bottom of the pitcher, and I go to fill it with water to finish the lemonade. With another gust of wind, the smell of grilled burgers floats in, making me all too excited to get back out there.

The doorbell rings out and I quickly turn the water off so that the lemonade doesn't overflow into the sink. I set the pitcher off to the side and dry my hands on the towel laying on the counter. Quickly, I make my way to the door and open it, greeting the next arrivals with a wide smile on my face.

"Thank you guys for coming, please make yourselves at home! I think the burgers are just about done out back." I say and close the door behind them, grabbing a dish from my friend's full hands and placing it on the counter. Her daughter toddles through the house, mumbling about something that's apparently very important to her. I smile softly at the little girl and turn my attention to my friend, who I haven't seen in forever. Her husband quickly finds his way to the back yard with the other guests.

"Sorry we're late, someone did not want to wear shoes today." She breathily laughs, setting down a diaper bag as she watches her daughter walk around the house.

"I understand, shoes are a pain." I joke with her and open the fridge to grab a chilled bottle. I hand the wine cooler to her and she pops the cap, taking a sip. I look at my friend, who I notice looks tired and stressed, more than usual. There are dark circles under her eyes and her hair is haphazardly thrown up into a bun. Her appearance is out of character for her, she's typically always primped and dressed for the occasion.

"Tell me about it. I was half tempted to just let her come barefoot. How's Lucas?" She asks about my son, taking another sip. I turn my head to look out the back door, seeing my son being held by my husband.

"He's loving all the attention out there, that's for sure. How are things going, Lisa? I feel like I haven't seen you since last year." I inquire, casually grabbing the lemonade pitcher and setting it beside the veggie tray I took from her. She sighs,

"Things have been better. John has been working more hours lately. Which is fine, it's just that I feel like I never sleep anymore." She tries to joke, but I can sense the exhaustion in her. Her husband works as a physician at a local hospital, and has been on call for the past two weeks. I offer her a small smile and put a hand on her shoulder,

"You and little miss Amelia are welcome here anytime. Lucas would enjoy the company and I know you'd enjoy the rest. I mean it, I don't mind watching her." I tell her, knowing that she will likely never take me up on the offer. Lisa doesn't like to impose on people, though she wouldn't be imposing at all.

"I appreciate it Noelle, thank you." She nods gratefully. Amelia finds her way to the back door and puts her slobber-covered hands on the glass, mumbling nonsense but making it clear she wants out there with everyone else. I laugh at her silliness and balance the veggie tray in one hand and grab the lemonade in the other.

"I think Amelia wants to get out there. Feel free to just relax, we can watch over her. Enjoy yourself, mama." I say and make my way to the backdoor and expertly open it with my elbow. Amelia squeals and runs out onto the grass with the other kids.

Lisa goes to sit on the couch, taking another drink, and I close the door behind me. I set the veggie tray down on a foldable table where the other side dishes are and place the cold lemonade beside the other beverages. The burgers smell amazing and I can't help but glance over to the grill to see if they're done yet. To my disappointment, they're not ready, so I walk over to my husband Ryan, who has Lucas in his arms.

"Do you want me to take him?" I ask, knowing that even though Lucas is a small kid, he gets quite heavy after a while. Ryan nods and hands him off to me, kissing me on the forehead before he goes to grab a beer out of the cooler. Lucas lays his head on my shoulder and I can tell he's ready for his afternoon nap.

I go back in the house to find Lisa chilling on the couch, her drink empty in hand and her head resting back on the cushion with her eyes closed. Quietly, I make my way to Lucas' room and lay him down in bed. Of course, as soon as he's on the mattress he's starts to throw a fit, because he's so obviously not tired.

"Shhh, it's okay." I soothe him, running a hand through his short hair and tucking a light sheet around him while he curls his tiny little hand around my fingers. He always likes to be holding someone's hand as he falls asleep, I think it must be some sort of security thing for him. And thankfully, he's out in just a few minutes. Skillfully, I wiggle my hand from his grasp and close his door softly, hoping he'll sleep for at least an hour or two.

Lisa is now sitting up on the couch, her elbows resting on her knees as she leans forward, listening intensely to whatever is on. Something on the TV must have caught her attention.

I go to the fridge and grab a drink, wanting to indulge a little since Lucas is down for a nap. The words on the TV pique my interest, and I go to sit beside Lisa, who only glances at me out of the corner of her eye.

"Los Angeles is the latest city to be placed under Martial Law. The number of confirmed deaths has now passed two hundred. And according to a leaked report from the World Health Organization, recent vaccination attempts have failed." The reporter seems uptight and rigid as she speaks. Absentmindedly, I take another sip of my drink, feeling uneasy about what I'm hearing. The upbeat music from the yard starkly contrasts the severity of what's on the television.

The news broadcast switches to a helicopter view of Los Angeles and shows a temporary military camp being set up. Large armored trucks line the streets and soldiers instruct people where they need to go. There's smoke in the air from fires that have been set, and it looks like some foreign, war-torn country.

"What do you think of all this?" My voice is unusually hoarse as I take in the images before me. There have been reports of some sickness going around, mainly in the bigger cities, far enough from here to make us feel safe, for now. But seeing the devastation and panic of those in New York, Detroit, and now Los Angeles is making me more uneasy about the whole thing.

"I don't like it. John says we shouldn't worry about it. Whatever it is, they'll find a cure for it soon. He says he hasn't seen anything come through the hospital yet and that we're okay. But I don't know, I can't help but worry, you understand." Lisa's voice is soft, but serious. She tears her eyes away from the screen and looks to me as she finishes her sentence, and I nod my head.

"I understand. Ryan says the same thing. But we aren't that far from Detroit, really. I mean what, a few hours by car? I told him we should at least stock up on some canned goods, just in case." I say, knowing that we share the same anxiety about this mysterious sickness. The back door slides open quickly,

"Burgers are done!" Ryan's voice calls out into the house, snapping Lisa and I out of our contemplation. I clear my throat and take another drink before standing and offering Lisa my hand. She takes it and I help her up as well, and we both go outside, trying to forget what we just saw on the screen.

We join the others in the back yard and Lisa makes quick work to fix Amelia a plate. I urge others to get a plate before I do, feeling unnerved from the news report. After everyone goes through the line, I grab a plate as well, but can only bring myself to put some fruit on it, and that's just for show.

I join Ryan at the patio table and he's tucking into his burger with all the fixings. I take another drink and try my absolute best to act perfectly normal and unperturbed. Ryan swallows and looks between my plate and my face, his eyebrows scrunching together.

"Only fruit?" I nod my head, knowing it's out of my usual to not load up with a burger, chips, and some type of sweet.

"Just not feeling too well." I passively offer as an explanation and take a strawberry into my mouth. He takes another bite of his burger, keeping his eyes on me. I know he can see through my lie, but I know he won't push it in front of people. He puts a hand on my thigh and gives it a squeeze, and I place my hand on top of his.

I take another strawberry and look out into our back yard, seeing Amelia happily nibbling on a bun Lisa gave her. Another little kid sits beside Amelia, Ethan is his name, and he is content with his bowl of chips his mother gave him. Ethan's mother, Rebecca, met Lisa and I at a birthing education group a few years back and we all clicked together instantly. Rebecca's husband, Tim, fit right in with our husbands as well.

Others mill about the yard, associates of Ryan who I don't know very well, but they're friendly enough and I don't mind them. I've never been able to connect with them too well, seeing as there's a sizable age gap between me and the majority of them. Plus, they're all lawyers and I'm a florist, there's not much common ground between the two. Sometimes I wish I had more in common with Ryan's friends, but over time I've accepted that it's okay for us to have differences.

My eyes drift from the people to my flower beds, which are all manicured to perfection. Luckily, all the flowers are vibrant and full, adding more life to the yard it sometimes lacks in the colder months.

After a while, I go about collecting plates and cleaning up the food as the sun begins to disappear behind the horizon. Ryan is entertaining a newly energized Lucas as Lisa and I pack away the leftovers and hunt out the s'mores supplies. No Allen family cookout is complete without s'mores.

I turned the television off as soon as we started bringing things in, not being able to bear the words and images that were sure to be there. If I can just push those thoughts from my mind for another couple hours and make sure people enjoy the cookout, then I can worry about it for the rest of the night after they leave.

Lisa hands me a platter of leftover burgers to put in the fridge and breaks the silence,

"Your flowers are beautiful this year, I really like the tulips you have here." She compliments my fresh pink tulips on the counter. I had picked them this morning before everyone got here so they looked their best. I smile, appreciating the compliment.

"Thank you, I tried to pick the best ones. You can take those with you if you want. I have plenty." I say, motioning to the backyard. It's true, I have an abundance of flowers to choose from, and I want Lisa to have something nice for herself, she deserves it.

"Oh no, I couldn't. You worked hard on those." She dismisses with a wave of her hand, but I give her a stern look.

"Lisa, please take the flowers or I will make sure John takes them." I say, pushing the vase across the counter to her. She knows she's not going to win this argument and concedes, taking the vase in her hands.

"Thank you, Noelle." Her voice is quiet, and I give her a nod.

"Don't mention it. Now let's get these kids full of sugar before bed!" I laugh and hand her some of the s'mores ingredients to take out.

A few of the men had started the fire and have it at a nice height, it should last us long enough to get the s'mores made and for people to say their goodbyes for the night. I hand out the skewers and place the ingredients on the foldable tables, allowing people to help themselves.

Lucas waddles over to me with a marshmallow in his tiny hand, and I smile, knowing he wants me to toast it for him. I grab him in my arms and take his marshmallow, placing it on a skewer before sitting us on a chair close to the fire. Lucas is on my lap as I watch the marshmallow to ensure I don't burn it, but toast it perfectly for him. Lucas is kind of a marshmallow snob, he won't eat one that's been burnt or under-toasted, he only wants the golden-brown ones.

After rotating the marshmallow with patience, I think it's finally good enough for his standards. I grab it off the skewer and blow on it so that he doesn't burn his mouth on the hot sugar. His hands reach towards it, but I lean away to cool it off as much as possible. I can tell he's getting frustrated, and so as soon as I'm sure it's an acceptable temperature, I give it to him. He wastes no time in shoving it in his mouth, a wide, gummy smile on his face with tiny little teeth barely visible.

I watch him lovingly, enjoying seeing him so happy with something so simple. As Lucas finishes his marshmallow, some people begin filtering out for the night. I wave goodbye to them and take Lucas inside to clean him up before bed. His hands and face are sticky with marshmallow fluff, and the last thing I want is for him to touch everything in his reach and get everything coated in stickiness.

I set him up on the counter beside the sink and grab a fresh rag, wetting it lightly so I can get the gross off of him. Rebecca, Tim, and Ethan are the next ones to leave, and I wish them a safe drive home, and thank them once more for coming. Lisa, John, and Amelia are the last ones to leave, and I make sure Lisa takes the tulips with her despite her protests.

After Lucas is cleaned up and Ryan has tidied the back yard, I'm ready for bed. My eyelids are heavy with sleep, and I can't wait to get underneath my warm covers. Lucas fights his bedtime as per usual, but finally lays down for me after minutes of whining.

I close his door and turn off the main lights in the house and ensure the night lights are on, just in case Lucas gets up in the night and needs to get to our room. I rub my eyes as I enter my bedroom and go to the bathroom to do my nightly routine. Ryan is already in bed, flipping through channels to find something.

I rush through my routine and get underneath the covers, sighing with relief as I feel my spine decompress from the day. Rolling over into Ryan's side, I rest my head on his shoulder and look at the television screen. Immediately, I'm displeased with what I see. A bold headline is front and center and it reads 'Death Toll Rises, When Will This End?'. Luckily the TV is on mute so I can't hear what the news reporter is saying.

"I think we need to stock up on things tomorrow. I don't like how this is looking." I say, standing my ground this time. Ryan can believe whatever he wants about this sickness, but I won't risk Lucas going without food or any necessity if things get bad.

"First thing in the morning we can go." Ryan's voice is raspy, and he turns the TV off, not bothering to watch anything else. He adjusts his position and pulls me into him, kissing me goodnight before he rolls over to turn off his bedside lamp.

I cuddle into his side, enjoying the safety I feel in his arms and close my eyes, ready to fall asleep. As I feel myself drifting off, I hear muffled sirens in the distance.

Part Two

[heeseungwifey]

Our Honeymoon...

Pairing: Jake x yn

Warning: contains smut!

The wedding was beautiful. Everyone cried and cheered for us as we walked out of the church, getting on our ride to the wedding reception. Jake and I hadn’t enjoyed some time alone until now, enjoying the sudden silence inside the car. 

“You look beautiful. I just told you at the altar but I can’t stop thinking about how lucky I am that you’re my wife now” Jake says as he grabs my hand with both hands and kisses it, looking at me in the eyes.  

“Thank you, it has taken me since this morning at 7 a.m. to look this good, I almost didn’t get ready in time” I growl as I try to accommodate the wedding dress inside the car, getting overwhelmed by the amount of fabric around me.

“I think you have looked gorgeous every single day since I met you 3 years ago. Today you look different though, I guess is the wife glow my friends told me about” Jake grabs my legs and puts them on his lap, getting my shoes off and massaging my feet. I am truly so happy that the best man I know also happens to be my husband.

“By the way I have a little surprise since our flight is tomorrow evening, I booked a Hanok to stay the night. It’s quite big and far away from other houses, so we have more intimacy” I make eye contact with Jake in response to his not-so-subtle comment, his hands grabbing my foot and getting it closer to his lips as he places a kiss on the instep. I’m in for a wild night.

The party lasted for hours, and our families and friends got along playing games with each other, singing karaoke and playing pool. Every time Jake and I made eye contact got more excited to leave, feeling sorry for everyone at the party but also extremely needy for each other.

“I’m sorry everyone but we’re leaving, you can still enjoy all of this for two more hours if the party hasn’t ended for you. My wife and I have plans tomorrow and we need to rest. Thank you to everyone for coming to our wedding, we’re very happy to have such people in our lives. That being said, we’re leaving”

Jake had rented a McLaren 570GT, a sports car, to take us to the Hanok. He looks so hot with his white shirt unbuttoned and rolled-up sleeves, the hairstyle that he had this morning is now messy, a strand of hair falling onto his face. The radio plays jazz music as we’re driving down the road to our stay for the night.

