#but his dynamic with kel makes me the most insane | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

pedgito · 4 months

Note

Hi Ali!! I love your writing and I was wondering if I can request dom Joel punishing you by riding his boot??

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆

summary | joel doesn't like gifts, you gift him new boots. [3k]

pairing | joel miller x fem!reader

content warning | 18+ content, as always: no use of y/n, soft dom/sub dynamic, boot-riding, degradation kink, unprotected piv, one (1) face slap, porn with absolutely no plot.

author’s note | original working title for this was new boot goofin' because i can't take myself seriously, idk what this is but enjoy. kel (@beskarandblasters) suggested the actual title for this so thank you babe ♡

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Three things about Joel you were intensely sure of—he was a strong lover. He loved hard and he cared even harder, always willing to put your needs before his own, even to an unhealthy degree in some cases. Two, he liked to be in charge. With his willingness to put you before him, it also lended him to enjoy the role of being dominant in the right situations. He kept a lot of himself locked up around everyone but you. Through the few years you two have become close and started this relationship—if you could call it that—there’s a solid understanding of each other’s needs. He provides the domineering nature you crave and you subdued yourself to him willingly when he puts the facade on.

At first, it never left the bedroom. You both enjoyed the disguise of the dynamics to make things flow easier, not allow things to stall out so quickly and you had all the proper safety precautions in place to allow you both the happiness you seeked out. But, as most things in your life, they seeped through the cracks and bled out, intermingling with the rest of your daily life.

Sometimes it was just a look when you’d say something in public that was indecent or a comment that made Joel’s face go hot, knowing that despite his openness in public, he was still a very private man. He reserved that side for you and only you. And he did so much for you—not just around Jackson, but in your own home. With him being the lead guy for patrols and having such a…special relationship with him, it lended for more leniency when you weren’t feeling great or needed a break from the hectic energy that patrolling liked to suffocate people with, always on the brink of danger. And Joel was always too handy for his own good—always finding a reason to fix up a broken something in your own small house on the outskirts of Jackson.

Broken pipe? Fixed. Chair broken? Joel could shape you out a new one in a couple weeks.

Last week he had repainted then entirety of your kitchen cabinets because he thought they were looking a little dull—as if they weren’t run down from years of abandonment and like this wasn’t the fucking apocalypse. Despite that, you felt the urge to thank Joel. And not just thank him.

Properly. With a gift.

But—oh. Third thing, Joel hated gifts.

Despised them.

But, you weren’t always the best listener or rule follower.

A patrol with Tommy had you both scheming up an idea when you bring up the option of gifting something to Joel as a proper offering of appreciation, his hand resting loosely on the rifle slung around his chest, fingers tapping against the butt.

“Well—you know, there’s a clothing store a few miles east,” Tommy tells you, “Ellie and I found it when we cleared out that hoard a few months back—lotsa clothes and shoes, mostly untouched. We could check that out? I need to grab a few things myself anyways.”

You nod easily, “Yeah—that pair he has is falling apart. It drives me insane.”

“Joel doesn’t like to let go of things easily,” Tommy comments broadly, “He’ll make do with what he’s got until it falls apart.”

“Well, he doesn’t take no for an answer when I tell him to stop helpin’ me so he’s gonna have to suck it up just this once.” You smile slightly, earning a soft chuckle from Tommy.

You hoped it would go over well—because Joel did need new boots and there was little harm in an innocent gift…right?

–

Joel is brimming with an energy that only accompanied him after long patrols, the ones that lasted a few days and kept him away. Away from his home, away from you. He doesn’t even attempt the trek toward his own house, rather taking the first right and beelining for your small house at the end of the neighborhood, squeezing his leather covered hands into fists.

He’s anxious, pent up—not with anger or rage, but just a need to release some built up stress. Fortunately, he knew the perfect way to do that. His boots squeak against the hardwood of your front deck, the tattered rubber around the toe of his boot hanging on by a thread as he kicks it gently into the base of the door softly, idle as he busies his mind and prays that you’re still awake.

You’ve been waiting for him all day, his gift hidden away safely as you yank the door open excitedly, nearly tripping over your own pair of haphazardly thrown shoes on the floor.

Joel lets out a soft oof as he catches you, chuckling at your bright and beaming smile.

“Someone’s excited,” Joel chides playfully, though his voice is gruff. He sounds tired, looks it too, “been missin’ me, baby?”

You nod immediately, “So much,” You press a gentle kiss to his lips as he kicks the front door closed with his foot, slowly removing his layers—thick coat falling first, then his thinner jacket he wore underneath to leave him in a thick thermal, his skin still prickling with the winter chill but quickly warming underneath your touch, “everything go okay?”

“Yeah—just a bad storm comin’ in,” Joel explains, ignoring how distracted you were, allowing the soft pecks to his skin as you pulled away, slowly inserting yourself into his line of sight, mischievous grin plastered across your face, “—what are you up to, darlin’?

“Got a surprise for you,” You tease playfully, feeling his thick, calloused fingers slip under the thin material of your shirt, subconsciously seeking some contact with you, “can you go sit on the couch and close your eyes?”

Joel didn’t take too well to surprises, but he trusts you. So, he nods quietly, though there’s a slight hesitance to him as he takes a seat on the couch, slowly unlacing his boots in your absence to relieve some pressure but not taking them off completely, the tongue of the boot hanging lifelessly over his even more pathetic looking laces.

He can hear your soft footsteps as they approach, bare feet against the wood flooring as the couch dips slightly and he feels something hard and solid pressed into his hands.

“Okay, open ‘em,” You tell him gently, watching as he blinks his eyes open, expression mostly unchanging—it wasn’t unlike him to have little reaction, but it did worry you slightly, “—surprise?”

Okay, terrible idea. Got it.

“Darlin’,” God, you’ve heard that tone before, body tensing slightly, “I thought I told you I don’t need nothin’ in return from you.”

“Joel—you’re constantly helping me,” You argue softly, “it’s the least I could do. Plus, you need a new pair.”

“That’s not the point,” Joel tells you, “I do that stuff ‘cause I like knowin’ you’re comfortable, that you don’t have anything to worry about while I’m away.”

“And I worry about you too,” You interject quickly, “Joel—it’s just a gift, it’s okay.”

Joel places them on the table in front of him silently, contemplating thoughtfully.

