#.back when all this was first releasing my friend would print out her favourite pages and bring them to school/local library anime club | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lucywritesreid · 4 years

Text

With Heaven Above You - Part 2

Summary: In this chapter, Reid and Y/N are coming closer to uncovering who the unsub is.

Warnings: Just a bit of swearing!

Word Count: 2.6k (I was going to split this into two but ended up changing my mind!)

Notes: Thank you for the feedback on part one! I’m tagging @rexorangecouny @yeah-just-ignore-me-thanks @liaabsurd @reidsmyhusband-emilysmymistress @101donuts

The next 24 hours or so flew by. You and Spencer had spent hours crafting the profile and accumulating evidence passed on by the rest of their teams whilst they investigated the murders. Hotch had accepted your revised profile and a comment about it being ‘especially good work’ had lifted both your spirits more than you cared to admit. By the evening, there had been no reports of any new missing persons, so you took the time to deliver the profile to various police departments and blue collar workers in the local area. The more people knew what to look out for, you hoped the more vigilant and safe people would be.

There was something powerful about delivering the profile together. On a couple of occasions a few male officers had directed questions specifically to Dr Reid. Spencer had sharply referred them to you and he stood watching you proudly as you answered. Despite his greater intelligence and experience within the FBI, he never took you for granted. He wanted people to see just how smart you were. Had the circumstances been happier, you probably would’ve wanted to go out and celebrate your partnership, or at the very least have a romantic evening indoors. But this case was unrelenting.

There had been a minor breakthrough. Garcia had been given permission from the phone companies each of the victims used to have unlimited access to their phones. Their phones had been brought into the office and she’d found out that each victim received a photograph of themselves from an unknown number in the hours before their disappearance. She was trying to find the source of the number, but it gave you all some hope that should you be taken – the unsub would try and track you down and photograph you first.

By the time you returned to Quantico, it was late, but you needed to work on the press release with Rossi and JJ. Spencer excused himself to go look through some files, and you spent the next few hours working through questions and specific trigger words you were going to use in order to taunt the unsub. “I think you’ve got this kiddo,” Rossi brought you in for a warm hug, “you’re gonna go out there and really wind up the bastard.”

It got to a point when you felt like you couldn’t stand up any longer. Tears stung your eyes as the battle to fight off a yawn was lost. Glancing down at your watch you saw that it was almost midnight. “I’m gonna go find the Dr, I’ll see you guys in the morning.” You kissed both your colleagues on the cheek and grabbed your coat from your desk, anxious to get home and try and get some sleep before tomorrow.

It was no surprise how you found Spencer. He was sprawled out across a small office’s burgundy carpet, an array of open files and photographs positioned sporadically around him. You stood for a few seconds and watched him, always fascinated by his approach. He was feverishly reading through files, using his index finger to focus his eyes on the pages as he read through them all at lightning speed. Most people would believe that this workspace was chaotic and messy. But you could see Spencer’s organisation even from your viewpoint. He’d arranged the victims chronologically in his circle and had layered over police and ME reports in between each case file. He truly was brilliant. Had it have been a few hours earlier; you wouldn’t have interrupted. But you knew he needed to go home, probably more than you did. “C’mon Spence. Even someone as handsome as you needs their beauty sleep,” you commented, leaning against the door.

He didn’t look up but he knew you were there. “Five minutes, y/n?”

“M’kay squish,” a nickname you reserved for when there was nobody else around, “I’ll go warm the car up.”

Spencer was five minutes on the dot. He hurried into the passenger seat and clicked on his seatbelt, throwing his messenger bag on the backseat. You looked in the rear-view mirror and saw that the bag was overflowing and stuffed with files, no doubt all the ones he was staring at in the office. It took all your willpower not to mention it. You desperately wanted to tell him to forget it for tonight and have a relax, but that would be futile. Spencer was passionate about his job and that was one of the many reasons why you were in love with him. The radio played classical music all the way home, Spencer’s favourite radio station and certainly not yours. He made a couple of comments about various composers playing and facts about their lives. It made you relax to hear him talk about something that wasn’t the case.

When you arrived home, you were seeing spots from exhaustion. Too tired to cook anything, Spencer warmed up some leftover Chinese food whilst you jumped in the shower. You popped on an old episode of Doctor Who and sat in silence as you both ate. When the episode finished, you glanced across the sofa and saw Spencer with his head propped up by his hand and his empty bowl falling off his lap. As quietly as you could, you turned off the TV, reached out and took the bowl from his lap and set it down on the coffee table, hoping not to disturb him. But he was an awfully light sleeper and the slightest movement caused him to jolt awake. “Oh god sorry y/n I guess I fell asleep.” You scolded him for apologising, took his hand and walked into the bedroom. You were asleep the second your head hit the pillow.

The next morning was spent preparing for your press conference. You dressed quickly but made the effort to put on something slightly more revealing and spent the time straightening your usually messy up-in-a-bun hair. Spencer hovered in the doorway as you finished putting on your make up, hands in your pocket as he watched you. You sighed. “I think it’s the best way to try and bait this guy if I at least look worth kidnapping,” You watched him shudder behind you. “I know, y/n. And you look beautiful. I just don’t like the thought of him thinking that.”

On your way out, you made sure to grab the purple pendant necklace that Spencer had bought you on your birthday two years ago. You fumbled with it between your fingers as you sat in the car as your own little signal that you were going to be thinking about him all day.

The press conference went off without a hitch. Thanks to JJ, there was wide media coverage, with cameras and crew from all various TV and radio news outlets, as well as a few reporters who had vouched to have the story printed on their websites within the hour. If this guy had any sort of access to media, which your profile stated he did, he would most certainly be watching. “And just to reiterate, we’re looking for a man who is awkward with zero social skills. This man is impotent, unattractive and holds a menial job. He takes no pride in his appearance and we believe he is a complete loner. No family, no friends. You’ve probably overlooked this guy a thousand times. There is nothing, I repeat, nothing significant about him at all.” You stared right down into the camera as you delivered your last line. You knew that was the sucker punch. This guy was a total narcissist and completely fame hungry. You hoped that by saying he was a loner with no life he would be outraged enough to try and track you down. “We are also not answering to any nicknames. This man is too irrelevant to be given one. If you have any questions or believe you have seen this man, you can call our 24 hour tip line. You can ask for me personally. My name is Agent Y/N Y/L/N with the BAU. Thank you.”

As soon as you stepped down the phone lines started ringing. Local police and members of your team were all taking it in turns to answer the calls, writing down numbers, disregarding any hoaxes. Morgan cheered you up after ten minutes by claiming that someone was asking if you were free for dinner, but other than that there were no significant leads in the first few hours.

Spencer had asked Hotch if he could continue looking over the files and he had disappeared back into his quiet room. You considered going checking on him a few times, but then it was your turn to man the phones alongside Emily. An hour or so in, you turned to her and asked, “have you had anything worthwhile, Em? Do you think we’re gonna get this guy?”

“I think you did an excellent job before, y/n. I’m sure he’s seething. I was surprised though when he didn’t ring directly after the first few minutes.” You nodded back to her. That was the outcome that you had been hoping for, but it hadn’t materialised. “Say,” she then added, “what’s Reid so fixated on? Do you think he’s got any leads?”

“Honestly Em? I don’t have a clue.”

The day felt rather anti-climactic. You’d set yourself up, hoping for some sort of breakthrough, but as the evening wore on and the numbers of staff on site dwindled, you realised there wasn’t going to be any new developments tonight. Following the same routine from the day before, you found Spencer, and coaxed him out of his little investigation room so that he would come home. The rest of the evening was extremely ordinary. You went to bed together and fell asleep even quicker than the night before. If that was humanly possible.

When you awoke, it was early. A stream of light from the slightly open curtains had interrupted your sleep. “We really should’ve shut the curtains properly,” you yawned and stretched a hand out to where you expected your boyfriends warm chest to be. But his side of the bed was empty. You opened your eyes and turned to his side. It was perfectly made up and his pyjamas were folded nearly on top of the pillow. That was odd. You both were notoriously messy and known for not being particularly proactive in a morning. Perhaps he hadn’t slept. You wondered just how early he’d got out of bed.

When you finally managed to come around you checked your phone to see if he’d sent you anything. Aside from a few late night memes from Garcia, there was nothing. Still, Spencer had gone to work on his own plenty times before. He liked to let you sleep in when his insomnia was bothering him. He’d probably just used his metro card and wanted to make a start on the case. That gave you hope that maybe his incessant thinking had given him a eureka moment.

You rolled out of bed slowly and stretched to stand. It would’ve been nice to go back to sleep for a few hours, but you figured if Spencer was already at work it was likely the others were too. You threw on a plain black shirt and capri trousers and added one of Spencer’s fluffy cardigans to finish it off. You liked the way you could fit your thumbs through the holes in the sleeves, almost like he was holding your hand. As you walked into the kitchen you shot him a quick text ‘see you at work babe.’ You turned on the coffee machine and figured you’d use one of Spencer’s mugs rather than dirtying a new one. He always had a coffee before he left, no matter how much of a rush he was in. And he always left a mug on the counter. It was usually the one with penguins on you’d got him at the Christmas market.

But there was no mug there. That stumped you for a second or two. He always had his coffee before he left, no exceptions. Then again, this case was doing crazy things to all of you. Surely it wasn’t unusual for one day? You poured two coffees into metal flasks to take with you and made your way to the front door. You reached up to grab your key from the right hook but it was empty. Huh. That was weird too. You quickly scanned your eyes and saw your key was on the left. But your key was always on the right and Spencer’s on the left. Had he picked yours up by mistake and swapped them over before leaving? That didn’t really make sense.

You had to shrug this off. It was getting silly, this overthinking. Save your energy for the case you said to yourself. Just as you were about to unlock the door, you looked down at your ‘enter the upside down’ door mat. Normally it sat perfectly on a right angle to the edge of the door. But it was almost completely twisted to the left. How had that happened? Why was Spencer in such a rush that he forgot his coffee, almost took the wrong key and messed up the doormat?

The ride to work seemed long. You were anxious to see Spencer and have the butterflies in your stomach go away. Guilt set in as you realised you were the last one to arrive, even though it was only just after 8am. You went straight for JJ who was stood by your desk. “Morning JJ,” you mustered a smile.

She returned the smile but looked around you, “Did Spence not come in with you this morning?” You shook your head. Shit. Did that mean he wasn’t here yet? By the time you had got ready and drove here the metro would’ve brought him in by now. “Um no, I thought he was already here…” The panic started settling in again and you frantically looked around the bullpen. “Where is he?”

You excused yourself from JJ but she followed, obviously sensing how tense you were. You tried the meeting room, Garcia’s den, the little cubby room he’d been working with, even Hotch’s office. When you asked Derek if he’d go into the bathroom to look for him, he said, “Listen baby girl, if you want to get your kicks off with Reid in working hours, I’d suggest somewhere more romantic than the men’s bathroom…”

JJ gave him a look, “We can’t find Spencer actually, Derek. But I’m sure he’s just on his way, y/n. I wouldn’t worry about it. Have you heard from him yet?” She reached out to touch your arm, but you flinched away. This wasn’t right. His oddly made up bed. The coffee cup. The keys. The doormat. It was all pointing to something, but you just didn’t know what.

Without hesitation you ran into Garcia’s room and startled her. “Penelope,” you said trying to choke back tears, “I-I need you to trace Spencer’s phone for me.”

She didn’t question you just from the look on her face. Instead she nodded and set to work. You tried to focus on your breathing, but it was becoming shallower by the second. A sharp pain crept up into your chest and you balled your hand into a tight fist. He’s okay. He’s probably just gone somewhere to think. Or he’s late. That happens.

Your train of thought was quickly interrupted by Garcia. She spun round on her chair and the same worried look you had was staring back at you. “Y/n, h-his phone’s either switched off or died. I-I can’t locate him. I don’t know where he is.”

End of part 2

#spencer reid #spencer reid fic #spencer reid imagines #spencer reid x reader #spencer x y/n #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds fic #spencer reid x you #dr spencer reid #dr reid x y/n

103 notes · View notes

softowlhours · 4 years

Text

paperclip chains

akaashi keiji (officeAU!)

a collection of scenarios following you and akaashi as you try and finesse the art of navigating life as working adults.

genre: a bit sad at times, but hopefully fluffier in the future.

a/n: my first piece of writing and this is pure self indulgent because work is hard and nothing makes sense sometimes. hope you all enjoy and find some comfort in it.

word count: 3500~

pt. one 🦋 blank like a sheet of paper. 🦋

[friday. 3:00 p.m.]

someone had cracked open the window. the air inside the office had been much too oppressive, stale with the smell of the murky, insipid coffee you could get from the cafeteria. for free. staff privileges, they call it. late afternoon sun pours in through the large square windows. it ignites the office, dying it in the shades of an inferno. however, the warmth of it does not reach akaashi’s heart. the way the rays set everything aglow was in contrast to the chill crisp autumn air. akaashi could hear the leaves rustle, clinging to the branches waiting for that particular gust of wind, strong enough to blow them off. the leaves would then twirl and twirl until they’d softly land on the damp earth becoming one with it again. he wishes he were a leaf.

He tries to focus on nature’s gentle melody, but the hubbub of the office is overbearing. the incessant clicking of alphabets on the keyboards, the murmur of pages being turned, someone sneezes loudly and it is immediately followed by lazy ‘bless you’s’. his ears are attuned to the low electric groan of the printer, and he hopes someone would get up and unclog the jam of papers before the white noise drives him insane. he ends up doing it himself, almost losing a finger in the process as he tries to pull out a badly stuck paper from the printers’ rollers. today had been one of those days where nothing had gone right, a domino of disasters triggered the moment he’d opened his eyes. these days had been coming by way too often lately for his taste. he felt tired.

none of these turmoils showed on his exterior though, he wore a calm, unbothered mask. despite his depressing inner monologue, he diligently read through the manuscript highlighting bits he’d like to go over with the author at their next meeting.

it wasn’t like akaashi hated his job, infact, this was his dream job. he loved what he did but sometimes his love for his work was eclipsed by the politics the workplace was entrenched in. the naivety from when he had first joined almost a year ago had worn off quickly. it took him a mere week in the workforce to understand that a job demanded more than the list of skills and tasks specified in the job description. in any office, beneath the veneer of civility, there always remains an undercurrent of competition, jealousy, idle minds looking for entertainment at the expense of each other. there were people who did not love their job, the free loaders who somehow never did their share but managed to take home their bag of coins. they would slack and slack some more until the burden of their neglect would be shifted upon the shoulders of the new comers. too timid to resist. he pulls out his leather bound planner, a gift from his friend to celebrate him landing the role of an assistant editor all those months ago. it is almost filled from start to finish with his scribbles and the leather is soft with constant handling. his eyes scan past all the work he had wrapped up for the day, until one of his seniors had dumped an endless stack of files containing short stories that had been sent in for the monthly writing contests. they’re not short anymore when you have a hundred of them to read at once. apparently, the senior had a date he’d forgotten about and had to leave early. akaashi couldn’t report this to the boss, he knew how offices worked. its venomous hierarchies slithered like snakes ready to diss whoever defied them. rookies must act like rookies. akaashi quickly jots down in his planner a list of things he must get done over the weekend and the bulleted list slowly fills up two entire pages.

when he wasn’t picking up after someone’s mess akaashi did enjoy what he did. he enjoyed being on top of his work, found an euphoric satisfaction in duties well done. while his colleagues took it easy during the day and whined as they worked overtime in the evenings to meet deadlines, akaashi was most probably done for the day by then and already at home; fresh out of the shower and lighting his favourite candles that made his bedroom smell like cinnamon. he’d curl up under his soft comforter letting the tension of a busy day dissipate from his body. he kept his favorite books on the nightstand and would read them as he waited for sleep to come.

“akaashi-chan,” he hears the soothing voice of his supervisor, an old well natured man in his sixties who had worked here for almost thirty years. he walks upto akaashi’s desk, his eyes crinkling with a gentle smile as he takes in the mess that was his desk. “its difficult being a rookie, huh?” hatori-san says. “i would’ve just let you gone home, but the design and printing departments are an anxious bunch. they’re breathing down our necks for the final draft of the magazine two weeks before the release date.”

“please don’t apologise, hatori-san. It’s always like this towards the end of the month.” you aren’t the one who should be apologising.

“hmm...” the elderly muses, “maybe you should dilly dally like your colleagues, afterall, who is to blame you? the youth are meant to be reckless. ”

“but hatori-san if i did that not even a quarter of our magazine will be ready by the end of this month!” akaashi’s voice is filled with amusement, and mild terror.

hatori-san chuckles. “yes, yes i’m aware. i’ll rely on you then akaashi-chan. i do have a bit of good news for you though.” a bonus-

“we’re getting another assistant editor on monday, hopefully your workload can be halved from then on and a be little more manageable. i’m worried you’re starting to look older than me akaashi-chan.” he jokes. “i’ll leave her in your care.”

❀ ✿ ✿ ❀

[friday. 8:20 p.m.]

he stays in the office until late that night, finishing as much of his work he can before the words on the screen begin to blur and he can feel his brain churn in his head. he packs the documents he needed to read over the weekend, putting them neatly in his black briefcase. the temperatures have dropped quite low and with his tan coat on and a scarf wrapped around his neck, he steps out into the world. outside, tokyo is buzzing with life, the lights twinkle and a bubbly atmosphere engulfs even this usually grim and dull part of the city; where most companies found their home. salary men and women chatter excitedly as they pour into the office district from the high rise buildings of concrete and glass. groups of people stand on the sidewalk chatting amicably, smoke rises from cigarettes, plans to go hangout at karaokes, bars and restaurants float in the air.

it wasn’t that akaashi did not have friends, or ever had trouble making any. he was easy going, attentive and though not the loudest in the room, he was enigmatic. people were drawn to him. especially the weird and loud ones. not that he minded. not that he ever judged. which is what made people open up their hearts to him so easily. they knew he’d take them for who they were. but, like earlier today he couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that clawed at him. he had his dream job but the hours he spent on his desk day after day, the endless exchange of apathetic emails, the unlimited cups of coffee, had all amalgamated into a kind of hollowness. he felt empty instead of fulfilled. he idly wonders if bokuto-san ever felt this way, or knowing him, did he charge straight ahead without any inhibitions? if you asked bokuto whether he could see himself playing volleyball for the next twenty or fifty years, bokuto would say ‘yes, ofcourse!!!’ in a heartbeat. and akaashi knew bokuto would mean it.

he wonders how hatori-san had spent his entire life in that office. could i do the same?

akaashi considers hanging out with some of his friends from university, maybe take hatori-san’s advice and just let go and forget everything for a while. he could be your typical 20 something, going to the bars with his 20 something friends where they’d shit talk their rude colleagues. He could console that one friend who wouldn’t stop crying over his ex-girlfriend who left him 3 years ago, every time he’s drunk. he could go home with that girl at the opposite end of the bar who wouldn’t stop looking his way, and who in his drunken haze, he thinks to be pretty. but eventually akaashi decides he is too tired to do any of that.

much later, when he settles into bed, he mindlessly picks up a book from his nightstand. he starts reading from where he had left off the night before but his eyes don’t really register a single word. for all he knew, he could’ve been staring at a blank sheet of paper. after a few more minutes of seeing nothing, he puts the book away and buries himself deep underneath the covers.

he feels the tears fall.

❀ ✿ ✿ ❀

[monday, 9:45 a.m.]

its odd. akaashi feels well rested. very very well rested.

his eyes fly open, and the first thing he sees is the blue sky peeking from the gap between his curtains. he’s afraid to look at the time.

9:45 A.M. well, shit.

akaashi feels winded by the time he makes it to the floor where his office was.from the door he sees hatori-san standing next to akaashi’s chair, his back towards him. akaashi’s heart is in his throat, an apology that sounds fake dances on his tongue. he then hears hatori-san chuckle. a soft female voice says something he cannot catch. ah, the new assistant editor.

“good morning” he calls hoarsely, as he approaches them.

“Ah, hello akaashi-san,” his supervisor beams, “meet y/n. hopefully, your new partner in crime.”

“i was told i’m supposed to help slow down your aging process.” her voice is soft, and despite the shyness there is a mischievous lilt to her tone. “i’ll do my best. please do guide me.”

hatori-san excuses himself. she’s practically buzzing with excitement, akaashi notices. before he can say anything, she pulls out a brand-new notepad from her bag, pen clicking open. she looks ready to take on the world.

he has to bite back a smile. she’s cute, cheeks flush and lips in a pout as she jots down something on it. he genuinely wonders what it is she writes, considering he hasn’t even spoken yet. her hair is neatly tied away from her face but a few stray tendrils fall and delicately frame her face.

he wonders if this is how he had looked on his first day at work. face pink and eyes bright. probably not as cute though, oh no, definitely not cute. he internally cringes at the memory of his awkwardness.

but you miss it. that excitement.

“it’s fine.” he says, “please just sit down and relax, i’ll guide you as we go through our daily routine.” he gives her a small smile.

they spend the morning, going through the basics of the trade, she's a fast learner, he notes. and later during the lunch hour he divulges to her the little ‘how to survive in this office 101s’. he tells her how how she mustn’t drink the free coffee they hand out at the cafeteria (even though he’s come to accept it himself, for he welcomes caffeine in any state and form). he suspects they reuse the coffee grounds more times than considered acceptable. how if you ever jammed the printer, try and leave before anyone realises it was you if you don’t want to be the recipient of death glares from colleagues all day long. He tells her which restrooms are the best and which elevators reach their destinations the fastest. the grimmer and more ruthless bits of working here can wait, he thinks.

passion was something he lost some time ago and hasn’t been able to find ever since.

“make sure to take it easy.” he mumbles to her as they are putting away their trays, “if work gets too much, you can always place the manuscripts and drafts on my desk when i’m not looking.”

she looks at him incredulously. laughter bubbles from her lips as she tells him with mock indignance that she’s better than that. she asks the cafeteria lady for two cups of the infamous coffee, offering him one.

“lets toast!” y/n proposes .

“to what?”

“to all the times we’ll be the the last two brain cells holding up this company. together.” she jokes, touching her paper cup to his.

he likes the sound of ‘together’.

❀ ✿ ✿ ❀

#akaashi keiji #akaashi x reader #akaashi scenarios #haikyuu!!#haikyuu imagines #hq!!#haikyuu fluff #haikyuu scenarios #reader insert #hq akaashi #akaashi fluff #akaashi keiji fluff

69 notes · View notes

jenxwp · 3 years

Text

Rittenhouse Art and Images

Okay, so I have decided that I can’t put a whole set of cards in one blog post. There’s just too many and I would talk too much 😂. So I am going to just post about the different subsets and base sets on their own at a random pace, interjected with other bits and pieces.

Today, I want to share with you all the BEAUTIFUL Art and Images set. Honestly, it is one of my favourites and its quite underrated. It has no special costume cards, very few autograph cards and nothing with special ‘facts’ or quotes from the show. Instead, its just about sharing the beautiful imagery and emotions that graced our televisions for 6 years alongside unique artwork from artists like Patricia Parker, Warren Martineck, and even Renee O’Connor.