“Thank you so much for everything. We’re a really good team” I put my hand on his nape as he parks the car right in front of the house. Jake opens the car door for me as I come out, walking to the entrance of the house and waiting for him as he picks up our luggage. When we went inside it was a beautiful traditional Korean house with only one floor and a tree that grows in the middle of the yard. 

Jake opens the door and as we walk in, a subtle smell of incense fills my nostrils. The lighting is warm and cosy, making me relax instantly. I drop my bag on a table and do a little tour around the house while Jake is picking a bottle of white wine from a wine cooler. A bathroom with a jacuzzi, a spacious kitchen and a huge king bed in the middle of the bedroom. One of the walls has a big round window with views to the inner yard, the moonlight coming right in. Jake pours a glass of wine for me as he sips from his.

“Do you want to get into the jacuzzi? I can turn it on now so it’s ready when we get changed” Jake is taking his tie off, followed by his shirt. It’s not the first time I see him shirtless, but every time I see him so bare something primal clicks on me. He’s changing into his bathing suit, so I leave the room to get ready too.

Taking my makeup off and putting on a bikini my bridesmaids packed for me since this little escapade was a surprise for me, I walk into the bathroom, Jake already inside it. He looks so handsome, the lighting of the candles he just placed cast light upon his chest and shows all his well-defined muscles. He’s biting his lips immersed in his thoughts, suddenly aware I’m standing at the door.

“C’mere” He extends his hand to help me get in, sitting me right in between his legs. His veiny arms wrap around me and his nose caresses my ear. there’s just silence, the bubbling of the jacuzzi and subtle sighs from Jake. I rest my head on his shoulder and give small pecks to his bicep. We’re both drunk already so everything is a bit clumsy.

“Are you happy to be here with me? Because I think I am the luckiest woman alive right now.” I kiss his cheek as I turn to face him, our mouths so close I can feel his warm breath. He looks at me in the eyes and puts his hand on my cheek, caressing it. 

“I feel like the king of Korea with you by my side. I don’t think anyone has ever been this blessed” he kisses me with hunger, his mouth absorbing mine like I have no power over it, splashing water and my hands holding tight to his shoulders. Every time we kiss it feels like he’s gonna devour me, french kissing that always leads to a night of no sleep.

I get on his lap and take the lead, untying my bikini top right in front of his eyes as I grab his head and push it in between my tits. He looks up and the lewd sound that scapes off my mouth makes him suck on one of my nipples in response.

“Jake… Jake… I need you right now. I’m tired of pretending I haven’t been thinking about your cock this whole day” I whisper in his ear, licking the tip of his nose as I grind on him, feeling his body starting to tense up. 

“I didn’t know I married such a whore, I guess I'll have to wash your mouth tonight” Jake gets on the edge of the jacuzzi and pulls his trunks down and his dick springs out, rosy tip and enticing to my tipsy self. I grab it with one hand as I take it into my mouth, my eyes fly directly to his face, enjoying how his eyebrows furrow and how he bites his lip. I used to hate giving head until my girlfriends told me that it made them feel powerful seeing how men reacted to it, so fragile and sensitive to it you could almost make them do anything for you afterwards.

With my tongue flat I spread saliva from the base to the top, making it easier for me to bob my head repeatedly, massaging his balls with my other hand, his moans so loud and his legs twitching I can tell he´s about to come. 

“No wait… I don’t want… to cum yet, I want to do it inside you” Jake grabs my head and gets me up to kiss my lips, hugging me in the process. Our bodies are outside the jacuzzi, Jake stepping out and carrying me out bridal style.

He lays me on the bed, wet and naked, as he walks to his suitcase searching for something he packed. While I’m laying there I appreciate the decoration, very traditional and elegant, as if we were in some kind of regal chamber. Everything around us just feeds this fantasy that’s turning me on even more than before. 

When Jake comes back he’s holding two things, a blindfold and a ribbon, my imagination taking a wild guess on what Jake has prepared for us tonight. He has put on some boxers and a bathrobe while I’m here in just my bikini bottoms, cold and naked. 

I couldn't care less right now about the cute lingerie set I have in my suitcase or how this night is not going as I planned in my head at all, my man is right on top of me tying my hands with a ribbon as I’m blindfolded, entirely at his mercy.

“you know how you said once we got married we should try to have kids right? there hasn’t been a day I haven’t had the nasty thought of filling you up and breeding you, making you mine and watching how it comes out of that pussy of yours. Damn, even saying it out loud it’s making me so hard” Jake says as he leaves a trail of kisses from my lips to my toes, holding my leg up and kissing my calves. He manhandles me onto opening my legs, my bikini bottoms not covering anything at all.

“Jake, I need to see you, please. Don’t do this to me” I don’t wanna miss a single thing from tonight, his eyes and his movements as if he was my personal gigolo. I want to die with the memory of this engraved in my mind. 

“I’m sorry my wife, tonight you are going to satisfy one of my biggest fantasies” Jake caresses my face as I already feel my bikini bottom sliding down my legs. His hand feels hot and moist from the jacuzzi, making his touch so overwhelming when he traces my pussy with it. I can’t help but moan repeatedly as he draws circles with his middle finger. 

“See, you are actually enjoying this, you know it’s me but you can’t anticipate what I’m going to do. I find pleasure in having you uncertain of the situation” Jake puts his finger in and stretches me out, purring as he coats my entrance with my wetness. He always takes his time pleasuring me, as he finds it entertaining having me lying there moaning and shaking while he does his ministrations. 

With only his fingers I get to come, a blood rush that suddenly gets me up and makes me scream in pleasure. If this night goes just like the others now I’ll be time for Jake to eat me out, my system reacting way quicker to his tongue and going for as many rounds as my body allows us to.

“So fucking beautiful, I can’t believe I’m gonna be the only man who ever gets to see this view” I hear a loud pop after Jake takes his finger out of me and eats all my cum from it, going back for some more.

“Jake, I want you already inside of me, I can’t wait anymore to feel you without a condom. Please just grant me that wish” I would be lying if I said I’m a saint, enjoying my now-husband’s dick a little too much, always wishing to feel him all without anything in between. Today’s a special day because we decided after we got married we will try to have a child, fucking raw being our fantasy all of these years.

“Okay y/n, let me take the blindfold off as you have been such a good girl so far tonight” I feel his hands on the back of my head, suddenly seeing the warm light that paints the room. Jake is right on top of me, his lips plumped and glistening from his ministrations a few minutes ago and I can’t resist the urge to kiss him, our tongues meeting instantly. I put my arms around his neck, getting him closer to me and twisting my legs around his hips, pushing his clothed member against my wet core. 

“take that off immediately Jake Sim or you’re gonna get in trouble” He gets off the bed and obediently takes his boxers off slowly, giving a mini striptease as he makes eye contact with me. Damn, will I ever get tired of this? his dick was leaking precum and as I’m taking the view of his naked body he leaps on top of me, caging me under.

“Are you okay with me going in right now? I can’t wait anymore” Jake is looking at my face trying to read my expression, clouded eyes from desire and heavy breathing. I also can’t wait. “Make me yours Jake, that’s all I gonna want for the rest of my life”

Jake kisses me and pushes his dick inside, my walls opening for him and fitting like it was designed just for his size. Once he bottoms out we take a breath, smiling at each other because it just feels so good. Once a minute passes, he starts moving strongly and vigorously, moans don’t wait longer to come out of our mouths. Every time he gets in fully I feel a heat in my belly that threatens to explode, ending the fun too soon. Suddenly Jake flips me over and gets me on all fours, holding my hair as my face hits the pillow. He’s doing an impressive job until I feel his movements more erratic, his moans more like whimpers and I feel his hand reach for my clitoris, not letting himself finish first on our honeymoon. Surprised by the sudden touch, the repressed feeling in my stomach detangles and I let myself go, falling right before he does, holding my hips so all his cum gets inside me.

We’re laying in bed caressing each others’ faces for what feels like hours. Then one of us would lower a hand and everything would start all over again, with little changes. One of us is blindfolded, tied, sitting down, standing up, on the kitchen counter…

The following day when I woke up I was incredibly sore, everything hurt. It was worth it anyway. But it’s gonna be an arduous flight to Jeju. Jake has already put on his clothes, a brown cardigan with nothing underneath and black chinos, looking like a daydream with his wet hair pushed back.

“Are you up sleeping beauty? I was postponing waking you up, you looked super cute” Jake sits right on my side on the bed, petting my head as I’m still trying to keep my eyes open. His cologne smells incredible, his tan skin bathing in the sunrise light. 

“yes, kinda. The real struggle is to move I think, I’m so sore I feel like a pudding” Jake laughs and kisses me on the forehead, hugging me as he gets up.

“Everything is already packed baby, whenever you feel like you’re ready get changed. I left a cute outfit in the bathroom for you to wear. I’m quite excited about what I saw in your luggage, I’ll have to thank your bridesmaids when you get pregnant”

Jake leaves the bedroom with a cheeky smile and I'm left dumbfounded, not even knowing what it is that has him so excited. Guess I’ll have to get used to this pain because I’m not gonna rest at all during our honeymoon. Not that I’m complaining though.

[unholyhelbig]

How about a bartender!Kate in which Kate is a new employee of the bar that reader frequents on bad days and Kate is one of the first people not to sympathize with her and just full of banter. I just think a cocky bartender Kate would be … neat

[This is 18+, if you are a minor DO NOT INTERACT]

Title: Two Fingers of Whiskey

Ship: Female!Reader x Bartender!Kate Bishop

Warnings: Top!Kate, Bottom!reader, Dom!Kate, Sub!reader, light dom/sub, finger sucking, Fingering (r receiving), Hate fuck (?) yeah, this is a hate fuck.

[A/n: Go easy on me, I haven't written smut since my Pitch Perfect days & I've been under quarantine for the last five days, I've got brain rot & did not proofread.]

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Kate began to expect your visits. Her eyes would drift to the novelty Miller High Life clock that was hanging on the wall. Six pm. Twice a week you’d wander into the bar and let out the haze of smoke and Dior Fahrenheit. Your eyes would search for hers with the same amount of ferocity, and Kate would try to swallow back the pride that was resulted by your hatred.

It started out as hatred, anyway.

Kate Bishop had made it a point to listen to people and their problems. Being a bartender at a seedy basement establishment was more than mixing drinks and cracking open frothy beers. She’d been told her first week that she was a half-bit therapist, and had laughed it off until she was listening to stories of corporate drabble, sudden deaths, and quiet loveless frustrations.

It had been two years since she started the nightshift at Copper’s, and she could spot the sadness from miles away. She could spot that frustration too. Kate became admittedly bored with the way her life had fallen into routine, so when a certain energy presented itself, she pushed.

Kate loved to push with you.

You’d looked tentative when you’d first entered Copper’s, your gaze moving across the dark green paint, the booths that were sticky. Your nice shoes had crunched over broken peanut shells and a certain film covered the walls, the stained-glass lamps over each table. Your hand tightened on your bag, and that gave Kate a sick sort of satisfaction. You took note of her nametag, not customed, a small label being printed and taped over an existing name.  

She admired the way you carried yourself with such assuredness after allowing for one moment of doubt. Instead of turning around and going back out onto the busy city streets, you took the two steps down and carefully sat yourself at the far end of the bar.

“We don’t have anything fancier than a house white.”

“Boston Lager?”

You’d lifted a perfect eyebrow and Kate nodded stuffing the rag she’d been using into her back pocket before reaching into the cooler and pulling out the dark amber bottle. She used the edge of the counter to pop the cap off, not caring where it landed. Foam dripped across her fingertips, and she forbade a coaster when she set it down in front of you.

Two sips before you spoke. The first was tentative, and the second was assured. Kate watched carefully as your throat worked at the drink. She frowned in the dark light, trying to rush away any inappropriate thoughts of her lips against an expanse of skin.

“I’m not pretentious.” You said, setting the bottle down.

Kate hummed. It was a non-committal noise. She picked up one of the glasses, still warm from going through the dishwasher, and went on wiping the detergent spots from the clear surface. Though, she saw you frown out of the corner of her eye and bit back her reaction.

“Seriously. You offered me wine.”

“You don’t like wine?”

“No. I like wine; I just don’t like when strangers presume that I like wine.”

Kate couldn’t help but smile at this. She replaced a glass and grabbed another one. The frustration on your face was admirable, and you seemed to balk at Kate’s direct attention. You fidgeted and began to peel the edges of the dark blue label on your drink, only where the condensation had allowed easy removal.

“We have house white, darling.”

“White Horse, then. Straight.”

Kate scoffed and set her second glass down. If she had been worried, truly worried, that you were going to do something stupid she would give you a few more watered down beers and send you on your way. But she liked the way you wanted to spite her. It made her fingers twitch. She pulled the bottle from the second shelf and counted two fingers of whiskey.

You took it back in one gulp, breathing through your nose before taking a tiny sip of your beer to quell the burn. Kate was infatuated with the way you sat straighter, the way you flashed her a small cocky smile. I can take the hard stuff.

“Rough day, then?” Kate sighed and filled your glass again, calling your bluff.

She leaned against the counter and watched you watching her. It gave her a sick pleasure, nudging you like this. She wouldn’t’ go far, really, she just needed to have some break in her normal routine, and you seemed like you needed a few things to forget yourself.

“The roughest.” You leveled her with an apprehensive stare. “You care?”

“Not particularly. But I’ll listen.”

“You’re an ass.”

“I’m an ear.” Kate made a sweeping motion with her hand “be my guest, sweetheart. You can vent to anyone in here.”

It was just the two of them. Sure, in about an hour, her usual crowd would rear its head. There were only three others that frequented, and they lingered by the one pool table and ordered two pitchers of the cheapest beer. They left Kate alone and she left them alone.

You contemplated her offer for a brief moment, letting out a labored breath as if Kate was burdening you instead of offering relief. “I have a shitty client. Very demanding.”

“What do you do?” Kate tried.

“I’m an archivist for the city of New York. Cold Cases mainly. There are hundreds of thousands of physical case boxes that reside in basements and closets just waiting to be digitally entered.” You threw back your drink and tapped the side of the glass. Kate took the hint and poured until the buttery liquid coated the bottom.