He’s made it clear on several occasions that he doesn’t like things in return. That he does these things without the expectation of anything in return, but he appreciates the gesture. Joel isn’t used to people caring for him and it feels odd to allow it. And he sees the nervous energy inside of you brimming, like you’ve made a bad choice and you deserve the punishment.

Almost begged for it.

Your fists curl nervously in your lap, waiting for any sign that Joel had to offer.

And when he doesn’t respond, you find yourself curling into him out of instinct. Thighs spreading out over his lap as his hands follow the trail from your knees, up your thighs, until his thumbs are settling in the crease of your pelvis. You attempt a gentle kiss, but he’s reluctant to return it.

“Did I do something wrong?” You ask quietly, a genuine curiosity in your voice.

Joel shakes his head slightly, but the hand guiding its way around your neck tells a different story, his fingertips rubbing against the softness of your jawline, forcing you to look at him properly.

“Nothin’ wrong, but I do think I need to remind you of somethin’,” Joel explains in a soft, but demeaning tone, “that when I tell you I can provide for you and don’t need anything in return—that I mean that.”

You wait with baited breath, blinking rapidly at how hot his breath feels against your skin, feeling your cunt throb with need, with an insatiable want for him.

“And since you wanna buy me a new pair of boots—well,” Joel chuckles darkly, feeling your fingers tighten into the thick fabric of his thermal, “you’re gonna have to help me break ‘em in.”

You look at him, perplexed. But, his pupils dilate under your gaze, the subtle shifting as he kicks off his old, tattered boots as nods subtly to the new pair behind you.

You sigh breathily, “Huh—Oh, you want me to—”

“Ride my boot, baby,” He tells you clearly, “Seein’ as it is my gift and all.”

There wasn’t even a moment of hesitation as you slipped from his lap, table skidding back deftly in the process—you grab for the new pair of work boots but Joel is quickly grabbing your face again, squeezing your cheeks sharply.

“Undress first.” Joel says, waiting for your nod of acknowledgement before he lets you go.

So, you do—layer by layer until you reach your bra, unhooking it with nimble fingers as he slips on his new boots. If this were anyone else, you would feel ridiculous. But, with Joel, there was something there, brewing on the surface. He respected you, but he also needed you to understand.

It was a little humiliating, but it wasn’t the worst thing.

Your fingers edge along the hem of your underwear when Joel stops your hands, “Keep those on.” He utters, his fingers dragging softly against the front of the cotton material until he’s cupping your pussy in his palm, soft wet spot growing in the fabric where his fingertips drag across—you’re enjoying this, clearly.

You lower yourself slowly, straddling his left leg with your knees tucked against the bottom of the couch he sat on, pressing your cunt against the cold leather of his steel-toed boot.

Joel relaxes then, arms spread wide over the back of the couch, fingers gripping loosely into the cushion. “Don’t be shy, sweetheart.” Joel comforts, sensing your brimming nervousness as your fingers trailed along his calf, the hard press of his boot right against your core and if you tried hard enough, it wouldn’t take long at all—knowing that even just a little bit of encouragement from Joel and friction could have you coming undone. But, he wants you to work for it.

You start slow, a subtle grind of your hips that shouldn’t feel as good as it does. You sigh softly at the relief, noticing the slowly growing smirk on Joel’s face that you’re trying to avoid, eyes falling shut slowly as you tip your head back, allowing a slow rhythm to start.

“Feels good?” Joel wonders, “Like the idea of me carryin’ somethin’ of you around with me?”

In more ways than one—by a simple gift from the kindness of your heart, but also the desperation of the slick that damped your underwear and painted a perfect mess over his boot.

You nod quietly, moaning softly as you angle your hips to allow the drag of your clit over the solidness of the boot, friction sending your eyes rolling back in your head, hands fisting into the thick denim and selfishly using it for leverage as you quickened your pace.

“That’s right, baby—want you to think about coming all over my boot for me,” Joel encourages, “can you do that?”

Truthfully, you were holding back. Seeing just how much you could get out of him.

But, Joel catches onto your game.

“You need a little encouragement?” Joel asks curiously, chin cupped in his strong grip, nodding obediently. “Think you deserve that, baby?”

“Please—please, Joel.” You beg, “Fuck—please, I’ll do—”

“Don’t say anything, darlin’.” He warns, “Not when you don’t know what that means for you.”

He keeps your eyes locked on his, squeezing your cheeks gently when you start to fade, the slowly building tingle in your core that wasn’t as easily ignorable now, coiled in your belly and ready to explode. You lose yourself for a brief second, hand fisting into the slack bunch of denim atop his thigh, earning a dull but stern slap to your cheek to bring your attention back to him.

“Eyes on me, baby,” Joel coos, fisting the hard line of his cock under the strained denim with his free hand, looking slightly pained at how much he was holding back himself, “look at you—always eager to please, huh?”

You roll your eyes slightly—and Joel really doesn’t like that. His hand cradling the base of your neck as he holds you still, body pulled just centimeters away from his boot, leaving your pussy throbbing with a lack of contact that your body craved.

“Now you just look a little pathetic, don’t you?” Joel asks, “All needy for my fuckin’ boot—got her beggin’ for it, don’t I?” And you know he’s not addressing you directly, rather the pool of your own slick, shiny wetness on the toe of his boot that gives you away.

He nudges it against your clit gently, earning a soft whine as you hips instinctively seek for friction—Joel takes a slightly more firmer stance, head cradling both of his hands as he holds you prisoner in his gaze, two thick fingers slipping into your open mouth and grinning at how pathetically and greedily you suck on the digits without having to be told, removing them with a loud pop and a thin string of spit that connects you to him.

And if he was a stronger man, he could hold off. But, he’s so weak around you he can’t even hide it. He lets go in an instant, reaching for the front of his own jeans as he shoves them down his hips until he can manage to slip his cock out over his underwear, fisting himself in an instant.

Staving himself on patrols was torture when all he could think about was you—so he knows it won’t take much. Hell, he’s surprised with how long he’s been able to hold off now.

You admire with a haughty gaze, slowly resting back against the base of his boot, watching his free hand slip under his heavy sack, massaging as he jerks his fist without much rhythm, blinded by his own selfish need for release.

