Tumgik
#can't wait for Christmas to do nothing for a week
vizerothree · 1 year
Text
Tumblr media
Oroboros ✦ 
5K notes · View notes
noxtivagus · 1 year
Text
i'm out rn hehe
#🌙.rambles#JUST WATCHED A MOVIE W MY FAMILY#maybe i'll ramble abt that later n other stuff too#i'll check the gbf stream later but i see a new chara of erin n#grand michael n charlotta aaaa 🥺🫶🏼#merry christmas eve.. wahh it really doesn't feel like christmas season this time around :<<#the year ends in like.. less than a week now?#strange. 2023 flew by so quick#i have a lot to look forward to next year but it'll be hard sob with having to prepare more for the future#i have to do a lot better. i'll fix myself#i really don't know what to write anymore#i want to give my friends like. personalized christmas gifts but i have nothing at all n it's already the day in a few hours#i'm quite at a loss as to what to do#for the past month ever since like. november actually#i've been feeling way more empty n lonely#even right now i'm just sitting down waiting bcs we're gna eat dinner in a bit or smth#out in the city#i. don't want to go all poetic abt it rn idk but#this feeling just. i can't really place my.. words on it i suppose but#it's loneliness. a certain emptiness i know well as loneliness#it's suffocating it's a certain warmth that isn't.. exactly warm it's not comforting#i feel as empty as the night sky i see tonight is devoid of stars#the moon nowhere in sight#i don't mean to be so negative but..#i want to write it down. not for any particular reason. writing in any way anywhere just keeps me grounded#oh man i really really can't feel the christmas spirit this year#it just. feels rather empty. but your light gives me warmth#your words earlier 🥹 i rmber how warm n happy they made me#lilies. garden. moon. everything. i really want to write a letter to all my friends as a christmas gift aaaa but it's alrdy nearly tmrrw ><#maybe new year!!!! oh man it rlly feels like i'm chasing time there's so much i want to do. i'll do my best
2 notes · View notes
astonmartinii · 1 month
Text
a case of the cuddle bug | logan sargent social media au
pairing: logan sargent x fem!piastri!reader
someone check his temperature, he's got a serious case of the cuddle bug
author's note: thought we could all use some logan content to get us through the weekend
MASTERLIST | TIP JAR
yourusername
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
liked by oscarpiastri, logansargent and 201,445 others
tagged: logansargent
yourusername: he's not racing :( more time to cuddle :)
view all comments
user1: if i find out that that t-shirt was made by them i may need to be shot in the head
yourusername: sorry to be the bearer of bad news 😕
user2: y/n where do we find a logan?
yourusername: date your brother's best friend - the romance books did NOT lie
logansargent: hard to be too sad when you're around
yourusername: awwwww logie bear 🐻 i love youuuuu
logansargent: i love you too come back to the motorhome the hospitality coffee is not worth it
yourusername: not even if i swipe you a cupcake?
logansargent: okay..... maybe ....
alexalbon: i'm sorry buddy, i promise i'll do us proud
yourusername: yOU BETTER 👹
alexalbon: i'm soRRY are you like a gremlin? did someone spill some water?
yourusername: i'm gonna ignore most of that cause gizmo is cute
logansargent: she loves you really alex
alexalbon: do you still love me logie?
logansargent: yes?
alexalbon: I' SORRY I HAVE.A GUILTY CONSCIENCE I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE BEING MAD AT ME
user3: lol mood ^
oscarpiastri: you could support your BELOVED BROTHER NOW (AT HIS (OUR) HOME RACE)
yourusername: ugh i guess
oscarpiastri: you literally said you'd support me any time logan wasn't racing :(
yourusername: unless he can come with me, we'll be supporting you from the williams garage
oscarpiastri: better than nothing i guess
logansargent
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
liked by oscarpiastri, alexalbon and 459,046 others
tagged: yourusername
logansargent: no way around it, this weekend has been the hardest of my career. however, i'm thankful for alex for picking up a couple points for the team and for having y/n with me to support me this weekend, enjoy the cute picture of her (but not too much)
also i guess congrats to oscar on a podium at his home race 🤷🏻‍♂️
view all comments
user4: hardest weekend ever... here's a pic of my. hot gf :)))))
user5: he's real for that, just reminding us that he's still winning off track
alexalbon: thank you isn't enough logie, love you man, can't wait to see you back in the car next week x
yourusername: you're so lucky you got points otherwise your ass would've been grass xoxo
alexalbon: Y/N I SAID I WAS SORRY PLEASE STOP BEING MEAN YOU'RE MEANT TO BE THE NICE PIASTRI
oscarpiastri: you stole my soon-to-be brother-in-law's car and called me a shit padel player 🖕🏻
alexalbon: why is everyone ganging up on me :(
logansargent: you gotta take it for at least this weekend bro
alexalbon: i guess...
user6: they're so cute, but who is taking these photos of them?
yourusername: oscar makes himself useful sometimes
oscarpiastri: ugh i get NO CREDIT IN THIS FAMILY
logansargent: i at least appreciate it oscar 🫶🏻
oscarpiastri: that's all well and good and i love you, you're my bff but sometimes i don't want to see you be lovely dovey with that hellspawn
fredvesti: let it be known i will no longer be sneaking out with you guys for ice cream on a race weekend, the risk was not worth the third wheeling
logansargent: i paid?
fredvesti: thank the lord you did otherwise i'd raise an official complaint
Tumblr media
oscarpiastri
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
liked by landonorris, alexalbon and 793,209 others
tagged: logansargent & yourusername
oscarpiastri: got a podium at my home race and i'm still not my sister's favourite
view all comments
user8: have we considered that y/n and logan have attachment issues?
oscarpiastri: she sat at the window like a woman waiting for her husband at war when he DARED to go home for christmas when we were 16
yourusername: as if you haven't cried over lily 🙄
oscarpiastri: i ACTUALLY don't get to see her very often, i can't separate you and logan
yourusername: LEAVE ME BE
user9: oscar says this as if y/n wasn't crying her eyes out at the podium
user10: and logan wiping her tears to prevent smudging her eyeliner - sigh
logansargent: don't hate the player hate the game
oscarpiastri: what happened to blood being thicker than water
yourusername: you know what else is thicker than water ... 😩😩😩
oscarpiastri: okay you can sTOP RIGHT THERE
landonorris: they're really one being huh?
oscarpiastri: believe me the dinner at mine? they were being TAME
yourusername: okay for the audience we are not that bad, we're just affectionate we aren't like making out in front of everyone
landonorris: .... shame
oscarpiastri: yOU HAVE SHAME THAT'S MY SISTER
logansargent: THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND
yourusername: AND THAT'S MY BOYFRIEND
landonorris: damn tough crowd
yourusername
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
liked by oscarpiastri, logansargent and 212,934 others
tagged: logansargent
yourusername: a wee break before my boy is back to knock your socks off
view all comments
user11: they're so cute your honour
alexalbon: dating a racing driver and not wearing a seat belt? interesting.
yourusername: dating a professional golfer and still shit at golf? interesting.
lilymunhe: she did get you there alex, soz.
yourusername: also we weren't even driving, that hair acting is all a fan
logansargent: practically a professional photographer now (the model definitely helps, she looks perfect doing anything)
yourusername: hehehheheheheheheheheheheeh
user12: y/n really just gagging alex at every corner
user13: she saw logan wasn't holding a grudge and decided to double down on hers
user14: and we respect that
logansargent: you knock my socks off everyday babe
yourusername: as long as it's only me 😘
logansargent: i've been in love with you since i was 13 👍🏻
yourusername: SNAP🫰
oscarpiastri: once again left out of the photodump
yourusername: you are not 'my boy' that would in fact be inappropraite
oscarpiastri: you couldn't just change the caption?
yourusername: you're not cute enough to be a lannister (cersei and jaime call me)
logansargent: ????
yourusername: *call us 😉
logansargent
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
liked by lilymunhe, alexalbon and 592,309 others
tagged: yourusername
logansargent: glad to be back in the car this weekend, though if alex could stop terrorising y/n that would be great
view all comments
user15: were oscar and y/n's parents in the williams garage?
user16: so oscar wasn't lying about him basically being family already 🥹
alexalbon: i was not TERRORISNG I WAS ENGAGING IN SIBLING LIKE BANTER
oscarpiastri: hold on buster, that's MY sister 🤨
alexalbon: i can't win with any of you three 😭
yourusername: LET'S FUCKING GO EAGLE BOY GOD BLESS AMERICA 🦅🇺🇸
logansargent: i'll let you have this one for once
yourusername: as an aussie that was very hard to say, please appreciate it
logansargent: thank you my little kangaroo?
yourusername: kinda offensive they're scary
logansargent: koala?
yourusername: YOU SAYING I HAVE CHLAMYDIA?
logansargent: well i've ran out of australian animals now :(
user17: thanks for the violent reminder of chlamydia being rife in koalas :(
oscarpiastri: gonna have to beat you this weekend to win back my parents' favour it seems
yourusername: let's be real, they prefer logan over both of us :(
oscarpiastri: true 😔
logansargent: i can't help the southern charm
Tumblr media
williamsf1
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
liked by yourusername, alexalbon and 1,034,672 others
tagged: logansargent
williamsf1: LOGAN POINTS, I REPEAT LOGAN POINTS 😤
view all comments
user20: TRUST HIM, I REPEAT TRUST HIM
yourusername: THAT'S MY BOY LET'S FUCKING GO
oscarpiastri: you never get this excited for me?
yourusername: FUCK OFF THIS IS NOT YOUR TURN, IT'S LOGAN'S DAY
maxverstappen1: pretty sure i won the race
yourusername: FUCK OFF ALL OF YOU
user21: y/n crying her eyes out she's so real
user22: based on the faces in the garage i think she may have let everything out lol
user23: as she should
user24: can't expect two people to be attached 24/7 and not be ride or die for each other
logansargent: thanks for the support, glad to pick up some points for the team
yourusername: I'M SO PROUD OF YOU
logansargent: i know you've shouted it in my face since i got back from media
yourusername: you need to know it :(
logansargent: i love you so much
yourusername: i love you even more
user25: the whole piastri family going wild in LOGAN'S garage was not on my 2024 bingo sheet
user26: but it was cute as fuck
yourusername
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
liked by oscarpiastri, logansargent and 287,045 others
tagged: logansargent
yourusername: we're down bad with a case of the cuddle bug
view all comments
user27: the CUDDLE BUG?
user28: i need to be taken out of my misery
logansargent: i've got a high fever, a love fever
oscarpiastri: THAT WAS CORNY AS FUCK
yourusername: i thought it was cute :(
logansargent: and that's what matters
yourusername: exactlyyyyy
oscarpiastri: so fuck me, right?
yourusername: yes!
logansargent: yes!
user29: this whole interaction makes it so obvious oscar was the only boy growing up LOL
alexalbon: i'll concede, you guys are cute
yourusername: we been known
logansargent: no one does it like us
alexalbon: erm alex and lily erasure?
yourusername: lily cute, you not so much
alexalbon: stop being SO PROTECTIVE WHY ARE YOU A GOLDEN RETRIEVER WITH EVERYONE ELSE AND A RABID JACK RUSSELL WITH ME IT WAS JAMES' DECISION GO FOR JAMES' ANKLES
williamsf1: ???
yourusername: i thought it was friendly sibling banter (also james is logie's boss of course i'm not gonna go for his ankles dummy)
logansargent: she's my little guard dog 🫶🏻
yourusername: anything for you, come back to cuddle :(
logansargent: on my way cuddle bug!
fin.
note: i understand why williams made the decision they did, but i've had such a soft spot for logan since he admitted he's lonely in the paddock :( i hope he has a good next race to really prove himself to everyone xx hope you enjoyed! xx
2K notes · View notes
feelbokkie · 22 days
Text
the one where minho gets you exactly what you want
Tumblr media
☀️Feelbokkie M.list☀️
genre: fluff
pov: 2nd person
description: it's impossible to tell minho no. espceially when you tell him you don't want anything for your birthday.
pairing: boyfriend!minho x reader
warnings: none
word count: 1,207
©feelbokkie (2024) — all rights reserved. reposting/modification of any kind is not tolerated.
Tumblr media
"Hang on--wait a second--Minho!" You call out as the bag you are looking at is suddenly yanked from your hands.
Minho ignores you, as he continues to make his way to the checkout counter. He walks quickly, not quite running or speed walking. You know his pace, this is the fastest you've ever seen him move when he isn't dancing. And yet, he moves swiftly like he's on the stage.
He's already halfway to the checkout counter when you manage to catch up to him. Somehow, one of his steps is two of yours and you're having trouble catching up to him. His eyes keep facing forward, focusing on his end goal. Maybe you're imagining it, but you think he is moving even faster.
The two of you finally reach the front of the store. One other person
"W...what are you doing?" You try to catch your breath from the unexpected jog you just took.
"Buying your birthday presents," Minho responds nonchalantly, finally turning to you.
"I said I didn't want or need anything for my birthday though." You remind him softly.
It's true, Minho has been asking you what you want for your birthday for weeks, and each time, you've told him 'nothing.' You didn't think much of it when he invited you out to lunch. You thought he would settle with just paying for your meal and drop the subject of getting you a gift altogether. So when he suggested going to the mall afterward, it completely slipped your mind.
"Uh huh," He turns forward again, checking to see if the customer who was ahead of you is still finishing his transaction.
"You paid for lunch already. And I don't need anything--" You try to pull the small brown backpack out of his arms to no avail.
"But you want this, right?" He questions, still not looking at you.
"That's not the point--"
Minho cuts you off by walking up to the counter and setting his things down in front of the cashier. You watch in amazement as you realize that all of the things that Minho is buying are things that you were contemplating buying yourself but changed your mind last minute.
"Did you two find everything okay?" The cashier asks cheerfully.
"Actually--"
"We found everything okay," Minho cuts you off. You watch as he pulls his wallet out of his pocket.
Minho makes polite conversation with the cashier as he rings up the items. He's wearing a pair of blue jeans and a black polo shirt that you got him. You can't remember if it was for Christmas or his birthday. His face is covered up with a mask and his hair so he's unrecognizable at first. You know it can't be comfortable. You know how he feels about his hair being in his eyes and how the strings of the face mask always dig into his skin. He's wearing it more for your privacy than his. He doesn't mind running into fans but he knows how some of them can be so he's dressed as inconspicuous as possible.
"When did you grab all of those?" You question as you watch the cashier continuing to bag everything.
"I can be sneaky too." He pats the top of your head without breaking his concentration.
"You don't have to get me anything for my birthday. I already know that you love me." You mumble as he slides his wallet, getting ready to pay.
"You should let people do nice things for you every once in a while. Not everything has a double meaning. I'm buying them for you because you want them and I love you and it's your birthday. I'm not trying to convince you of anything. You deserve nice things so let me give them to you." He hums softly.
You clench your fists, knowing he's right. But you really don't need anything for your birthday. Spending time with him is enough. All the little things he does for you are enough.
Your eyes glance over to the cash register and zero in on the balance.
$358.60
"Hey, Lee Minho!" You quickly grab his wrist to stop him from paying.
Minho turns to you and blinks a few times. You stare at him with pleading eyes, trying to convince him to stop.
"Eh erm," He grunts before taping his card to the card reader, your grip having no obvious effect on him.
Ding
You sigh as you release his arm, defeated. Minho thanks the cashier and takes the back from him. He throws his left arm around your shoulder and leads you out of the store. You can practically imagine the smirk on his face underneath his mask.
"You're going to use the things I got you right? And they'll make you happy?" He asks quietly.
"Yeah," You mumble.
"Then I don't mind spending that much on you. I would spend more but I know that it would make you uncomfortable. But I also want to spoil you because you deserve it." He says loudly as you exit the store. It's not crowded out, there's less of a worry.