Kate had to admit; that was quite the job. It sounded like a lot of sadness, however, that wasn’t what you carried on your shoulders tonight. Annoyance was the overarching emotion that was expressed on your delicate features.

So, the bartender did what she did best, she didn’t’ ask about what was in the boxes. She wasn’t privy to know. She wanted to know what about the boxes bothered you to the point of drinking close to a handle of liquor in a seedy bar.

You answered before she could ask “corporate bullshit. They want us to enter all of these cases for the pure purpose of shelving them electronically. I mean, we don’t even have a cold case unit anymore. But some of these… you can tell the leg work wasn’t done. The boyfriend did it. The jealous co-worker, it’s all written so plainly that I stupid archivist that should be working at a museum can see it!”

“Wow.” Kate said.

“Wow?”

She hummed again, this time after you swallowed your drink, she took the glass and threw it into the plastic tub. It made an empty hollow sound. Kate grinned at you in this infuriating type of way that made you want to kiss her or slap her. Either way, you shifted uncomfortably.

“What do you want me to say, sweetheart? That’s a shit situation, yeah. But there are shittier ones.”

“You are such an ass.” You repeated your earlier sentiment. She smiled brighter.

“That’ll be $15.00 even.”

Despite her difficulty, you dug through your bag until you threw a twenty on the counter and mumbled that she keep the change. Kate watched as you left that day and the smile never left her face. She liked you, she thought. And more than anything, she knew that you would be back. There was something about Kate’s lack of caring that got to people. There was no sympathy, only agreement.

 Two days later you were back inside the grimy interior of Copper’s. It took Kate a second to recognize you. Instead of nicely pressed clothing, you were in a pair of gray sweatpants and a t-shirt that had the band ‘Rush’ scrawled across your chest. Kate didn’t’ let her stare linger. You sat in the same stool, and Kate felt your eyes rake her up and down.

“Have you lodged a formal complaint against me?” Kate asked.

“No.”

“Good. Then what can I get for you, darling?”

You ordered the same Boston Loger as before and Kate complied, not even offering the cheap box-wine they served in a chilled glass just to make it taste a little more worth-it. Strands of hair fell into your eyes and Kate clenched the dishtowel in her hands a little harder to keep herself from reaching forward and brushing them from your stare.

Kate couldn’t hold her tongue, and that annoyed her. The first time she saw you, it was so easy to grate on your nerves. This time, you looked slightly broken, and even Kate had her limits when it came to bothering the patrons.

“What’s wrong?” Kate asked.

“Do you care what’s wrong?”

“If I’m honest, not in the slightest. But you seem bothered, and I’m the only one around the listen.”

“How long?”

Kate raised both of her eyebrows and lilted her head to the side like a confused animal. She had both of her palms pushed up against the bar, a tank-top with the logo of the establishment stretched across her chest. Your mouth was dry, but you didn’t take a sip of your drink. Kate watched as your fingers delicately circled the opening of the amber bottle. You blinked at her, eyelids heavy.

“Excuse me?”

“How long are you going to be alone here?”

She blinked to make sure she heard you right. She had someone coming in to relive her in about an hour but was more than happy to sit here and talk with you until that time. It seemed like you had other ideas, and part of her was curious about that. It shot straight to her core and warmed her cheeks.

“You’re not going to murder me, are you?” Kate teased.

“And add to all those boxes I have to archive? Please.”

Kate cleared her throat and started to work at the back of the apron at her waist. It seemed frantic and you finally lifted your drink, downing it in a few gulps. You needed to let off some steam, it seemed, and Kate was more than happy to provide. After-all, she was a bartender and her job was to listen- to provide. Kate rationalized all of this before she had her apron off.

“Would you look at the time?” you stood, reaching into your pocket and pulling out a ten. “I’m running late. Keep the change, darling.”

Kate paced back and forth along the length of the bar, muttering things to herself. She deserved that, really- she did, but it had been three whole days and she was still sufficiently pissed off that you had thrown her attitude right back at her. That wasn’t allowed.

No one had ever done that to her before and you’d made her stomach roll with attraction and even anticipation with just a few simple words and insinuations. Sure, you tipped well, and you drank and then left, but she didn’t actually want to admit that she was having fun talking to you.

And more than anything, she didn’t want to admit that she was flicking her eyes to the clock on the wall, getting only a slight bit of relief when it passed your usual time. Today, however, you did show up.

Kate could feel the tension in her jaw as she watched you walk through the doors. The scent had become familiar to you, something she could tell by the way you breathed in deeply, grounding yourself.

You wore tighter clothes, and Kate struggled not to rake her eyes up and down your figure, the way the fabric hugged every inch of you. The sweatpants and t-shirt were gone, instead you had on a dress with a long slit running up the side, exposing tanned skin.  She focused on the way you walked, the way you leaned forward on the bar, pressing your cleavage forward.

“This isn’t going to work twice.” Kate said, crossing her arms over her chest.

She was admittedly sore over your teasing, despite how well-earned it was. And that tight dress did look stunning on you. Even the low smoggy haze of Coppers she shivered at the thought of tearing it off of you, of moving the zipper down the small of your back and kissing up your spine.

You cleared your throat. “I actually came here to apologize.”

“Did you, now?”

“Yes,” You said through gritted teeth as if it physically pained you to say the words. “You were right… the first time we met. My problems seem big, but compared to other things, they’re not detrimental. Even though I was mad, teasing you like that was below me.”

“Oh, I’m not so sure much is below you.”

Kate raked her eyes up and down your body. Your cheeks heated and you let out a groan. Because damn-it, she was so infuriating, and though you’d come back to the bar a second time to drive her crazy, it seemed to have the opposite effect.

“I have the keys to the boss’s office.” Kate offered deviously “No windows and a desk.”

Kate watched you swallow hard, contemplating her offer. She twirled the keys around her ring finger expertly and when you finally nodded she felt herself lean against the counter, close enough to where her lips brushed yours, the warmth was all encompassing, electrifying.

“I need to hear you say it, sweetheart. What exactly do you want?”

With hesitation you forced the words through your lips. This was wildly out of character for you, usually prim and proper and not demanding things from a strange bartender with ghostly blue eyes and expert fingers. “I want you to take me into that office and fuck me until I can’t walk.”

Kate smiled, closing the gap between the both of you with a breathless kiss, her tongue invading your mouth. You moaned into the simple gesture before she pulled away. “All you had to do was ask.”

With a chivalrous gesture, Kate took your hand and guided you easily down a large step behind the bar. You’d never seen this side of things, and though you hadn’t expected anything breathtaking, it gave you a better view of the empty establishment.

You didn’t have much time to contemplate as you were guided through a narrow hallway that had an employee schedule posted on the wall, and a few boxes of unopened liquor. There was a citrus scent that invaded your senses and soon you were out of the cold and in a small office that looked as if it hadn’t been touched in months.

The hum of the cooling units was drowned out and a warmth caused bumps to rise against your skin. Kate had you pushed against the door in a matter of seconds, her mouth back on yours, a knee between your legs, shoving them open. Desperately, you tried to grind down, alleviating some of the heat in your core.

Kate’s hand came up to grip your chin, disconnecting her lips from yours “We’re impatient, aren’t we?”

You could only whimper in response, the corner of Kate’s mouth lilted up into a semi smile, too much like a smirk for your liking. The expression did things to you. Here was this cocky bartender that was too content for her own good- yet, in this moment, you would let her have you in any way she wanted.

“I’ll fuck you senseless on the desk, but only if you can be patient. Can you do that for me? Can you be a good girl?”

“I… yes.”

“What was that? I thought we talked about you using your words, sweetheart.”

“Can you please fuck me on the desk? I’ll be a good girl.”

That seemed to be enough. Kate slid her hands around to the back of your thighs and lifted you with an unnatural bout of strength, a noise of surprise escaping your lips. You had seen her arms a few days earlier when she was in that tank-top, but she had settled you on the desk effortlessly, standing between your legs.

Kate’s mouth nipped at your jawline, sucking perfect bruised circles against your skin that she soon soothed with her tongue. You didn’t mind her marking you, though you mentally made a note to pick up some concealer on the way home. She made quick work with the zipper at your spine, pulling it down to the warm air. She slid your sleeves down your shoulders, exposing your breasts to her prying eyes.

She took a moment to admire you, giving your hip a small squeeze. You took the hint and lifted off the desk just enough for her to pull the rest of the fabric away. It dropped to the floor. Kate smiled at you, drinking you in. “Wow”

“Wow?”

Kate hummed and returned to working at your chest. This time she went lower, nipping at the sensitive skin around your nipple. You dug your fingers into the fabric of her shirt, letting out a groan of pleasure. Her fingers were testing at the waistline of your underwear, not quite dipping past the elastic.

Kate’s tongue was so warm, so encompassing. You arched your back, not denying her access to any part of you. Her expert hands finally pushed past the barrier of fabric, running up your entrance.

“Oh, shit, darling. You’re so worked up.”  Her words vibrated against you, and you struggled not to buck forward, to press into her lingering touch. Kate seemed to sense your frustration. “uh-uh, we’re being patient, remember? If you want release, you’ll have to beg for it.”

Beg? You weren’t the begging type. Unfortunately, you weren’t in the position to do anything but what she demanded. The thought of Kate inside of you, even in the smallest capacity, was driving you insane.

“Kate,” You hummed her name.

A sound got stuck in her throat at the sound of her name pushing through your kiss-bruised lips. She edged the end of the noise, almost phrasing it like a question. She didn’t want to give herself away, how much seeing you like this got her wet.

“Please, I need you inside me. I need to feel you.”

Before you could get out another word, she pushed a single, teasing finger inside. You fell forward, pressing your nose against the small of her neck with an exasperated breath. Kate painstakingly added another finger, pumping in and out of you with a method to her madness. You bit into her shoulder, not enough to hurt, but enough to muffle your noises of satisfaction as she swiped her thumb against your clit.

Kate’s other hand returned to your breast, squeezing and toying. It sent pleasure straight to your core, and Kate could feel you begin to tighten around her. She slowed her movements. “Beg,” She commanded.

“I’m going to cum,” you whispered into her shoulder, grasping fruitlessly at the fabric of her shirt, trying to pull her as close to you as possible.

“Are you?” She asked, slowing her pace.

“I… Kate please let me cum, I can’t hold on much longer I-“ another moan escaped you, and it took you a few breathes to compose yourself to some sort of semblance. “please”.

“That’s a good girl,” Kate praised, returning the circular motions to your clit. “Cum for me, sweetheart.”

That’s all you needed to hear to unwind for her. You clenched around her fingers, chills running from your core to every inch of your exposed body. A guttural noise of pleasure was silenced by Kate’s lips against yours, her throat silencing you as much as she could. Satisfaction rushed through you, aftershocks of her movements twitching through you. Kate withdrew herself from you, a self-assured smile on her lips as she moved them up to her lips and sucked them clean, never breaking eye contact with you.

“I need a drink,” You breathed out, words trembling. Your forehead pressed against hers, still panting, still recovering from her expert touch.

Kate scoffed, shaking her head “We don’t have anything fancier than a house white.”

[scaredofbrits]

Animatronic Stares

william afton x gn! reader

masterlist

lmk if you wanna be mutuals!!

———-

warnings; watching you, drinking, posion, choking, knives, mentions of blood, torture, cutting, dragging

please read the warnings <3

finally. you finished your dayshift at freddy’s, which happened to be the most pathetic job ever. maybe it would’ve been cooler if you made the robots but all you did was take orders. the main reason why you continued working at the place was because of mr. afton. god, was he perfect. the most amazing dilf was a manager to a kids restaurant, kind of sad. but today was gonna be different. you just knew it.

“shift is o-ver!” your bestfriend yelled from across the backstage, in response you just told him to be quiet. he ran over to you ‘sneakily’ and gave you a big smile, “gonna go visit mr. afton?” you couldnt help but begin to fidget around with your fingers. “uh, who told you that?” the animatronics stopped singing and all of a sudden the silence was on max volume. “nobody. just kinda figured cause you’re always looking at his door.” a red tint of blush overlayed your face, pure embarrassment. but then, the thought kicked in. “wait-.. does everyone know that i stare?” you asked your bestfriend, hoping for a no.

“well, obviously. word got around that you two were in a secret relationship.” he gave you a disappointed look and picked up his bag. the only thought that ran through your head was that mr. afton might’ve known about your feelings. which wouldn’t be good if you wanted to visit him today. “just go say hi to him y/n, he’s literally your boss. he wont take it the wrong way.”

you stood completely still as you watched your bestfriend leave the building. now, you happened to be the only worker left. other than william of course, who was watching your every move on the security camera.

once you finally built up guts to knock on william’s door, you took a deep breath and headed to his office. your steps made loud echos throughout the empty building and you felt like the animatronics were watching you with disgust. everytime you’d look back at them they’d be perfectly still and powered off. maybe you were just thinking that they were watching you.

tap, tap. you softly touched the door, not even knocking. to your suprise; william instantly opened the door. he saw your face and a smile crept upon his face, “yes?” you felt so tiny and unimportant whenever he looked down at you. he had noticed your shaking and couldn’t help but chuckle. his soft hand held yours, and butterflies took over your stomach. “is it alright if i… come in?” you felt the animatronic’s stare at you, instantly giving you goosebumps. you might’ve had your back facing them but you knew.

“why, of course.” mr. afton let go of your hand and walked into his office. he walked around his desk and softly caressed it with a finger, and you took a seat. your eyes watched as he so handsomely sat down in his chair. “now that we’re comfy.. is something upsetting you?” he asked, looking deep into your eyes. you started messing around with a bracelet you had on, because you were nervous to answer him. “no big reason, i just.. wanted to say hi.”

“well, im glad you came. do you drink?” he reached into a drawer of some sort and pulled out a bottle of wine. you stared at it for a moment, “yes, i do drink.” all of a sudden, a glass of wine was in front of you. truth be told; you actually didn’t drink. and william knew that too, so you probably wouldn’t take note of the strange taste. you slowly reached for the fragile bottle and brought it close to your mouth. not taking a sip yet. “does it smell bad or something?” the question shot you back to reality, and you denied it by taking a long drink of the wine.