“Keep goin’,” He encourages through a tight breath, “but don’t fuckin’ come, darlin’.”

Your hole clenches and flutters around nothing, wishing that it was his cock stuffed inside of you rather than the plane of his boot pressed against your pussy, the thickness of his fingers alongside the girthiness of his cock a blatant reminder of how deeply you felt him in the mornings and even days after, always fucked so throughly it had you reeling and constantly crawling back for more.

He jerks himself selfishly, eyes falling shut as he feels himself dragging too close to the edge, your moans gaining in intensity, knowing how pathetic you would both look to anyone else. But, there was no one to judge you here—and Joel was beyond feeling the need to be assertive, rather just needing you, to be inside you and have you snug around him and crying on his cock.

Joel pulls you out of your daze hastily, manhandling you until you’re back is flat against the couch, quickly shoving his jeans down far enough that they don’t become a hindrance as he pulls your underwear aside and slips inside of you with a solid push of his hips, the slickness of your cunt allowing no resistance as you both groan at how good it feels, eyes connecting for a brief moment before everything goes black…or white.

Joel isn’t sure what he sees, but it only takes a few minutes of some hurried and desperate pumps of his hips as his cock nudges that particular spot deep inside of you that has you clawing at the bare skin you could reach, leaving red marks on his neck as he snaps his hips with a finality, coming with a low groan that has your legs shaking, bent nearly in half as he still manages to see through his own haze and drag his fingers over your clit—it doesn’t take more than a couple seconds before you're there, spasming around his cock with a sob, gasping at his overstimulating touch as he continues to press and circle your clit until you’re begging him to stop, his hips slowly pumping his cum inside of you.

Joel finds himself laying slack against you, pants down at his ankles as he allows your fingers to thread through his grown out curls from where his head rests against your chest, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart.

“I appreciate the boots,” He says after a while, “if that wasn’t already obvious.”

“Oh, I’m aware.” You giggle softly.

“Seriously, no more gifts, though.” Joel says sternly, “I mean it.”

You pout slightly and Joel catches it, his eyes flicking up to look at you.

“I’m makin’ no promises to that.” You tell him truthfully.

Joel chuckles softly, “Can’t say I expected you to, either.”

#joel miller #joel miller smut #joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #joel miller x y/n #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller fanfic #tlou fanfic #tlou fanfiction #the last of us fanfiction #pedro pascal characters #joel miller x fem!reader #my writing #pedrostories

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justherekinda · 4 years

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In Your Dreams // part 4

Summary: An evening with Colby Brock; touches are exchanged but will that change what Kelsea feels for Aryia? Secrets are finally exposed and tears are shed, will he react well to the news or will she lose him completely?

Warnings: Swearing and Alcohol

Word Count: 2,529

Note: In no way am I assuming that Colby Brock is like this in real life nor is Aryia. This is all fiction.

The next day soon came and I could feel the nerves start to build up again as the time that I had to meet with Colby started getting closer. I didn’t know what to tell Aryia in general, on one hand I could tell him the truth, or I could say I’m going to go hang out with Rachel for the night and pray he doesn’t question me further. I already cleared the potential lie through Rachel, she was okay with it, of course, but she still insisted on me telling the truth. Well, she was a little bit for both because she was still under the whole Colby Brock spell like most. I wanted to tell Aryia what was going on, I was just afraid the way he’d see me after the fact. I don’t want to start off the relationship that I’ve wanted for years with a lie, that leads to trust issues and communication issues. That’s what’s ruined so many relationships in my past and I would rather not lose this one.

My thoughts got interrupted as I got a text from Aryia, the knot in my stomach growing as I saw his name appear on my notifications. The text wasn’t anything insane or crazy, just a simple ‘hey darling’ with the little smiley face with the hearts around it emoji. Surprisingly a common emoji that he used often, oh man what the fans would do if they knew his soft ass used that. I shook my head, the smile evident on my lips as I quickly typed back before I lost the nerve to.

“hi honey.. I have something to tell you about later tonight.” The bubbles appeared on the screen before they disappeared and a facetime call came onto my phone. My eyes widened instantly, my options weighing in my head as my thumb ghosted over the accept button on the phone. I tapped the accept after a few moments, the smile growing on my lips as his face quickly appeared on my screen. His eyebrows were furrowed, a slight frown crossing his lips as he looked into the camera.

“What’s goin on Kels?” he asked, his tone full of concern. I shook my head quickly, a small laugh coming from my lips as I waved him off with my hand.

“Nothing bad! I promise,” I said, biting my lip slightly before I continued. “I just wanted to run… an idea by you? Just to make sure you were like okay with it first I guess.”

His head tilted slightly, furrowing his eyebrows as he plopped down onto his computer chair. “And what would this idea be?” I swallowed, biting my lip once more before I spoke, glancing everywhere but the screen; scared to see his reaction.

“So, Colby sort of messaged me and asked me to come have a chat with him, says he wants to get my opinion on a dog that he’s thinking about adopting.”

The silence that filled the air made my stomach clench, finally growing the nerve to look up at him. He looked deep in thought, as if a million thoughts were spinning through his head. After what felt like forever he finally nodded once, meeting my eyes and said, “and you wanted to see if I was okay with that?”

I nodded again, keeping my bottom lip between my teeth as I waited for him to go on. A slight scoff came from his lips before he smiled at me, relief rushing over my body. “I don’t care what you do Kels, if I didn’t trust you I wouldn’t of introduced you to my friends anyway.”

I let out a breath that I didn’t realize I was holding in, letting a grin again take over my features. “Okay cool, I dunno I just wanted to clear it with you first.”

“I’m your boyfriend, not your guardian Kels, I do appreciate it though.” With that last comment the topic flipped to him telling me about a new song he was working on, and I thank god it did.

Soon enough, I was standing out the same house I was a few days prior but why I did feel more nervous now than I did before. Before I could even raise my fist to hit against the wooden door it opened, and a shirtless Colby stood before me. The smirk quickly appeared on his lips as I crinkled my nose up, looking up at him with a huff.

“Don’t you own a shirt?” I said with a hint of snark, quickly stepping inside as a laugh came from his lips.

“Oh, from what your messages said seems you like me specifically like this.” His words made my jaw clench, turning to look at him as I hit his shoulder with the back of my hand.