The set itself was one of the latter sets released by Rittenhouse, being made available in October 2004. It is a small set with only 63 cards in the base set and a handful of artwork based sub-sets. Being released only a year after ‘The Quotable Xena’ set which boasted a MASSIVE 135 card base set, 135 card parallel set and an abundance of autograph cards, dual autographs and autograph costumes... you can understand why Art and Images floated under the radar.

The set itself is comprised of a 63 card base set and 7 sub-sets that either highlight the work of a particular artist or a beautiful aspect of the show. Along with this are the usual promotional cards and multi-case incentives which in this case are two autograph cards and two sketch cards.

What makes Art and Images unique from any other Xena trading card set is that in each box, there were also 2 hand-drawn cards. That’s right, unique hand drawn cards either sketched in pencil or sharpie and some even coloured in. Each one is signed by an artist at the bottom. Its a collectors dream and nightmare at the same time.. 🤩

I can talk about the sub-sets at another time, but right now I really just want to highlight the base set. Its beautiful in its own right, and what better place to start with than the binder.

How gorgeous is that? 😍 It sets the tone for the set with this beautified, blended washed out imagery. The front of the binder has Xena, and when you flip it, you see her nemesis. Open it up to show this image. 💜

The cards came 6 cards/pack, with 20 packs per box and 12 boxes per case.

Onto the base set. The cards are printed on a textured, matte card which is different to all the other Xena trading card sets. The cards feel thicker, and the images are stylised into a softer, ‘painted’ finish.

The first 9 cards are images of Xena while the second 9 are Gabrielle. Then, we get 9 ‘Forever Friends’ cards. I like how these cards aren’t limited to Xena and Gabrielle- we get a really nice playful image with Joxer, and cards that highlight the bond Gabrielle and Joxer had as well as Xena and Lao Ma.

The next two pages are 9 cards of women, then 9 cards of men. I do really like the men cards. I think the character choice was perfect and some great pictures were used. I do have a few issues with the women. My friends know that Livia is one of my favourites... but we have an image of Livia and the name Eve? I know I’m splitting hairs, they are one in the same, but... come on...

Also, Waltraute? Yeah. I will leave that one. You guys know where I’m going.

The last 18 cards are titled ‘Battle On Xena’ and have some striking battle images.

But wait, there’s more. It’s not just the front of these cards that have some charming images. The backs of the cards make up 9-card pictures, much like puzzle pieces.

What more can I say? They picked some attractive images and stylised them in such a fashion that has created a beautiful base set.

Thanks for reading. xo

#xena #xwp #trading cards #lucy lawless #renee o'connor #rittenhouse #art and images #xenites

10 notes · View notes

chaoticdisater · 4 years

Text

Red white & royal Blue Favourite quotes

“How many times do I have to tell Y’all not to discuss your murder plots in front of a sitting president” their mother interrupts “Plausible deniability. Come on” (Pg 64)

I don't know WHO you think you're kidding, you Hufflepuff-ass bitch, (Alex to henry over text pg 69)

“‘put the turkeys in my room’ ‘No.’ ‘put them in my room, put them in my room, put them in my room -’ later that night as Alex stares into the cold pitiless eyes of a prehistoric beast of prey, he has a few regrets” (Alex and his mother Pg 76)

“’he- Oi! Not for you Mr.wobbles! those are mine!’ more rustling and a distant offended Meow, ‘no, Mr. wobbles you bastard!’” (Henry at his sister's cat, pg 80)

“Dec 8, 2019, 8:53 PM yo there's a bond marathon on and did you know your dad was a total babe HRH prince Dickhead I BEG YOU TO NOT “ (Henry and Alex over text Pg 84)

“’ the options Id like...’ he says dragging the words out. ‘they don't quite seem to be options at all’” (Henry Pg 107)

“’ christ you're a thick as it gets’ he says and he grabs Alex's face in both hands and kisses him.” (Henry Pg 107)

“‘Seventy-eight percent probability of latent Bi-sexual tendencies. one hundred percent probability this is not a hypothetical question’” (Nora pg 118)

“‘am I? do you think I'm Bi?’ ‘I can't tell you that Alex!’ she says ‘that's the whole point!’” (Alex and Nora Pg121)

“she slants a look at him ‘is this a diabolical scheme of seduction?’ she asks ‘if so, yes.’“ (Nora Pg 130)

“Alex knocks the candelabra off the table next to them and pushes henry onto it so hes sitting with his back against - Alex looks up and almost breaks into a deranged laugh - a portrait of alexander hamilton.” (Pg 132)

“‘im going to die’ henry says helplessly. ‘im going to kill you,’ Alex tells him.” (Henry and Alex pg 133)

‘”and if you fucking ghost me again, I'm going to get you put on a fucking no-fly list. got it’” (Alex at henry pg 134)

“worst of all, Henry is good“ (Alex's thoughts on henry playing Polo Pg 147)

“’I’m gonna go, Uh’ Alex says ‘say hi to henry’ Amy's mouth settles into a grim line ‘Please don't elaborate’ ‘Yeah I know’ Alex says ‘plausible deniability’” (Alex and Amy Pg 148)

‘A <[email protected]> to Henry his royal highness prince of whatever, Don't make me learn your actual title’ (Alex’s email to henry Pg 152)

‘Henry <[email protected]> to A Alex, first son of inappropriately timed Emails when I’m in early morning meetings’ (Henry’s email to Alex Pg 155)

“when he shows up to a briefing two days later Zahra grabs his jaw with one hand and turns his head, peering closer at the side of his neck. ‘is that a Hickey’ Alex freezes. ‘I . . . um, no?’” (Zahra and Alex pg 162)

“‘Do you have a last name?’ Alex has never actually offered a greeting when calling Henry ‘What?’ the usual bemused elongated one-syllable response” (163 Alex and henry over the phone)

“‘Baby’ its become a thing: Baby he knows it’s become a thing. hes slipped up and accidentally said it a few times, and each time, Henry positively melts” (Alex Pg 166)

“‘I miss you,’ Alex says before he can stop himself he instantly regrets ut but henry says. ‘I miss you too’” (pg 173)

“she flung her arm out emphatically enough to upset an entire potted cactus on her dresser and says ‘Because until now you weren't fucking the prince of England’” (June pg 177)

“‘you should try saying some of that stuff to Him’ ‘stop trying to Jane Austen my life’” (June and Alex Pg 180)

“’ is now a good time to point out henrys very hot Very rich best friend is basically in love with you?’ Alex says to June ‘hes like some kind of billionaire genius manic-pixie-dream philanthropist. I feel like you would be into that.’ ‘Please shut up,’” (Alex and June Pg 182)

“‘yes, yes, Pez, we know there's nothing you cant do,’ says henrys voice off-camera ‘no need to rub it in’“ (henry Pg 184)

“‘oh I haven't had vodka since uni,’ henry says ‘it tends to make me erm, well-’ ‘flamboyant?’ Pez offers. ‘uninhibited? randy?’ ‘Fun?’ Bea suggests ‘Excuses you, I am loads of fun all the time! I am a Delight’“ (Henry Bea and Pez pg 190)

“’yes Beatrice, we shall behave in a manner befitting the crown,’ henry says. his eyes are slightly crossed ‘don't be a tosser’“ (Henry and bea Pg 195)

“He likes taking henry apart but there's something incredibly intantament about sitting on the bed they wrecked the night before, the only one who watches him create Prince Henry of Wales for the day.” (Pg 200)

“‘So this is the gang now, huh?’ and through it all, Alex realizes with a start: he has friends now.” (Cash pg 201)

“How is a man to get anything done knowing Alex Claremont-Diaz is out there on the loose?” (Henrys email to Alex pg 203)

“yours in sexual frustration Henry” (henrys email to Alex pg 206)

“once again, how had he ever convinced himself he was straight,” (Alex pg 213)

“‘just so we’re clear,’ Alex said ‘Im about to have sex with you in this storage closet to spite your family. Like that's what's happening?’“ (Alex pg 217)

“your Brave I could use some of that” (Pg 218)

“Because that's what he would do if he were here in this palace to fall in love Henry” (Pg 220)

“Zahra doesnt even look up from her phone ‘that was my boyfriend and no, you may not ask me any further questions about him’” (Zahra Pg 223)

“If he’s some anonymous normal person removed from history he’s twenty-two and he’s tipsy and he’s pulling a guy into his hotel room by the belt loop. He’s pulling a lip between his teeth and he fumbling behind his back to switch on a lamp and he’s thinking I like this person” (Pg 228)

“You still are. Because you still bloody care so much.” He leans down and presses a kiss into Alex’s hair. “And you are good. Most things are awful most of the time but you’re good” (Henry Pg 230)

“’Seriously?’ She hisses ‘your literally putting your dick in the leader of a foreign state who is a man at the biggest political event before the election in a hotel full of reporters in a city full of cameras in a race close enough to fucking hinge on some bullshit like this like a manifestation of my fucking stress dreams and you’re asking me not to tell the president about it?’” (Zarha pg 233)

“The next slide is titled EXPLORING YOUR SEXUALITY: HEALTHY BUT DOES IT HAVE TO BE WITH THE PRINCE ENGLAND? she apologizes for not having time to come up with better titles Alex activity wishes for the sweet release of death” (Pg 237)

“History huh? I bet we could make some.” (Alex’s email to henry Pg 241)

“The pair of you share and an alarming number of traits by the by: passionate determination, never knowing when to shut up, &c &c,” (herny’s email to Alex Pg 242)

“Regards Haplessly romantic heretic prince henry the utterly daft” (henrys email to Alex pg 243)

“‘It’s math,’ Nora says ‘Math has no authority here,’ June tells her ‘Math is everywhere June’” (Nora and June Pg 247)

“Henry is tipsy and shirtless and attempting to referee” (pg 252)

“’Some times you just jump and hope it’s not a chiff’” (Alex dad Pg 256)

“Well, Alex is so in love he could die.” (Pg 257)

“He’s been falling in love with Henry for years probably since he first saw him in glossy print on the pages of j14 almost definitely since Henry pinned Alex to the floor of a medical supply closet and told him to shut the hell up.” (Pg 257)

“’Fuck off five nine is average’” (Pg 258)

“’H?’ He whispers ‘you awake?’ Henry sighs ‘always.’” ( Pg 260)

“He’s got a distinct feeling of something being pulled out of his hands right before he could grasp it.” (Pg 263)

“something rises in Alex's throat - anger, confusion, hurt, bile. Unforgivably, he feels like he might cry” (Pg 270)

“’Fuck I swear you don’t make it fucking easy but I’m in love with you’” (Alex Pg 271)

“’I never thought I’d be stood here faced with a choice I can’t make because I never ... I never imagined you would love me back’” (Henry pg 273)

“He’s in Henry’s face now if he’s getting his heart broken tonight he’s sure as hell going to make Henry have the guts to do it right ‘tell me you're done with me. I’ll get back on the plane. that's it. and you can live here in your tower and be miserable forever, write a whole book of sad fucking poems about it, whatever just say it’” (274)

“He’s in stupid unbearable love and Henry loves him too and at least for one night it matters, even if they both have to pretend to forget in the morning” (Pg 275)

“He tells his too fast brain: don’t miss this time he’s too important” (Alexs thoughts Pg 275)

“henry’s hands-on him are unhurried and soft and they make out lazily for hours or days.” (Pg 280)

“Alex sighs ‘i don't think I told you but she uh. well, when she fired me she told me that if I wasn't a thousand percent serious about you. I need to break things off.’ Henry nuzzles his nose behind Alex's ear ‘a thousand percent?’” (Alex and Henry Pg 282)

“‘Diaz you insane hopeless romantic little shit’ says the voice of the president of the united states, muffled in the bed ‘it had better be forever. Be safe’“ (Pg 284)

“hes cut off mid-sentence because Alex has stopped in the middle of the corridor and yanked him backwards into a kiss” (pg 286)

“’its funny’ henry says ‘i always thought of the whole thing as the most unforgivable thing about me but you act like its one of the best’“ (henry Pg 289)

“he takes the chain off his neck and slides the ring on next to the old house key. they click together gently as he tucks them both under his shirt, two homes side by side” (Pg 291)

“I opened my blasted mouth and said ‘because I'm not like the rest of the men in this family beginning with the fact that I'm am very deeply gay Philip’ once shaan managed to dislodge him from the chandelier Philip had quite a few words for me,” (Henry’s emails to Alex Pg 298)

“just leaving, not coming back. maybe burning something down on the way out. it would be nice.” (henrys emails to Alex pg 299)

“I thought, if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire” (henrys emails to Alex (describing how he felt when he first saw Alex) Pg 300)

“20. the fact that you have loved me all along.” (alex’s email to henry (the list of things alex loves about henry) Pg 303)

“‘Oh my god Z what is That? did you get engaged?’ Zahra looks down at the ring and shrugs. ‘i had the week-end off’” (June and Zahra pg 305)

“’you and me and history, remember? were just gonna fucking fight. because your it okay? Im never gonna love anybody in the world like i love you,’“ (Alex pg 312)

“‘I swear to god if you say I'm too young I'm gonna lose my shit,’“ (Alex pg 315)

“What did he do ‘be more specific’“ (Alex to Zahra pg 321 )

“’the president is sitting down with as many members of the office of communitcs we could drag out of bed at three in the morning’” (Zahra Pg 323)

“‘pack a bag’ she says ‘we’re going to londan’” (Zahra Pg 334)

“she (Zarha) seems confident Shaan will agree to it and willing to physically overpower him if not.” (pg 334)

“still the cocky shit head part of him is slightly pleased to finally have claim on henry. Yep, the prince? Most eligible bachelor in the world? British accent face like a greek god, legs for days? Mine” (Pg 336)

“‘youre giving my ulcer an ulcer’“ (Zahra pg 336)

“‘Im running on nothing but black coffee, a wetzels pretzel, and a fistful of B12. Do not even breathe in my directrion,’“ (Zahra Pg 339)

“He leans up and kisses the underside of his jaw, finding it rough from a full fitful day,” (pg 340)

“‘What kind of family, that says we’ll take the murder, we’ll take the raping and pillaging and the colonizing, well scrub it up nice and neat in a museum but oh no you’re a bloody poof? That’s beyond our sense of decorum’” (Henry pg 347)

“Bea seizes the pot of tea from the center of the table and dumps it into his lap ‘Oh, I’m terribly sorry Pip’ she says grabbing him by the shoulders and shoving him sputtering and yelping toward the door ‘so deardfully clumsy, you know I think all that cocaine I did must have really done a job on my refexes!’” (Bea pg 357)

“Henry pulls Alex close and kisses him whispers, ‘I love you I love you I love you’ and it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter if anyone sees.” (Pg 358)

And that’s when I gave up I do have more but well I didn’t want to make this list any more

#alex claremont diaz #henry got to many names for me to remeber #prince henry of wales #red white and royal blue

61 notes · View notes

monstersandmaw · 5 years

Text

Male lizardfolk x female reader (nsfw) *Commission*

Edit which I’m including in all my works after plagiarism and theft has taken place: I do not give my consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted anywhere. They are copyrighted and belong to me.

A commission for @ivymemnoch, featuring a nerdy lizardfolk boy (colouring/design based on a European green lizard) and a tall reader. This is the first of my five commissions to be completed and posted on here, and since it’s a paid commission, it doesn’t get early release on Patreon. Enjoy!

8144 words, no warnings, only fluff, some geekery, and some nsfw at the end. I will add though that I discovered that snakes aren’t the only reptiles to have two penises... lizards do too.

---

After a draining, all-day session in the recording studio, the last thing you wanted was to step out of the soundproofed booth and hear the relentless thrumming of raindrops on the windows.

The producer called over to you, briefly drawing your attention away from the foul weather, and grinned. “That was great! You really nailed her character. I think we can press on with the next section on Monday.” The sphinx smiled at you and stretched slightly before adding, “You have a good weekend now. Rest that voice of yours!”

You smiled and turned to look out of the nearest window with a grimace sliding onto your face. “Ugh. What a day to leave my umbrella behind,” you muttered. “Anyway, see you.”

Lingering just a moment more in the doorway of the recording studio, you eyed the rain and then - resigned to smelling like a wet werewolf - made a dash for it. Three seconds after you’d left the building, it doubled in strength and began to thrash down. Up ahead, still illuminated despite the fact that it was after five o’clock, was a shop you’d often thought about going in, but had never made time to venture inside. With an indignant squawk as the universe nudged you not-so-gently towards the comic book store by dripping water down your collar, you hurtled across the empty street, splashing through rapidly-forming puddles, and shot inside, soaked.

Standing on the mat for a moment, you shivered and gazed around at the room beyond. The walls were lined with bookshelves containing relatively ordinary looking books, and in the centre of the room was a lower stand displaying comics. On the top of this shelf, however, was a small army of figurines from a plethora of games and movies, and as you spotted a favourite of yours, you grinned. This place was nerd nirvana.

At the back of the room, surrounded as if in a shrine by a small alcove dedicated to arts and crafts and prop-making supplies for tabletop games, was the counter and cash register. The figure sitting behind it had looked up as you burst into his slice of peaceful heaven and the movement of his colourful head drew your eye over to him. Tall, slim but clearly muscular, with lime green skin speckled with gold and a wash of vibrant blue across his throat and up his cheeks towards friendly, golden eyes, the lizardfolk looking at you in mild surprise was frankly gorgeous.

You blinked stupidly for a second and then blurted, “I promise not to drip on any of the books.”

He grinned, a wide, warm smile that showed a row of pointed white teeth. “Appreciate it,” he said. His amber, unblinking gaze shifted to the rain and he said, “Gods, it’s really throwing it down out there.”

“Yup. I didn’t make it more than a hundred yards from work before bolting for cover. Nice place to duck into though,” you added, eyeing the figurines and graphic novels around you.

“You work near here?” he asked, setting down the tiny model he’d been painting. His clawed fingers were surprisingly slender and delicate.

You nodded. “Currently, at least. I’m a voice actor. The recording studio is just round the corner.”

“Sweet!” he exclaimed. “You voiced any characters I might know?”

You shrugged. “Maybe? I mean, Eliana from Ice Dragon Chronicles is probably the one I’m most known for? Mostly it’s just small parts for all sorts of things though. She was a rare break…”

“No way!” he breathed, “That’s awesome! Oh wow…” and he practically giggled with delight. His blue throat flushed a darker, more vibrant colour too. “That’s so cool. I’m sorry - you probably just wanted to browse in peace, or even just stay out of the rain. I’m sorry.”

Laughing softly, you said, “You know what? I’ve always wanted to check this place out, but I don’t really know where I’d start… I’ve read a few Manga, but I’d like to try a graphic novel…”

He stood, revealing just how tall he was. You were pretty tall yourself, for a human, but he stood easily a head higher than you. He blinked slowly and grinned, twitching his head towards the shelves along the walls. “Here’s one I always recommend to get people started. I warn you though, it’s a slippery slope… If you like this one, you’ll be obsessed in no time. I’m Bik, by the way.”

“I think I can handle it,” you smiled and he chuckled, handing you a slim but beautifully designed book with a dragon on the front and a female knight on a chestnut charger.

The art style was gorgeous and the writing seemed pretty good quality too, and as you leafed through the first few pages, you found yourself drawn in to the story about the female knight and the dragon. Finally you glanced up at him and said, “I’m assuming you don’t want me to read it all here right now…”

“It’d be nice if you bought it,” he grinned playfully.

He’d just reached out to take it from you when the door opened and a hunch-shouldered werewolf pushed inside, having just shaken the worst of the weather off on the doorstep all over their companion. The person behind her was a tiny, slender, and extraordinarily pretty young woman with pastel lilac hair that for some reason looked natural rather than dyed. Despite her almost innocent, childlike looks, she seemed decidedly furious about the soggy insult from the werewolf. In turn behind them came a figure who would have blotted out the daylight in the doorway had there been any to speak of outside.

You’d never met a hobgoblin before, and you tried not to stare as he lumbered in after the other two who had come to an abrupt halt at the sight of Bik and you standing together with your new graphic novel between you. The grin on the werewolf’s face made you think of feeding time at the zoo, and Bik clearly noticed it because his lithe tail swished a few times behind him in annoyance.

“Shall I take that for you?” Bik asked, offering his elegant hand again for the book and leading you over to the till so that you could pay for it.

You smiled and nodded, aware that the small group behind you were muttering between themselves. Bik was obviously aware of it as well, and seemed irritated by it, though you weren’t sure why. As you fished out the right money from your wallet, he muttered, “My D&D group… We meet every Friday. I’m sorry about them.”

“They seem nice,” you smiled, trying to reassure him. “You know, I’ve never played.”

“Really?” he asked, his golden eyes flashing brightly for an instant.

You shook your head and took the book from him, sliding it into your bag to keep it dry. “One thing at a time, eh?” you grinned before he could invite you to join in and he laughed.

“Hope to see you back again,” he added sheepishly. “There are some others I can recommend to you, whether you like that one or not.”

You nodded. He seemed so cute with the way he tilted his head and blinked his big eyes every now and again. His colouring was also astonishingly pretty, looking like a mosaic of gold and green all along his back, with that vibrant zing of blue around his throat. “I’m sure I’ll see you soon,” you said as you turned to go, and you really meant it.

While you were walking down the row of books towards the door, grateful that the rain seemed to have lessened considerably, you heard the werewolf dig her friend in the ribs and mutter, “Talk about your type!”

“Shut up,” Bik hissed. “Or she won’t come back.”

Of course, you did find yourself returning to his shop, though not on a Friday evening. You were sure his friends were nice, but you weren’t really there to meet them; at least, not just yet.

Bik’s face lit up when you stepped inside and he hopped down off the counter where he’d been sitting like a naughty schoolboy, swinging his legs and reading a comic which sat in his lap. “You came back!” he chirruped as he set it aside and came over. He wore tight-fitting jeans with a big hole tailored in the back for the thick root of his tail, and a blue t-shirt with a faded print on.

“Did you think I wouldn’t?” you asked, aiming for playful but still coming across as a little shy, perhaps even coy. “You said you had more recommendations for me…”

“You liked it then?”

“Loved it! The twist at the end was amazing.”

His toothy grin made your stomach flip over and you glanced away as a blush rose up your cheeks.

You spent the next half an hour dissecting every detail about the first book he’d recommended, and from there, he chose three others that might suit.

Over the next few weeks, you returned to the shop regularly, and on one blustery August afternoon, you found him preparing some props for his next D&D session. Instead of talking books, you asked him about them, and he tilted his head in that adorable way he had, glancing over the half-finished figurines and what looked like a maquette of an old castle ruin or something.

“Did you make that too?” you asked, and he nodded.

“Yeah. It helps with the game, but honestly I just enjoy making stuff…”

“They’re beautiful! You could work in the props department at a film company or something.”

His blue throat became so vibrant in contrast with his lime green skin that it almost hurt to look at him, and he half turned away. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I get a lot of free time in the shop; fellow nerds aren’t too thick on the ground here, if you know what I mean. Hey, listen,” he added, scratching the back of his head with a clawed finger. “I’ve… uh… I’ve been wondering if maybe you’d like to come along to a session one day? You don’t have to take part or anything if you don’t want to, and we are, like, halfway through this campaign, but if you wanted to you could fill in for one of the NPCs or something… But… uh…” He trailed off, embarrassed and picked up one of the half-finished mimic chests on the counter top.

