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crackspinewornpages · 27 days

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It Can't Happen Here 16/38 -Sinclair Lewis

When he retires he’ll build a bungalow at a resort and read the classics, his tastes from his mother. “I got it from my Mother as I did everything that some people have been so good as to admire in me.”p.103

As certain as Doremus was at the results, the passing was dreadful and for a few days avoided everyone and read his childhood favorites, maybe he wasn't so different from Windrip. (no you actually read them) "No American whose fathers have lived in the country for over two generations so utterly different from any other American.”p.104 But reading didn't work and he fell back into the habit of social duty. He found out Windrip was trying to buy, flatter or blackmail opposing Congress. “A President-Elect has unhallowed power, if he so wishes, and Windrip-no doubt with promises of abnormal fever in the way of patronage-won over a few.”p.104 Five Jeffersonian Congressman were challenged and disappeared amid embezzling rumors and with each Doremus was more anxious. (he’s starting to get rid of those that would oppose him)

Since the Depression, Doremus felty futility at doing anything more permanent than breakfast, he couldn’t plan for himself or his family. Their lies were predicted on the privilege of planning, Depressions were storms to Capitalism and government were eternal and improved by the citizens votes. (well in theory) His grandfather and father had plans but Doremus couldn’t, in fifteen years Sissy could live as a waitress and Julian in a Concentration camp labeled a Communist and both not married with careers, now he knew nothing fundamental. Four types didn’t understand how the government is conducted, the authorities in Washington, political writers, the untouchables and himself, but now with Windrip everything is going to be simple as he runs the country as his private domain.

Julian dropped by on Christmas break, at the gas station they ran into Pascal, (thanks to Tangled all I can picture is that lizard) a strike leader, after the election he plans to lie low and spread propaganda. Windrip will make plenty disatisfied but they can’t do anything against armed troops and he’ll whoop millions into war and revolution. What burns him up is people think before the Depression were prosperous times, 7% of families earned 500 (the inflation calculator won’t calculate that so I found a different one and it’s about 9,000) a year or less, prisons allowed more than eighteen cents a day, (about three dollars) per person for food and that was if the man had a job, Julian agrees it would make a man extremist. (you ever see something in a hydraulic press explode that’s people when grinded down too much)

John Pollikop calls Pascal a crazy dog of a Communist, believing violence and not legality. Pascal says it’ s too easy to blame everything on Windrip (well he’s right) and tells John to read Marx. Windrip isn’t important, just throwing up the sickness they have to cure, the growing unemployment. John asks if they think Communism will cure it, Pascal says yes and Doremus drives away as they start to argue.

The attic study was Doremus’s refuge from president-elect supporters, where he doodles and meditates. The revolt against civilization in defending democracy, he has to change his tune if they are against Communism he has to be for it and he doesn’t want to be. They can bomb themselves back to the Dark Ages, wipe everything out and relearn good manners and tolerance. Everyone calls themselves advocates of Democracy without knowing what it means thinking everyone would be loyal and happy. He listened to their solutions and has one. “There is no Solution! There will never be a state of society anything like perfect!”p.112 There will never be a time where people won’t feel poor no matter what they have and envy neighbors in cheap clothes. In the few hundred years people will still eat dinner and read no matter the substitutes as they must spend their time in 1930 much like they did in 1630. Men of super cunning will have more influence than slower witted worthy men.

There’s been many with solutions in history, Doremus thinks blessed are those Patriots and Idealists (this book randomly capitalizes words) that don’t think immediately that doubters should be killed. “Good old murder, that since the slaying of Abel by Cain has always been the new device by which all oligarchies and dictators have, for all future ages to come, removed opposition!”p.114 Doremus doubted all revolutions, the War of 1776, the Civil War, “Slavery had been a cancer, and in that day was known no remedy save bloody cutting. There had been no x-rays of wisdom and tolerance.”p.115 To reject this cutting was evil, that lead to other wars for Freedom to those that didn’t want it. (do I need to list all thew wars America got involved in to give countries our version of freedom)

He wondered if the Revolutionary War was even desirable ,it is commonly asserted without political independence the states wouldn’t have developed its own virtues. Between rabble rousers desiring their own personal power and fighters against tyranny, Doremus saw the difference between thieves and honest men defending themselves. It is possible the boldest ideas have been the worst enemies of progress. Possibly plain men minding their own are higher in heavenly hierarchy than those that claimed to be saving them.

He joined the Compbellite church as a boy now wishes he belonged to the whole brotherhood.

Doremus was a Universalist but now afraid to enter the church, too many memories of his father and the congregation dwindling. Now he went there he’d give anything for a sermon that renewed his courage and realized that was what he’d been condemning for months. “the irrational dramatic power of the crusading leader, clerical or political.”p.119 Doremus tried a church but it was stifling, he wants a church that advanced beyond the chaplains, now he knows why Lorinda doesn’t go.

Lorinda was at the tavern boarding house, (ok so he and Lorinda are having an affair at least an emotional one) she reflected how Windrip will put women’s struggle back to the sixteen hundreds. Doremus points out how he never mentioned freedom of speech or press in his articles, he feels he should take the family to Canada. Lorinda says he can’t, the newspaper men have to keep fighting Windrip, he agrees to stay for a while. Before he could think of the warning at his door Sissy comes in to collect her father.

On the way home he found Shad hiding in the bushes, (he was definitely spying) he had the excuse his motorcycle broke down, Doremus offers for Sissy to get him a ride. Shad complains about her driving slow, Doremus complains about the youth being adventurous, so Shad just follows their car. In the car Sissy asks if he goes to Lorinda’s often why aren’t they lovers. (you know you aren’t very subtle when your own kid can pick up the vibes) Doremus is scandalized she’d think that and warns her not to be so forward like that, does she even know what she's talking about. (yeah it was a vey WTF moment) She just hates seeing him so wretched about Windrip and wants him to get some pep back. (by cheating on your mother)

Doremus asks what does she know, is she a virgin, yes, but no promises for the future if the country gets worse and things come between her and Julian it won’t be modern modesty. Not Malcolm, no, he’s a pain, going to get in his proper place with Windrip’s soldiers and she likes Julian. She’s serious, it looks like the country’s heading backwards, it’ll still be war, no time for modesty, isn’t nice young ladies what men want around, maybe. As they pulled in Doremus no longer saw Sissy as a little girl but a comrade like Lorinda. Doremus had enough of Shad and fires him, he isn’t upset, he’s the new Secretary of the Second Chapter of the League of Forgotten Men. Two weeks later Shad wrote a letter demanding donations of 200, (about 4,500 which is ridiculous to think the average family has that much to throw away) Doremus refused and within a day the Informer was losing circulations.

He’s pretty mild mannered and folksy when speech writing his ambitions, live by the road, be a friend to man, (since when) but he’s the opposite when encountering a detractor (we know how you make them disappear) then calls the Sangfrey River Light Power and Fuel Corporation every name in the book, purely for the indignation on behalf of the common people.

The day before his inauguration Windrip appointed his cabinet members, Lee Sarason became his secretary of State and High Marshall of the Minute Men (as an innocent marching club my ass) which is to be established permanently. Webster R Skittle who was to be acquitted on defrauding income tax became Secretary of the Treasury. Windrip’s friend Colonel Osceola Luthorne became Secretary of War as it was refused by Prang. The new position of Secretary of Education and Public Relations was appointed to Hector Macgoblin, all officers were filled by those that supported Windrip. Doremus suspected Windrip learned from Sarason to get rid of embarrassing friends by appointing them abroad. (Herbert Hoover is in Brazil) Adelaide was angry she was given no position higher than the customs office in Nome Alaska (a nothing title just something to shut her up) and not the domestic cabinets she invented. (domestic science child welfare anti vice)

By the new Twentieth Amendment, Windrip’s followers wanted him inaugurated in January it started out turbulent as Roosevelt refused to be there. A thousand reporters covered it, people were sleeping on the floor of the Senator’s office and bedrooms rented for thirty dollars a night. (almost 700) He started his speech that the real New Deal starts now, then at the White House he sat in his stockings in the East Room and said to let people assassinate him. Then he had the Minute Men recognized as an army auxiliary, subject to obey him, their officers and Sarason and the Minute Men eagerly waited for their issued artillery. The next morning was a special message to Congress demanding a bill for Point Fifteen it was rejected, by January 21st Windrip declared a crisis and issued Martial Law and had his Minuet Men arrest over a hundred Congressmen. (he’s starting to clean house)

Prang and his friends were dismayed by Windrip's actions, Prang had given up broadcasting but wanted to caution the public but when contacting the station was told access to the air was forbidden unless licensed by Sarason. (so start a pirate radio station) Prang took a plane to Washington to reprove Windrip and was in the White House for six hours but unknown if he was actually with the President, he later left looking pale. In front of his hotel was a mob and he was taken in by the Minute Men claiming it’s for his own safety. (they are the least safe people to be with) Later millions would hear Prang is in jail for his own protection and Windrip said he was joyful to have rescued his friend he admires. (well he’s joyful to have Prang in jail but not for the reasons he gave)

The press wasn't censored yet, only journalists who offended the government were jailed. Prang’s home town, Persepolis, heard rumors of him but were still proud of their best advertisement. A messenger in the Executive Office was a Persepolis boy and slipped to the mayor their telegrams were hauled away unanswered. A quarter of the population went to Washington, the train was curiously delayed and sidetracked. There was a mutinous company of MMs who didn't want to arrest nuns, Sarason thought a lesson needed to be learned and sent Minute Men to arrest the company and shoot every third man. (see what they’ll do to their own people who don’t blindly obey it wasn’t a lesson to the mutineers but a warning to those that had any questioning ideas) By the time they got to Washington they were informed Prang was shocked by their treason so badly they had to put him in an asylum. (how much you wanna bet they had him quietly executed) Most returned back to Persepolis, they never saw Prang again and no MM went to that town.

Doremus and many others were upset to hear the Chief of Staff of the Regular Army was replaced by Emmanuel Coon. Windrip then extended a proclamation to the country, secret enemies of American principles, angry that he is president and there’s a crisis. He recalled previous martial law and arrests during the Civil War, how delightful things would be later. They laughed along with him and called him competent. “It had all happened within the eight days following Windrip’s inuaguration.”p.141 (see how quickly and systematic it was they had to have planned this in advance)

He has no desire to be President he’d rather support Prang and any other liberal. (bullshit) “My only longing is to Serve.”p.142 (yourself serve yourself)

Only in the presence of Buck Titus could Doremus damn Windrip, his cronies and Tasbrough. From these hills and acquaintances, “it seems to him that the madness in the capitol was alien and distant and unimportant as an earthquake in Tibet.”p.143 The Informer carefully criticized the government, telling the readers the hysteria can't last, he couldn't believe the tyranny could endure. “It can’t happen here, said even Doremus-even now.”p.143 (if you don’t warn and deny everyone will be blind to the warnings until it is too late and they don’t know how to fight) The thing that perplexed him most was there could be dictators different than Hitlers, charming and funny, did that make Windrip more or less dangerous then remembered the cruel actions of the pirate Henry Morgan. Buck and Lorinda liked each other more than they would admit but he did approve of her relationship with Doremus, who was ten years older than him and Buck’s shack became a refuge.