“Can you shut up before the other guys hear you.” That statement made him roll his eyes, kicking the door shut as he made his way to sit on the couch. Two tangerine unopened White Claws already waiting there for us, oh so he was waiting for me to come. I watched warily as he sat down on the couch, patting the spot next to him. I narrowed my eyes slightly as I went and sat on the opposite end, crossing my legs under me as I looked at him.

“Well aren’t you just a chatty one,” sarcasm dripping from him as he popped open the can. I rolled my eyes, looking at him with my arms crossed over my chest.

“Not like I wanted to come here Brock, you blackmailing fuck.” He laughed, the sound making a smile come onto my lips without my ability to stop it. He must’ve noticed the very slight smile I had because he slid closer to me, making sure our knees grazed each other’s. He swiftly reached and handed me my drink, even making sure to pop the tap for me.

“Oh c’mon, you can’t help me for wanting to have some alone time with the one girl who didn’t try to rip my clothes off with the first interaction.” The cockiness that flooded his aura made me roll my eyes, taking a drink from the can before looking at him.

“I was there with Aryia, Colby, I’m sure you saw that.” The smirk grew on his lips, leaning in slightly to get closer to me.

“Oh, so was that the only thing stopping you doll?” He said, tilting his head slightly with our bodies inches apart. A slight huff came from me, air coming from my nose as I pushed him away from me slightly while I sat up straight.

“Definitely not Colby, I’m not interested in you. Not anymore.” I felt his fingertips brush against my knee, my eyes going to his mouth as he dragged his tongue across the bottom of his top teeth before a smirk appeared.

“Is that why you just stared at my mouth, what is it baby? Were you hoping I’d do something?” I swallowed slightly, sliding backwards as I felt my back hit the arm of the couch. The closer he got, the bigger the knot in my stomach grew and with that, it made me down what I had left in my can.

“I think I need another one of these if this conversation has to continue.”

Seven White Claws later, a conversation shift from Aryia to some stupid trip Colby took to Kansas a few weeks that ended with him burning a couch and Colbys hand is now rubbing my knee. Usually, alcohol makes me frisky and want to be with anyone who is even this close to me but this time it felt different. I didn’t want to be here with Colby, I wanted to be with Aryia and that made a pout instantly come onto my lips. The laughing seized from my lips as the pout appeared, this drawing the attention from Colby. His head tilted as he looked at me, the white claws he consumed having very little affect on him. He was not nearly to the level I was but that didn’t stop his eyes from landing on my pouting lips. He reached and brushed his thumb across it, a slight huff coming from me as he smirked. I watched as he got up to grab another can, giving me just enough time in my drunken state to get my phone out. I quickly went to the messages between Aryia and I, sending a quick ‘pls come get me’ before Colby got back. He heard the whoosh come from my phone as the message sent, making his eyebrows furrow and glance at my phone. My delayed reflexes to locking my phone and the groan coming from his lips signified he had saw the message. He stood up quickly, racking his fingers through his hair as he looked at me with a shake of his head.

“He’s going to be so fuckin pissed Kelsea, good job.” His tone made a slight whimper come from my lips, sinking deeper into the couch as he continued. “You realize how much the fans will hate you if you end our friendship, good luck winning his love then.”

My voice slurred, my tongue getting twisted as I finally managed to get out, “I’d rather risk it than lose him completely.” He scoffed again, yanking the drink from my grasp with such roughness that made another whimper come from me. At my drunken state, tears started to build up quicker that made me pull my knees up to my chest.

“I want Aryia.” I said through a sniffle, the tears starting to freely run down my cheeks as the door swung open. Within seconds I felt the rough fingertips lay against my shoulders, the fingertips that had spent years getting beaten and ripped from guitar strings. Voices were coming through my ears muffled, my eyes closing as the room started to spin around me as I whimpered again. My arms were out as I felt Aryias gently usher me from my curled up position on the couch. As my feet hit the wooden floor of the house, I managed to get out in a murmured tone, “please take me home with you.”

Lips gently touched my temple before he walked us towards the door. The last words being called over his shoulder, the tone harsh and almost a growl. “Don’t fucking ask her over again Cole.”

I just knew I had ruined what I had between Aryia and I, I involved alcohol in our dynamics and now he’s going to leave me after tonight. Fuck, I couldn’t even last a week with this guy who actually cared about me over some stupid secret. Okay, maybe the alcohol had made me a tad bit emotional because by the time we pulled up to his house I was full blown bawling. I’ve never seen him move so fast where he opened the passenger door and knelt down to look at me. Shushes were coming from his lips as he held my face between his hands, thumbs brushing away the tears that were falling.

“Kels… Kels look at me it’s okay you’re okay,” his tone was gentle and soft. I shook my head, tears continuing to fall as I spoke, my words getting tangled.

“But are we okay? I know I fucked up, I have issues saying no to people and I should’ve stopped at the one he offered I’m so sorry Aryia, I’m so sorry.” I could feel my voice break at the last sorry that slipped from my lips, finally looking up at him. My bloodshot eyes meeting his kind hazel ones, a smile on his lips as his thumb continued to brush; trying to soothe me.

“Baby, Baby listen to me, its okay. Accidents happen and it’s not a huge deal,” he said, a soft chuckle coming from him before he continued. “I’m just glad you texted me when you did, I was slightly worried when I hadn’t heard from you.” His words were sincere, I could tell by the look that showed in his eyes as he looked at me.

My voice came out as a croak, a slight smile finally showing up after my cry fest, “You promise?” He nodded, unbuckling me before he helped me out of his car. I could somewhat walk on my own but there was still a slight stumble occurring here and there. I guess that crying and realization hitting me had sobered me up slightly.

We made it into his room after having a quick introduction to his roommates; Kevin, Reggie and Cassie. I hated this was how they had to meet me for the first time, talk about great first impressions right? Aryia helped sit me down on his bed, brushing his thumb tenderly against my cheek before he walked towards his dresser. This gave me a moment to give him one good look, he had one of his own merch items on but it had been cut to be in a type of muscle shirt fashion. Cotton shorts hung loosely on his hips as I watched him dig through his drawers in the search for clothes for me. I let out an audible sigh, shaking my head as I decided to be truthful to him.

“Aryia?” His name came from my lips in the form of a question, making him turn around with a pair of boxers and one of his shirts in his hand.

