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jostyriggslover96 · 7 months

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Someone Unexpected

Summary: Kira (OC) and Jack met through mutual friends (Nolan Patrick and Nico Heiser) unexpectedly one summer. Feeling an instant connection, they decide to go on a date. Nerves take over as the two set out on what might be their first date of many. **This is a continuation of Kira & Jack from Summer Rituals, it might be helpful to check that out! *Kira's thoughts have been italicized.

Part of the HEART FIRST Series

Note: Thank you so much for all the love on Summer Rituals, I am super excited to continue Kira and Jack's story! All of your support means a lot to me! I have a lot planned with them, if you want to be tagged let me know.

Warnings: mentions of drinking, past relationships

Word Count: 6k

Life can be surreal sometimes with the way things fall into place. There is this saying about dating that I’ve always hated, ‘you’ll meet someone when you least expect it’. That saying has always set me off because it's never been true. I have spent my fair share of time alone and in relationships with shitty guys; yet, I have never met the right one when I’m not looking for anything. That is, until now.

To say I didn’t expect to meet anyone, let alone Jack Hughes on what seemed like a normal summer day was an understatement. I thought it would be a quiet day on the boat where I could read and Nolan could fish. When I showed up at the docks this morning, there he was in all his glory. Despite being completely enamored with Jack from the moment our eyes locked, I kept a safe distance from him when we all got on the boat. If Nolan invited him, I’m sure he wouldn't be an asshole, but I’ve been hurt one too many times to let my guard down. The last guy though, he did a number on me and it took a lot of time for me to heal. Between the cheating, body shaming, and belittling I experienced with my ex I learned to be very wary about trusting men. Even though it's been two years since I left my ex, I’m just starting to feel like I’ve found myself again.

As a protective factor, I kept my distance from the starry-eyed forward and focused my attention on ensuring Nolan didn’t hit any other boats as he backed out of the marina. Still, I didn’t think anything would come from meeting Jack until he sat down beside me and asked me about the book in my beach bag. That question started everything…the perfect day spent getting to know the perfect guy. I explained to him that the book isn’t really a normal book, but it’s actually a collection of poetry.

“So the poems all flow together, but they aren’t about the exact same thing,” I tried to explain to Jack as I thumbed through the book to show him some examples. He was surprisingly eager to listen to my explanation of what was probably one of my favorite collections of poems. Normally guys don’t really care much about my interests…but maybe Jack is different.

“Okay, and they’re all about milk and honey?” Jack questioned while he processed what I was saying. I let out a hearty laugh at his statement; not because he was way off, but because he actually cared. A smile crept across Jack’s face, “what’s so funny?”

“Milk and Honey is the title, but not really the theme,” I smiled while crossing my legs to lean closer to Jack, already starting to warm to him. “They’re about relationships and healing actually.”

“Oh, that actually sounds pretty good,” Jack mirrored my movements, shuffling closer to me on the bench we were sharing.

“Thanks for caring,” I said softly, shooting Jack a more timid smile. Feeling myself retreat to my meek demeanor.

“You like it, of course I care,” the words slid out of his mouth so naturally. Jack Hughes might actually be different.

We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about anything and everything. Movies, music, food, some horrific stories I had from my time as a bartender. We even got into deeper topics too; what it was like growing up in Toronto for him, why I decided to get my first degree and my second, what it was like growing up with two brothers, my differing thoughts on only having one brother, and of course, hockey. Despite being apprehensive when I first met him, he was quickly knocking down the walls I built around myself to stay safe.

“So I originally wanted the number 6, but someone already had it when I came to the team,” Jack explained to me after we had been spending some time discussing what it was like being drafted and playing his rookie year.

“How did you come up with 86 then?” I asked as the sun glinted on my sunglasses. It had been a long afternoon on the boat, but we didn’t care. Jack spent the whole time talking to me, even ignoring the offers to try out wake-surfing when the guys asked.