Despite strikes and riots Windrip stayed in power, four liberal members of the Supreme Court were replaced by his friends. (so nepotism hires that’ll do what he says) Those Congressmen that didn't see the light were still in jail. The Minute Men were volunteers but paid more than regular troops. Never before had the President’s adherents so satisfied assigned official and unofficial political jobs. He united the states into eight Provinces, reducing the numbers of governors and better for Windrip to concentrate his private army. Each province was numbered into a district, those into lettered counties, those into townships and cities, those old names still endangered Windrip by honorable memories and history and rumored they’d be changed. (so he’s literally breaking up the United States and renaming things to replace history so people will have no identity outside of the whole)

Citizens who lived in a state for more than ten years resented the loss of that state’s identity more than the castration of the government. (well you have your state the larger government is probably more of an abstract concept outside of election times) They resented it almost as much as the promised 5000 and receiving no more than Washington bulletins. (it’s the government did you really expect a politician to keep his promises especially one involving a lot of money) It was interesting to read that the Southwestern Province was permitted to claim Mexican territory to protect the US agents from treacherous Mexican and Jewish plots. (I’m sure the Mexicans have something to say about this) Doremus had this to say, “Lee Sarason is even more generous than Hitler and Alfred Rosenberg in protecting the future of other countries,”p.146 (looks at the history of American involvement in foreign wars)

Dewey Haik was the Provincial Commissioner of the Northeastern Province. John Sullivan Reek was the District Commissioner of District 3 who Doremus describes as a gas bag who turned Leaguer in Windrip’s patriotism, he had summoned all the editors for a conference. Before he left Doremus was given a poem composed by Sissy, Lorinda, Buck and Julian warning him to be careful and as he drove hundreds of billboards were Windrip propaganda. The Hanover Inn was full of Minute Men, they had just destroyed the laboratory of a science building. At the conference Reek informed them he, Windrip, Sarason and Haik, were being misrepresented and introduced them to the County Commissioners. One was Shad Ledue who not so subtlety warns Doremus to behave himself. (well Doremus is in deep shit)

#it can't happen here #sinclair lewis #books #book summaries #science fiction #philosophical fiction #dystopia

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nityarawal · 1 year

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8/1/2023

Lexi is Falling

In Disrepair

Lexi's Windshield Wipers

Don't Work

No More

Lexi Has A Slow Leak

In Her Back Right Tire

Lexi Is A Lemon

Witchunted

For Her Master

Lexi Has Nice

Lizards

And Rodents

Lexi Is Getting Washed

In The Rain

Lifted My Hood

To Let The Water In

Everyone Had

Been Saying

It's Time To Wash

Her

First Me

Oh My Skin

Now Lexi

Is Ready To Go Back

To The Dealership

No Word From

Escondido

No Word From

Carlsbad

They Sold Me A Lemon

And Keep Changing Managers

No Word From

Santa Monica

No Word From Courts

Just More Documents

To Prove Their Sins

At DMV.org

Arrest Officer Enoche

For Stealing My Car

Arrest Daniel Crabtree

Triple A Accomplice

Curtis and Schmitt

Arrest Sergeant Protero

For Raiding My Home

Arrest Them All

For Interrupting

Our Showers

1st A Hit And Run

Then A Lexus Lemon

You Kidnapped

Me From Work

And Doxxed My Location

This Little Lady

Can't Pay For Your Wars

I Know Your Pigs

Have Been Violating

Idy For Eeons

But This Little Lady

Can't Pay

To Teach Your Officers

About

Golden Bear Passes

Registration

Wrongful Car Arrests

Murder

Rapes On Plea

Bargains No More

Enoch Raped

Jessica Now I hear

For The Militia

Who Orchestrated

Neighbor

Adrien Denava's

Murder

On Country Club

One Woman Gave Her

Womb- How Many More

To Gay Officers

And Shane Stewart's

Broker Atty Harems

Hoping For More Babies

Later In Detention

WW3 Holocaust

With A Drug Lord

I Heard They

Stole Her Kids

And Home

After Bedding Half

A Dozen On The Block

How Many Babies

Will California Steal

Before Kamala

Honors The Sacrifice

Of It

As DA

How Many Babies

Orphaned 50 Years

60,000 A Year

That's Over 3,000,000

(3 Million)

Celebrity Babies

In California Stolen

A Baby War

How Many Children

Sold From Ukraine

And Russia

For Attys Like Bill

Whitman

And Ashby Clark Sorrenson

With Grant Funk

Rocker Darin David Joye

Who Won't Call Back

About Estate

How Many Mommies

Surrogated Out

For A Gay War

Not For My Defense

Team

Dollars

Taxes Or Family

Don't Want Plan B

At The Grocery Store

Don't Want Gavin

Inviting Children Here

To Hide Their Woes

Incest Abortions

Don't Want To Be A

Baby Factory No More

Sorry For My Actors

Exploited

On Strike

Singers Suicided

By Secret Service

Writers On Strike

Needing Homes

Sorry My Loves

But We'll Sing Through It

Sorry My Loves

Your Story

Matters To Me

Peace,

Nitya Nella Davigo Azam Moezzi Huntley Rawal

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athomewiththecicadas · 1 year

Text

We're gonna get in trouble.....

Government, and the economy, wants us to perform. But the interest rate is only at 5%.

Ownership and corporate law isn't even until 13.5%. Now, how the hell is anybody supposed to do that with food stamps so low. Even if they make $13/hr it's still too low. And there's no way in hell you're gonna get 13.5%.

COVID required at least $15/hr, or at least $380/mo for food. And I know I'll hear about it, but I think it was more. And that's just for defense. It easy for everyone to close thier eyes on the "lesser" economy, until you have to yell at them because they want something.

And like I said I'll hear about it. But law enforcement goes to jail like the rest of us, and so does the speaker.

That's not sex, that's the jail.

You know, why don't we just start lynching bodies again? You could pay them a $1 million dollars because they're so f@#ked they're entertainment. And since hamburgers grow on trees, you could designate a portion of domestic livestock to feed them.

That isn't even our livestock. We don't actually designate livestock for lynching people.

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

I think the issue is, older people are still stuck in a mind that thinks the way it was. And so business and the private sector would have to raise payrolls substantially. And that takes years of work. And nobody is willing to risk thier credentials and falsify someone's credibility for a job they don't qualify.

And reality is that we are not that good so everyone has to wait longer then they want to. And the weakest point in the economy is physical fitness. And that alone takes at least 3 years, unless there is a more technical job requirement.

Still, the last thing an employer needs is for lawmakers to slump back into the old way of thinking, and splitting from the institution and making a politic out of pricing and general welfare requirements. And that pricing "was" a real expectation.

And if lawmakers think the institution is going to be pressured into investing in another bubble, and run off and raise payrolls to save the world, people get hurt.

What I don't need is some moron running thier mouth about logistics and infrastructure requirements because he's queered about "that dick." You know, a little respect for a controlled work environment would help.

You know, they probably think that they're still "wet backs", or "trolling for lot lizards." But a "truck driver" makes $100,000/yr. And I can see there's clearly room for $174,000/yr. Not to mention a cargo pilot.

Believe me there is not a problem with dumping money into logistics.

You know, just a manufacturer to produce a quality product is a miracle. A supplier is a deal worth going to jail for. But then logistics..... "Hot!"

“We must face our weaknesses of Financial Security and Disease and address the issue of proper Facilitation and Rehabilitation.”

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icarpetcleanandpestcontrolau · 1 year

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Pest Control Browns Plains Qld

When it comes to pest control Browns Plains qld, it’s important that you select a company that caters to your needs individually. This way, you’ll know that you are getting the best service possible.

The warm humid climate in Southeast Queensland makes homes a prime target for termites. That’s why regular termite inspections and prevention treatments are key.

Termites

Termites can be a major problem for homes across the country. NPMA estimates that they cause over 5 billion dollars in property damage every year.

Almost everything that contains cellulose, including wood and its by-products, is attractive to termites. The three most common species are dampwood, drywood and subterranean termites.

These social insects live in colonies, consisting of a queen, workers and soldiers. Each colony can contain 60,000 to 1 million termites.

Rodents

Rodents (from Latin rodere, meaning to gnaw) are mammals that can be found almost anywhere on Earth. Despite their widespread distribution, some species are considered pests and their populations are typically controlled by human communities.

Rats are a common pest in Queensland, particularly in urban areas and suburban areas with high levels of contaminant runoff such as wastewater and garbage dumps. They are also the cause of a number of diseases including plague, tularemia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Rodents can be identified by their large front teeth, called incisors, that are chisel-shaped and continuously grow throughout their life. These teeth are used for gnawing, which is essential for breaking down tough plant material that they consume as part of their diet.

Ants

Ants are insects that are a part of the order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees and wasps. They are eusocial animals that live in colonies with one or more queens and thousands of workers.

They are mainly scavengers but some species specialize in feeding on sugary liquids and plant nectar. Others eat seeds and fungus.

They can also leave chemical trails on the ground to help other workers find food. This helps the colony stay healthy.

Spiders

The spider is one of the most common pests to find in homes across Australia. While a few species can be dangerous, the majority are harmless to humans.

Most spiders are solitary animals but it’s not unusual for them to form communities that build large communal cobwebs. Colonies will work together to catch prey and share the harvest.

The spider is a predator and feeds on other insects, birds, small fishes, bats, centipedes, lizards and other arthropods. However, some species are venomous and bites can cause pain, sweating, nausea, vomiting and other unpleasant effects.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are common pests that can affect the health of your home and business. They can spread a variety of bacteria and disease-producing organisms to people, so it’s important to contact a professional pest control service to get rid of these pests.

In Australia, there are several species of cockroaches that can cause problems in homes and businesses. The most common varieties include the American, German and Oriental cockroaches.

Cockroaches are omnivorous and feed on a variety of foods including meat, vegetables, fruits, and plant material. They are also attracted to discarded paper and garbage. This makes it very difficult to get rid of them.

Fleas

Fleas are tiny, blood-sucking parasitic insects that feed on warm blood. They are a pest that can cause serious health problems for your pets and family.

Fleas can carry and transmit disease, including bubonic plague. They can also sting your pet and leave it itchy.

Fortunately, flea control has become easier and safer over the years. The use of safe and effective flea medications can eliminate an infestation completely, without damaging your pet.

0 notes

risingsouls · 2 years

Note

🦎🦎 + one of them being a birthday one bc last night

Spicy(?) Lizards || Always Accepting!

[I don't know what to say about the birthday one except that Vegeta doesn't care if you're wishing him a happy brithday, late or otherwise. 🤣🤣

I also wish you gave me a topic to be spicy about because I don't have one off the top of my head lmao. So I'll just rant about my morning feels.

You ever get in one of those moods where like...I don't know how to describe it fully. Like not only does everything piss you off from every typo or thought in your head to anything anyone says or does, but like...sounds are irritating. Typing itself is irritating me. Doing the bare basics of my job is annoying and somehow pissing me off. Like am I overstimulated or something? Because even touching things has this weird way of making me tense? Idk it's weird and it's got me all kinds of just on edge and pissy. Maybe I didn't get enough sleep.

WAIT. I do have something specific.

I was watching the news this morning and they were talking about how Chic-fil-a I guess changed their employees schedules to 3 day work weeks with 14 hour days (which I don't think works as well as they're saying because that sounds miserable), and the anchors and whatnot were just GUSHING about how great that is and how amazing Chic-fil-a is and how well they treat their employees and best customer service yada yada yada. It just irritated the fuck out of me because for starters, their soggy ass chicken and tasteless waffle fries aren't that great so let's get that straight. Second, it's just so fucking gross to me that people still praise this fucking company when they donate millions of dollars to anti lgbtq+ groups that not only would rather we not exist, but support abusive conversion therapy. Like it's great they're trying to give their employees good lives (again, I'm not sure this plan really accomplishes that in the long run but whatever), but it just reeks of the shit these corporations do: make it look like they're so great and wholesome and do great things for their people and communities all to hide the shady and gross fucking shit they're doing in the background to enrich themselves and hurt others.

Fuck Chic-fil-a.]

#.:ooc:.#.:ask:.#planchelle #tw: lgbtq+ abuse #tw: conversion therapy #if there are other warnings lmk because i know this is a touchy subject

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untaemedqueen · 3 years

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Third Wheeling

CEO!Yoongi x Reader

Genre: Strangers to Lovers!AU, Angst, Fluff, Smut

Chapter 32 (Final Chapter).

Warnings (Updating Still): Smut, Cheating, Unexpected Pregnancy, Unfaithful, Emotional Damage, Love

Warnings For This Chapter: Daddy Kink, Degradation, Hand Job, Lactation Kink, Milk Drinking, Cunnilingus, Fingering, Pregnant Sex, Unprotected Sex, Riding, Begging, Praise, Spanking

A/N: This is the FINAL, FINAL chapter.... Wah, can you believe it? This is so crazy! I'm so so happy that everyone has enjoyed Third Wheeling so much! Thank you to my forevers @xjoonchildx, @ladyartemesia and @ppersonna for being behind me on everything about this series

The sharp whistle that Yoongi chirps, bleeds through the living room of the mansion.

His two year old son turns to him with round, curious eyes. His small hand is outstretched trying to pick up the million dollar vase you have on display on the coffee table.

"What're you doing, my little troublemaker?" Yoongi murmurs, wrapping his arms around his son and throwing him up in the air.

Honggi squeals loudly, curling his arms around his father's neck like needy vines.

"Maya, please move that vase before Y/N has a fit." Yoongi whispers to the woman he's always admired.

"Yes, Sir." she giggles.