"I already feel spoiled dating you so I really don't need much else from you,"
You're not sure how you got lucky to have a boyfriend like Minho. Who, while being a bit more on the quiet side, is the most attentive and caring person you've been around. He always seems to pick up on your moods before it even registers in your brain. And he tends to do little acts of service for you like cook you food for work or pick up a copy of a book that you mentioned being curious about once. He's already given you so much, there genuinely wasn't anything else you could think of to ask from him.
He stops walking, forcing you to slightly jerk back. He holds up the shopping bag in front of you, "Just take this. You can think of me whenever you use the backpack then. Put a little Leebit on it and my photocard or something. That way I'm always with you. You can even use that picture of me with the prop gun so it wards off other guys. And when you tell them that it's a picture of your boyfriend, they'll just think you're a delusional fan and back off. Now say thank you and give me a kiss."
"You're ridiculous," You laugh, taking the back from him.
"What was that?" He teases, pulling down his mask to reveal his infamous mischievous smirk. He stares you down and taps on his lips to give you a hint.
"Thank you, Minho. I love you," You give in, the heat in your body rushing to your cheeks.
"You're forgetting something,"
"Ah, you're a brat," You gently press your lips to his. Only momentarily in case someone spots you.
"No, that's you. Now let's go home and rest, I ran today and I'm tired."
"Yes, yes, I saw. Surprised your old body can move that fast still."
"You want to talk about old? You're the one who aged today."
"Don't start with me."
"Hehe," He giggles, pulling his mask up and dropping his arm to lace your fingers together. "Happy birthday, jagia."
Buy me a coffee?
Permanent Taglist (closed)
Red means that it wouldn't let me tag you (either at all or properly)
@amyysfics @berryblog @jaydebow @junebug032 @boiohboii @heistheavatar @lieslab @rainbae-anon @k-cock @hamburgers101 @mrswolfiechan @soulboundauthor @weird-bookworm @thisisnotjacinta @seungmyynie @halesandy @kpopsstuffs @honeydew93 @dandycharmer @stay278 @jaiuneamesolitaiire @babrieeee @brain-empty-only-draken @tenmii @blueforte @jihanlovic @felixglow  @nuronhe @soonyoungblr @phtogravi @jiisungllvr @puppyminnnie
559 notes · View notes
Text
Eddie hated this and he'd just started.
See, he was so proud when he made it, when he got his first office job. He saw what decades of physical labor did to Wayne's back, his hands, and he wanted to make his uncle proud. So he kept applying and applying and getting ignored and rejected and finally, finally he got a job in a pretty large corporate. Not exactly something prestigious, but hey, it had potential. The experience counted and all that.
He thought maybe workplaces would be different, that the good ol' high school dynamic would fuck off, but no. He was sitting at his desk, trying to fill in paperwork after a taxing phone call, but all he could focus on was whispering from the neighboring cubicle that was ostentatiously loud. He didn't know who sat there yet, the guy had been on vacation for the two weeks Eddie was in the company. From the stuff he was hearing, he was getting introduced anyway and not exactly the way he'd have liked to be.
"Can you believe they actually let him work here?" It was Carol, of course it was, the office gossip and mean girl knockoff. "I mean, he doesn't even look decent! Did you see that hair?" Okay, that hurt. He actually pulled his hair into a neat bun every morning, but you can't please some people. "And he has tattoos, what would our customers think if they actually met him, plus you should have heard the rumors about his past-!"
But just as he was about to slam down the pile of paperwork and either take an extended smoke break or gently ask Carol to go fuck a polar bear, he heard another voice. Bored and wonderfully bitchy.
"That's absolutely fascinating, Carol. Please tell me more, what could this guy possibly have done? It must be something juicy. Did he perhaps fuck his boss during the Christmas party and then lie about it to his boyfriend of five years? Oh wait no. That was you. Silly me."
Eddie had to bite his pencil to stay quiet, but his whole chest hurt by trying to keep the snickering in. And then the offended gasp. "I- you promised you wouldn't-!"
"I didn't promise shit, Carol. You just came to me, cried your eyes out - bad move by the way, invest in some waterproof mascara for god's sake, mascara in wrinkles doesn't good on anyone, and yes, you do have wrinkles - and tried to play the victim. Except I heard your small proposition to the guy before so it didn't really work out. But it's fine, you know," and oooh, the tone was smug, so bored, Eddie loved this guy already, "Tommy saw you as well and had a good time with Nicole to get even. So there's nothing to worry about. Now tell me, what did this horrible Eddie Munson do to summon wrath of such a righteous woman such as yourself?"
Eddie heard a sharp sound as Carol got up from the desk. "Fuck you, Steve Harrington," she spat out and sped past Eddie's seat. He just gave her a small salute.
When the sound of high heels faded, Eddie leaned over the cubicle wall and knocked to draw the guy's attention. And yeah, maybe he was a little bit biased because he'd just obliterated a textbook definition of a shrew, but this Steve was fucking gorgeous, light brown eyes looking at him, a smug smirk tugging at his lips.
"Oh hi," said Steve and offered his hand, shaking Eddie's. "Sorry for that. I'm Steve Harrington and whatever deepest, darkest secrets you're hiding, I don't care, I'm pretty sure I've heard them all. What did you do? Shave your head in school? Join a cult? Cut dolls apart and chant hail Satan?"
That had Eddie laughing again, but he still had an introduction to make. A proper one. "Nice to meet you, Steve. Eddie Munson, and I'm worse than your darkest nightmares. I sometimes wear socks in sandals."
Steve's eyebrow twitched. "Oh, Carol was right, you are a monster!" he muttered. "Speaking of monsters..." His head leaned to the side, towards Carol who was angrily carrying her coffee mug, her mascara running again.
Before he could catch himself, Eddie leaned over the wall and whispered as loudly as he could muster. "Can you believe some people wear dotted dresses with stripes on their stockings? We can't all be born with taste, I guess...tragic."
And again, maybe Eddie was just biased, but Steve's laughter was so pretty that it actually made dealing with Carol's bullshit worth it.
3K notes · View notes
rogueddie · 8 months
Text
Eddie slams his pile of books down on the counter, grinning at how hard Steve startles.
"Jesus, fuck," Steve holds a hand to his chest, glaring. "Man, come on, I'm too young to die of a heart attack."
"Are you sure about that?" Eddie reaches over, to tug at his hair- Steve bats his hand away before he can get near. "What are you now, seventy?"
"I'll have you know that the silver only adds to my charm."
"Sure, keep telling yourself that." He pats the pile of books. "I need to check all of these out."
"You know the limit."
"Please? Pretty please? I'll never insult you for going grey early ever again! Promise!"
"You've made that promise before," Steve grumbles, but starts to check the books out anyway. "What's all of this for anyway? New campaign or something?"
"Nah. Robin mentioned something about the cold war and nuclear shit. Got me curious."
Steve pointedly looks at the books, snorting. "Curious."
"What, you've never wanted to learn some new thing or something?"
"Not this much."
"What about all those sports you played?"
"That was more to do with my parents than me actually wanting to do it."
Eddies eyes narrow because... yeah. Outside of his old King Steve days, Eddie doesn't think Steve has ever wanted something. Not even for his birthday, or Christmas.
All he asks is for them to come to his and Robins flat. All he seems to want is confirmation that they're ok and alive.
"You always say you want kids though, right?"
"I mean, kind of. Though, I'm starting to think the brats we babysat might be more than enough for me."
"Chocolate?"
"Oh no..."
"What?"
"You're planning something, aren't you?"
"No! No, no, no... but there has to be something, right?"
"Something?"
"That you really want."
"There's nothing I need."
"That's not what I'm asking."
"That's all the answer you're getting." Steve shoves the pile of books towards him. "Get lost, I'm supposed to be working."
"Ugh, fine, you're no fun."
But he can't stop thinking about it. He ends up returning the pile of books, despite the fact that he barely read one page. When he tries to use it to question Steve, he dodges the question again.
He very quickly gives up, deciding to pester Robin until she tells him. That takes three weeks of constant, daily efforts. And, in the end, the answer is obvious.
Steve just wants to spend more time with people he cares about.
It's not easy to gather anyone in the party, given that there's no holiday or significant occasion- he manages it, though. All the kids, now young adults, organize transportation. Nancy and Jonathan, over the phone, help Eddie and Robin plan out where everyone will sleep with their small apartments.
The effort, and pain of organizing it all, is worth it for the look on Steves face when he comes home to find them all waiting for him.
When Dustin almost knocks him over with how harm he hugs him, for a second, Eddie is worried that he's going to start crying. But he holds it together, greets them all with so much enthusiasm...
"I forgot that he used to be like this," Robin comments, late into the night. They're sat a little away from the group, watching them argue over their games. "The kids mean a lot to him."
"He means a lot to them."
"I know. I think he forgets though, so... thank you."
Steve doesn't corner him until they've got the kids asleep- half of them going with Nancy, Jonathan and Argyle to Eddies appartment, the rest of them fighting over the little space in Steve and Robins.
"You could've got me chocolate," Steve says, nudging him.
"This is what you really wanted though, isn't it? That was the whole point, big boy."
"Right. Sorry, it... I wanted to say thank you. I know this must have taken a lot to organize and-"
"Steve. You don't need to thank me. Besides, I could never have done this on my own."
"Still... thank you." Steve is quiet for a moment, looking out to the busy city street. "What do you want?"
"This."
"No, what do you really want?"
"Yeah, this. Everyones together, having so much fun. We're gonna do a one-shot when you go to work tomorrow. And, uh... you're happy. I don't need anything more than that."
"Right," Steve clears his throat. He shuffles a little closer, so their sides are almost flush together, tentatively reaching out to hold Eddies hand. "You don't need anything else. What about what you want?"
"You know what I want."
"I want you to say it."
Steve leans over, bumping their shoulders together when he hesitates. He smiles, reassuring, and gives Eddies hand a squeeze.
"What do you want, Eddie?"
"You. I- I want you."
It's terrifying to admit, a horrifying leap... but the smile Steve gives him, so soft and happy, is more than worth it.
"As you wish."
1K notes · View notes
whorekneecentral · 6 months
Text
Snow Storm
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Pato O'Ward x Fem!Reader
Warnings: pato doesn't listen, snow storms, getting stranded, car troubles, reader's mad at him and will lowkey let him freeze, teasing, it's giving dom!pato for like 0.2 seconds, oral (f!receiving), lowkey blackmail, penetrative sex (P in V), creampie.
Word Count: 1,729
Author's Note: this is for the six pato fans out there, I hope y'all like this one :)
merry smutmas series
--
Your boyfriend insists the roads are fine to drive despite the massive incoming snow storm; as someone who grew up in cold weather, you knew better. yet, there you were stuck on the side of the road with him in the snow. 
"Do you seriously have to go right now?" You asked him, leaning over from your spot on the bed.
Your boyfriend nods, "yes, because if I leave it back - I won't finish wrapping it. Plus, it's a week before Christmas, the wrapping paper might be sold out."
Rolling your eyes, you sit up properly. "Pato, don't be ridiculous. They're not gonna run out of wrapping paper."
"You never know!" He huffed, arms flung in the air like a child.
You and Pato had returned to your home town to spend Christmas with your family before heading up to Mexico to join his family for New Year. It had been snowing on and off since you got home a few days ago but it really came down last night. Most of the roads were a disaster but Pato was insistent on getting this stupid wrapping paper.
"The roads are going to be a mess, babe. Can we not just go tomorrow?" You asked him but the man was already getting up, grabbing his hoodie off the end of your bed.
"Please," he shrugs you off, "I drive race cars, a little snow ain't nothing to a driver like me."
You can't help but laugh at his dramatics; you grew up in the snow, you know how brutal it can be to get stuck out there and yet, you stupidly follow him down the staircase and to the car.
Pato takes the side street the two of you had taken many times before. See, you lived in a small town in the middle of basically nowhere. When it snowed, people tended to stay indoors but they did plow the roads, but only the main ones took priority. This meant that the road you were on was one of the last to be plowed yesterday and had yet to be plowed today.
With the snow coming down on top of what had already fallen that morning, the mountain of snow piled up along the sides of the road. Pato's focused on the road but as he turns to go over the hill before getting into town, the wheel stops moving. He can hear the grinding, the wheels spinning but it's stuck in something.
You look over at the man, "are you kidding me right now?"
"Wha-" he sighs, "I'll go check." He tells you, pulling the hood over his head as he steps out of the car.
When he opens the door, you shiver. You had not only followed him out of the house but you were wearing sweats and a hoodie, that was nowhere close to enough to keep you warm.
"So," he says as he gets back into the car, looking over at you with a tight lipped smile. "We're stuck."
"Yeah, no shit Sherlock." You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose.
"Okay, so I can push the car out-" he says but you stop him, waving him off. "There's no point, you won't make it over the hill and there's too much snow to make it back to the house right now."
His brows furrow, looking over at you. "So what? We're just stuck here?"
"Yeah, for now at least." You pick up your phone and text your sister, letting her know you two are stuck and if she could please call the roadside assistance. Pato sat quietly, not wanting to annoy you further; after all, you did suggest to wait until tomorrow.
"We're here for at least another 3 hours," you tell him, "she says they're gonna clear the roads and then come this way."
The man nods, staring out the window as you unbuckled, shifting in your seat to climb into the back. He looks at you, confused and you pat the spot next to you. "If we're gonna be stuck for 3 hours, we can at least be warm. Come cuddle."
He climbs over the seat, clinging to you the moment he gets into the backseat. While you were cold, you were used to this weather so it wasn't so bad but for Pato, it was as if you had shipped him off to Antarctica. He's shivering, trying to get as close to you as possible; he wonders if you'd let him get into your sweater with you.
You can't help but laugh at the sight of your boyfriend. He huffs, looking up at you. "What?"
"I told you not to come out today." You laughed and he rolled his eyes. "How rude? Don't roll your eyes at me."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll move and let you freeze to death." You tell him and Pato smiles, sitting up a bit. "You won't."
It's your turn to roll your eyes now, moving away from your boyfriend towards the door. Pato ignores your theatrics and moves closer to you again, cuddling into your side. You don't move nor do you react, you simply ignore the man.
Pato holds back the urge to roll his eyes, his lips pressed to your jaw and moves down to your neck, leaving a trail of kisses behind. "C'mon mi amor, I'm sorry."
You ignore the man, not answering him. You'd move away again but if you move another further, you'd end up outside of the car.
He huffs, "fine, if you won't help me warm up, I'll warm myself up." His hand moves from your thigh to the hem of your sweats, shoving his hand down the front.
"Pato!" You laughed, grabbing his wrist. He smiles, "oh so that got your attention?"
"You mean you shoving your freezing hand down my pants? Yeah," you laughed but the man doesn't move his hand- at least not in the way you meant. His fingers rubbed over your panties, he can feel how warm you are, how wet you were.
"Something's got you worked up?" He asks and you ignore him question, your bottom lip pulled between your teeth as you try not to moan.
Pato's fingers worked slowly, pulling your panties to the side to rub on your clit and you let out a little whimper - by accident of course.
He figured there had to be a fast way to get you to forgive him. He moves his hand away and you give him a look, one he knows too well - why'd you do that. "I know," he tells you, "I'm sorry babe, one second." He pulls you by your hips to lay on the bed seat, your Uggs on the floor as he reaches for your sweats, pulling them off.
"How is this gonna make me warm?" You grumbled, an arm over your face.
"Shut up, will you?" He glances up to you, repositioning himself between your legs.
His hands rub over your thighs and despite his hands being freezing, it felt like every nerve in your body was on fire. Eventually, his hand ends up right where it previously was - exactly where you wanted it.