“Well Quinn wears 43 so I wanted something that tied me to him,” he smiled softly as he tucked his wavy hair behind his ear. The wind was starting to pick up as he attempted to keep his flow at bay.

“He must mean a lot to you,” my fingers brushed his arm as I instinctively reached for him to offer some form of reassurance. Sparks shot through me like lightning as we touched for the first time. As I glanced down to where we connected, Jack reached forward to tuck the stray hairs that had fallen in my eyes. Warmth went rushing to my cheeks as my eyes darted back to his, he was watching me closely.

Shaking his head, as if he was in a daze, he refocused. “They both do, just don’t tell them that,” he joked, his laughter sent fireworks through my body.

Somehow he could be so serious yet sarcastic at the same time. The conversation with him just flowed, it felt so normal. He felt so normal with me. I never imagined that someone who is considered a rising star in the NHL could be so normal with me. Nothing felt fake or ingenuine, it all felt natural and comfortable. Feeling this way with a guy was a completely foreign feeling for me. Jack Hughes was a completely unexpected addition to my life, but even in the 10 hours I’ve known him it is beyond clear to me that he is someone unexpected that I was meant to meet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a long day out on the water, everyone was happy to get out of the sunshine and back to Nolan’s cabin. Despite being initially hesitant around Jack, we had bonded so much on the boat that we were basically attached at the hip. He even came with me when I stopped by my families’ cabin so I could change into some clothes for the evening. In the 5 minutes we were in the cabin, Jack was practically glued to the wall of family photos. He kept shouting questions to me while I was in my room, “Kira is this you in the Mickey ears?”. He was surprised to find out that I used to be a dancer, knew how to play hockey, and that I have a niece. I couldn’t help but laugh to myself as I gathered my things, Jack actually seemed passionate about learning more about me. He’s the first guy, probably ever, who has made that effort with me.

Jack and I walked back to Nolan’s cabin hand-in-hand, which captured the stares of our friends. I knew why my friends were surprised, I honestly haven’t shown any interest in another guy since my last breakup. I’m also not usually one for PDA, but there’s something about Jack that pushes me out of my comfort zone. We settled on a giant lawn chair big enough for two around the firepit and got cozy while everyone got ready to roast hotdogs. This was a typical summer night at the lake that I’ve always loved, with the welcome addition of Jack by my side.

As the night carried on, there was a slight chill in the nighttime breeze that sent shivers down my spine as I watched Nolan tend to the fire. Sensing my sudden chill, Jack pulled me into his side as we shared the plaid tattered blanket that was in the bed of Nolan’s truck. My body froze for a second at the sudden closeness of Jack, normally I was not one for any cuddling or closeness to any guy, let alone someone I just met. Yet as I gazed up into Jack’s soothing blue eyes, I relaxed almost instantly into his warmth. Our friends have been giving us both strange looks all day, clearly shocked at our instant connection. Cuddling under a blanket by the fire was sure to raise some eyebrows.

I didn’t care at all though, completely oblivious to the smirks and pointed looks of our friends as Jack and I settled into comfortable conversation while we roasted marshmallows for smores. Talking to Jack was so easy, maybe because I’ve never met a guy this interested in my life before. We spent the evening chatting about college, hockey, family, travel plans, and much more long after the sunset. We were so caught up in each other, we didn’t even notice that most of our friends had trickled inside or out to the dock.

Taking the final gulp of my beer while Jack told me a story about the lake house he was planning to buy with his brother, I finally noticed that Jack and I were alone by the fire as I set the bottle down. Glancing around over my shoulder to see where our friends had gone brought the same realization to Jack’s attention. Silence filled the air between us for a moment, tension buzzing between us like electricity.

“Soo…,” Jack trailed off as a smile graced his lips. “Guess they ditched us,” he smirked as my lips turned up into a smile to match his.

I let out a slightly nervous chuckle while I regained my bearings. Jack made me nervous, but not in a bad way. Not in the way I was uncomfortable with, but in a way that excited me. “Guess so, jerks,” I joked sarcastically. Jack let out a boisterous chuckle that sent fireworks right to my heart. I would love to hear that laugh for the rest of my life. Jack’s laughter didn’t last long as a serious look that I didn’t recognize graced his features.

