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sailor-aviator · 1 month

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Two Birds: Chapter One

Two Birds: Chapter One

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Reader x Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

Summary: Growing up in the midwest meant that you weren't exposed to many of the dangers of the world, and it also meant that you missed out on some of what life had to offer. Taking a leap, you move to New York City with a few personal belongings and the little money you have left in your savings. You become good friends with your roommate and, by extension, the people at the club she works at. However, it isn't long until you catch the eye of not one, but two mafia bosses that rule the city with an iron grip. Will you stay out of their clutches, or will you give in and become another pawn in their wicked games? (Mafia!AU)

Content Warnings: Cursing, Mentions of guilt, Gentlemen's club (off hours), Flirting, Handsy Bradley and Jake, Pet names, no use of y/n. I think that's it, but please let me know if I missed something!

Word Count: 3.9k

Series Masterlist

A couple of weeks had passed, and you were now entering your third month of living in the city. Annie had been right, you had become fast friends after long nights spent gabbing about anything and everything, and late mornings after the previous night’s binge drinking. Your roommate was a fun, happy-go-lucky soul, and you loved her all the more for it.

Your job at one of the local bakeries near the heart of the city provided you with enough money for your portion of the rent, food, and enough to spend however you saw fit, a feat you still weren’t sure how you managed. Your boss was a lovely older woman in her mid-fifties who greeted you with a smile every morning as you clocked in for your shift. Thankfully, she preferred to do the early, early morning prep work herself along with her daughter, so you weren’t expected to walk through the doors until sometime around eight every morning.

You enjoyed the tediousness of the job, the routine giving you something to latch on to in the unfamiliarity of the big city. Annie had been coaching you diligently on how to navigate the never-ending, concrete streets and sprawling subways. Your Midwest manners were quickly stamped down by your burgeoning experience with the different crowds that inhabited the city.

“Don’t walk around at night by yourself if you can avoid it,” Annie had told you during your first week there, the two of you headed back to the apartment after you had decided to go out for dinner. “There are a bunch of crazies out here, Mousie. Me? I’m used to this place, but you got that air about you that just invites people to take advantage.”

You hummed, trotting a few paces to try and keep up with her much longer legs. She cast you a sideways glance with a grimace of an apology.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean anything bad by it,” she sighed, hands pushed into her pockets as she slowed slightly to give you a break. “You’ll perfect the art of the ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibe before you know it, Mouse.”

And you liked to think that you had come along way in the few weeks you had spent in the city, perfecting your mean, scary face so that people wouldn’t approach you. Some still did, but the number had certainly decreased. Though, you still felt the nagging feeling of guilt every time you outright ignored someone, averting your eyes and hanging your head as you walked a little faster down the street.

Today was a day you, thankfully, had off. Though, you still rose early, your body already used to the schedule of the bakery, and as you stretched in bed, your mind wandered to the container of chocolate chip cookies that sat on the counter in the kitchen. A gift from your boss, albeit they were cookies that would have been thrown in the trash anyway due to their age of only two days.

You lay in bed for the next half hour, dozing as the light of the day streamed in past your curtains, illuminating your still plainly decorated room. Annie had offered to take you shopping for more decor, but you had insisted on earning your own money and paying for your own decor.

“It’s not like I don’t have the extra cash, babe,” she told you, lips pulled back into a grimace as she watched you flit about the apartment.

“I’m serious, Annie,” you told her, glancing over your shoulder at her as you set the mop to the side. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, but I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness either.”

“How is it taking advantage if I’m offering?” She muttered with a scoff. You had shot her a warning look before placing your hands on your hips.

“I need to prove to myself that I can do this,” you sighed, feeling your shoulders slump.

“Alright, alright,” she relented, giving you an understanding smile. “But if I give you gifts, you have to accept them. It’s a law or something.”

You smiled fondly at the memory, pulling a pillow close to your chest, one of Annie’s many “gifts” as she called them. Your eyes flickered open with a stifled yawn before you lazily rolled over on to your feet. You padded out the door and down the hall to your shared bathroom, Annie’s soft snores filtering out past her closed door. Her job often kept her up until the early morning hours, and there were days where you were headed off to work just as she was walking through the door.

You brushed your teeth and got ready for the rest of the day, settling on a pair of faded jeans, a plain, white t-shirt underneath a beige cardigan and a pair of simple sneakers. You didn’t have much planned for the day, but you had been meaning to check out one of the bookstores downtown. Your groceries were getting low too, and you knew you’d have to go and get more soon, adding a trip to the grocery store to your list of things to do that day. You settled on the couch with a cup of tea, inhaling the aromatic steam that wafted up towards you as you turned on the TV, the news popping up to greet you. A string of violent crimes plagued the city, but you had slowly become accustomed to that news as well during your time there.

Eventually, you grew bored with the news, choosing instead to turn on the latest crime documentary from Netflix, the serious tones of the detectives and witnesses filling the quiet, morning air and lulling you back to a place somewhere between sleep and awake.

You weren’t sure how much time had passed when the sound of Annie’s door opening jolted you awake. You blinked, shuffling to sit up on the couch just as she trudged through the doorway, rubbing sleep from her eyes and looking around blearily.

“Wha’ time’s it?” She asked, voice thick with sleep as she rubbed her face. Her hair was sticking up every which way, her eyes still ringed with the tinges of last night’s makeup. You knew she must have had a particularly late night.

“Uh,” you started, glancing at the clock above the stove, “just before noon.”

“Shit!” She hollered out, eyes growing wide and panicked as she turned to sprint back into her room. You heard a commotion from her room before footsteps sounded in the hall, leading to the bathroom where the shower creaked to life, the spray hitting the tub. You sighed, hoisting yourself up off the couch to rinse your mug out in the sink. The shower didn’t run long, and soon you heard the creak of the valves turning off, soft thuds and movement coming from behind the door. Annie burst out, drying her hair furiously as she padded into her room wearing nothing but the small towel wrapped around her.

“Cannot believe I overslept,” she griped, her door closed just enough to provide herself some privacy as you waited in the kitchen.

“It’s a bit early for you to head down to the club, isn’t it?” You asked, brow furrowing. Usually, Annie didn’t head in for another couple of hours, and you heard her let out a huff as she appeared back in the kitchen dressed in a pair of jeans, fitted black top and matching heels. Even running late, she still looked immaculate.

“Bosses want us there extra early today to try out some new routines,” she explained.

“Bosses?” You frowned. “I thought your boss was Reuben?”

“He is,” she assured you, digging through her purse to make sure her keys were still inside. “But the big bosses are coming in today.”

“Who are the big bosses?” You asked, leaning over the counter. She paused, pressing her lips firmly together before giving you an uncertain look.

“No one you wanna get involved with, Mousie,” she said finally. “I mean, they’re nice enough guys, but…”

She trailed off, and the implication wasn’t lost on you. You offered her a tight smile, glancing at the stovetop clock once more before waving her off.

“You better get going before you’re even more late,” you warned, nodding to the time. She cursed again, shouting a quick “thanks” over her shoulder as she sped out the apartment, the door slamming closed behind her. You let out a sigh, rolling your eyes affectionately after her before grimacing at the apartment. Perhaps you would make it to that bookstore another time. For now, you settled on grabbing your own purse to go grocery shopping.

You had just made it back into the apartment when your phone buzzed. You settled the bags on top of the counter, your fingers aching with the strain of the multitude of bags before fishing your phone out of your bag. Annie’s name flashed across the top, and you quickly unlocked your phone before your eyes landed on the all too familiar words.

I forgot something at the apartment.

Could you grab it for me and bring it by the club pretty please? :(

You huffed out a laugh, typing out a quick response to let her know that of course you would bring whatever it was she forgot to the club for her.

You’re the best! Came her even quicker reply, and you just knew she had been pacing nervously backstage, biting her fingers in that terrible habit she had when she was nervous.

It’s a pair of silver heels and a hot pink boa. They should be on my desk chair. You can’t miss them!

You shook your head, noting how she herself missed them in her rush out the door this morning, but dutifully made your way to her room, pushing the door open as you stepped inside. Sure enough, the heels and the boa lay draped on top of the chair in question, and you quickly gathered them up in your arms to bring back into the kitchen. You grabbed your phone, firing off a quick reply.

I’ve gotta put groceries up really quick, but then I’ll head over. Give me about an hour?

Anything for you, Mouse! I owe you!

You laughed outright at that. This wasn’t an uncommon occurrence for your roommate, and you often found yourself making the trip down to the club to bring her something she forgot. You set your phone down and made fairly quick work of the groceries, storing the bags underneath the sink for later use. You grabbed your things before grabbing the heels and the boa, pausing to grab the box of cookies that still sat on the counter before making your way out the door and locking it behind you.

It was about a twenty-minute train ride to the neighborhood where Annie worked, and you exited the subway with a squint as your eyes readjusted to the daylight. You walked a block south, coming upon the familiar, unassuming building with a sign that read “The Hard Deck” in a pretty, pink scrawl across the top of the entrance. A man dressed in all black stood by the door, his face mean and intimidating with eyes hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses. You grinned up at him as you approached, and a hint of a smile pulled on his lips as he caught sight of you.

“Hey Tony,” you greeted, wiggling your fingers with the hand that held the heels and the boa. “How’s your day been?”

“It’s better now that you’re here, Mouse,” he chuckled, relaxing his posture somewhat. “I take it Annie forgot something again?”

“Yeah,” you shrugged, rolling your eyes playfully. “Name a time she hasn’t, you know?”

He laughed at that, his head resting against the brick of the building as he rolled his shoulders out.

“She used to tear out of here like a bat from hell before you came to town, ya know,” he grinned. “Wonder what she’s gonna do when you’re not around anymore to spoil her like this.”

“Well,” you started, “hopefully that won’t be for a while yet. Now, do you want a cookie before the others eat them all?”

“Thought you’d never ask,” he laughed, pushing off from the side of the building to peek into the box you held in your hand. He grabbed one, taking a bite and humming as you walked past him and into the building.

When you had first found yourself stepping into Annie’s work, you had been apprehensive, expecting a seedy, little hole in the wall with sticky floors and tacky decor. Instead, you were greeted with a clean, sultry business that Annie told you had earned a reputation of being the best in the city.

“It’s actually pretty classy,” she had told you when you first asked her about what she did for a living. “It’s a lot of high end clients that frequent there, and they tip pretty well too. It’s decent pay to begin with and the manager is a pretty good guy too.”

You had met Reuben on one of your first trips to the club, the handsome man not being at all what you expected from a manager. He was young, for one thing, hovering somewhere between mid-thirties and forty if you had to guess. He was dressed to the nines every time you saw him, a friendly smile always on his face as he greeted you. He was nowhere to be seen now as you strolled into the Hard Dark, voices filtering out from different areas of the large room and from backstage as your eyes swept the area.