You let out a breath when you feel his lips on your thigh, soft kisses being peppered across the surface of your inner thigh. Your head falls back against the seat when you feel his tongue on you, he’s yet to move your panties and you're already a mess.
He finally does, smiling to himself “Fuck-” you breathe, fingers tangled in his hair.
Pato glances up at you, his nose brushes against your clit and he doesn't miss the sound coming out of your mouth or the way your hips jut towards him.
"Pato," you whined, pulling on his hair when he stopped for a moment. He chuckles, "do you forgive me?" He asked, a hand running up the side of your thigh.
You propped yourself up on your elbows, looking at the man. "What?"
"Say you forgive me and I'll give you whatever you want, corazón."
"Fine," you huffed, "I forgive you." You tell him quickly, pulling him back to you. Pato laughs, his face buried between your legs once again.
Your thighs squeeze around his face; he'd die a happy man right there.
You can't wait any longer, you need him in every sense of the word. Pulling your boyfriend up, he kisses you when he meets your face and you can taste yourself on him, the two of you shuffling around a bit. Pato's sitting now, his own pants pulled down half over his thighs and you're on top of him, straddling him.
He lets you sink down onto his cock. Both of you letting out a satisfied sigh, your hands gripping on his shoulders as you set the pace.
He lets out a groan when you clench around him, his hands squeezing your bare thighs, red finger prints on your skin. Pato's face buried in the crook of your neck.
Your hand tangles in his hair, pulling his head back so you can kiss him. You kiss all over his face, Pato cheeks red from the blush forming on his cheeks.
He loves when you love on him like that.  
“You’re so good for me,” you mumble against his cheek, rocking your hips back and forth. “Mmm there,” you breathe, chest pressed to his. His lips find the base of your neck, he bites down softly before kissing up to your jaw.
Pato's arms wrapped around you, holding you close as you bounced on his lap. The two of you are tangled together, not sure where one of you ends and the other starts. The windows are steamy, you're no longer freezing but instead, you were sweating.
"C'mon, just like that pretty girl," he edges you on, lifting his hips to meet you halfway.
“My pretty girl, so good for me.” He whispers into the silence.
You pull him down onto you, his chest pressed to yours and your hand rests on his cheek. Your boyfriend kissing you and with a few sloppy thrusts, you feel yourself being pushed over the edge.
He groans, feeling you clench around him and he follows behind you, now coming down from his own high.
The two of you clinging onto each other, his hands slip under the back of your sweater and you giggle, bucking forward on his lap which makes him groan.
"Don't do that," he tells you and you roll your eyes, "then don't tickle me!"
Pato laughs, pulling you in for a kiss. "Warm now?"
"Sweating," you huffed, smiling against his lips.
--
taglist: @nosugarallspice @evieepepi08 @mimithepooh @koufaxx @dannyramirezwife-simpaccount @topguncultleader @molliemoo3 @aisharmi @mamako23 @ac3may @lewislcver @miahgonzalez16 @books-and-netflix-pls @wibi96 @bwddermilch @pedrisgatorade @clarasenchant @sainzluvrr // @forza55 @norrisleclercf1 @allalngthewtchtower @therealcap @burningcupcakefire @stargirl36 @brettlorenzi3 @guiseppetsunoda @magnummagnussen @flippingmyshit @savrose129 @lovelytsunoda @irda12-blog @dhhdhsiavdhaj @slytheringirlthatkillpeople @f1lovers22 @toomuchdelusion @eviethetheatrefreak @faye2029 @lillians-world-is-f1 @chalando1604 @lenaxwbr  @im-obsessed @potashiuhm @lcxlerc16 @enjoythebutterflies3 @lillyfootballsworld @micksmidnights @mashtonbunny @chrlsleclerc @logischeroktopus
677 notes · View notes
rxmqnova · 4 months
Note
Hi!, how are you? So i saw that you have your request open can I request
Mama!Nat x daughter (around 3-4) in where on one of Natasha's missions she lost her memories and her memory stayed around when she left the red room so she doesn't know she has a daughter (duh), when she is told she can't believe it because she never though she would be able to have a child or they take her daughter to see her for when she wakes up and she finds out that she has a daughter that way. she feels insecure about being with her thinking she may hurt her So she avoids her. But reader insist to be with her mama angst with happy ending pls.
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas an new year🎉
Btw sorry for the bad grammar/English. it's no my first language
Lost memory
Tumblr media
Y/N: 4 years old ——————————————————
NO ONE'S POV "Please, auntie Wanda, I want to see mommy" Y/N begs, hugging Wanda's legs tightly and looking up at her with the best puppy eyes she can do.
Y/N's been begging every single Avenger, one by one, to take her see her mommy. Natasha's last mission didn't go as planned and she got badly hurt. She even was in coma for the entire 3 weeks, but thankfully she's much better now.
Though there is one problem… Unfortunately, Natasha doesn't remember the last years of her life… more specifically, the last memory she has is from more than ten years ago when she escaped the Red room.
Y/N's been begging and crying everyday, wanting to see her mommy. She knows Natasha's here on the compound as she saw how Steve carried her mama to Bruce after the mission.
"Y/N/N" Wanda sighs, lifting Y/N up and sitting her on her hip. "Honey, I know you do, but your mommy needs to rest" She kisses the little girl's head, receiving a whine as Y/N buries her head into Wanda's neck.
"I want mommy" Y/N cries out into Wanda's neck, making Wanda sigh once again.
"I know, bubs, I know"
———
It took a few hours of begging, but Bruce and Doctor Cho agreed that they can't go on like this for much longer. Because the only one Natasha briefly remembers is Clint, he agreed that he'd be the one who tells the redhead about Y/N.
"How are you feeling?" Clint smiles at his best friend, sitting down on the bed.
"I'm fine, I don't know why I still have to be here" Natasha sighs, crossing her arms over chest. "Why are you here?"
"Can't I just come to see how's my friend doing?" Cling teases on which Natasha raises an eyebrow. "But yeah, I'm here to tell you something" He looks at the redhead, preparing himself to tell her about Y/N.
"Why are you looking at me like that? What is it? I feel like nothing can be worse than that I forgot the past 14 years of my life" Natasha sighs, waiting for Clint to speak.
"… We haven't really told you everything, Nat. There's something we left out, but we can't keep that from you anymore" Clint starts. "… You saved a little girl on a mission 3 years ago… She's spent here for about… 2 months and you decided to adopt her. She's 4 now and she's been begging us to take her to you. I know it's-"
"Wait. Wait. I adopted a child? Me?" Natasha asks shocked, not believing anything from what Clint has just said.
"Yeah, I-"
"Mama! Mama!" Y/N bursts into the room, Wanda running after her.
"I'm sorry, I turned around for 2 seconds and she was gone" Wanda explains with a sigh.
"Mama, I missed you!" The tiny girl says, attempting to climb the bed. "Mama" A whine escapes Y/N's lips after another failed attempt of climbing the bed as it's too high for her, holding her arms up for Natasha who's just staring at her shocked.
Wanda's quick to lift Y/N up, sitting her on her hip and holding her tightly as Y/N's trying to wiggle out of her arms and reaching her tiny arms for Natasha.
"N-no, no, I can't" Natasha panics, shaking her head.
"Calm down, Nat" Clint moves closer, trying to comfort his best friend. "Take her out, Wanda" He orders, Wanda nodding immediately.
"Want mommy! Mama!" Y/N cries loudly, kicking her legs and trying to wiggle out of Wanda's arms while the witch is carrying her out of the room again.
———
A few days have passed since Natasha found out about Y/N and she still doesn't know how to feel about that. And now when she's finally allowed to leave the bed and get back to normal life, it seems even scarier.
Y/N, on the other hand, has been crying nonstop through the days. She just wants her mommy and everyone's been keeping her away again.
"Mama!" Y/N grins once she sees Natasha step into the kitchen, immediately jumping off of the chair and running to the redhead, crashing her little body into Natasha's legs.
"Oh, hi" Natasha says akwardly, carefully peeling the little girl off of herself.
It's not like she wouldn't want a child, but she just doesn't know how to take care of one. After all, she's never taken care of a child before… well, she doesn't remember it… so it's understandable that she's scared of it.
"Mama, I drew you lots of pictures. I'm gonna show you" Y/N informs, already running away for her drawings which makes Natasha let out a sigh of relief and she quickly makes herself something for breakfast.
"Hey, hm. You're Wanda, right?" Natasha asks, sitting down opposite the brunette who smiles and nods in response, so Natasha takes a deep breath before speaking again. "Clint told me you were the one who mostly took care of Y/N. I just… I just wanted to ask you if you could maybe take care of her for a bit more? At least a few more days please?" She asks, hoping to get a yes from the witch.
"Oh, of course. Y/N's such a sweetheart. If you need any help with her, I'll be happy to help you" Wanda smiles warmly on which Natasha lets out a sigh of relief, though the tiny footsteps that are approaching stress her out immediately.
"Look, mama! I have so many pictures for you!" Y/N informs, crawling on Natasha's lap which only makes Natasha panic. She has no idea how to hold the little girl, scared that if she wrapped her arms around her, her hold could be too strong and she'd hurt her. "This is you and me playing soccer, mama!" Y/N grins, pointing at the two figures on her picture before looking up at Natasha who only hums in response and gives the tiny girl an akward smile. "And this is us building a snowman!"
Of course Wanda senses Natasha's discomfort and calls her little niece to come sit back to her and to finish her breakfast which she's been eating before Natasha came in. Natasha mouths a 'thank you', shooting Wanda a smile before quickly finishing her own breakfast, disappearing into the gym without Y/N noticing.
"Where did mommy go, auntie Wanda?" Y/N asks after a while, looking around to find her mother.
"She needs to rest a lot, honey. We should leave her alone for a little bit" Wanda says with a sigh, already knowing this won't satisfy the tiny one.
Y/N pouts, jumping off of her chair, taking her drawings and running away, ignoring Wanda who's calling after her. She hasn't seen her mommy for weeks, she just wants to be with her. Why nobody understands?
The little girl enters Natasha's bedroom only to find it empty. There are ony two more places on the compound Natasha could be, so Y/N decides to check.
After not finding her mother in her office, Y/N ends up in the gym, smiling when she sees Natasha there.
"Mommy, you forgot the pictures!" Y/N informs, running to Natasha with her arms up. "Up! Mama! Up! Please!" The tiny girl pleads, jumping up and down in front of the redhead.
"Y/N, I… just put those drawings on the bench over there. I'll take them later, yeah?" Natasha says, trying her best to not hurt the little one's feelings.
Y/N nods, running away to put her drawings on the bench like Natasha wanted and then running back to her mama.
"Mommy, up please" Y/N requests, pulling out her best puppy eyes in hope to get some cuddles from the redhead.
"I'm sorry, Y/N. I can't" Natasha nearly whispers, hoping the little girl would just go away.
"But mama please. I want some cuddles" Y/N repeats again, tears filling her little eyes.
"Y/N, I said no. Please go away" Natasha sighs, slowly losing her patience as the little child is still standing in front of her with her arms up.
"Mama, please" Y/N pleads.
"What is so hard to understand? I said no. Go away" Natasha orders sternly, her voice raised a little bit which makes Y/N run away and cry loudly.
Natasha lets out a sigh after Y/N's cries die down, squeezing her eyes shut. She didn't want to make Y/N cry.
About an hour later Natasha leaves the gym, picking up the drawings from Y/N on the way. She throws them on her bed as soon as she enters her room, deciding to look at them after a shower. She really feels bad for making the tiny one cry.
Fresh out of the shower Natasha sits on her bed, taking all of the papers Y/N gave her and looking at all of them. She can't help the smile that forms on her face while looking at those drawings.
She spots a few more pictures hanging her closet, so she stands up and goes to look. She hasn't noticed them before as Clint only showed her where her room is this morning.
Now feeling even worse Natasha walks around the compound with hope to find the little girl somewhere. And after what feels like stepping into 100 different rooms Natasha finally finds the tiny girl in what seems to be her bedroom, laying on her bed and cuddling to her teddy bear while sobbing.
"Hi there" Natasha says quietly, sitting down on the bed on which Y/N just turns around and buries her head into her pillow. "Can we talk?" "Hm-hm" Y/N shakes her head.
"… Are you mad at me?" Natasha asks, gently placing her hand on Y/N's back and giving it a rub.
"Yes, because you're being mean and don't want to give me cuddles" Y/N mumbles out with a pout, finally looking at her mother with her puffy eyes.
"Y/N, I… I'm sorry, okay? I didn't want to be mean to you, but I just don't remember you" Natasha sighs, tears forming in Y/N's eyes again at the not very nice tone Natasha used. "No, please don't cry. I'm sorry"
"But I want you to give me lots of cuddles and be nice to me, because you're my mama" Y/N cries out, burying her head into her pillow again which makes Natasha think about whether should she leave or not. She's never been in a situation like this. What should she do?
"I'm sorry, please just stop crying" Deciding to stay, Natasha desperately tries to calm down the little girl somehow, but rubbing her back just doesn't seem to be enough.
Though Y/N's tears don't stop. She just wants more comfort from her mommy, so she crawls over to Natasha, sitting on her lap, wrapping her tiny arms around her and burying her face into her mother's chest.
"I… okay" Natasha carefully wraps her arms around the tiny girl which finally makes Y/N calm down and the redhead smile as Y/N's hug brings her this really nice feeling she doesn't remember feeling before.
"Mama?" Y/N questions, lifting her head to look at Natasha who hums in response, smiling a little bit. "Did you look at my pictures?" She continues, finally being in her mommy's arms making her forget everything that happened just a few minutes ago on which Natasha lets out a chuckle.
"I did, they're very pretty, sweetheart" Natasha tells the tiny one, receiving a huge smile from the little girl before she cuddles up to her, making Natasha smile.
It will surely take a while until Natasha learns how to take care of Y/N and it will surely be hard, but now the redhead knows she wants to try and be a mother to the tiny girl. And there was only one thing that made her realize… a hug from her little girl.
----------------------
I'm sorry it took so long. I hope you had wonderful Christmas and New year as well!! <33
Part 2
Series masterlist
Masterlist
411 notes · View notes
dinanikto · 3 months
Text
Spoilers: Episode 4 of the Walten Files
I think people misunderstood Felix as a character?
Tumblr media
I've seen so many fans WISHING that Felix would actually die?? Like, "if I was Jack, I would beat the shit out of Felix" or "Felix, do a flip".
I thought it was shown pretty well that he is not in the right state of mind.
Before reading this, please, gather all of your compassion and sympathy, and listen to what I'm about to say with a clear mind.
Let's speak chronologically:
1) Felix and Jack meet in college and decide to create animatronic-based restaurant. They are teens/young adults in the year 1958-1964 (not truly canon, but close to). According to Martin, they're very close, they love and trust each other.
Tumblr media
2) Jack meets Rosemary, they start dating. She creates designs for Bon and other characters.
Felix is, presumably, left alone to himself, as he doesn't have anyone else.
3) They graduate and contact CyberFun Tech.
Felix meets and marries Linda, while Jack and Rosemary have their first kid.
4) october 30th, 1964.
Linda notes Felix's heavy drinking and his poor self image. She's stressed and scared.
Tumblr media
Felix is close with the Walten family. Jack and Rose get two more kids, and they all call him uncle!
And yet, he doesn't feel welcome. He uses alcohol as a coping mechanism. "He drinks for the sole purpose of drinking!"
Please note, the year is 1964!! Even nowadays not many people can get help and cure their addictions. Not many people believe that they can, or that they deserve it.
5) december 25th, 1970.
Krankens and Waltens are so close they spend Christmas together. And yet, Felix is burdened with something.