You watched as he turned it over in his delicate fingers and then chuckled. “You know what? I’d love to.”

At that, he dropped it and spun back around. “You’re serious?”

“Sure! Why not?” you asked, stooping to pick it up and handing it back to him. “Should I bring snacks?”

“Oh my god, could you get any more perfect!” he blurted and then laughed, staring down at the miniature mimic in his hands as if hoping that it might just eat him up on the spot. “Snacks would be amazing, but you don’t have to. Usually we take it in turns to bring something. It’s Oleander’s turn this Friday.”

“Oleander?”

“I don’t know if you remember her, but she’s the tiny one with the purple hair. She’s half fae and all sass. She bakes the most amazing sugar cookies though…”

“Got a sweet tooth then?” you asked and he nodded.

“Duly noted. Tell me about the others? Was the big one a hobgoblin?”

Bik nodded. “Yeah, that’s Jos. He’s kind of shy, but he’s great once you get to know him. He’s playing this tiny elven bard, and she’s -” he broke off, realising he was about to go off on a long and potentially quite boring waffle about their characters. Clearing his throat, he said instead, “Anyway, so yeah, that’s Jos. The werewolf is Emma. She’s… a bit brash and loud at times, but she means well.”

“How do you guys all know each other?” you asked, moving over to examine the figurines on the counter while he talked.

“From school, actually,” he laughed, setting the mimic back down. “It’s the typical - stereotypical I guess - thing of a bunch of rejects forming a bit of a ragtag band, and we’ve just been best mates ever since.”

With a fond smile, you firmly agreed to come to their next session.

You showed up with a bag of cookies, not wanting to seem tight but equally not wanting to try and one-up the resident baker in the group. You were also running a tad late after the recording session had run over, and the door was locked when you arrived at quarter past seven, and you had to bang on the glass repeatedly until Bik scuttled out to rescue you.

“I’m so sorry!” he said as he stepped to one side and let you in. “I thought I left it off the latch for you! I should also have given you my number. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine!” you laughed as he cringed. “But I wouldn’t say no to having your number…”

He went still and then smiled.

You followed him into a storage room at the back of the shop which had been decked out with flickering LED candles, and in the centre of the room was a round table set up for their game. They hadn’t really started yet, and Oleander was, to your surprise, sitting in Jos’ lap. He pecked her affectionately on the top of the head and picked her up, setting her back down on the ground. The werewolf, Emma, snuffed at the air and turned around, tail wagging from between the slats of her chair.

“Hey!” she grinned, leaping up and stepping over to hug you. “I’m sorry. I’m a hugger. You made it though! And…” and she sniffed ostentatiously, “And you brought goodies!”

“I couldn’t not bring goodies,” you chuckled, handing the modest bag of cookies to Bik.

“Tibikthio,” Emma said in a mock-formal tone to Bik, “You picked a good one.”

You turned slowly to the lizardfolk who had closed his eyes in semi-horror. “I hate it when you use my full name,” he groaned.

“Tibikthio…” you repeated. “I like it…”

You caught the tiniest flicker of something cross his face but it was gone a second later.

“Well he hates it!” Emma barked. “Come on, pull up a chair.” She adopted a silly accent, like some old crone, and added, “There’s plenty of room, m’dear!”

Smiling, you glanced at Bik, who still looked a bit embarrassed about the whole name thing, and then you settled in between him and Emma as the game began.

To start with, you stayed on the periphery, letting them tell their story and act it out. Some of them would have made good voice actors, though Oleander tried a bit too hard in places. But they were having an absolute blast. Bik was the dungeon master, weaving elements of improv and story-crafting seamlessly into one narrative, though there were some gaffes and hilarious moments when it all fell apart. By the end of the session, you had cried tears of laughter until your stomach hurt, and had had your heart in your mouth for the entirety of one fight in a long-lost temple.

It was past ten when they wrapped up, and Bik insisted that they just leave everything there for next time. “It’s late,” he said, “And who wants to tidy up now anyway…?” He was met with a chorus of nods and yawns.

Your stomach growled though as you stood and you felt a bit light-headed.

“You ok?” Bik asked, head tilting quizzically. “You look a bit squiffy… Didn’t make you queasy with all the guts and goop at the end of the fight, did I?”

Reassuring him, you told him you had just missed supper that night because of work, and he looked horrified. “There’s a place round the corner that’s open til midnight. You want to grab something?”

Your initial reaction was to refuse politely and say you’d rustle something up when you got home, but you happened to catch Oleander’s violet eyes as she looked from Bik to you with what could only have been described as a look of hope on her face, so you took a gamble and nodded. “Sure, I’d like that.”

Bik shut up the shop and bid his friends goodnight. Oleander winked at him but offered no comment before demanding that Jos carry her home, which he dutifully did. Bik caught you looking at them and smiled. “They’ve been together since they were sixteen. Real high school sweethearts.”

“They’re adorable,” you offered. “I mean, they’re kind of polar opposites, but… it’s nice.”

“There’s hope for those of us who tend to prefer other species…” Bik muttered playfully. “Come on, it’s not far.” As you walked along the empty street, he asked, “Did you have fun?”

“I did,” you replied honestly. “I had no idea it was so…” you waved your hand while you searched for exactly the right word.

“Nerdy?”

You snorted a laugh and corrected him. “Complicated… involved… complex…”

He shrugged casually and shivered. “It’s what you make of it, I guess. We’ve been plotting this particular campaign for months. It’s nice to be able to play it finally!” He shivered again and hugged his bare arms around himself, claws scratching slightly on his rough skin.

“Are you cold?”

He nodded. “I forgot my jacket. I’m not very good with the cold. It’s a lizardy thing.”

The evening wasn’t particularly chilly, but you supposed he was cold-blooded.

“You want my jacket?” you asked. “I think your shoulders are slim enough that it’d probably fit you.”

He shot you an odd look. “Isn't the guy supposed to be the one to offer that to the girl?”

“Only if you stick to stuffy old gender roles,” you grinned. “You want it or not?”

“Yes please,” he mumbled and took it off you with a grateful smile. He looked odd wearing it, but he burrowed into it for the remainder of the short walk to the late-night restaurant.

The two of you sat down and chatted, and you remarked on just how relaxed it felt.

“Yeah,” he said. “It’s… It’s nice. I’m glad you got rained on all those weeks ago…”

“Me too,” you laughed. He was a dork, but you liked that he felt genuine, and that his sense of humour was a bit off the wall.

The restaurant wasn’t fancy by any stretch of the imagination, but the food they served looked amazing. Run by a big Highland minotaur with a massive belly and a hearty laugh, it offered exactly the kind of meal you needed after not having had much all day, and the two of you took a seat in a quiet corner on some comfortable, diner-style benches.

The lizardfolk who took your order reminded you of a gecko, and had pinkish colouring and large, blue eyes. While you had always been drawn to lizardfolk, somehow no one seemed to compare to Bik lately.

While you waited for your food, Bik interrupted your musing and asked, “What made you get into voice acting? Maybe next time you can voice some of the other characters they meet…?”

“I think I’d like that,” you admitted. “Normally everyone just asks me to do impressions of famous people, you know, because I have an ear for accents and all that.”

He smiled and rested his chin in his hands, staring at you unblinkingly. It might have made anyone else seem a bit intense, but with him it just seemed endearing. As much as he loved to tell a story, he seemed just as happy to listen to one too.

“Honestly, I kind of fell into it. I did music and drama at college and was all set to go down the ‘traditional’ acting line, but I found I was more comfortable bringing characters to life with my voice than my entire body. It’s still really hard work though. Most people reckon that if you can do a few accents or a funny voice, that’s it, but it’s so much more than that.”

He nodded in agreement. “Oh absolutely! I mean, I think I gathered as much just from what we do in our little amateur group. We all sit round a table and we say our ‘lines’, and we all bring our characters to life as convincingly as we can. We’ve been doing it for years, but we’re still not very good!” Bik grinned at you, showing all his teeth, and you smiled back. A moment later he added, a bit dreamily, “I still can’t believe you voiced Eliana. She’s one of my favourite characters ever! I love that game. I wish she’d been a playable character…”

You laughed, honestly a bit bashful.

Before it could become awkward, your food arrived and the two of you chatted some more around mouthfuls of delicious, humble, homely food until you thought you were going to burst.

“Oh man,” you groaned, sitting back in your seat. “I won’t need to eat for a week!”

Bik smiled and said, “I actually probably won’t eat for a week.”

“Wow, that’s…”

“Economically beneficial?” he snickered. “True. I’d rather be like that than like Jos. He has to eat six meals a day just to fuel his body.” He leaned on the table and added in a conspiratorial stage whisper, “And you know what? Oleander eats just as much as he does.”

“No way!” you gasped. “But she’s tiny! How does she do it?”

“She’s half Fae,” he said. “There’s probably magic involved.”

“Lucky her,” you muttered. “Though on second thoughts, grubbing up six meals a day sounds like a lot of effort. But seriously though, I am so full.”

The minotaur who owned the place came out at that moment and said in a heavily accented rumble, “Ach, too bad! I was gonna offer you’s some dessert!” He waggled a pair of menus at you hopefully.

“We’ll just have to come back next week,” you said and the minotaur laughed heartily.

Bik seemed sleepy after the heavy meal, but he walked you back to your place and you exchanged an awkward hug on the threshold. You got the sense that it wasn’t just you who wished it had been more, but neither of you was ready to make that leap just yet.

That first Friday was the first of many trips to the shop to watch them play D&D together, and after only a few weeks, you began to join in more activelyn. And so you found yourself lending your vocal cords to street merchants and beggars, high nobles and sea captains as the unlikely group made their way across their fictional land. The tables had turned a bit, and now it was you who made them helpless with laughter, even mimicking Oleander’s very particular speech patterns when the group ran into a mimic.

“That’s amazing!” she said. “Are you sure you’re not Fae?”

“No,” you said, “I mean, I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure I’m very ordinary…”

“You’re not ordinary at all!” Bik blurted and everyone burst out laughing.

“We all know that Bik’s got the hots for you!” Emma grinned.

Oleander chimed in with, “Well, as much as a cold-blooder can have the ‘hots’ for anyone…”

“Oi,” Bik grunted. “I’m sitting right here you know!”

“Better speak up more often,” Oleander teased playfully, chucking him affectionately under the chin like he was a favourite hunting hound or something, “Or she won’t notice you…”

“I’m going to write you all into a jail cell next week,” the dungeon master grumped. “Then you’ll be sorry.”

After that session, he claimed he was tired and begged off going to supper with you. Of course you said it was fine, but you had grown used to your private suppers together and fought off the lump of disappointment that lodged itself unexpectedly in your throat. He waved and slouched off down the street, leaving the rest of you outside the dark and empty shop.

“I think you went a little far this time,” Jos commented in his deep, gravelly voice to the two girls and they sighed. “He’s always been very sensitive about… you know, ‘matters of the heart’…”

“Yeah. Poor thing,” Oleander said and she looked at you with her large purple eyes. “The more he likes someone, the more awkward he can get. I’m sorry we butchered it tonight for you though. I’ll make it up to you. Fae’s honour.” After a pause, she added, “You do like him, right?”

“Very much,” you admitted quietly. “He’s very gentle. It’s nice.”

“He used to play lacrosse back in high school,” Jos grinned. “He wasn’t gentle then! But he’s sweet when it comes to people he cares about. He looked out for me at school.”

You shot him a surprised look and he laughed. “I’m sorry,” you said quietly. “You just don’t look much like the type who needs anyone to look out for them…”

Oleander patted his colossal forearm and cooed, “Ol’ Jos here wouldn’t say boo to a housefly, would you darling?” He smiled affectionately at her and said nothing. “We’ve always been the outcasts and misfits I guess. Bik’s the most normal one of the lot of us, all things considered.”

Emma announced with a sudden curse that she was running late to meet her girlfriend, and loped off into the night on all fours with an accompanying farewell howl, her backpack bouncing around on her shoulders, and Oleander and Jos bid you goodnight and headed off towards the bus stop, leaving you to make your own way back. It was strange not to have Bik by your side that night, and it made you realise how close you’d become to him over the last few weeks.

Back home, you curled up on the sofa, not ready to start thinking about bed just yet, and had just got your phone out to drop him a text when your message tone chimed at you. The way your heart clenched with excitement at the sight of Bik’s name on the notification made you pause a moment and wonder just what this affection for him was turning into. Images of his bright green skin and golden eyes darted across your mind; the sound of his laugh, the way his tail coiled itself off the ground when he walked, the way his clawed hands held the little props he liked to make… You’d been telling the truth when you’d admitted to Oleander just how much you liked him.

‘Hey’, his text began. ‘Sorry I bailed like that. Did you get home ok?’

‘:) yeah,’ you replied. ‘And it’s fine. I get it, but they meant well. And I’m looking forward to the next session already!”

Jos was the one who finally insisted that you had to become a permanent member of their fictional gang. Casting a look at Bik as you all loitered in the main shop after the session, you saw the way he bit his thin lips and coiled his tail around one ankle. “Should I?” you asked.

You’d grown in confidence around them, glad to have been welcomed into their group, and he nodded mutely.

“That doesn’t seem very enthusiastic…” you shot with tongue-in-cheek humour dancing in your eyes.

“Obviously he’d love that,” Emma said. That day she wasn’t in her wolf form, and it was one of the few times you’d ever seen her as such. She had ash blonde hair with a harsh side-shave above her left ear while the rest was long, tied back in a ponytail. Her body was strong and muscular, and honestly she was utterly gorgeous.

You cocked an eyebrow at him and adopted the tone of one of the temple guardians you’d voiced for them earlier that evening. “Come now,” you said with mock sternness, “Speak the truth, young dragonling…”

Bik immediately caught on and followed the joke as he spoke in the voice of his dragonborn bard, quavering and simpering. “Please… oh Great One, don’t make me speak more on the subject… I’m only a worthless wyrm…”

You closed the short distance between the two of you and leaned in close. His jaw slackened slightly, his throat bobbing, and his beady, amber eye locked onto your face. “You are no such thing,” you smiled. Biko’s throat worked nervously. Drawing back, you added, “And I’d love to join the group. You’ll have to help me think of a character.”

Bik still looked like he’d suffered a minor heart attack, but Jos whooped and Oleander giggled. “Great!” they said as one.

You turned to Bik and said, “Maybe you and I can chat it over after dinner, if you’re still up for our usual post-session snack?”

“Definitely,” he croaked, voice sounding thick and slightly awestruck. He looked a bit stunned, but you decided it was in a good way.

He held the door open for you and you stepped close to him as you headed out into the late evening, pressing a hand flat against his chest as you passed, and murmured, “Thanks.”

He recovered quickly, though he did seem to be concentrating very hard on the task of locking up the shop, and as the two of you walked away from the others, he kept glancing down at you.

“What?” you finally asked with a giggle.

“Nothing.”

“It’s clearly something…” you pressed, turning and walking backwards so you could look at his face. “Regretting your decision to let me join the gang?”

“Not at all!” he replied, apparently horrified that your thoughts had gone there. “No… The opposite actually…”

“Oh,” you sighed.

He breathed your name and then stopped. You drew to a halt as well, watching him with a hammering heart. Starting to talk again seemed tricky, but he managed it. “I… Uh… I’m really glad you’re… you know… around… Ah, shit… I’m so bad at this…”

“I’m glad I’m around too,” you said, and you slid your hand into his. His skin was rough and cool, and your first thought was that you would very much like it against other parts of your body.

Bik tightened his grip on your fingers briefly and let out a breathy, nervous laugh. “I’ve never, uh… courted a human before… Is that even the right term for it?”

“You can call it what you like,” you said. “And you don’t have to do anything special or different. Just… keep hanging out with me. Maybe we could watch a movie or something some time?”

“Ok,” he said, swallowing thickly again. “Let’s go somewhere different for dinner?”

You turned your eyes from his to the restaurant sign just up ahead. “But we always go here,” you said. “And we’re almost there… Where else is going to be open at this time of night?”

“You could… come back to my place?” he asked. “I mean, it’s nothing special, but… I’m a tidy reptile, I promise! No hoards of strange things either. I’m not a dragon…”

You had to laugh at his oddball sense of humour that only got quirkier the more apprehensive he got. He also couldn’t stop his throat from fanning slightly too, the reptilian version of sweating nervously you supposed. “Alight. I’d like that.”

The upper storey of the old house where he lived was open plan, with beautiful bare rafters and sloping ceilings, and hardwood floors. His claws clacked adorably on them when he moved about. He also had the heating on stupendously warm, and you took your coat and jumper off immediately. “Sorry,” he said when he saw what you were doing.

You reassured him, and started to look about a little bit while he busied himself in the kitchen and poured you both a drink.

There were bookshelves on practically every available space, and as well as containing a collection of rare first editions and hard-to-come-by novels, they also sported photos, some in battered frames and others just propped up here and there. Most of them featured lizardfolk who looked a lot like him. “Family?” you asked and he came over to stand beside you.

“Yeah. We were a big clutch,” he said as he held the glass out for you. “Poor mum! There are twelve of us.”

He told you the names of each of his siblings, and what they were up to now, but you were really only half listening to the words. There was something magical about his voice, some unearthly quality it took on when he began to tell a story, regardless whether that was a story about his own life or a fantasy tale made up with his friends.

“What?” he asked softly.

“I… I like the sound of your voice,” you said honestly, and you reached your fingers tentatively up to touch the blue of his throat. He drew in a shaky breath, eyes closing as his reptilian head tilted upwards to allow you better access to him. “You’re very beautiful,” you whispered. “The colour of your skin is incredible… I like this bit too,” you added, running a finger down his cheek where it blended from green speckled with gold to intense blue.

Bik brought his hands to your shoulders and looked down at you, blinking slowly. “Really?” he asked. “It’s not very… I mean… most males of my species have much deeper blue… I mean, just look at my brothers,” he added awkwardly, nodding at a picture behind you.

“I like your blue,” you chuckled without turning around.

Embarrassed, but obviously deeply flattered, he brushed his knuckle against your cheek and said, “Would you like that supper or do you have other things on your mind?”

With a grin, you said, “I suppose I could be distracted by food…” you admitted grudgingly as your stomach rumbled.

You watched him walk away to the kitchen area of the loft apartment, and sighed. This was turning into exactly what you’d hoped it might - a friendship blossoming into something deeper.

Wanting to test that theory, you crossed to join him and, while he still had his back to you, you slid your arms around his slender waist and hugged him. “You need a hand?” you asked, pressing your cheek against his back.

“I… I was going to suggest takeout,” he said bashfully, glancing back over his shoulder at you. “But if you want me to cook, I can?”

You shook your head. “It’s getting late,” you said, releasing him. “Another time. Let’s get takeout.”

While you waited for the food to arrive, you bickered playfully over movie choices, finally settling on some cheesy old film about a dragon who shared his heart with a selfish boy. It was actually pretty good, but it was still horrendously dated in places. It didn’t matter to you though. The food was really good, and the two of you snuggled up on the sofa to eat, with you leaning against his side.

“I couldn’t do this with many people,” you said, nudging him gently with your elbow.

“Do what?”

“Cosy up under someone’s arm. I’m usually too tall.”

He chuckled and swallowed. “Never dated an orc then, I take it.”

You shook your head. “Not dated all that much at all to be honest.”

“What? But your gorgeous,” he blurted and his skin flushed a much darker green. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t,” you said and put your hand reassuringly on his thigh. He jumped and then slid his arm around your shoulders, setting his empty takeout box down on the coffee table beside the sofa.

He gazed at you, a more serious look in his eyes, and said, “You know, I couldn’t help noticing your choices of media…” You flicked him a frown and he went on. “Ok, the first graphic novel with the dragon was on me, but everything else has also had dragons or lizards in…”

“You detecting a preference here?” you sassed gently.

“Am I?”

With an ostentatious roll of your eyes, you said, “I mean, I’ve always thought your kind extremely beautiful, but my interest in you is to do with you. It’s not some empty kink. You know that, right?”

He nodded slowly. “Just checking.”

“And what about you?” you said, also setting your empty food box down and shifting your position so that you came to rest astride his lap, the film almost over, forgotten and playing in the background. “I have to admit that your dragonborn seems to like humans rather a lot… Have you got a thing for us warmbloods?”

His throat worked and he didn’t meet your eye for a moment. “I mean… yes…” he said, and his clawed hands found your wide hips. He ran a circle carefully over them and moaned, his own hips shifting a little beneath you. “But when you walked into my shop, all bedraggled and soaking wet, I’d honestly never seen anyone more beautiful in my whole life.”

You laughed and kissed his cheek. He turned his head slightly as you moved away and drew you back for a proper kiss. His claws raked gently through your hair, messing it up as he gripped you firmly but tenderly, and his tongue slid slowly out to taste you, savouring the kiss. It wasn’t a conventional kiss like those you were used to, but it worked perfectly well. You rolled your hips against him once again and he broke the contact, letting his head fall back against the sofa cushions. His tail coiled and uncoiled beside you on the sofa and you reached for it.

“Can I touch you here?” you asked and he nodded breathlessly.

He gasped as you stroked your fingertips along the slightly rough skin of his tail and he brought the tip of it up to caress the back of your hand.

“Kinky,” you grinned and he snickered.

Bik, somewhat slack-jawed and clearly aroused, brought his blunt muzzle to the curve where your neck met your collarbones, and inhaled the scent of you deeply. His tail coiled tightly around your wrist for a moment before unravelling and falling limply onto the sofa again. “I want you,” he rasped.

You let your hips grind into him again and he gasped and uttered a soft curse under his breath as he stared almost reverently up at you. You nodded, and his claws hooked the hem of your top and lifted it up carefully, revealing your bra and he made short work of the clasp. Taking the weight of each breast in his hands, he caressed you and then, with pupils blown wide and dark so that his irises were a mere halo of gold, he took your nipple delicately between his sharp teeth and very gently sucked, moaning softly as he repeated the gesture on the other one. His rasping tongue curled around them too as they hardened under his attentions and you gave a shaky exhale.

“So beautiful,” he whispered as he let go, leaving you throbbing and tingling. “Gods, you’re so beautiful.”

“Bik…” you groaned when he stopped touching you so that he could simply stare at your half-naked body in his lap.

He smiled and to your immense surprise, simply stood up, hooking his arms under your thighs as you gripped his waist instinctively with your legs. He was a lot stronger than he looked and you nearly yelped in surprise. “I’ve got you,” he said as he carried you towards his open bedroom door, nudging it shut behind him with his tail.

He laid you down on top of the duvet and undressed the rest of you slowly, savouring the sight of you as he gradually revealed your body. You looked up at him dazedly and saw the tent straining against his jeans. “Bik… Not fair,” you said. “You’re still dressed.”

More nervously now that the attention was on him, he took off his own t-shirt to reveal a pale, creamy green stomach and chest. He was still stippled with other hues of green and even a few freckles of black, but his front was mostly pale. His lean waist and narrow hips looked deliciously inviting and you sat up and ran your fingers around the inside of his waistband just to watch him shiver beneath your touch.

His hands hung quietly by his sides as you undid the button of his jeans and he stepped out of them carefully. His taloned feet were as delicate as his hands, and you marvelled at them too before letting your gaze sweep up his slim, strong calves to his thicker and more muscular thighs and to the tight, black boxer-briefs that hugged every single curve of his body.