“Yeah Kels?” He said, his head tilting as he looked at me. I bite my lip, patting the spot gently beside me as he came over and plopped down beside me. I turned my body to face him, reaching over to gently lay my hand on top of his. I gave his hand a squeeze before I took a deep breath, my eyes staying on our hands as I began.

“Aryia, I need to tell you something and I need you to promise me to listen through before you say anything. Okay?” He could tell by my tone that I was serious, he nodded once before he gave my hand a squeeze back. That’s when I began telling him everything, from my discovery of the Sam and Colby channel, to me being completely infatuated with the thought of the Youtuber Colby Brock. Telling him about when the disinterest came and finally letting it spill that I knew who he was when he walked into that clinic. I couldn’t read his reaction to that tidbit of information, but I ended it by explaining the truth as to why I was there and what Colby had over me. The way he listened to me and gave me reassurance through his touches made me become at ease a little. His grip tightened on mine in some moments but for the most part it was okay. Once I finished speaking, the silence grew between us for a few moments. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife, and I was just waiting for what he could possibly say to me after all of this.

#aryia emrani #aryia fic #colby brock fic #colby brock #aryia x oc #colby x oc #my writing #in your dreams

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chicagoindiecritics · 4 years

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New from Jon Espino on The Young Folks: Interview: Trey Edward Shults, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Taylor Russell talk about the complexities in ‘Waves’

Every decade or so, we get new media that only entertains us but educates us on the experiences of the next generation. Many times they highlight the new complexities and differences of their experience to ours, but they also remind us that while it may be put in a different context, at its core they are things we have also gone through. Trey Edward Shults delivers exactly that in his latest film, Waves, which explores not only how these experiences affect a family unit, but how race can also play into them.

We spoke with Trey Edward Shults, and actors Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Taylor Russell collaborating together, revisiting their teenage years, MySpace and the start of social media, and more.

Since your first film, Krisha, you’ve created films that explore different family dynamics. We revisit topics like addiction and overbearing fathers. What attracts you to these types of stories?

Trey Edward Shults: I just connect to a lot of them. Personal experiences and loved ones’ experiences, especially in these 3 movies [Krisha, It Comes at Night, Waves] because they weren’t made that far apart. They were probably all brewing in the brain at around the same time. Whether it’s conscious or not, I think I was still rustling with some certain things, and remain fascinated by them.

As the film starts, everything seems almost idyllic, nearly perfect, but as it goes on, we learn the true complexity of each character. What was it about your respective characters that drew you in?

Kelvin Harrison Jr.: For me it was seeing this boy who had so much love and respect for his dad and those around him, but he really didn’t know how to communicate that or know what to do with that information for himself. He starts trying to appease everyone in a way that ultimately strips him away from his own identity and his own voice. I wanted to show the humanity of a black boy where he doesn’t fall into the cliches, but who can make mistakes that also don’t define who they are. I also wanted to show how a family would have to grow because of the historical traumas that come from being a black family in America right now. It wasn’t just about the character but also the entire message of what we have to go through as African Americans.

Taylor Russell: It’s really rare that you get characters like this for a young woman. I haven’t ever seen a script like this come across my lap, so it was a no-brainer to be a part of it. To see a story that is so nuanced, truthful, and authentic to the complexities of the black experience, which is so vast and so different for every person, made me admire how that was portrayed in this story. I liked how quiet she was, and how her strength was unconventional and unique. Even the storytelling style was perfect, how it was told in the two halves, was something that felt unique and that I had never seen before. I knew Trey’s work from Krisha. It was shot in such a beautiful way and unlike any other cinema. People were telling me that it was going to be quite close to Krisha, and I was like, “Oh my god, if it’s going to be like that then hell yes! Let’s do it!”

I like the way the film is split into two different perspectives. The first half focuses on the male experience, while the second half follows the aftermath and the female experience. Was it always your intention to split the film up this way?

TES: I think it was in the DNA way before even writing it. It functions in dichotomies, literally from highs and low, white and black, male and female, love and hate, and everything else in between. I liked the idea of the movie functioning in these dichotomies, but what it’s really about is the link and complexity of how we’re connected by the contrasts in our lives.

Although the film mostly focuses on the individual struggles and the family as a whole, there are a few moments in the film that talks exclusively to the black experience in America. What resources did you use to research this before incorporating it into the film?

TES: Kelvin was such an invaluable resource, and he’s the reason that the story is about a black family. We met on our last film [It Comes at Night] and first started talking about Waves. I didn’t have it written yet, but I started talking about ideas of what I thought the movies was, and broad strokes about what I wanted it to be. Then, we were like, “We should do it together.” When I was first writing it, we were texting a lot. Almost like little therapy sessions as we were learning about each other, learning about our commonalities and shared experiences with families, especially around the character’s age. Kel got a first draft, 8 months before we started shooting and then we kept building it further and further at that point. I let the actors kind ad-lib and make some changes to the scenes so that it would feel more natural and authentic. I felt like it was my job just to listen and understand and try to capture everything I could.

So this was truly a collaborative process?

TES: Oh, absolutely.

KHJ: It was so easy because it really feels like the script and Trey’s version of it really understands the family. It was like the skeleton and the muscles, setting a strong foundation so that we can come in and be like, “Well, let’s put some brown skin here and a little blush and we’re good to go.” I was never fearful of speaking up and being like, “Well this is how I feel and this is how I experienced this.” He would also respond with, “Well that makes sense and I understand that so now let’s shoot it that way.” To me, that’s beautiful.

While watching the film, it takes a turn partway through where it turns into a horror film. It feels almost nightmarish at a certain point.

TR: On the day of shooting those scenes, you could tell right away the tonal shift the movie was taking. It felt scary, and that day of filming was really intense too. Although a lot of that was in the script, it is still quite shocking when you see the final version.

TES: I talked about this with Sterling [K. Brown] a lot too. For this family, the greatest tragedy has happened and a nightmare has come to life. It started with exploring how this would feel for this family and this situation, and from there it grew to adding the visuals and audio elements that would end up giving it more of a horror feel.

One of the things that really helped push some of the more unnerving elements was the sound design and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ score. How did that come together?

TES: It just got super lucky. One day, I got an email from Trent and Atticus saying they were interested in working together. It was unbelievable. For sound design, I had Johnnie Burn and his whole team create that atmosphere and mood.