Jack and Rose are lovey dovey, Felix and Linda are not. Waltens have three kids that love their parents deeply, Krankens do not. Jack is happy, and Felix is not.
He's still using alcohol to calm himself down.
Tumblr media
He can't control himself anymore.
Linda tries to talk to him, but Felix doesn't respond. Or rather, it's how Linda frames it.
"He feels bad about it, but doesn't try to change."
Honestly? Sounds like he tries to communicate, but his depression isn't letting him do it well. Again, it's 1970, and I don't think anyone has ever truly tried to help him.
He's a man. Why can't he man up? Jack is doing fine, why can't you, Felix?
Or why won't you just tell everyone how you feel? It's not like men have been bottling their emotions for decades now, right?
6) april 1974.
The Bon's Burgers is about to be open in a few weeks.
Felix and Linda have a fight (verbal). He hurts her feelings.
Jack asks Felix to pick up kids from a school party. Felix says no at first, but Jack won't listen.
Eventually, Felix says yes.
7) morning of may 2nd, 1974.
Linda leaves Felix. Only thing left after her is a note.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
No talking, no nothing. His wife of 10+ years left him.
Have you ever gone through a breakup? A breakup with your spouse? Were you in an intoxicated state of mind when your wife left you? Were you depressed when seemingly everyone have left you?
Wait, right, he has Waltens. So of course he's gonna get those kids home, that's the only thing left for him! Everyone are asking him of it.
7) evening of may 2nd, 1974.
The car crash happens.
8) may 3rd, 1974.
Tumblr media
He's awfully drunk. He's depressed. He got almost killed. He tried to kill himself twice. He has no one to talk about this with.
He has killed two children. Children that he loved.
Jack is going to hate him. And he does! Jack DOES want to kill him, Felix knows it even before speaking to him.
Note that he's not afraid of Rosemary.
9) may 3-6th, 1974.
He hides. He doesn't sleep for three days, and gets hallucinations.
He's scared. But the fact he actually faced Waltens is surprising. He's trying to fix things as best as he can.
10) may 6th, 1974
He lies. What else can he do?
Jack disappears. Susan disappears. Rosemary and Charles disappear. Brian and Ashley disappear.
And THIS is noway near his fault.
Bon's Burgers close. He has no money, several murder cases. Everybody is dead.
_____________________________________________
And after all of this, people don't find Felix even a little bit likeable? But support an agressive, irrational Jack, who was blind to his brother's struggling and pain? Who was the only person to not notice Felix's drinking problem?!? I'm confused.
I feel like Felix almost constantly. The mentally ill guy with no support system, that has no one to talk to. Never the one to get any help, even when having a "family".
And it's not like he thinks that he deserves love and attention. He never goes searching for Linda. He tries to end his life multiple times. He's masking as a nice corporate guy, while suffering internally.
Tumblr media
He suffers more than anybody else in the series. And why? What did he do? Did anyone teach him how to deal with these situations?
In conclusion: don't hate people. Never ever wish the worst for them, especially publicly.
And if you associate yourself with Kranken? Try to get help. Again, and again, and again. We live in a scary, but wonderful world. Your life is worth living, you deserve to be happy. Don't give up.
402 notes · View notes
charlesslut16 · 5 months
Text
-Ugly christmas sweaters-
summary : lando and you go to a christmas party, which had the theme 'ugly christmas sweaters' but lando does not like his sweater....
PAIRING : lando norris x fem!reader
WARNINGS : none
note : i hope you like this imagines! Request some more, as we have not every day in the dezember masterlist!
december masterlist ; masterlist 
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One week before your friend's Christmas party, you bought Christmas sweaters, ugly ones, as the theme had been 'ugly Christmas sweaters'. You knew that Lando didn't like the theme, but for you and your friends' sake, he would do it.
So two days before the party, you confronted and showed Lando the Christmas sweaters. Obviously you knew that Lando wouldn't be as happy, but if you were being honest, you could not care less.
“You’re telling me that we—no, I am going to be wearing that?” Lando softly lifted one of the sweaters, holding it as if it was a bag of 2 weeks old garbage. As if he was going to be infected with something dangerous.
“For our friend’s Christmas party?”
The splash of colors and patterns really confused him; it seems like the designer operated on a whim. Every thing looked out of order and nothing fit together. Like someone had destroyed it and then.
"Come on, it’s not even that bad! The theme was ugly Christmas sweaters, and I picked out the best ones the market had on the hanger, I think they're cute," you stated, defending the sweaters you had bought a week ago.
"This is far from cute! It is horrendous. Your taste in fashion must be very questionable," he scoffed, nonchalantly returning the sweaters to their initial resting place on the chair, so that he did not have to look at them anymore.
"I've practically styled your entire wardrobe, and you've received so many compliments because of me!" you argued back. Now he had gone too far, to question your fashion taste, although you had styled most of his clothes combinations.
"Alright, but your sweater choices are still terrible!" Lando countered.
Ignoring his protests, you insistently hold the sweater in front of him, trying to picture the look despite his puzzled expression. You knew that even if they did not look so good, Lando could pull them off nonetheless.
“Not in a million years will you catch me wearing that. In will never live this outfit down.” Lando declared, hands up in protest.
But, you didn’t care whatsoever, as your determination knew no bounds.
“Stop moving, you're making this harder.”
“What—” he started, but you were already on a mission, determined to make him at least consider the sweater. Even if Lando was a grown man, you needed to put it on him, so that he could see how it looked on him.
“It does suit you.”
“Thanks for the compliment, but you can't just say that by imagining how I'd look in it!”
“Why don't you try it on?” You extended your hand, catching him off guard. His reaction was too slow, and you ended up tossing it at him.
“I'll wait for you.”
Lando sighed loudly, unfolding the sweater and eyeing it with skepticism. He wasn't convinced, but just trying it on wouldn't bee that bad.
“Fine, but don't get your hopes up. It still looks absolutely horrendous.”
As he struggled to put it on, you couldn't help but laugh at the sight. The vibrant colors clashed with his usual style, making it even more amusing. The orange colour he normally would was bright and colourful but this. Absolutely vibrant.
“Ta-da! Happy now?” Lando struck a pose, a mockingly exaggerated smile on his face. You knew that he hated every second of it. Like when he drove and became second and not first, or when his brother hated the last donut that he wanted.
You chuckled, "Look! It doesn't even look that bad! You can totally pull it off. I mean, you can totally pull off everything that somebody gives."
Rolling his eyes, Lando played along with your answers and exclamations.
"Sure, sure. It looks fantastic on me. Just a bunch of silly trees and tiny elves on this sweater with squiggly lines—seriously, what were you thinking when you added this to the cart? It ruined everything good on me."
You shrugged lightly, unfazed by his words. Lando often exaggerated things, and you were accustomed to it. It was nothing unusual for Lando to overreact and overdramatic, things as they were or had been.
“I expect you to stick with this—we've got just two days until the party.”
“But can we not switch—”
In the middle of his sentence, you stood up and walked away into the kitchen to make you a hot cocoa and to go back to your shared bedroom, so you stopped hearing his complaints and overdramatic nature.
Two days later, the day of the Christmas party, you had the exact same conversation, but you knew that Lando could do nothing about it, as he knew that he would do almost everything for you in a heartbeat.
His complaining tone faded as you rushed down the stairs with the matching sweater in your hand. Quickly draping it over your white shirt and white skirt, you settled on the couch in the living room. As you scrolled on your phone to pass the time, you later heard shuffling in the background.
“Ready to go, my handsome man?” you looked up, seeing your boyfriend in the sweater you bought—he hadn’t changed it. You gave him a big smile, rising from your seat, as you wanted to hug him and tell him how good he looked.
“Looking good there, Norris.”
“Keep it up, and I’ll run up the stairs to change,” he teased, soon linking arms with you as you headed towards the door. But you knew that he was just teasing, he would not change as the time was at a limit.
“Honestly, though, I don’t think I look too shabby in this,” he asserted, eliciting a giggle from you.
“What can I say? I have an eye for what works.”
“Maybe you're onto something.”
"Maybe I need to trust you more, with clothes."
"You should."
He opened the door, so he could let you both out and locked the door after you both, but before you could walk to the car, he pulled you into his chest and gave you a romantic long kiss and then pulled away to look into your eyes.
"I love you, angel"
"I love you, handsome."
477 notes · View notes
vivwritesfics · 6 months
Note
Okay bonus bc you asked for Christmas/winter break ideas! What about Oscar taking Lando & reader to experience and Aussie Christmas and they’re just on the beach and bbq-ing etc and they can’t get over how different it is from uk Christmas’s 🤣
Tumblr media
"Okay so we're starting at mine with my family, mum will do the traditional roast and then we do a family walk on the beach. And then we head off to Landos for a second round of British Christmas and then, by the end of the week, we're off to Australia for Oscar to give us the traditional Australian Christmas. Sound like a plan?" Asked Y/N as she flipped through her diary, laying the plan out before her boyfriends.
"Sounds good to me, baby," said Lando as he leaned back in his seat.
Oscar took a moment to look through Y/Ns plan. "This is a lot of travelling. Are you guys sure you're okay with that?"
They nodded their heads as they looked at their Australian. "Definitely, Osc. I seriously can't wait to experience my first Australian Christmas," Y/N said as she wrapped her arms around him. She ran his hands through his hair, pushing it away from his face and used it to tip his head back and give him a quick kiss.
First they had to get through Y/Ns British Christmas. Her family wasn't very understanding of their relationship, and it had taken a good year but they'd gotten used to it now. Now they said nothing, Y/N father would just give them funny looks. They had the roast dinners Y/Ns mother prepared and took her nieces and newphews on a rather cold beach walk. All three of them were wrapped up warm, with Lando and Oscar wearing their Mclaren caps.
And then it was off to Lando's. His Christmas was much the same as Y/Ns, but his family nicer and they didn't do a freezing cold beach walk.
And then they were jetting off for Australian Christmas and New year's. The light was long, with Y/N napping against Lando as he and Oscar watched a movie (but, in no time at all, they were sleeping too, the three of them all laying against each other).
Things were hot when they landed, not like they had been in England. Oscar was so excited to take Y/N and Lando to his parents. They'd met his mum during the season (and she loved the two of them) but they hadn't yet been to his place in Australia.
On the first night they had a seafood barbecue. Only half of thr barbecue had fish, the other had was regular (because they had fussy britches with them). Oscar had on his shorts and flip flops (or thongs) on as he barbecued, showing off his skills. "Looking good, Osc," Lando grinned as he watched him, sweating as he slaved over the barbecue.
Oscar blushed red as Y/N and Lando grinned at him.
The next day, Christmas day, they went for a swim. The water was lovely as Y/N, Lando and Oscar swam in the Australian sea. It was wonderfully refreshing, considering Lando and Y/N would usually be in their pyjamas, wrapped up warm under blankets as they drank hot chocolate.
There was backyard cricket and a traditional Christmas dinner. Barbecue, cold ham and turkey, potato bake and alcohol. They had pavlova and trifle with beer to top it off.
At the end of the night, Lando, Y/N and Oscar sat on the beach, staring out at the seas. It was the first time they'd managed to be alone since arriving in the land down under. "How have you guys enjoyed your first aussie Christmas?" Oscar asked, his arms wrapped around them.
"Absolutely loved it," Y/N said as she dug her toes into the sand.
"It was brilliant, Osc. Thank you," lando said and kissed him.
424 notes · View notes
esmedelacroix · 5 months
Text
Coffee Shop Love: Sweet Tooth
pairing: miguel o'hara x f!reader
summary: It's Christmas Eve and Miguel has a different kind of Christmas gift in mind...
contents: no use of y/n, not proofread, kinky, food play, oral f!receiving, cum play, cum eating, fingering f!receiving, sweet fluffy aftercare
author's note: Hey lovies, this is a Sequel to the series I just finished recently, Coffee Shop Love, wanted to try something new and write something kinky and whorenee, I'll get better at smut with time but hope you like...
word count: 1.6k
Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3, Pt.4, Pt. 5, Pt.6, Pt.7, Sequel: Sweet Tooth
Tumblr media
You heard your house door open and close followed by the clatter of Miguel's car keys hitting the ceramic bowl at the entrance of your apartment. "I got your whipped cream you little psycho," he joked as he placed the grocery bag on your kitchen table.
"Thank you, hon'," you whispered sweetly as you got on your tippy toes to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Just an hour earlier you were on the verge of tears because you had no whipped cream and the gingerbread house you were making and, "everything would be completely ruined," You had told Miguel that it wasn't Christmas Eve if you didn't have a meltdown anyway.
You and Miguel had been together for weeks now. All you could say about being with Miguel was that it was like being happy every day. There was not a single day where you had nothing to look forward to because you knew he'd either come to the shop or sleep over if you begged him enough. And the sex? Well, it was mind-blowing. You thought Miguel would be more of a vanilla guy in bed but you were poorly mistaken.
You now know to never judge someone's sex life by their age. Sex with Miguel had you wondering if you had ever truly orgasmed before. When you did it with him it felt different from any other time. When he made you orgasm it felt like you were in a whole new universe on top of the world. He was anything but vanilla and he took note of things you liked.
"You like that?" he grunted in your ear after he had spanked your bare ass as you bounced on him. You nodded your head frantically, begging him to do it again.
As the night went by you both decided to get in bed a little early to give Santa some time to drop your gifts off. You got into your bed and waited for Miguel to come back from the kitchen. He soon walked into the room hiding something behind his back. You sat up trying to get a better look at what he was up to. "What's behind your back, Miguel? Are you going to hit me with another pillow, cause if so I'm so prepared this time," you started before Miguel put a finger to your lips.
"You must be a witch of some sort," Miguel whispered. Your face contorted in confusion.
"I can't seem to stop craving sweets because of you, I think I may like them more than you do," he muttered, bringing his mouth closer to your ears. His warm breath tickled the sensitive part behind your ear.
"So what are you gonna do about those cravings?" you whispered in a low tone. You finally understood what Miiuel was getting at when you caught a glimpse of the gingerbread whipped cream he held in his hand.
Miguel put some whipped cream in his mouth and pressed his lips against yours. The kiss was wet and messy, as your tongues swirled, you could taste the sweet cream.
His warm hands wandered under your shirt groping your tits, his calloused fingers circling one of your hard nipples. You moaned into the kiss, pulling at his wavy locks. With a swift motion, he takes off your shirt. To his pleasant surprise, you were wearing absolutely nothing underneath.
"Lay down baby,"
You lay yourself down on the bed, parting your legs a bit leaving your naked body on display for him to feast on with his eyes. Miguel licked his lip at the alluring sight before putting some whipped cream on the tips of your boobs.
With a grin, he slowly licked the whipped cream off of your tits causing you to shudder and giggle at the sudden feeling of his tongue on your skin. As his tongue swirled around your nipples you could feel your aching cunt throb. You began to rub your thighs together unconsciously to give yourself some friction.
He brought his lips back to yours, and you could still taste the sweet whipped cream on his tongue as he kissed with more passion than he ever had. He hadn't even touched you yet but you were already in haze.
He put some whipped cream in a trail from your sternum to the bottom of your abdomen. He placed himself between your legs and licked and slurped down stopping at your sopping wet cunt. He took a moment to savor the flavor. Your hand gripped the sheet tightly in anticipation of his next move. You whimpered and whined for him to continue. "Please Miguel—need you—p-please touch me," you whined as you grabbed him by his curly hair and practically shoved his face into your cunt.
"So needy baby," Miguel moaned into your pussy as he began his assault on your clit. The sensation of his moans vibrating from your cunt right to the tension building up in your stomach.