There were no windows, the only lights coming from the artificial ones that hung overhead. The main color was black, a red carpet curving across the floor and red drapes hanging from off the walls with gold accents placed everywhere. It gave a feeling of old Hollywood, almost.

“There you are!”

You turned just as Annie rushed over to you, pulling you in for a tight hug. She pulled away, grabbing her heels and boa from you.

“You’re a lifesaver, Mousie!” She beamed, and you waved her off.

“I wasn’t doing much anyway,” you told her, shifting the box of cookies into your now free hand. “I brought the cookies too for everyone.”

“You’re so sweet, babe. Come hang out with us for a while,” she cooed, pulling you further towards the main stage. Familiar faces of the different staff greeted you as you walked through, several waving and others following you once they spotted the bright pink box in your hands. You often brought goodies from the bakery, making you an instant hit with the employees at the club.

“What did you bring for us today, Mouse?” Bryan, one of the bartenders called.

“Cookies!” You called back with a smile.

“You’re such a godsend, hun,” said Lindsey, one of the other dancers. “I never have time to go to this place before it closes.”

“One of the perks of being roomies with an employee there,” Annie grinned at her, swiping a cookie as you set the box down on the stage and opened the lid. Several others clambered toward the stage to snag a cookie before retreating and allowing the next wave in. You were so caught up in the conversations happening around you that you didn’t notice the figure come out from the back.

“What’s going on here?” A deep timber asked. You noticed Annie stiffen visibly beside you before turning your head to look at the newcomer. He was tall, brown hair curled against his forehead that pointed towards a pair of golden brown eyes. Scars littered the golden skin of his face, and you couldn’t help but notice the strong muscles that lay hidden beneath his dress shirt. Your lips twitched at the sight of the mustache that hung above his upper lip, but you quickly tamped it down as you took in the nervous faces around you. He swaggered over towards where you stood, the small crowd parting easily for him, and you had to tilt your head back just to meet his gaze.

“Shouldn’t you all be working?” He pointed out. His voice was light, playful even, but the underlying warning in his tone was palpable, and all but Annie and yourself hastened to get away. You swallowed slightly, shifting uneasily at the change in the atmosphere. Annie stood still next to you, not saying a word which was unlike her.

“And who might you be?” He asked, leaning against the stage with a smirk. “Think I would have remembered a pretty face like yours. You lookin’ for a job, hm?”

“She’s my roommate,” Annie replied before you could say anything. “She’s just stopping by to drop off a few things I forgot is all.”

“Is that so?” The man hummed, peeling his eyes away from you long enough to cast her an unreadable look before they shifted back to you. “So you’re the little mouse Reuben mentioned pops by from time to time, huh?”

“I guess,” you muttered, fingers playing with the hem of your shirt as you looked anywhere but at him. You felt his smirk grow as he leaned into you, his nose almost brushing yours in the process. You squeaked at the sudden proximity, eyes widening as the smell of his cologne encircled you, the scent of sandalwood, vanilla, and something woodsy ensnaring you as he spoke.

“My name’s Bradley, Mouse,” he murmured, lips curling into a sultry smile as he laced a finger through the loop of your jeans. “You gonna give me a taste?”

You had the distinct feeling that he wasn’t talking about the cookies that still sat on the stage. Without thinking, you grabbed the box, bringing it between you and Bradley, putting some distance between the two of you enough so that you could try to scramble for a coherent thought.

“Here,” you squeaked. Bradley looked stunned for a second, brown eyes wide as he looked from you, down towards the box. There was a moment of still silence before he tossed his head back with a loud laugh, one that caused several people nearby to jump. He looked back at you with a wicked grin, taking the box from your hand and putting it back on the stage with an added chuckle. He grabbed your waist, pulling you flush against him and bringing a hand up to cradle your face as he leaned down, his breath fanning over you.

“I might just have to keep you, honey,” he purred, eyes hooded as he drank you in. Your face warmed at the combination of his words and his hand around your waist that slowly started to wander.

“What are you doing, Rooster?”

You jumped at the new voice, turning your head with a gasp as your eyes landed on the stranger standing next to Reuben. His square jaw was clenched in what you could only assume was annoyance, narrowed, green eyes moving from Bradley down to you. His face softened slightly, brow arching as he took you in. You thought you saw his lips twitch in the hint of a smirk before neutrality settled over his features once more.

“Hey, Mouse!” Reuben greeted, his friendly demeanor almost unnerving. He acted as if you weren’t being held captive in the arms of a strange man, instead looking from you towards where Annie stood behind you. “I didn’t know you were stopping by today.”

“Annie forgot something,” you offered weakly, breath still ragged from how close Bradley still held you.

“Rooster,” the blond man spoke up, his voice commanding attention, “you’re scaring the poor thing. Why don’t you let her go?”

Bradley grunted but let you go slowly, shooting you a wink as you backed up a couple of steps. The blond man stepped forward, hands shoved into the pockets of his expensive looking pants as a slow smirk crawled onto his lips.

“So you’re the little mouse we’ve heard so much about,” he drawled, stopping just in front of you. You shrugged, not saying anything as you averted your gaze. The man arched a brow at you, taking a hand out of his pocket to place a finger underneath your chin, lifting it so that you met his emerald gaze.

“Words, darlin’,” he purred, something twinkling in his gaze as you looked at him. You swallowed thickly.

“Yes,” you replied, earning a hum. The man’s finger traced along your jaw before his hand cupped the side of your neck gently, almost possessively.

“Good girl,” he praised, and something inside of you unexpectedly preened at the words. He leaned forward, the smell of patchouli and a hint of citrus hitting your nose at the movement. His lips brushed against your ear as he murmured, “my name is Jake.”

A shiver ran up your spine, and you felt his lips curl into a grin at your reaction.

“Shouldn’t we be getting back to business?” Bradley snapped, looking put out as Jake withdrew from you. The blond snorted with a roll of his eyes as he stepped back towards his companions.

“Since when do you give a shit?” He asked, the challenge hollow as he kept walking, Reuben quick to fall in line behind him. Bradley frowned as he watched Jake walk past, a muscle twitching in his jaw. His eyes looked back at you, lips curving in a thoughtful smile before shooting you a wink and following his two companions.

You let out a breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding, Annie coming up behind you quickly.

“I am so sorry,” she cried, blue eyes big and sorrowful.

“Why are you sorry?” You asked with a snort, brushing your hands down your rumpled shirt. “They’re the ones who’ve never heard of personal space, apparently.”

“Babe, do you not realize who they are?” She asked, brow furrowing as she studied you, lips pursing as she shook her head.

“Of course you don’t,” she muttered, placing a hand on her forehead as she sucked in a breath. “God, I’m so fucking stupid sometimes. How could I forget to tell you one of the most basic things?”

“Annie, what are you talking about?” You asked, crossing your arms as a sinking feeling came over you. Her eyes snapped open as she looked at you with an uncharacteristically solemn expression.

“There’s a lot more to this city than you realize,” she told you. “There are groups always grabbing for power and control of it, and right now there are two who are going head to head: the Daggers and the Harpies. You just met the two men who are in charge of the Dagger syndicate, Mouse: Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin and Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw. ”

Your heart sank, and your head involuntarily whipped around towards where the group of men walked off to. You spotted them sitting in one of the booths, Reuben talking animatedly about something or other, but your stomach did a flip as you realized that both Jake and Bradley were already looking at you. The blond arched a brow at you while the brunette waggled his fingers at you with a playful smirk. Annie followed your gaze, sighing before continuing.

“And it looks like you’ve gone and caught their eye.”

A/N: Thought we might take a quick break from talking about Angel!Jake and go back to Mafia!Jake and Mafia!Bradley, and they're finally here! What do we think of them from our first meeting? As always, reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated. If you would like to receive updates on when I post, please follow my sideblog (@sailoraviator-library) and turn on post notifications! You can also find my works on AO3 under the username sailor_aviator. Until next time!

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zepskies · 1 year

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Never Say Goodbye - Part 4

Pairing: Dean x Female Reader

Summary: The first time you and Dean sensed each other’s thoughts and feelings, you were just kids. It would take years to realize that you both were bonded for life, and even longer to finally meet. [Soulmate AU] (Rated M for eventual scenes – 18+)

Word Count: 4,400 Warnings: Language, cliffhangers (lol).

Part 4: Guessing Game

The next morning was a Wednesday. Despite the monumental, life-changing things that happened yesterday, unfortunately, you still had to go to work. You also had three class finals to finish.

Still, you woke invigorated with a new energy you had never felt before because you had finally, finally met your soulmate.

…Okay, not so much met him, but at least you had shared a telepathic conversation! That still counted!

…No matter how actually insane that sounded.

So you got ready for your day with an added pep in your step. You dressed “work casual”: white blouse tucked into a black skirt, tights because of the cold, black boots, and your favorite red winter coat. It hung to about your knees, so it would protect your legs. You even had the energy to put on some makeup and style your hair a little, fixing the frizzy kinks into some smoother waves down your back.

You looked into the mirror and you felt proud of your reflection. Not just how you looked, but of how you were able to carry yourself with your head held high.

With your purse and books gathered, you ventured downstairs and found your dad already puttering through the kitchen. You accepted the mug of coffee he offered and sipped at it while you packed a lunch.

Hmm, getting low on groceries. I’ll have to swing by the store on the way home, you thought.

There was one other thing that snagged in your mind, and that was having to reschedule your visit with Bobby. After you “hung up” with your soulmate (who frustratingly refused to give you his name yet), you realized how late it was and called your uncle for a rain check. But you fully intended to keep your word and visit him today, after work.

Now, you eyed your dad as he read the paper at the small kitchen nook. You took your coffee and sat down across from him (you still had a few minutes before you had to leave).

“How’s the world?” you asked him, nodding at the newspaper.

“Great,” he replied dryly. “Just one big dumpster fire.”

The corner of your mouth quirked upwards. “Any local flames?”

Jack sighed and lowered the paper, meeting her eyes. “Unfortunately, yes. You carry pepper spray, don’t you?”

You nodded. “Of course.”

“And your handgun? Where’d you put it?” he asked. You frowned.

Your father was a cop and this was the Midwest. You did have a concealed carrier’s permit, but you weren’t allowed to have your gun on you at school, so you typically stored it in the nightstand by your bed. Jack knew that.

“What’s going on?” you asked.

“There’s been a series of home invasions across town, two of them in our neighborhood,” he said, giving you a firm look. “Watch yourself when you leave the house, when you head to your car, when you leave campus.”

“I know, Dad,” you replied. “By the way…are you planning on going to see Mom today? I didn’t get a chance to go yesterday, so we could go together if you want.”