“n-..no its great! see?” you placed the glass back down, looking up to see him oddly surprised. you giggled for a moment, feeling sort of woozy. it shocked william how fast the posion worked, you looked like you were spacing out. was a long sip all it took? “hmm, i can tell. let me help you up.” he got up and gently grabbed your arms.

he was leading you to the parts and service room, but you didnt care. all you could think about was him holding you. he opened the door by pushing against it hard, and he threw you on the floor. “what was that for?” you yelled, laughing a bit. he looked down at you and reached in his pocket. the light was beaming down on him, and he looked like an angel of some sort in the brightness. he got on one knee and wrapped his large hand around your neck.

you struggled to breathe as you felt a sharp sting on your stomach. he was holding you down as he cut you with a knife, wanting you to go through absolute hell. “mr. ah—afton! pl-..pleas..” you tried to speak to him even though you could barely inhale air. he let go of your neck, “how sad. a girl like you trusting a big scary man like me. now you get to suffer.” the fear took over your body entirely, maybe you should’ve listened to the stares. you attempted to cover your long scratch, but he cut your hand. you let out a loud scream.

“don’t move, luv.” he grabbed both of your hands and slammed them above your head, which made the cut sting even more. all you could think was ‘why’ as your body continued to be cut up and you continued to scream. the tears that fell from your eyes were pouring down like rain, almost. he held the knife against your neck and cut slowly, but not too deep. you tried to scream but the pain on your neck was too bad. he chuckled at your failure.

he placed the knife down and wrapped both of his hands around your stinging neck, then added force. you let out one final scream and the rest of your noises were whines. after choking you for a moment, he got up and put his knife back in his pocket. he looked down at you, still alive but stinging was felt all over your body. he got a good grip on your legs and dragged you out of the room, leaving behind a big puddle of blood. you could no longer look around because everything hurt, but now the animatronics had stares of sorrow.

they watched you get dragged back into his office, and they heard you get slammed against things. they knew you’d either be a new animatronic or just a dead body that nobody cared about.

[steddieos]

NEVER GONNA LET YOU (GO) || E || 1,987 || CW: public(ish) dry handjob

when eddie said that this would be their best date yet, steve didn't know what to expect, they had been to some nice restaurants in the seven months they had been official. steve's personal favorite date night was the night eddie had been served too much to drink at a bar and couldn't believe that he was dating steve.

truly, steve didn't expect too much from eddie - he didn't expect much from anybody. he was simply wired that way. his nonchalance was what kept steve's feelings from getting hurt after years of being let down (not so) gently.

granted, there was something different about eddie. there was something that made steve feel safe in a way that he couldn't exactly explain. no previous partner had made steve feel safe before and it was a feeling he could get used to.

here they were in the car, eddie driving and drumming along to the music coming from the radio against the steering wheel, focused on the road in front of them. steve had no clue where they were going and even if he asked, he was met with it's a surprise and you'll see when we get there. it was driving steve insane. when the car finally stopped, steve looked around. there was nothing.

"what, did you take me out here to kill me?" he joked, a halfhearted laugh leaving his mouth.

"oh, shut up," steve didn't even need to look at eddie to know he was smiling. the sticky sweet tone was in his voice.

eddie got out of the car after he'd turned it off, going immediately to the trunk where he had stashed away something steve hadn't seen before they left. he just told steve they were "secret supplies" and told him to mind his own business. steve got out of the car and stretched his arms up in the air, awaiting instructions from the other man. this was his date night and steve wasn't going to make any wrong moves.

"follow me," eddie said, holding his hand out to steve which he accepted graciously. he laced their fingers together and steve thought it was the tightest eddie had ever held his hand.

he couldn't see what eddie had packed in his canvas bag, but he could hear glasses clinking around as they walked through the uneven forest. they walked for what felt like ages through the woods - eddie was shit at holding the flashlight still, so steve took that duty over quickly.

"you're making me seasick," he joked, holding the flashlight steady on their walking path.

finally after a while, eddie stopped steve. he dropped his hand and moved to stand in front of him, a hand on each of his shoulders. "wait here while i set everything up."

eddie disappeared through the brush, leaving steve alone without a flashlight. steve wondered how often he'd been here or if eddie had even ever been where here was before as he watched the faint light of the flashlight bounce around while eddie set up. it was then, without the illumination of the flashlight, that steve noticed just how clear of a night it was. he looked up, noticing that the moon was full and that there wasn't a cloud in the sky. the light from the moon was enough to light up the woods around him.

when eddie returned, he had an even bigger grin on his face than before, motioning for steve to follow him. as they emerged from the thick brush, a field appeared in front of them; it was then that he noticed the blanket laid down with lanterns surrounding it, set up just for the two of them. there was a cooler set in the middle of the basket and even a bottle of wine set out alongside two glasses.

"eddie," steve started on an exhale, a bright grin across his face. "all of this? for me?" he couldn't believe his eyes. of course, when he didn't know what to expect, he wasn't expecting a full-on picnic stargazing date.

"i even bribed your mom into helping me make your favorite dish if you get hungry," eddie said, taking a seat on the picnic blanket. he patted the spot next to him, wanting steve to sit as well. the smile on his face was bright enough to rival the moon's beams.

"eddie," steve sighed, turning the flashlight off after he sat and wrapping his arms around eddie in a big hug. "you didn't have to go through all this trouble just for me."

"it isn't trouble if you're doing it for somebody who means the world to you."

eddie made quick work of pouring them both a glass of steve's favorite shitty, cheap wine and handed steve his glass after playfully stealing a sip from it. "had to make sure it wasn't poisoned," he teased.

steve sipped his wine before tilting his head up towards the sky, marveling again at the stars and the lack of light pollution around them. it was so clear he could see multiple different constellations. "that's the big dipper," he said, pointing straight up above them. "and over there?" he moved where he was pointing. "that's orion's belt."

"i didn't know you cared so much about the stars," eddie lied, reaching out to wrap his arm around steve's shoulder as he looked up. he'd always seen the way steve watched the sky on clear nights when they'd spend time on his roof late at night.

eddie positioned his body just right so that he could pull steve close to him. he adjusted his body so that steve was sitting between his legs, back to his chest. he liked sitting like this and he enjoyed the closeness. steve tilted his head back again, the back of his head resting on eddie's shoulder for support as he looked up at the stars once more.

eddie wrapped his arms around steve's waist, enjoying the closeness between them. he slipped a hand under steve's shirt, brushing his fingertips up and down steve's side just to make him squirm just the littlest bit. he could feel the goosebumps rising. steve's head was tilted back, the back of his head resting on eddie's shoulder as he watched the sky closely just in case he saw a shooting star. after a little while of silence and when both of their glasses of wine were gone, eddie tightened his grip on steve.

eddie's fingers gripped steve's sides, holding him closer to his body. he could hear steve's breath hitch in his throat when he skimmed his fingers from steve's side to his stomach where he hesitated for just a moment before turning his head to kiss steve's temple. he slid his hand down from steve's stomach to the waistband of steve's jeans, pulling at the button but not hard enough to pop it open.

there wasn't a soul around which gave eddie the wicked idea in the first place. maybe the glass of wine went straight to his head or maybe it was just steve. he slid his hand further down, stopping when his palm met steve's bulge in his jeans. when he pressed down, his pressure was met by steve's hips arching up into his touch.

"that's it," he murmured in steve's ear, letting steve grind his hips up into his stilled hand. the whine that left steve's lips was a little obscene, but left eddie wanting to hear more.

his hand pressed down on steve's cock through his jeans while his free hand moved up to rub over steve's left nipple, twisting and pinching to elicit groans and whines from steve's mouth. eddie took his hand from steve's crotch, making quick work of the zipper and button of his jeans. he pulled the material as open as he could with one hand, his other busy scratching red marks into steve's pale chest.

"should we be doing this?" steve didn't actually sound too concerned about the situation, too focused on the electricity in eddie's touches to his skin.

eddie shushed him with a whisper in his ear, "nobody can hear you out here." steve shivered in response to the whisper, paired with eddie's teeth grazing the shell of his ear.

eddie was back to palming steve, this time through his boxers. he could feel steve getting hard beneath his palm, accompanied by steve's desperate hip rocking in an attempt to get more friction.

"easy, big boy," eddie cooed into his ear, his free hand gripping tightly at his side now. steve was sure he was going to end up with fingertip-shaped bruises, which he didn't mind. his grip tightened, voice turning gruff, "stay still, let me do all the work," he ordered.

just like that, steve's hips abruptly stopped, leaving eddie to press down just a little bit harder on his cock. while his nails dug into steve's side, earning another whine, he pulled steve's cock from the split in his boxers.

"fuck," steve whined, turning to press desperate kisses along eddie's jaw and anywhere he could reach from his position between eddie's legs.

"i've got you," eddie soothed, sliding his hand into the slit of steve's boxers and pulling out his cock. his thumb slid over the tip of steve's cock, working steve's nerves as he drew out what steve truly wanted.

when eddie finally decided that steve had had enough torture, he wrapped his hand around the base of steve's cock and gave him a teasing squeeze causing steve's hips to jerk forward involuntarily. he was putty in eddie's hands.

"please," was all eddie needed to hear from steve's lips.

eddie moved his hand up to steve's nipple again, squeezing it harder this time which caused steve to whimper in response, doing his best to be good and keep his hips still. the hand on steve's cock slowly started working up and down to draw out steve's whines. eddie was getting drunk off of the noises steve was making, he couldn't help himself when he tightened his grip just the littlest bit, speeding up his hand.

"that's it," he hummed, watching steve's face the best he could as he moved his hand to play with his other nipple.

his hand still moved on steve's cock, speeding up just a little bit more now. while he didn't do a good job of keeping his hands to himself ever, he also didn't want to ruin the dinner he'd packed for the two of them that was sitting in the picnic basket to the side of them.

"fuck," steve gasped, chewing at his bottom lip. he moved a hand to the back of eddie's hair and tangled his fingers in it, tugging.

"think you can cum like this," eddie groaned, mouthing at steve's jaw again. "cum for me."

steve nodded and took a deep breath, eyes rolling to the back of his head as he focused all of his energy on eddie's request. over the months they'd been together, eddie had gotten good at controlling steve's orgasms, but steve hadn't been tested like this before. hadn't been asked to cum so soon.

he broke eddie's request to stay still, not even thinking about the consequences that would come later, he was too focused on eddie's newest request. finally, he came with a loud whine, his hips jerking as he writhed in eddie's arms.

"there you go," he cooed. "good boy." eddie smirked and held his hand up in front of steve's mouth, "go ahead, clean me up," he ordered.

once steve was finished, eddie moved steve into his lap, letting the other man rest his head on his shoulder as he held him tight. he then started to repeat affirmations on the top of his head.

"i love you," eddie breathed out before freezing. neither of them had said those three words yet and he wasn't sure if steve even felt the same.

[babybatscreationsv2]

Ball Drop

Marvel | Starker

Peter is excited to spend New Year's Eve with Tony only to find that Tony invited all of his friends. Tony's not too worried about spoiling their plans, especially once he starts pouring drinks down Peter's throat.

Rating: Explicit

Warnings and tags below

A Holiday Horrors Fic

Warnings/tags: forced drinking, underage drinking, romnoncon, somnophilia, drunk sex, public sex, object penetration

Peter yawned and stretched, laying himself across Tony's couch. Despite winter break, he was still used to going to bed early for school. Staying up until midnight was going to be rough. Or it would be if not for Tony. They'd eaten dinner and now the TV was showing Times Square's big New Year's party. He didn't even know the musician on the screen, but everyone in the crowd looked frozen from the cold weather.

"Tony? You gonna come watch?" Peter called out.

"Almost ready," Tony called back. Then the doorbell rang. "Can you get that, sweetheart?"

Peter's forehead scrunched. As usual, Tony's parents were out of town. Jarvis had already gone to bed. He'd been excited to have some time just the two of them. Tony hadn't even mentioned having friends over.

Peter got up from the couch and walked through the house to the entry. Through the frosted glass he saw two bodies standing on the other side. He opened up the door and was greeted by excited teenaged smiles.

"Hey, Parker," Steve greeted.

"What's up, Pete," Bucky said. "Where's Tony?" They both held brown paper bags in their hands. Peter hid his disappointment. They were here for the ball drop.

"He's just getting some things together." He stepped aside. "Come on in."

Peter pouted at their backs as they took off their coats and hung them up. They all went to the den where the TV was playing. Bucky plopped down on the couch and kicked his feet up on the coffee table while Steve took the bottles out of the paper bags. They'd brought bourbon and tequila. Peter didn't have to be a drinker to know someone was throwing up tonight. Finally, Tony came to join them.

"Who wants snacks?" He set a tray of chips with an array of dips on the table. Bucky put his feet down so he could dig in. Peter just crossed his arms.

Catching sight of his pouting face, Tony nodded toward the kitchen and the two of them slipped away. Tony wrapped his arms around him and kissed his forehead.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"I thought we were gonna have fun together."

"We are."

"But it'll be so late when they leave," Peter whined.

Tony pressed him back against the counter. "Who says they have to leave?" His lips ran over Peter's neck, covering him in tingling kisses.

"Well it is a big house..." Peter pulled him closer, gasping when Tony's thigh pressed between his legs.

"That's my boy," Tony purred. He gave him a filthy kiss, hand tangling in his hair. Then he stepped back, grinning, and went back to the den.

Peter followed after him only for Tony to leave again as the doorbell rang once more. He sat down beside Bucky. Across the room, Steve was grinning at him.

"What?"

"You two having fun?" he smirked.

"What do you-" Peter blushed. He could feel the bruise forming on his neck and his hair was a mess from Tony's hands. He smoothed it down with his fingers and turned his attention to the TV. Stupid Steve could mind his business.

"Hey, now the party's here!" Steve declared as Sam came to join them. He was followed shortly by Rhodie, Bruce, and the linebacker everyone just called Thor.

Everyone brought more alcohol and it quickly followed around the room. Tony sat down beside with a drink in each hand.

"Brought you something." He offered Peter a strawberry wine cooler.

"No, thanks."

"Come on, it's New Year's. We're here to celebrate!"