Bik lay down beside you without taking them off and raked his claws up the length of your legs and, applying a little pressure to your hip, pushed you onto your back. With his tail, he tugged your right ankle close to his body and parted your legs enough for him to run the pad of his thumb in a slow, teasing circle around the soft, sensitive skin above your clit.

Your body lurched joyously at his touch and you sucked in a breath. You began to tingle all over, heat prickling beneath your skin as he woke your whole body up with reverent kisses and touches.

“Can I taste you?” he asked a while later after he’d reduced you to a writhing, whimpering mess, and you nodded.

After you moved further up the bed to give him more room, he reverently placed both palms on your hip bones and nosed gently at your sex. His tongue licked a long, slow stripe and you cried out and arched your back as he laved over your lips and just flicked your clit with the tip of his tongue.

“You taste so beautiful,” he said before returning his attention to your body. He circled and nudged at you, dipping his tongue deep inside you as well, always coming back to your clit until you were almost screaming with want.

“Bik, please… Please make me come,” you panted. “I’m so close…”

“Can humans only come once then?” he asked with over-accentuated ignorance, and you knew from the tone of his voice that he knew the answer to that already. You growled inarticulately at him and he pulled back. “I’d better stop then.”

“No!” you half sobbed. “Please…”

Smiling softly, he stared at you and moved his thumb back to your swollen clit. His claws were too sharp for him to work you inside, but the pattern he made on your skin with his tongue was enough to drive you right to the edge, and then as the white heat built inside you, you felt your orgasm rolling over you like a great ocean breaker and you cried out, grasping at the sheets. As you came, he pressed his tongue hard against you, savouring you as you came against him.

When you eventually slumped back against the pillows, breathing hard and almost dizzy with how good you felt, you half opened one eye to find that he had lain down on his back and was palming his erection through the fabric of his boxers.

“Bik?” you asked in a slightly slurred whisper. Your fingers moved to the waistband and he tensed slightly. “Bik?”

Licking his lips nervously, he nodded and you drew his boxers off. At the top of his legs was a mounded sheath which quite obviously contained not one but two cocks. Neither was necessarily all that large, but they were very beautiful, and fully erect.

“We’re not exactly built like humans,” he said bashfully as you stared openly at him. “I… I was worried that -” he cut off with a deep grunt as you trailed your fingers around the edges of his sheath. His twin cocks - both a bright vibrant green tipped with blue - writhed slightly, coiling around one another and glistening with the same clear fluid that slicked his sheath.

“You’re beautiful, remember?” you reminded him, shakily propping yourself upright on one elbow to get a better look at him. You repeated the gesture, running your fingers tips around his sensitive sheath, and he accepted your words as truth as you started to worship him with the same careful tenderness he’d just shown you.

As you lavished attention on him, he started to unravel.

Soon his spine bowed up off the bed and his hips squirmed as you worked his twin cocks in one hand. The tighter you gripped him, the more noise he made as they twisted together beneath your fingers, and you finally wrung a deep, guttural, low-frequency rumble out of him that reminded you more of an alligator than the more delicate lizards he resembled.

“Gods,” he rasped, “You make it feel like spring…” and you knew he was referring to the traditional lizardfolk mating season. You’d just lowered your mouth to the tip of one of his cocks and given it a tentative suck when he blurted, “Can I come inside you?”

You nodded, and he switched positions with you so that he was on top. The heat of his cocks was a delicious contrast to the constant coolness of the rest of him and you bucked upwards against him just to feel them pressing against your sensitive clit.

“Both?” he asked warily and you nodded again, shifting so that he could line himself up. He kissed down your neck and between your breasts again before he nudged the tips of his cocks to your entrance. As he slid into you, slowly stretching you full, you watched his face carefully. Again, he began to rumble softly and he almost couldn’t speak as he hissed, “So tight… so hot… gods, you’re so hot…”

With a final push of his hips, he slid all the way inside you and paused a moment, clearly fighting the instinct to come almost immediately. Recovered, breathing steadily, he began to slide in and out, his rhythm increasing in tempo as he lost himself in the sensations of your body. The way his cocks felt inside you, twisting together and shifting in a way that no toy could ever hope to replicate, was unlike anything you’d ever experienced and you knew you were going to come again in no time.

“I’m…” he grunted.

“Me too,” you said, grabbing his rough-skinned arms and pulling yourself even further onto his cocks. “Bik, I’m going to come again.”

“Fuck,” he croaked as you clenched tight around him with a cry.

You wrenched his orgasm from him with the force of your own and he arched his spine, hips driving him deep inside you as he released, and he yelled out, voice hoarse, the sound cracked and broken. His jaws parted to reveal his sharp teeth and you kept your grip on his arms as you came a second time.

He shuddered violently, grunting and breathing hard through flared nostrils, and then fell forwards, barely catching himself in time on his forearms. He was spent and exhausted and so beautiful. His blue colouring shone in the dim light of his bedroom and you trailed your fingers lazily along the bridge of his nose towards his lips.

“That was incredible,” he whispered when he’d got his breath back. “I didn’t hurt you did I?”

“No,” you smiled and he hugged you briefly, lapping a little lizardy kiss on your forehead before pushing himself up on shaking arms and sliding free of you. His cocks coiled briefly in the warm air and he rolled onto his back beside you. With your thighs still slick with his release, you tucked yourself up beside him and took your time in exploring his relaxed body. Where before he had been tense, almost nervous, worried that his non-human body would be too strange for you, now he seemed to have fallen peacefully into a haze of bliss, and he let your hands roam all over his torso and down to his hips while wearing a soft smile the whole time.

His cocks lay soft across his skin, occasionally twitching and drooling a little, but eventually they began to shift back into his sheath. He slid his hand down and adjusted them, and shot you a look. “You really do like lizardfolk, huh?”

With a wry grin, you shook your head and said, “I really do just like you.”

—

I really hope you folks enjoyed this one! Don’t forget to let me know if you did enjoy it by leaving a like and/or reblogging it!

For all early releases, character art and bios, upcoming story info, and much, much more, join me over on Patreon!

You’ll have access to stories before anyone else, and you’ll get instant access Patreon-only content as well, including polls and an exclusive monthly story for those on the Pixies and Goblins tier or higher!

#exophilia #lizardfolk #lizard man #lizard monster #reptile monster #male monster #male monster x female reader #female reader #lemon

1K notes · View notes

alwaysmarilynmonroe · 4 years

Text

When most people hear the name, “Veronica Lake” usually one of three things comes to mind – that incredible peek-a-boo hair, the Film Noir’s with Alan Ladd or possibly Kim Basigner playing a Miss Lake lookalike in L.A. Confidential (1997) – fun fact, she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for that role. Although, with Veronica’s heyday being well over half a century old, that’s sadly usually as far as it goes.

However, with the Classic Hollywood Era being hugely timeless and forever coming back into fashion, the genre is becoming less of a niché subject and more Stars are on the public radar. If you’re a long time Vintage Lover like myself, you’ll be aware that unfortunately, a lot of our favourites don’t have many books written about them, or if they do, they’ve been out of print for a number of years and can be hard to find, or very expensive. Therefore, when I came across the news that Dean Street Press were publishing a reprint of Veronica’s Autobiography, which was first released in 1969, I was absolutely ecstatic! As most who know me are probably aware of my love for Blonde Bombshells, it may not be as well known that Veronica is my other favourite, after Marilyn.

There have only been two books published on Veronica, which I must add, astounds me – and one of them is this one which was co-written by ghost writer Donald Bain, who sadly passed away in October of 2017. The other is by Jeff Lenburg and I am fortunate enough to have both. However, Lenburg’s book is fairly controversial as he takes a lot of his information from Veronica’s mother, who claims a lot of detrimental things about her daughter – yet was estranged from her for many, many years. I think it’s actually being reprinted this summer and I will read it again, but would definitely advise new fans to stick to Veronica’s own words.

The republished version of Veronica’s Autobiography features a new cover with a stunning publicity photo of her in Ramrod (1947) which was directed by her then Husband, André de Toth. The book is a shiny paperback, with a non crease format, so even when you’ve finished reading, it will be in great condition and can take pride of place on your bookshelf! At 215 pages and 27 chapters, it’s not a huge length, but definitely a substantial read and full of personal anecdotes from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Broadcaster and writer, Eddie Muller adds a new Introduction and his following words really stuck with me, their relevancy still to this day does not go unnoticed,

“I’ll point out instead that while the public has granted Sterling Hayden, a legendary boozer and hash-head, a legacy as a heroic, larger-than-life iconoclast, it has branded Lake’s life after Hollywood a steady downward spiral of abasement, worthy of only pity. Blame a cultural double standard that applauds reckless rebellion in men but shames it in women.”

As the chapters do not have titles, I’ve decided to write down a snippet of information which sums up the pivotal points and various timelines in each section.

______________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 1:

– Starts in 1938 and traces Veronica’s move to Hollywood with her mother, step-father and cousin on the 4th of July. Veronica enrolls in the Bliss Hayden School of Acting and has her first role in a movie as an extra in RKO’s Sorority House (1939).

Chapter 2:

– Veronica’s signature peek-a-boo hairstyle is unintentionally created on the set of Forty Little Mothers (1940) by Director, Busby Berkeley who stated, “I still say let it fall. It distinguishes her from the rest”.

Chapter 3:

– Director, Freddie Wilcox sets up Veronica’s first Screen Test, whilst at home her step-father suffers a collapsed lung.

Chapter 4:

– Veronica joins the iconic William Morris Agency and recounts her knowledge of the infamous Hollywood Casting Couch and how she turned away from the many advances.

Chapter 5:

– Veronica meets her first husband, John Detlie and has her named changed by Producer, Arthur Hornblow Jr., who, after a second Screen Test, decides to cast her as Sally Vaughn in her breakout movie, I Wanted Wings (1941).

Chapter 6:

– Focuses on the location filming of I Wanted Wings (1941) from August 26th 1940 in San Antonio, Texas.

Chapter 7:

– Continues filming in Hollywood for I Wanted Wings (1941) and elopes to marry her first husband, John Detlie.

Chapter 8:

– Veronica discusses the first 8 years of her childhood and her move to Florida in her teen years and the two schools she attended in Montreal and Miami.

Chapter 9:

– Recounts various appearances in Miami Beauty Pageants as a teenager.

Chapter 10:

– Returns to 1941 with the release of I Wanted Wings (1941) and focuses on the worldwide phenomenon of the famous hair. Also finishes with Director Preston Sturges hiring Veronica for the role of The Girl in Sullivan’s Travels (1941).

Chapter 11:

Veronica shares the news of her first pregnancy with her mother and how her third trimester would coincide with the physical demands of filming Sullivan’s Travels (1941).

Chapter 12:

– Covers the filming of Sullivan’s Travels (1941) from May 12th 1941 and the revelation of Veronica’s pregnancy. It’s simply incredible when watching the film all these years later to come to the realization that she was between six to eight months pregnant!

Chapter 13: – The filming of This Gun For Hire (1942) and The Glass Key (1942).

Chapter 14:

– The filming of I Married A Witch (1942), So Proudly We Hail! (1943) and The Hour Before The Dawn (1944). Veronica also discusses the deterioration of her marriage and the tragic loss of her second baby, Anthony, who died a week after being born two months prematurely.

Chapter 15:

– Veronica divorces John and retells various anecdotes of the Hollywood Lifestyle in it’s heyday in the 1940s.

Chapter 16:

– Veronica discusses the filming of Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) and also her dating history during this period. She shares some fascinating stories of various celebrity anecdotes which include such Stars as, Errol Flynn, Katharine Hepburn, Howard Hughes and Gary Cooper.

Chapter 17:

– The filming of Bring On The Girls (1945), Duffy’s Tavern (1946) and Hold That Blonde! (1945). Veronica recalls marrying her second husband, Andre de Toth and shares a moving story from her visit to The White House in January 1945.

Chapter 18:

– The filming of Miss Susie Slagles (1946), Out Of This World (1945), Ramrod (1946), The Blue Dahlia (1946), Saigon (1947) and The Sainted Sisters (1948). Veronica and Andre expand their family as she has her third baby, a boy named Michael. She also talks about her and Andre obtaining their Pilot Licenses and how the death of her step-dad deeply affected her.

Chapter 19:

– Features a highly entertaining story of Veronica flying her plane, whilst carrying her forth child, in her fifth month of pregnancy. With her on board is her secretary Marge, who up until then had never flown before.

Chapter 20:

– Veronica gives birth to her forth baby, a girl named Diana and talks about the turmoil of her relationship with her mother, who decided to sue her for, “lack of filial love and responsibility” and over $17,000.

Chapter 21:

– The filming of Slattery’s Hurricane (1949) and Stronghold (1951). Veronica discusses her frustration with Andre’s prolific spending, which results in them filing for bankruptcy and ultimately, the deterioration of their marriage.

Chapter 22:

– Veronica moves to New York in 1951 and continues her acting career through various television appearances and the stage. She enters her third marriage to husband, Joe McCarthy, which she admits was volatile from the start and they divorce after just four years, in September 1959.

Chapter 23:

– Covers the years 1959 through to 1961. Veronica discusses her time taking a job as a cocktail waitress – which contrary to popular belief, she actually quite enjoyed. She also talks about the traumatic accident which resulted in a severely broken ankle, which caused her inability to act for two years.

Chapter 24:

– Delves into her relationship with Andy Elickson, a Merchant Seaman, who she met during her time working in the Martha Washington Hotel and focuses on the period between 1961 and 1966. She also writes about a high note in her stage career; appearing in Best Foot Forward in 1963.

Chapter 25:

– Veronica discusses her move to Miami from New York in 1966.

Chapter 26:

– The filming of Footsteps In The Snow (1966) and Flesh Feast (1970) which was then known as Time Is Terror and was originally shot in 1967.

Chapter 27:

– Ends in October 1967 with Veronica discussing her reading performance of The World of Carl Sandburg, which she describes as one of the, “finest moments” of her life.

______________________________________________________________________________

Veronica’s words are full of honesty, she does not sugar-coat her flaws and her anecdotes convey a great sense of humbleness towards her career and lots of self criticism to her talent, the latter which saddens me. I’ve noticed many of the great Stars rarely seem to have any belief in themselves. If only they could see how loved and appreciated they truly are. However, her loyalty and generosity towards her close friends and even acquaintances does not go unnoticed. It’s refreshing to see her be able to share her own story, without various opinions and conspiracies that have grown over the years being included.

Overall, there’s only two downsides that springs to mind. Firstly, as the book was originally published in 1969 and finishes at the end of 1967, we’re missing the six final years of her fascinating life and tragically nothing can be done to change this. Of course no one is at fault, it’s just a shame that those last years will remain mostly a mystery to us. It would have been wonderful to read about her time in England. Lastly, in the original edition, a number of pages featured very rare photos of Veronica throughout her years, including her own comments. Sadly, only a small version of the cover photo reappears at the end of the newly republished book. I’m assuming this is down to cost and or copyright, but it would be nice to see these rare treasures reappear in the latest edition for fans that are not fortunate enough to also own an original copy.

Ultimately, Veronica always maintains her true self and comes across as not a Screen Icon, but just like one of us – albeit with some extraordinary Hollywood stories. She’s simply, and I mean this in the most complimentary way – a human being. It’s been almost a decade since I discovered Veronica, eight years in fact and I for one have not only became even more endeared to Miss Lake, but, I have also developed a warm space in my heart for my fellow 5’2″ little lady, Miss Connie/Ronni Keane.

Lastly, a huge thank you to Dean Street Press for believing in the popularity of Veronica and so wonderfully reprinting hers and Donald Bain’s special words for us all to enjoy.

For anyone who wants to see more of Veronica, I’ve amassed a fairly large archive of photos over the years which can be viewed on my blog devoted entirely to her; missveronicalakes.

Follow me at;

BLOGLOVIN

INSTAGRAM

TUMBLR

TWITTER

YOUTUBE

For inquiries or collaborations contact me at;

[email protected]

Veronica: The Autobiography of Veronica Lake; Book Review. When most people hear the name, "Veronica Lake" usually one of three things comes to mind - …

#1940s #1950s #1960s #autobiography #blonde bombshell #book review #classic hollywood #constance keane #donald bain #femme fatale #icon #legend #old hollywood #peek-a-boo blonde #veronica lake #vintage

29 notes · View notes

keelime-xiv · 5 years

Text

LFRP: Keelah Se’lai - Balmung ♥

♥ The Basics ––– –

Nickname(s): Kee, Mistress Kee Age: Thirty-two Birthday: 5th Sun of the 4th Umbral Moon (5th of August) Race: Keeper of the Moon, Miqo’te Gender: Female Sexuality: Bisexual Marital Status: Adamantly Single Alignment: Chaotic Evil

♥ What I’m looking For ––– –

Adventure Friends Potential Victims Murder Happy Partners in Crime Sworn Enemies

♥ What I’m NOT looking For ––– –

Possessive/rude/pushy/impatient partners

♥ Additional information (OOC) ––– –

Keelah may seem intimidating, but I assure you she is an awkward fucker. She’s easy to get along with and I would love to do more with her. Please don’t hesitate to message me if you’d like to try her out, I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised how well she can fit into any scenario ♥

I’m Australian so my time online will be different, but I can be rather flexible. I can become distracted easily, but please don’t assume that I’ve become bored with you. I have simply forgotten and need a little poke~!

[IC Tag] [Answered Asks Tag] [Aesthetic Tag] [Reference Sheet Page]

♥ Contact Information ––– –

You can message me here for my contact information or catch me in game! I only RP through XIV as I found it to be a far less stressful medium for me. However, I would be delighted to discuss any potential RP plots through Discord.

(Continued under the cut ♥)

♥ Physical Appearance ––– –

Hair: Keelah’s hair is a dark purple, almost black, colour that hangs down past her shoulders in wild and sometimes unmanageable curls. She will usually wear it loose or coil it up into a tight bun for when she needs to work. [Visual Reference]

Eyes: Keelah’s left eye is a soft pastel pink and her right eye is a pale, sickly blue.

Height: 148 cm / 4′8

Build: Keelah is all hips and chest with an hourglass frame and lovely long legs. She works hard every day to keep herself toned.

Eyebrows: After first noticing her wild and curly hair, attention will often switch down to Keelah’s thick trademark eyebrows. The bushy brows are usually plucked and tapered back into a presentable style. [Visual Reference]

Scars: Keelah has a vertical scar through her right eye which caused its discolouration. There are two scars running across her right cheek on an angle through the first scar, they stop close to the ridge of her nose. On her left cheek there is a single scar, once again on an angle, that spans towards her nose. She has a vertical cut through her dark lips on her right side and a small horizontal cut across her brow that hides behind her fringe. [Visual Reference] Her facial scars she wears with pride, on her back however, there are scars she’s not so pleased to talk about. Such as the brand imprinted on the back of her neck that she keeps hidden at all times.

Tattoos: Keelah has a small collection of tattoos. She has Azeyma’s ward on her right hip, a pair of lace garter tattoos around her lower thighs, a pair of horns above her pelvic region, and a crescent moon surrounded by pink blossoms on her back.

Piercings: Tongue, nipples and down south are all pierced with a silver barbell, but her ears remain unpierced and she refuses to disclose as to why.

Common Accessories: Keelah often wears a collar around her neck to hide her brand mark, but the style of the collar will change on a regular basis to match her outfit. Keelah occasionally sports a pair of dark shades, sometimes for fashion, but mostly to hide her hangover. Beware of pointy things, Keelah also carries an array of knives on her person at all times. Where does she keep them all? It’s best not to think about it.

Usual Attire: Keelah can often be found wearing tight, black leather or latex, regardless of the weather conditions. Her favoured attire is comprised of a pastel pink latex corset with black trim, a fur trimmed, black latex, quarter cut coat, a pair of black latex booty shorts, thigh high black latex stockings held up by garters and a pair of black stiletto heels. [Visual Reference]

♥ Professional ––– -

Languages: Common tongue and some basic sign language.

Profession: - Informant/Saboteur: Keelah is a skilled freelance informant/saboteur. If you have the money (and care not for what methods she uses) then she’ll have the information you need. - Dominatrix: Keelah’s front for her informant/saboteur work is her high-end Dominatrix business, which she took up as a simple hobby only to have it explode into a full time career. Her skills are incredibly popular among the wealthy, and so her calendar is constantly booked solid.

Business Cards: If you meet up with Keelah ICly she is most likely to hand you a sleek black business card with the details for her Dominatrix business printed upon it in pale, metallic pink cursive. Upon the front it reads: ‘Keelah Se’lai - Dominatrix Extraordinaire’ Upon the back it reads: ‘Office 25 - Sapphire Avenue -Steps of Thal, Ul’dah - Consultation hours: 10 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday’ (FC Room)

Skills: - Archery: Keelah is an adept marksman with a bow. It is her weapon of choice as she prefers to take down her targets from long range.

- Hand to Hand Combat: Though Keelah prefers to use her bow, when called upon she can put up a fierce fight. She’s quick, she’s feisty and despite her short stature she packs one hell of a punch, but watch out! She also bites!

- Alchemy: Keelah has a knack for alchemy. At first she dabbled in alchemy just to understand her brother’s ramblings. However, after a little idle study she fell in love with the science. Keelah now uses alchemy in every aspect of her work and day to day life. From creating various toxins to help her infiltrate a facility to mixing up some rather potent aphrodisiacs or lubricants to help spice up the lives of her clientele. She has plans to release her own line of sensual lifestyle products.

- Gardening: Keelah loves tending to the flowerbeds of her cottage and the small green house she has set up on the balcony of her apartment. She loves each sprout much like a mother loves her own child. Keelah simply adores the greenery and loves watching it flourish. Her pride and joy is her vast herb garden which helps with her alchemy work.

- Musical: Keelah has a beautiful singing voice, but not only that, she can also play the piano and has been teaching herself to play a wooden flute she found while on her travels to the East. While she has overcome her stage fright and now plays intermission piano for the Kiss Cabaret, she still refuses to sing for anyone save for belting out a few drunken pirate shanties when she’s completely wasted.

♥ Personal ––– –

Birthplace: Though Keelah’s origins have been rumored to lie somewhere within the Black Shroud, she was raised from an infant by her adoptive Mother in Eastern Thanalan.

Religion: Keelah is open to the idea of Religion and often prays to Azeyma for guidance.

Patron Deity: Azeyma.

Residence: - Public Residence: Keelah’s public address is that of a ritzy penthouse apartment located atop one of Ul’dah’s dazzling skyrise towers. Comprised of four bedrooms, five bathrooms, an enormous living room, a fully loaded kitchen, stunning dining room, a huge library/study, a balcony with a pool and a small greenhouse, it is outrageously decedent. It is here she takes most of her clientele and potential business partners. (FC Room)

- Private/Secret Residence: Keelah secretly lives in an old, stone cottage surrounded by a lush and overgrown garden of wildflowers. The location of this fairy tale esque home is unknown to the general public, but there have been a few who have stumbled upon her home by mistake. This home is far more humble than her apartment and Keelah finds herself running off to stay there as often as she can. (Lavender Beds, Private House)

Personality: Keelah’s personality can be best described as impulsive. She tends to jump into things head first without considering the consequences. Keelah is loud, obnoxious, a little bit crazy, incredibly flirty and a romantic.