“Actually, I was hoping to get you alone tonight,” Jack stuttered. He started scratching the back of his neck while fiddling with the ends of his hair. Suddenly I recognized the signs, he was nervous. It was actually quite sweet watching his demeanor shift.

“Oh yeah?” I questioned as I raised an eyebrow, encouraging him to explain himself further.

“Uh yeah,” he nodded for a moment. “Kira, there’s something I want to ask you.” His speech stopped as he waited to gauge my reaction.

“Go on Jack,” I encouraged, reaching for his hand that was resting on my shoulder to give it a squeeze.

With my reassurance, a smile formed on his lips once more. “Well, I was wondering if…” he paused to take a breath and perhaps gain some confidence. “Would you like to go out on a date with me?”

As the words left his lips and the sound met my ears, shock fell upon my face. My mouth went dry as I scrambled to find the words to answer his question. When was the last time someone asked me on a date? How do people usually respond to these questions?

“Shit, I freaked you out. I know we just met…” he trailed off. My shock was obviously spreading to him in the form of insecurity as his eyes dropped from mine. My mind continued to race as I struggled to find the words to convey my feelings on the matter. Oh god, what if he regrets asking me out?

“I’m not freaked out,” the words tumbled from my mouth without thought. Jack’s eyes lifted from my tattered black converse. “Surprised maybe, but not freaked out,” I commented while sending a warm smile his way.

Jack’s smile mirrored mine once more, god he has a beautiful smile. Moment of truth, time to answer a question that might change my life forever. “I would love to go on a date with you,” I let out a shaky breath as relief filled my body once more.

“Really?” Jack beamed.

“Absolutely Jack,” happiness filled my entire body like a tingle as I watched the gorgeous hockey player’s excitement grow.

“It’s not too soon?” He rebounded quickly.

“Jack, not at all,” I let out a breathy chuckle. “Would I say yes to anyone who asked me out on the first day we met?” I paused for a moment as curiosity filled his eyes. “Definitely not, but there's something different about you, Jack Hughes,” I commented as I stared longingly into his eyes.

“There’s something different about you too Kira,” his voice was but a whisper as he leaned closer to me to brush a few stray hairs behind my ear. His eyes darted to my lips before meeting my gaze once again. Before I could nod in silent permission that he could kiss me, Nolan’s deep voice shook me from my thoughts.

“Yo Kira, your car is blocking Jayden in,” Nolan shouted as he approached us from the cabin. My eyes rolled back as Jack dropped his head in defeat. I let out an exasperated sigh, fucking Nolan.

“Okay, I’ll move it,” I called back before smiling softly at Jack once more before throwing the blanket off my lap and pulling myself from the chair. I guess I’ll have to wait for our date for another chance at a kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~

A whole 12-hours have passed since my late-night cuddles by the fire with Jack and with that, our first date grew closer. 12-hours felt like an eternity since I last saw Jack, I miss those blue eyes and his smile. Neither Jack nor I wanted to wait long to have our first date, so we planned to have it the very next day. Since I was the resident expert at the lake, I planned our date because I know all the good spots. I also have my family cabin to myself for the week, meaning there won’t be any more interruptions from anyone else, especially Nolan.

As the clock struck 2, I nervously climbed into my hatchback feeling my heart race as I pulled out of the gravel-road makeshift driveway by our cabin. The drive to Nolan’s cabin was short, mere minutes, this didn’t help ease my nerves as I stopped in front of his cabin. Getting out of my car, I rounded the front and leaned against the passenger side to wait for Jack. As I was waiting I started nervously picking my nails, a bad habit I picked up many years before. Pulled from my thoughts as I heard the cabin door swing open, I glanced up and was graced with Jack’s heartstopping smile.