Tony held out the bottle and carefully put it to his mouth. Peter wrapped his lips around it, instantly blushing. Then Tony tipped it back. Strawberry liquid flooded his mouth and left him no choice but to gulp it down. It tasted pretty good, but it burned in his belly. When Tony took the bottle away it was half empty and Peter felt unsteady. He reached a hand out to Tony until the room stopped wobbling around.

"I think that's about all I can handle," Peter laughed.

"Well, this one's yours if you change your mind." Tony set the bottle down on the table.

It must have been the alcohol, but he didn't feel quite so grumpy about all of Tony's friends being there anymore. He snuggled into Tony's side and observed while they talked. Tony's arm wrapped around him. His fingers traced lines over his arm. When his part in the conversation lulled, he turned to Peter to kiss him, but the kiss turned into tongue fucking, Peter turned his face away.

"Have you ever tried bourbon?" Tony asked. He held up his glass. Peter shook his head. "Well you have to at least try it. Here."

Tony tipped the glass towards his mouth and Peter let him feed him again. The bourbon tasted much more distinctly like alcohol with much more burn, but it was smooth and sweet. He didn't dislike it. He licked the taste from his lips.

"I think I'll stick with mine," Peter said with a laugh. He picked up his own bottle from the table and took a sip before he realized what he was doing.

His eyes felt heavy. His body felt good all over. Tony's hand came to rest in his lap and he almost moaned. He'd never felt so... open so uninhibited. Like he didn't care what anyone thought or saw. He just wanted to keep feeling good. When Tony's hand slid up his thighs, he spread his legs, letting him run his fingers over his cock through his jeans. It was a while before he really got hard, but that's when he pushed Tony's hand away, afraid that the others would notice. He could barely understand the conversation now. It was just loud noise mingled with the TV.

"Look here, Pete," Tony said gently. He dipped his fingers into the glass and held them up to his mouth. His face was hot, either from embarrassment or the alcohol he wasn't sure, but he opened his mouth and sucked Tony's fingers inside.

He was so horny now and he was having a hard time remembering why he wasn't supposed to be. Why was he supposed to wait until they were alone? Tony's fingers felt so good in his mouth. And the bourbon tasted better each time Tony dipped his fingers in it and put them back. When the glass was too low to coat his fingers anymore, Tony tipped the rest into his mouth.

"Hey, Steve, top me up?" Tony called. Peter blinked, remembering they weren't alone, but when Steve smiled at him as he filled up Tony's glass all he could do was smile back.

"You're sweating, baby. Are you too hot? Why don't you get comfortable?" Tony said. "Here, let me help you."

Tony set his glass down and reached for Peter's t-shirt instead. Unable to think, he let Tony lift it over his head and toss it behind the couch.

"Is that better? Maybe have another drink. You look thirsty."

Peter nodded and picked up his drink. He put the bottle to his lips and finished on the rest of that sweet strawberry wine cooler. He snuggled into Tony's side.

"I think I had too much to drink," he giggled.

"It feels good doesn't it?" Tony kissed his lips, but Peter could barely kiss him in response. His mouth didn't move the way it should and he knew it was sloppy but all he could do was laugh.

"You're still too hot, baby. Let's take your pants off."

Peter shook his head. He shouldn't do that, but he couldn't think of why. Tony ignored him and unbuttoned his pants. He didn't do anything to stop him from yanking them down and even kicked them the rest of the way off when Tony told him too.

"I think I should go to bed, Tony." Peter looked at his boyfriend. Something didn't feel right. His head was so foggy. He felt this hysterical need to laugh bubbling up inside him, but underneath that he was worried. He just couldn't remember what or why he should care.

"Don't be nervous, sweetheart. Come here, you can sit on my lap."

Peter went without resistance as Tony pulled him up into his lap. Tony's hand slipped between his legs and he let them spread open.

"That's a good boy," he purred.

Peter smiled. His blurry eyes were drawn to the tv by the sound of cheering. He couldn't really tell what was happening. The screen was all burry colors as people moved around. He moaned as Tony kept rubbing his cock through his briefs. That's when he saw Steve staring at him, drink in hand and a grin on his face. He looked around to find the whole room watching him and not the TV.

"Your friends are watching," he said nervously.

"Don't mind them," Tony said. He kissed his neck and Peter shivered. "It feels good doesn't it? Who cares what they think."

"Yeah..." Peter licked his lips. Everything felt good all over.

"Let's take these off. It'll feel even better."

"But Tony..." Peter said, feeling embarrassed, but his hands were too weak to push Tony's away as he stripped off his underwear.

"Shh, be good and I'll make you feel good."

Tony touched his cock again and it did feel good. Everything felt good. He didn't know why he kept trying to say no. He moaned happily while Tony played with him. His hand wrapped around his throat and held him still as he squirmed, clumsily looking for more.

"Play with your nipples, that'll feel good."

"Yeah," Peter agreed. His hands slid up his chest, uncoordinated, missing their targets and fumbling around until he got it right. He heard one of the boys chuckling and laughed with them. Then he found his nipples like Tony told him too and he was right, it felt so good.

"That's a good boy. You look so pretty like that, baby," Tony purred.

"Wanna cum," Peter whined.

Tony chuckled. "You're barely even hard. Gotta be patient."

Peter whined. "Make me cum."

Tony slapped his thigh. "Don't be spoiled."

"Please, Tony, please!" Peter gagged as Tony stuffed three fingers into his open mouth. He sucked on them, but he had such little control over what he was doing and he kept choking.

"That's one way to shut him up," Bucky laughed.

"He looks like he's gonna pass out," Steve commented.

"Can we get a turn when drops, Tony?" Bucky asked.

"You keep your pervert hands off my toy, Barnes."

Peter moaned around Tony's fingers. They were all talking about him, watching him. And they wanted to touch him. He could just imagine all those hands all over him. But he was Tony's toy, all Tony's. And Tony was being rougher now, annoyed by the conversation maybe. His hand was so fast on his cock that he could barely breathe. His fingers trying to burrow into his throat didn't help with that either. He felt so good, so overwhelmed. He could hear them all still laughing, talking about him, but he barely understood.

Then finally, he came. The pleasure didn't last long before he passed out.

When he woke, the first thing he felt was his full bladder. Then something else, he realized, was full. Something was in his ass. He moaned, blinking his blurry eyes. He still felt hazy and his mouth was dry. How long was he out?

"Tony?" He licked his dry lips and looked up at his boyfriend.

"Go back to sleep, Petey," Tony cooed. He slowed his movements. His fingers tingled his skin as they ran over his side. He was naked, but he didn't remember taking his clothes off. Much of the night was foggy and full of holes in his mind.

"Tony? What's going on? What happened?" he slurred.

"Here, I know," Tony said. He pulled his cock from his ass and grabbed something from the table. An open bottle of champagne. This'll put you back out quick." Tony pressed a hand to his abdomen to hold him down. Peter cried out as he stuffed it inside him. Tony fucked him with it, liquid sloshing out inside him. It bubbled inside him, fizzing like soda, making his insides tingle.

"Don't give him all of that, Tony," Steve said. "It's too much. I'm not going to the hospital because you're a psychopath."

"It's New Year's Eve, Steven. Everyone has to toast the new year." Tony rolled his eyes. He looked at Peter. "You love it don't you, sweetheart? You love it when I take advantage of you. Now pass out again so I can finish."

"Tony..." Peter whined, his whole body felt heavy, even his tongue.

"Don't worry, baby. I'll make sure you get a kiss at midnight."

He moaned. The bottle felt good and the drunk haze was returning fast. He was half aware of his tongue lolling out of his mouth and a smile on his face. A little giggle escaped him and Tony smiled.

"That's a good boy. Feeling cozy and warm. Go back to sleep now," he purred.

His body was so heavy and he was so tired. Everything felt so good. He felt his cock twitch against his belly and he might have cum again, but either way he slowly drifted back to sleep.

He came in and out of it, too drunk to really wake up now. Once he opened his eyes to see Tony fucked him way too hard, Peter's limp legs over his shoulders, a cruel grin on his face. Later he saw some of Tony's friends making out, grinding on each other, someone was jacking off. He heard the count down as the ball dropped and warm wetness in his ass. He blinked blurry eyes and he was pretty sure that was Tony coming in his ass. He kissed his slack mouth and whispered in his ear, "Happy New Year, slut."

He didn't wake up again until the morning. His whole body was stiff and achy and he was freezing. Someone had put him in the bathtub and laid a towel over him for a blanket. He was sticky all over and all he could smell was alcohol. It was in his hair, on his face, between his legs.

He tried to remember what happened, but after sitting in Tony's lap it was all a blur. He sat up and pain rippled through his lower half. He felt bruised inside. There were actual, visible bruises, on his hips and ankles. He hated how good that felt, knowing Tony fucked him while he was unconscious. And he didn't just fuck him, he brutalized him. He wanted him to feel it the next morning and he did for sure.

Peter dragged himself out of the table. Nausea hit as he stood then the nights worth of alcohol made its way back up and mostly into the toilet. As he rinsed his mouth he hoped Jarvis made Tony clean it, the bastard.

Tony was in bed, curled up like he'd done nothing wrong. As innocent as a newborn. Peter limped over to the bed and crawled in next to him. An arm wrapped around him and warm lips kissed his forehead. His anger deflated and he snuggled in against Tony's chest.

[trulybetty]

oct' 26 x campfire

Prompt: campfire Pairing: maverick!frankie x gn!reader (A/N: maverick is written as female in the main one-shots, but here I left it neutral) Word Count: 532 Warnings: a little bit of fluff, maybe some spice? mentions of alcohol - do I have to remind everyone that barely an edit took place? mistakes are my own Summary: outdoors & campfires with frankie

x. masterlist

There weren’t many people, if any, you’d go camping for.

You weren't necessarily against the idea, but you didn't quite understand the appeal. Why would you go out and spend the day conquering trails and peaks if you weren't going to head home afterwards to a hot shower, comfy bedding, and a glass of wine?

However, for Frankie, you made an exception.

He adored the outdoors, thrived in it even. The quiet of being away from the city, away from people seemed to bring him some peace, and for that, for Frankie, you'd suffer whatever consequence came from sleeping on an air mattress and bathing in freezing water.

You took a sip of the white wine Frankie had surprised you with, he'd buried at the bottom of the cooler under a bag of ice. His compensation for throwing a last minute request for you both to go camping that weekend instead of the lazy weekend at home you'd been looking forward to all week.

However work had been hard for him, between studying and the demands of the new job he'd taken on. It was still a struggle to find a balance between the two and make time for your relationship. Too many nights already you'd had to pry his book from his hands as you gently woke him and led him reluctantly to your bed.

The crackle of the campfire was the only sound that filled the air as the two of you sat in comfortable silence, enjoying the warmth radiating from the flames. You snuggled closer to Frankie, feeling his arm wrap around your shoulder, drawing you near. You rested your head on his shoulder and you felt him press a kiss atop your head.

As the night grew darker, the stars began to twinkle against the black canvas of the sky.

You tilted your head up, meeting his gaze. A wordless moment was exchanged between you both. So many years together meant that not much needed to be said between the two of you at times.

He leaned in to kiss you. The taste of the wine he'd drunk from your glass on his lips mixed with the smoky flavour of the campfire, making your heart race.

Frankie always had a way of making your heart race.

You shifted so to wrap your arms around his neck, deepening the kiss, savouring the feel of his lips on yours.

“Love you.” you whispered, as if you weren't the only two people out there for miles.

He pulled you tight against his chest again, you could hear his heartbeat against your ear, a gentle calming pulse that matched the rhythm of your own.

“I love you too Mav,” he murmured, tracing his fingers along the back of your neck, sending shivers down your spine as he placed a kiss at your forehead this time.

The muggy days of summer had slowly come to an end, and the crisp air of autumn was starting to move in. You both knew that changes were on the way, but for now you were content to stay rooted in this moment, hold on to Frankie a little longer.

You could worry about the rest later.

[poisonheadcrabsalesman]

Palmer and Lasky finally having a nice, calm day for once

She knocks out of habit and calls out "the coast is clear" even as she eyes the hallway in front of his quarters. Empty as a ghost town and nearly as quiet.

His door slides open a hands-width and half his face is visible as he whispers dramatically. "Do you have the drinks?"

So that's how they're playing it.

"Do you even need to ask?" She turns and jostles her her bag. It sloshes and glass clinks through the canvas.

"I don't want to have to pause right in the middle-"

"Yes, I have the drinks. You better have enough snacks."

"Being captain does have its perks."

"Like hiding the fact you're skipping cryo, again."

"So are you. Thank you, Sarah." Tom smiles his stupid soft smile like he's grateful she's here. And he is. Too damn genuine all the time.

"Are you going to let me in?" She rolls her eyes, but there's grin on her face.

"Well, only because you brought drinks." He steps back and the door opens the rest of the way.

"You're lucky I like you."

"I know." Again, the lines of his face soften and something twists in her chest. She pushes him for that line and he tumbles onto his bed while she reveals her haul.

He lays there dramatically, like a dead fish and only props himself up to look when she clears her throat. "Wine coolers and vodka? You know how to treat a girl right, Ms. Palmer."

"Tom, I swear- look, I got you your sad-sack wine too. We can save the whiskey. Now start the damn movie."

"Pushy. And you didn't want to finish the book."

"I suffer for your tastes, Captain." She says and does the most half-assed bow she can manage before sitting down and shucking off her boots.

Tom waits til she's looking at the face he's making before cracking. He's laughing into the bowl of popcorn as she crawls up his bed and wraps around him like a touch-starved koala if koalas were nearly 7ft tall.

"Stop looking like a kicked dog and start your stupid romance movie."

"Well, if you say so."

"I'm choosing next."

"I'm going to sweat to death before we get that far."

She tightens her grip and presses a kiss to his temple. "Drink your wine, Tom."