Likes: Keelah loves alcohol, smoking, sex, burning things, cutting things, fighting things, gardening, reading, and down time with Martin.

Dislikes: Keelah loathes prudes, stuffed shirts, unbearably obnoxious people, boredom, paperwork, and heights.

Favourite Food: Starlight cake, seafood stew, finger sandwiches, sushi and pussy.

Least Favourite Food: Jerky or salted/dried meats.

Virtues: Protective, calm, loyal, optimistic, brave, empathetic, loving, compassionate and will do anything for the ones she has come to love.

Sins: Murderer, pyromaniac, lustful, over indulgent, greedy, obnoxious, jealous, vindictive, reckless, impatient, and has an odd fetish for blood.

Excitements: Keelah becomes excited from the smell of blood, Martin, the colour pink, acts of defiance, well oiled muscles and cute people.

Fears: Keelah fears heights, being left alone/abandoned, and Mandragoras.

Short Biography: Left abandoned after an Amalj'aa raid struck her family’s caravan, Keelah was found and raised by an orphan Seeker girl (her mother Shelley) and an orphan Xaela boy (her brother Jack). Together the three survived the harsh Thanalan desert by pickpocketing traveling merchants outside Camp Drybone. It was a meager existence and they often found themselves in trouble with the local authorities, but they were happy. However, shortly after Keelah turned six her brother disappeared without a trace. Distraught, Shelley and Keelah traveled across Thanalan in search of him, but their search was soon interrupted by the approaching Calamity. Caught amidst the destruction, Shelley sacrificed herself to protect Keelah from an oncoming blast, leaving Keelah to wander through the wastes alone. Frightened and very weak, Keelah fell into the hands of a traveling slaver and was then sold to a brothel in Ul’dah. There she remained in servitude for several long and painful years until her Master suddenly (and suspiciously) died. Keelah vanished that night.

♥ Relationships ––– -

Partner: None

Children: None

Parents: One adoptive mother, Shelley La’tra

Siblings: One adoptive brother, Ramza Wyvernjack

Best friend and confidant: Martin Freepaw

Current Employer: Vachir Qerel and the company of The Keeper’s Kiss

Drinking Companion: Captain Rezaria

Pets: A small collection of personal AI Drones who follow her around and assist with her lab work. They also perform minor security protocols to keep anyone from discovering the hidden laboratory.

NPC Relations: Nanako Nanko. A stern and elderly Lalafell, she is Keelah’s loyal secretary who keeps the wild dominatrix in check.

♥ RP Hooks ––– –

Keelah’s Client: You find Keelah’s business details on the back of a black business card. You’re not sure what you need from this illusive woman, but you feel as though you’ll know for certain once you meet and talk with her. At first she’s scary and intimidating, your inner voice screams to run from her presence and never look back, but after a long discussion you begin to see Keelah for who she really is. A woman with flaws and needs just like any other. This started out as a strictly professional acquaintance, but perhaps it might bloom into something more? A friendship? A murder mystery? Let’s play it by ear~!

Keelah’s Mark: You’ve fallen into trouble with the wrong people and unfortunately for you they’ve sent in the best to make sure you disappear. She has been a mere shadow tracking you for days, you’ve been able to keep her at arms length so far, but even you grow tired of holding back. At last you give in and face her head on, but what happens next might not be as you planned. Will they fight? Will you win or will you lose? Will Keelah concede and help you take down the bastards that sent her after you? Or will she simply kill you for the money?

Keelah’s Cottage: You’ve heard rumors about it, ghost stories, nothing consistent. A strange cottage hidden deep within the black shroud and surrounded by the most enchanting garden that is unlike any other. However, anyone who had been brave enough to try and find this fabled cottage never returned, their lost screams haunting the night to ward off any would be heroes who would try to save them. Bah! It’s an old wives tale to stop children from wandering out into the forest unsupervised! Or so you tell yourself as you seek out this mysterious cottage. What will you find out there in the wilds? Will Kee be receptive of your visit or will she silence you like she has all the others who wandered into her little garden?

Let’s make our own - These are simply suggestions, I would love to brainstorm with you and come up with something unique~!

Thank you for taking the time to read all this! ♥

#lfrp #LFRP contacts #role play #character profile #Keelah Se'lai IC #Come rp with me #♥

105 notes · View notes

artificialqueens · 5 years

Text

in the sky with the fire below (branjie) - holtzmanns

AN: This was going to be a small 5+1 drabble, but somehow turned out to be much longer. I think it’s one of my favourite things I’ve written to date. As always, thank you to writ and bean for being the certified Best™ and making writing so much fun. Title taken from ‘Reforget’ by Lauv.

(read on ao3) | (find me at plastiquetiaras)

Five times that Brooke doesn’t know what to say, and one time that the words can’t be held back.

“We’re done.”

The two words knock him out one after another, caving in his chest like they’re anvils. They may as well be, from the way that he can’t breathe anymore, how the world feels slightly tilted off of its axis.

Vanessa looks at him with a challenge in his eyes, daring him to say something. To fight him, yell, plead, anything but what he’s doing now.

But he doesn’t.

Brooke is tired. Tired of the bickering, tired of being on completely different pages, tired of not being able to give Vanessa what he wants. Tired of not being enough, the way that he should.

Is it worth it? Is he worth it?

He’s seen relationships fall apart around him. His friends’, his parents’, ones that start so promising and are recalled breathlessly with so much happiness. But only last for so long.

The characteristics that people love about each other turn out to be the same ones that push them apart. Two sides of the same coin that can never quite land the way it’s supposed to.

He thought waiting for the right time, the right guy, would keep him from it. From experiencing the way that a person can turn from being the most beautiful one in the room to one that needs to be avoided at all costs. He had thought that he’d found it, found a person that wouldn’t make him want to pull away.

He was wrong.

Vanessa had always said that he wanted someone to fight for him. To give him that romantic moment, the movie ending that makes the audience wish that they had packed a box of tissues when heading to the movie theatre.

“So that’s it? You’re not gonna say nothing?”

He doesn’t.

“Coward.”

ii.

Oh, lord.

“Well, wasn’t that just spicy!” His fellow queen that is co-hosting the viewing party looks positively delighted.

The audience is cheering along with her, some of them yelling ‘Miss Vaaaanjie’ because he’s never gonna be able to escape from Vanessa now, is he?

He should have remembered that this episode was going to be the first one where they kissed. Not even a kiss, just a light peck. Them fooling around in the workroom, smack dab in front of the cameras because they were having fun, damnit.

It didn’t even mean much, back then. They were just messing around. It was before things had shifted and Brooke fell into it with his whole heart, only to be left in a bottomless pit that he’s still trying to escape from, to get back out of.

He realizes that his co-host is looking at him with an expectant expression. “Well?”

Fuck. She must have asked something. “Uh, what?”

“There you have it, folks. That little kiss was apparently so good that it’s still leaving her speechless. My, my, my, Brooke Lynn. Didn’t think you were the type to go after those cookies on national television.”

The audience is cheering louder and louder, and it makes him wish that he could disappear into his chair, fucking vanish from the face of the planet. How many weeks of this does he have ahead of him? Of more than just a light peck on camera, of feelings and arms wrapped around each other and kisses that meant so much more than that first one and their lip sync against one another, when one half of his heart got sent home without him?

The ending of the commercial break feels like a lifeline, when the eyes that are focused on him shift towards the projector screen as the episode starts up once more. He breathes a sigh of relief when it appears that no one is looking at him, takes a swig of his drink.

He’s gonna have to think of some better answers. Some prepared ones that don’t leave him bumbling like an idiot, stuttering as he tries to answer questions about moments on television which barely scratch the surface of their relationship.

Past relationship.

He needs a cigarette.

iii.

‘Crazy in Love’ is playing.

It shouldn’t be a big deal - it’s usually not enough to make him even blink; the song is present in the music libraries of pretty much every bar that he goes to.

But tonight he’s just finished a show in a bar in Tampa, and already thrown the last makeup wipe into the trashcan of the dressing room, packed up his drag. He’s ready to go home, really.

Well. His hotel room. Not home.

But ‘Crazy in Love’ echoes over the speakers as he tugs his small suitcase out of the dressing room, past drunken partygoers and queens still in a half-state of drag. The beats, the setting, everything is so familiar; gives him a sense of déjà vu.

September 2018. When Vanessa had a gig here at his home bar in Tampa and Brooke spent a whole day driving down from Nashville to surprise him.

The noise of delight, the way that Vanessa had thrown himself into his arms and hadn’t wanted to let go had been worth it.

Brooke had come to Vanessa’s gig, watched him get in drag and perform for loving fans. Had rained money on him because Vanessa deserved it, deserved to be appreciated, to be adored.

They had made out in the very same dressing room, Brooke wiping the smudges of lipstick off of his own lips, slightly drunk but not enough to explain the giddy smiles on both of their faces.

‘Crazy in Love’ had blared as Brooke helped Vanessa pack up his drag, looped an arm through his. They had gone through the same hallway, singing along obnoxiously off key and loud enough for a fellow queen to exclaim ‘Goddamn, shut the fuck up!’

They had gone back to one of their hotel rooms, and for a few hours nothing had mattered - no flights to catch, no unsaid feelings, no timezone changes completely fucking up their systems.

It’s different tonight.

No Vanessa - just him, the way he’s wanted, right? The way it had seemed to just be easier, right?

Right.

Brooke can’t really stop himself as he taps out Vanessa’s number with the pulsing beat of the music overhead. He needs to tell him about the song, where he is right now. He waits for it as it rings once, twice, three times.

Listens as he doesn’t pick up.

He steadies himself during the voicemail spiel (“I’m not here, ho, leave a fuckin’ message, BYE”), though it’s not enough to keep him from flinching during the resultingbeep.

The line crackles. He’s silent, watches the seconds pass by on the clock on the wall before the answering machine beeps again, signalling that he’s run out of time to record a message.

He doesn’t call again.

iv.

Brooke can handle it.

The idea of touring with Vanessa and the rest of the season eleven cast had initially filled him with trepidation. Doing shows with Vanessa - not just one, where they’d kiki for only a few hours, but instead night after night. Travelling between cities by bus and plane and being around him all the time, in a way that they haven’t been since they were…well.

But it’s fine. They’re friendly, they are. Brooke believes it. He can talk to Vanessa without the telltale knife that’s been buried in his chest for the last few months twisting itself even more. Seeing Vanessa doesn’t make him want to run away, or smoke until his lungs crackle and burn they way that it did before.

Oh, yeah. He’s cutting down on that, too. Not only because it’s bad for his health (he knows that, he does), but because it gives him something to focus on, to do. Something to control, to distract him. Somehow, as backwards as it is, he’s been holding on.

He feels like he’s in a delicate homeostasis with Vanessa - a combination of elements that are unstable on their own, heading towards destruction, but when combined together create a strange balance, a calm, no matter how imperfectly they fit.

Brooke’s able to joke around with him, have a normal conversation - so what if it’s a bit more of a surface level dialogue than he wants it to be, what does it matter?

They have a stability. It’s not perfect, but it protects not only their sanity, but that of their tourmates too.

Brooke starts to believe that they’re gonna get through this tour in one piece.

That is, until Calgary.

Brooke’s black catsuit sits around his waist and his pointe shoes dangle from his fingers. He has approximately 17 minutes until he has to be ready to go in the wings for his number, to step on after Ra’jah’s performance.

But he wants to grab a snack, and Nina always knows the best snacks from the catering table to mix together. As a result he never goes on a snack run without her, but she’s not in any of the dressing rooms, nor is she chatting with any crew members in the halls backstage.

Which leaves the stage and the wings.

Brooke approaches the wings carefully, years of dance training instilling in him not to make any noise. Nina’s yellow wig is easy to spot between the curtains, and she shushes him with a hand before he can even mutter the word ‘snacks’ into her ear. She gestures to the stage, and suddenly Brooke can see why.

Vanessa.

The first and last time that Brooke had seen Vanessa perform to ‘No Drama’ was during filming, the lip-sync with Shuga where he had fucking sang his heart out to stay. Ru had described it as magical. Brooke agreed. It was an experience so ethereal that he saw the pieces Vanessa had left of himself on the stage, the frustration and the emotions and feelings that he couldn’t keep in any longer. The release in Vanessa’s shoulders when he was told that he was staying. Brooke couldn’t tear his eyes away, couldn’t let go of Vanessa once they were off stage, holding his shaking body as he cried into his shoulder.

Watching Vanessa right now, whipping the same leopard print caftan around the stage with so many emotions flitting across his face - anger, pain, passion - is enough to make Brooke never want to tear his eyes away. He can’t, not even while Nina is tapping his shoulder because nothing else matters, not when his force of nature (no, not his anymore, he should remember that) is on stage and creating magic again.

Does Vanessa do this every night, every tour stop? Release what’s in his heart to the audience because it’s all too heavy to carry on his own? How has Brooke never seen it before?

He only realizes that the number is done when the roar of the audience is too loud to ignore, when Vanessa grins that ever-so dazzling smile of his and takes a bow, wiping the stray tear tracks on his face.

Nina lets out a whoop beside him when Vanessa gets closer, ducks into the wings. He looks up at him with those brown eyes which always say so much without even trying, while at the same time leaving Brooke himself at a loss for words.

That was amazing. You’re amazing.

I love you.

He doesn’t say any of it, breath hitching in his throat. Nina’s talking to him, to them, Vanessa’s saying things back but he doesn’t hear it. Not after the words are still washing over him, bringing down his resolve brick by brick.

I still love you.

Brooke is not really sure how to deal in the aftermath. The realization that keeping Vanessa at an arm’s length, staying friendly and professional is not sustainable.

He can’t do it.

But who is he to ask for more? When Vanessa seems okay and thriving and happy and living his best life on tour? He goofs off with Silky and A’keria out of drag, voice carrying throughout the tour bus and Brooke wishes that he could be a part of it. He preens in front of thousands of fans that call his name, lighting up the stage with his smile (how can Brooke not watch every night now?) because he’s incredible and he knows it and deserves all of the praise that he gets.

It’s not like Brooke hasn’t known that he still loves Vanessa. He had said so at the reunion, he said it to Vanessa backstage away from the cameras, and every time it had been received with a pang of bitterness because of the words that Brooke hadn’t said.

That he couldn’t handle the relationship, that he wanted space and room to enjoy the post season eleven hype. That a relationship hadn’t been his highest priority.

Funny how things change. Now Brooke is the one pining like an idiot, his love for Vanessa colouring his vision, his own performances, how much he drinks to try and forget. Vanessa is the one enjoying life, doing just fine without him.

Nina squeezes his shoulder when he tells her about the fact that he’s completely, utterly fucked. Replies that she knew, she can tell, the entire fucking cast can tell because his big puppy eyes aren’t exactly subtle to everyone who isn’t Vanessa.

“Tell him. He should know.” Nina’s eyes are encouraging, almost pleading. He knows that’s on him, because Vanessa makes him broody and twitchy and Nina has certainly been on the receiving end of things. He needs to fix that.

“He’s happy now. I can’t pull him back down again.” He doesn’t want to ruin Vanessa a second time, be the cause of their destruction no matter how much his heart is telling him to do just that.

“How do you know it won’t pull both of you back up instead?”

She has a point.

So he plans to do so in Seattle, to at least try because doesn’t he owe himself that? Some form of closure?

It feels too strange of a term to apply to his relationship with Vanessa. Even if over, it feels like they’re constantly drawn to each other, two planets trapped within one another’s gravitational pull, to weak to separate. He’s not sure if they can ever get closure.

But he wants to be honest. Wants Vanessa to know that he’s all in. He’s an option, if Vanessa wants it.

The two shots of tequila that he took at the bar light up his veins, mixing with the high of another successful performance, another show ticked off the list. He weaves through the crowd, avoiding the drunken partygoers and his fellow queens out of drag enjoying yet another afterparty.

Brooke cranes his neck, listening for Vanessa’s telltale booming voice that more often than not acts like a beacon when trying to figure out where he is. It doesn’t project over the pulsing music the way that it normally does, and for a second Brooke starts to wonder whether Vanessa is still even at the bar. But then he sees him.

Leaning against a pillar, smiling up at some guy whose back is facing Brooke, but who is definitely tall and blonde. Real great. He’s fine, it doesn’t matter.

Vanessa tugs on the guy’s collar, leans in on his tiptoes to whisper something into his ear and it’s fine, really, Vanessa is allowed to do that. Brooke has no right to say anything at this point, he really doesn’t. He shouldn’t, anyway.

Vanessa is happy. He’s moved on. He deserves to be happy.

Why does it feel like his heart is being torn apart, then?

He’s not sure how long he stands there, frozen, his feet lead bricks that drag down, down, down, into the core of the earth, unable to move. Though when Vanessa leans in and the guy wraps an arm around his waist and cups Vanessa’s face and kisses him, the ground lets go of Brooke. His feet are moving and he has to go, get out, past the other sweaty bodies and into the cool air because he needs to breathe in something other than the matching ugly tastes of jealousy and yearning that poison his insides.

He’s not going to say anything.

+ i.

Brooke bangs his fist on the glass of the vending machine, trying to make the can of pop fall from the precarious position that it is currently wedged in. It doesn’t budge.

The side of his hand hits it one more time with a thud, rests there as he leans his forehead against the glass, lets out a growl. He needs the caffeine, the sugar. Of course he’d pick the one that gets stuck. Typical.

“What you looking so pressed for, Mami?”

Fuck. Not now. He doesn’t want to deal with Vanessa, with the way that he rips his heart clean open, not now.

He’s just managed to push everything back down to where it is supposed to be. The last few tour stops he’s kept himself away from Vanessa, focusing on his performances and his mug and taking all of the extra shots that are offered to him because he can.

So what if Nina looks at him with that look in her eyes laced with pity, the one often accompanied by a pat on his shoulder and an apology? There’s nothing to be sorry for. He’s fine.

He is.

He can put himself into tiny neat boxes, keep himself compartmentalized during this tour the way that he knows how.

But Vanessa standing directly behind him, saying his name with a soft voice is enough to spill all of the contents of the boxes out onto the ground for everyone to see.

“The can is stuck.” Hell, if Brooke’s going to feel like he’s dying while he talks to Vanessa, he may as well get him to help retrieve his drink.

“Lemme try.” Vanessa brushes past, hand pushing Brooke back slightly so that he can take his spot in front of the machine, and the touch feels like it’s burning into his chest. Not that Vanessa notices.

Vanessa’s small fist hits the glass, trying to shake the can. “C’mon!”

It’s enough to make Brooke nearly crack a smile. He loves listening to Vanessa. Sue him.

“Fuck this shit.” Vanessa reaches into his pocket, then, pulling out some change and stuffing it into the vending machine. “Come on, come on, come on.”

The can falls as the metal in the machine turns, makes another can fall right after it. Vanessa lets out a whoop. “There you go, bitch.”

But he doesn’t care about the pop cans anymore, not when Vanessa’s fingers graze the inside of his wrist and send a lick of flames up his arm, lighting it on fire. Vanessa’s hand lingers, dragging down against Brooke’s palm, his fingers, brushing against each other like they’re not going to explode at any second.

Brooke looks at him. Vanessa’s looking right back up with a defiant set in his jaw, his eyebrows raised as if he’s waiting for Brooke to say something.

“Don’t.” One word is what Brooke can get out right now.

“Don’t what?” Infuriating. Absolutely infuriating.

His breath hitches when Vanessa’s fingers trace up his arm.

“You don’t get to do that anymore.”

“This?” Vanessa’s nails, lightly pressing into his skin.

Fuck it. Fuck any other guys, fuck keeping himself safe in pretty boxes. It doesn’t work, anyway. Not with Vanessa.

“If you’re going to touch me, then touch me like you mean it.”

It’s all Vanessa needs; Brooke’s back hits the vending machine and the glass is cold but he doesn’t care. Vanessa’s on his tiptoes, wrapping his arms around his neck and biting at his lower lip and it’s like no time has passed at all, nothing has changed.

Except it has and Brooke’s brain is still travelling at a million miles per hour because it’s happening, this is happening, it’s fucked but he doesn’t care.

He uses his core strength to push himself off of the vending machine and flips them around, cradling the back of Vanessa’s head before it hits the glass. Brooke presses biting kisses to his skin, the column of his neck and behind his ear and his whine makes him push a knee between Vanessa’s legs, makes his dick twitch when Vanessa immediately grinds against it.

He pulls back, suddenly, because there’s so much to say that he hasn’t in so long and he needs to, and how can he do this without being clear?

“Do you know how hard it is to try and get over you? To forget you?” He punctuates his sentences with a hand raking up Vanessa’s sides, feels him shudder. “I can’t. I fucking can’t. I can’t do it.”

Vanessa chases his mouth, whines when Brooke pulls back. “Then don’t. Why do you insist on making this shit difficult?”

“Because you deserve more. More than this.” It’s bitter, it’s empty, accompanying the nip that Brooke dots on his jaw.

“You ain’t getting it, are you?” Vanessa tugs on his belt loops, somehow pulls him in closer than they already are. “I don’t want nothing else. Tried to. But I only want your sad ass.”

Brooke tugs on his hair. “I’m not sad.” He’s not.

“Yeah, you are. Sad little puppy eyes is what you have. Now get over your bullshit. If you think I deserve more and you’re gonna keep pouting like that, then show me. Be it.”

Vanessa knows exactly what he’s doing. Brooke can tell. Sees it in the challenge on his face, the raise of his eyebrows. The way Vanessa lifts his head up slightly, dares him to come closer again.

So he does.

#rpdr fanfiction #brooke lynn hytes #vanessa vanjie mateo #branjie #angst #angst with a happy ending #5 + 1 #holtzmanns #submission

42 notes · View notes

saladejin · 5 years

Text

Shell | OT7

OT7 x Reader | idolverse | Fluff and poly relationships

Summary: When she’s lived in their shadow for her whole career, how will a sudden change wreak havoc in her carefully hidden life?

Word Count: 5.9k

*Request from my Ao3 series ‘Movie Night’.

Before they knew you, you were only known as the girl who writes. A hooded figure in the background, absolutely nothing to them. Nothing but the girl behind the computers making sure they all got the attention they deserved.

You watched as the Bangtan boys rose to success. From day one to ‘biggest boyband on the planet’; you were there but they didn’t know, and that was fine by you. Things were quiet…but how were you supposed to know that it would change all too quickly?

“Your article was magnificent as usual, I’ll send it to be published this afternoon,” Bang PD smiled at you from behind his thick-rimmed glasses, but you could only bow your head and look away in a show of timidness.

When people praised you, you never really knew quite what to do with yourself. This was why you kept so many of your talents hidden other than your writing. Attention was something that terrified you more often than not.

“If it’s okay I’d like to speak with Mr.Lee about the ratings from last week. Will he be here soon?” You clasped your hands together patiently.

“Ah, yes of course. You can wait over there for him, he shouldn’t be long,” Bang PD pointed to the row of cushioned chairs near the doorway. You smiled thankfully and walked over to settle in for the few remaining minutes.