I’m still haunted by the sounds of the ligaments and muscles tearing. It was almost like ASMR, but in the most stressful kind of way.

TES: Johnnie had such an amazing foley team and I don’t even know how they got most of the sounds they used in the film. We played with that beyond just what would sound natural and tried out things that would be more subjective to the characters, like whenever Tyler would use his shoulder.

KHJ: Oh, I was on the ground and I could definitely hear it and feel it.

Did you know how to wrestle or did you have to learn just for the role?

KHJ: Hell-to-the-no. I had to transform. I did 3 months of wrestling training. I did 3 days a week of CrossFit with wrestling twice a day. My wrestling coach Vlad is actually in the movie. He would tell me, “Kelly, get tough!” It was a tough experience but ultimately great for the movie because I could feel free and authentic when playing the character.

For some people, their teenage years are either the best or the worst. How did it feel revisiting that time for your characters, or even while developing this film together?

TR: I mean, we play teenagers a lot. I feel like I’m constantly in high school. Maybe I’ll finally graduate one day. One can only dream. I think I got a little bit longer because I have a babyface. This story though feels so transcendent beyond being a 16-year-old, it’s more about the human experience. In that way, it feels like it could be at any age. At the same time, it’s telling the story of teenagers and experiencing and feeling things for the first time. It was a fun thing to explore, but also a hard thing.

KHJ: It was therapeutic for me. My parents saw it for the first time and they told me that that could really understand the relationships. That’s what the movie ends up being about: relationships. At the end of it, I was feeling like maybe I should call my mom and try to figure out how to communicate with her a little bit better. It transcends age in a lot of ways, but the specificity of the 2019 kid experience is fascinating to me. I remembering having MySpace growing up.

I honestly still miss MySpace. It’s basically the only reason I have the limited HTML coding knowledge I have. I mainly miss that you could set specific songs on the page.

KHJ: I don’t miss it at all. So many fights when you would set your top 5 or top 10. It was the beginning of proper social media drama, and I was just not interested in it. The intensity of that now with apps like Instagram and Snapchat is insane.

TR: In the film, you see the role that social media plays after the major event happens. Just the way people comment and speak about it so realistic. Even the cussing in the movie feels real, like when Trey has the phone autocorrect “ducking” for the f-word. We all know about that and that feeling when you’re so mad that you just don’t even care that it typed that out because we all know what they’re trying to say. It just adds to the overall relatability and speaks to real experiences.

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wineanddinosaur · 5 years

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Nine Power Couples of the Bar World — and How They Make It Work

Everybody loves a love story. This February, we’re celebrating some of the beverage industry’s coolest, most inspiring couples in a two-part series.

Here, we toast to the dynamic duos of the bar community. Some met on the job and worked together for years before realizing they wanted a romantic relationship. Others got married a month after meeting. Others slid into each other’s DMs “with the quickness” after commenting on the same Instagram. Bar trends change, but these nine industry power couples have staying power.

Julie Reiner and Susan Fedroff

Partners, Pegu Club, Leyenda, and Clover Club. New York

How they met:

Julie: “We met in San Francisco at a friends and family brunch that Susan was managing (I was bartending in San Francisco at the time as well). It was at a place called Backflip in the Phoenix Hotel. She brought me a Bloody Mary with a grilled shrimp garnish. We were introduced, and she gave me the warmest hug I had ever had. We started dating shortly after that first meeting, and haven’t been apart since.”

Why it works:

Julie: “We moved to NYC in 1998 so that Susan could go to grad school at NYU. I was managing a bar in the West Village while she was in school. Our schedules were totally opposite, and we never saw each other… When I had the opportunity to open Flatiron Lounge, Susan decided that she wanted to open the bar with me so that we would see more of each other. She had a master’s in finance, so her role in the bar would be very different from mine. I handle the front of house, PR, marketing, and events, and she handles a lot of the daytime work and financials. So, it works.”

Kelsey Ramage and Iain Griffiths

Co-Founders, The Trash Collective. Toronto, Canada

Credit: Steve Woodburn

How they met:

Kelsey: “Iain was heading up creative for Dandelyan and I was bartending there, so we ended up working on a few drinks together, and that led to some flirting, and then there was a staff party, and then we did a horrible job hiding it from colleagues for months, and so on…”

Iain: “There was also a lot of late-night Jack Daniels in those early days, remember? Eeesh…we almost never worked together, though! Kels came and smashed a team trial and was all good to go, and then I went on a two-week holiday and never got it finalized. I came back from holidays and Ryan [Chetiyawardana] was like, ‘What happened to that rad Canadian chick?’ at which point I nearly sh*t myself and immediately called her.”

Why it works:

Iain: “Well, our relationship might be a little different as pretty soon — six months — after getting together, we started working on our own business together. And previous to sharing a pillow, we’d spent a lot of hours in the trenches working side-by-side, so a lot of the industry nuances took a backseat to some much bigger focuses… From the get-go, we had clear professional boundaries and were then focused on figuring out shit like how to curate a global pop-up tour that would become Trash Tiki.”

“I was honestly blind to [misogyny in our industry] in a lot of ways before going into business with a female partner, and then also saw firsthand exactly how that impacts us personally. You wind up taking this position of ‘us against the world,’ which sounds extreme but with all the work, travel, partying, and additional stress we put on our relationship, you need to always know you have each other’s backs. And we definitely do.”

Audrey Saunders and Robert Hess

Industry Mentor and Owner, Pegu Club; and Co-Founder, The Museum of the American Cocktail, Author, and Drinks Expert. Seattle

How they met:

Robert: “Technically, we first met around 1998 when Audrey joined the discussion forum that I was running as part of DrinkBoy.com… I believe Audrey joined at the recommendation of Dale DeGroff, her mentor.

“It was in 2002 when I first had a chance to meet Audrey in person. I was on a business trip to New York City for Microsoft, and in the evenings I had time to myself so I could check out the cocktail scene during my visit. On the first night, I made arrangements with Martin Doudoroff, another member of the forum, to meet up at Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle Hotel, where Audrey was the beverage director at the time. The three of us spent several hours chatting about various things, and I invited Audrey to join me the next night for dinner at Lupa, where a bartender friend of mine from New York was working… As it turned out, my friend got his dates mixed up and wasn’t able to show up. Audrey and I had a nice dinner there, and afterwards she decided to show me a couple of the notable bars in town. Our first visit was to Milk & Honey, and from there we went to Angel’s Share.