[hamsterbellbelle]

Additional CC list (post #2) for Waterfront Nightclub🎦:

Makeup clutter/clothes rack/mannequin || Medicine cabinet/plunger || Mirror || Mirror || Neon sign/drink bottle/dink || Neon stairs || Newspaper stack || Old TV (deco) || Paper bags || Plastic chair || Posters || Reception bell/desk || Road sign || Rug || Rug || Security monitor || Signs || Sink (bathroom) || Sofa || Stickers || Stickers || Sticky notes || Street lights ||

Studio panel || Suitcase || Takeout box || Toilet door || Toilet paper || Toilet || Trash (deco) || Trashcan || Tray || Tray || Urinal || Vent || VHS player || VIP rope || Wall coat || Wall hanger || Wall rack ||

Wall statue || Wall tube lights || Wallpaper - A - B - C - D - E - F - G || Water cooler || Whiteboard || Whiteboard || Window (round)/light lines || Windows - A - B - C - D || Wine glass || Wine opener/cork decor/wine box || Wire with animated spark ||

More CCs listed on post #1🔗

[unforgottenrobot]

Broadchurch: The Next Chapter

Chapter 5 - The Birthday

The restaurant was filled with the usual hum of chatter and clinking of cutlery as Daisy’s birthday dinner got underway.

Alec and Tess were seated opposite each other at the table, with Daisy sitting next to Tess. A spare place setting was next to Alec. Despite Daisy’s playful birthday girl mood, a tension lay between Tess and Alec. Tonight she would be meeting Anna for the first time. She’s first heard about her through Daisy. “Dad’s got a girlfriend!” Daisy had exclaimed casually over the phone one day. Trust Alec not to mention anything himself, not that she was owed any details of his romantic life. God, it was about time he’d met someone anyway. And it must be serious if he’s invited her along tonight, Tess thought to herself as she sipped her wine.

Meanwhile, in the car park Anna carefully held the container that held the birthday cake she’d made for Daisy as well as a small gift bag. She had spent the afternoon baking the cake for Daisy, wanting to bring something special to the occasion. She’d taken care to pick out a nice present for her - a book of guitar chords by some of Daisy’s favourite bands. She double checked she’d locked her car then headed towards the restaurant. When she arrived she scanned the room for Alec and Daisy. As she made her way to the table, her nerves began to take over. She was about to meet Alec’s ex-wife. There she was at the table. Her presence made her stomach churn. All of that shared history she had with Alec made her feel out of her depth. And while Alec rarely spoke of her, Anna knew she was also a detective and figured she would be intense, in the way she had grown to know detectives to be. She worried about how she would measure up.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said, placing the container and gift bag on the table. “I spent way too long decorating your birthday cake, Daisy. Happy birthday!”

Alec stood up and kissed her hello, his hand resting on the small of her back. The gesture helped quell Anna’s nerves a little. Daisy stood up and hugged her, thanking her for the gift and cake. Tess stood up too, and they nodded an awkward hello to one another as Alec introduced them to each other.

“If you let the waiter know, they can put the cake in the back for later. Along with the cake I bought.” Said Tess, cooler than she’d intended. Anna’s stomach flipped at the faux pas. Of course Tess would bring a cake, she thought, scolding herself. It had only been a few minutes and she’d already stood on Tess’s toes. Tess looked at Anna with a polite but guarded smile. “Looks like Daisy’s getting two cakes tonight, lucky girl,” said Alec in an attempt to cut through the tension. “That’s fine by me!” Interjected Daisy, sensing the moment and trying to break the ice. From across the table Alec glared at Tess. She raised her eyebrows in response and took another sip from her glass. Anna smiled, also trying to get the situation back on an even keel. “She deserves it. Can’t have too much cake on your birthday, right?”

As the conversation began to move on to other things, Tess tried to grapple with her feelings. She hadn’t loved Alec in years, but - was she feeling jealous? She had harboured a strong sense of guilt about how their relationship had ended, having left Alec for the man she cheated on him with. That relationship had lasted a couple of years, destroying two families in the process, before fizzling out. There had been other men since then, but nothing seemed to stick long term. Meanwhile she’d never known Alec to have a relationship since their split. It could have been possible, sure. He was private about such matters so a relationship could have been kept quiet. But meeting a partner of his? This was uncharted territory. She’d been waiting for Alec to finally settle down again. She thought perhaps only then some of that guilt could subside and they could all truly move on. If that’s really what I want, she thought, then why am I feeling this way? This woman he is with seems perfectly lovely. Pretty, lively. The kind of woman who has the time to bake a cake rather than buy one last minute at a shop. A woman who got to spend more time with her daughter than herself. A woman unblemished, unburdened by their line of work and all of Alec’s past struggles. Did she even know him?

The evening progressed with dinner. Tess tried her best to subdue her feelings and get on with it for the sake of Daisy. She found herself watching the dynamic between them. Anna and Alec exchanged subtle smiles, their conversation easy and natural, while Daisy chatted away, clearly comfortable with Anna’s presence. The sight made Tess feel like she was on the outside. She had never imagined that Alec would find someone who fit into his life so well, and seeing it was harder than she thought. Watching him stroke her hand and the way he looked at her when she spoke. She suddenly made sense of it all: That was how Alec was with her before Sandbrook, before everything. He was open, vulnerable. He was in love. This is what she had longed for from Alec before she began to seek it elsewhere outside of the their marriage.

As they finished their meals and prepared to bring out the cakes, Alec made an awkward joke about how they'd have to "ration the two cakes out over the week," which earned him a playful jab from Daisy. Both women smiled at his comment, and the tension began to thaw, just a little.

When it came time to cut the cakes, Daisy insisted on slicing into both. “Anna, yours first,” Daisy said, excitedly reaching for the homemade one. Tess watched as Anna and Daisy laughed over how uneven the slices were, with Alec chiming in that it was a family tradition to have crooked cake pieces. Tess found herself softening as the evening unfolded, the earlier pangs of jealousy subsiding as she saw how genuinely happy Daisy was. She could see that Anna was kind, thoughtful, and, more importantly, she clearly had Daisy’s best interests at heart. Tess couldn’t help but notice how easily Anna fit into the evening, how she connected with Daisy over shared jokes and even managed to pull Alec out of his usual reserved self. It wasn’t uncomfortable anymore, it was just... different.

By the time the evening wound down, Tess had found herself at ease . She could see that Anna wasn’t a threat to her relationship with Daisy. In fact, the way Anna seemed to care for Daisy, and even Alec, was something Tess found herself begrudgingly appreciating. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

As they all stood up to leave, Tess caught Anna’s eye and offered a genuine smile. “Thanks for the cake. Daisy really seemed to love it.”

Anna returned the smile, a bit of relief in her expression. “She’s a great kid. I’m glad she liked it.”

Tess nodded, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. She didn’t know what the future held, but for tonight, things felt manageable. And for now, that was enough.

——————————————————————————

They left the restaurant and walked along the quiet high street to the car park. Anna and Daisy walked ahead, Daisy talking excitedly about her day. Alec kept a slow pace behind them with Tess, giving them a chance to talk privately for a moment. The cool Broadchurch night wrapped around them both as they walked.

“It’s nice, you know,” Tess began, her voice light but sincere. “Seeing you and Daisy so happy. Settled. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that.”

Alec shifted uncomfortably, his hands in his coat pockets, never quite knowing how to take a compliment, especially from Tess. “Yeah, well,��� he murmured, looking ahead to Anna and Daisy. “It’s taken time.”

Tess smirked, watching him closely. “Anna seems to bring out a side of you I haven’t seen in years. Relaxed, even. Who would’ve thought?”

Alec gave her a sideways glance, his usual defensive nature creeping up. “I’m always relaxed,” he grumbled, though the corner of his mouth twitched into the faintest hint of a smile.

Tess let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Right, sure. Look, Alec, I’m happy for you. Really. She seems like a good fit for you and Daisy. Just… try not to scare her off with your workaholic ways, okay?” Her tone was teasing, but there was warmth behind her words. “Not everyone can handle that side of you.”

Alec looked down at his feet, his brow furrowing for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was quieter, more serious. “Anna’s... she’s been the best thing to happen to me in a long time, Tess. I don’t think I even realized how much I needed someone like her until she was here.”

The sincerity in his words caught Tess off guard for a moment. She hadn’t expected Alec to be so open, especially not with her. For years, he had been so closed off, so guarded—yet here he was, speaking earnestly about Anna.

Tess nodded slowly, her expression softening. “I can see that,” she said. “You deserve this, Alec.”

There was a brief pause between them, an unspoken understanding passing in the quiet night air. Whatever had happened in the past, whatever differences they had, Tess knew that Alec had found something - someone - who made him better, and for that, she was grateful.

She gave him a light nudge with her elbow. “Just don’t mess it up, yeah?”

Alec smirked, shaking his head. “I’ll try not to.”

——————————————————————————

They said their goodbyes in the car park, the tension dissipated, the mood light. Tess and Anna smiled at one another, an unspoken truce called between them both. Tess gave Alec a final nod, a faint smile lingering on her lips. As she turned to get into her car, Alec lingered for a moment longer, glancing between Tess’s car and Anna’s. The intersecting of his past and his future here together in a restaurant car park. He let out a sigh, content with how the night had ended, before getting into Anna’s car and the three of them driving home, together.

[braveclementine]

The Council Meeting

Warnings: None

Copyright: I do not own any Twilight characters or locations. I do own Davina Mikelson and Marcel. I also own the backstory for my OC. I do not condone any copying of this.

Davina P.O.V.

I spent much of the next few days, getting used to being back in Carlisle's house again. I hadn't wanted to move back in, not till we were married. The last time I had moved in, they had left a few months afterward. It was just a bad sense of deja vu.

I also spent quite a bit of time on the Rez. Especially with the council meeting coming up, I was helping Emily buy and plan the meal for the night. Mostly hotdogs and burgers. I would also make chili. We were thinking ten or fifteen bags of potato chips- family sized- might be enough. And maybe four pizzas. No, six.

Emily was going to call for pizzas. I told her I would make homemade ones. It would be faster and cheaper. Oh! And Chicken wings! Spicy ones at that.

But those, I called from Larosa's because those were the best kind.

On the day of the council meeting, Emily and I spent the majority of time cooking at our separate houses. Carlisle was my guard throughout the day, watching me and making idle conversation while I cooked.

"Everything is going to be alright." I responded. Carlisle- well really Lord- had spent a lot of time in the house, running circles in my bedroom like an idiot- though I never thought about him like that of course- trying to get the scent out of my room.

"So Alice has the wedding set for next Wednesday." Carlisle said softly. "A complete week from now."

"I've never been more nervous." I said, a lump in my throat.

"Why?" Carlisle questioned.

"It feels like a bad time to have a wedding." I admitted, "What with the possibility of vampires in Seattle, this rouge vampire, and also Victoria. I feel like Alice is rushing this wedding. But at the same time, I can't wait to be married to you."

Carlisle smiled softly, running his finger over the edge of one of the wine glasses I had set out. I didn't drink alcohol, but I used them as flower holders, soil in the bottom, small seeds placed in them. Small flowers to grow inside of them.

Like snow globes with tops.

"Will you take my last name?" He asked.

"Most definitely." I said with a small smile. "Davina Cullen. It has a nice sound to it."

"Marcel told Alice he'd come." Carlisle said.

"Yeah, I heard." I said. "I still haven't told the werewolves though. I probably should've done that a long time ago. What about the Denali clan?"

"Tanya, Kate, Carmen, and Eleazor will be coming. Irina will not." Carlisle said. "They have a grudge against the werewolves for killing Laurent. Apparently he was Irina's mate."

I stared at him incredulously, "Do they know that the reason Laurent is dead is because he was trying to kill me?"

Carlisle's eyes flickered and then he said, "It's been mentioned."

I scoffed, turning back to the fourth pizza. I had given two to Emily so that she could cook them there. My oven really only had room for two pizzas at a time.

The Chili sat in the crockpot, staying warm. I had a box that was filled with chip bags on the kitchen island. The ice that would go into the cooler and the drinks were in the freezer and fridge.

The pizzas were the last thing and I then ordered the wings so that everything would be done at the same time.

"We'll have to put the honeymoon off for a little while." Carlisle added. "Till Victoria is finished. I can't leave them here to defend themselves."

"I know." I said softly. "You'll have to let me know where we're going ahead of time though, so I can settle it with the army."

Carlisle snorted. "That's a stupid rule."

I smiled a little, closing the oven door, going and sitting next to Carlisle, "Yeah. Believe me. It's not my favorite rule either."

An hour later, Carlisle helped me load everything into the SUV and then he kissed me good-bye. "Be home safe." He murmured, kissing me repeatedly all over.

I giggled, reaching up to capture his lips before sliding into the driver's seat and heading to La Push.

Once I was there, Emily and I set all the food out around the campsite that we would be using on a long plastic table.

The werewolves and elders showed up first but Bella and Jacob came along not long after. Bella seemed nervous until Embry shouted, "Hey, vampire girl!"

Quil jumped to his feet to kiss her cheek and Emily hugged Bella as her and Jacob settled themselves down near Sam and her.

"Hungry Bella?" I asked with a teasing smile. "Us girls have to get the food first before the wolves dig into it."

I wasn't super hungry, just grabbing one of the bags of chips and some rootbeers, situating myself between Sam and Seth.

"You know, you made all that wonderful food." Sam said with a sigh, "And you go for the store bought junk food. You're going to get fat shorty."

"I have excellent metabolism, thank you very much ugly." I said, ripping open the Takis and popped on in my mouth. "Want one Seth?"

"Umm, they smell spicy."

"They're hot." I said.

Seth and I chatted easily, Leah listening in, but not talking. I knew she was probably grateful to be on this side of the fire, so that Sam and Emily were to her side, not in front of her where she could see them. Sam was mostly talking to the elders or to Emily, although he occasionally made a side comment to me, teasing me.

I was very quick in my comebacks.

I grew quiet as the sun started to go down, pulling out my laptop so that I could pull up Wattpad. I really wanted to get the legends written down and with my 100+ WPM and 97% accuracy rate, I would manage to get it down. Then I'd publish the 'histories' as 'myths'. Should be interesting.

"Are you gonna eat that hot dog?" I heard Paul ask. I looked up because most of the food was eaten by now and I wondered who he was talking to- which was Jacob.

Jacob had a spitted hot dog on the end of a coat hanger and he stared at the hot dog mournfully. "I guess. I'm so full I'm about to puke, but I think I can force it down. I won't enjoy it at all, though." He sighed sadly, full of crap, and I giggled.