“Hey beautiful,” He smiled as he jogged down the few stairs on the deck and pulled me in for a hug before I could react. Inhaling for a moment as I felt his warmth, my nostrils were met with the soothing smell of his cologne, which could only be described as hot boy cologne.

Recovering from my initial shock, “don’t flatter me, I’m just in comfy clothes,” I retorted. Jack pulled away from our hug, I felt disappointment creep into my bones wanting to pull him closer once more. He eyed me skeptically before glancing down at my outfit; I was sporting lavender leggings with a matching sports bra and a loose white crop top.

“You make comfy clothes look good,” his voice filled with desire as he leaned in once more. He was so close that I could feel his breath dancing across my skin. “You look beautiful,” he whispered before pressing his lips to my cheek and pulling away. My hand shot up to my cheek, skin burning from where his lips once were.

Shaking myself from my momentary trance, I dropped my hand from my warm cheeks. “Well, let’s get going. You’re going to love this hike, it’s my favorite,” I commented as I made my way back to the driver's side to hop back in the car.

“Nice ride,” Jack commented as we were buckling in. Glancing up at him I sent him a warm smile as I started the vehicle before putting it in drive.

“I mean, it’s no Range Rover but it gets me from point a to point b,” I chuckled as we moved away from the cabin. Jack and I chatted comfortably on the short drive to the hiking trail, discussing the lake and its cutesy shops. I was focusing on the road but the few times I glanced over at Jack I caught him staring; he would always look away quickly but I did notice blush creeping up his neck. Maybe he had the first date jitters too.

Gripping the steering wheel tightly the rest of the short drive, I turned into the parking lot by the trail, relieved to see there weren’t any other cars parked. That meant the trail would be quiet, which is perfect for a first date. We both got out of the car as I made my way to the trunk to pull out the small backpack I brought with me. Jack offered to carry it as I reached back into the trunk for the bug spray.

“Did you use bug spray?” I asked softly. Jack scrunched up his face, clearly unhappy to see the repellent.

“No, I hate that stuff,” he mockingly gagged as I shook the can at him. I let out a laugh, my nerves slightly easing at his distaste.

“Well, unless you want to be eaten alive, I would use it,” I commented as I stepped back from him to spray myself down. Once I was done I handed him the can which he reluctantly accepted.

“This is necessary?” he questioned as he hesitated with the spray.

“Welcome to Canada,” I joked as I nodded my head. He sprayed himself with the bug protectant before tossing it back in my trunk. We locked up the car and headed over to the start of the trail just off the parking lot.

“So, you bring a lot of first dates here?” he teased. My cheeks felt flush as I glanced up at the hockey player who was towering over me. After staring into his eyes for a moment I determined that he was joking, we’re still figuring out these quirks about each other.

“Only the ones who are worth it,” I shot back as we started making our way onto the trail. “So my family normally comes on this trail every summer. It’s not super long or uphill but there is a gorgeous lookout point about halfway through,” I explained as Jack and I matched each other's pace. He seemed to enjoy my explanation, listening eagerly when I told him the story of how our family dog jumped into the pond on the side of the trail when she saw a butterfly one year.

“I see why you like this hike,” Jack commented. His voice was a little shaky in a way I didn’t recognize. “Worth it for the bug spray,” he chuckled. I let out a snicker at his clear hatred of bug repellent.

“You lived in Canada before, this can’t be your first experience with bug spray,” I teased. As we continued on the trail I started picking at the hem of my shirt, noticing a few rouge strings pulling away from the material.

“Doesn’t mean I like it, it feels greasy,” he scoffed. I nodded in agreement, he wasn’t wrong. As we rounded a corner venturing deeper into the trees, I stepped over a large tree root.

“Just be careful,” I commented, glancing up at Jack who was staring at me intently. “There are a lot of roots to watch out for…” I trailed off. Just as I was warning Jack about the trail I caught him catching a tree root with his shoe out of the corner of my eye. As Jack started to tumble down I instinctively reached out to grab him with both arms. He gripped my arms tightly as he went down on one knee, his cheeks were red when he met my gaze once more. “Are you okay?”