"Dada," Honggi squeals into his neck and Yoongi's heart clenches at the sound.

"Yes, bud?" he inquires, tilting his head to look down at his son.

"Hungry." his son breathes.

"Mommy's making food, let's go see." Yoongi chirps, running his large hand over his son's small back.

Taking in the new mansion, Yoongi is really happy with it.

He didn't bring over a special architect from Greece, he didn't fawn over the marble this time around. He let you pick the house.

And like always, you're incredible.

The house isn't particularly gaudy like the last one which he shared with his ex-wife. It's warm wooden interior and gray and white furnishings scream home. And that's what Yoongi always needed -- a home.

Although, anywhere with you is home, he's noticed.

The wings that spread out far and wide throughout the house have pieces of art that make Yoongi feel comforted and he's astounded everyday by how thoughtful you are.

"Mama!" Honggi screams and it rips your husband out of his daydream.

"Uh oh, here comes trouble." you sing, slinging your towel over your shoulder.

You extend your arms over the quartz island for your son and Yoongi is incredibly cautious.

"Be careful, please," he begs.

You give him a sweet nod, accepting your son into your arms and Honggi leans over the pot curiously.

"Cow?" he asks and you snort loudly.

"Yes, beef." you reply, wiping his chin with your thumb.

"B-Beef," he repeats and Yoongi beams.

Honggi isn't one to stay in anyone's arms for long, despite how much he adored being held as a newborn. He wriggles almost immediately to get down and Yoongi takes a sharp breath between his teeth cautiously.

"Watch mommy's belly, please." he yelps, setting your son on the floor.

"Jesus," he bleats, kissing your cheek.

"It's okay," you promise him, bending down to fix your son's black hair.

Honggi hugs your neck tightly, kissing your cheek so sweetly that it turns you into a puddle of love.

"What should we name your brother and sister?" Yoongi inquires of your son as he leans both elbows down on the island.

He pops a grape in his mouth, looking at his kid expectantly.

"Pororo... Poby!" Honggi giggles, swaying back and forth.

"Oh yeah, good idea! We can name them after penguins!" Yoongi teases, giving his son a grape.

"Poby is a polar bear." you inform him, stirring the stew.

"Yeah daddy! Bear!" Honggi scoffs, tugging on Yoongi's pants playfully.

"Oh, I'm sorry daddy doesn't know what anthropomorphic animals his son watches while he's at work." your husband murmurs.

"An-Anth-Anthr… Animals!" Honggi gasps and you laugh gently.

Yoongi takes a deep breath through his nose, allowing the comfort of being surrounded by his family to enrapture him.

He steps behind you, wrapping his arms around you and your growing stomach.

"I missed you today, little dove." he breathes, kissing your temple.

"You miss me everyday," you state, turning around in his grasp.

"That's true. Because I love you." he coos, pushing some hair back behind your ear.

"I love you too," you giggle, accepting the kiss he gives you.

Since Yoongi became a father he's learned so many things like patience and showing love to his child, the likes of which his younger self never got to see. He wants to give his family the entire world if he can, he wants to give all of you everything you could possibly desire because it was so terribly lacking when he was a kid.

"Dinner isn't going to be ready for a bit." you tell your family.

"But I'm hungry now!" Honggi cries, throwing his head back in a dramatic two year old fashion that both of his parent's laugh at.

"Okay. We'll have yogurt and go play with the Gaesu until Mommy is done cooking." Yoongi announces, picking up his son and slinging him over his shoulder.

"I love you mommy!" Honggi squeals.

"I love you too, bub." you reply, kissing his forehead.

"Give mommy's belly a kiss before we go." your husband instructs, patting his son's backside.

Honggi kisses your growing stomach and you can only snort at your husband's silliness.

"Okay. Now dada!" your son says, clapping.

The CEO kisses your stomach and then your forehead.

"You're gonna wrinkle your suit." you chide him, leaning back against the counter.

"So worth it." he retorts, giving you a gummy smile.

Two years have flown by in the blink of an eye.

There has, of course, been hard work that's been poured into your marriage whether it be for Honggi or just to be able to spend time together but the honeymoon phase has never truly died down.

You bask in each other's company like lizards under the hot sun.

You thrive when you're both together.

It's fate, really.

"He's asleep," Yoongi announces, stepping into your bedroom.

"Oh, nice. It only took two hours instead of three like yesterday." you know you sound sarcastic but it's really true. Honggi never seems to be able to sleep when he needs to, he's hyperactive in waves and thoroughly enjoys spending time with his father.

"Well tonight we read the big bad wolf and then he got scared so I had to calm him down and stay with him until he finally fell asleep." your husband rambles, peeling off his clothes.

You hum in agreement, sitting up gently.

Yoongi's tattoo of the large family tree on his bicep seems to shine in the dull lights of the room and it makes a smile spread over your face.

"How are my other babies?" he inquires, laying down beside you on the bed.

It's no secret that you adored your son and it's no secret that Yoongi wanted you pregnant almost immediately after Honggi was born. He missed your big belly and the closeness it brought the both of you when you were pregnant. But after Honggi was born, your paintings were flying off the art exhibit walls like hot cakes and you needed time to create new works of art.

While your husband had his tantrums and gripes about it, he understood. Being pregnant is difficult and he knows that, so when you told him he had to wait, he begrudgingly accepted it.

Your art was on hold now, with over two hundred pieces out in the world at any given second, you decided to focus on family.

"They're okay," you promise, running your fingers through your hair.

You can remember when you found out you were pregnant again for the second time. All of your symptoms hit so much harder than the first pregnancy.

"Baby? We gotta go. We're gonna be late." Yoongi calls, peeking into the bathroom.

He didn't expect to find you heaving over the toilet but when he does, two things happen simultaneously. There's a sharp bout of worry and a thinner vein of excitement that spread through his bones.

"What's the matter, my dove? You feel sick?" he pouts, entering the bathroom to rub at your back.

You shiver gently, waving your hand to the large gray cabinets beneath your sinks.

"I'm not a mime, I'm sorry." your husband whispers, raising an eyebrow.

"Pr-Pregnancy test," you plead.

He could just about pass out and die from happiness from those two words.

"Really?! You think so?!" he beams, ripping open the doors and tearing open the cardboard box like some sort of rabid animal.

His hands are shaky when he gives you the test and he helps you off of your knees immediately.

His thumbs rub at the tile indentations on your kneecaps and like always he stares up at you like you hang the moon on a string for him each and every night.

"I'm sorry we're late." you whisper, blotting your mouth with toilet paper.

"This is way more important. Fuck that. Jeongguk can wait." Yoongi avows, watching you cap the pregnancy test.

"We probably aren't even going to make it there anyway," your husband breathes.

"Why not?" you inquire, standing up and smoothing out the skirt of your dress.

The CEO wraps his arms around you, burying his face into your neck. "Because if you are pregnant, I'm gonna have to do some celebratory stuff."

You laugh aloud, running your fingers over his arms. "Stuff like what?"

"Like eating your pretty pregnant pussy and fucking your pregnant cunt." he murmurs against your skin.

You shiver at his words, glancing down at the test.

You hope you are pregnant. There's something insane in women's brains which makes them forget just how painful childbirth is so they can always look forward to more.

But the euphoric feeling of having a baby is well worth the pain, that's something you'll always remember.

"God, I think you are pregnant." he hisses, running his hands over your sides.

"Why do you say that?" you ask, tilting your head to look at him.

"You just feel different in my hands."

"I think you're crazy," you retort with a laugh.

"Why?!" he gasps.

"Because you didn't say anything yesterday when we… y'know."

"When we fucked?" he goads, kissing you softly.

You hum in agreement against his lips and he snorts softly.

"You did feel warmer around me." he announces, hooking his chin over your shoulder.

"It should be ready." you inform him, both of your eyes glued to the face down stick.

"Go on, show me that my baby is in you." he urges, kissing your temple.

Your heart races and your fingers begin to shake as you flip over the stick.

Yoongi holds his breath and you find yourself doing the same.

When you flip it over, the plus sign screams at you and Yoongi breathes a sigh of relief.

Your husband groans happily, picking you up off the ground and spinning you around.

"Thank you baby, thank you!" he cheers.

When he sets you down on the ground, you can't help the thrilled giggle that seeps from you.

"Should we head out?" you ask your husband softly.

The scoff he gives only seems right. "Yeah, right. I have more important things to celebrate than a boxing match."

You can only squeal when he scoops you up bridal style.

Putting his head on your shoulder, your husband takes a deep, calming breath.

His fingertips dance over your distended skin and his lips traipse over your exposed collarbone.

"You're so gorgeous," he breathes, letting his eyes flutter shut.

The smirk that spreads over your face is goofy and flushed, sometimes you find it astounding that he can even be so sweet with you.

There's a tiny kick beneath his fingertips that makes his head lift off of your body.

"What are you up to in there, guys? Fighting or something?" he gawks, feeling another flurry of taps below his hand.

"They don't have enough room," you announce, lolling your head back to the pillow.

"Well, just four more months and you won't have to be cramped anymore." Yoongi promises, sliding down the bed to kiss your belly.

"We should sleep, we have plans for tomorrow."

"Caleb's first birthday party." Yoongi remembers, drifting his lips over your skin.

You nod in agreement, tucking your hand beneath your head to get comfy.

Your husband knows just how difficult it is for a woman with a set of twins inside of her to fall asleep and he's nothing if not doting.

"Lemme put my babies to sleep," he murmurs, sliding his fingers over the soft skin of your inner thighs.

It's fascinating how the Kisung CEO can make you feel as if black coffee pumps through your veins even when you're completely exhausted.

He watches you avidly, making sure this is something you're up for. When your nipples begin to pebble and strain under the flimsy nightgown that can barely contain your swollen flesh, Yoongi knows he's got the green light.

His eyelids lower with lustful intentions and the tip of his tongue glides slowly over his plump bottom lip.

He knows you're excited for anything and everything when your hips lift expectantly.

Clicking his teeth, he pushes your body back down to the bed. "Easy now, little dove. You should know who's in charge here, baby."

Your whimper sounds like the most earnest plea as it passes through your parted lips and Yoongi can feel his cock straining against his briefs for some semblance of relief.

He kisses at your clothed pussy, already feeling how sodden the material is getting in a matter of seconds.

It continues to astound him, two years in, how willing your body is for him.

"Daddy," you breathe softly, carding your fingers through his hair.

His hands caress whatever he can find whether it be your thighs, your belly, your breasts.

"Wet little slut for me." he murmurs, tugging your panties off with his teeth.

You're quick to discard your nightgown, wanting nothing more to be touched anywhere you can get it.

Your husband hums at the sight of your core, pussy lips puffy and swollen with greedy intentions and slick with arousal.

"There she is," he breathes, kissing over your belly.

Palming your breasts in hand, you understand why he's taking so long -- to drive you insane.

He wants euphoria and adrenaline to course through you like wildfire so when it ebbs away, you'll be completely exhausted.

"My beautiful dove." Yoongi professes, spreading your legs wider.

Your eyes are glued to his abs, the way the muscles contort and constrict with each shallow breath he breathes.

You can thank each and every god everyday for the man you're married to.

You know the hierarchy in this bedroom, it rarely ends up with you on top, but the temptation of his thick, hard cock straining against his Balenciaga briefs has you throwing all cares to the wind.

He hisses gently against your distended skin when you cup his long length with your hand.

Yoongi will be the first to admit that he's missed this. He's been sweet and caring, not wanting to trouble you for sex with you being as huge as you are. He knows two babies are way more difficult than just Honggi. But, he needs you. In every single way.

"Play nice, my dove." he chides you softly, kissing up your belly to your swollen breasts.

You don't heed his words, tugging down the band of his briefs and swallowing thickly when his large cock bobs in the air before smacking up to his toned honey stomach.

His eyes flutter shut at the feeling and you know you've neglected him for too long. His cock is throbbing and needy as sin, beads of precum endlessly spurting from the top and slowly traipsing down the head.

"Baby girl," he gasps when you pump his cock in hand.

Yoongi kisses over your puffy nipples, scoffing at the pleasure that vibrates through him with each jerk.

He coos softly when you bead milk for him and his eyes snap to yours. "You didn't tell me your milk came in."

"I-I didn't know," you chirp, pumping his cock harder.

He shivers then, wrapping his lips around your peaked nub and tugging softly. He groans happily at the distantly familiar taste of your milk and his needy hands grip and massage your thighs as he situates himself further between them.