You were attempting to lend an olive branch after yesterday’s argument. Jack, however, wasn’t getting the hint.

“I can’t.” He shook his head and tapped at the newspaper headline. “I’m actually heading this case…most of these have been what we call ‘push-ins.’”

“What’s a push-in?” you asked. You could guess, but you didn’t like how serious your dad was right now.

“Let’s say someone knocks at the door. You’re not expecting anyone, not even the pizza guy. What do you do?” Jack asked.

“Check who it is through the peephole,” you answer.

“What if your door doesn’t have one?”

This was easy. Your father had drilled this into you since you were eight years old. “Ask who it is through the door. Don’t open it unless you know them, or unless you can smell pizza through the door crack.”

“Good. Most people will just open the door without checking,” Jack said. “The guy shoves his way in and attacks you. That’s a push-in.”

Goddamn. You didn't know there was a name for that.

“And how many of these have happened so far?” you asked.

“Four that we know of,” he replied. “It hasn’t hit the news yet but…Mrs. Jenkins was killed last night. We found the poor thing literally clutching her pearls.”

You blanched, setting down your coffee. Shock hit you first, then sadness. Mrs. Jenkins was the sweet old lady who used to make cookies for Sunday school when you were a kid. She’d given you $50 for college textbooks when you graduated from high school, and then flowers when you graduated with your bachelor’s degree.

Your eyes burned with emotion. “I can’t believe it. He was after her pearls?”

“I imagine she didn’t want to give ‘em up,” Jack said. “Or she held on out of reflex. When you’re afraid, logic tends to fly out the window.”

You understood that, but you couldn’t believe she’d died for her jewelry. You rubbed the silver ring on your right hand and rationalized to yourself. You knew you could give up your mom’s ring if it meant the difference between that and a bullet in your brain.

Your dad was still telling you to be careful when you left the house that morning. He only nagged and rode your ass about your future career because he cared. You knew that. But the nagging was a test of your ever-thinning patience.

Once you got on the road, you had an hour to kill on your commute. Then a flash of an idea occurred to you, making you smile. With a deep breath, you sought that thread of energy inside your mind. You didn’t know if this would work. It wouldn’t be long until you were driving away from Sioux Falls and headed to Vermillion, but you hoped the connection would win out.

The thread brightened with your focus on it, and suddenly you could feel him. Your soulmate.

Good morning, sleepyhead, you greeted cheerfully. His response was more sluggish.

No, it ain’t.

His grumpy voice made you laugh. Aw, someone’s grouchy in the morning.

This lumpy couch killed my back, he complained. And I could hear my brother’s snoring from downstairs.

So he had a brother. That was an interesting tidbit of information you’d save for later. You smiled.

You’re a cute grouch.

Excuse me, princess. I’m not a “cute” anything. He sounded mildly offended, but you sensed he was just as amused as you.

So what’s your brother’s name? you asked.

He hesitated, but eventually he replied, His name’s Sam.

Okay, so his brother’s name was safe, but his name had to be a mystery. And his job. That annoyed you, though you supposed it was part of the game.

What’re you up to? he asked.

On my way to work.

Oh, yeah? What do you do?

Even though you shook your head at the hypocrisy of his question, you decided to answer honestly. Well, I’m finishing up grad school next semester. This week is finals, then we break until January. But I also work part-time for one of my professors as her assistant.

Look at you, he said with a whistle. Beauty and brains.

You quirked a smile. If only your dad were that impressed. Technically you haven’t confirmed the “beauty” bit. I could be a potato with legs for all you know.

You sensed rather than heard his laughter.

Nah, a voice that sexy can’t be Potato Girl.

You blushed up to your ears at that one. No one had ever described your voice that way. Quiet, mousy yes—and mainly by Dr. Birch—but never sexy.

Your soulmate was definitely a flirt, if nothing else.

Hmm, you had that line locked and loaded, didn’t you?

Nope. That was fresh, sweetheart, he said. I’m just that creative.

Sure, you laughed again. It’s already 9:00 a.m. Don’t you have somewhere to be?

Yeah, now that you mention it. I’ve gotta get going to work too.

That was disappointing, but at least you’d learned something new. Your soulmate wasn’t a morning person, and he had a brother.

Do you and your brother both have the same mystery job?

…Yeah, actually. We work together, he said. Good question, Nancy Drew.

Yes! You smiled in triumph.

You made a few more guesses about his job: police officer, teacher, leader of a biker gang—all of which were apparently wrong.

But keep ‘em comin’, he said. You’ll get it eventually.

You let out an annoyed huff. But then you felt his amusement, like he was genuinely enjoying himself while talking with you. That warmed you up enough for now.

After a long day at the university, you relished coming home knowing you only had two more days until winter break.

You stopped at the grocery store on the way home, like you’d planned, but now you regretted it. There were only two cashiers open despite a packed store. Ugh. Just my luck.

You chose the one that didn’t have a screaming child throwing his mother’s apples out of the cart, but you did stop to help her pick them up.

“Thanks, hun,” she said tiredly. You nodded with a sympathetic smile.

“How old is he?” you asked.

“Two and a half,” she said. You tried to hide your reaction, but she gave a wry smile and returned to her child.

Good luck, you wanted to say, but you kept that yourself and returned to your cart. As the line inched forward, you wondered if you wanted kids.

Never really thought about it before, you could admit. You supposed there was a lot to consider, but maybe most importantly: It has to be with the right person.

You wondered if your soulmate was that person, or if having kids one day (or not) was going to be a dealbreaker for him.

Then you snorted, shaking your head. Okay, you’re getting very ahead of yourself. You haven’t even met the man.

“Hey, look who it is!”

The cashier’s voice startled you from your thoughts. When you broke out of your reverie, you realized you were at the front of the line, and Danny Schmitt was once again your checkout guy. Part of you withered, but you tried at a polite smile as you busied yourself by emptying your cart on the conveyer belt. “Hey, Danny. How’re you doing?”

“Been good. And yourself? You look good,” he said. He wasn’t very discreet about checking you out. You blushed, but more from discomfort than flattery.

“Thanks,” you said, a bit awkwardly, and started bagging the groceries he rang up.

“What have you been up to?” he asked. “Every time I see you, you’re dressed up like you’re goin’ to a Broadway show or something.”

Broadway? You glanced down at your work casual blouse and skirt. To the movie theater, maybe. Less Mamma Mia and more Magic Mike.

“I like it though. Skirt and boots, always a sexy combo,” Danny said, and gave you a wink. You had no doubt that many a girl had swooned at the move, but you were less charmed and more annoyed. You finished bagging your stuff and paid with your credit card in silence.

The high school version of yourself would’ve blushed at Danny’s attention. After stapling his fingers together in freshman year, he’d gone through a growth spurt the next. He’d joined the wrestling team, and paired with his light blonde hair and square jaw, the girls hadn’t stopped stumbling over themselves to get with him.

After high school, though, Danny didn’t get that sports scholarship for college. It also looked like he didn’t have the drive for anything else, either. He’d worked this same job at the Piggly Wiggly since you graduated six years ago.

All right, check your privilege, you reminded yourself, feeling guilty for judging him. Not everyone’s cut out for college. You don’t even know exactly what you want to do with your life.

“Have a good one,” he said, handing you the receipt. “And hey, let me know if you want to get a coffee sometime, or dinner. Flannigan’s has a two-for-one special on beer pitchers…I’ll pay. Or, you know, we could split it. You know, equality and all that. Hell, even you could pay if you wanted to.” He laughed.

Tempting, you thought. Though you’d have to remember about that two-for-one special. Uncle Bobby might want to make that your beer pilgrimage tonight.

“You know, I’ve been pretty busy lately,” you said, trying your best at a smile. “But I’ll let you know!”

Maybe it was rude of you, but you didn’t give him a chance to reply as you took your cart and waved goodbye.

Bobby welcomed you into his home, with what could only be described as a “gruff smile.” You shed your winter coat, but finding no hooks on the wall, you just draped it over the back of the living room couch.

“Come in,” he beckoned with a hand. “Don’t mind the mess. I was just finishing up some…work.”

Indeed, there were several books strewn across the coffee table, the dining table, the little accent table next to the couch—basically every available space in the living room was covered with books, manuscripts, and loose papers. Your eyes scanned over some of them. Raising a brow, you picked up one of the books.

“Omens, Trials, and Tribulations: A Guided Study on the Book of Revelation,” you read, and gave Bobby a curious look. “Doing some light reading alongside the New King James?”

Bobby shrugged. “It’s a hobby.”

Somehow you didn’t think that was the whole story, but you smiled in amusement. Then you noticed some rumpled bed sheets on the couch, a green duffle bag dumped on the floor.

“Do you have someone staying over? Should I come back another day?” you asked.

“Nah, I’ve got a couple of knuckleheads staying over, but they’re not here right now,” he said. “I sent them to work on somethin’.”

“Oh, towing a car for you?” you asked.

“More like, checking out a possible job,” he explained, though that didn’t really explain anything at all. It left you even more curious as you got the sense he was leaving something out again, but you didn’t press it. Instead, you followed him into the kitchen.

“Want a beer?” he asked.

“That’s why I’m here,” you joked. “Dad drinks ‘em like a fish. By the time I get home, the fridge is damn-near empty.”

“How is he?” Bobby handed you the beer and you took it gratefully.

“He’s the same. Buried in cases. I made him something before I left, for when he gets home,” you replied. Then you sighed and sat down at the two-seater table in the kitchen. “He didn’t even go to visit Mom on the anniversary.”

Just then, you realized something. You hadn’t actually visited Mom either, because you’d been distracted…hearing your soulmate’s thoughts for the first time.

Damn it…

Well, in this case your mom would probably forgive you, but you felt guilty all the same. You slid your ring around your finger absently.

Bobby sat across from you at the table. “The past can be a hard thing to let go of, but the real bitch of it is, it’s also hard remembering.”

You nodded in agreement.

“How’re you doin’ then?” he asked. Instead of a customary fine, or busy, you actually thought about it.

“Yesterday…I don’t know. I felt stuck. Like, I was hanging onto the train but I wasn’t in the driver’s seat,” you admitted. “Today, I woke up and things were different.”

“That’s specific,” Bobby remarked. You shot him a wry smile.

“I don’t know. I’ve spent a long time just, like…trudging through the snow. Trying to keep the flurries out of my eyes,” you said. “But for the first time, I feel like I can see the sun, you know? There’s a reason to hope things might change. Like something good is coming my way.”

Bobby’s mouth lifted into a subtle grin. “Very poetic. You should think about writin’ for Hallmark.”

You uttered an incredulous laugh. “All right. See if I pour my heart out to you again. God.”