“On the following night, Dale DeGroff was doing one of his ‘Cocktail Safaris’ as part of the Institute of Culinary Education. These ‘classes’ would consist of touring students through several different New York bars which were doing interesting things with cocktails. On that night the tour included Layla, Grace, Pico (where Audrey joined up with the tour), and then lastly Dylan Prime and Bubble Lounge for a nightcap.

“After spending so much time with Audrey over these three days, it was clear that there was something special there. However, Audrey had her career firmly established in New York, and mine was in Seattle… Tales of the Cocktail would be a regular event that would bring us together, and it was at Tales in 2009 that we decided we needed to see if we could take it the next level. Audrey was working on a project in L.A., which at least brought her closer to Seattle, and it made it easier for me to travel down there periodically for visits.

“Then in 2010, Audrey moved to join me in Seattle. And in 2011 we got married.”

Why it works:

Robert: “The industry had a very big effect over our relationship — not only was it the focus that both of us had on this industry that brought us together to begin with, but it was the various industry events that we would attend over the years that kept us in contact while we lived on opposite sides of the country.

“It’s of the utmost importance that you enjoy each other’s company OUTSIDE of the industry — meaning that if neither of you could ever work another day within it, that you would still have fun in love together.”

Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown

Drinks Historian and Author; Author, Drinks Historian, and Master Distiller at Sipsmith. Cotswolds, U.K.

Credit: Caleb Krivoshey

How they met:

Jared: “We met in New York at a party… Anistatia was throwing a sit-down holiday dinner for 55 people in her Greenwich Village loft. She prepared the food herself and had hired someone to assist her the night of. However, for the week leading up to the party, that person didn’t reply to her voicemails.

“The day of the party, she had lunch with my cousin Daniel. She was in a panic and he handed her my number, explaining that I was a ‘starving hotel school student and also a talented chef.’ She rang the restaurant where I was cooking and explained her predicament. I let my sous chef take over and jumped into a taxi.

“The party went well, in large part because throughout the night it felt as if we had always been together. The next day I dropped off a dozen irises to her. That evening, I called and asked if she would be up for a Chinese takeaway. She said yes. I brought a photo album with me to properly introduce myself, which we looked through as we ate.

“Then I asked her to marry me. She said yes — no need to scroll back up, this really was the night after we first met. We would have gotten married that week but we had schedule problems, and finally got married a month after we met. Now, it has been nearly 27 years.”

Why it works:

Jared: “We are not great at spending time apart. The drinks industry is also about as far as you can get from M to F and 9 to 5. Working together and sharing jobs meant we got much, much more time together.

“I can’t imagine a jealous person surviving a relationship within the drinks industry, but we have managed nearly three decades so far, with most of it spent firmly full-time in various areas of the booze biz. And yes, it can get crazy in ways that working real estate or insurance or banking or law simply never will. Being forgiving is essential. So is not bringing the party home with you. The bigger the parties, the more essential it is that home is your personal rehab and that you keep each other on track.

“Did I mention forgiveness? I wish I could remember which author said something like, ‘Everyone needs to get drunk at least once a year, if only to keep them from getting sanctimonious when it happens to others.’”

Elayne Duff and Philip Duff

Founder and Chief Cocktail Educator at Duff on the Rocks; Consultant/Educator and Chief Genever Officer at Old Duff Genever. New York

How they met:

Elayne: Philip and I met at Tales of the Cocktail! We were sitting across from each at a brand dinner at Commander’s Palace, hosted by mixologist Brian Van Flandern, then global brand ambassador for Don Julio Tequila. We had never met each other before and ended up in an argument about the effectiveness of brand ambassadors (I, at that moment, happened to be one, and Philip had basically invented the job years before).

“I would not find out until years later that Philip loves to debate the unpopular side — it is one of the things that I admire about him, but at times it can also drive me insane. Being in the industry, Philip and I would run into each other from time to time at trade shows and bars in different parts of the world. Our debates continued, a friendship formed, and years after we met, a long-distance relationship began. Two years later, we were married!

Why it works:

Philip: “Being in the industry really helped our relationship, to be honest. Our traveling lifestyles made it easy to maintain a relationship even though I lived in Amsterdam and Elayne in New York while we were dating; I made sure I visited New York for three weeks, every three weeks, but often we’d meet up at bar shows and events elsewhere in between. That wouldn’t have been possible even 10 years ago but the industry has become so international that a transatlantic relationship was feasible.”

Elayne: “We have many of the same friends and even sometimes clients that cross over — this gives us plenty to chat about over Martinis!”

Nicole Salicetti and Mcson Salicetti

Bartender, Henry at Life Hotel; Head Bartender, Terrazzo at Park Terrace Hotel. New York

How they met:

Nicole: “It was May 12, 2014. The Saturday prior, I had worked an event where I met a fellow ‘mixologist’ who had mentioned he would be guest bartending at this really cool cocktail bar, Botanic Lab. He invited me to be his guest. As I was just getting my feet wet in the world of bartending, I accepted the invitation and was excited to go.

“At the event, the bartender who had invited me was kinda busy and mostly left me on my own; at some point I was standing at the bar alone, drink in hand, and noticed a guy who had just entered the venue but immediately went under the bar. Clearly he worked there.

“I needed something — it may have been a napkin or a straw, something simple, nothing to put the guy out or anything. I attempted to get his attention and he waved me away, saying, ‘Sorry, miss, I’m not working.’ I was taken aback and tried to explain I simply needed him to hand me a napkin. With the same dismissal, he made me aware that he was NOT working. His version of events up to this point is a bit different. Anyway, after some sarcastic banter while we were later on the same side of the bar, and many shots of mezcal later, we fell in love. (Well, in like, anyway.)”

Why it works:

Nicole: “Mcson and I truly vibe off of each other’s endeavors… We can sit and talk about spirits or cocktail development or brands. I feel like that commonality is unique in that it’s not a boring industry, so two individuals in this industry can always have stimulating conversation.