"Daddy, fuck!" you cry out gently, arching your back.

The tip of your husband's tongue is quick against your sensitive skin and you can only whimper for more.

Your shaking thumb runs circles over the swollen, red mushroom head of his cock and he gasps above you, pressing his forehead into your breast.

"Ba-Baby, this is about you. Please," he begs, wrapping his hand around your wrist.

You give a smirk, feeling high and mighty at how quickly you can break him down to a mere lustful animal.

Your free hand rubs circles to your stomach and he can just about cum at the sight of you.

His cock throbs wildly and he forces your hand off of him with narrowed eyes. "Behave, little dove. I won't say it again."

You hide your smirk, laying back down for him.

He eyes you wearily for a second before continuing his dissent on your body. His fingers caress over your sodden lower lips and his name tumbles from your mouth with a quickness.

"You're messy." he prods, spreading your lips with his fingers and tapping your throbbing bundle of nerves with the pads of his fingers.

Your body jolts, bottom lip tucking between your teeth.

God, you've missed this.

You've missed him doting on you so eagerly.

Yoongi continues to take his time, enjoying how your entrance clenches around nothing.

You're a needy little thing and you're all his. The way it should be.

"Daddy, please!" you beg, rubbing circles over your distended skin.

"What's wrong, beautiful? You're too much of a slut to enjoy this? You want gratification now?" he quips, lowering his head to your core.

You can't even see him over your belly and it drives you absolutely mad. You can feel the puffs of hot, needy breath that pass his lips but it does nothing but earn more dripping arousal from your center.

"Such a pretty pussy you have," he purrs, suckling your swollen lips.

You gasp loudly, screwing your eyes shut.

He plays with your entrance, swirling the tip of his index finger around it until your racking with sobs above him.

Yoongi presses the tip of his tongue to your throbbing clit and he groans gently at the feeling.

"Shhh, my dove. Daddy is going to take care of you, I promise." he avows, lapping at your nub with slow strokes.

It's so pleasurable, but it's not enough. You're on the precipice and he keeps you there for what feels like eternity.

"God! Daddy, please!" you beg, bunching your hands up in his hair and tugging.

He hums in fake confusion, adoring how your body shakes before him.

He's good at the long game.

He thrives in it.

When he slips two fingers inside of your slick cunt, you're about ready to burst but he pulls away from your core with a devilish smirk.

"My pregnant wife is so needy," he jeers, curling his fingers with ease to the soft patch of nerves within you.

Your chest constricts, heaving for breath. Your skin develops a thin sheen of sweat and you feel yourself possibly going insane within his grasp.

Picking his face up between the apex of your thighs, the sight of his soaked chin and cheeks hurdles you to the precipice.

"Wanna cum, need to cum!" you chant, cupping your belly while you grind yourself down onto his fingers.

"You hold it," he orders sweetly.

You can only scoff and the animalistic pride within you snaps.

You sit up, as quickly as you can, before pushing him down on the bed.

"Baby," he warns you, pulling his fingers from your heat and entering them into his mouth.

"I need it!" you whine, straddling him.

His hands immediately hold your hips to protect you from any imminent danger you might face. He goes to chide you but when your soaked cunt glides against his hard, thick length, he can only take a sharp breath between his teeth.

"I missed your cock Daddy, I missed it so much," you whine, rocking your hips.

"Oh Christ," he murmurs, gliding his hands from your hips to the globes of your ass.

With every rock of your hips, your clit thrums pleasantly at the feeling of the head of his cock prodding against the bundle of nerves.

Your shaky hands grip at your breasts, swiping your thumbs against your leaking nipples until your sobbing with pleasure.

"You're so gorgeous, fuck," Yoongi curses, enraptured with the sight above him.

Your eyebrows furrow and you're losing yourself in the pleasure as your mouth drops open.

His hands knead at the supple flesh of your backside before rearing back and spanking you with a fierceness that you adore.

"Yes, more!" you gasp, sitting up and positioning his cock at your entrance.

"You're a little cock slut, you know that?" he seethes, leaning up on his elbows to kiss at your belly.

"Your cock slut, Daddy. I'm yours," you whimper, slowly sitting down on his length.

His mouth opens at the euphoric feeling of your warm, wet cunt sliding down on him and he can only fall back to the bed with a heady thump.

"Shit," he breathes out, looking up at you like you give him the universe.

You do.

You give him everything and anything that exceeds his expectations.

You take a second to adjust to his length, preening as the head of his cock prods against your soft cervix.

"Good girl, little dove." he bleats, running his fingertips over your outer thighs.

Yoongi can see the way you swallow thickly and he can tell how fucked out you already are with your eyelids being as heavy as they are and pride blooms in his chest.

"Want you to suckle," you beg, palming your breasts.

He can only scoff at the arousing thought, he's up in a flash, minding your stomach. His lips pluck and suckle at your sensitive skin until you're shaking like a leaf under his ministrations.

"Your cock feels so big in my pussy, feels so good," you purr, rocking your hips.

He moans against your breast, gripping your hips with needy hands.

The rhythm you set as he suckles from you is slow but the impending orgasm you've been denied comes back in waves. The head of his cock taps against the sweet spot inside of you with each jolt of your hips and you're losing your grasp on reality.

"D-Daddy!" you gasp, letting your brain free of any thoughts besides just how pleasurable he feels inside of you.

"That's it, baby girl. Take it. Take what you need from me." he announces, laying back down.

Your hands push down on his chest as you begin to pick up speed and he can only cry out your name like a man possessed.

"Jesus, just like that, little dove. Fuck!" he curses, spanking the globes of your ass until your skin is smarting.

Then you feel the precipice again, you feel yourself teetering.

Your mouth opens to give a silent scream and your eyes well up with tears.

He coos softly, running his fingers through his hair as if the pleasure he's receiving is truly unbelievable.

You groan loudly, pressing your hands beneath your stomach. "I'm-I'm-"

"Cum for me, little dove. I can feel how badly your cunt wants to milk my cock. Cum." he orders and your gasp echoes throughout the room.

Your hands rub comforting circles to your stomach while your hips rock at an unfound speed.

"Yoongi!" you cry, squeezing your eyes shut.

Then -- euphoria.

Your orgasm explodes within you like a million shards of glass. With deafened ears and tear streaked cheeks, you don't even feel your husband lay you down on your back.

He fucks his cock so deeply inside of you that it brings you back to reality in waves.

"God, you look so beautiful taking what's yours, baby." he coos, sitting up.

You can only cry out gently when his strokes become erratic and deeper.

"You want me to cum inside you? You want to drip with me?" he inquires, tucking his bottom lip between his teeth.

You nod incessantly, spreading your legs wider when you feel his cock throb within you.

"Yeah? You want to be my little cum slut? Get so full of my cum when you're already pregnant with my babies?" he seethes through his teeth.

"Y-Yes, want to feel your cum so badly," you hiccup, running your hands over his chest.

His eyes screw shut when your hips meet his every stroke.

"Oh fuck, I'm cumming. God, your cunt is incredible!" he whines.

His hips give one last thrust, burying himself as deeply as possible before the warmth of his cum floods through your battered core.

You hum happily, rubbing your belly.

"I love you," he whispers, bending down and planting a passionate kiss to your lips.

"I love you, too." you reply, hooking your hand around the back of his neck.

After cleaning you up and situating yourselves back to normal, Yoongi pulls your body to cuddle against his. His fingers drift over your bare back and he sighs happily.

You're out like a light in mere seconds when you finally get comfy and he can only chuckle at your shallow breaths.

His hand comes to rest beneath his head and he can't begin to express how lucky he feels.

His attention falters to your stomach when he feels a gentle prodding against his hip. He smirks, kissing the top of your forehead and closing his eyes.

"Mama!" Honggi screams and you know better now than to rush to him whenever he shouts for you.

"Yes, baby?" you call to him, fixing your earrings.

"Want to play with Yumi!" he calls, peeking into your bedroom.

"We're going to see Yumi now." you reply, turning to him.

Your eyebrow raises as you look at your husband's spitting image. "Where are your shoes?" you ask your two year old.

"Dada said I don't have to wear them!" he beams, rolling on the floor with your corgi.

"Oh yes you do, you're not going over to Aunt Leena's house with no shoes on." you reply.

When your husband steps into the doorway, he knows he's made a mistake. Just the look you give him makes him want to run and hide.

"What?" he bleats.

Min Yoongi is obsessed with giving his son whatever he wants. He's obsessed with spoiling him and sometimes you have to look like the bad guy.

"He needs to put on shoes." you tell your husband.

Both of your boys frown at you and it's almost so ridiculous that you can barely contain the eye roll.

"Why?" Honggi chirps.

When you place your hand on your stomach, Yoongi nods. "Mommy's right, you need to wear shoes."

He's quick to avoid chastisement today.

"But why, dada?" your son inquires.

You love the 'why' phase… when it's directed at your husband.

"Because your little feet are gonna be cold and because mommy said so. And what did I tell you about when mommy says something?" your husband whispers conspiratorially to your son.

"That you do it! Mama has two babies a-and mad isn't good for babies!" Honggi says, sticking up two small fingers.

You can only snort, shutting the bathroom light off and leaning against the door frame.

"That's right, bud. So let's get you some shoes."

When your husband goes to leave the room, he widens his eyes apologetically at you and you can't help but giggle.

"Silly," you mumble, grabbing your purse.

Caleb's first birthday is a huge deal.

You know how much work his mother put into it and you know that it needs to be over the top and perfect for her to be thriving and happy with the day's events.

"Miss Thing!" Leena gasps, throwing herself out of the door to hug you.

"Hi Beena," you giggle, wrapping your arms around her.

Taehyung is right behind her with a smile plastered on his face.

"Happy birthday Caleb!" you gasp, taking him from Taehyung's arms.

Yoongi kisses your best friend on the cheek before looking over at her one year old son.

"Hey buddy! Happy birthday!" your husband cheers, watching as Caleb tucks his face into your neck.

It's always astounding to see how much of a one eighty Leena has done when it comes to Taehyung and her family.

You remember how adamant she was on not getting pregnant and not getting married but then when you gave birth to Honggi -- she wanted that.

And you completely understood it.

Now that your best friend is married and having a family, you can see how content and happy she is. It's something you're really proud of.

"Everyone is in the backyard." Leena announces, fixing Caleb's small suit.

"Yumi?!" Honggi screeches, looking past Taehyung.

"Yeah, Yumi too." Leena's husband quips with a laugh.

Yoongi snorts, following after his son.

"Miss Thing, I have to tell you, I would have never in a million years thought we'd see him today." your best friend blurts, guiding you into her mansion.

"Who?" you inquire, handing Caleb back to his father.

Leena's hands clamp down on your shoulders and her eyes widen. "Jin."

"Shut the fuck up," you gasp, pulling her towards the backyard.

There are a multitude of people in the backyard but your eyes find his tall, handsome stature easily.

He's standing by the fountain with his wife by his side and he looks in his element.

It's been months since you've seen your other best friend.

You aren't really sure why he dropped off the face of the Earth. You know he's probably been busy, you all have been.

But you know Leena has taken it the hardest. Jin has always meant something deeply to her so when he didn't return phone calls or texts… you know it burned her.

It's almost as if he feels your eyes on him the way he turns to look at you.

He gives you a warm smile, immediately leaving his wife to make his way across the large backyard.

Yoongi notices how your eyes get glassy when he looks away from Honggi and Jimin's daughter, Yumi. "Jimin, watch him." he orders, leaving to comfort you.

Now, Yoongi doesn't hate Jin, by any means. He respects him and in all honesty, appreciates him for helping him in his dire time of need.

But the CEO will be damned if he doesn't coddle you, his pregnant wife, to his side when you're emotionally distraught.

Seokjin is wary when he sees your husband loop his hand around your hip protectively.

"Shhh," Yoongi coos, hearing your gentle sniffles.

Leena on the other hand, just folds her arms, widening her eyes expectantly at your best friend.

"Hey guys," he bleats, running his hand over the back of his neck.

"That's it? All we get is a 'hey guys' from you?" Leena scoffs.

Jin blushes furiously, cupping his whisky tighter in his hand. "What do you want me to say, Beena?"

"How about a sorry, Kim Seokjin? That'll be the start. Then you can veer off into how apologetic you are for pushing us into the background for her." Leena sneers, nodding her head to Sera.

You take in how nervous Jin is and you absolutely hate it. You hate how small he's making himself look.

"I am sorry." he agrees, grabbing for your hands.