"Paul, calm down." I warned him as he balled his fists up, glowering at Jacob.

"Sheesh." Jacob laughed, "Kidding, Paul. Here." And Jacob flipped the hot dog over to him. Paul caught it neatly and said, "Thanks, man."

I rolled my eyes.

Jacob and Bella muttered amongst themselves. Seth and I got up so let Sam move in with the council leaders and I situated myself between Embry and Seth. I leaned against Embry's shoulder. We had gradually moved from him calling me 'mom' to 'sister' and we were quite relaxed in each others' presence.

Billy cleared his throat and started to speak. I got out my laptop, making sure the light was dim, and poised my fingers over the keys.

"The Quileutes have been a small people from the beginning. And we are a small people still, but we have never disappeared. This is because there has always been magic in our blood. It wasn't always the magic of shape-shifting- that came later. First, we were spirit warriors."

I would have to come up with an entire backstory to everything to base these 'histories' off of. Maybe I'd simply just write about everything that had happened since I'd touched down in Forks. I'd have to change my character name though. Maybe to Grace.

"In the beginning, the tribe settled in this harbor and became skilled ship builders and fishermen. But the tribe was small, and the harbor was rich in fish. There were others who covered our land, and we were too small to hold it. A larger tribe moved against us, and we took to our ships to escape them. Kaheleha was not the first spirit warrior, but we do not remember the stories that came before his. We do not remember who was the first to discover this power, or how it had been used before this crisis. Kaheleha was the first great Spirit Chief in our history. In this emergency, Kaheleha used the magic to defend our land."

Spirit Chief. Spirit warriors. Kind've sounded like Spirit Animals. Now that was a great book series. I'd liked the mobile game too, but they got rid of it recently and I was pissed.

"He and all his warriors left the ship- not their bodies, but their spirits. Their women watched over the bodies and the waves, and the men took their spirits back to the harbor. They could not physically touch the enemy tribe, but they had other ways. The stories tell us that they could blow fierce winds into their enemy's camps; they could make a great screaming in the wind that terrified their foes. The stories also tell us that the animals could see the spirit warriors and understand them; the animals would do their bidding."

Could animals see ghosts? Or just spirits? Were they the same thing?

"Kaheleha took the spirit army and wreaked havoc on the intruders. This invading tribe had pakcs of big, thick-furred dogs that they used to pull their sleds in the frozen north. The spirit warriors turned the dogs against their masters and then brought a mighty infestation of bats up from the cliff caverns. They used the screaming wind to aid the dogs in confusing the men. The dogs and bats won. The survivors scattered, calling our harbor a cursed place. The dogs ran wild when the spirit warriors released them. The Quileutes returned to their bodies and their wives, victorious."

I really hated the word 'victorious'. It wounded like 'victory' and also 'Victoria'. There was no such thing as 'victory' in my life.

"The other nearby tribes, the Hohs and the Makahs, made treaties with the Quileutes. They wanted nothing to do with our magic. We lived in peace with them. When an enemy came against us, the spirit warriors could drive them off. Generations passed. then came the last great Spirit Chief, Taha Aki. He was known for this wisdom, and for being a man of peace. The people lived well and content in his care."

Sounded like Carlisle.

"But there was one man, Utlapa, who was not content."

There was a hiss that went around the fire, although Seth did not join in. How did you spell Utlapa? Oot-la-pa? Ut? Not entirely sure.

"Utlapa was one of the Chief Taha Aki's strongest spirt warriors- a powerful man, but a grasping man, too. He thought the people should use their magic to expand their lands, to enslave the Hohs and the Makahs and build an empire."

I could just call him 'Voldemort'.

"now, when the warriors were their spirit selves, they knew each other's thoughts. Taha Aki saw what Utlapa dreamed, and was angry with Utlapa. Utlapa was commanded to leave the people, and never use his spirit self again. Utlapa was a strong man, but the chief's warriors outnumbered him. He had no choice but to leave. The furious outcast hid in the forest nearby, waiting for a chance to get revenge against the chief."

"Even in times of peace, the Spirit Chief was vigilant in protecting his people. Often, he would go to a scared secret place in the mountains. He would leave his body behind and sweep down through the forests and along the coast, making sure no threat approached. One day when Taha Aki left to perform this duty, Utlapa followed. At first, Utlapa simply planned to kill the chief, but this plan had its drawbacks. Surely the spirit warriors would seek to destroy him, and they could follow faster than he could escape. As he hid in the rocks and watched the chief prepare to leave his body, another plan occurred to him."

"Taha Aki left his body in the secret place and flew with the winds to keep watch over his people. Utlapa waited until he was sure the chief had traveled some distance with his spirit self. Taha Aki knew it the instant that Utlapa had joined him in the spirt world, and he also knew Utlapa's murderous plan. He raced back to his secret place, but even the winds weren't fast enough to save him. When he returned, his body was already gone. Utlapa's body lay abandoned, but Utlapa had not left Taha Aki with an escape- he had cut his own body's throat with Taha Aki's hands."

I shivered. I would never, ever, want to be in someone else's' body. That seemed absolutely terrifying. I cracked my knuckles to keep them warm so they didn't freeze up as I continued to type.

"Taha Aki followed his body down the mountain. He screamed at Utlapa, but Utlapa ignored him as if he were mere wind."

Wasn't he?

"Taha Aki watched with despair as Utlapa took his place as chief of the Quileutes. For a few weeks, Utlapa did nothing but make sure that everyone believed he was Taha Aki. Then the changes began- Utlapa's first edict was to forbid any warrior to enter the spirit world. He claimed that he'd had a vision of danger, but really he was afraid. He knew that Taha Aki would be waiting for the chance to tell his story. Utlapa was also afraid to enter the spirit world himself, knowing Taha Aki would quickly claim his body. So his dreams of conquest with a spirit warrior army were impossible, and he sought to content himself with ruling over the tribe. He became a burden- seeking privileges that Taha Aki had never requested, refusing to work alongside his warriors, taking a young second wife and then a third, though Taha Aki's wife lived on- something unheard of in the tribe. Taha Aki watched in helpless fury."

That was absolutely revolting. Watching your body be with other women that weren't your wife.

"Eventually, Taha Aki tried to kill his body to save the tribe from Utlapa's excesses. He brought a fierce wolf down from the mountains, but Utlapa hid behind his warriors. When the wolf killed a young man who was protecting the false chief, Taha Aki felt horrible grief. He ordered the wolf away."

My hands shook a little with that and I closed my eyes briefly. Embry suddenly squeezed my shoulder and I opened my eyes, looking at him with silent thanks.

"All the stories tell us that it was no easy thing to be a spirit warrior. It was more frightening than exhilarating to be freed from one's body. This is why they only used their magic in times of need. The chief solitary journeys to keep watch were a burden and a sacrifice. Being bodiless was disorienting, uncomfortable, and horrifying. Taha Aki had been away from his body for so long at this point that he was in agony. He felt he was doomed- never to cross over to the final land where his ancestors waited, stuck in this torturous nothingness forever."

So, if there was a wolf afterlife thing. . . would I end up there? I didn't know and that made me feel weird inside.

"The great wolf followed taha Aki's spirit as he twisted and writhed in agony through the woods. The wolf was very large for its kind, and beautiful. Taha Aki was suddenly jealous of the dumb animal. At least it had a body. At least it had a life. Even life as an animal would be better than this horrible empty consciousness. And then Taha Aki had the idea that change us all. He asked the great wolf to make room for him, to share. The wolf complied. Taha Aki entered the wolf's body with relief and gratitude. It was not his human body, but it was better than the void of the spirit world."

So. . . say a mountain lion had followed him instead? Would he have shared the mountain lions body? What of an Eagle? Did this mean there weren't really werewolves at all? Instead. . . maybe just shape-shifters?

"As one, the man and the wolf returned to the village on the harbor. The people ran in fear, shouting for the warriors to come. The warriors ran to meet the wolf with their spears. Utlapa, of course, stayed safely hidden. Taha Aki did not attack his warriors. He retreated slowly from them, speaking with his eyes and trying to yelp the songs of his people. The warriors began to realize that the wolf was no ordinary animal, that there was a spirit influencing it. One older warrior, a man named Yut, decided to disobey the false Chief's order and try to communicate with the wolf."

"As soon as Yut crossed to the spirit world, Taha Aki left the wolf- the animal waited tamely for his return- to speak with him. Yut gathered the truth in an instant, and welcomed his true chief home. At this time, Utlapa came to see if the wolf had been defeated. When he saw Yut lying lifeless on the ground, surrounded by protective warriors, he realized what was happening. He drew his knife and raced forward to kill Yut before he could return to his body."

I closed my eyes, pausing for a moment, even as Billy continued with the story, writing only chicken notes as this part was easy to imagine. I hated death. I hated writing about death. I knew death came with old stories like this, but it didn't make the pain any less easy.

". . . Taha Aki's anger was the anger of a man. The love he had for his people and the hatred he had for their oppressor were too vast for the wolf's body, too human. The wolf shuddered, and- before the eyes of the shocked warriors and Utlapa- transformed into a man. The new man did not look like Taha Aki's body. He was far more glorious. He was the flesh interpretation of Taha Aki's spirit. The warriors recognized him at once, though, for they had flown with Taha Aki's spirit."

I dozed out as Billy talked about Utlapa's death. The giving back of the wives, but keeping the law of no spirit traveling in place.

"From that point on, Taha Aki was more than either wolf or man. They called him Taha Aki the Great Wolf, or Taha Aki the Spirit Man. He led the tribe for many, many years, for he did not age. When danger threatened, he would resume his wolf-self to fight or frighten the enemy. The people dwelt in peace. Taha Aki fathered many sons, and some of these found that, after they had reached the age of manhood, they, too, could transform into wolves. The wolves were all different, because they were spirit wolves and reflected the man they were inside."

"So that's why Sam is all black. Black heart, black fur." Quil muttered under his breath and it took me a moment to realize I had typed that sentence out. I giggled quietly while deleting it.

"And your chocolate fur reflects what? How sweet you are?" Sam muttered back. I grinned, winking at him.

"I'd be ultra violet." I muttered in Seth's year. "Purple wolf."

Seth snickered.

Billy Black ended the story, drinking water as he let Quil Ateara, Quils grandfather, take over the story.

Quil's grandfathers voice was nowhere near as majestic as Billy's was, but there was a fierce urgency in his voice as he spoke, making you want to listen. The quavering in his voice also gave it the sound of something, like someone was speaking a script in a movie, providing the backstory for it. . .

"Many years after Taha Aki gave up his spirit wolf, when he was an old man, trouble began in the north, with the Makahs. Several young women of their tribe had disappeared, and they blamed it on the neighboring wolves, who they feared and mistrusted. The wolf-men could still read each other's thoughts while in their wolf forms, just like their ancestors had while in their spirit forms. They knew that none of their number was to blame. Taha Aki tried to pacify the Makah chief, but there was too much fear."

'Fear in the name only increases fear in the thing itself.' I thought randomly. Great, thank you Dumbledore, that was helpful.

"Taha Aki did not want to have a war on his hands. He was no longer a warrior to lead his people. He charged his oldest wolf-son, Taha Wi, with finding the true culprit before hostilities began."

'Wii Wii' I thought in a French accent.

Fuck, I was probably the only person in the entire world that could think really stupid thoughts when hearing these stories. And these were my descendants too! There was something tragically wrong with me.

"Taha Wi led the five other wolves in his pack on a search through the mountains, looking for any evidence of the missing Makahs. They came across something they had never encountered before- a strange, sweet scent in the forest that burned their noses to the point of pain."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, rearranging the laptop to sit lower on my legs as I typed.

"They did not know what creature would leave such a scent, but they followed it. They found faint traces of human scent, and human blood, along the trail. They were sure this was the enemy they were searching for. The journey took them so far north that Taha Wi sent half the pack, the younger ones, back to the harbor to report to Taha Aki. Taha Wi and his two brothers did not return."

I flinched. Embry placed his hand on my shoulder again.

"The younger brothers searched for their elders, but found only silence. Taha Aki mourned for his sons. He wished to avenge his sons' death, but he was old. He went to the Makah chief in his mourning clothes and told him everything that had happened. The Makah chief believed his grief, and tensions ended between the tribes. A year later, two Makah maidens disappeared from their homes on the same night. The Makahs called on the Quileute wolves at once, who found the same sweet stink all through the Makah village. The wolves went on the hunt again."

I was not thinking of wolves, but of my brother at Fort Knox.

"Only one came back. He was Yaha Uta, the oldest son of Taha Aki's third wife, and the youngest in the pack. He brought something with him that had never been seen in all the days of the Quileutes- a strange, cold, stony corpse that he carried in pieces. All who were of Taha Aki's blood, even those who had never been wolves, could smell the piercing smell of the dead creature. This was the enemy of the Makahs."

I shouldn't have come survived the bombs. Why hadn't I dragged my brother with me when I went to hide in the game? Why didn't I hide with my brother instead of Azim?

"Yaha uta described what had happened: he and his brothers had found the creature, who looked like a man but was hard as a granite rock, with the two Makah daughters. One girl was already dead, white and bloodless on the ground. The other was in the creature's arms, his mouth at her throat. She may have been alive when they came upon the hideous scene, but the creature quickly snapped her neck and tossed her lifeless body to the ground when they approached. His white lips were covered in her blood and his eyes glowed red."

People had been thrown at the base, high into the air when the bombs had gone off. Had they landed on their feet, some of them might've survived. But they were flung upside down, landing on their necks which had broken. Some of them had still been able to scream- I could still hear them in my nightmares.

I was reeling in my nightmares, not paying attention to the story anymore but no one noticed. They were all locked in on the story. It was strange that a story of werewolves and vampires was making me relive the entire battle again.

". . . elders set fire to the remains. A great cloud of choking, vile smoke polluted the air. When there was nothing but ashes, they separated the ashes into many small bags and spread them far and wide- some in the ocean, some in the forest, some in the cliff caverns. Taha Aki wore one bag around his neck, so he would be warned if the creature ever tried to put himself together again."