You tapped your foot absent-mindedly, fingers fiddling with the hem of your skirt. Honestly you would rather be back at the studio working on that new painting you’d started last night, or even back at your laptop to finish writing the chapter of your rough novel, but your job called for attention to detail. You would have to wait to perfect that new song later…

“PD-nim! Have they finished their piece this week?”

You jerked your head up as the strange yet familiar voice piped up from somewhere in the room. Namjoon and Jimin of BTS had somehow made their way inside without you even noticing. You blinked in shock as you watched the way the two handsome boys leaned casually on their close producer’s desk.

Usually I’m the one that isn’t noticed, how come I didn’t notice them this time?

Maybe you were just too distracted in your urges to get home and do something. Your hidden sketchbooks were waiting, your feet were itching to dance to the sound of the soft music playing over the nearby speakers.

“You’re enthusiastic about her stuff every week Namjoon-ah and Jimin-ah, so luckily this week she’s right over there to answer your questions,” Bang PD chuckled while you stiffened in your seat. He should’ve known better than to put you on the spot like that.

“Huh? She?” Namjoon widened his eyes and whipped his head around to see you sitting near the entrance of the room. Jimin’s lips parted in awed shock as you straightened your posture and waved to them shyly. It was only natural that they hadn’t seen you there from the beginning, but now you were feeling slightly uncomfortable at their stunned gazes being focused on you so intently.

In the end, that was how you got to know the boys. It seemed that they had all been pretty big fans of your articles and writing pieces about the lives of idols, along with what it all meant to them, the people around them and even their fans.

Namjoon organised coffee dates for the both of you just so you could catch up when your schedules were free, which was rare by the way. You would chat about so many things ranging from pointless small talk to philosophical concepts, and the whole time you had no idea how you had missed out on befriending someone so thoughtful. Someone who had an almost intuitive understanding of so many aspects of the world he lived in.

Jimin was the first to invite you over to meet the rest of the boys. He wouldn’t shut up about how excited they all were, but you felt more nervous than anything. You had this whole secret life hidden away from the eyes of others, but if you grew close to the idols you wrote so passionately about, who was to say they wouldn’t discover these secrets and start telling people?

You were terrified, but at the same time you felt like taking the risk. If you lived an isolated life you would never be able to forgive yourself. You couldn’t let these gifts of yours hold you back from something as simple as making friends. You really couldn’t call them gifts then, could you? They would be hindrances more than anything.

The first incident occurred one night when you’d rushed over to make it just in time for dinner. Seokjin had cooked up a storm and everyone was lively due to recent album releases. You tumbled into the dorm puffing, apologising profusely for your tardiness even though no-one minded all that much.

“I made your favourite, so don’t even worry. There’s no way we’d start without you,” Seokjin murmured upon seeing your stressed out expression.

“(Y/n)-noona, why are your hands covered in paint?” Jungkook queried loudly. Your heart skipped a beat as everyone turned to look in your direction.

“Uh, I decided to dabble in arts. Only a little, it’s not great,” You smiled shyly, cursing yourself for not washing your hands and moving to clasp them together behind your back for the time being. You watched Taehyung’s eyes widen immensely at the discovery.

“You have to show me! Please tell me you have photos,” The energetic young man rushed over from where he was seated on the couch, but you were feeling overwhelmed by all the pairs of eyes trained on you all of a sudden.

“Guys settle, we should know that someone such as (Y/n) would have skills other than writing. Leave the poor girl alone,” Yoongi came to your defence luckily, and you breathed out a sigh of relief as the younger band members backed off instantly. You flashed a grateful smile towards the black-haired rapper.

Yoongi and Namjoon had been the most finely tuned to your fears and mannerisms so far. They were both perceptive enough to see when you needed help, or those rare instances when you needed attention. The amount of times you’d confided in them for a general rant or just to vent about some deep theory you’d come across numbered many.

“Sorry, but will you show us one day?” Taehyung frowned, and you could see how he was fighting with himself into not pressuring you too much.

“We’ll see, you know I have to actually be good at it first,” You laughed, feeling happier when you saw the members break into their own warm smiles.

The dinner went smoothly after that, and you had excused yourself almost instantly to the nearest bathroom, ready to scrub the various shades of greens and reds from your fingers. You hadn’t the foggiest idea on how you’d let it slip your usually attentive notice.

The second incidence happened after that one eventful day. That day when Namjoon told you how he felt.

You were hanging in his studio as he explained the ideas behind some new tracks. You couldn’t help but sigh in awe as you read through his lyrics and heard what he had in mind for the songs themselves. There were so many layers and so many feelings poured into these words. You couldn’t believe your eyes or ears.

“Sounds like you’ve got someone on your mind,” You giggled when you continued to flip through his notebook, coming across a few jumbled verses that spoke endearingly about what seemed to be one person. Your heart stuttered when you flickered your eyes to the top of the page, only to read your own name printed messily as the title.

“Wait!” Namjoon exhaled sharply and plucked the notebook from your hands, shoulders slumping in defeat as he read over what you had just seen. You felt warmth spread from your head to your toes as you thought about what had been implied through the lyrics.

“You wrote that, for me?”

Namjoon screwed his face up slightly as he smiled, dimples popping cutely.

“Yeah, sorry it’s so cheesy. I didn’t mean for you to see that…yet. Shit, I swear we were calling it something different too.”

We?

You got to your feet and crouched in front of his chair, wishing he would stop looking at the ground in his sheer bout of embarrassment. He looked into your eyes, and for the first time ever you felt as though you were the one who had to discover the secrets this man kept hidden away.

“Namjoon-ah, what are you trying to say?”

“I’m trying to say that I love you, (Y/n). But there’s something else.”

The blush danced against your cheeks as you heard him say the words you honestly hadn’t been expecting, but your tiny shy smile pursed when you caught the last part of his sentence. You both stood up and he took your hands into his own in a sweet gesture of comfort.

“We came to an agreement, the boys and I, that whoever managed to tell you first would have to let you know about the rest.”

“The rest?” You balked, trying not to lose yourself in the feeling of his slightly calloused hands cradling your own.

“The rest, as in the rest of them. We all love you, and we all came to terms with that a while ago,” Namjoon chose his words carefully, making sure there was no fear or uncertainty lingering within your eyes. He always knew how to smooth out your frayed nerves, and he always knew just how loud to speak or just how close to stand when he was with you. In this way, you were able to easily absorb and think about what had just happened.

“God, I can’t express just how happy I am to hear that,” You managed to keep calm somehow. You didn’t know how, since this was something absolutely massive and ground-breaking in general to your relationships, but in this moment you only felt happiness.

“I seriously believe I love all of you too, in different ways. I didn’t think it was romantically but now that you’ve told me I think it just might be…”

You shakily took a seat as Namjoon rubbed your shoulders soothingly. Words could not convey the admiration, respect and affection you held for this man. When you thought about every single one of them actually, these emotions still showed stronger than ever. You had finally come to terms with what your heart had been trying to tell you for so long.

As mentioned before, the second incident occurred a day after this discovery. After a night of celebration and conversation with all the members, you had all agreed to be in a relationship together. It sounded messy and way too open-ended, but none of you could wish for anything more or less.

The setting was then the all too familiar dance studio. This was the room full of floor-length mirrors that had basically become their second home. It was a room you spoke about quite frequently in your endeavours to capture the lives of K-pop idols. Their efforts were written into the various marks littering the floor, yet their successes were found deeply embedded within their very bones.

“Thanks for helping me with practice,” Jimin smiled as he took a swig from his drink bottle. You had been watching him dance to various songs while letting him know what seemed to need improving. You didn’t think you were being helpful at all, but he apparently thought you were the all-knowing God when it came to dancing.

Before you could reply, a certain song started playing from his queue in the playlist. Your mind short-circuited because it was the singular song you had been learning a routine for following its recent release. Subconsciously, you leapt to your feet and felt your toes twitching in your shoes to start moving through the steps. You internally screamed at your apparent ‘muscle memory’, for there was no way you could actually dance while Jimin was there with you.

Jesus, how embarrassing.

To your dismay, the young man had noticed your burst of energy too quickly.

“You wanna dance? Come on!” His eyes gleamed with surprise and enthusiasm, and you honestly couldn’t blame him since all the boys had no idea about what activities you took part in outside of your writing.

“You know I can’t dance, silly,” You snorted, a fiery blush licking at your cheeks in discomfiture. Jimin smiled a knowing smile, completely used to your shyness by now and always ready to cheer you up.

“Let me teach you,” He murmured while pulling you closer to his body. You sighed, but decided to give in because you adored how attentive your boyfriend was to your feelings. Somehow he just knew you were itching to sway to the beat of the music.

Yeah, sway. That’s all they’ve seen me do, and that’s all they will see.

Well, that was what you told yourself, but it really was hard to contain your inner beast when this particular song was playing. You’d heard it so many times over the past week it was basically ingrained into your skull, and its lyrics could probably be found etched into some kind of surface there. Right there, in that jumbled mess of a mind.

“Just move like this, I’m right behind you,” Jimin purred once more. You were snapped out of your trance as you thought about what was happening. You forgot it was a slow and sexy type of vibe, but now you were solidly reminded as Jimin’s hands wound their way down your sides and hips. Suddenly your breathing shallowed as heated excitement took over a good portion of your thoughts.

The way Jimin was languidly following your movements with his own caused you to catch your lower lip between your teeth. His stage persona had come out to play, and he did not play nice apparently. You glimpsed into the mirror to watch how his eyes trailed your body, a body which was merely clad in sport shorts and a singlet thanks to how hot of a night it was outside.

“Now when the chorus starts, that’s when the girl lifts this leg,” Jimin continued in a low tone, fingers reaching the skin of your thigh and smoothing sinfully along the length of it. You didn’t have the heart to tell him that you already knew what to do, but you also weren’t in the right mindset to do so. Instead, you were focused on the feeling of his body pressing against yours as you moved to the beat of the song.

You were lost in a haze as you snapped your head to the side, leaning lower to fit into the crook of his neck and gazing into his eyes with a half-lidded stare. It was all part of the choreography, but both of you seemed to forget that as the atmosphere completely swallowed you up.

“Then you…” Jimin began in a whisper, but trailed off into a breathy groan when you suddenly let your body roll once to the heavy bass. At this point your muscles were following the routine you’d memorised over and over again. Your arm reached up to curl around him until your fingertips were brushing against the hairs on the back of his neck.

The lust filtered away from Jimin’s features as surprise took over. He lifted his arm and felt his jaw drop slightly as you spun in exactly the right direction, body fluidly lowering and hips swinging in exactly the right way. It had only been a few beats, but you quickly regained control of yourself as you saw Jimin raising his brows in slight shock.

“Shit, I have to be home for…something,” You panted as you removed yourself from his somewhat sweaty body. You still felt the arousal from the dancing earlier on, but now you were too scared of embarrassing yourself in front of him to try and get any further. Plus nobody really wanted to fuck in a dancing studio.

Who cares if maybe I do just a little tiny bit?

“Wait, (Y/n)-noona do you have to go now?” Jimin shook his head sharply as if snapping out of his thoughts, a slight sadness clouding his once lively gaze. You felt guilty, but you had to get away before you lost control of your own limbs.

“Yeah, family want to call and everything,” You smiled through the pain of the lie, glad that he seemed to accept the story without question.

Well aren’t I just the most terrible person on this planet.

“O-Okay, but I don’t know what you mean by ‘can’t dance’. Just then I saw-”

“I really can’t, sorry for messing up,” You giggled, trying to make a joke of the situation. The boy looked a bit frustrated, but let you go without another word. Only leaning in for a short and sweet kiss as a farewell.

God, you loved him to bits, but you just couldn’t expose yourself yet. You were too petrified of what people would think once they found out about everything you did. You knew you were terrible for considering such things, but it was in your nature to overthink sometimes. Hoseok and Seokjin had begun to help you groove out those annoying habits, but everyone knew nothing changed overnight.

Things with your relationships went smoothly once more. You still had regular dinners and even special date nights that the boys had planned. It worked out with one member using one day of the week, if either party wanted to take the other out for the night they had to use that one specific day unless exceptions were made. This way, there were no clashes with plans and communication was easy and effective for everyone involved. Plus, the other guys could clear out for the night to allow for some ‘alone time’ for you and whoever you were with, either with or without the addition of others if you were feeling particularly wild.

The next little incidents happened without you even noticing, and you didn’t find out until much later down the track.

“Has anyone noticed how great (Y/n) is at singing?” Jungkook spoke while waiting for Yoongi to finally find a TV station to settle on. You suddenly froze in your motion of lifting a spoon to your waiting lips, soup forgotten as your eyes blew wide.

“Yeah, how could you not know? We’ve all caught little snippets of it,” Hoseok tutted, smoothly swinging his body around to plop onto the couch beside everyone else. You were the only one seated at the table instead, and the fact that they were speaking as if you weren’t there unnerved you slightly.

“I heard her one day when she thought she was alone because she had headphones in, but it was really quiet,” Taehyung announced, amused eyes sliding over to your direction in a subtle tease.

“Hey! Why did no-one mention this?” You whined and accidently let your spoon fall into your bowl noisily. They all chuckled as you swore and shook some droplets of hot soup from your fingers.

“It’s not that big of a deal. Unless you’re hiding something,” Jimin piped in from the other couch. One eyebrow of his was cocked knowingly, and you narrowed your eyes in suspicion when his smirk grew wider.

“What do you mean Jimin-ah?” Seokjin’s eyes flickered from face to face as he tried to figure out what was going on.

“Yeah, I only meant to say something but now you’ve made it weird,” Jungkook hummed, finally tearing his attention away from the changing television channels.

“It’s not weird,” Jimin responded, taking note of your slightly scared expression. None of them wanted to make you uncomfortable, but you’d known them for a while now so it wasn’t a shock to discover they enjoyed making you squirm from time to time. Little shits, they are.

“I just have reason to believe there’s more to our (Y/n) than she lets on.”

The room fell silent as you slurped your soup obnoxiously, relieved that you weren’t feeling as perturbed as you probably would have a year ago. You were content with letting them speculate for a while. You’d most likely even find some childish enjoyment in letting them make fools of themselves.

Yeah, because they’re not finding out shit.

“That she can sing really well? I don’t get it,” Yoongi grumbled without taking his eyes from the remote control in his hands. Obviously he was a little curious too, but he chose to not dwell on the matter.

“And dan-”

“I can’t even! I think you guys are buttering me up a bit here,” You cut Jimin off hurriedly, a nervous laugh ripping from you as you gulped down the last dregs of your meal. The boys now all focused on you as you moved to deposit your dishes in the sink conspicuously.

“Okay, she’s suspicious,” Taehyung agreed with his hyung. The vocalist pursed his lips and you whirled around to see every single one of them eyeing you in interest. The only reason you weren’t feeling uncomfortable or pressured was because they were all doing it with smiles or smirks plastered on their faces.

“What do you want from me?” You huffed, hands finding your hips in a feign show of irritation.

“Sing for us?” Jungkook grinned cheekily.

“Come here and we’ll show the boys the routine you helped me with,” Jimin quipped with a lazily extended hand.

“Wait…now that I think about it, you paint too don’t you?” Taehyung gasped.

Now you were feeling the apprehension, but surprisingly you didn’t hate it. They were so close to finding out everything, but without the much needed proof their endeavours were fruitless in the end.

“Have you been hiding stuff from us jagi?” Seokjin’s eyes twinkled mischievously. He was just as eager as the others to pry something juicy from you. Hoseok and Yoongi were exchanging whispers, which made you wonder if they were trying to formulate some sort of plan. Namjoon had observed without a word so far, but even he wouldn’t help you now. You could clearly see how the rapper was watching you with an intensely probing stare and the slight quirk of his lips made his amusement evident.

“Not at all. I’m not hiding,” You stated confidently.

You were sure of your words, because honestly you weren’t trying to hide away. You just chose not to outwardly express your talents. You were refraining from showcasing yourself. Well, that was what you told yourself, but you couldn’t deny you were being a bit of a coward by running away from it all.

“Show us something babe,” Taehyung got to his feet with hands held open towards you comfortingly. You smirked as you watched all their curious stares flick back between the two of you eagerly.

“Sorry,” You coughed dryly, “I think I’ve come down with something!”

You chuckled to yourself as you made your way to the door of the dormitory, ignoring their calls of protest and blowing a kiss to where they were all scrambling to their feet in the lounge area.

“I’ll see you later my loves,” Was what you left them with before dashing away from the door. You were trembling with laughter and glee at your new discovery. The discovery of how enjoyable it was to tease them for a change.

“Um, so are we gonna spy on her or what?” Taehyung cleared his throat purposefully, eyebrows raised as if daring someone to challenge him.

“What? No! Are you insane?” Seokjin hissed.

“Yeah, that would be too much of an invasion of privacy. Tae, we of all people should know about that,” Everyone watched as Namjoon shook his head and sighed. The same things were running through all seven minds.

“Surely watching from the sidelines would be harmless. How else are we going to see her talents?” Hoseok pouted slightly, brows creased in deep thought.

“There’s no way she’ll open up unless we do something.”

“Have you guys ever thought maybe letting her feel comfortable enough to show us is a perfectly good method?” Yoongi drawled, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears.

“I’ll install my camera somewhere in her house…”

“Good plan bro, oh the bedroom sounds nice doesn’t it…”

“You guys are so bad, but I’m definitely in…”

Yoongi could only sigh in defeat at the mutterings of the youngest members. This whole thing was clearly a joke and banter, but the eldest rapper felt his mind being annoyingly occupied. He wanted you to trust him enough to show him naturally, but even he knew that wasn’t really going to happen without some form of intervention.

“Be quiet, let’s just talk to her like normal human beings. We know she’s shy,” Seokjin spoke; a voice of reason amongst the chaos.

The boys agreed, seeing that it was the most logical option provided so far. They loved you too much to force you into it, but maybe if they were kind and mature about it they would make some progress.

Or so they had thought.

What they hadn’t expected was the truth to smack them right in the nose on one second eventful night.

“She would’ve forgotten!”

“No way, girls remember anniversaries and stuff, don’t you know anything hyung?” Jungkook clicked his tongue.

The boys chuckled as Seokjin blinked in shock, not expecting the sudden snap from their youngest member. Obviously it was a joke, but the group always found humour in teasing. Especially when they were as nervous as they were currently.

“We’re the ones surprising her anyway, don’t be shocked if she’s a bit spooked,” Hoseok warned with a tinge of amusement lightening his tone.

It had been a year since you’re polyamorous relationship had set sail, and all eight of you were the happiest group of people alive. Yes, you all had your ups and downs with them being idols and you being a shy author, but everything had worked so well and you had each found some sense of belonging together as one item.

The thing was…

You hadn’t forgotten at all, but the boys didn’t let you know of any plans they had. You’d tried asking subtlety a few days ago, but Namjoon had avoided the question as if it was a plague while the others pretended not to hear. You were confused and very irritated to say the least.

Did this mean they didn’t want to celebrate it? You’d stopped mentioning it after that because you didn’t want to impose too much, but now you were cursing your reluctant nature. You needed to step up your game and have some say for once!

I will. Later I’ll crash their dorms and interrupt their night for a surprise celebration. I’ll even bring food!

You smiled at the weirdly evil sounding plan, but the annoyance still came crashing into you at the thought of them not caring enough to warrant any kind of acknowledgement for the special day. You had to release your inner frustration somehow.

Outside, the boys took their final breaths of anticipation before knocking on your door. Yoongi held a bunch of beautiful pale lilies while Taehyung grasped an expensive and decorative box of Belgian chocolates. Jimin and Seokjin both held little wrapped boxes which contained gifts of precious jewellery, and Jungkook and Hoseok had the scented cards which contained every heartfelt message the seven of them could think of.

When no-one answered, they exchanged looks of confusion and dread.

“Is she out?” Jungkook pondered. Jimin widened his eyes in sorrow and regret as he thought of you making plans by yourself, possibly believing they had forgotten the significance of the day.

“This is why we shouldn’t do surprises!”

“No, she would let us know. She’s not that quick to assume and act like that,” Yoongi furrowed his brows.

The others nodded in agreement and Namjoon reached out tentatively towards the door handle. Their suspicions were confirmed as the door swung open widely, letting them know that you were home and safe.

“This is kind of reminding me about that ‘breach of privacy’ you mentioned?” Taehyung quipped with a cheeky smile before following the rest inside. Namjoon only graced him with an eye roll.

“(Y/n)? Sorry for the intrusion!” Seokjin called, not really knowing why he and the others were bowing slightly. They were used to your personality and antics, so this seemed a bit overboard but what could they do when they were trying to please you with a surprise? They didn’t want to ruin all their hard work.

“She probably thought we didn’t care, so she’s ignoring us,” Jungkook muttered, not really liking the familiar house being as silent as it was.

“Wait,” Hoseok held up a finger.

Maybe not so silent.

The boys left the gifts and flowers on the nearby bench to investigate the soft sound of music coming from a set of stairs leading downwards. The catchy bass grew louder as they gathered at the foot of the staircase, yet more looks were exchanged.

“How come we never noticed this? Has this always been here?” Jimin breathed in awe as he craned his neck to see further down.

“I think so. We just never asked,” Namjoon hummed.

They were reluctant to head down, but the curiosity was too overwhelming of an urge to ignore. They filed down the stairs despite the sheer amount of people in their group. Luckily for them, there was another small hallway before they were met with a shiny glass door. It was the door to your studio.

“No fucking way,” Taehyung murmured, and earned a slap from Seokjin.

Seven pairs of eyes observed the large warehouse-like room that you’d craftily kept hidden from them right underneath your home. There was a large open floor space on one half with a floor-length mirror, but on the other side there were all kinds of artistic trinkets and equipment gathered to look like a small workshop. There were shelves of supplies and even a large safe installed into the far wall. The room was magnificent and obviously worn down with years of use.

They observed your form standing in front of an easel, wrist flicking snappily as you unleashed your emotions onto the poor canvas. Some couldn’t help gasping as they saw the amazingly vibrant and abstract artwork you’d created so far. Taehyung felt his feet itching to rush inside and question you, or praise you, or anything at all. You were absolutely breathtaking, and you were an enigma that they had all struggled over for so long. Now you were being read out to them.

Then everything drew to a halt as they heard the music change.

“Hey, this is the dance routine I was talking about,” Jimin inhaled sharply, wanting to burst with excitement but trying to avoid getting scolded by his elders at the same time.

“Look at her go!” Hoseok brought his hands up to cover his mouth in shock as you moved away from the paints. The loud music filled the room as you drifted to the practice space, the song not even giving you a chance to protest as you let your anger fuel your movements.

You looked into the mirror wistfully as the silent beats leading up to the chorus sounded. Your fingers were splashed with an assortment of colours, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care while you unpinned your hair from its clip and let it cascade over your shoulders.

“She’s beautiful,” Namjoon slipped before clearing his throat. The boys chuckled to themselves, but they all agreed without argument that you were the most entrancing thing they had ever seen when you began dancing.

Your hips moved along with your arms. Your eyes glazed over with emotion as you flew through the racy choreography as if it were nothing at all, fingers raking through your hair and your body gyrating as if living the moment. The boys couldn’t tear their gazes away as they watched your performance, not even being able to question how you’d possibly done it all while dressed as casually as you were.