He took a moment, “Yeah, just my first time walking,” he joked sarcastically. I threw my head back in laughter for a moment before helping him get back on his feet. “Good to hear your laugh,” he smiled as he brushed himself off.

“I did try to warn you,” I feigned, throwing my hands up in mock defense.

“I just meant, you seemed…tense earlier,” he commented as he tried to gently find the words to point out my nerves. Pursing my lips I debated in my head for a moment, do I tell him?

“I’m a bit nervous,” I hesitantly replied, deciding to go with honesty.

Jack let out a long sigh of relief, “So am I, first dates ya know?”

“Oh I know,” I agreed as I felt the tension melt away from my body. Just admitting to the nerves helped relieve them.

“You have nothing to be nervous about Kira,” Jack’s voice was soft as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his side as we started to walk again.

“Oh yeah?” I questioned, glancing up at him in uncertainly.

“Yeah, I like you,” he stated matter of factly, so sure of himself. I do love the confidence, he’s not even cocky at all.

“I like you too,” I feel a smile spreading across my face as I glance at the ground making sure we don’t take a repeat tumble. We walked in comfortable silence for a few moments, Jack’s arm still wrapped around me tightly. “So, are you going to hold onto me for the rest of this hike?” I teased.

“I’m not falling again,” he joked sarcastically. I echoed his laughter, feeling bold I wrapped my arm around his lower back as we continued walking. We spent the rest of the hike with our arms wrapped around each other, not caring that doing so slowed down our pace significantly. We just enjoyed being close to each other, it felt comfortable. The silence in the trees was filled with our discussions about our favorite summer memories with our families, he shared a lot about his summers in Michigan and I feel that I grew to know him even more with those stories. Despite being so hesitant yesterday, Jack was easily proving that we could have a normal connection despite his hockey superstardom.

After our hike, we planned to head back to my cabin for dinner. As we parked out front and pulled ourselves from the vehicle an idea crept into my mind. “Still feel greasy from the bug spray?” I questioned as he shut my car door. Nodding his head vigorously he swiped some of the bug spray off his arm as evidence. “You know we could go for a quick swim?” I gestured to the water just off the cabin. My family was lucky enough to have a lakeside cabin with a private dock that I spent most of my summers sitting on.

“I don’t have my swim trunks,” Jack commented hesitantly. I smirked at him for a moment before I started toying with the bottom of my shirt.

“That’s never stopped me before,” I teased before pulling my crop top off and tossing it at the hockey player. Jack’s eyes were wide for a moment as he mentally processed the shock from the shirt hitting him in the chest. He was quiet for a moment as I stared at him, hands on my hips waiting for his response.

“Yeah, I’m in,” he shrugged as a playful smile grew on his lips. We both quickly shed the rest of our clothes before we were left standing with him in his briefs and me in my underwear. Thank the gods that I chose cute underwear today. We both stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, I had to try very hard to not openly gawk at his abs. Damn, he is gorgeous.

After taking in all of his beauty, a sly smile crept onto my face. “Race ya,” I shouted without warning as I took off for the water. Jack chased after me as I shot across the grass and to the wooden dock. I should’ve known he would be faster than me, I thought as he quickly caught up to me. He grabbed me around the waist, lifting me off the ground to spin me around. I couldn’t help the fit of laughter that spread through me as Jack twirled around while I was safely in his arms. “Jack, put me down,” I playfully smacked his shoulder as he carried me towards the edge of the dock.

A mischievous smile crept onto his lips that let me know that it was payback time. “Put you down? Are you sure?” He taunted as he held me over the water. I clung to him tightly as nerves spread through my body. He better not.

“Jacky don’t!” I pleaded as he swung me over the water haphazardly. He was obviously having a good time with this, laughing as I clung to him like a fearful koala bear. “Jacky please!” I begged.