You clamped your eyes shut as you felt tears threaten to spill as you finally got some relief. You moaned loudly as he sucked on your sensitive bud. You felt his hot wet tongue lick up and down your slit, before he plunged it into your tight aching hole. Refocusing his attention on your clit, he plunged one of his thick digits into your cunt. Your moans only became higher-pitched and louder as he fed another finger into your cunt. "You like that baby?" he asked as he moved his fingers in and out of cunt at an ungodly pace. His tongue collected all the sweet slick dripping out of you. He humped the bed desperately at the same pace looking for any type of release.
You nodded your head frantically in response to his inquiry and gripped his hair even harder. "Miguel s'close," you whined as you babbled nonsense feeling the tension in your stomach explode like a thousand fireworks on the 4th of July, you moaned his name loudly as your thighs shook rapidly as you squirted all over his face.
When Miguel lifted his head from your cunt after cleaning all the juices of your thighs. Miguel was completely pussy drunk and drenched in your slick. "God that was so hot baby," he sighed as he gave you a quick kiss. You could taste yourself on his tongue as well as the faint taste of whipped cream. As Miguel lay against the headboard you settled between his legs hoping to return the favor but when she pulled his boxers down, all she saw was his sticky cum coating the inside of his underwear and his thigh. "You came in your pants?" you asked with your eyebrow quirked up at him.
"Stop teasin'," he says as his cheeks heated up and the pink crept at the side of his cheekbones. How did I cum in my pants like a little teenage horndog? He asks himself.
"It's okay hon', I'll clean you up," you said slowly looking straight into his eyes as you licked him clean and savored the salty taste of his seed.
You straddle Miguel sitting in his lap, and you crash your lips onto his. He holds you by the hips and gropes your ass as you kissed. Your tongues engage in a heated dance as he lifts you and walks over to the bathroom. You had your legs wrapped around his waist and fingers raked through his soft wet hair. He sits you down on the toilet seat and starts the shower.
The steam enveloped the bathroom as the scent of your Vanilla body wash floated through the bathroom. You got in the shower with Miguel. He helped you wash your hair and wrapped it up in a towel. He treated you like you were as fragile as authentic China. You helped him wash his hair as well. He wrapped his arms around you from behind before helping you get your back. You both got out afterward and lotioned up before slipping into your pajamas. You both opted for the matching holiday set you bought at the store.
Miguel had even gone so far as to put your hair oil in, detangle, and put it into two French braids before you went to sleep. "I had no idea you could do hair so well," you exclaimed, very happy with the outcome smiling at him through the mirror.
"Well you remember my late daughter I told you about, I used to braid her hair for her before bed and for her soccer games," he explained, smiling at the memories that resurfaced.
"I would love to meet her Miguel," you murmured as you took his hand and placed a kiss into it.
"She would've loved you even more," he reassured as he urged you to get comfy in bed while he made her a cup of tea.
He walked into the bedroom with a nice hot mug of Earl Grey tea. You could smell it when he brought it over to you. You had over 50 different teas in your house but he still knew exactly which one to bring you. "Thank you hon', you know me so well you even put some honey in here!" you praised.
"I've never met a coffee shop owner that hates coffee but it's fine because I make the best tea," he teases.
You roll your eyes playfully as Miguel rubs his hand along your thigh listening to you babble on about whatever drama was happening in the shop while occasionally kissing your hand.
When you were all done you slowly felt yourself fall asleep in his warm embrace. It was the merriest of Christmas nights you had ever had.
Tumblr media
author's note: Thanks so much for reading this series! I had so much fun writing and I am so thankful for your support. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any requests, they are always open, let me in on your ideas, or critics. Thanks again xoxo
taglist:
@iite-cool@jewelz-teehe@br0-please@d1lf-loverrr@corpsebridenightamare@laysmt@bitchystrawberrystudent@lotionlamp@local-mr-frog@scaleniusrm@migueloharastruelove@thedevax@3zae-zae3@veyveys@simmerarmy@amber-content
395 notes · View notes
vynlqwv · 5 months
Note
Could you do denji and itadori with a reader who is insecure about their body? Fem or gn please
Tumblr media
a/n : Hello! thank you so much for requesting! I will be trying to answer/ make more fics but it might take awhile since its almost exam week D;
Tumblr media
DENJI & ITADORI w/ an insecure genderneutral! reader
HEADCANONS + ONESHOT
warning(s) : nothing!
Tumblr media
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.• Itadori Yuuji
so basically, you and yuuji are dating he loves you so much! he praises you everyday and makes sure you are healthy!
he loves to cuddle you and tell you that everything is alright and you guys just fall asleep together
yuuji always hypes you up when you try out a new clothing style that you have been wanting to try out!
yuuji is defo the type of guy thats "my s/o can wear whatever they want, i can fight" type of guy
It was a sunday morning, you and yuuji had decided to go shopping for clothes to an upcoming christmas party that gojo had set up. You had been thinking to try out a new style in awhile since you have been seeing it in social media and you wanted to add more clothing variety to your closet. "hey yuuji, can we go and try out some clothes on this store? i have been wanting to try out something new but i think i won't look good in it.." you tugged on the hem of his shirt and turned you head to look at him. "of course we can! but honestly, i think you have a great sense of fashion and you'll look good in anything so don't worry too much!" he kissed your forehead and assured you to not worry too much which has made you feel relieved and confident to try out the new style that you have wanting to try out. You and yuuji had walked in to the store and they staff had assisted the both of you. You started to go to the fitting room and try out the clothes that you had picked out and you looked at your own reflection at the mirror. You looked at your own reflection and you can't wait to see yuuji's reaction to your new style that you've tried out. You went out of the dressing room and yuuji literally ran up to you and hugged you and started praising you. "babe you look so good! i knew that you would style it perfectly!" you giggled at his antics and you guys proceeded to check out while holding eachothers hands.
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.• denji hayawaka
you're probably denji's first actual serious relationship and he loves you so much to the point that whenever he wakes up in the morning that you're the person he always tries to find in the morning
when you tell him about your insecurities, i just kind of gets confused because 'why?' he dosen't get why you're insecure of your body cuz he literally loves everything about you but he dosen't question it
he will become your personal hype man and tell how amazing you look
if you're insecure about gaining weight, he will give you your favorite snacks where the nutritional facts are crossed out and there would be a little note that says "hi babe! take a lil break ok? i love you" attached to it, you laugh at the messy handwriting to it but also appreciate his actions
overall, denji would do anything to make you happy and distract you from the thoughts of feeling insecure
You and denji were just chilling on a friday night, you guys just finished eating dinner and you both were cuddling by the couch while watching whatever gameshow thats playing on the tv, the silence was comforting and you guys enjoyed each others embrace. "you know i really love you right?" denji said randomly while turning his head to look at you. "yes denji, i'm aware" you placed a kiss on his cheeks while playing with his hair. "honestly, i think i don't get to say how much i appreciate you cause i think im not that good at words but i just wanna say that i love every part of you." he kissed you by the lips. The both of you just stayed quiet the whole night and you feel appreciated and happy. The both of you cuddled and fell asleep and woke up by the morning.
Tumblr media
229 notes · View notes
auteurdelabre · 6 months
Text
Something to Fight For (Part Ten)
Tumblr media
Word Count: 10.0
Pairing: Dad!Joel Miller x f!reader (no use of y/n, no age or physical descriptions)
WARNINGS: Potential trigger of abandonment. Self Pleasure. Brutal conversations.
A/N: The story is gonna twist and turn and you may want to jump ship. But I hope you can trust that as your captain I’m gonna get our two leads to a safe and happy shore.
Hours after the heat has cooled from his veins Joel calls you. With a pounding heart he holds the phone to his ear and silently begs the universe to help him. To have you forgive him his initial devastation. 
You don't answer. 
You're on a train. You're on a plane, he tells himself. You'll call him when you stop.
But you don't. 
For the next two weeks Joel calls you every day leaving messages asking you to explain what's going on. He doesn't ask Maria anything because it feels like an overstep. He don't know how much she knows about you two. 
But he needs to know you're okay. He tells you that he wants to be there for you, that he's sorry he left in a huff. He'll go to wherever you are if you'll just call him back. 
He wants to prove that he'll be there you just need to call him back so he knows if he's overstepping or not. 
He even tries texting. Just one word.
Please.
You never answer him. You don't text or call or make contact with him in any way. 
When at Christmas dinner with Tommy, Maria and Sarah he overhears from Tommy that you've contacted Maria, that you're safe, Joel feels extreme relief and then a crashing devastation.  
On New Years Eve he gets spectacularly drunk and spends hours thinking about you. He considers asking Maria where the fuck you are. He wants an address. He'll fly wherever you are and see you and make you explain. He'll make you listen to him apologize. He'll do anything to be in the warm sun of your smile. 
But when he sobers that first day of a new year and he realizes it's going on week three of radio silence getting you, something starts to shift. 
He doesn't tell Maria or Tommy about you two. Why would he? There's nothing to tell is there? You were never his and he was a fucking idiot for thinking you were. 
Joel doesn't get to have things like Tommy does. Joel gets wives who leave him. Joel works hard and gets things taken from him. 
Over a glum lunch Sarah, who had been so distracted by Christmas gifts and parties and Santa, asks where you are. It's the sight of her concerned face, the panic that you're not coming back that strengthens his resolve. 
For the first time in almost three weeks he doesn't try to contact you. 
///
Then it's January.
You never call.
He stops waiting for you to. 
///
The wheels of your plane touchdown in Austin the first week of February. It's been six weeks since you were last here. 
You've used up all your vacation time. Poor Alex had been called upon to run things the entire time. But you'd called to check in, helping with what you could over the phone. 
You're paler than when you left, your face more pinched. Maria notices this when you exit the airport and approach the car dragging your suitcase behind you. 
"Missed you. Ready to go?"
You nod, letting her embrace you. She knows not to ask anything about your trip. You made that clear on the phone earlier then week. 
She drives you through the nearest Tacodeli to get a breakfast taco, something you've been craving all month. Something you can't get back in Chicago.
You think about returning to work. It seems impossible. Everything seems impossible. 
You swallow your breakfast thoughtfully, your eyes going to Maria driving solemnly. 
 "How are things with Tommy?"
"Good," Maria replies in a voice that sounds tight. You make a mental note to touch on that later. 
"Frank and Bill still adorable as fuck?"
Maria relaxes at this and starts giggling. "Frank wants to plan this big Valentine's getaway and Bill's nagging him about budgeting. Says they spent enough on their Christmas party."
"Valentine's?" Your brows furrows as you observe the rapid passing of time. "Wow I didn't realize how..."
You trail off, biting into your taco and watching the passing scenery. You tilt your head back against the seat, your heart hammering as you think of the next topic you want to touch on but can't.
Joel. 
When you get home Maria orders you to change into the pyjamas she gives you before joining her upstairs. You do so, leaving your suitcase on the bed before opening the bag she gave you to see candy cane nightgown. You laugh, pulling it on and entering into her place smiling widely.
She's decked the entire living room out to look like Christmas. The artificial tree in your place has been brought upstairs, along with all the twinkle lights. 
Maria is wearing a gingerbread man robe and she laughs at your reaction, bringing you over a hot cocoa. 
'Maria," you say motioning to the room. "What the fuck-"
"You missed Christmas!" 
She sits you down cross legged on the sofa before bringing out a large armful of gifts. 
"You still have presents, to open," Maria says dumping the lot into your lap. She sits back in her chair sipping her warm drink and looking on at you like a proud mother on Christmas morning. 
You laugh again before you start tearing into your gifts. A sweater you’d been eyeing and a biography on Jane Goodall. Both from Maria and both perfect.
There at the bottom of the pile is a rectangular box. You're curious as there's no name on the outside, no card. Maria eyes it curiously as you tear the paper open, pausing as you see its contents: two photo frames.
You feel a ragged breath escape you as you bring the frame out of the box, your fingers trembling.
It's the photo of you and your parents. The one from your fifth birthday where your arms are hooked around their necks. The one ruined in the flood, the one you thought you'd lost forever.  
You glance up at Maria's tensed face. 
"Is this from you?"
Maria shakes her head. "Uh, Joel actually asked me to get the photos for you. I called your mom and she had copies."
You stare at the photo, your fingers tracing your youthful face behind the glass. You reach in the box to grab the second frame and are not surprised to see the blurry photo of Pongo you thought was gone forever. 
Your eyes are wet, so filled with tears that when you blink they spill over your warm cheeks effortlessly. 
"When?" 
"Back in September I think? Right after the flood," Maria says as you sniffle. "He asked me not to tell you in case I couldn’t get the photos. Think he said he made the frames himself. Tommy says he likes to wood carve."
He'd done this month's before. Back when you were convinced he still hated you. He'd spent time making the beautifully carved frames for two photos you said meant so much to you. 
"He said he didn't get me anything," you say in a quiet voice. 
Your fingertips are slipping along the wood frame of the photo. Little details have been carved into them. Flowers and hearts for your Mom and Dad. Little butterflies and paw prints for Pongo.
Hours later after the presents have been opened and Maria has forced you to eat the expansive holiday meal that has you feeling sated but bloated. When the sun has set and you feel yourself getting drowsy you take your gifts and go back downstairs.
You put the photos on your fireplace mantle. They’re beautiful there.
Then you crawl into bed, pulling the covers over you.
It's a week and several forced meals and showers from Maria later that you emerge from your cocoon ready to face the world again. 
You know who you want to contact first. 
///
The thing is your last meeting with Joel is kinda blurry. Obviously the night before had been the the sexiest you've ever experienced in your entire life. Joel's face when you told him you needed him in your mouth will be forever etched in the deepest recesses of your brain. 
It's just the next morning that you can't recall. You'd been so tired, so distracted. You know he'd come to get you for breakfast and that you'd told him you couldn't make it. 
But that's all. You hadn't even waited for his reply before your mind had been distracted by thoughts of plane rides and taxis and you'd started closing the door. 
His messages in the following weeks had been devastating. Apologizing for not waiting. His voice rough with emotion as he begged you to call him back. 
The thing is you'd felt no anger towards Joel. Not at all. Him leaving so abruptly had significantly lessened your burden that day. You'd wanted to be alone. 
Before Joel you had Paul and before Paul you'd had yourself. You'd never been able to count on men. And you're confused why Joel carries this heavy burden, as if he thinks he was supposed to come in and chase away your demons.
You never wanted him for that.
You wanted him because in the darkest of days he's the sun.
But now you know that you just have to call him. You tell yourself you don’t have to tell him everything that happened. But you do need to speak to him. He deserves some sort of an explanation.
"Hello?"
After so many weeks of not talking to Joel, just the familiar rumble of his voice causes your insides to melt. Neediness travels through your veins at the first sound of Joel's low rasp. 
You'd thought this was a good idea. A way to phone and explain yourself. But now? Now it seems like the worst thing you could have done. You should have done this in person. You should have done in when you could have held his hand in yours. 
"Uh, hi," you say suddenly anxious. "How are-"
"What do you need?"
Joel's voice is quiet but sharp, stabbing into your ear.   
You hadn't been expecting that. Maybe you were naive, but you'd thought that maybe he'd be kind. Soft and gentle like the Joel you know. 
But of course he's upset. Wouldn't you be? From his perspective you'd promised not to run and then done exactly that. Even if you had a good reason, even if. . . 
Suddenly there's the sound of Sarah in the background and cutlery being placed on the table and you feel your breath leave you. 
Sarah.
Your sweet, little bug. 
Your heart pangs at the sound of her little giggles. You want to be there in the house, hugging her, kissing Joel. You want to be back in their universe. You want that comfort, that security. You want the warmth of being with the Millers.
But in order to do that you need to be honest with Joel. You need to tell him everything even if it hurts.  You can trust him. You can tell him.
"I know it's been a while since we spoke."