“My apologies, princess,” Bobby said dryly. “Okay. In all seriousness, you’ve got a lot goin’ for ya, kid. You’ve got a right to be optimistic.”

You nodded with a superior smile. “Thank you.”

“Listen, I’ve got a lasagna waiting in the oven. You want any part of that?” he asked.

Your uncle was asking if you wanted to stay for dinner. You considered it and realized he was trying to connect with you. It wasn’t the first time he’d offered, and you regretted declining his loose invitations in the past.

“Sure,” you said. “Lasagna sounds great.”

“All right.” He nodded. “Gimme a sec.”

You had never understood the seemingly one-sided animosity between your dad and your uncle. Sure, Bobby was known as the town drunk. He’d gotten arrested a few times for publicly intoxicated antics, but he wasn’t belligerent. He wasn’t a bad man by any means.

“You know, speaking of Italian. I like making spaghetti and meatballs, the latter from scratch,” you said. “Maybe I could make some next time.”

Bobby glanced over at you with a bit of surprise. “Uh…sure.”

You smiled.

Later, as you and Bobby shared a meal together, you caught up on safe subjects, like how his business was going. He likewise asked you about your job. You admitted Dr. Birch was driving you up the wall this week. She’d asked you to grade two more of her classes’ final exams, putting you behind on your thesis draft.

But then you drew enough courage to delve into not-so-safe subjects.

“All right, I’ve gotta know,” you said. “Why the hell did you and my dad fall out, Bobby? What is this thing?”

Bobby looked very reluctant. “It’s complicated.”

You stared back at him for a moment. Curiosity was eating at you, but you didn’t want to push either. Today was going well. Maybe it was better not to spoil it.

“Complicated,” you echoed, smiling ruefully. “Right.”

After you two finished dinner and the dishes were cleared, you thanked Bobby and surprised him with a hug. His arms came around you briefly before you both let go, just a little awkwardly.

You put on your coat and headed out the door, until his voice stopped you on the porch.

“Look, regardless of where your dad and I stand, you’re family,” Bobby said. “You’re always welcome here.”

You gave a warm smile. “Thanks, Uncle Bobby.”

Then you returned to your Camaro and drove away from Singer Salvage, waving to his through your window as you went.

You made a left at the main road going west, so you didn’t see the black Impala come in from the east road, turning into Bobby’s driveway.

“What were those smooth wheels doing pulling out of this junk heap?” Dean jabbed a thumb behind him as he and Sam came into the house. They’d gotten nothing from that potential lead on John Winchester’s whereabouts, and neither of them were in a great mood. But the smell of food cheered up both of them, especially Dean.

“What?” Bobby asked.

“That blue ’93 Camaro Z28 that just peeled outta here. She was nice,” Dean said. Sam glanced at him, impressed. Dean smirked, an Aw, yeah, I know my shit kind of look.

Bobby smiled in amusement. “My niece stopped by for dinner.”

Sam shared a look of mild surprise with Dean, who said, “That’s a shame. Would’ve liked to meet her.”

Bobby shot him a warning look. “Down, boy. Like you need any help findin’ dance partners.”

Dean grinned. Sam nearly rolled his eyes.

“The lead didn’t pan out,” Sam said. “So we’re gonna head out in the morning, if that’s all right.”

“Fine,” Bobby shrugged. “Drink my beer, eat my food, and run up my water bill. Just do me a favor and clean up after yourselves. I don’t need a roach infestation.”

“What, don’t you think the rats need company?” Dean teased. Bobby raised a warning finger at him, making Dean hold back a laugh.

Bobby went upstairs for bed soon after, and Dean gave Sam first shower this time. It was good timing too…

Dean realized he could hear his soulmate again.

You were rocking out to a Billy Joel song.

He smirked. Figures.

As you drove home blasting “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” you chanted along with the long verses, sometimes forgetting words, sometimes stumbling and saying them wrong. But you came in strong with the part you knew: We didn’t start the fiiire. It was always buuurnin’ since the world’s been tuuurnin’—

Figures, your soulmate’s voice cut through everything else. It almost startled you, but feeling his amusement made you blush hotly.

He laughed, and it was a rich sound that made something flutter in your stomach.

Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt the performance. But come on, ‘80s pop?

You scoffed. All right, Mr. Power Ballad. Billy Joel is pop rock.

Gotta say, I expected better from you, sweetheart, he teased.

Ugh, you sound like such an old man. Tell me you don’t just listen to mullet rock, you rejoined.

All right. Let’s take an inventory, shall we? he challenged. ACDC. Led Zeppelin. Boston.

You made a face as you continued to drive through your hometown. You knew these streets like the back of your hand, even in the pitch black of eleven at night.

Yes to Zeppelin. The other two are…loud, you said. You heard him sigh, but he accepted this.

Fine, how about Hendrix?

Absolutely. You smiled. I take your Hendrix and raise you Prince and Beyonce.

Prince, yes. You can keep Beyonce, he said. Sorry, I’m not Team BeyHive.

You chortled in response. The fact that you know what that means give me hope. At least you’re aware that you live in the 2000s.

Whatever. I was raised on two things: classic rock and the open road.

His grumpiness was entertaining, but this gave you an excellent opportunity to play your little game.

The open road, huh? Are you some kind of traveling salesman? you asked.

Definitely not.

Hmm. Perhaps he sensed your frustration. He surprised you by giving you a hint.

Travel is part of it though.

Aha! I knew it.

Oh yeah? How?

This morning you said you were sleeping on a couch, you began. You typically don’t do that if you’re not at home in your bed. So I could assume you were traveling, and you had to work today. But I didn’t know you had to travel often for work until you just said it.

You felt proud of your deductive reasoning. So now I know that you and your brother have the same job. It’s unlikely you live in Sioux Falls. And you travel often for work.

Dean whistled lowly. Damn, girl. Somehow you’re reminding me of Sam right now…what are you studying again?

You noted a brief tendril of sadness from him, being quickly brushed off. You didn’t dwell on it, but you would make a mental note of it for later, maybe.

History, you replied.

Oh, okay. Gonna be a teacher or something?

I…don’t really know yet. I’ve been scoping out jobs…

You’ve almost got two degrees and you don’t know what you wanna do with ‘em?

All right, that was hitting a nerve.

“You know what? Don’t change the subject!” you said. Realizing you said that out loud, you made sure to think it at him this time.

You don’t live in Sioux Falls right? Or South Dakota even? you added.

Look at you go, little miss detective, he replied. You thought he enjoyed teasing you a bit too much. No, I don’t live here. But a family friend does.

Okay, so that narrowed it down to everything.

You turned the street corner into your neighborhood. The streetlights were sparse here ever since the last snowstorm knocked them out. Your dad had talked about installing ground lights in the front lawn for years, but he’d never gotten around to it. His job was too demanding to take care of much at home, which left you with most of the responsibility. Sometimes you wondered how your mom did it…

Anyway, back to the game.

Plumber, electrician, flight attendant? You guessed. You had a feeling from the way he talked about your schooling that he hadn’t gone to college. You didn’t mind that. If this stupid game was anything to go by, it sounded like he had an interesting way of making a living.

Nope to all three, especially the last one. Ugh.

Goddamn it. Okay, do you own a business?

You could say that. It’s a family business, he said. There was a playful note to this voice, as if he was dancing around the truth.

Dear Lord. All right, a family business…

It was probably something small-scale. A diner? Hardware store?

It’s not a physical store. More like a…a service.

You were getting warmer! With a smile, you made your way down your street and pulled your car into the driveway. Surprise, surprise, your dad wasn’t home yet.

Got it. You nodded. Okay, truck driver. Service engineer, electrician…oh shit, I said that earlier. Hmm…exterminator?

You grabbed your purse and finally got out of your car. You’d made it all the way to your front door when you realized that your soulmate had gone quiet. You sensed he was thinking, contemplating.

You nearly bounced in excitement as you unlocked the door to your house. I’m right, aren’t I? Which one?

After stepping inside and closing the door behind you, you turned on the hallway and living room lights.

The last one, he said at last. You paused in your excitement, your brows furrowed.

Exterminator. Really? That was curious. Who’d ever heard of a traveling exterminator? Like rats and stuff?

And stuff, he said with a chuckle, but somehow you knew it was hollow. You frowned, until you looked into the living room and noticed something weird.

A black duffel bag that didn’t look like your dad’s. You don’t remember it being there this morning either.

Hey, you okay? he asked. You realized that he was probably sensing your confusion. You headed toward the duffel bag.

Yeah, I just got home—

The moment you set down your purse on the coffee table, a hand closed over your mouth and muffled your scream.

AN: Yay, cliffhangers! (I promise they'll meet in the next chapter lol.)

Also, I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you reading, reblogging, commenting, etc. I didn't think this little fic would generate that much interest, but getting your feedback is inspiring me to write more!

Keep reading: Part 5.

Series Masterlist

Dean Winchester Masterlist

Main Masterlist

@curlycarley @buckywenal24 @jamerlynn @iprobablyshipit91 @globetrotter28 @deamus-liv @irgendwas122 @deans-spinster-witch @dogbarkbark4445

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spaceagebachelormann · 17 days

Note

hii!!!

could u maybe write some henry clerval headcanons of him courting a fem reader? preferably friends to lovers,,,

ty!!

⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

✧.* 𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐘 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒

╰┈➤ NAVIGATION. MASTERLIST

╰┈➤ CARMILLAS NOTES: im ill i apologize in advance if this is horrible . also ur so real i love henry clerval he’s so midwest emo ! also i kinda incorporated the like long distance thing cause of the movie i watched the other day having an influence on me 😔 also pls don’t send any requests after this they’re closed rn! i let this one slide cause i love frankenstein though .. also victor x elizabeth mention cause they’re my roman empire

╰┈➤ WARNINGS: none

you guys met when you were running around the forest one afternoon out of pure boredom

him, victor and elizabeth were also wandering and you had happened to run into them

and because you’re all children in the middle of the woods you obviously became really good friends

elizabeth was happy to finally have a friend that was a girl, victor was happy he had someone he could rant to for hours on end, and henry was just happy in general

trios can be exhausting and he was never big on being elizabeth and victors third wheel so it was wonderful to have someone new to talk to

at first it was just a regular friendship and it stayed like this for years

you only came to geneva around late may and stayed until early september, because your parents had family that you only visited once a year

they became used to you running off with henry, sometimes all three of them or only two or one of the other ones but mainly henry for hours on end and begging to spend the night a few times

while elizabeth and victor spent a majority of their time together, you and henry were practically inseparable

after years of spending your summers with henry, he starts getting a weird feeling in his stomach

like he doesn’t know how to explain it, but whenever he’s around you or thinks about you his heart speeds up and he starts worrying about how he looks or what he’s wearing

he isn’t dumb though, he knows what the feeling is but he doesn’t want to admit it

there’s no point in his eyes because he’s sure it’ll go away soon and he only sees you during the summer anyway

but every year you come down with your parents the feeling will come back instantly (not that it actually went away)

elizabeth is the first to notice this

well victor noticed months prior but he didn’t care enough to ask about it (also because he just didn’t want to)

elizabeth is very calm and understanding and lets him rant to her to figure out his feelings

but henry is an emotional person and has a lot of feelings, so he’s going on for a long time before elizabeth stops him like “are you sure you don’t just like her?” and it all clicks for him

thankfully it’s may and you’ll be on your way in less than a month

by this time you’ve known him well over a decade and he’s finally gotten everything right to finally properly court you

he isn’t persistent or forcing at all, he knows it’s as big as a decision for you as it was him so he’s very patient

the way he begins is very sweet and works almost instantly

first, he’ll invite you on a walk through the same forest y’all met in and just let you rant to him about the last few months since he saw you

with help from victor, he has it all planned so the time you finish talking he’s right at the place he needs you to be

theres this clearing in the middle of the forest where the sun shines perfectly and there’s a little lake where ducks are sometimes and he knows you’d like this spot because it’s quiet and peaceful and nobody is there to interrupt

he had this set up hours before you even arrived as a picnic, all of it being foods and everything he knew you’d like

and while you’re sitting there talking he pulls flowers he picked himself out of the basket the food was in and offers them to you, before properly explaining why he did all of this

he makes sure you know that it you aren’t sure yet you have time to think about it but he’s so happy when you agree either way

hes very caring, the second you’re even slightly injured or sick he’s at your side already trying to make you better

henry also completely prioritizes you over anyone and everything else, he’s skipped out on many things to be with you instead

the second you walk into the room he’s pausing whatever conversation he was in and talking to you instead

and when he’s not talking with you he’s talking about you

“so the other day me and—“ “henry please stop talking about her”

(victor is the main victim of this)

hes also very big on gift giving, he likes to pick flowers for you a few times a week and just buy you things he thought you’d like or remind him of you

honestly hes probably the best character in the story you could be with

#mars writing 🧈#frankenstein (marlees version 🫀)#frankenstein x reader #frankenstein #frankenstein mary shelley #henry clerval #henry clerval x reader

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sweetfirebird · 5 months

Text

Christmas Shit

The next of the Christmas charity prompts. @orbisonblue generously donated and asked for some Jimmy and Javier from From Better or Worse.

Content tags: some mention of Jimmy's (absent) awful, homophobic family, complete with how they think/talk about gay stuff as well as Jimmy. This is futurefic, so I guess book spoilers.

All characters are mine blah blah.

Christmas Shit

Javier let himself into Jimmy’s place through the back door like always, narrowly avoiding Baci as she bolted outside to chase leaves, one of the bags in his arms smacking into the wall hard enough to make him freeze and listen for any glass breaking. But he forgot the spun glass white egret intended as a Christmas present for Peyo to put in the yard that was now possibly shattered into a thousand pieces, because Jimmy sprang up from where he’d been lying on the couch and flailed around until he found the remote.

He waved it at the TV while forcefully pressing buttons, probably intending to turn it off but only pausing the screen. Javier glanced at the image of several white people in period costumes lined up opposite each other for what he assumed was a dance, then faced Jimmy, who was staring at him with eyes a little too wide. As though Javier had just walked in on him watching porn—no, Javier had walked in on him watching porn and also had watched some with him, so this was something else.

He realized what only a second after his first thought. Trust Jimmy to still have hangups about doing anything that might be considered ‘weak’ or ‘gay’ where anyone in his family might see.

Javier was not someone who raged or held grudges, but he had a collection of things he was waiting for a chance to say to the Rizzo family if he ever met them.

Not that he ever would. That was why Jimmy was out here, and why he volunteered to work on every holiday, and probably why he’d made up reasons to not go to Christmas shopping at the mall in Riverton with Javier and Peyo today.

“You’re home earlier than I expected,” Jimmy said, almost breathless. He was not looking back at the TV screen. Javier couldn’t let him go on being nervous, even though if he waited, Jimmy would remember on his own that Javier was one of his asshole relations back in the Midwest who would insist something like that was for fags.

But Javier didn’t feel like letting Jimmy suffer even for another second. “Is that Pride and Prejudice?” He calmly closed the door behind him; Baci would let them know when she wanted back inside.

“I don’t know,” Jimmy answered immediately, then seemed to realize how childish he sounded and frowned at the couch for a moment. “I guess,” he amended. “Probably.”

Javier gentled his voice but made his point anyway. “Everyone knows who Colin Firth is. Because of that thing.” Jimmy set his jaw as though he had an argument he wasn’t going to make, so Javier added, “and that Bridget Jones or whatever.” And then, because it would make Jimmy’s relatives squirm, “And Mamma Mia.”

“Rhonda loves that movie. Fuck you. She put it on when I was over there.” This was muttered, but at least Jimmy was starting to look less squirrely.

Tiny’s wife did love Mamma Mia. But Javier suspected that Jimmy’s opera-loving ass was fond of it too, and would probably enjoy more musicals if given the chance.

Javier left that unsaid. “You can keep watching. I’m going to go stash this stuff in the bedroom.”

It was not, technically, his bedroom, or even their bedroom. Not on the lease anyway. Javier still had his bedroom in Peyo’s house next door. But when he’d told Jimmy he’d be hiding presents in their bedroom, Jimmy hadn’t objected. He’d even cleared out space in the closet.

“Nah, I don’t need to watch the rest, it’s okay,” Jimmy denied anyway.

Javier studied him without moving, letting shopping bag handles dig into his arms. He stared until Jimmy fidgeted and said, “What? It’s fine. I don’t need to keep watching.”

Then Javier just said, very softly, “It’s okay if you’d rather watch it by yourself. But I wouldn’t spoil it for you if you let me join you. I’ve never seen it. Just that other one.”

Jimmy put his head back like this was an unexpected blow. “You saw that one?”

Javier nodded. “In the station believe it or not. And no, it was not me or Scotty who put it on. Hmm. I did read one of her books, Austen’s I mean, in college, but not this one. So definitely no spoilers from me.”

“Oh.” Jimmy shifted from foot to foot once, restless or indecisive. “I didn’t put this on either. But it came on.”

“And it was so good that you stopped what you were doing to watch?” Javier couldn’t help his smile or the teasing, but getting Jimmy to forget his fight-or-flight reactions to these things always felt good. Like a reward or a gift shared between the two of them. But he didn’t push the teasing despite how he probably could have now. “You want something to eat? I can do that next and bring it to you while you watch.”

Jimmy narrowed his eyes, but then dipped one shoulder, looking so adorably bashful and fierce at the same time that Javier hid a sigh. “Yeah. Thanks. You don’t have to, but thanks. I… you can join me, if you want. I can start over.”

“I’m not going to make you do that.” Javier wouldn’t have anyway, but also he vaguely thought that version was long and he had already worn himself out with the drive to Riverton and then shopping, and was probably going to take a nap even if he tried not to. It wasn’t worth it to start it all over for him now. “But you could fill me in while I make us some sandwiches?”

Jimmy wiped the amazed look off his face quickly, but Javier still caught it. He didn’t comment, though. He went to the bedroom, then came into the kitchen to wash his hands and get out what was left of the roast they’d made the other day and every condiment within reach.

“You want me to make you some coffee?” Jimmy asked from the kitchen doorway, watching Javier with his hands in his pockets, somehow still looking bashful and fierce. He accepted that Javier wasn’t going to laugh at him or mock him, but was unable to quite shake old fears. “You look tired. The old man drive you crazy today?”

“Tempting,” Javier admitted. “But I had two coffees at the mall already.”

He was focused on slicing bread and so didn’t realize Jimmy had moved. He put down the knife to reach for some onion and felt Jimmy’s breath on the back of his neck a second before Jimmy wrapped an arm around him.

“Thank you.”

Javier didn’t think Jimmy was talking about the food with that soft, sweet whisper, although it was just possible. He turned until he could press a quick kiss to the side of Jimmy’s face. Jimmy’s cheek was hot and held the faint impression of one of the couch cushions, as if he’d been watching Pride and Prejudice with his face smushed against a pillow.

Javier kissed him again. “So, what were you watching before to make the channel suggest this?”

It got him a whine and more grumbling. “Javi.”

“It’s just a question,” Javier answered with innocence that might have seemed false to Jimmy, because he sighed deeply.

Then, without meeting Javier’s eye, said, “I wanted something Christmas that wasn’t anything I used to watch with them.”

Them being all the Rizzos except his ex-wife, who was a Rizzo by marriage-of-convenience and so didn’t really count as a Rizzo to Javier. Not like the rest of those assholes. She had sent them a Christmas card.

Javier held all those thoughts in, waiting for Jimmy to continue to explain, which he would if he wanted to.

Which he must have, because he angled his face to keep his gaze away but ask for another kiss, and then muttered, clearly embarrassed, “So a few years ago, I got in the habit of watching those holiday rom coms. The bad ones.”

“The bad ones?” Javier echoed, mostly because his impression of those Hallmark TV movies was that they were all bad.

Jimmy gave a tight shrug. “You know, the ones with the city girls, and the small towns covered in Christmas shit that nobody in their right mind fucking does. Like not even people who live in towns with Christmas tourism go that fucking nuts for it. But… they’ve got the colors and everything, and snow in ‘em a lot of the time and it don’t snow here. And they’ve almost always got really welcoming families in those insane Christmas towns and I…”

He stopped, abruptly and obviously.

“Ah.” Javier grabbed Jimmy by the collar of his t-shirt and pulled him closer until their eyes met.

“Aw, Javi,” Jimmy whined again, but apparently for a different reason. “Now, I gotta kiss you. It ain’t fair.”

Javier didn’t have time to get offended. Jimmy put hands on either side of his face and kissed him, slow and careful, without the hunger Javier had been expecting. He pulled back, then came in again to offer Javier another, even softer kiss, before saying, “You didn’t get out the good mustard.”

“Sorry,” Javier answered automatically.

Jimmy bobbed his head, cheered by food and the preparation of it, or the kiss, or being in the kitchen with Javier, which he had said many times was his favorite place to be “in the whole goddamn world.” He went to the fridge himself for the mustard, leaving Javier to watch him and shiver and think about what was left of the afternoon.

He cleared his throat. “We can eat, and I’ll tell you all about Peyo ditching me at the mall for a date,” or a hookup, “with his current old lady romantic partner.” It made Jimmy snort a laugh, so Javier continued. “Then, if you want, we can go back to your movie. Or wrap presents. Or and wrap presents, if you want. Whatever you want, Jimmy.” Javier had just heard enough carols in the mall to last him until next Christmas, but, “We could even listen to carols. There’s sure be a playlist somewhere. Whatever you want. I mean it.”