"Maybe you guys should take this inside," Taehyung whispers, looking over the party guests who have stopped their conversations to look over at all of you.

Leena doesn't even give an answer, only trudging back into her mansion with narrowed eyes.

Taehyung clears his throat awkwardly, walking with his son towards Jimin and Anna.

"Do you want me to stay?" Yoongi inquires, brushing some hair back behind your ear.

You nod immediately, wanting the comfort of your husband with you.

"Alright, my love." he promises, kissing your temple.

Seokjin chases after Leena and you can only sigh at the impending yelling you're about to hear.

"Miss Thing, please sit." Leena gushes, pointing to the couch inside the library.

You take a seat, watching Jin wade back in forth nervously like he's waiting for a scolding.

"Did you know that Y/N is pregnant again? That she's having twins?" Leena spits.

"Yes, I did. I'm very happy for her and her husband." Seokjin replies, helping you sit down.

Yoongi pours himself a small glass of scotch, draping his arm over your shoulders.

"Do you fucking understand how sorely you've been missed?" Leena inquires to the handsome man as she sits down across from you.

Seokjin clears his throat awkwardly. "Yeah, I-I do."

"Then where have you been?" you prod, folding your arms.

Your best friend leans back against the large wooden desk. "Listen guys, I've missed you guys so deeply. I need you to know this, okay? I'm sorry that I've been absent from your kids and your lives. I've been dying to spend time with you all."

"Okay. Then where have you been?!" Leena yelps, repeating your question.

Jin takes a deep breath, letting his eyes flutter shut. "I've been trying to start my own family. It's not easy! I've been taking Sera all over the world to different doctors and hospitals to try and see why she can't get pregnant! I've been depressed and down on myself until recently. I'm fucking sorry I abandoned you guys but I needed time to heal my heart."

The news resounds in your ears and you cuddle closer to your husband who rubs your shoulder with his thumb soothingly.

The smugness is wiped off of Leena's face within a second.

"Why didn't you tell us?" she whispers softly.

Jin's fingers card through his hair and with a frustrated huff, he lolls his head back.

"Because it's…it's heartbreaking and not what I want to bring to the table when you guys have families and lives already. I don't want to burden you guys with my troubles." he mumbles, spinning his wedding band with his thumb.

You take a sharp breath between your teeth, standing with the help of your husband who urges you to be careful.

"Jin," you whisper, hugging him tightly.

He stiffens at your touch before wrapping his arms around you. He sobs gently, burying his face into the crook of your neck.

"I did miss you guys, so much. I'm sorry," he cries loudly.

"You don't have to hide your feelings from us. You should feel comfortable to tell us anything and everything. I'm sorry if you didn't trust us enough with your worries." you murmur into his ear.

"No! I just… I was scared, I didn't want to trouble you both." he breathes, pulling away and cupping your face.

"Jinnie," Leena pouts, standing up and hugging the both of you.

"You're never a bother to us, don't ever think that." you coo, fixing his hair.

He takes a deep, calming breath, running his hands over your belly. "One of your kids is kicking me in the ribs." he mumbles.

You can only giggle, patting your eyes with a tissue.

"That's the least you deserve for not trusting us with your fears," Leena scolds him gently.

He nods, exhaling sharply until his cheeks are puffing out.

"So is she?" your best friend asks him.

"What?" he mumbles.

"Is she pregnant?" Leena inquires.

He takes a sharp breath between his teeth, tilting his head. "Something like that."

Your eyes drift slowly over the perfectly manicured lawn watching Honggi offer to share a toy truck with Yumi. His smile is the spitting image of Yoongi’s and it makes you sigh happily. You lean against the arm of the lawn chair, resting your hand against your cheek.

You can barely believe how happy you’ve become over the past two years.

Everything just falls into the right place, everything just fits like a perfect complete puzzle.

Honggi turns to you, flailing his hand wildly and you can only giggle. Waving back, your heart expands to the size of the universe.

Yoongi laughs at something loudly, drawing your attention. You watch him sling his arm over Taehyung’s shoulder and you can only snort at the sight.

You can remember when you never heard his laugh, you didn’t know what it sounded like for quite a while and then… once he began to laugh, it never seemed to end.

That’s something you revel in, your husband’s happiness is yours well.

It gives you great pride to see him beaming from ear to ear. And you don’t think it often but -- you got him here. You got him to this state of happiness.

It’s your best artwork, yet.

“Hey Y/N.”

You look away from your husband to the one person you’d never thought you’d speak to.

“Sera… hey,” you breathe, looking up at her flawless form.

“H-How are you?” she inquires, sipping her water nervously.

You haven’t seen here in two years. She looks good, that isn’t hard for her. Something about her seems calmer and more poised then when you knew her.

“Can I sit?” she asks gently, running her hand over the back of her neck.

“Please,” you insist, sitting up straighter.

You can feel eyes on you and you can only imagine who it is but you don’t dare look away from the actress before you.

While you weren’t her biggest fan, she’s made Jin happy over the past two years and you can’t fault her for that. He hasn’t loved anyone since Leena and you can see that his heart has bloomed since being with this woman.

“No drink?” you quip, pointing at her water.

“I thought, y’know, since my surrogate can’t drink then I shouldn’t either.” she shrugs.

You don’t know what to say if you’re being honest. It must be a sore subject…

“Yeah-” you breathe awkwardly.

“I’m not upset about it, we can talk about it.” she announces, putting her hand to your shoulder.

Sera in all the time you’ve known her has never touched you and you’re surprised at how normal it is, honestly.

“I’m sorry that you… y’know… you’ve had a difficult time.” you say honestly.

You can’t imagine how hard Sera and Jin have been trying, how many hospitals and specialists they’ve gone to, how much heartbreak they’ve gone through.

“At least I’m getting a baby at all, right? I always used to be so angry about the whole situation… Maybe that’s why I was so mean to you.” she admits, carding her fingers through her long, now blonde hair.

You hum thoughtfully, looking up at the dusky sky. “I mean it mustn't have been easy for you either. I came into Yoongi’s life and flipped it upside down. You were comfortable with the situation and I just spun things around like a top.”

“Well… yeah, true. But if you didn’t come into Yoongi’s life then I wouldn’t have been able to become a better person and find the person that’s right for me.” she avows, looking over at you.

Her words resound through you and your eyes widen just the slightest bit. She’s really different these days, huh?

“Well, I came over to say I’m sorry for treating you terribly the whole first time you were pregnant, it was in bad taste and I was so selfish back then that I couldn’t begin to understand how horrible that could be for you.”

“I accept your apology.” you reply, giving her a small smile.

She breathes a sigh of relief, letting her body go lax in the chair beside you. “Oh good, I was so nervous to talk to you. I thought I was gonna have a heart attack or something.” she gasps.

You find yourself giggling and she snorts softly.

“You’re kid is cute,” she comments, watching him run over to you.

“Thanks,” you whisper, widening your eyes at Honggi curiously as he stops in front of you.

“Mama!” he cheers, holding up his paint covered fingers.

“Yes, baby?” you murmur, pushing his hair back.

“I’m painter like you! Look!” he squeals, tugging your hand.

You look over at Sera apologetically, standing up to follow your son.

“It was nice to see you Sera, I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.” you call back to her.

She smiles warmly, giving you a gentle wave goodbye.

Jin could have done worse.

Lowering your head, you look at the picture that your son has painted. The fingerpaint is thick and blobbish but you can see a few distinct shapes that stick out to you.

You don’t say anything at first, letting him finish a few small details that he thinks are important. He gives you his gummy smile, seemingly proud of himself and it makes you smile too.

“It’s very nice, baby. I can see how much work you put into it.” you coo.

“It’s mama and dad, Honggi and baby!” he beams, picking up the picture which is almost too heavy for him with all the paint on it.

Your husband sweeps in beside you, planting a wet kiss to your cheek and taking the painting out of your hands.

“Mommy is having two babies, not just one.” Yoongi reminds him, pointing at your stomach.

Honggi nods fervently, opening and closing his small hands demanding the picture back from his father.

Your husband snorts gently, lowering the picture for his son. You can barely contain the ridiculous giggle that tries to escape you as he draws a black circle next the one already painted.

"Two!” he cheers, sticking up two of his paint covered fingers.

“Good job, bud.” Yoongi chuckles, kissing the top of his head.

“I saw that interaction. You okay?” your husband inquires softly into your ear.

You hum in agreement, wrapping your arm around his waist and laying your head down on his shoulder. “Better than okay,” you murmur, feeling his lips caress over the top of your head.

“Do you think he’s okay?” Yoongi inquires, pulling over the car.

You can’t help but laugh at his worried expression. “He’s fine,” you promise, putting your hand on his knee, “we can go out on a date without him around us all the time. Maya’s got it. Honggi loves her.”

He shuts off the engine, turning to you with a pout spread over his face. “I just miss him, I didn’t get to read him a bedtime story.”

Your heart is warm and you can’t help the giggle you give. “It’s our anniversary, besides it’s just for a few hours.”

He picks up your hand, placing a soft kiss to the back of it. “You’re right, I’m sorry. Happy anniversary, little dove.”

“Happy anniversary, babe.” you reply, with a smile.

The inside of Magic Shop is pristine like always, you’re so surprised that Jin has kept it exactly the same as two years ago. He always loved to change things up but you realize that he probably got so busy since you’ve last been here, he probably hasn’t had time for anything.

The music is quieter than normal and there isn’t a soul in the club. Which makes you understand immediately that Yoongi rented the whole place out.

“You shouldn’t have,” you hiss, giving Hyun a small wave.

“Of course I should have, you deserve the world, baby. Plus, loud music isn’t good for the babies,” he whispers, kissing your cheek.

Your eyes immediately land on the black velvet curtain and the memories of first meeting Yoongi flood through you like water.

“Thanks,” your husband murmurs, grabbing a whisky from Hyun.

When you pull back the curtain, you can only smile at the same leather booth from that fated day.

“Jesus, it even smells the same in here.” Yoongi breathes, running his fingers over the top of the couch.

This room holds so many memories for you but nothing beats the one with your husband.

“God, it’s like it was yesterday. I can still remember that black dress you were wearing,” your husband chirps, sitting down in the same spot he did two years ago.

He pats his lap, setting down his whisky onto the floor and you’re absolutely gobsmacked by how much this feels like dejavu.

“I’m a little big,” you murmur, sitting down slowly.

“Never, you’re gorgeous, little dove.” Yoongi coos, wrapping his arms around you.

His warm hands caress your practically bare thighs and when he looks at you, you can see the sheer love and devotion in his eyes.

“My little dove,” he breathes, drifting his thumb over the apple of your cheek.

You can remember just how smoking hot you thought this man was, how intrigued you were by him in an instant. You remember every single second of your time in this back room. You remember every minute of your days when you found out you were pregnant and how absolutely scared you were.

You can remember his good times and his bad when he was working out his feelings about you.

Nothing has left your mind and you treasure each and every memory -- because they make up who you are. They make up your life.

And it’s perfect. Because you have him.

“You were a good girl that I wanted to break so badly,” your husband announces, breaking you out of your thoughts.

“Well… you did that,” you quip, humming when he presses his face to the crook of your neck.

“Thank you, little dove, really. Thank you so much for loving me and giving me such a wonderful family,” Yoongi gasps.

“Thank you for opening up to me and showing me that our love could blossom into something as perfect as this.” you reply, running your fingertips over his arms.

When he lifts his head, you can see how glassy his eyes are with tears.

“God, I love you, little dove.” he whimpers.

“I love you too.” you reply, kissing him softly.

His lips are plush and soft against yours and you can feel the tears that careen down his cheeks until they’re soaking into your skin. He’s so gentle with you, drifting his hands from your back to your distended stomach.

“My wife,” he chuckles, capturing your chin between his thumb and index finger, “my beautiful, gorgeous, powerful wife who has given me enough love to last eons. I love you so much, little dove, it hurts me.”

There are one hundred and fifty eight ways to say ‘I love you.’ And, they all pertain to Min Yoongi.

He’s a gentle soul and a loving husband that holds high standing with billions of people worldwide. He is sweet, wonderful and a perfect man at the end of the day. And now, everyone sees this side to him.

In the media he is praised and renowned for being a fantastic father and an equally fantastic husband. And to you, nothing could ever be more true,

It was March 23rd, when you saw him and met him. You tasted the finest of liquors and smelt the smoke of the richest Cuban cigars.