Silence. His disinterest is palpable, so much so that you're shocked he answered the phone in the first place.
"I just wanted to explain what happened."
"Not necessary." 
You feel as if you've been slapped across the face. The brutality in how he's speaking feels physical.
"Joel, I just-"
"Are you wanting dessert?"
You feel your stomach bottoming out at the sound of a woman's voice on the other end of the line. Her voice is husky and warm and it sounds like the tone of woman comfortable in her surroundings.
And you know in that moment that it’s too late.
You’re too late.
"Yep, just finishing up here," Joel calls back. There's a pause and you can almost feel his jaw flexing through the phone. "Anything else?"
Disappointment isn't even close to how you feel right now. You close your eyes and feel your chin tremble. 
"Nope," you say quietly shaking your head. "That's everything."
"Bye."
///
Alex is elated to have you back at work. She’s not a demonstrative person by any means, but when you come into the office your first day back with a package of VooDoo Donuts as thanks for her hard work, she wraps you in a tight hug and welcomes you back.
You settle into your office, hanging your jacket and your eyes draw outside to the kennels. They’re built. They look stunning and sturdy and Alex tells you they’ve been able to be used in the time you’ve been gone.
Joel will have no need to come back here. His job is done. Another way he is slowly being pulled out of your world.
When you’re settled in for the day Alex comes into your office and drops a sheet of paper on your desk. She’s smiling widely, almost bouncing on her heels. You read it over twice before the news hits you.
The sanctuary has been approved. The grant is coming your way.
For the first time in weeks, you feel true, untarnished joy.
///
You and Maria are both on your sofa and holding magazines on your laps. This is one tradition that you've never lost over years, the catch up over wine and magazines. 
You like the ones on fashion and movies, Maria likes ones like architectural digest and celebrity gossip. Normally you share the articles that catch your interest, but tonight Maria is withdrawn. You sensed it the moment she came into your suite laden with magazines.
You watch Maria perched on the end of the sofa, her legs curled up underneath her. She's biting the skin around her fingernails, a classic sign that something is wrong and when you prompt her, she turns her large eyes on you and you can see they are filled with tears.
"I'm worried Tommy's cheating on me."
You weren't prepared for that to come out of her mouth. You place your wineglass on the coffee table and fix her with a look you hope conveys your disbelief. 
"What the fuck are you talking about?" 
"He's so busy I never see him and when I do he's so . . . Distracted." Maria sighs heavily. "And he's getting secretive."
This catches your attention and not in a good way. Secretive is not the kind of word you want to hear in a relationship. 
"Like how?"
"I asked him where he was last Friday because he was late picking me up from one of the showings. He told me he had a real long meeting at the Bison. But then I'm having coffee with my real estate friend Melanie on Sunday and she says she saw Tommy that same day in Cedar Park."
"Was he with anyone?"
"Mel says he was with some woman that she didn’t recognize.”
“It was probably a meeting for the company.”
“If it was then why lie about where he was?”
You've never seen Maria like this. She doesn't get like this over men. She's the one to break things off at the first sign of trepidation. With Tommy and Joel's company doing so well she has been seeing less and less of him and it's obviously taking a toll. 
“Tommy is not like that,” you insist, even thought your stomach wobbles. “I see how he is with you. How he looks at you. He’s fucking crazy about you.”
Maria shrugs.
"I’m sure the woman he was meeting with was a client. And he hasn’t been around as much because he's busy with that new army base project," you say patiently. "And you know Tommy and Joel, they're meticulous. They take their time doing everything perfectly. He's probably just so focused on the project now that he can't think of anything else."
Oh yes, the Miller boys take their time. You know from experience with the elder Miller.  
Stop it.
"You're probably right," Maria says but you can tell she doesn't believe you. You want to press it but you don't. Maria knows she can come to you when she's ready. You stand up and go to your record player, popping on one of your favorite vinyls and plopping back onto the sofa. 
Her mood has lifted slightly and she points out a kitchen she’s inspired by. You listen but your mind is far away on Rancher Lane.
Joel.
Fuck, you wish you could stop thinking about him. But now that you've known him in this carnal capacity it seems impossible to go back. You think about his broad shoulders, the way his mouth felt against yours. So soft and warm.
During your time away a few things had become apparent to you and one of those had been that being with Sarah and Joel made you feel contented. Not just when you're watching Sarah, but also in those quiet moments when the three of you are curled up on the sofa watching TV, the laughter over the dinner table, the feel of Joel watching you from the doorframe as you tuck Sarah in. 
And you've fucked it up.  
You ran and you cut yourself off. The clear indication that you weren't interested. He shared the most vulnerable side of himself and you ran. You ran after promising you wouldn't.
Yes, you can blame some of it on the circumstances, but how many times had you looked at the phone and thought of calling Joel only to chicken out? How many times with a tear-streaked face and heavy heart had you reached for the phone as he called only to turn it off?
And now it's too late. You're too late you just know it. You fucked up everything.
Maria watches you go back to your magazine for several moments. She rests her head on her palm as she regards you. 
"Are you ever going to tell me what happened with you and Joel?"
She sees the way your eyes widen as they follow the page.
"Nothing happened, Maria," you say with a heavy sigh.
You can tell Maria most things, but this is a topic that you just want to ignore.
"I know something happened with you two," Maria challenges and all of a sudden you can see her how she must be at work. All business, her face flat. 
"Nothing did," you lie. "What are you talking about?"
You're pissed off. You have no desire to share what happened. You're humiliated at how you handled everything and going over it is just going to make the ache stronger. 
"That night when Joel came up to you at the party. He looked so upset."
"Yeah I remember.” 
"So what did he say?" Maria is leaning forward on her elbows. "Because he asked Tommy to take Sarah home. I was there with Tommy when Joel got home later that night. He was fucking elated. Couldn't stop smiling even when Tommy told him he looked psychotic."
Your heart thumps painfully. Joel was happy about you two. Happy about what was hoping to happen next and you fucked it up. 
You always fuck everything up. 
"Maria I don't want to talk about Joel anymore."
"But-"
"I'm serious," you say. Your tone is harsh, much harsher tone than you have ever used with her. "I've had a horrible couple of weeks and I'm tired of everyone assuming there's something there between Joel and I. There's nothing there. We're barely even friends."
Maria falls silent, adjusting to this information. You can tell she doesn't believe you at first but there's such sincerity to your tone that she's not sure. 
"I have nothing against Joel," you say with finality. "I love babysitting Sarah. But that's it. That's all that'll ever be."
///
It's Wednesday night and you and Alex have decided to go for dinner after work. Alex wants to see more of the places that the locals eat at. You decide on a Mexican place nearby, assuring her it’s the most authentic you've ever tasted. 
You both order drinks, chatting animatedly about the sanctuary when you
Tommy is sitting with a woman around his age. She's very expensive looking and she smiles toothily at Tommy as he speaks excitedly. They’re sitting close to each other, their shoulders almost touching. At the sight of this you feel ever nerve ending in your body pulled tight.
“Gimme a sec,” you mumble to Alex. “I just saw a friend I need to talk to.”
You and Tommy, while peripheral friends, have never talked much or even hung out independently of Maria. So it’s no surprise that as you near his table the first niggles of self doubt touch you.
Maybe it’s all a mistake? A misunderstanding?
Then the woman excuses herself from the table just as you arrive, giving you the perfect moment to strike and so you propel yourself forward.  Without ceremony you toss yourself into the recently vacated seat across from a shocked Tommy Miller.
“I suggest the tamales here,” you say coolly. “They’re great for sharing.”
Tommy looks terrified. His eyes have gone wide. He has papers on the table that he shuffles under his arm.
"W-what are you doing here?"
"Better question is what are you doing here with her?"  You point in the direction of the woman who has just exited the table. 
"It's a meeting about a construction job," Tommy says but you can see the lie in it. "So do you mind-"
You lean forward across the table, your chest almost knocking over the Margarita at Tommy’s elbow.
"If you are screwing around on Maria, Tommy, I will personally see to it that you live the rest of your days as a dick-less wonder. People will come from miles around just to view you and laugh." 
Tommy is staring at you open-mouthed. You realize Tommy and you have never been particularly close. He doesn’t know this side to you. The side that will fight and protect with all she has.
“You don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.” Tommy’s tone is strong but his dark eyes are owlish in his face.
“If you hurt Maria Tommy I swear on all that is holy, I will tear your life apart brick by brick. I will spend every waking moment of the remainder of my life finding out new ways to cause you pain.”
“I would never hurt her,” Tommy insists, looking both agitated and terrified as he sees the woman exiting back from the washroom. “I promise I’ll explain everything to you later. But right now please go before she gets back."
“Why?”
“I can’t-“ Tommy flounders, trying to find the right words. “It’s just, you gotta go.”
"Oh yeah, wouldn't want to spoil your date,” you say with a sneer before picking up the margarita his date has left. “You absolute piece of shit." 
You throw the drink it into his face like something out of a bad sitcom. Tommy stares at you covered in pale yellow drink, bits of salt sticking to his cheeks. A lime wedge flops comically onto the table between you.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Tommy’s face has erupted into fury. You go to lunge for him but Alex has you around the middle and she's tugging you back. Tommy’s date has returned, looking between you and Tommy in shock.
"What on earth?" The woman is watching you being dragged away from the table. 
Alex practically carries you out of the restaurant, not letting you go until you’re both buckled into her car. When your heavy breathing has subsided she starts the car, not offering anything but a pointed look and:
“I think you need some new friends.”
///
When you receive a knock on your door later that night you don't expect a Miller man to be standing there.
Unfortunately it's not the right Miller man. 
It's Tommy looking anxious as he greets you. You glare at him, angry and then confused by his presence at your door. He doesn’t smell like margarita so you assume he had a shower at home first.
"Can we talk?"
You consider your next moves. Do you punch him in the face? No, you need all the information. Then if it's as awful as you think it is, then you'll punch him in the face. 
Good plan. 
"Fine. Come in."
You motion to the table, quickly shuffling your paperwork off the chair nearest to him so he can sit. You've just made yourself a cup of tea and offer him one which shakes his head at.
“Don’t really trust you with a drink in your hand,” he cites with a small smirk. “’Specially not a hot one.” 
You don’t say anything to that. When you eventually take the seat across from him he stares at you for what seems like forever. The kind of stare that has a million questions behind it. 
"Tommy what the fuck is going on?" You press him. "Are you cheating on Maria?"
Tommy immediately blanches, almost spilling your tea. "W-what? No. Never. I love her!"
"Because you'll never do better than Maria," you begin to rant. "she's the most perfect most beautiful woman in existence!"
"I know!" 
"She's not just beautiful she's also wickedly smart and if she wanted she could be president, Tommy. Not vice president. Not secretary of state. President.”
"I agree. Everything you said is true."
"Then who was that woman? Why were you being so secretive?" 
Tommy gives you a hard look, his lips pressed together in a thin line. He gives a glance around the kitchen as if expecting spies before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small velvet box. 
"Please don't say anything," Tommy drops his voice to a conspiratorial whisper as he cracks the ring box open. "I'm proposing."
Anxieties about everything are erased the minute you look to the ring box. Inside is a delicately carved gold band and diamond. It's elegant and no nonsense, just like Maria. 
"The woman-"
"A friend from an old job," Tommy assures you, looking down at the ring proudly. "Maria always wanted an heirloom ring. You know how she feels about blood diamonds. But it was hard to find a good one. Then Joel suggested Betty, that's her name, she works in vintage jewellery. Took months of going back and forth before we found this one." 
You feel so fucking stupid. "That's why you were in Cedar Park?”
"How did you know that?"
"Friend of a friend," you say with a sigh. He doesn't need to know that friend was Maria.
“Betty had a lead on a really good piece,” Tommy says with a sigh. “She said I needed to come out to Cedar Park to see it and decide that day because there was another interested buyer. Waste of a fucking drive though ‘cuz it was hideous. Not Maria’s taste at all.”
You look at the ring he decided on, seeing that even in this small token he sees Maria.
"Tommy I'm so sorry."
Tommy's eyes are amused. "Good to know she's got Mike Tyson in her corner. Well, Mike Tyson if he was a bartender."
You move from around the table and throw your arms around Tommy's neck, hugging him and laughing. Every angry thought you'd ever had about him is instantly erased. He gives you a one-armed hug back, laughing along with you.
"Oh my God!" You shout as you pull back. "When? Where?"
"Valentine's Day. It's the only way I can surprise her. She thinks we're going out for a romantic dinner and dancing."
You're swooning, knowing just how Maria is going to react. And now Maria's panic over her "distracted" boyfriend make total sense. You want to laugh and cry all at once, so you decide on smiling with tears in your eyes.
"She's gonna be so happy."
"Sure hope so," Tommy says smiling shyly. "But I need your help to pull out off."
"Me?" You're surprised and delighted. "Of course. Anything you need, just ask."
"Great, is there any chance you're around on Saturday night? It's why I came over."
Tommy smiles over at you looking hopeful. Saturday is Valentine's Day. A day you've been dreading since Paul broke things off last spring and Joel stomped all over your heart.  
You had plans that involved a bath, a big glass of wine and discounted chocolate. But of course this plan will be moved happily for your dearest friend and her future fiancé. 
"Sure, what for?"
"I need you to babysit Sarah."
The smile immediately dies on your face. You lean back in your chair, your eyes drifting to your mug. 
" Is Joel helping you propose or something?"
"No, he’s just busy that night." 
Of course Joel would take a meeting on Valentine's Day night. You give a half-hearted chuckle at the thought. 
"Did you tell him you're proposing? Can't he just cancel his meeting that night? Who meets on Valentine's anyway?"
"It's not a meeting," Tommy says, still smiling at the ring box. "It's a date."
The world tilts. You physically feel it spin on its axis as Tommy tells you this. The woman you heard on the phone. You were right. You were fucking right. That horrible pit in your stomach, the one you’ve been trying to ignore, widens.
"A date?" You say before you can stop yourself. "Joel?"
Tommy gives a quirked brow at your response. "Yeah. Some mom of a kid Sarah has play dates with all the time." 
The twist in your gut takes your breath away. You feel cold and shaky and have to sit down. Tommy is so wrapped up in his dilemma that he doesn't notice. 
You know who he's talking about. Fuck, you've even seen her. You can't remember the name right now but you remember the way she'd smiled at Joel when he came to pick Sarah up. You can vividly recall the casual way her hand had brushed against the small of his back. 
Tess. Yes that was her name. 
"They've been going out a few weeks and this kinda stuff is important to him," Tommy explains with a soft look as he pockets the ring. "Joel has always done everything for me. Sacrificed everything when our mom got sick. Bailed me out when things got too much. I think he really likes Tess and I don't wanna fuck it up for him." 
I think he really likes Tess.
Really likes Tess.
Jesus Christ that's like a blow to the sternum. You place a steadying hand to the table. 
Tommy takes a seat across from you, his dark eyes filled with concern. 
"You okay? If you're not feeling well please don't feel pressured. If you can't babysit I'll just reschedule, it's -"
His voice fades into the background as you think of your friend. Maria has done so much for you and she deserves the world. 
One awkward evening, that's all it is. And you'll get to see Sarah. Plus your best friend will be getting engaged. How can you possibly say no?
You can't. 
"Of course I'll babysit," you interrupt with a croak. "What time should I be there?" 
///
Later that night as you lay curled in bed sobbing you hear the gentle chirp of your phone. 
You sniff as you flip it open and bring it up to your face. 
Any chance u wanna get together for coffee? Chat?
You pause, looking at the text before closing the phone. 
You don’t delete it.
/////
Joel doesn't know how to function this week. 
You called him finally, after weeks and weeks of silence. Just the sound of your voice had made his knees tremble. He'd had to reach for the kitchen counter, holding himself upright. 