“I do not want carols,” Jimmy huffed. He went stiff, then relaxed. Not completely, but enough. “It’s a tough time of year for people like me. That’s all.”

Javier forced himself to turn back the counter so Jimmy wouldn’t have to keep inventing reasons to go hide his face in the fridge. “I know, baby.”

That was said just to hear the grumbled, “Fucking baby, he says. Il mio coure.” Jimmy closed the refrigerator door, though, then paused. “You need anything else for these?”

Javier made his voice overly sweet. “Peppers if you want them, baby.”

He got a pissy look for it, but Jimmy did go back into the fridge for the jar. He put it on the counter. “How about a tea if not coffee, huh?” he offered. Then, while fussing with the kettle said over his shoulder, as if it were no big deal, “So—there is this family that has all daughters, okay? Like five of ‘em and none of them are married.”

“Okay,” Javier agreed, and hid his smile.

#charity prompt #charity prompts 2023 #for better or worse

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ethereallyjade · 2 years

Photo

PAC - Healing Your Inner Child

Choose a picture that resonates with you (Pictures are not mine). Feel free to choose as many piles as you’d like!

I asked 4 questions for each pile: What were you like as a child? Traumas you may have picked up as a child? How to heal? And Final advice?

This is my first time ever reading tarot cards, so bear with me. I also tried channeling some messages as well, so some things I wrote down have nothing to do with the cards I got.

Pile 1

Channeled Messages: Running(from), hazy days, Welcome To Duloc(Yes, the Shrek song), Midwest

What were you like as a kid?

4 of Swords - I’m getting that as a kid you were very quiet and lonesome. You felt overwhelmed by crowds as they left you feeling exhausted and preferred your alone time so you could recharge and rest. You may not have felt protected from others, and this left you feeling like those around you are untrustworthy. Even when you were alone you still felt the need to guard yourself for some reason.

What traumas did you pick up?

Death Reversed - When bad things happen in your life you can turn to means of escapism as a way to run from all the chaos, but in doing so, you’re also running from a brand new start. You feel that you are unworthy of opportunity and therefore remain stuck. You don’t want to let go of your safe place and resist all opportunities for change and growth, but then victimize yourself when things don’t change.

How to Heal?

3 of Swords - Cry. Allow yourself to feel. Go lie down, cuddle something soft, and listen to yourself. Your words are powerful, so don’t keep telling yourself negative things like you're not worthy enough, because even small self-deprecating jokes can harm your sensitive self perception. You may also be sensitive to others' words right now and if you feel hurt by someone's thoughts about you, you need to take some time to self-reflect before expressing any irrational thoughts. You are enough. Go after what really matters to you. Purge what is necessary. It is time to finally move past the pain and keep forward towards the future.

Final Advice?

Hermit - This came out a lot more gently than the rest of the cards. Just take time to rest, and be gentle with yourself, and everything will be okay. It’s time to maybe spend a little less time around others and focus on yourself. You may have too much mental clutter and being around others during this time will not help you clear this. Rest. Breathe. Meditate. Heal.

Pile 2

Channeled Messages: Happily running around, pigtails, big smiles, candy, energy, wild, messy/mental clutter

(Side Note: I got a very giddy and playful energy right off the bat and could not for the life of me shuffle the cards rights, things were flying all over the place and the cards felt too big for my hands. Don’t know how this relates to you yet, but I felt the need to put that out there.)

What were you like as a kid?

Ace of Cups. 5 of Pentacles - I'm seeing you may have been overflowing with energy and emotions as a kid and this may have exhausted your parents. You could have had spiritual gifts as a child, but your parents didn’t know how to handle them. Perhaps your parents were going through a lot during your childhood, be it work or financial issues, and they often found themselves overworked and stressed, so when they came home to your abundance of energy, this could have drained them to the point of exhaustion. I’m getting major ADHD vibes from this pile, so maybe this is something you and your family struggled with.

Traumas you may have picked up?

(Side Note: Again, had troubles shuffling the cards and felt myself getting frustrated. Perhaps you had a hard time focusing as a child or even felt like you couldn’t do anything right and this caused you a lot of frustration. I’m also picking up on a very quick energy. Perhaps you are very fast and a good multitasker.)

2 of Wands Reversed - Exactly what I thought. Long term goals are very difficult for you to reach. You feel like you can't achieve the things you want. Progressing forward with your life is difficult for you and this could stem from the inability to focus OR maybe you are focused but on the wrong things, perhaps on short term pleasures or means of escapism. You’ve lost touch with things that truly make you happy and forgotten about your dreams.

How to Heal?

(Side Note: I feel you are slowly starting to get the hang of things now. It is slow, but you will get there)

2 of Pentacles Reversed - Exactly, once again. You are juggling a lot of things right now, trying very hard to focus, and you will get there. It is hard for you but you will find balance with just a little bit more time and effort. Find ways to release your overwork load. Life doesn’t have to be so hard. Ask someone close to you for help or advice, make to do lists, or buy calendars so you don’t forget anything, take time to journal to release all of those thoughts that you have, and/or find meditation practices. (By the way, you can meditate in many different ways, not just by sitting still doing nothing. Try doing a puzzle, or drawing, something mindless to focus on for a second.)

Final Advice?

3 of Cups - Celebrate the little things! People are here to support you and they want to celebrate with you. Even though you have a lot of your plate it is okay to allow yourself the time to step away and have fun. Celebrate the little successes in life. The people surrounding you can help you and bring you to even better places and opportunities in life, so allow them to.

This pile was so cute. I love this energy. Youre doing great. Keep going!

Pile 3

Channeled Messages: I saw a house in the country after a storm. A family’s standing outside on the wet driveway looking up at a rainbow in the gray sky. Maybe that imagery will mean something to you. Idk. Light after the storm, wanting things to be happier. A long way to go. Endless. Lost

What were you like as a child?

(Side Note: I’m getting a very meticulous and perfectionist energy)

6 of Cups - I’d say your childhood was generally happy. You were very playful, and creative. Maybe had a big family or lots of friends, or just surrounded by many people or activities. Perhaps you feel things were better back then and you frequently revisit things from your past because you crave the happiness you felt from then. To this day, you might still enjoy being around kids more than adults as you find them having a lighter energy to them.

Traumas you may have picked up?

(Side Note: I feel oddly patient)

Devil Reversed - This card reversed is generally a good thing, so perhaps you never let things really get to you or if they did you were skilled at dealing with them head on and healing from them quickly. Maybe as you got older you did this and have already started your healing process. You could have been a mature child. I’m also getting you may have helped those around you heal, or people could have come to you for advice even if you were a kid and significantly younger than them. This could have put a lot on your shoulders and drained you over time, but in general I’d say you’re doing pretty well for yourself.

How to heal?

9 of Pentacles, 6 of Cups - Go outside more often and spend some time in nature. Honestly, the only thing that keeps coming to my head is to grow a garden or get some flowers. I see lots of flowers. You’re doing absolutely great, or will be very soon. Keep doing what you’re doing and success and healing will surely come. You are mature and wise from everything you’ve gone through and a great role model for those around you. Perhaps you work/will work with children in healing themselves, working in a place that keeps children having fun(Like an amusement park or something of the sort), or something that reminds you of your own childhood and brings you lots of nostalgia

Final advice?

(Side Note: The only ‘negative’ thing I keep seeing is you could be a perfectionist but I don't see it as a bad thing or even anything that really gets in your way, it’s just kinda there. I think you are very patient with it and still allow yourself the space to make mistakes and I think that’s great)

9 of Cups - Yes! I saw this with the last card too. Enjoy life! Pamper yourself, treat yourself. You're doing great! And if you don’t feel all that great, things are going to be very soon, you’re so close! Don’t let yourself feel guilty by doing or buying something that brings you joy. Relish in your successes and be grateful for how far you have come thus far.

You seem so calm and caring. I loved being in this energy.

Pile 4

Channeled Messages: Water flowing. paper, paper crafts, noisy, sensory. I Like to Move it, Move it(You know, that song from Madagascar? I really hope that means something to you otherwise I’m very embarrassed), getting lost from your parents in a store, self doubt/deprecation

What were you like as a kid?

(Channeled Message: Getting hurt often, mature)

The emperor - Yeah, okay. I was mad doubting myself with every channeled message that came to my mind, but this card really solidifies my thoughts. You were a mature child and you weren’t afraid to get things done. You stepped up as a leader when others couldn’t/wouldn’t. You have gone through more life experiences than most your age, but despite all your power, talent, and wisdom, you still doubt your own abilities.

Traumas you may have picked up?

(Side note: this is the ONLY pile I’ve been able to shuffle the cards nicely with, so you guys have a very talented and/or organized energy to you.)

6 of Pentacles Reversed - You give too much of yourself. Perhaps you have always been a leader for everyone else and they abuse this or you allow them to, and they just take and take from you and never give. Maybe you never ask for anything in return, but it’s time you start, or at the very least, start giving back to yourself. People are not giving you back what you deserve. You may have a hard time deciphering who deserves something from you and who doesn’t, then you end up giving your all to the wrong people.

How to Heal?

(Side Note: I getting that you are a very kind and patient person)

King of Wands - Stand up for yourself. Set down rules. You are a great leader and others know this about you and they might use this to their own benefit. Do not let them! Learn to put your foot down when you know deep down that you’ve had enough. Don’t let others take your spark from you.

Final Advice?

6 of Cups - Overall I’m feeling a very detached energy, so maybe you’ve detached from your inner child and let life grow dull. Maybe in being a leader all your life you never allowed yourself to truly be a child and now you bore of being an adult. Partake in some activities that you used to like as a kid, watch old movies or listen to your old favorite songs to try and reconnect with that inner spark in you. Don’t let life go dull.

#intuitive readings #intuition #pick a card #pick a card reading #pac #pac reading #pick a pile #tarot #tarot cards #pick a picture #tarot reading #inner child #healing #energy reading #spirituality

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marisoft-paint-adventures · 1 year

Text

Pgs. 214-247

it’s her.

Rope Lalope.

icon for weird goths who for some reason decide to live in the Midwest, those who can somehow still enjoy Lovecraft while knowing the truth of his fucking cat, and

I don’t think WLW ships have ever been the same since the advent of The Rosemary from The Homestuck,

or if I want to sound like a fuckin goofy ass oldhead, femslash.

the thing is that I cannot identify any actual concrete change in general fandom and shipping post-HS, I just feel it. I can feel that something within the universe’s structure changed the moment grimdark gorl and sparkly gay vampire got together.

but I’m talking about a character that hasn’t even shown up yet.

also front facing Rose is fucking haunting stop please.