It was March 23rd when your life had truly begun.

Third Wheeling Taglist - @wickizer, @imluckybitches, @slothykrueger, @claireelise19, @ggukkieland, @rspbrryy, @iv-bts, @bambuzlee, @chanelbts, @mxxngxdss, @bluewhale52, @milesjeon11, @diamonddia-mond, @vinylphwoar, @xnxy97, @hubbytaehyung, @140503at-dawn, @bts-7beauts, @jadeblackwoll, @sunshiine-hobii, @creatorspalace, @eclectically-esoteric, @nikkiordonez12, @kaitswrld, @skamlover200, @sevgilove98, @kooeuphoria, @jikooksgirl19, @hobbledehoy26, @singular-itae, @dchimminie, @lowlifeoeuvre, @sugaslittlekookies, @bloopbloopb, @pjmcth, @softysuho, @codeinbelle, @jaiuneamesolitaiire, @betysotelo18, @jeonmisha, @iwanttohitmyself, @ayyyocee, @neverthefirstchoice, @itsbangtanoclock, @little7bitchh, @veryuniquenamegoeshere, @deathkat657, @firstlovesuga-93, @namjoonia, @paperpurple, @muzikabijou, @liebeoppa, @veronawrites, @kleff03, @ruinsofangels, @brightwingr5, @leekanchol, @rkivemagic, @ithinkileftmycoatoutside, @melaninkpops, @y00ngisbabygirl, @ungodlyjoon, @prochnost513, @dunixxd, @athenakyle, @igotnotype, @chxmachxps, @tinymintyoongi, @vangameren-blog, @alpaca1612, @ohcarolinamin, @thegreatestsushi, @eltrain80, @btsmylife21, @deeepvibes, @httpminyg, @deliciouslydisturbed365, @rkchmestizangmaldita, @jimin-chu, @pimpnameyannie, @preciouschimine, @daughterofthequeen, @monetsberet, @vanillamyg, @aamxxrii, @kooafraid, @ladykadyrova, @singjisu, @yazanii, @moonlitmyg, @justzeera, @absolutefantrash, @whocaresarchives, @loosewindmill, @vantesfx, @bt21chim, @flowerboyhobi, @kozuume-kenma, @taepiper

Sorry for those it didn’t tag!

#third wheeling #final chapter #btswritingcafe #thebtswritersclub #yoongi x you #yoongi x reader #ceo!yoongi #ceo!au #ceo!bts #min yoongi #yoongi smut #pregnant smut #bts fic

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thegrandimago · 3 years

Text

This time last April, on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the world was coming to grips with the isolation of quarantine and the economic and travel slowdowns that defined the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even now, with the rollout of vaccines, the virus continues to affect our daily lives. And the toll keeps growing: 3 million dead and more than 140 million cases worldwide.

If anything, the worst public health crisis in a century has brought our understanding of our planet, and our place in the fragile yet resilient web of life throughout it, into stark relief.

Amid so much grief and loss and uncertainty, the biodiversity crisis paced ahead over the past year, becoming a much bigger theme on the world stage. The climate crisis worsened, too. Wildfires blazed. Ecosystems became even more fouled up than they already were.

At the same time, the marked reduction in human activity spurred by the pandemic — what some experts have dubbed the “Anthropause” — has afforded scientists and researchers opportunities to observe the natural world like never before. Coinciding with these unique observational windows has been an increase in attention on Indigenous knowledge and land stewardship as a way forward in combating ecological catastrophe.

In true Vox tradition, here are the 10 most concerning, intriguing, and — dare we say — hopeful things we learned about our planet since the last Earth Day.

1) We saw just how quickly ocean noise pollution can drop, and how much that can help marine life

For a moment last spring, things got very quiet in the oceans.

The drop in human activity that came with the pandemic resulted in drastic and voluntary sound reductions that ran the underwater gamut: from a drop in shipping noise, the predominant source of man-made ocean noise pollution, to decreases in recreation and tourism. All of it suddenly ceased.

In Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park, the foraging grounds of humpback whales, the loudest underwater sounds last May were less than half as loud as those in May 2018, according to a Cornell University analysis. A May 2020 paper in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America found that underwater noise off the Vancouver coast was half as loud in April as the loudest sounds recorded in the months preceding the shipping traffic slowdown.

Chronic underwater ocean noise had been rising over the past few decades, to the detriment of marine life that have evolved to use sound to navigate their world. “There is clear evidence that noise compromises hearing ability and induces physiological and behavioral changes in marine animals,” reads an assessment of marine noise pollution research published in the journal Science in February.

The majority of ocean noise pollution is a byproduct of economic activity. But compared with massively complex issues like climate change, noise is relatively easy to turn down, at least a little. Silencing it at its source has an immediate positive impact: Famously, researchers studying right whales on the East Coast measured a drop in the animals’ stress hormones in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, after shipping traffic abruptly dropped. Even tiny fish larvae are better able to locate the coral reefs where they were born, which themselves emit sound, when the oceans get quiet.

Man-made ocean noise has since ramped back up and is now stabilized near pre-pandemic levels. But it fell silent for long enough last March, April, and May that a global team of scientists is actively scrubbing through audio recordings gathered by around 230 non-military hydrophones — underwater microphones — that monitor ocean noise around the world. They aim to study the “year of the quiet ocean” in the context of ocean sounds before, during, and after the pandemic.

2) A new study found that the Amazon is likely warming — not cooling — the planet

The world’s largest and most species-rich tropical forest, the Amazon, is home to billions of trees that not only provide refuge to a diverse assemblage of organisms but also store and absorb a huge amount of carbon dioxide.

That’s what makes the conclusion of a study published this spring so alarming: Due to human activity, the Amazon is likely contributing to — not offsetting, as one might expect— global warming. “The current net biogeochemical effect of the Amazon Basin is most likely to warm the atmosphere,” the researchers wrote in the paper.

While the Amazon is still absorbing loads of CO2, human activities in the basin, such as deforestation, are driving up emissions of CO2 and other more potent greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide across the basin.

Deforestation, for one, deals a double punch: It both releases gases into the atmosphere and removes CO2-absorbing trees from the equation. That equation now sees the Amazon generating more greenhouse gases than it emits, the study suggests. (It’s worth noting, though, this is all really complicated. For more, check out Craig Welch’s story in National Geographic or read the full study here.)

3) We discovered a bunch of new species

While humans have made a mark on all corners of Earth, we’ve only discovered a small fraction of the species that occupy it. In fact, that fraction could be smaller than 1 percent. And remarkably, not all of those species are tiny microbes and insects. They’re also fish, lizards, bats, and even whales. That’s right: Even giant mammals can elude scientists.

In January, researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said they discovered a new species of baleen whale in the Gulf of Mexico. (You can find the paper describing the discovery here.) Other teams of scientists are also on the trail of what could be yet another new whale species.

Last year, researchers documented scores of new plants and animals, from geckos and sea slugs to flowering plants and sand dollars, as Vox’s Brian Resnick reported. Our favorite? Brookesia nana, a thumbnail-sized chameleon native to northern Madagascar. It may be the smallest reptile on Earth; it’s certainly the cutest.

4) We got a much clearer picture of just how much wildlife we’re losing

The numbers aren’t good.

In September, the World Wildlife Fund published a report showing that the global populations of several major animal groups, including mammals and birds, have declined by almost 70 percent in the last 50 years due to human activity.

A separate report, published in Nature this year, found that populations of ocean sharks and rays have plummeted by more than 70 percent in roughly the same period. And one-third of freshwater fish have been found to be at risk of extinction.

A number of species were also declared extinct over the last year. Those include the smooth handfish, a bottom-dweller that rests atop human-like appendages on the seafloor. It was the first marine fish species to be declared extinct in modern history. (Environmental journalist John Platt has a list of recent extinctions in 2020 at Scientific American.)

5) Protecting plants and animals hinges on a thriving ecotourism industry

In the early days of the pandemic, the popular “Nature is healing” meme overshadowed a darker reality in many parts of the world: As travel ground to a halt, so did revenue from wildlife tourism, putting some wildlife conservation efforts at risk.

The fallout was most severe in Africa. According to a new collection of research from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a government and civil society group, more than half of the continent’s protected areas had to pause or limit field patrols and other operations to stop poachers in the wake of the pandemic.

“Parks have emptied out to a large extent and there’s no money coming in,” Nigel Dudley, a co-author of one of the IUCN papers, told Reuters last month.

Some communities are deeply reliant on wildlife tourism. Late last year, Vox’s Brian Resnick spoke to veterinarian Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, who is working to keep coronavirus-susceptible gorillas alive in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

When tourism dropped, “everybody was struggling,” she said. “The local economy suffered and poaching went up.” (You can read more of Resnick’s conversation with her here.)

6) Researchers uncovered more proof that a key system of ocean currents is weakening

Graphics that show changes in ocean temperature over time generally reveal one trend: The ocean is heating up. But there’s one critical exception. Just below Greenland lies a large patch of water that’s cooling off. And that patch has scientists concerned that we could be nearing a tipping point for the climate.

The cold patch, scientists say, signals that a network of currents that bring warm water to the North Atlantic — known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC — is slowing down, and the melting of ice on Greenland is likely a culprit. One paper, published in the journal Nature in March, suggests that the current AMOC slowdown is “unprecedented in over a thousand years.”

The AMOC shapes weather across multiple continents, so any major slowdown will carry major consequences that could include faster sea-level rise in some regions, stronger hurricanes, and other changes in weather, to say nothing of the impacts to marine ecosystems.

But to be clear, the science on this is new and complex. For a great run-down, check out this recent visual feature in the New York Times.

7) The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs gave rise to the Amazon rainforest

The massive asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago may be best known for driving non-avian dinosaurs to extinction, but it also transformed entire ecosystems.

It may have even given rise to the Amazon rainforest, according to a study published in Science earlier this month. The finding is based on an analysis of about 50,000 fossil pollen records and 6,000 fossil leaf records in Colombia from before and after the asteroid crashed into what is now Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

The data reveals two vastly different forests. Before the event, the forests were stocked with conifers and ferns, and the trees were spread out, with plenty of room for light to stream through the canopy. After the asteroid event, however, flowering plants started to dominate the landscape and the canopy became much more tightly packed, resembling the forest we know today.

“If you returned to the day before the meteorite fall, the forest would have an open canopy with a lot of ferns, many conifers, and dinosaurs,” study co-author Carlos Jaramillo of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama told New Scientist. “The forest we have today is the product of one event 66 million years ago.”

The idea here is that the asteroid impact somehow triggered a series of events that led to the modern Amazon rainforest. What were those events? One theory the researchers offer is that, before the asteroid, herbivorous dinosaurs prevented the forest from becoming dense by eating and trampling plants.

8) A review of more than 300 studies showed that the rate of deforestation is lower on Indigenous lands

The global conservation movement is pushing forward a plan to conserve 30 percent of the Earth by 2030 — an initiative known as 30 by 30 — and increasingly calling for Indigenous communities to be central to that effort.

These groups have historically been uprooted from land in the name of wildlife conservation. There is also greater evidence that forests fare better when they are governed by Indigenous and tribal territories.

A recent UN review of more than 300 studies found that forests within tribal territories in Latin America and the Caribbean have significantly lower rates of deforestation where land rights are formally recognized.

“In just about every country in the region Indigenous and tribal territories have lower deforestation rates than other forest areas,” wrote the authors of the report, which was published by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean. “Many Indigenous territories prevent deforestation as effectively as non-Indigenous protected areas, and some even more effectively.”

9) Wildfire smoke can turn the sky an apocalyptic orange

If there was one day in 2020 that defined the climate emergency, it could have been September 9, when the sky above San Francisco turned completely orange.

Strong winds had carried smoke from fires burning across California to the atmosphere above the city. Particles of soot absorbed or reflected blue light from the sun, letting only orange-ish light through. (Wired has the details.)

But what made the image go viral wasn’t so much the science but what it symbolized: a growing climate catastrophe.

Climate change is making wildfires more frequent and severe, and 2020 provided more devastating evidence. Last year was California’s worst wildfire season on record. By the end of the year, nearly 10,000 fires had burned over 4 million acres — an astonishing 4 percent of California’s total land, according to the state.

10) Scientists finally solved the mystery of why wombats poop cubes

Sure, it may not have kept you up at night, but the mystery of the bare-nosed wombat’s poop puzzled scientists for decades. Why do these adorable, chunky marsupials, native to Australia and Tasmania, leave behind feces with six sides?