When later that week Tommy tells him about his engagement plans and having you babysit Sarah, Joel initially balks at the idea. He'll reschedule with Tess - she's a practical woman, she'll understand.
But Tommy had been insistent, telling Joel he didn't want to fuck this up for him. Tommy is so rarely earnest like that it had made Joel relent. 
And now you're coming tomorrow and he's what? Supposed to act like everything is fine? 
Fuck that.
Sarah is asleep and Joel has been drinking. He does that more often now. Not enough to be a real concern, but enough that he notices. He calls you without pausing to check if it's too late to call. You answer on the first ring. 
“Hello?”
"Hey."
Joel closes his eyes, a wide hand going over them. Your voice is so sweet in his ear. "Hey I’m sorry if I was a bit short when you called the other day. You surprised me is all and I had company over."
"Oh. Okay."
You sound so sad. He can imagine you sitting in bed, covers around you as he talks. 
“Glad you got home safe,” Joel offers awkwardly, wondering how he thought this conversation could ever go smoothly.
“Yeah, it’s good to be back.”
"Why didn't you call me? I left so many-" Joel catches himself, embarrassment covering him before he’s compelled to continue. "Is it your dad? Your mom? Or was it something else? Paul?”
Joel can't stop himself from asking more and more questions. He needs to know why you did this. He just needs closure. He hears your breathing on the line, shallow and tense. 
"I really don't want to talk about it Joel," you eventually say and that hollow, empty voice is back. The same one he'd heard that day he came to get you for breakfast. 
"Right."
Joel knows there are tears gathering at the corner of his eyes and he blinks them back. As much as he wants to talk to you right now, it hurts. Too much trust has been dismantled on both sides. 
Sarah's anxious face when she asked where you were? He can't have that for his daughter. He can't risk everything on a woman who'll run and leave nothing but silence in her wake.
Maybe if he was a young, childless bachelor he'd do it. He'd pursue you and convince you to tell him everything, to confide in him. But he's not young or childless. And you’re not telling him.
"I had my reasons, I just never told you what they were," you continue with a tremble in your voice. 
"Why?"
“It’s my choice to tell people things when I want to tell them. And I wasn’t ready. Still don’t think I am.”
He wants to push it. He wants to be in that room with you, his hands on either side of your face, forcing you to look at him. Forcing you to tell him what you’re hiding from him. He thinks he knows and it makes him sick. But he needs the confirmation.
"Joel, it's not supposed to be this hard, is it?"
"What isn’t?" Joel's stomach clenches when he hears your shuddering breath. 
"Being together." 
Initially Joel doesn't know what to say to that.  “We're we really ever together?"
There's a thoughtful pause and then your sad little voice again. 
"No. Guess not."
Joel feels absolutely sickened by this entire conversation. He didn't know what he'd expected when he called you, but it definitely wasn't this. This grim finality.
"I think I hoped if I just came back that things'd go back to how they were," you're saying in a voice no longer hollow, but still not completely you. "But I guess they can't." 
"No," Joel acknowledges quietly. "I guess they can't."
"But maybe we can try friendship?"
A stab to the abdomen would have hurt Joel less. He physically recoils, his eyes slamming shut. 
Friendship? He’s supposed to go back to being your friend? 
"I don't know," Joel answers through closed eyes. "I don't know if I can. Not quite yet."
Joel evens his breathing, knowing that there’s nothing else to say to save the two of you but dreading the act of hanging up, of severing the final tie. Then your voice reaches out to him, tentative across the line.
"Can I still see Sarah? Can I still babysit tomorrow night?"
Joel is quiet for a long while considering. 
"Yeah. Sarah would love to see you."
//////
Saturday night arrives and with it a bundle of nerves you can't seem to shake. 
Rancher Street.
The bus lurches to a stop and you hasten an exit, pulling your purse up your shoulder. The door seems larger than you remember. Taller. When you knock it feels like it echoes forever. The door opens with a quick whoosh and you hold your breath as two familiar dark eyes slide into view. 
Joel.
You see the flash of something in those eyes, something warm as they sweep over you before the chill is abruptly back. 
"C'mon in," he says, the tone of his voice unreadable. 
He's painfully gorgeous. There's no other word for it. His hair is combed, his shirt freshly pressed. He smells like cologne, an expensive, spicy scent. It makes you want to bury your face in his neck.
He never usually wears cologne. He usually smells like wood shavings and laundry detergent. 
The knowledge that he's wearing it for her, Tess, makes you want to heave. 
Tess. What a stupid fucking name.
You follow Joel into the kitchen and feel your stomach drop. On the counter is a bouquet of deep red roses wrapped beautifully. You don't have to be a genius to figure out these ones are for Tess. He's pulled out all the stops for her. 
It wasn't so long ago Joel was bringing you flowers. 
He's not even wearing jeans tonight; he's actually got dark slacks on for this date. He looks so fucking good, so divine, it causes you to physically ache. You remember how his curls felt under your fingers, the taste of his lips on yours. You want to kick yourself for fucking this up. 
"Work been good?" Joel asks with his eyes on the clock. 
"Yeah, just busy," you offer feeling awkward. "Got a meeting with the city next month about the sanctuary. Looks like we got the funding."
"That's good."
"Mhmm."
You could cry over how awful this interaction is. How stilted and awkward the two of you look and sound standing across from one another in the kitchen. 
Grateful doesn't even touch on how you feel when Sarah suddenly skids into the kitchen. She screeches, throwing her arms around your waist tightly until you give a small "oof". You curl, hugging her gently. 
"How have you grown so much?" You ask in awe, shocked that not even two months could make such a difference. You could swear she looks taller. 
"I got a My Little Pony for Christmas," she announces, not caring to answer your question. "You wanna see?"
"Sure."
She goes to her seat at the table and pulls out the pink and purple pony before announcing: "I named it after you."
"You did?"
"Yeah. I missed you."
Sarah is smiling up at you in a way that brings tears to your eyes. You blink them back, cupping her cheek with your hand.
“I missed you too, bug.”
After everything this is one of your biggest regrets. Your isolation from everyone included Sarah, the sweetest child to walk the planet.
You had forgotten Joel was still there, watching you both until you hear him clear his throat. 
"I'll be back around midnight. Emergency numbers are by the phone, like usual. Pizza should be here pretty soon."
"Okay."
Sarah clamours up on the chair, sliding into the booster seat with your help. You smile down at her, chatting away to her pony. In your peripherals you watch Joel pull on his jacket and grab the bouquet of flowers from the counter. 
In another life maybe those would have been for you. 
In another life maybe it could have worked between you two. 
You hear him walk towards you along with the crinkling of the cellophane wrapped flowers. He comes to stand next to your seated form. He's so close you could tilt your head and rest it on his hip.
You smile as you see his hands come into view, watching as he passes one of the roses to Sarah by the stem, making sure to strip it of it thorns first. 
"Happy Valentine's Day, babygirl," he says with a kiss to the top of her head. Sarah takes the flower gleefully, pressing the lush petals to her nose and inhaling. 
"Okay daddy, you can leave now," Sarah tells him calmly. You laugh at her bluntness and catch Joel's dimpled smile in response. 
"Guess now that your best friend is here again, poor ol' dad's just second fiddle," Joel says with an exaggerated frown as he motions to you. 
"It's not your fault," you assure him as you smooth Sarah's hair with your hands. "I'm just that wonderful. Right, Sarah?"
"Right."
She really is just the best kid. 
Joel doesn't reply to that, but then again you never expected him to. The tension from before seems to be ebbing, it's almost like things are slowly going back to how they were before.
This is good.  This means there’s hope.
Joel watches you stand and move across the kitchen. You go to pull down some plates for the pizza from the cupboard. When you turn to go back to the table you're surprised to see Joel is still standing there looking at you. 
You feel your heart picking up its tempo. But then his phone buzzes on his hip and you know without asking that it’s Tess messaging him. Immediately you feel your heart retreat from your gaze and you force a smile.
"Have fun tonight."
Joel nods, presses one more kiss to Sarah's head and then he's gone out the door. You hear his truck rumbling away and only then do you breathe normally again. 
The pizza arrives shortly after and you inform Sarah that if she's really good and eats the salad that came with it, she can eat dessert in front of the TV later on. She is very amenable to this suggestion. 
"Daddy is seeing Miss Tess," Sarah tells you as she takes a bite of her cheesy slice. “She was here before.”
He's already brought her into this home?
Of course she has you moron. She's seen Daniel and Tess at school how many times? How many play dates?
"Daniel's mommy," Sarah says in a hushed voice, frowning when you don’t reply. You feel your stomach bottoming out at this. Your eyes widen before you school your features, staring at the oblivious girl opposite you. 
"Does Miss Tess come here a lot?"
Sarah ignores your question and instead starts babbling about something happening with Daniel's hamster, Zippy. You hold back the desire to keep peppering her with questions. 
However she continues to drop little hints throughout your evening together. The next one comes when you're in the kitchen washing up from dinner. Sarah sits at the counter with her paper and crayons making some elaborate hearts on the page. A Valentine for her dad, she tells you later. 
"That's the cup Miss Tess used," Sarah says pointing to the oversized green mug you're soaping. Joel's favorite mug. 
It takes everything in you not to smash the thing into pieces. Two months ago he had his mouth between your legs, now he's bringing some new woman here?
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
"What's Miss Tess like?" You ask, trying to sound casual as you wash the dishes in the sink. 
"Tall."
That's all you get from her for now. She continues coloring and you continue doing the dishes in silence. You catch your reflection in the dark window in front of you and are shocked at how devastated you look. 
It was just a night. A night of pleasure. You didn't make lifelong promises to one another. You admitted mutual attraction and need, that's all. And even if it's not all from your side of things, Joel has clearly moved on. And you can’t be mad at him for doing so.
When you finish up, Sarah is putting the last finishing touches to her card before gripping it in her tiny hand and holding it out to you.
"You have to give this to Daddy when he gets home. It's my Valentine for him."
You look at the little pink envelope covered in Snoopy stickers and smile. You take it from her, seeing her uneven printing on the front. Love. That's all it says. You smile fondly at her. You idly wonder if she’s too young for a ‘romantic love is an illusion’ conversation.
"I think you should give it to him when you wake up tomorrow," you offer.
"No." Sarah looks uncharacteristically agitated. "It can't be tomorrow. Tomorrow isn't Valentine's Day."
You give a sharp nod, making your face solemn to convey you understand the gravity of delivering this missive. 
"I see."
"Promise me you'll give the card to my Daddy tonight?"
"I will."
"Promise," she says holding up a tiny pinky in your direction. "A real promise."
You hook your pinky around her tiny digit and shake, smiling. "I promise, Sarah." 
"Good." 
The next 'Miss Tess' tidbit comes as you're putting Sarah to bed. She's watching you rifle through the books on her shelf. 
"Miss Tess has light hair. Lighter than yours."
"Hmm," you say bringing a few book over to her bed. "Wind and the Willows again or Charlotte's Web?"
You decide that you don't want to hear anything more about 'Miss Tess'. In fact you don't want to hear anything more about Joel or whomever he decides to date ever again. 
You have to close your heart to him or this will be the last time you'll see Sarah. The last time you'll read to her, last time you'll laugh with her. 
It'll be the last time you can join Maria and Tommy at theirs for a party that the whole family is invited to.
It'll be the last time you can venture upstairs to Maria's without fear that Joel might decide to drop by.
Because you have no right to be upset. You don't. You kissed him, let him make you come and then ignored him for almost two months. What was he supposed to do? Know the crazy inner workings of your fucked up brain? Know the sordid story of your horrible life? 
No. You need to be happy for him and for Sarah. If this Tess woman is as great as everyone makes it seem, then you have to be happy for Joel and Sarah. 
You have to. 
"I missed you reading," Sarah tells you when you bring the blanket up to her chin, tucking her in an hour or so later. "I like it when you read best 'cuz you do the voices right."
You try not to feel unnecessarily smug about that. 
You tuck her in, feeling distracted as you press a quick kiss to her forehead. She can sense that the nighttime routine is coming to a close because her tiny hand reaches out to grab your sweater. 
"Say 'goodnight, bug'" she prompts you.
"Goodnight bug," you say pressing another peck to her forehead. "Get some sleep." 
Sarah nods, closing her eyes and rolling on her side. You can hear her murmur something to toad and you smile as you close her bedroom door. 
You walk down the creaking hallway, ready to walk down and watch TV. But as you pass Joel's room and you see his door is ajar you pause. 
Joel's room. You remember how in awe you had been the first time you saw it. How surprised by every detail. Now in the dark of night it seems alluring and seductive. It beckons you to explore, to touch. 
You draw over to it, your hand moving independent of your brain to pull the door completely open before stepping inside and closing the door tightly behind you. 
The first time you’d seen his room there had been lotion on beside table, a horse picture above the bed. Now the lotion is gone, the side of his table cleaned. The horse picture is still there though, calling out for all weary travelers. 
You step in further, your eyes going over the books on his shelves, the fan that hasn’t been used since the summer. You trace your hand along the exercise bike in the far corner, a towel draped over it. Does he use it?
You sit on the edge of his bed, pulling open the drawer next to it. You think you might see something interesting inside. Your curiosity is peaked. It opens with ease and it takes you a full moment to realize what you’re looking at.
It’s the guitar strap and pick you got him for Christmas.
This sight causes you to leap to a standing position. Joel kept the gift? He must have picked it up when you weren’t looking, dazed on the sofa. But he kept it? Still? Why is it hidden away?
You don’t want to think about that for too long. Maybe he’s hidden it because Tess will ask him where he got it. He doesn’t want her to see it. He wants to pretend you never existed to him.
You stop. You’re hurting your own feelings.
You see one of Joel's t-shirts hanging over the dresser. He'd obviously tried on a few before deciding on the linen one for tonight. 
He made the right choice, you acknowledge. He'd looked amazing tonight. Memories of how good he'd looked are making your lower abdomen flip pleasurably. A depraved need washes over you.
You feel as if you're watching yourself from outside your body as you lock Joel's door before striding back across the room.
"Stop," you murmur to yourself even as you lower yourself onto his recently made bed. It's surprisingly soft.
You settle back against the pillow, your hands on either side of you like you're in a plush coffin. 
He's touched himself in this bed, you just know it. You can picture his work wide hands stroking himself to completion. A man like Joel feels deeply, works hard and has needs.  
Fuck you want to be the one to sate those needs and you never will be. But you don't let your thoughts linger there. You want to enjoy this stolen moment. 
You turn your head on the pillow, your eyes sliding shut as you inhale. It smells masculine, deep and musky mingling with the scent of his shampoo and laundry detergent. 
It smells like Joel. 
And that is what makes it impossible to stop. Because when you close your eyes you can almost imagine he's there with you. You can imagine that he came back the next day after the party and everything was fine. You can imagine that he’d backed you into your place and fucked you there on the floor, the both of you too desperate for each other to make it to the bed.
Your fingers are fumbling with the button and zipper of your jeans before your hand is thrust under your panties in a fervor. 
Flashes of memory and fantasy intersect, bursting in searing snapshots into your mind. Joel's hands on either side of your face as he kisses you. His mouth on your neck as he fucks you in this very bed. His brows knitted together as you suck his cock. His tongue skating over your nipples. The feel of his soft mouth on your twitching core.
This is so fucked up. You know this, you're so painfully aware of how fucked up this is. And yet you can't stop yourself from thrusting into your hand, from murmuring his name over and over. You whimper his name like an oath, a desperate, needful prayer as you feel his phantom touch.  
All at once the memory of Joel's head between your thighs assaults you and you see stars. 