They were rendered speechless as your lips suddenly parted for the female’s first lines. Your loud, raspy growl of a voice pricked at their ears and they held their breaths in absolute wonderment. The maturity and soulfulness of your voice swept them off their feet as you belted out the clearest note you’d ever actually managed.

Then came the male’s part. The rap.

“There’s no way this is happening right? This is real?” Seokjin stuttered, being the first to break the tensed silence out in the airy hallway with bulging eyes. Everyone felt as if they’d been jerked out of some kind of lusty daydream, but they were all brought careening back as your voice reached out to them again.

“She’s rapping!”

“What…”

Their gasps died away as your tongue spat syllables at a speed they couldn’t even imagine. There’s no way they would’ve been able to expect this hard-hitting rap from someone like you, it just wasn’t fathomable at this point. You took deep breaths but finished off the verse flawlessly, taking the time to press your palms to the mirror and glare at yourself dangerously before snapping out of the haze. The song changed and you smoothed your hair back, finally letting your lips quirk into a proud smile due to perfecting the routine yet again.

“Someone tell me why my eyes are leaking,” Yoongi choked as he moved away from the window suddenly. Everything you had just done…he couldn’t believe what his eyes and ears had revealed to him. It was something he rarely saw because just then, you were so full of energy and spirit. He just wanted to run inside, kiss you passionately and tell you exactly how well you were doing. How seeing what he had just seen had deepened the love contained within his heart for you, knowing the time and effort you put into everything you did was so heartbreakingly relatable. He just hated the fact that letting you know would absolutely humiliate you, and it wasn’t just him who felt that way.

They all wanted to shower you with their adoration and respect, but this wasn’t right.

“I think we can all feel how serious this is,” Namjoon breathed in an awed tone, eyes glimmering with emotion as he backed away from the door. The others followed without a word as they made their way back up the stairs.

“I don’t want to hide things from her, but I think this really is something she’s coming to terms with herself, her own confidence,” Jimin said, still breathless and in shock. The few seconds he had witnessed in the practice room ages ago was nothing compared to this.

“We’ll let her come out of her shell when she’s ready, it’s the right thing to do,” Taehyung suggested meekly. The boys stood like stones in the main living room as they contemplated how to go about it all.

“A little nudge is all she needs,” Seokjin spoke, breaking the tension with a warm smile.

“Let’s help her get there.”

——————

Hope you liked this request. Feel free to leave any feedback, as I’m working hard to start writing better. Go check out my ao3 for more stuff! I appreciate everyone who gives it a go.

90 notes · View notes

wyntertimes-blog · 4 years

Text

From Todays: PopBitch News Can't be arsed to switch your gas and electricity supplier? Get free service LOOK AFTER MY BILLS to do it for you. 2 minute sign up, they switch you to a great deal taking care of everything. When that deal ends they automatically switch you again without you having to do a thing! Average saving £253. Over 200,000 customers signed up and they're rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot with 5,842 reviews.

[Find out more here]

"I never had a rider. I got my thermos." – Slick Rick

Free newsletter every Thursday subscribe

Email stories to us [email protected]

* Getting loose with Ivanka and Jay Kay

* The secret portrait of Karren Brady

* PLUS: Cock rings on the 6 O'Clock News

>> Strange times <<The poll winners' party

It probably won't surprise you to learn that champagne corks were popping at 10pm prompt at the Baby Shard on Thursday night, as the Times and the Sun celebrated the projected result of the exit poll.

It's also unlikely to surprise you to learn that Rupert Murdoch, Rebekah Brooks, Les Hinton and all the usual News UK suspects were there too, getting their fourth and fifth trolleys of booze brought in to the office by the time Blyth Valley announced.

The one thing that might surprise you though is that in among the revellers was... Cate Blanchett.This year's series of Love Island has taken three of the top ten spots in Ofcom's list of most complained-about shows of 2019.

>> Straight shooter <<Randy Andy makes 'em standy

It's been a bruising few weeks for Prince Andrew since his cataclysmic interview with Emily Maitlis – but he's probably brimming over with remorse and humility now, right?

Erm.

Earlier this month, Handsy Andy went on another of his (straightforward) shooting weekends. At breakfast one morning, everyone else in the party was sat quietly reading the papers when Andy came into the room.

As no-one stood up for him when he entered, he bellowed "OH HO HO! LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN, SHALL WE?" Then walked out of the room and re-entered, so that everyone could oblige him.There's a This Morning team WhatsApp group entitled "We Hate Phillip".

>> Big Questions <<Who's asking what this week?

What could have caused the Mail to pull a recent exclusive of theirs about a French masseuse meeting with Prince Andrew at Buckingham Palace back in 2000? The story made the paper's front page at the end of November but, save for a report of the Mail's report in the New York Post, there's no trace of it online now.If you subscribe to Popbitch, chances are your internet search history is something you'd rather was kept private. Protect yourself online (plus bypass digital censorship) by using a VPN. CyberGhost is currently offering Popbitch readers a 79% discount on its 18 month plan, which protects up to seven devices, for just £2.15 a month.

[Find out more here]

>> Westwood ho <<Getting loose with Ivanka

Before she became the accomplished businesswoman and occasional threat to global security that she is today, Ivanka Trump had teenage ambitions of becoming a fashion model.

Thanks to her family connections, she was seen for a number of jobs in the late 90s and became a bit of a favourite of Vivienne Westwood. Westwood's team used to make a point of letting the models pick the music they put on in the studio as a way of helping them to relax and feel comfortable on a shoot.

Ivanka's choice of music, every single time? Jamiroquai. Which she would then sing along to.

Peanut from the Kaiser Chiefs is preparing to run his 100th park run over the Christmas holidays.

>> Bah humbug <<More drama at the BBC

The BBC is going heavy on trailing their version of A Christmas Carol this year, making a big song and dance out of the fact it stars Guy Pearce, is written by Peaky Blinders' Steven Knight and has been exec produced by Tom Hardy. One person who's been a little left out in the cold though is director Nick Murphy.

Poor Nick was so miffed that the BBC didn't invite him to take part in a special Q&A event about the show that he ended up turning up anyway to rage at the head of BBC Drama there. His ire hasn't just been reserved for TV execs either as he's started taking pot shots at Tom Hardy on Twitter too, claiming that the catering department was more involved in production than Hardy.

There may be some lingering resentment there, as Hardy was set to star in A Christmas Carol (as well as produce) until he suddenly decided to bail out. But if you ask us, Nick, you had a lucky escape.

On set at Hardy and Knight's previous BBC1 collab, Taboo, crew members reported that Hardy wasn't shy about staying in character, stark-bollock naked, for much of the time. And we can only imagine what it would have been like trying to direct with the Ghost of Christmas Past's dick and balls wafting all around.

Nick Cave Watch: Everyone's favourite goth dad was spotted at an Elton John concert in Melbourne this week.

>> Picture this <<More corporate creepiness

One of Jeffrey Epstein's former employees claims that Epstein kept a 6ft portrait of his mysterious 'fixer' Ghislaine Maxwell above the pool in his sprawling New Mexico mansion. Not just any old portrait though. One of her naked and "posing provocatively".

He wouldn't be the first icky businessman to have had a life-size nudey portrait of a close associate on their wall though. West Ham's porn-purveying chairman, David Sullivan, was once well known in the football world for having a huge painting hung in his basement office.

Of his now Vice-Chairman at West Ham FC, Dame Karren Brady.Andy Coulson has been advised by friends that having his own name in his new PR firm (Coulson Partners) is enough to stop most major organisations from hiring them. So far it's advice that he (and his ego) seem unwilling to take.

>> Shaky casting <<Merry Christmas everyone!

This year's bleak seasonal murder drama, Responsible Child (based on the real life story of a 14 year-old killer who was tried as an adult and jailed) has been getting rave reviews.

Whether it was the shocking nature of the story, or the impressive performance of the child actor who inhabited the role, we couldn't tell you, but for some reason most of the reviews have failed to mention the most important thing about the production.

The kid who plays the murderer is the grandson of Shakin' Stevens.

This week's Media Masters podcast is a chat with historian and broadcaster David Starkey. His outspoken, unforgiving style and trenchant opinions have earned him a reputation as being "the rudest man in Britain". In this in-depth interview he explains the impact it's had over his career.

[Listen/Download on Media Masters]

>> One love <<The race for Xmas No.1

Now that The X Factor is an utterly spent force, and December streaming is dominated by seasonal classics, the annual race for Christmas No.1 has become a much more unpredictable beast.

Re-releases are subjected to permanent ACR restrictions ('Accelerated Chart Ratio') with streaming, which basically means that old, established classics have to generate twice the number of streams as new tracks in order to compete. (Without this, three of the top four last Friday would have been Mariah Carey, Wham! and The Pogues.)

So who's in the running this year? There's another tedious song about sausage rolls from Ladbaby (hideous; but for a good cause). There's the inevitable Ed Sheeran (this year on Stormzy's record). And of course, there's the now traditional Facebook campaign choice.

Facebook campaigns are a bit of a lost cause but it has to be said: of all the songs that the British public could have picked to champion this year, Jarvis Cocker's "(Cunts Are Still) Running The World", is a pretty good one.

[Join the campaign]

REO Speedwagon's original of Can't Fight This Feeling has been streamed more than Bastille's John Lewis ad cover since its release in mid-November.

>> Electile dysfunction <<Another cock up on the Beeb

On election day, there are very strict rules in the UK which forbid news organisations from discussing politics until polling is closed. Which means that news teams have to ignore the biggest story of the day and compile their news bulletins from whatever innocuous filler they can drum up instead.

As part of their non-political Six O'Clock News broadcast last Thursday, BBC1 chose to air an item about the postal service and people sending tiny items in oversized parcels. Alas, it seems there was a very good reason that the Six O'Clock News hadn't touched that story previously.

One of the parcels that was prominently displayed as part of the pre-watershed segment clearly showed a cock ring.Nominative Determinism of the Week: The Senior doorkeeper of the House of Commons... Phil Howse!

>> 2019: The Annual <<A last little gift from us

That's almost it for another year. We've got a couple of special issues to send out between now and 2020, so we'll be back in your inboxes before the New Year. But if you want to sink your teeth into some more Popbitch material over the Christmas holidays, then download our 2019 annual.

It's totally free, and features some of our favourite stories of the year. Print it off at work! Use it as last-minute wrapping paper! Give a copy to your most corruptible niece or nephew!

[Get it here]

And if you enjoy it – or have enjoyed any of the last 52 weeks of Popbitch – and feel like tossing a few quid into our Santa hat for a Christmas pint then we'd be ever so grateful.

[Donate here]

LAST CHANCE BEFORE XMAS: Anyone who donates £10 or more to this year's fundraiser is eligible to download a special play-at-home edition of the Popbitch Popquiz. We'll email you a digital pack with all the answer sheets, question packs and puzzle pages you need to host your own quiz.

[Donate to Popbitch here]

>> Hmmms <<Cats, dogs, Muppets

Rowan Atkinson deepfaked Dior advert

[Ready to lose your libido?]

The reviews of Cats are restoring our faith and trust in journalism

[Read on Prospect]

Picture of dogs in mid-air, catching frisbees

[Cute: what more do you want?]

Need to stock up on wine before the holidays kick off? Naked Wines is offering Popbitch readers the chance to get a case of six sumptuous bottles, plus free delivery, for just £19.99.

[Get your orders in soon!]

What do you get for the man who has everything?

[Try an annual Wank-Pass]

40 years since the Muppets/John Denver Christmas special

[Watch on YouTube]

A crash course in the 100 most memorable memes of the decade

[Read on BuzzFeed]

The real life, bricks-and-mortar Popbitch Popquiz will return in January. Don't let dry January stop you having any fun. Join us at Smiths of Smithfield for another seven rounds of trivia, music and smut with our host, Tom Webb!

[Tuesday 14th January]

[Tuesday 28th January]

Thanks to: JM, bunkle, CA, JC, Party_B, ST, T, JM, BB, CA, RT, MC, bobbi_fleckmann, EC, intheissynoho, MC, AM

Old Jokes Home

I just smashed my keyboard and I'm so angry.

I lost Ctrl.

Still Bored?

If you've already read this year's annual and fancy revisiting some previous years, the last five years' worth are free to download on the Popbitch site throughout December...

[Load up for the holidays]

You subscribed to the Popbitch Newsletter which usually comes out on Thursdays.

If you would not like to receive any further issues to [email protected] you can unsubscribe

@skippyv20 @yankeewally

5 notes · View notes

prettyyoungtragedy · 6 years

Text

Bring it on! (Bucky x reader)

Prompt: He entered the room once again, pointing an accusing finger at (y/n), “AND-!” “Just admit you do!”

Summary: Bucky’s an ass, Readers an ass. Everyone’s just an ass and there’s team building involved. And I fucking love it!

A/N: This is for #BBParkers1kChallenge! @bbparker And maaan do I love writing angsty, sexual tension infused fics!

Words: 3700

Warnings: swearing? And angst I guess?

You strode across the living room, purposefully towards Bucky. The whole team had gathered for a ‘Team building exercise’ courtesy of Pepper Potts who was sick of all in house fighting between the group. Tony being unable to argue with her, demanded that you all attend the team building exercise or he would cut you all off. Which sounded like a father threatening his kids, but you all obliged when he threw a hulk sized tantrum in the kitchen over this.

As Bucky sees you, he begins to smile but you are furious with him. “You fucking asshole,” you hiss at him, stabbing at his chest with your finger,

“W-what?” He replied, looking as confused as ever,

“If you ever talk to Steve about me again or mention my past to him, I will rip out your fucking throat and feed it to my god damn Akita.” You almost shouted at him,

He stares blankly at you, “Don’t tell me what to do,” Bucky growls threateningly at you,

The whole team had stopped and were now looking at the two of you, “Then don’t fucking meddle in my business, Barnes” you snapped, Bucky took an aggressive stance with you, and your mirrored his stance. You knew you were about to come to blows once again,

“I didn’t say anything to him, Y/N. so chill the fuck out before you knock you the fuck out for getting up in my face.” He warned,

You had heard enough, your temper flared, and you slammed your knee into his chest, sending him skidding backwards, his metal arm breaking his fall and cracking the floor. He fell to his knees and snapped his head up at you. The rage evident in his eyes now,

“Okay that’s enough you two,” you hear Sam say, but neither of you acknowledged him.

Bucky gets to his feet and charges at you, grabbing you at the waist and slamming your body to the ground. Almost winding you, you grunt in pain but refuse to give up. You fight back, by wrapping your legs around his neck, and squeezing. His face turning red as you start to cut off his air supply. He swings his metal arm at your face, you nearly miss getting hit by it but then he wraps it around your throat. Choking you with force,

The team is now trying to pry the two of you apart but neither of you want to yield first, Bucky gets up with your legs still wrapped around his neck and his arm still chocking you. He carried your bodyweight like you were a feather,

In one swift movement you release your legs and using your entire body as leverage, you plant your feet on his muscular chest and kickback as hard as you could. This shocked Bucky as he released his chokehold on your neck and in doing so went sprawling across the room and into the glass coffee table, shattering it.

Suddenly there were muscular arms at your side, pinning your hands to your side. You tried to struggle against it but they held your hands firmly.

“THAT IS ENOUGH!” bellowed Steve, beside you. You froze, and looked at Bucky who was getting up off the floor, dishevelled and bleeding.

Steve slightly shoved you away from him, and he strode into the room. Commanding respect immediately. Beside him a shocked looking Pepper and Tony walked in as well.

“What in heavens name happened?!” Tony exclaimed, looking at the team,

All of them immediately snitched on you and Bucky, pointing in your direction.

“Y/N and Bucky were fighting again,” Sam stated, matter-of-factly.

Both you and Bucky throw him a murderous glare to which he just shrugs. Steve sighed loudly, “This is why we have to do team building exercises, because of you two!” he exclaimed, “Can’t you just get along, like normal civilized people?!,

“She started it!” Bucky shot,

“First of all, you fucking narc, YOU DID!” you shouted at him,

“I don’t care who started it,” Pepper cut in icily, looking at you and Bucky with a look that was so murderous you genuinely shivered, “You two will learn to get along or you’re off the team.”

“This would be a lot easier if the two of you just dealt with your feelings like adults!” Tony said,

“You like each other, or are attracted to each other just deal with it!” Steve snapped at the two of you,

“That is repulsive, I hate Bucky,” you scoffed, “Everything is always his fault, he can’t behave like a functioning adult!”,

“You know what Y/N, you’re a bitch,” Bucky spat,

“Oooh shame, kitty has claws and thinks his words can hurt me,” you mocked him,

Bucky kicked part of the coffee table and stormed out, then he suddenly entered the room once again, pointing an accusing finger at you, “AND-!” he began to say

But Pepper cut him off, “Just admit you do! Or like I said you’re both off the team. ”

Your mouth flew open in surprise, and you looked between Tony and Steve, both their faces solemn and serious as they agreed with her. For once both you and Bucky were silent, as Tony stepped forward to begin the team building,

“You’re all going to be separated in teams of two, there is a list of tasks to complete and you will be given a time frame to complete each task. The team who comes first gets a prize, try not to kill each other out there and remember to try and have fun, this is a great opportunity of us to showcase our good side.” Tony said, handing each of you a piece of paper, it was the list of tasks and on it was printed the name of your partner.

You looked at the paper in horror when you saw who your partner was, glancing over at him, by the look on his face he was just as horrified.

Bucky Barnes-Y/N Y/L/N – It read atop the page,

“Steve,” you began to say but the captain cut you off,

“No, just don’t, you and Bucky need to do this the most.” He said, “I’m not swapping you with anyone.”

“But Steve,” Bucky tried to argue, and Steve shut him up as well.

The team all broke into their teams of two and began looking through their lists. You and Bucky stood awkwardly next to each other, looking over the list of tasks. You were still furious with him, but you had to do this and suck it up.

Task 1 – Eat breakfast at the diner nearby, then pay it forward. You and your partner will choose breakfast for each other and you must eat the whole meal.

You groaned when you read the first task, you already knew Bucky was going to be an ass. “Alright let’s get this over with,” Bucky said, grabbing the paper out of your hand and walking away, You sighed and walked after him.

A half an hour later, after you both had put on a change of clothes and cleaned up. You sat in a booth at the nearby diner, looking over the menu. You had no clue what type of breakfast Bucky liked to eat, so you decided to go with a safe bet. Bucky ordered you a fruit cup with yogurt much to your disgust and you ordered him Pancakes and Bacon.

You glumly sat eating your fruit cup while he enjoyed his pancakes thoroughly, as they happened to be his favourite breakfast food. Neither of you say a word to each other the entire time, once breakfast is done, you pay the bill and then look at your next task.

Task 2- Head to the gym and train with your partner. Learn something new about the way the other trains.

You and Bucky exchange a look, “I hate this fucking exercise,” Bucky groaned as the two of you head back to the compound. It was the most he had said at all to you that morning, you weren’t complaining, he annoyed the living hell out of you. You just nodded, all you needed was to make it through this while exercise without killing Bucky and then you were scot-free.

You stood in the gym, dressed in shorts and your training bra, Bucky opposite you rolling his shoulders and bouncing on the balls of his feet. The other members of the team were also around you, Natasha and Clint were paired up which wasn’t really fair considering they were best friends. Sam and Scott were paired up, and they seemed to be having a blast, Vision and Bruce, Steve and Thor and Tony and Wanda were together. They all looked like they were having a great time with their training.

“Okay, let’s do this” He said, changing his stance and beckoning you towards him,

You sighed and hit play on the stereo, the techno beat blaring through the speakers and then moved toward him, the training you were going to do with him was kick boxing. You already knew this was going to end badly for both of you,

Bucky swung at you, but you agilely dodged it, much to his surprise and swung back. You had narrowly missed his face and your expression changed to smug, Bucky was better than you at hand-to-hand combat, but you were small, fast and agile compared to his brute force and this worked to your advantage. As the two of you sparred, you moved in sync with each other, it was like a dance as you moved back and forth across the gym floor. Finally you bested Bucky, with a swift round house kick to the chest, the stumbled backward dropping to the floor, he was winded.

You stood over him, breathing heavily, sweat dripping onto your heaving chest. Bucky looked up at you with a grin, “Well done Y/L/N,” he said, reaching up so you could help him to his feet, to which you obliged.

“Not so bad yourself Barnes,” you offered a small compliment, as the two of you walked out of the gym looking to your next task. The other teams were also exiting the gym, all heading to their next exercises.

“What’s the next task?” Bucky asked, brushing his hair out of his face, even sweaty and gross he was still fucking gorgeous. Probably more so because he was sweaty.

You looked at the list,

Task 3- Now that you have learned more about the physical attributes of your partner, lets see how well you do with a little team work challenge. Head to the library where you will be given your next challenge.

Bucky groaned, “I am hating this more and more,” he said, “If this is some kind of board game, I am out.”

You had to agree, whatever they had planned next didn’t seem like it would end well especially if it was a game of sorts, because Bucky never took orders well nor did you. And if this required either of you to help each other out, you were probably going to kill him.

The two of you headed to the library where you met up with the rest of the teams, everyone seemed excited by whatever game was planned. Your mood brightened when you saw what was set up before you,

Tony had arranged a set of drinking games, There was a beer pong table, a tennis table with shot glasses and a billiards table with whiskey tumblers. You looked at Bucky and he gave you a wicked grin, just like you, Bucky could throw back drinks like a beast. Always out drinking everyone,

Pepper stepped up and clapped her hands, beside her stood Peter,

“Okay Avengers,” she said clearing her throat, “We are going to be splitting you up into two groups, you and your partner will go up against a different team with each game we have set up. The point of the game is to work together, as with each game, you and your partner will have one of your hands handcuffed to each other, so you will have to work with each other to win.”

Pepper motioned for Peter to step forward, with hand cuffs in his hands and he handed a pair to each of you. There were simultaneous groans across the room as everyone heard Peppers announcement, but Bucky seemed pleased with his, as he was ambidextrous due to his left arm being bionic.

He grabbed the handcuffs and immediately cuffed his metal arm, then looked at you, “Well I’m right handed so that isn’t going to work,” you pointed out,

“Relax, I got this, just cuff your right hand to mine” he instructed, you sighed but not wanting to fight with him you cuffed your right hand to his left. Already sensing the disaster that was going to take place.

“Alright teams, the partners that will face off are, Y/N and Bucky versus Steve and Thor” Peter called out,

Steve and Thor high fived and you groaned, you didn’t want to play against the God of Thunder and The first fucking avenger, “We go this,” Bucky said, “I know how to beat Steve,” he murmured to you, but you just threw him a look and scoffed at him.

“Next teams, Scott and Sam Versus Vision and Bruce,” Pepper said, they all whooped, in a very childlike manner,

“Natasha and Clint versus Tony and Wanda,” Wanda and Natasha were clearly excited about this, as each of you took your place at one of the games that had been set up.

“Alright the winning teams of each game will be facing off against each other, may the offs be ever in your favour,” Peter said, excitedly.

Your first game was beer pong, easy for yourself and Bucky. Thor had brought Asgardian alcohol for the super soldiers and yours was simple beer.