Thanks to a new study — published in the journal Soft Matter — we now have the answer.

Building on research published a few years earlier, a team of scientists found that wombat intestines have regions of varying thickness and elasticity that contract at different speeds: The stiffer regions contract relatively quickly, while softer sections squeeze more slowly, together forming a cube-like shape.

But there’s still a bit of mystery left: Why is their poop shaped like this? The jury’s still out, but some researchers believe it’s because wombats climb up on rocks and logs, and the cube-like shape prevents the feces from rolling away. This is key for wombats because they use piles of feces to communicate with other wombats.

What a difference a year makes, truly.

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rumbelleshowdown · 2 years

Text

Author: sleeve garters

Prompts: He plays video games?? Meteor shower. Cooking, fire, cuddles, wine.

Group: C

More than text mates?

The Journey – Day One

Ariel: I can’t believe you are going

Belle: You know I always wanted to travel

Ariel: I know but I imagined you in Paris, Machu Picchu, the pyramids, not a tiny town in the States

Belle: It’s just the starting point

Ariel: Once the beast has you in his lair you will be trapped forever

Belle: Well I will be trapped with my soulmate then, no problem

Ariel: Ugh you are just going to be too far away to rescue when he makes you his sex slave

Belle: I told you neither of us are interested in having sex

Ariel: For someone with no interest in sex you read an enormous amount of porn

Belle: Romance!

Ariel: Smutty romance. Have you considered he just can’t get it up?

Belle: Seriously! This is about a deep connection we have and not anything physical.

Ariel: But you are so beautiful, sweet and innocent and he’s so…not

Belle: I’ve no idea what he looks like on the outside but I know what he is like on the inside. You know what I said about judging books by their covers.

Ariel: I don’t get how you two can meet when you don’t even know what each other looks like or anything. He might be huge and hairy with fangs and lizard eyes and green skin!

Belle: How much coffee have you had this morning?

Ariel: Enough to keep awake and try and get some sense into you

Belle: I don’t need saving, for the first time in my life I’m taking my fate in my own hands, living my own dream.

Belle: Thanks for keeping me company. I do appreciate it. I can’t believe that I’m delayed at the first step of my journey. I’m so desperate to get going. I didn’t pack enough books to get me through this long.

Ariel: I know for a fact you packed 4

Belle: Exactly, not enough now I’ve got a three hour delay

Ariel: You are the only person I know who measures time in books

Ariel: I’m going to miss you

Belle: We can message each other, video calls, we will probably talk more often than we do now

Ariel: Unless Gold has you busy slaving for him

Belle: Enough! I thought your mind was put to rest after you had spoken to him.

Ariel: Sorry. I guess I never thought you would go through with it. Never thought you’d get a buyer for your shop, never thought you’d be brave enough to go all on your own.

Belle: I’m not feeling brave at the moment but I’m doing what Mum always told me – put on your brave face and bravery will follow

Ariel: About that chat I had with Gold..

Belle: What?

Ariel: He actually suggested that he send me a million dollars as a deposit to insure your safe return

Belle: Lol that sounds like him

Ariel: How can you not be mad? It’s like he is buying you

Belle: I think he was trying to reassure you. Money is not that important to him.

Ariel: That’s always what rich people say. You said he had a reputation for being a ruthless landlord. That doesn’t sound like someone not obsessed with money.

Belle: I think it’s a security blanket for him. The rent thing is more about honouring the promise. That’s what makes him mad when people try to break deals. He could charge a lot more, not keep up the maintenance etc. He is fair, well apart from the nuns!

Ariel: Red flags!!! Why is he mean to the nuns?

Belle: Long story

Ariel: I knew it, you are covering for him, I hate it when you keep things from me

Belle: I will ask him if I can share the story with you. OK?

Ariel: OK

Belle: Did you take the money?

Ariel: Of course not! I’m not selling you, even for a million

Belle: 2?

Ariel: Maybe 3. How rich do you think he is?

Belle: Don’t care. I don’t want his money just his companionship, his soul!

Ariel: OMG perhaps it’s you who is the demon?

Belle: I knew you would work it out sometime.

Ariel: OK hun, I really need to get some sleep, got to get Melody to school in 3 hours now. Safe travels, message me as soon as you land, and keep in touch or we will come and hunt you down.

Belle: Thanks. Love you xx

The Journey - Day 2

Ariel: FFS Belle, ring me. I know you landed over two hours ago. I checked your flight number. Not saying I’m panicking but IM PANICKING!

Ariel: 3 hours!! Seriously I’m going to ring the embassy. I’m already on first name terms with the Sheriff of Storybrooke. She is going to track him down, sounds like she doesn’t trust him one bit.

Belle: For goodness sake Ariel I’m fine. Landed safely, customs was a nightmare, phone battery really low, was saving it for emergencies, of which there are none! Apart from you trying to create a diplomatic incident. Will ring you when I’m safely trapped in the Beast’s evil lair. PS JOKE! STOP WORRYING! Ugh you’ve made me breakout in exclamation marks and you know I’m trying to kick the habit.

Ariel: You’d better girl!!! Exclamation marks for the win! BTW the Sheriff sounds really nice, no nonsense, but nice, said she would definitely come and welcome you, says there is always room for one more for Friday night drinks with her friends. I’ve spoken to a Ruby at the diner too, says she will look out for you and that the burgers are to die for.

Belle: Lol, trust you to make more friends in SB than me! GTG and find my Scotsman.

The Journey – Day 3

Belle: I’ve arrived safe and sound but OMG you caused a right kerfuffle. When we pulled into Gold’s drive the sheriff was there along with “concerned citizens” all checking on my safety. It was ridiculous I had to answer all these questions about whether I was being coerced while Gold was heckled by the crowd. Although they did shut up when he threatened tJ evict the lot of them.

Ariel: Oops. I didn’t realise they would make that much of a fuss, but I won’t apologise for looking out for you. So what is he like? Is he a weird lizard man? Does he wear a kilt? Exactly how ancient and ugly is he?

Belle: He is super handsome! A bit older than me. Rocks in a killer suit. Big brown eyes that you could drown in and ooh so sexy long soft floofy hair. I will send you a pic.

Ariel: Okay so not quite the description I would give from that pic. Much older than you Belle!!! Darn fine suit though. I will allow you that. Is that a cane? Is his house PINK?

Belle: It’s apparently the authentic colour, and that’s salmon. Inside is just stunning and filled with the most beautiful antiques and paintings and BOOKS. I could happily move into his library. I was just walking round gaping in awe. He knew I was a dork but not quite the extent.

Ariel: How is he treating you? Hope he is not making you sleep in the dungeon. Hope you have your own door with a key!

Belle: He is an absolute gentleman. He kissed my hand in greeting and then got all shy and apologetic for being too forward. He opens the doors for me, takes my coat, pulls out my chair. I feel like a princess. He was really shocked at how young I looked though. He had somehow got it into his head that I was like a maiden aunt type. It was all that talk of my love for Austen and being Miss Marple and a wise but mad cat lady. To be honest he is rather freaked out about it. But we then got into our usual conversation and teasing and we both can’t stop smiling at each other. I’m so happy!

Ariel: Oh Belle I am happy for you, still creeped out especially because he is so much older and richer than you.

Belle: Age is not important in friendship. I truly feel he is my soulmate. My only concern is that I find him soooo attractive, I want to jump him and you know that’s not me. But I know he’s not looking for love, he’s been hurt so much in the past. It’s just typical that the only guy who makes me actually feel something and he is the only one not coming on to me!

Ariel: OMG Belle!!!!!!! Are you sure it’s not just jet lag! You are actually telling me you are attracted to a real person, like one that is not just in a book!!!

Belle: Yes!!! Squeee. But he thinks I’m just a silly little girl.

Ariel: Hardly! He wouldn’t have become his confidante, his adviser. You’ve been talking night and day, for hours at a time, for over a year. He does not think you are silly at all.

Belle: True. Anyway I have to go he is taking me up to his cabin in the woods. There is a meteor shower due tonight, we are planning a fire, and we are going to watch the display by the side of this lake and drink mulled wine and cook sausages.

Ariel: Now part of me is cheering. You are so going to go from cuddling, to getting it on by the fire and then end up skinny dipping in the lake. The other part is madly waving a red flag and screaming CABIN IN THE WOODS!!!! Don’t make me ring that sheriff again.

Belle: DO NOT RING THE SHERIFF. I DO NOT WANT MY CAMPFIRE STORMED BY THE NUTTERS IN THIS RIDICULOUS TOWN.

Ariel: No need to shout. Have fun, stay safe xx

The Journey – Day 4

Ariel: Are you back? Have you survived? How was the skinny dipping?

Belle: I am still here! All safe and sound. The cabin turns out to be a luxury, all mod cons palace hidden behind a rustic façade. It didn’t quite turn out like we had hoped. There was a downpour, I fell over in the mud, he tried to rescue me but with his cane and bad leg we both ended up on the ground. No chance of seeing the meteors through the clouds, or having a camp fire. But we got cleaned up and a fire going inside and still had an amazing evening.

Ariel: So what made the evening amazing? Was there cuddling and smooching? Did you see up a Scotsman’s kilt?

Belle: If you must know we played video games.

Ariel: What! He plays video games!?

Belle: Yes I soundly thrashed him at Mario Kart.

Ariel: FFS you two will never get it on will you? Don’t tell me you were Princess what’s-her-face and he was Bowser ? Why does he have Mario Kart? Why would a small time mafia boss play Super Mario when he could be kissing you?

Belle: Ha! All wrong. I was Toad and he was Yoshi. He had it for his son.

Ariel: YOSHI!!! HE HAS A SON?!!!

Belle: Yes he is a dinosaur but a very cute one with pixie ears. He had a son. Another story for another time.

Ariel: Sorry. Didn’t mean to intrude. I just can’t get my head around Mario Kart when I was imagining you skinny dipping.

Belle: No worries. GTG he’s finished making pancakes. Oh and Ariel you know I said we both weren’t interested in sex…

Ariel: OMG!!! What happened?

Ariel: Spill!!

Ariel: Come back! You just can’t leave me hanging like that! Belle!!

#rumbelle showdown #round two entry #author: sleeve garters

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princeescaluswords · 3 years

Note

When Peter gets arrested, the agents or council inform Scott and Lydia they can both press charges (or however it might work in the werewolf society equivalent) and it gives Lydia in particular a bit of a surprise. They explain patiently that what he did to her was a disgusting violation.

I love this idea simply because it should remind your readers of a very salient fact: Peter Hale's (and Derek Hale's) behavior wasn't just damaging to Scott and Lydia (and his other victims), it was dangerous to all werewolves, everywhere.

The fandom makes an entire production of how terrible Scott was for even attempting to play lacrosse after he was bit, as if he should have been content to give up everything in his life to serve as a pawn in the drama of the Hale family. (It's always weird when I think of fandom's condemnation of Scott being stupid not to give up Allison and lacrosse the way the Hales want him to, when both Derek and Peter wanted him to give up Stiles as well.)

Remember what Derek said when he broke into Scott's house and assaulted him?

Derek: You shifted in front of them! If they find out what you are, they find out about me. About all of us. And then it's not just the hunters after us, it's everyone.

So, if there was a Werewolf Authority, what would they think of Peter Hale's murder spree? How many animal attacks happen in the middle of a video rental store? A school bus? At a high school during the Winter Formal? If Scott is to be punished for foolishly drawing attention to werewolves, what about Peter getting caught on camera?

The Werewolf Authority would wipe their brows and feel absolutely lucky that Lydia placed her own reputation first and didn't identify Peter Hale as her attacker to the police or that Stiles didn't tell his father everything after getting pissed off at Scott. They should be praising whichever wolf spirit they revere that Sheriff Stilinski holds his oaths in such contempt that he didn't think to expose the private war between werewolves and werewolf hunters to the national media!

How it went down would also depends on when the Werewolf Authority shows up. If they arrived in March rather than February, they'd have to deal with a second murder spree, as Derek Hale, Lord of Bad Decisions, bit a teenager he had pegged as an unstable narcissist and then abandoned him when he thought he was going to die, and his Beta killed nearly a dozen people. (You ever notice that Derek Apologists often fail to list Jackson the Murder Lizard among Derek's betas? I do.)