[insert dabbing joke here.]

the fucking haunting violin refrain flash is so good I love how her movements sync up with the song.

not gonna gush about Aggrieve the same way as Showtime because come on it’s fucking Showtime, but Aggrieve is still very much up there.

Since your good for nothing friend is obviously not going to bail you out in time, you issue words of parting fondness to dear, sweet Liv. Oh, if only Affleck could have been the one to make the final sacrifice instead of her stubborn, blue collar, salt-of-the-earth father. Then she would fall into your arms for consolation, and YOU would be the one to make the deceased Bruce Willis proud.

the crush on Liv Tyler is not explored enough in fandom, I need to know how much John imprints her on his other romance options. how much of a Liv Tyler is Vriska, these are the fucking questions people.

Your panoramic window offers a view of your yard below, and the mausoleum housing your dead cat, JASPERS, who died when you were young. Your MOM had the structure erected with a spirit of scornful IRONY in response to your youthfully innocent request to hold a funeral for the animal. At least, that is how you have come to interpret the gesture in retrospect.

compared to John’s struggle with the clownkind, Rose has a much more grounded strife with her parental figure.

I say that but Rose takes this shit to an 11.

regardless, a parent that constantly performs malicious compliance with a hint of irony isn’t unbelievable, neither is someone fooling themselves into thinking their guardian is operating as such due to a general disconnect and the feeling of not having enough attention.

with all of this established,

it’s still really fucking funny,

because Rose will stare down Mom with sheer contempt thinking “SHE’S FUCKING WITH YOU! SHE’S TRYING TO GET TO YOU! DO NOT GIVE IN TO HER GAMES!” as she stands around vacuuming jackshit, probably having no thoughts in her fucking head except for “I love household chores. :))))))”

WIZARDS.RAR.

genuinely the funniest story surrounding Homestuck, Andrew Hussie risked their entire PC for a bunch of fucking stupid wizard pngs.

the Egberts do high action cake forcefeeding, the Lalondes do drunken covert operations, the Striders DO MAD NINJA TRICKS.

GIRL IS DRENCHED.

early HS art is so fucking pretty. everyone’s always on about the kids looking like bobbleheads and that’s good but the environments are so fucking good as well.

iconic panel, banger panel. look at how her knees do the swirly thing.

CRINGE MAC USER.

you’re making the John nervous!!! Egberts only do this under high stress!!! help him!!!

TT: And the content of the card appears to be variable from session to session. TT: In one instance it was described as an "eggy loking thign" [sic].

presenting without comment.

“John: Take bite of apple.” is a really good ending flash in which John takes a bite out of an apple

and then gets fucking nuked.

the act then ends there.

a marvel that the only reason John lived was because he did what looked like the goofiest option ever. did the apple even taste good? what the fuck is cruxite made of???? I guess it’s edible??? might be candy, is it candy??? do they come in different flavors???

after way too long, Act 1 is finally fucking done, yet the more I read it, the shorter it feels. I can’t tell if it’s because I don’t need to absorb the tutorial stuff due to being familiar with the comic already, or because I’m anticipating when shit really goes crazy later on. maybe a bit of both. it certainly preps me for the art style, the flowery language, the weird humor, and so on.

I can say that Act 1 is

fine.

it is of good quality.

nothing groundbreaking and not the best,

but enjoyable nonetheless.

I get that it’s a bit slow and nothing really happens, but I’m able to entertain myself with the page to page shenanigans and good character interactions.

honestly I don’t understand how people skipped this act at all, how the fuck do you skip the start of the story??? don’t you want to like

understand

what is happening

and who these people are???

especially the later part, so much Homestuck skipping was for the sake of immediately getting to the character interactions, but

there are character interactions here,

and

you learn who the characters even are.

like what the fuck, the introduction to the characters and their dynamics should be key to being invested in them, but I guess not because some people were able to just jump in the middle and grow attached while not knowing what the fuck is going on.

in conclusion: people who skipped Act 1 are cringe, and have doomed themselves. Act 1 good.

#homestuck liveblog #hs liveblog #hs reread #liveblog #reread #live read #liveread #homestuck #hs1 #hs #home22tuck #Act 1 #Flash #john egbert #june egbert #rose lalonde #Beta Kids #end of act

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wigglebox · 1 year

Text

okay gonna type this out b4 the meds kick in and i’m pulled down into the emotional sadness of 1x04 for spnwin

but like, i know i was like ‘omg fucking....john/carlos???’ last night but also with mary/latika lmao but like for real

i already started seeing some ‘but i don’t want the homophobic man to be queer’

and i just wanna say something? there’s no canonical evidence that john was homophobic. that can be your headcanon, your take on his character, whatever, but in terms of the actual TV show there’s no canonical proof that he was. i know someone’s going to mention that journal thing but that’s so quasi-canon to me and not really viewed at as actual canon, and also it has contradicting canon in itself from the show so i don’t count that.

so when you see things like ‘john winchester is homophobic’ just understand that it’s a reading and not fact.

second of all, the reason why i love 1x04 so much is that we are seeing the ramifications of

1) the culture of the time of young men, and in john’s case way too young, going into something as horrific as the Vietnam War was [on all sides] and witnessing [and in some cases participating in particularly] horrifying things

2) this mindset of kinda toxic masculinity in the sense that men, and especially in this time frame, are expected to suck it up. his raised voice at carlos regarding therapy sessions reminded me of that, but also we have to keep in mind that john was on edge the entire episode and clearly quick to anger. but again, it’s 1972, and john’s a young adult, white male, in the midwest, veteran. i can see how he’s resistant to talking to people about his problems, especially if he just feels no better doing so [a common misconception that just one session of therapy and you’ll start to feel better], therefore it’s easy to associate therapy with feeling like shit and then avoiding it all together.

and you combine john’s mental health issues, bc clearly he has PTSD [*note, not everyone with PTSD is angry, violent, or volitile. but SOME are. and clearly john is one of them, likely backed up by other issues throughout his childhood with the father issue] — with this queer...well i was going to say coding but that look he gave carlos and some other implications in this episode feels a little stronger than that lol — then you get an interesting situation.

i think it’s important for us to not forget the nuance that SPN often undertook, and that the team at the helm of this show also aren’t unfamiliar with. this was literally the strongest episode so far, and i know usually episodes get stronger as seasons go on, but this was particularly strong.

because — the nuance here is that not all queer people are good, kind, nice, whatever. queer people can be abusers, queer people can have anger issues, queer people can shun treatment for issues [with understandable reasons] and leave things to fester —

queer people sometimes don’t come out the otherside of things in a good way.

and i think it’s also important to have characters like that.

*NOW please understand i’m not saying to revert back to Hollywood in the... idk 40s 50s and 60s? even 70s i guess. but there was really a run in movies where queer people were the predators the villains the — blahblahblah. essentially demonizing us in film. and then when Hollywood got tired of doing that to us, they’d just punish us and never give our characters a happy ending.

But, much like with many things in storytelling, it honestly depends on the story and imo, the time period in which you’re telling it.

Like i already said, the team at the helm of this show already know and understand’s SPN nuance and coding abilities.

so to me, having a young adult, white male, who witnessed a horrifying tragedy [one of many he probably experienced but this one in particular], who doesn’t feel like he can get help, doesn’t trust the process, in the early 70s, who is about to be thrown into the ringer [he’s actually in it already] with cosmic forces, who’s literally facing down a violent god in this episode — who perhaps may be queer.

this isn’t a show demonizing someone being queer and also being a neglectful and manipulative and emotionally, physically abusive father — it’s just the fact that sometimes, queer people can in fact be neglectful, manipulative, and emotionally/physically abusive parents in the future.

and since it’s fiction we got cosmic forces mixed into the salad plot bowl as well.

honestly i’m really happy that they already showed that john’s issues do not just happen upon him when mary dies. that he’s always had this simmering anger.

anger is a secondary emotion brought on by frustration, confusion, annoyance, fear, and all of that fun stuff.

the winchesters isn’t going to be a lighthearted happy comedy. we know where john winds up.

making him a more dynamic character in spn canon is fascinating, and since we already know where the ride is going to end up, no problem in encouraging that dynamic character building [while also wondering ‘what if’ a lot of the time like myself lol]

#idk if any of this made sense #i wasj ust going to talk about queer john but i feel like i kinda went off the rails #this is what happens when i write before meds kick in #spnwin #spnwin spoilers #spnwin meta #i guess? is this meta?#idk #0104 #long post

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rp-partnerfinder · 9 days

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Hi, you can call me Storm! I'm 30 and the mom of a loud and demanding cat ❤️

I’m a multiple paragraphs/novella style writer. I love to write detailed descriptions and delve into a character’s head/emotions as well as surroundings. I compare it to writing a novel together. Not every reply has to be novella length, however. If there are action or dialogue heavy scenes, I tend to do a shorter back and forth to keep the momentum going.

I only do MxF (with me writing the female role). I don’t double, but I’m more than happy to write side characters of either gender to help move the story along. I only want female authors writing male characters as I’ve had bad experiences with cis male authors. (Trans men and nonbinary pals are exceptions).

I'm really hoping to find a friendship, someone who can add to our story, and most importantly, someone who wants a long-term connection. It's difficult for me to write with someone if I don't feel that genuine bond. It's also important to me to have a high level of activity, with at least one reply a day.

If you suddenly stop replying ic and ooc, I'll drop the story after 2 attempts of gauging interest spaced a week apart. But feel free to message me if you want to pick the story back up again, even months later.

Searching For:

20+ partners only

An excellent grasp of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. (Literate to advanced writers only, please. I'm not looking for newbies)

Plot before smut. While mature themes will be in my writing, there needs to be chemistry between our characters. I normally do a 60/40 plot to smut ratio and my characters tend to be subs/switches depending on the circumstances

An older male character (early forties to mid-late fifties). I love the gruff and tough men with dark pasts who secretly have a soft heart. I also love grumpy, hypermasculine men being intimidated by sweet but fiery women. My characters are mid-late twenties to early-mid thirties so the age gap is legal.

Enthusiasm to chat about our character and ship, how to crush them and then gushing over fluffy moments. I love crying over characters and what the heck they’re doing. I want my heart ripped from my chest from angst, then feeling like it’s going to burst from overwhelming cuteness. I want us to love these characters and the world we create. I want to make pinterest boards, spotify playlists, graphics, and toss headcanons back and forth until late at night.