“We both have a genuine passion for what we do and every aspect of the industry. We have been blessed to experience some of the greatest perks this industry has to offer, like sponsored trips, education, amazing events, and things we could never do without being so immersed in it. We bond over the daily trials of the grind and laugh over them, too — we both understand the struggle and also the pride that comes after a great shift!”

Brooke Toscano and Michael Toscano

Head Bartender at Pouring Ribbons and Whiskey Guardian at Angel’s Envy; New York Brand Ambassador at Lustau. New York

How they met:

Michael: “Brooke and I meet in August of 2014 at the Spirits Academy put on by Southern Wine & Spirits in Indianapolis. It’s basically an eight-week college class where you learn about the history of alcohol and different spirits.

“Over the next few weeks, I would sit in class with a coworker and just casually stare at this girl and talk about how beautiful she was, but I just couldn’t talk to her. It took me two months to finally make a move. Finally, on Oct. 20, 2014, I walk into her bar (a friend told me she’d be working that day). We make eye contact and she stops dead in her tracks and says, ‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ I reply with, ‘I’m here to see you.’ She then proceeds to awkwardly laugh and walk away. No bullsh*t, she just left me standing there.

“She comes back in what feels like an hour, asks what I want to drink (I order a neat pour of Bulleit and shoot it like it’s water). She asks me again why I’m there, and I say: ‘I’m here to see you. I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and I know I don’t know you, but I would love the opportunity to get to know you. I’m an adult and you can say no… I would completely understand, I just figured I should tell you.’

“We proceed to talk here and there and as time goes by she tells me she can’t pass her number over the bar to me due to hotel policy, but I can give her my number. At this point I feel like this is the end, but I took my shot and it was worth it. Two days later, I get a text saying, ‘Hey…it’s Brooke,’ and the rest is history (we’re married now).”

Why it works:

Michael: “There are a lot of positive things happening in the industry right now when it comes to raising awareness, supporting positive causes, and more. Those things are very important to both of us. It feels nice to have a partner that wants to attend and help in those events even when we both have a night off together.

“For us, it’s all about balance. Yes, we have nights where we are out way too late and have taken one or two too many shots, but we also spend time at home with our dogs and one another, find time for the gym, and take vacations that don’t involve liquor companies. It’s all about open communication with one another, honesty, mutual respect, and support.”

Taylor Adorno and Orlando Franklin McCray

Bartender, Ghost Donkey; Bartender, Maison Premiere. New York

How they met:

Orlando: “[A friend] had posted a Boomerang of Taylor working at Seamstress that I left a comment on. She slipped in my DMs and I thought she just wanted my contact because she was doing activations for a brand at the time.

“Our first date was at Syndicated in Brooklyn. I walked in thinking it was an activation. After we were hanging out at the bar for a few minutes before the movie started I thought she just had a really bad activation because no one else showed up. It took me like two hours to figure out it was in fact a date.”

Taylor: “As a millennial does in the hospitality industry, I slid into those DM’s…with the quickness. I asked him out on what I thought he knew was a date. When I arrived he was nice but it felt a bit informal. There were several bartenders he recognized at the bar but after they said hi and walked away he had a face of confusion.

“As the date went along, it took us going to the third bar for him to get that we were on a date. I was so embarrassed…he thought that my activation was a flop and that he was the only one who had showed up. As a result he ‘accompanied’ me to the other bars thinking ‘poor girl, no one showed up to her event.’ Shortly after he realized this was a date and three White Negronis later (thanks to Austin Hartman), we were making out in the backyard of The Narrows.”

Why it works:

Orlando: “I’m in the Bacardi Legacy Competition right now and she’s very much my biggest critic and supporter of what I’m doing. She just schooled me on how to make my syrup better and easier — I always appreciate her input.”

Taylor: “There were two things I remember asking him on our second date; those were, ‘Do you like rum?’ and ‘Do you like Drake?’ He loves rum as much as he loves Drake. I knew then that this was going to work out. We make each other drinks at home (well, actually, he mostly makes drinks at home. I drink them). It’s a great system that I intend on keeping.”

Carey Jones and John McCarthy

Freelance Spirits Writer and Author; Spirits Writer, Consulting Mixologist, and Author. San Francisco

Credit: Zofia & Co. Photography

How they met:

John: “Carey reviewed me! [We] met when she came into the bar I was running. She was a friend of the chef’s, so I got the word to give her and her friend the VIP treatment. I made a tasting menu for them, and at the end of it she asked if she could come in and interview me about the cocktail menu. I pretended that happened all the time, and no problem. The interview went well. Carey had questions, I had answers.

“After the interview, our PR rep who was there with me told me that she thought ‘that writer’ liked me. I didn’t agree and said so. But she pointed out that Carey had seemed so interested in what I had to say, and asked me so many questions…I told her, ‘I thought that’s how interviews work!’

“Shortly thereafter, the group I worked for opened a new bar-restaurant, and Carey would come in to see her friend the chef pretty regularly. And over time we became friends. Looking back, I realize that for coming in to see her friend the chef, she didn’t eat much.”

Carey: “We became friends very quickly. John is generous and chatty and just fun behind the bar, and, as everyone in this industry knows, visiting bartender friends is the best. But it was more than a year before we started dating. I was seeing someone else at the time, John had his own things going on, and I think we were both eventually surprised that there was mutual interest. But it all worked out.”

Why it works:

John: “We wrote a book together and we’re still married! Our book is a series of flowcharts that lead you to your ideal recipe, then 170 original cocktail recipes. Carey had a brilliant idea of using whiteboard wallpaper to plan out the book’s flowcharts. So, we moved all the furniture from one wall and covered it with whiteboard wallpaper. I have very strong memories of Carey on a ladder with a dry erase marker as we worked out the charts for our book.”

Carey: “I think we collaborate so well because we have such different roles and different careers: John’s the cocktail guy, I’m the writer. I’d say we work well together…95 percent of the time. No collaboration is perfect, and we definitely had disagreements about the book. And when it’s your husband you’re disagreeing with, not just a co-author or colleague, of course it feels more personal. But there’s also a greater willingness to hear each other out and figure things out.

“We feel really great about the attention the book has received and the reception it’s gotten, and I love that we can share that — I genuinely feel proud of each other and what we’ve accomplished as a duo.”

The post Nine Power Couples of the Bar World — and How They Make It Work appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/bartending-couples-spirits-love/

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