They would probably throw Scott McCall, Lydia Martin, and Stiles Stilinski a party for not going to the goddamn press. Especially Scott who could have picked up the phone and called Special Agent McCall and said "Dad, want to make it up to me that you abandoned me and mom? A stranger attacked me in the woods and is trying to make me join his murder cult!" How would the Werewolf Authority have handled that? Rafael might have been a shit dad, but he was a very good FBI agent.

Or Lydia might have realized she had an actionable case and sued Peter "Profoundly Disturbing Nightmares" Hale for $117 million dollars.

I would love to see a story where the Hales defend their behavior to the Werewolf Authority.

WA: You bit a teenager and just let him wander off?

Peter: I was out of my mind!

WA: Yet you were able to lure your sister across the entire United States and ambush an alpha werewolf without her being any wiser. That's pretty clever for someone who was out of his mind. You were also stable enough to teach a human nurse exactly what she needed to help you.

Derek: It was an accident. It happens.

WA: Oh, does it, Derek? So if it was an accident and Peter was simply a poor trauma victim, how come your eyes went freaking red? Are you confessing to murdering a helpless burn victim in order to gain power to attain your own vengeance by manipulating children.

Derek: I can if they're willing!

WA: I need a drink.

Some people may claim this as 'bad writing,' but we who have experienced the real world know that it is not. The world is filled with privileged white men who will take advantage of those weaker than themselves to get what they want. Derek and Peter used fear of exposure, shame, and raw power to force children into their service and then acted all hurt when those teenagers (and one teenager in particular) stood up and said: "No. I'm not going to play by your rules. You don't have the right to use us for your own wants."

The Hales are the Harvey Weinsteins of Werewolves. Yet there will always be defenders of predatory white men, always reasons why men like Peter and Derek get a free pass in order to hurt and damage others.

There wasn't a Werewolf authority in Teen Wolf. But there needed to be.

#scott mccall defense squad #anti peter stans #anti derek stans #fandom fuckery #teen wolf fandom racism

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whataboutmyfries · 4 years

Text

Russian roulette

Its here its here its finally heeeeree!!!!! I’ve been so excited for this fic for the longest time and I am so so excited to finally share it with you guys!! It’s been quite a while in the making cause I was nervous about my overall ability to keep up with a multi-chapter thing, but here we are!!!

Before you start reading this, I just want you all to know that this fic comes with a LOT of trigger warning. All of them will be in the tags of course, but I just want you guys to know to proceed with caution.

credits as always go to @lumosinlove Haz I have utterly CORRUPTED your characters in this one, I’m so sorry

enjoy!!

Chapter 1

Logan could still remember the day it had happened, the defiant fury in his friend’s eyes as he’d gone down, guns blazing

Logan still remembered it, blood splattering his arms and face, his mouth curved in a deadly smirk as he shoved Logan out of their way, going down, guns blazing, winking at the brunette as he dived into the fray.

Logan still remembered the primal fear that ripped the scream from his chest, his arm numb from the kickback of the M4. He still remembered the screaming darkness that had taken over his head after. He still remembered him.

It was the memory of that night, a job gone wrong that had him working himself to pieces, returning to the sparring ring day after day, week after week. The mere thought of it pulling him from sleep with the sharp edge of nightmares. The what if’s and if only’s shoving his mind into a rabbit hole of unending misery.

Logan huffed in frustration, shoving down the cool rage that threatened to send him over the edge. He closed his eyes, exhaling through his nose, roughly shoving his hair off his forehead. The sweat dripped off his brow as he leaned against the punching bag, flexing his fingers against fabric wrapping his hands.

Even through the wrappings, he could feel the gentle throbbing of the rage and sorrow that had him back at the punching bag day after day after day. He looked down at his knuckles. Shit. That was going to bruise beautifully tomorrow. He sighed, walking over to the backpack on the far end of the room to get his towel and a drink of water.

Logan hefted his pack onto a shoulder, heading over to the sparring area to clean up, unrolling the fabric from his hands as he did so. He examined his knuckles, his hands a tapestry of bruises. He couldn’t remember the last time they hadn’t been a splotchy purple-blue.

The door slammed open, and Logan instinctively ducked to the floor, his hands going for the gun in his backpack, his posture relaxing a little when he saw who’d walked in.

“What the fuck do you want, Nate? He grumbled, tugging his t-shirt to rights, glaring angrily at the floor as he did so, his cheeks warming at his aggressive reaction.

Nate rolled his eyes at Logan’s attitude, raising an eyebrow at Logan’s reaction to his presence. He leaned against the door, drumming his fingers against his bicep “He’s here, sir, the rookie’s here.”

It took Logan all of ten minutes to shower and get dressed to meet Finn in their office. He shook the water out of his hair as his quick steps echoed in the marble hallway. The palatial mansion was HQ. He lived here, slept here, ate here. They were his family, the lions, they’d taken him in after Wyatt had died and had stood by him through every damn thing he’d been through. Regardless, it was home. It had become Logan’s home after— Logan growled, shoving the intrusive thoughts away.

Finn met him halfway to their door, casually tugging the cuffs of his shirt to rights.

Finn was impeccably dressed as always, looking really damn good in that white button-down, the gold chain on his neck dipping into where he’s left it unbuttoned at the neck. His bespoke trousers did wonders for showing off his legs, the gold belt buckle matching the golden rings glinting in the sun.

Logan swallowed.

“So, the rookie’s coming in today. The only thing we know is the father sent him. Be on your guard.” Finn said, raising an eyebrow at Logan to make sure he understood.

Logan nodded, cracking his knuckles as he accompanied Finn into their office, the redhead making a few calls to get extra security detail around the house. Dons couldn’t take risks, no matter who sent their visitors.

Logan shook out his hands, sucking in a calming breath before collapsing onto his chair.

“You have to meet Dubois at the Excelsior tonight. We got a tip he’s been skimming the funds.” Finn said absent-mindedly, his mind more occupied with reading some file. The Excelsior was one of their biggest casinos, three floors of opulent revelry. And Dubois was the sleazy good-for-nothing who ran it for them.

Logan grumbled, flipping open a file of his own, the name Dubois emblazoned in sharp, black letters on the cover. Being a Mob boss wasn’t all it was made out to be, and Logan never thought he’d get used to it. He could scarcely remember how he and Finn had come to build the Lions, one of the biggest crime syndicates in the world, second only to the snakes; a family of vicious, rabid psychopaths who cared for nothing and nobody, dispatching their targets with gruesome efficiency.

Finn had a suspicion the snakes had been doing recon work at the Excelsior and had told Logan as much. Considering that Logan had to deal with the slimy manager, anyway, he thought he might as well look into the matter. Finn looked at him over the gold rim of his glasses, as though reading his thoughts.

“Take Potter with you, ask him to get two of his best with him,” Finn said, referring to their head of security.

Logan huffed, about to shoot back a retort about how he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself thankyouverymuch when there was a knock on the door. Nate leaned against the wood, a smirk playing on his lips.

“He’s here.”

The rookie as it turns out was no rookie at all, rather son to the most infamous pickpocket and street magician of all time, Wyatt Knut. The man had stolen and pickpocketed thousands of dollars’ worth of goods and cash in his time, there was even a rumour going around that he’d been involved in some of the biggest heists of the era, driving his worth up to millions of dollars.

And this was his son. Sitting in front of him, idly flicking a folded sheet of paper between his fingers, making it disappear and then appear again, his leg bouncing under the table. He looked nervous, his eyes flicking around the room, drinking up the opulent mansion around him. He snapped to attention when Finn cleared his throat, sitting up straighter in his chair.

“The name’s Knut, Leo Knut. Lizard sent me.”

Logan’s eyes widened at the nickname. There were very few people in the world who knew it, and this baby faced blond kid sitting in front of them sure as hell didn’t look like someone who would. The fact that he did calmed Logan’s suspicions. This was real. He wasn’t kidding.

Logan felt more than saw Finn’s interest pique. The redhead leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table. The tension in the room was palpable, and it took every inch of self-control in Logan’s body to not stiffen, sit up straighter, show he was on his guard. Let blue eyes make the first move. Logan was in charge here, not him.

Leo’s eyes dipped to the folded note in his hand as he vanished it into his sleeve and brought it back. He sucked in a breath, calming his nerves before raising his eyes to the two men sitting before him.

“Lizard said to come to you if he didn’t return or communicate his….being alive within four days of that mission.” Leo braced for the confusion and chaos that was going to follow his next words.

“He had a plan to take down the snakes.”

Logan’s jaw dropped, his hands going slack from where they were crossed across his chest. Lizard had what?!? Granted, he was one of their best reconnaissance men, but this seemed a stretch, even for him.

Finn, ever the diplomat, had kept a straight face, not a hair out of place. It was only through eight years of being his friend that he noticed the tension and suspicion radiating off him.

The redhead cocked an eyebrow. “Oh? And do you have any proof of this…..plan?”

Leo grinned, the simple expression lighting up the entire room.” I thought you’d never ask”

He raised his slender fingers, pulling a flash drive out of thin air, setting it down on the table before him. “It’s in three parts.” he nodded to the drive. “The drive, a……” He waved his hand in the air, trying to find the right words. “Map? With the targets and the blueprints and an encrypted folder on his laptop.”

Logan barely registered what he’d said. The second Leo has flicked the drive out from between his fingers it was game over for him. Logan was mesmerised. He couldn’t stop staring at those hands, long thin fingers flipping the note in and out of sight with hypnotic movements, drumming on his thigh, gesturing broadly as he spoke.

Finn seemed to have noticed, pressing his thigh against Logan’s under the table. He froze at the contact, Finn’s warmth seeping into him through the fabric of his jeans. Shit. Now was not the time. He shook his head, clearing his throat and focusing on the task at hand.

Finn leaned back in his chair, his finger steepling under his chin. “And you’re just trusting us with this information? It’s been a month, why haven’t you approached us sooner? What’s in it for you?”

Leo’s smile disappeared, shadows dancing behind those blue irises. “Lizard was like a second father to me. I’ve known him since I was a kid, he and my dad were friends.” He let out a shaky breath. “And when he didn’t return from that raid….I wanted to get revenge. I wanted to hurt anyone who dared to so much as lay a hand on him.” Leo met Finn’s eyes. “I was...hurt for a long time after his death, couldn’t figure out how to deal with the loss. It’s the reason why I’m only here now. And as for trusting you with the information…” He trailed off, putting a piece of paper on the table.

Logan realised it was the same folded note that had been weaving in and out of Leo’s fingers as he’d spoken to them. The paper was worn, the edge soft in a way only repeated use could make them. Finn’s eyes flicked to Leo before he picked it up, glancing at Logan as he opened it.

Logan leaned in, reading over Finn’s shoulder. In a familiar, stocky script it said:

‘Sun, I’m going out on business. It’s the usual. Same as always, If I don't communicate in 4 days, ask around for Logan Tremblay and Finn O Hara, Tell them about mission troy. They’ll know who I am, say Lizard sent you -P’

Logan’s hands shook, and he stuffed them into his pockets, still reading the note, scouring it over and over for clues, anything that would tell them that he was still alive— though he knew he wasn’t going to find anything. His eyes caught on the first word. ‘Sun’? Logan wracked his mind, trying to find any reason why Lizard has called him that. Realisation struck and Logan looked over Leo, sizing him up.

Leo ‘the Sun’ Knut had was famous for his brilliant smile, those dimples distracting even the most stubborn of men while he swindled them out of their money. Bright as the sun and just as blinding, they said. Logan allowed himself a smirk at that. Like father, like son.

Leo didn’t back down from his stare, raising a blond eyebrow at the intense look, cocking his head to the side. A shiver of excitement ran through Logan, bigger men had backed away from that look of his, yet this lanky child didn’t so much as falter. Interesting.

Finn rested his elbows on the table, ever the portrait of unruffled grace. “How do we know this is real?” He asked, nodding his head at the drive sitting on the table.

Logan could practically see the effort it took Leo to not roll his eyes. The blond shrugged, crossing his arms on the desk. “Believe me, or don’t. It’s your loss. I have my orders and if you aren’t willing to provide the resources, I’m sure I’ll find other people who are.” His gaze sharpened to a flinty glare, “I’m just trying to do right by a friend. He asked me a favour and I will not let him down” He nudged the drive forward with a long finger, the little black device sitting in the middle of the table. “Help me or not, it’s up to you, but don’t you fucking dare get in my way.”

#russian roulette #whataboutmyfries #my writing #lumosinlove #finn o'hara #logan tremblay #Leo knut #mafia!fic #tw:implied death #tw:bruises #tw:mourning

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