“You’re going down Rogers,” Bucky taunted from your side of the table, smirking at Steve, who returned Bucky’s taunt with a grin and a shrug, “I doubt that, but bring it on Buck,” he replied,

Thor looked at you and winked, and you couldn’t help but smile and the devastatingly handsome god. But not wanting him to throw you off your game you flip him off, good naturedly.

The game started, and it was intensely difficult to toss the pong ball with your hands cuffed together, every time you or Bucky missed you both erupted into arguments with each other.

“God dammit Barnes!” You shouted, “Get your shit together,” after he had missed again, Steve and Thor were two cups ahead of the two of you and you hated losing.

“Shut the fuck up and throw the ball,” Bucky growled at you frustrated,

You huffed and then lifted your right hand tossing the ball, Bucky tried his hardest to lift his arm up with yours in time but it was proving difficult when actually throwing the ball. As you released the ball, it sailed smoothly through the air and landed in one of the cups, much to your surprise.

Bucky whooped and grabbed you lifting you up and spinning you around. Steve groaned as it was his turn to drink, you could tell he was getting tipsy. As the game went on, Bucky and you were moving more fluidly together, the handcuff turned out to be a wonderful way for the two of you to work together. After beating Steve and Thor in beer pong, you moved on to Table tennis against Sam and Scott who had beaten Vision and Bruce, you won easily against them, Scott kept fumbling the bat or missing the ball much to Sam’s dismay who really wanted to beat Bucky. Bucky and You trashed talked the entire game against Scott and Sam, which was another thing the two of you bonded over, all the while Tony and Steve glancing at each other with a smile while they watched you and Bucky get along famously. Then onto billiards against Natasha and Clint who had beaten Tony and Wanda,

Everyone was in a happy drunk stage, the team building exercise had gone great. But you and Bucky were so focused on winning nothing else mattered. You were both very competitive people which made this all the more serious to the two of you.

The team all stood around the billiards table, watching the game begin between the two teams.

“I have my money on Nat and Clint to win,” Scott said, taking out 50 dollars,

“Nah, Bucky and Y/N,” Sam said, adding his money to the table,

You and Bucky watch in surprise as Steve tosses a 50 onto the table, “I say Y/N gets the winning shot,” He said with a smirk,

Then the rest of the team began to add their bets to the pile,

“Guess the pressure is on,” Bucky muttered to you as the two of you positioned your bodies at the edge of the table, to start the game.

“If we win, I will buy you anything you want Barnes,” you said softly to him,

“If we win, I get to kiss you.” He replied, not looking at you with a smirk,

“W-what?” you said, looking at him in shock,

Bucky shrugged, “I want to kiss you, you’re infuriating and demanding, and pig-headed and tenacious but by god you are hot as all hell,” he murmured, his mouth close to your ear, sending shivers down your spine,

You didn’t know how to answer him, both of you had spent every waking moment hating each other since the day he joined the Avengers, he was everything you despised, you couldn’t deny he as absolutely gorgeous and his charming personality had you blushing from time to time, but you never thought either of you would ever act on that small sliver of attraction between you.

“Alright let’s play,” Natasha said, and then the game was on.

The longer the game went on, the more hot and bothered you were becoming, in order to play perfectly or get the right shot, Bucky and you had to work as a unit. He would adjust the stick in his left hand and bend you over the table to get the right angle as your right hand was attached to his and that was the only way either of you could manoeuvre properly.

You were down to the two finally shots, you were ahead by one ball, and Natasha was positioning her shot. Beside you Bucky shifted slightly, leaning his chest against your shoulder.

“Hey Nat,” Bucky said sultrily biting his lower lip, Natasha looked up at him for a moment, “I can see down your shirt,” he said, smirking,

Natasha scowled at Bucky and ignored him,

“You got this Nat,” Clint said to her, “Ignore him,”

You chuckled, Natasha for all her assassin training was still blushing at what Bucky had said and sure enough she took the shot and the 8ball missed the hole.

“Fuck!” she cursed loudly, the other Avengers round her hissing at her mistake,

You looked around at the team, everyone had expectant looks on their faces, the pressure was on now for you to land the winning shot.

Bucky looked at you with a smug smile, “Shall we?” he says to you,

You nodded and then grabbed the cue, and shifted closer to Bucky, you both stretch your hands out adjusting your aim. Bucky placed a hand on your hip steadying you and said, “Take a dee breath, I can hear your heart pounding,” he murmured,

“Well fuck this is pressure,” You hissed at him but listening to his advice and taking a deep breath.

And then you finally took the final shot, perfectly hitting the ball into the hole. The whole team erupted into cheers and applause. Sam and Steve were high fiving, as they had won majority of the bets,

Tony stepped forward and looked between the two of you, almost like a proud father. “I knew you two could get along if you just tried!” He exclaimed,

Steve nodded in agreement, “All it took was some handcuffs,” he chuckled,

“I am so glad we did this, you all worked brilliantly together, especially Y/N and Bucky.” Pepper chimed in, “I hope in future we can keep this comradery, I don’t even think we need to continue the rest of the tasks,” she added much to everyone’s delight.

“There was a mention of prizes?” You piped up, raising your hand which was still cuffed to Bucky’s,

“Oh yes, I almost forgot,” Tony said snapping his fingers,

Pepper handed him an envelope, and he turned to the two of you, “A trip to Cancun, Mexico at a 5-star resort! An entire week away from the compound, with your winning partner!” Tony said,

You were about to say something when Bucky didn’t even hesitate he grabbed your face in his hands and crushed his lips against yours. To the shock and delight of your colleagues, you hear Sam call calling and Natasha say what the fuck!, before Bucky breaks the kiss, a huge grin on his face.

“B-Bucky,” you said breathlessly,

“Yes Y/N?” He replied,

And then you slapped him across the face, leaving everyone stunned at your reaction, but there was a smile on your face when you slapped him. And this just confused everyone,

Bucky not missing a beat, grabbed the envelope out of Tony’s hand, and begin to drag you out of the library, while the entire team just watched in amazed confusion.

“Uhh guys, don’t you want the keys to the handcuffs?” Steve asked, holding them up.

“Nope, we’re going to need these,” was Bucky’s reply as he gave you a devilish grin, which only increased your insane anticipation of events to come and then the two of you left the room, leaving behind a team of stunned Avengers.

“Are they going to…?” Peter asked,

“Yes, yes, they are,” Natasha and Clint said simultaneously,

Steve groaned loudly, and everyone turned to him in confusion, “My room is between both of theirs,” He sighed,

“Well, at least they don’t hate each other anymore…” Sam said for good measure, before everyone burst into a fit of laughter at the whole situation.

Taadaa...I loved writing this and I hope it’s worth a read!

#bbparkers1kchallenge #bucky barnes #bucky x reader #Avengers #the winter soldier #Captain America #Steve Rogers #tony stark #iron man #sam wilson #falcon #wanda maximoff #scarlet witch #natasha romanoff #black widow #hulk #bruce banner #marvel fic #fanfc

1K notes · View notes

unabashedtastemakersublime · 3 years

Text

Choosing The Right Dog - The Defined Do's And Don'ts

So you will want Dog! Do the entire family buy in to this idea? Knowledge has shown when a number of are against a pet, then getting a dog in to that atmosphere could cause significant family friction and stress.

Have you weighed up the financial and time implications, these may be significant, buying a dog is a serious responsibility and should never be used lightly.

You ought to take into consideration your wellbeing, age, and over all time restrictions, would you like a dynamic or inactive dog? Some dogs need and require almost regular interest, a lot of workout and mental stimulation. Others tend to be more laid back; thus you will need to analyze which dog can suit your family's prospect and life style that includes residing arrangements. For instance if you reside in an appartment and had limited time, a Border Collie or Springer Spaniel type dog will be madness, and could most probably cause serious behavioural difficulties. Not just for your dog!

Many individuals buy a dog simply because they like the appearance of them, ie for artistic reasons, without taking into consideration the wants and temperament of the breed. You need to analyze the positive and the bad side of one's selected breed and ensure everything you are seeking is ideal for your atmosphere and lifestyle. Make sure you have fully selected the breed prior to starting trying to find your addition to the household

PUPPIES: WHERE TO BUY

If you have selected a Dog then there are some basic things you have to do and some places you need to never buy from, and principles that you have to stick to whatever the breeder or owner tells you.

Rule 1. Never ever obtain a Dog from everywhere or anyone without being able to see at least one or ultimately the parents. There are places named Dog Farms which are positively deplorable. Only understand this link for more information and to report a potential dog farmed dog. http://www.puppywatch.org.uk The puppies from these farms usually have significant problems during their lives. That is caused mainly through bad breeding, poor sanitation, inexpensive food etc, and are generally taken from their mother and siblings much too soon producing socialisation issues with people and other dogs.

Do not let the term Farm supply you with the inappropriate impression. It might not be a farm but kennels which are apparent, ethereal, and brilliant, and on the face of it appear to be an expert establishment. If you cannot meet at least one parent or their are several different breeds of puppies then do not really contemplate investing in a dog you'll live to regret it.

Very often they'll buy the entire litter at state £45 from dog farms in Ireland or Wales then offer then on for you at £450.00 complete with bogus pedigree certification.

Rule 2. Never obtain a dog from a pet shop or some other related outlet; other animals are OK however not Dogs. You might be encouraging the horrible business in puppy-farmed dogs. I have also observed puppies being bought at vehicle start sales.

Rule 3. Never buy on intuition or since you're feeling sorry for a frightened or fearful puppy.

Rule 4. Never take the term of a breeder or any owner who says you can't meet any of the parents, or they top your questions re the parents. The excuses commonly used will be the mothers ill or not available or at friends or they're selling a dog for anyone else.

Rule 5. Do not immediately believe your dog is a pedigree. Just because they've supplied a certification, particularly if parents can not be observed, some of these records aren't price the inexpensive paper they're printed on. I have a dog at my classes during the time of writing this, with the full pedigree certification, bought as a Cocker Spaniel yet it is actually and without any shadow of question an English Springer Spaniel.

Rule 6. Until you are an experienced handler/dog manager then don't pick the dog that bounds your responsibility and pushes all the others out the way in which in it's haste to find you. That is usually the most dominant of the litter. Do not also visit one other conclusion of the range and pick the runt or the frightened one, since you're feeling sorry for it, you are taking on a complete heap of problems should you choose, nearly all all dog episodes derive from anxiety maybe not aggression. You're far better off picking a dog from the middle rankings. The breeder if price their sodium, should be able to recommend you on this. Instead you are able to use a behaviourist or specialist who is able to gauge the puppies applying specialised dog assessment tests.

Rule 7. In the event that you trying to find puppies don't immediately believe that should you go through the Kennel Team path that those dogs and breeders have all been individually examined or vetted by that organisation. That is not the case though a great and well meaning establishment, they really do not need the services or the power or time to test the credentials or bona fide of all the breeders on the books.

You may be better to go to the breed groups of the kind of dog you are seeking, as they generally know each individual professional breeder, and respect each other ethics and work. Contact the secretaries and they will be able to level you in the way of available quality pups.

CHOOSING THE PUPPY AND TAKING IT HOME

You've today put down what you want and wherever to buy it from. I'd suggest you look at the puppies at minimum twice, at 4/5 months and again when you pick up the pup. The most effective age to take the dog home is 7 months see my Emotional Changes in a Pups Growth. NEVER ever take a dog less than 7 months old, it is vitally important they're with their mother and siblings as much as this age, and puppies around a dozen months must be avoided if possible, but this will be determined by wherever they're kept, ie, if they are kept in a house maybe not in a kennel outside without individual contact, when it is a supportive home with lots of experience of the breeders family then it may be considered.

Check the appearance of the mother and puppies. Do they appear healthy; eyes apparent and brilliant, without any any release? Are their layers bright? If at all possible get proof of a person's eye and cool scores of the mother and the father. If the breeder allows you, generally swing and publicity the parents, check their temperament, search for signs of hostility, fearfulness, nervousness, or'Neurotic'symptoms such as eating legs, tail, or epidermis injury, will be the dogs pacing etc. That is particularly important in the mother, whilst the puppies are in shut experience of her. It's been found that, it is the mother that shapes the behavioural potential of the offspring, genetics may fill the gun but atmosphere shoots it.

Make sure you handle the puppies if they become distressed or shy away this could mean they've maybe not been properly socialised. If the puppies have already been socialised correctly, then they'll change and take situations which are potentially stressful. You ought to then get a happy well-balanced dog in maturity.

Before getting your dog home, ensure that your yard is'Safe & Secure '. Buy a collar, lead, dishes, and dog tag with title address and telephone (law maximum £5000 fine) sleep, toys and snacks etc, check with the breeder what she's eating the puppies, a good breeder can source you with some food and give you a eating chart. Leave a tiny quilt or towel in your first visit, such that it gets the mother and the litter smell on it, this would provide some ease in the first week or so at home. Check with other dog owners as to the most useful Veterinarian in your area. If you reside near me check into the local hyperlinks part, as I have proposed what I think to be the very best Vets inside our area.

When you pick up the dog take a crate/indoor kennel or a cardboard package with you and range it with newspaper, take spare newspaper with you whilst the dog may be sick and can most likely urinate and defecate on the journey, particularly when it is any distance.

Once you get home place the sleep or crate near somewhere warm, if you're using a crate and I heartily support them, cover the crate with an umbrella or page to create it more den like introduce the dog to the crate steadily and really, see my report on Toileting With a Crate.

If you have a loud ticking time set this near the sleep or crate, you can even put in a hot water bottle; it mimics the mothers and siblings heat and the break of the time the heartbeats, leave a radio on in yet another space, ensure it is updated into a talk not just a audio station. 97.3 LBC is my favourite and the one I select every time. Uncertain about what the dog feels though cocker spaniel puppy for sale near me?

If the dog remains to obtain distressed you are able to bring it in to your room, though I'd only usually recommend this when using a crate/indoor kennel as you are able to steadily transfer this away around a time period, after the dog has resolved in. You can also put in a hot water bottle; this will copy the heat from the mother and siblings around the first several nights. Ensure it is well protected or you might get an extremely moist bed/crate.

Your brand-new dog can wants a lot of sleep, as being a individual child so an excessive amount of interference in this design is likely to be detrimental, hard handling by kids or people could influence the behaviour and perspective of your dog, and might have a long-lasting influence as your dog matures. However not enough contact and soft handling will even have a poor effect on your puppy, finding the right stability is of important importance.

0 notes

carpophobiakid · 7 years

Text

Life of The Party

@alltimefanfiction contest entry, check out their page! Summary; Jack meets a girl who won’t tell him her name. Her legacy follows All Time Low throughout their career.

Jack remembers meeting her vividly. Alex was throwing his first house party, seeing as his parents had finally gone away for the weekend. They were buzzing.

August 28th 2008 - 7pm

Armed with bags of the cheapest lager Jack could find, he kicked open Alex’s front door with a converse clad foot. “Aleeee-“ His call was cut short by the sight of three girls dancing passionately in their underwear in front of the television. The lagers slipped from his arms and rolled across the floor at their feet. They all laughed loudly, feminine cheeks lighting up in pink blushes as Jack stared, his mouth hung open in shock. Lisa chucked both girls a blanket from the back of the sofa to cover up with and ran off upstairs, “Alex is up here!”. “Send his dumb ass down here.” Jack shouted back, his voice breaking to his utter embarrassment. Averting his eyes, he dropped to the floor to collect up the alcohol. The girl with the long dark hair and a full fringe wrapped a pink dressing gown round her waist and rushed to help him, goose pimples collecting on the bare skin of her arms as she piled the icy cans against her chest. Her carefree smile shocked him for a moment and Jack found himself looking at her for a moment too long. To this day, he is sure she was just pretending not to notice. “Stella Artois.” She smirked as she put them back in the carrier bag, “My favourite.”. Jack grinned at her, “If I’m honest, it’s just the cheapest I could find. I’m Jack, nice to meet you.”. She jumped to her feet, her brown eyes sparkling, “You can call me Stella. I’m gonna go find Lisa, see you in a bit.”. Then she was gone, pulling her blonde haired friend after her. Jack planted himself firmly on the cream carpet and sighed heavily, finding himself a little breathless. Alex came into the lounge, dressed in a loose button up shirt and tight jeans. “You alright buddy?” He muttered, reaching out his hand to help his friend to his feet. Jack ran a heavy hand through the blonde streak in his hair and nodded, “Yeah, who are Lisa’s friends?”. “Oh, just Kayleigh and her mate, I don’t know her name.”. “Right.”. Heaving, he grabbed his best friend’s hand and pulled himself up. “Stella.”.

10.45pm It was reaching eleven pm and Zack and Rian were clapping either side of Jack as he chugged yet another Stella Artois. Laughing, he crushed the empty can in his fist and threw it to his feet. “My turn!” a voice sang, causing all three boys to look round. “Christ.” Rian breathed at the sight of her, collecting himself as Jack dug him sharply in the ribs. The mystery girl was stood before them in a black slim fit dress, fishnets and velvet heels. She could have been a piece of art in any of their eyes, but especially Jack’s. (And boy, did he wanna pin her against the wall like the art she was.) “Stella!” he cheered casually, chucking her a lager. She caught it in one hand and snickered devilishly, “Ahhh, so that’s what I have you calling me, I forgot.”. Making sure all three of them were watching, she opened her lips seductively and cracked open the drink. Within a minute her dark lipstick was smudged down her chin and she was throwing the can at Jack, a triumphant look on her face as they all gawped. “Easy.”. Zack nearly fainted at the sight of her bending down in front of the lanky guitarist and picking up his crushed can. Gently, she pulled his hand towards hers and placed the trash in his hand, “Alex is a nice guy, don’t go making a mess of his house.”. “I’m over here more than I’m at my own house.” Jack hissed, a smile on his face, “Now, don’t go throwing up that alcohol on my best friend’s carpet Sweetheart.”. Rian and Zack chuckled. “I could outdrink you any day you skinny fuck!” Stella gasped, pushing his shoulder jokingly. Jack lit up in amusement, “Oh, you’re on.”. 2am “See, I want to move out of the city so I can see the stars properly.” Stella, as Jack had decided he would probably have to call her till at least the next morning, explained with a drunken slur, “Light pollution ruins the view.”. They were laid out on the damp grass while the wild party continued indoors, staring up at the sky. To his absolute horror, Jack had lost the drinking contest and they had come outdoors so he wouldn’t puke on any of Alex’s parent’s stuff. After he’d thrown up into the bin twice, she’d pulled him down onto the ground and tried her best to point out the constellations among the cloudy night sky. It was not their lucky night. “I’m a writer.” She murmured, “Because I could never be an astrologer. You’d get bored if you looked at the stars every day, and I don’t want them to stop being beautiful, yanno?”. Jack nodded, “Definitely. But, I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of playing music.”. He turned to look at her and suddenly she was kissing him. With the stars as their only witnesses, they kissed. His apprehension fell away and he wrapped an arm lazily around her neck, pulling them closer to each other. She tasted like Stella Artois. 11am Jack woke up in the bath tub with a loud groan. His t-shirt was missing and he was sticky with alcohol and god knows what else. He stood up very slowly, his head pounding and vision blurring as he realised his whereabouts. As he got to his feet, a scrap of paper fell into the bath tub. With a groan, he read it to himself through squinting eyes. Jack, You’d get bored if you looked at the stars every day. Perhaps you’d get bored of me too. Become the star you’re dreaming of being, I’ll be watching out for you. Sorry, I had to leave. Stella xxx

Alex leaned round the door, looking worse for wear in his torn dress shirt and boxer shorts. “She left this morning.” He spoke knowingly, “Lisa said she didn’t want you to know her name. Weird shit, huh?”. Jack forced a smile, his heart aching, “Yeah, weird shit.”. July 7th 2009 – All Time Low released ‘Nothing Personal’. The song Stella was a hit. Alex told everyone it was written about partying. Jack loved playing that song live. Zack and Rian don’t know why to this day.

Feels like I'm falling in love When I'm falling to the bathroom floor I remember how you tasted I've had you so many times, let’s face it, Feels like I'm falling in love alone Stella, would you take me home?

Summer 2014 – There was a girl who looked like her in fishnets and velvet heels at a club. Of course, she wasn’t nearly as pretty and couldn’t drink nearly as much. Jack slept with her and left early the next morning, leaving a handwritten note on the bedside table as an apology. In a few months’ time, Don’t You Go was added to the Future Hearts track list. Jack hated playing that song live. Zack and Rian don’t know why to this day.

20th March 2015 – One Night in London with All Time Low. SSE Wembley Arena. 11.45pm The boys rocked the show, of course. Alex and Rian invited a load of people to the afterparty, including a few stragglers who stayed behind after the show. Alex was pretty sure he recognised one of the girls. She stuttered and blurted that she was a writer and he might have read one of her books. Alex, considering himself a writer of sorts, be it song writing, invited her along with excitement. She was beaming. 12.30am Jack bought fishbowl cocktails, lining them up down the kitchen of the tour bus and challenging people to a drinking contest. Wiping his hair from his face, Alex stepped up alongside Zack. A daring voice spoke up from among a small group of people at the back of the bus, “I’ll do it.”. A girl walked confidently down the length of the bus and leaned against the counter next to Lisa. Jack turned to look at her and his face fell in shock. Her once dark hair was bright pink and pulled up in a messy bun and she was dressed in comfy mom jeans and a printed tee-shirt, but he’d recognise those bright eyes anywhere. Jack grinned. “What should I call you this time, Stella?” He asked as he pointed her over to a fishbowl of colourful cocktail. She shrugged nonchalantly, “The Life of the Party.”. Rian counted down from three and they started drinking. Within minutes, Alex had slipped and poured the entirety of the bowl’s content down his front, disqualifying him immediately. Bursting into laughter at Alex’s futile attempt, Jack choked and sprayed cocktail all over Zack and soon they turned to just chucking it over each other instead of finishing. Zack was about to tip the rest of his bowl over Jack’s head when she called out “Finished!”. All three boys glared enviously at her empty bowl as Rian announced ‘Life of the Party’ as the winner. She lived up to her nicknames, every time. Jack’s heart swelled as she smiled over at him.

2am “What are you doing in London of all places?” he asked, “Light pollution must be terrible.”. “I’m a writer Jack.” She whispered dreamily, “I’m here for inspiration only. And anyway, I told you I’d watch out for you didn’t I?”. She stood up from the ground in front of the tour bus and pointed at the sky, “Look, tonight’s our lucky night. There’s Ursa Major.”. “Beautiful.” He murmured, standing next to her and staring at the group of bright stars. “Boring.” She corrected him, “Just same old Ursa Major.”. He shook his head at her and leaned down. With the constellations looking down on them, he kissed her goodbye. “I’ll see you again.” He promised, “Stella, my life of the party.”. She tasted like a mixture of alcohol, it made him feel alive. February 13th 2016 – Jack dyed his hair red. “Blonde was getting boring” he said, “Same old Jack.”. That night Alex and Jack stayed up all night writing a song. Alex knew they’d finally got it right when Jack cried singing it.

2nd June 2017 – Last Young Renegade was released by All Time Low. Life of the Party was a hit. Alex told everyone it was written about partying. Jack loves playing that song live. Zack and Rian are pretty damn sure they know why.

#all time low #ofc #all time low fanfiction #jack barakat #one shot #jack barakat fluff #band fanfiction #band imagines

23 notes · View notes