Your head is thrown back as you come, your moans muffled by the hand you've sealed over your mouth. When your hips finally stutter to a stop the shame hits you like a slap in the face. 
What the fuck is wrong with you?
You readjust your jeans, throwing yourself from the bed with a yelp. You rush to the bathroom, washing your trembling hands. You can't even look at your reflection right now because you know what you'll see. Cheeks stained with humiliation, shame clear in your features and overwhelming regret in your eyes. 
You go downstairs and force yourself to watch bad TV. You have it on quietly and even though you try to focus on what’s happening and why some beautiful woman would be married to some loud-mouthed lout who works as a delivery driver, you can’t.
All you can think about is the passing of time. How late it’s getting. You keep tilting your head to look at the clock hanging by the kitchen. Then your watch because you’re certain the kitchen clock must be moving slowly.
Nope.
Eventually it’s past midnight. Joel had said he would be home at midnight, hadn’t he? You start to feel irritated. You’re here babysitting Joel’s kid and he’s definitely off fucking Tess. You’re certain of it. 
Your thoughts don’t linger there long because an ungodly scream has sounded from upstairs. A heart-wrenching scream with your name in it. You nearly trip over your own feet running up the stairs, your heart in your chest. The door to Sarah’s room is yanked open so viciously you’re convinced you pulled it off its hinges.
“Sarah!”
She’s sitting up in bed shuddering and holding toad. She bursts into tears when you rush in, her arms reaching for you as you approached. You throw yourself onto the bed, pulling her tiny frame into your lap. She throws her arms around your neck, her sobs loud in your ear, her face wet with her tears as you rock her back and forth.
“Shh,” you soothe gently. “I’m here, honey. I’m here. You’re safe.”
You rock her like this for several moments, listening as her sobs become hiccups and then finally just ragged breaths as she pulls back from you, looking up at you from your lap.
“Wanna tell me what happened, bug?”
“Someone hurt my Daddy,” Sarah says and you can see the tears starting again. “He was in the forest and someone took him. They hurt him.”
You hold her tightly to you again, making soothing sounds and rubbing her back. “No one’s gonna hurt your Daddy, I promise.”
Time passes and eventually Sarah is calmed enough to climb back into bed. She looks to you with her big eyes, terrified in the dark as you bring the blanket to her chin.
“Will you sing me a song?" Sarah begs. "A nice one."
You give a good natured groan, thinking back to songs you know all the lyrics to. You remember the song Bill sang to Frank that one evening, the sweetness of Bill's reedy voice. You can't remember all the words but you know the tune. You start of at what you remember, tucking Sarah in for the second time that night. 
Caught in my fears
Blinking back the tears
I can't say you hurt me
When you never let me near
And I never drew one response from you
All the while you fell all over girls you never knee
"What does that mean?" Sarah interrupts. 
"I think it means that the girl singing is in love with a man but he doesn't know she exists," you say trying to piece the song together. "So she's really sad about it."
Sarah nods, her eyes starting to shutter. "Keep going."
You laugh, trying to remember your place. You hum a few bars, trying to recall where you left off. 
Cause I've done everything I know
To try and change your mind
And I think I'm gonna miss you
For a long long time
You really go for it, your voice clear and strong. As you sing your fingers trail over Sarah's forehead, lulling her to sleep. 
Cause I've done everything I know
To try and change your mind
And I think I'm gonna love you
For a long long time
Your voice drops to a whisper as you sing the final verse. Sarah's eyes are almost all the way closed. 
"Goodnight Sar-" 
"Do you love me?" 
You're not expecting the way her tiny voice reaches you in the semi darkness. It takes your breath away, tears starting in the corner of your eyes. You swallow the knot that has formed there. 
You look down at her little face and feel the answer is so obvious. Has been for months now. 
"Yeah," you answer truthfully. "I do."
Sarah smiles widely, gripping your hand in hers with her eyes still shut. "Will you sing the last part one more time?"
Oh she’s a good little manipulator.
"One more time," you insist with a faux grumble. "Then sleep!"
She nods and you sing a very quick very quiet rendition of the last verse before pressing a kiss to her forehead. 
"Deals a deal, bug."
"I like that song," Sarah nods sleepily before craning her neck to look at her bedroom door. "Do you like it, daddy?"
Your breath catches as you jerk your head over your shoulder to see Joel leaning in the doorway of Sarah's room. His arms are crossed over his broad chest. You can't see his eyes, but you know he's looking at you. 
"I didn't know you were there," you say feeling your cheeks reddening. 
"Didn't want to interrupt," Joel says softly.
"Sarah had a nightmare," you say standing quickly. You feel like you should offer something else but you stand awkwardly instead before you sail past him, heading downstairs. You hope he can't see the pink high in your cheekbones. 
Joel enters the kitchen minutes later, his dark gaze focused on you. 
You want to ask him how the date went. Obviously they've been seeing each other longer than just tonight if Sarah is anything to go by. How long exactly was it after he kissed you that he fell in with Tess? Tommy didn't say. Have they slept together yet? Has he said the same things to Tess as he said to you as he worked his mouth between her legs?
Doesn't matter. Not your business.
"She was really good tonight," you tell him as you look for your jacket, locating it in the kitchen. Your eyes fall on the pink envelope from earlier.
"Before I forget, this is for you," you say sliding the thick Valentine card to him across the kitchen counter. "Sarah was adamant I give it to you before I left." 
Joel looks distracted. He would normally be opening the card to see what his daughter created. But instead he just stares at it on the counter. 
When you stop to look at him you notice he actually looks quite pissed off. This confuses you. He reaches into his back pocket to grab his tan leather wallet.
"Are you ok-"
"You can't tell her stuff like that," Joel interrupts gruffly pulling the bills from his wallet. 
"What do you mean?"
"That you love her." Joel's eyes finally reach yours when he says it. "She can't have women saying they love her, comin' in and out of her life-"
"Who says that's what I'm doing?" you ask offended. 
"It was bad enough with her mother," Joel is ignoring you, talking over you and looking upset. 
"I'm not her mother," you defend. You would never do what that woman had done to Sarah. 
"Damn right you're not."
His eyes are blazing and for a moment you think this might be the cruellest thing Joel Miller has ever said to you. 
He tosses the wrinkled bills at you on the table and you hold back the overwhelming urge to slap him. Instead you clench your jaw, levelling a scorching glare at him.  
Joel leans over the counter, his hands braced there. He can't look at you. 
You stare him down furiously for a moment longer nonetheless before pulling on your jacket and heading out the door, leaving the money beside the Valentine on the counter.  
It's not until you're at home in bed that you allow yourself to cry. 
269 notes · View notes
cherryhak · 4 months
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
彡 Red sweater - Park Gunwook
Pairing. Park Gunwook X reader
Genre. Fluff | classmates to lovers ig
Warnings. None
Wc. 1616
Tumblr media
You opened your eyes with difficulty as you contemplated the idea of going back to sleep. A part of you wanted to ditch today because it was the last day of school before Christmas holidays but the other part of you also wanted to go because it was the last day...
A simple 'ding' coming from your phone resonated in your room and you had no choice but to stop this fight against sleep.
You took a look at the screen with drowsy eyes only to find a text from your best friend saying 'i hope you're coming today and not ditching bc its the last day
This made you smile internally and you finally decided to get up from your bed after wasting almost 10 minutes between sleepness and awakeness.
˚₊‧ ꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Breakfast was the last thing in your mind as you hurriedly left your house and made a run to the bus stop. If only you got up from bed immediately after your alarm rang...
You made it to the stop just in time as the bus just arrived and you mentally thanked the universe for not ruining this friday (which is often the worse day of your week along with monday)
You let out a sigh and took a sit in the first empty seat you could find. Thankfully no one decided to sit next to you today.
Putting on your headphones you let your mind wander along the music but a weird feeling engulfed you. It felt like you had forgotten something...
You quickly checked your bag to verify if you forgot your pencil case, notebook or lunch but no, everything seemed fine.
Except eating breakfast what could you possibly forget? You had no idea and just decided to shrug it off as one of those random feelings you can't explain.
After a good 20 minutes ride you arrived at your high-school and walked through the gate, looking for your best friend.
"Y/n!" Your head snapped to the other side and you finally saw her, leaning against the wall and waving at you.
As you walked closer to her you could see her eyeing you weirdly. Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion "What?"
She stifled a laugh "Nothing" she answered with the fakest and most sarcastic smile you've ever seen on her which made you roll your eyes.
"Whatever. We have an hour before classes start, what do you want to do ?"
"Let's go to the library, i didn't do my science homework !" She dramatically said as she grasped your wrist and started to drag you along with her.
As you both are making your way to the library, you hear your name being called from behind you. You stop in your tracks, recognizing the owner of the voice. You turn around, trying your best to keep your composure. Before you was none other than your classmate but also longtime crush, Park Gunwook and his dear friend Kim Gyuvin.
They were both dressed in red
Wait.
You look between them and your laughing bestfriend who was also wearing a red top and that's when it hit you.
Today is the last day before Christmas holidays and your whole class agreed on wearing something red, except you didn't.
That's what you forgot this morning.
Your eyes widened as everything started to make sense
"Why didn't you show up in red Y/n ? Don't you have anything red ? Not even a lipstick??" Gyuvin whined half-jokingly, half-annoyed.
Your lips formed an awkward smile at his whining
"I completely forgot it was today ! I knew i was forgetting something this morning..."
you tried your best to justify yourself but the pout on Gyuvin's face only became more prominent as you spoke.
You looked at Gunwook who still hasn't said anything about your choice of outfit (which was literally a white pair of jeans and a black sweater, nothing close to red even in the slightest)
"Am I the only who forgot in the class ?" You asked panicked at the idea of being the one to mess this whole thing up.
Gyuvin simply nodded at your question which caused your eyes to almost jump out of their sockets.
You turned to your bestfriend and grabbed her shoulders. "You have to have something red you can give me for the day. A red ribbon or something!"
The amused look that was resting on her face from the situation quickly vanished away as she looked into your desperate eyes and realized that she didn't have a solution to your problem
You immediately understood her expression
"No.. you better be kidding me ! You always have spare clothes with you and the only time i need it, you don't ?!" You dramatically ask, hoping that she was just messing with you.
"I swear i d-"
"Y/n"
Ah yes, you almost forgot that the pair was still here watching you desperately shake your friend's shoulders.
You looked back to Gunwook, mentally cursing yourself for making a scene in front of him.
"I can give you my hoodie if you want"
"Huh" that was not supposed to be said out loud... "I mean ! You won't be fitting the theme anymore, i don't want-"
"It's okay I have a red shirt underneath it" he smiled
Fuck, you need to find something else to decline.
"But you'll be cold-"
You cut yourself as he started to take off his hoodie as if you didn't just reject his offer and that's when you realize that you can't do anything to change Park Gunwook's mind, the most stubborn man you've ever known.
He quickly put his messy hair back to it's original styled way before handing you his hoodie which you obviously refused again.
"No no its fine Gunwook i don't need it plus you'll get cold-"
"Don't worry about me" he grabbed your arm and hung the hoodie on it, fully aware that you wouldn't accept it if he didn't take action.
"Uh- Are you sure ??"
"Absolutely" he nodded, giving you the sweetest smile
"Well..Thank you"
He sent you another smile in response before your bestfriend hurried you to go to the library for her science homework.
You both bid farewell to the other two before parting ways
"And you better wear it Y/n ! Don't ruin the class spirit !" Gyuvin yelled and you could hear Gunwook hushing him with a "that's enough" which made you laugh.
Today is not that bad after all.
˚₊‧ ꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The last bell rang signaling the end of school but also the beginning of holidays.
Today was... something.
Yes Gunwook gave you his sweater (which means you spent the whole day with his scent lingering on you) but this action had consequences : girls.
Did I mention how Gunwook is extremely good looking and charming and, well, extremely popular among girls ?
Well you wearing his sweater made a lot of noise. Some girls were envious, other jealous and of course a lot of people thought you guys were dating.
Needless to say you were flustered the whole day, mostly when Gunwook sent you all-knowing looks and small smiles from time to time.
You were happy but you also felt sorry for Gunwook. I mean, you don't think that his name being associated to yours would be a good thing for his reputation...
You walked around the school, frantically looking for Gunwook but you couldn't find him anywhere. Did he leave already ? How were you supposed to give him back his hoodie ?
In the distance you spotted one of his friends, a mutual friend, and thought he might know where Gunwook is.
"Ricky !"
"Y/n, Hi!" He warmly smiled
"Hi um do you perhaps know where Gunwook is ? Did he leave already ?"
Ricky smirked at your question and you know he was up to something mischievous
"Why are you looking for him?" He asked, his smirk expending
You deadpaned and showed him the hoodie you were wearing
"I just need to give this back to him, so do you know where he is ?"
He let out a laugh before going back to his serious self, "When i saw him, he told me he needed to check his locker"
You sighed in relief "Thank you Ricky, have a merry Christmas !" And you left before even hearing his answer.
You made your way to the locker area, by now the school was almost empty so you really wished he was still here.
As if the heavens heard your prayers, you saw him standing by his locker.
"Thank god" you sighed out
You quickened your pace until you reached him, startling him in the process
"Gosh Y/n you scared me" he laughed, his hand flying to his heart as a response to fear.
"Sorry" you laughed
You started to take off his hoodie, something you should have done at least 15 minutes ago but you honestly didn't want to take it off.
A hand reached to pull it back down and you looked at him confused
"Keep it"
"What?" You let out
"I said keep it"
"What why ? Have you not heard all these rumors spreading around-"
"But i kinda like the way they sound"
If it was possible your jaw would literally be on the floor right now.
What is going on?
Gunwook only smirked at your reaction
"What do you mean?" You tried your best to sound normal but the blush on your cheeks betrayed you
He messed your hair and laughed
"I'm taking you out on a date soon, let's make the rumors become reality" and with that he walked away and left you standing there, processing everything that just happened in a span of three minutes.
And it all started with a red sweater.
Tumblr media
✿ᴄʜᴇʀʀʏʜᴀᴋ
193 notes · View notes
mewtwoandme · 6 months
Text
So...a bit of a sad announcement today...I'm hoping this isn't the case, I made an appointment for Wednesday to talk to the vet to get a second opinion, but for those of you who know, I own a bearded dragon, and unfortunately the past few weeks he has been showing the signs of possibly passing away soon...He's 8 years old, gonna be 9 around Christmas if he makes it that far, so for him, he's an old lad. I'm afraid the vet is gonna tell me what I don't want to hear, but honestly, I've been preparing myself for this since he started developing issues last year. Despite that, it's still painful to think about. I've been doing what I can for him in the meantime, doing my best to keep him comfortable, though lately, he has become very unresponsive...Because of this, I have no idea where my mental state is gonna be at for a while, cause, honestly, it's now just a waiting game for the inevitable. This has already been taking a heavy toll on my emotional state, and it's been weighing on me and I've been fluctuating from being okay one day to feeling depressed or crying the next...
As far as the blog/story, I'm not sure if any of my plans are gonna change. As of right now, I don't believe they will. If anything, continuing to draw will provide a necessary distraction for me. As far as Blu arriving in December, I still intend for that to happen. However, I did mention awhile back that he'd probably arrive sometime in January if I was late on it for any reason. So don't be surprised by that happening if my bearded dragon happens to pass away between now and December. Cause I'll likely need some time away to mourn properly. No matter if it's a cat, a dog, a bird, or a reptile. Pets are just as much part of your family as your own flesh and blood relatives, and there's nothing more heartbreaking than knowing you're losing a part of your family. To me, it feels like I'm losing my baby. I know I can't compare losing a reptile to losing a human child, but the similar feelings are still very real.
Of course, I'll update you all whenever it happens, and I'll let you know if I choose to take a break during that time
259 notes · View notes