Have an idea for a scene? Found a picture that inspired you? Send it to me! Be invested when it comes to plotting/worldbuilding. There’s nothing worse than receiving one sentence in reply to two paragraphs of ideas, or having a doormat partner who says “sure” to whatever I ask. Building ideas one on top of the other, watching them snowball into amazing plot threads brings me joy. But having to pull plot ideas like I’m pulling teeth makes me think you’re not interested, and I will lose interest in return.

Interests:

Modern fantasy, monsters, sci-fi, omegaverse, southern gothic/midwest gothic (i’m a sucker for that southern/texas drawl), horror, height/size difference, cheating/affair, enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, spooky small towns, post apocalyptic/dystopia, crime/mysteries, emotionally charged/dark and gritty, bodyguard x assignment, forced proximity, opposites attract, fated mates, anti heroes/morally gray characters, traumatic pasts, grumpy x sunshine, one bed, men who simp over their women, touch her / him and die, and more.

I have lots of original plot ideas in mind as well!

Fandoms (OCs ONLY)

Star Wars, Stranger Things, Mercy Thompson Series, True Blood, The Last of Us, Hunger Games, Fallout (TV Show)

I write only on discord using servers with organized channels. Like this post or add me on discord (magicofrain) if you’re interested. The most effective way to grab my genuine interest is by messaging me as if we've been friends for years. Please let me know which interests you liked from my ad.

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freifraufischer · 1 year

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Three Can Keep a Secret if Two Are Dead

Gymnastics fandoms reaction to leaks from big named athletes is totally crazy to me. “Who is this tweeting an announcement that, if true, is Suni's to reveal. If the tweeter knows Suni plans to announce this on Tuesday, they should keep their mouth shut.”

So there are rumors that Sunisa Lee told the Auburn team that this would be her last NCAA season. I’d believe it just based on the fact that she herself said she wasn’t interested in finishing her degree, that she was only taking classes to maintain her eligibility and my general impression that Auburn hasn’t been a fun place for her.

But coming on the heals of people saying Gymcastic shouldn’t have followed up on gossip going around US Nationals about Gabby Douglas training again I really need have to shake my head.

Sunisa Lee (and Gabby Douglas for that matter) are public figures with agents and advisers. If Lee did announce this to the Auburn gymnastics team that is a very sizable group of people inevitably not all of whom like her. Her agents and her had to know that as soon as you tell a group of people that size it would get out.

‘It was her time to announce’ is for pregnancies and illnesses. But something like this is news. Not only that ... but the timing itself is kind of shitty for the people who signed NLI’s last week for Auburn as those are binding contracts and a certain number of them almost certainly thought they were going to a team with the Olympic champion on it.

“If true, it’s shitty that someone is trying to spoil her announcing her comeback just because she decided to give her team the heads up first.” This assumes that the people being told don’t have their own feelings about how this impacts them. Some gym fans seem to buy a disturbing amount of propaganda out of NCAA gymnastics about teams being the closest group of sisters. And people persist in this even after Sunisa Lee herself gave a small podcast interview that directly contradicted the curated narrative about her NCAA experience.

I have ... opinions about the Graba twins and few of them are good. I’d really love to know how much Suni was part of Jeff’s recruitment for incoming 2023 and 2024 gymnasts who will never compete with Suni if this is true. Leaving aside the clearly sketchy Midwest Gymnastics to Auburn pipeline and the entire conflict of interest there, and even this absolutely horrible piece about Midwest, there were rumors floating around last year that Jeff Graba was telling other Auburn gymnasts that they were ungrateful to him for getting Suni there. That many of them were also unhappy with the circus around Suni. And that’s not even touching the racial issues that have floated around Graba and the Auburn program in the past.

If Sunisa Lee told the people in that room this news this weekend some number of them were likely angry, some number of them were likely happy, and some number of them felt no obligation to Sunisa Lee in the slightest. And her agent would have told her that.

But in general this kind of hand wringing about (basically) professional athletes who are adults is yet another manifestation of a parasocial relationship people feel towards these young women. “She must be protected” is a great impulse when you are concerned about minor children and the policies and coaching practices of authority figures who have power over them. “She must be protected” when it comes to a public figure setting their own narrative opens yourself up to manipulation.

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marypsue · 8 months

Text

Sneak Peek Sunday, and this one's fanfiction! Yes I can do that. I have a permit.

Have a chunk from former heroes!

...

The bell doesn’t stop ringing even for a second as Steve steps out of the backroom. Actually, it only gets more frantic. Steve has to actually reach out and put his hand over Erica Sinclair’s on the bell to get her attention. She’s busy looking back over her shoulder, out at the dining room and the food court beyond. The yelp she lets out when Steve grabs her hand, the way she jumps as she spins around, the multicoloured beads at the ends of her little braids clacking against each other, is almost enough to make Steve jump too.

“Erica?” he asks, and the scared-rabbit look in Erica’s wide eyes suddenly resolves into something closer to the pushy, demanding junior mallrat he’s used to seeing at this counter.

“Let me back there,” Erica says, with all the haughty self-possession of a queen.

“What?”

“What’s going on?” Max asks, from behind Steve, who sighs without turning around.

“Thought I told you two to stay put?”

“What’s going on,” Erica snaps, her usual sarcasm undercut by impatience and what Steve thinks is a shiver of genuine fear, “is that some creepy, old white guys in suits have been following me all over the mall, and I can’t get rid of them. So you’re going to let me back there, like I know you let Lucas all the time, before they catch up!”

“Wait,” Dustin says. “Men in suits? What men in suits? When did you notice they were following you? Did any of them have Russian accents?”

“Can you ask whatever dumb questions you want after we all go back into that nice, hidden back room?”

“Steve,” Max says, urgently.

Steve looks where she’s looking. Out in the food court, weaving their way through the crowded tables dotting the dining area with smiles and small niceties, are two men dressed in three-piece suits. One navy blue. One beige. They’re moving with a purpose and determination that nobody else in the food court is, looking all around them like they’re searching for something.

As if he can feel Steve’s eyes on him, the one in the navy blue suit looks up, and directly into Scoops. He catches Steve’s gaze and holds it for an endless second, before looking down.

Down toward the counter, where Erica Sinclair is still standing frozen in place.

“Okay,” Steve says, already moving to open the hatch in the counter. “Get back here. Henderson, you know how to get into the service hallways, right?”

Dustin nods, already motioning Erica ahead of him towards the back. “Meet you at the car?”

“If I don’t catch up with you first.” The guys in suits are definitely making a beeline for Scoops Ahoy, now. Steve waves for Max and Dustin and Erica to move faster. “Go!”

The kids disappear into the backroom, not a moment too soon. The men in suits are just entering the dining room as the sole of Max’s shoe vanishes around the corner. A few of Scoops’ customers look up with mild interest as the two men march straight up to the counter, but it’s interest that’s just as easily lost.

Steve fixes on his best winning smile, looking back and forth between the men in suits. They don’t look particularly Russian. Then again, he doesn’t really know what he was expecting Russian spies to look like. “Welcome to Scoops Ahoy, I’m Steve, I’ll be your captain on this voyage of flavour. What can I get you?”

“Do they make you say that?” the guy in the blue suit asks, with a twist of a smile. His accent is perfect, pure Midwest. “Or did you come up with it yourself?”

“We’re looking for someone,” the guy in the beige suit says, without any kind of smile at all. He also doesn’t sound like he’s ever been within a thousand miles of St. Petersburg. “Young woman. Rainbow overalls. Braids. We want to talk to her about some merchandise that’s gone missing from a few of these stores. Seen her?” His face doesn’t so much as twitch as he lies.

Steve cranks his grin up another couple of notches.

He has to be careful not to put too much power behind it, to keep it a subtle suggestion, when he says, “Nope. Nobody like that’s been in here since I opened the place up this morning.” He taps the bottom of the handle of his scoop against the display case, before ducking down so he can discreetly wipe his nose. “You sure I can’t interest you gentlemen in anything? We do offer free samples, we’ve got all eight flavours you see here, and our banana boat sundae -”

“Thanks,” Beige Suit says, cutting Steve’s spiel short. His stare has gotten piercing. “Unfortunately, we’re on a deadline.”

“Otherwise we’d definitely have to find out what a banana boat sundae is,” Blue Suit says, with a flash of gleaming teeth. He starts to turn, to walk away from the counter, only to stop and spin on his heel, wagging a pointed finger back at Steve. “Steve Harrington, you said?”

Steve’s pretty sure he didn’t. “I haven’t been doing any recreational shoplifting in my spare time,” he says, warily, as he straightens up.

“No, no, of course not,” Blue Suit laughs, like the very idea’s absurd. “No, your name just came up in a recent meeting with Scoops corporate. Everybody’s very impressed with what a good job you’re doing.”

It’s not like Steve didn’t know they were lying. But now he knows they’re lying.

If his “Oh. Really.” comes out sounding less than convinced, he’s not making too huge an effort to cover it up.

“No, really!” Blue Suit says, with a bit of a chuckle, like he can’t quite believe it either. Steve’s got to hand it to him, the guy’s good. “There might have been talk of a promotion. I’m really not at liberty to say.” He actually winks. Steve considers just telling them both to go away.

Beige Suit is nodding his agreement. “But promotions don’t go to people who aren’t team players. People who put their own interests ahead of the good of the company. We just want to talk to Erica Sinclair, Steve. Bring her out.”

“She’s not here, man,” Steve says, giving it a little more oomph this time. He hopes the annoyance in his voice will cover the shiver of unease. “I don’t know what to tell you. You’re gonna have to go look somewhere else.”

Beige Suit blinks a little, taking a halting half-step back from the counter. But it doesn’t last. Steve’s already reaching for a tissue when Beige Suit steps back up to the counter, leaning across it and into Steve’s space so aggressively that Steve has to take a step back. His partner shifts, leans casually back against the counter so that he’s blocking the hatch. Boxing Steve in.

“Wrong answer, Steve,” Beige Suit says, low enough that the corner booth beside him will probably only catch his even, reasonable tone. Not his actual words. “We know what you’re trying to do. And believe me. You do not want to fuck with us.”

He leans forward, resting an elbow casually against the counter. The movement makes his suit jacket fall open. Giving Steve a clear and obviously intentional view of the shoulder holster he’s wearing under it. The heavy black handle of his handgun.

“Do we understand each other?” Beige Suit asks, conversationally, his eyes never leaving Steve’s.

Steve swallows. It takes him two tries.

“I’m gonna go get Erica,” he says.

“Smart kid,” Blue Suit says, still with that annoying, aren’t-we-all-having-such-a-good-laugh grin. He tucks his hands into the pockets of his pants, apparently getting comfortable where he’s leaning against the counter. It doesn’t escape Steve’s notice that he’s blocking the hatch more completely. “Knew you were going places.”

#this is mary's fic tag #stranger things #the hawkins indiana psychic baby boom #former heroes who quit too late

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