When the older man paused, looking at Billy, Billy produced a small bag, black with age, around his neck. I heard people gasp but I was not one of them. I was horrified. Yes, it was good that even after all these years, the enemy could not put itself together. . . but say the Volturi burned my family in the future. Carlisle. . . he would never be able to be put back together.

I felt sick with worry. I had to protect Carlisle at all costs. No matter what. I could not let anyone lay a hand on him.

"They call it The Cold One, the Blood Drinker, and lived in fear that it was not alone. They only had one wolf protector left, young Yaha Uta. They did not have long to wait. The creature had a mate, another blood drinker, who came to the Quileutes seeking revenge. The stories say that the Cold Woman was the most beautiful thing human eyes had ever seen. She looked like the goddess of the dawn when she entered the village that morning; the sun was shining for once, and it glittered off her white skin and lit the golden hair that flowed down to her knees. Her face was magical in its beauty, her eyes black in her white face. Some fell to their knees to worship her."

I could imagine her. She looked like Rosalie.

"She asked something in a high, piercing voice, in a language no one had ever heard. The people were dumbfounded not knowing how to answer her. There was none of Taha Aki's blood among the witnesses but one small boy. He clung to his mother and screamed that the smell was hurting his nose. One of the elders, on his way to council, heard the boy and realized what had come among them. He yelled for the people to run. She killed him first."

"There were twenty witnesses to the Cold Woman's approach. Two survived, only because she grew distracted by the blood, and paused to sate her thirst. They ran to Taha Aki, who sat in the counsel with the other elders, his sons, and his third wife. Yaha Uta transformed into his spirt wolf as soon as he heard the news. He went to destroy the blood drinker alone. Taha Aki, his third wife, his sons, and his elders followed behind him."

Yes, what a great idea. 'Hey, let's go watch our only wolf son go and destroy a cold one that he needed two of his other brothers to kill the first time! I'll bring popcorn!'

"At first they could not find the creature, only the evidence of her attack. Bodies lay broken, a few drained of blood, strewn across the road where she'd appeared. Then they heard the screams and hurried to the harbor. A handful of the Quileutes had run to the ships for refuge. She swam after them like a shark, and broke the bow of their boat with her incredible strength. When the ship sank, she caught those trying to swim away and broke them, too."

I wondered how Sam had gotten me out of the water when Victoria had jumped in after throwing me in. He hadn't been in there as a wolf. Maybe the others had jumped too and Victoria had fled, not knowing how the wolves would be in the water.

I had never asked Sam.

"She saw the great wolf on the shore, and she forgot the fleeing swimmers. She swam so fast she was a blur and came, dripping and glorious, to stand before Yaha Uta. She pointed at him with one white finger and asked another incomprehensible question. Yaha Uta waited. It was a close fight. She was not the warrior her mate had been. But Yaha Uta was alone- there was no one to distract her fury from him. When Yaha Uta lost, Taha Aki screamed in defiance. He limped forward and shifted into an ancient, white-muzzled wolf. The wolf was old, but this was Taha Aki the Spirit Man, and his rage made him strong. The fight began again. Taha Aki's wife had just seen her son die before her. Now her hsuband fought, and she had no hope that he could win. She'd heard every word the witnesses to the slaughter had told the council. She'd heard the story of Yaha Uta's first victory, and knew that his brother's diversion had saved him."

'Oh wonderful. This was not a good story to tell Bella.' I thought and shot her a look.

"The third wife grabbed a knife from the belt of one of the sons who stood beside her. They were all young sons, not yet men, and she knew they would die when their father failed."

Maybe they shouldn't be telling me this story either. Wouldn't I give my life to save any of my wolf sons? Any of my vampire children? I thought it over seriously. I had thrown myself on Angel when the bombs went off. Though I had never harmed myself, I'm sure I could take a knife to my skin to protect my children, wolf or vampire.

"The third wife ran toward the Cold Woman with the dagger raised high. The Cold Woman smiled, barely distracted from her fight with the old wolf. She had no fear of the weak human woman or the knife that would not even scratch her skin, and she was about to deliver the death blow to Taha Aki."

Now, the Cold Woman to me was no longer Rosalie, but Jane.

"And then the third wife did something the Cold Woman did not expect. She fell to her knees at the blood drinker's feet and plunged the knife into her own heart."

Why the heart? Any release of blood would've done. She could've dragged it along her arm. But maybe she thought if she died, she would not feel the pain of the vampire's teeth.

"Blood spurted through the third wife's fingers and splashed against the Cold Woman. The blood drinker could not resist the lure of the fresh blood leaving the third wife's body. Instinctively, she turned to the dying woman, for one second entirely consumed by thirst. Taha Aki's teeth closed around her neck. That was not the end of the fight, but Taha Aski was not alone now. Watching their mother die, two young sons felt such rage that they sprang forth as their spirit wolves, though they were not yet men. With their father, they finished the creature."

Maybe Leah was wrong. Maybe there was nothing wrong with her. Maybe there was something wrong with me. Her father died, she became a werewolf. I killed 2,000 people with two rounds of bombs and I didn't- though I should've. Why hadn't I phased yet?

"Taha Aki never rejoined the tribe. He never changed back to a man again. He lay for one day beside the body of the third wife, growling whenever anyone tried to touch her, and then he went into the forest and never returned. Trouble with the cold ones was rare from that time on. Taha Aki's sons guarded the tribe until their sons were old enough to take their places. There were never more than three wolves at a time. It was enough. Occasionally a blood drinker would come through these lands, but they were taken by surprise, not expecting the wolves. Sometimes a wolf would die, but never were they decimated again like the first time. They'd learned how to fight the cold ones, and they passed the knowledge on, wolf mind to wolf mind, spirit to spirit, father to son."

Father to son.

Me or Leah. Which one of us was wrong?

"Time passed, and the descendants of Taha Aki no longer became wolves when they reached manhood. Only in a great while, if a cold one was near, would the wolves return. The cold ones always came in ones and twos, and the pack stayed small. A bigger coven came, and your own great-grandfathers prepared to fight them off. But the leader spoke to Ephraim Black as if he were a man, and promised not to harm the Quileutes. His strange yellow eyes gave some proof to his claim that they were not the same as other blood drinkers. The wolves were outnumbered; there was no need for the cold ones to offer a treaty when they could have won the fight. Ephraim accepted. They've stayed true to their side, though their presence does tend to draw in others."

I smiled a bit at Carlisle. 'He spoke to Ephraim like a man'. Yes, that was my love all right. My mate.

"And their numbers have forced a larger pack than the tribe has ever seen. Except, of course, in Taha Aki's time. And so the sons of our tribe again carry the burden and share the sacrifice their fathers endured before them."

'And daughter', I wanted to add for Leah's sake. 'And daughter.'

"Burden," Quil said, startling me, "I think it's cool."

Seth nodded beside me.

Slowly, the group became less still, Old Quil Aterea's eyes finally left me, and I drew away from the campsite quietly and without anyone's notice.

I walked along the beach, looking up at the bright stars. With no lights out here, you could see them more clearly.

Once I was in the forest, I squatted down, breaths heavy, trying not to cry.

What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I acting like this?

"KOL! KOL WHERE ARE YOU?" I screamed, running through the base. 'Please let him be alive, please let him be alive. Let another bomb go off, let another bomb destroy me, just please let Kol be alive.'

I let out a shuddering breath as tears started to fall down my face.

'Father to son.'

Who was messed up? Leah or me?

Me. It was me. I should be a werewolf. I should be.

"Davina?" Sam's voice came quietly.

"Sorry." I murmured, my voice thick. "I. . . the story. . . I was just wondering what was wrong with me?"

"What?" Sam asked curiously, kneeling down next to me. "What are you talking about?"

"The sons who watched their mother die and became werewolves. And Leah became a werewolf after Harry died. My parents, my brother, 2,000 people. . . and I'm not." I let out a shuddering breath. "I'm screwed up. I should be a werewolf, I should've felt rage at Azim's betrayal. But I'm not a werewolf. Other emotions kick in before I can get to angry. It doesn't. . . there's something wrong with me!"

"There is nothing wrong with you." Sam said firmly. "Nothing at all. Females aren't supposed to be werewolves, it's unheard of. But there are always loopholes when it comes to magic."

I nodded but before I could answer, my phone rang. "H-hello?" I asked, wiping my nose and sniffling.

"Davina." Marcel's voice was thick with emotion.

"What's wrong?" I asked immediately, jolting to my feet.

"It's your Uncle Josh." Marcel said.

"Umm what about Joshua?" I asked hesitantly and Sam's face grew hard.

"I don't know how to say this in a way to cushion the blow but. . . he's dead Davina. I'm sorry."

[racheldaniel]

Quality Cues from a Gas Station Bathroom

Wine as a quality cue for food? What about a gas station bathroom?

The same way that wine perceived to be "good quality" can extend its quality image to the companion food and create a better overall consumption experience, a southern gas station was able to achieve the same effect... but with their bathrooms.

Buc-ees, a southern chain of gas stations, quickly rose to fame due to its extremely clean and large bathrooms. Given the importance of bathrooms to anyone roadtripping through Texas (reminder, it takes 12 hours to drive across the state), the positive bathroom experience led consumers loving the Buc-ees brand, and by extension -- all Buc-ees branded items.

Now, Buc-ees gas stations are more like mid-sized supermarkets -- lined with aisles of Buc-ee branded items. And everytime I've stopped in, items are flying off the shelves.

When I last visited a Buc-ees, I took my New York born and raised husband (then boyfriend) for his first time. Without giving him any of the Buc-ees context I posessed as a born and raised Texan, I let him experience it with fresh eyes. After using the restroom (which he quickly mentioned was very clean and so efficient given the number of available stalls) he quickly turned his attention to the aisles of Buc-ees products that lined the store. Before long, his arms were piled high with Buc-ees snacks -- bags of jerky, sour candy, roasted nuts. He was heading over to the hot food counters before I had to intercept, urging him to let us continue our long drive down to Austin. While slightly upset his Buc-ees experience was coming to a close, he made sure to snag a Buc-ees branded cooler so he had something permanent to remind him of his new favorite gas station (picture evidence below).

In summary, the quality of something as mundane as a bathroom can be just as powerful of a branding cue as a glass of French wine. As a result, I challenge us to think about other less obvious and likely "less sexy" environmental aspects that could serve as potentially powerful brand quality cues.

[daisiesonafield-blog]

Info for Faith In The Future World Tour LOS ANGELES, CA - JUN 30 2023

With special guests THE SNUTS & ANDREW CUSHIN!

Important Times:

5:30 PM - Doors Open

7:00 PM - Andrew Cushin

8:00 PM - The Snuts

9:00 PM - Louis Tomlinson

Times are all approximate and subject to change.

General admission (pit tickets):

OVERNIGHT CAMPING IS NOT ALLOWED AT THE VENUE!

Guests can begin lining up no earlier than 8AM on the day of show, June 30.

Sequentially numbered wristbands will be put on GA guests’ wrists starting at 9AM on a first come, first served basis

Guests must have a valid ticket to receive a wristband, and all guests in a party must be present to receive a wristband.

Any guests that have camped overnight or arrived before 8AM will not be given wristbands and will be sent to the back of the line.

You may leave after you receive your wristband.

You may return at 3PM to queue for General Admission entry.

Security will honor wristbands from 3PM – 4PM.

After 4PM, guests will join the line on a first come, first served basis.

Loss, removal or tampering with a wristband will result in loss of place in the GA line.

Guests are not permitted to hold places in line. Please be respectful and courteous to all other guests in line.

Have your mobile tickets open and ready to scan to expedite entry upon doors opening at 5:30PM.

This policy is subject to updates & changes! PLEASE check back and check the venue’s socials and website for updates!

⚠️ HYDRATION ADVISORY ⚠️

Hydrate before the show, while waiting in line and during the show

For optimal hydration drink something with electrolytes such as Gatorade or LiquidIV

Eat well!

Here are important things to know:

The venue is OUTDOORS!

Most of the venue is cashless! Pay with card or mobile pay!

Shuttles: shuttles are available to take you to and from the Hollywood Bowl from allover LA County ($6-7) info here and buy here.

Parking: parking is limited at the Hollywood Bowl. Closer lots sold out. Currently available lots $20, buy here, info and map here. No overnight parking. You may need to walk a lot, wear comfortable shoes.

ADA info here 

Text “BOWL” to our Courtesy Concern Line on 69050 for onsite assistance & reporting

Cameras: No cameras with detachable or extended lenses. No forms of camera stand (including monopods). No selfie sticks. No GoPros or audio/video recording devices. No drones.

Water: You can bring your own water and beverage bottles. There are 3 water stations throughout the Hollywood Bowl.

Food & drink: You’re welcome to bring your own food and drink to the Hollywood Bowl.

Alcohol: Feel free to bring wine bottles, wine glasses and beer bottles inside

All containers, picnic baskets and coolers must be able to fit under your seats or within your box. Containers, picnic baskets, and coolers measuring more than 15 inches wide, 15 inches high, or 22 inches long won’t be allowed past the ticket gates.

Food and beverage info and menus here.

NO tailgating in any of the parking lots.

NO kegs of any kind.

NO vending or vendor village.

NO trailers or campers.

NO Marijuana or any cannabis products

NO drugs

NO smoking in the bowl except in outside designated areas, map here.

NO chairs

NO laser pointers or glow sticks

NO umbrellas

NO Fireworks, explosives and aerosols

NO knives, firearms, Brass knuckles, Tasers & mace/pepper spray, razor blades, box cutters, scissors and unsafe personal accessories or any other weapons of any kind

NO throwable items of any kind such as frisbees, balls, or beach balls.

NO electronic devices such as iPads, tablets, and laptops.

NO Bicycles, scooters, Segways, hoverboards, skateboards and roller blades

Reentry allowed, must show ticket for reentry.

VIEW VENUE MAP 

VIEW SEAT MAP

*This list is not exhaustive. Items not appearing on the list may still be prohibited at the discretion of Security

For more details click here

Bag Policy:

All bags must be smaller than 15 inches wide, 15 inches high, or 22 inches long

Banners, signs and flag policy:

NO signs

Small flags allowed

No poles, sticks or spikes

Contact:

For additional questions please call the venue at 323.850.2000. You can also access their website. Email: information@laphil.org. Check their twitter here and IG here for updates. Address: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068