“Only because you asked so nicely,” his voice dripped with sarcasm as he set me down on my two feet. I instantly stepped out of his hold and crossed my arms over my chest, inadvertently pushing my boobs up which caught Jack’s attention. Smirking as I noticed his distraction I quickly shifted all my weight forward and shoved him off the dock; I knew it was deep enough to be safe, having jumped off this dock my whole life.

“Shit!” he cried out as he stumbled backwards into the water, fully submerging beneath the surface. He emerged within seconds, a pouty look forming on his face. “That wasn’t very nice,” he whined. I chuckled, crouching to my knees to lean over the edge of the dock.

“Sorry Jacky,” I mirrored his pout. Before I knew what hit me, he smacked his arms against the water to splash me. Letting out a small scream as the cold water hit my skin, “meany,” I pouted.

“Sorry babe,” he teased but I didn’t care. Hearing the pet name shot butterflies to my heart and maybe elsewhere. He reached his hand out for me, which I naively assumed was to pull him out of the water. Using all of his strength, he pulled me off the dock and into the water as I crashed into him. Pushing my hair out of my eyes and sputtering water as I emerged from the surface, I gave him a playful shove.

“I can’t believe you did that,” I huffed as I sent some water splashing his way.

“I can’t believe you fell for that,” he said between fits of laughter.

“Oh yeah, very funny,” I scoffed as I treaded water. “I thought you liked me,” mock sadness filled my voice.

“Babe, I like you, like a lot,” Jack commented as he swam closer to me, catching me with his arm and pulling me to his firm muscular body. My hands rested on his bare chest as I felt the butterflies once more. There we were staring into each other’s eyes on a beautiful summer day in the water. I couldn’t help but feel this wouldn’t be the last time this happened.

“I like you alot too,” I smiled softly. “But only if you stop splashing me,” I followed up quickly as I traced random shapes on his chest.

“Deal,” he snickered. We spent the better part of an hour swimming around, laughing, inevitably splashing each other more, and drying off in the sun on the dock. Our conversations continued to get deeper as we surpassed the surface level aspects of getting to know each other. He listened intently while I explained why I wanted a career where I could help people. I couldn’t hide my smile as he described having his dreams come true when he was drafted, hockey clearly brought him so much joy. We spent time discussing different sports we loved playing, and even more importantly, the sports teams we loved watching.

Our conversation never died down or got boring, I never want this date to end. After a while, my stomach started to grumble. I decided it was better to get started on supper before I got hangry as I shifted from Jack’s arms and pulled myself to my feet. Offering my hand to him to help him up, “how do you feel about steak?” I asked once he was on his feet towering over me once again.

“Like you might be my dream girl,” he smiled as we wrapped our arms around each other and walked off the dock together.

“Good, I might need your help with the broccoli though. It’s pretty tricky,” I joked sarcastically knowing it would get a rise out of Jack. Jack stopped dead in his tracks, stopping me with him.

“Did Nico tell you about that?” his voice was full of embarrassment. I smiled and leaned into him, wrapping my other arm around his waist as I nodded.

“I think it’s cute though,” I reassured him as he let out a sigh of relief as we stopped to collect our clothes before heading inside.

Once we were back in comfortable dry clothing, we got started on supper. Jack was surprisingly helpful in the kitchen, washing the lettuce and putting together a salad with my guidance. He was incredibly impressed that I could work a grill as well as I could and gave me endless compliments on my steak. Even joking that I needed to come live in Jersey to cook for him during the season. The dinner conversation was comfortable as we chatted about my plans for my final year of school, my tattoos, what it’s like to travel so much in the league, and our surprising shared love for fantasy football. Jack very passionately described all the fantasy leagues he is in while he cleaned up the whole meal. He insisted I sit down while he washed the dishes because I cooked such an amazing meal.

“A man who does chores, you truly know the way to my heart,” I joked as he topped up my glass of wine and started cleaning.

When everything was dried and put away, I felt dread seep through me, not wanting the night to end. I suggested we go sit on the dock to watch the sun set, an opportunity that Jack eagerly jumped on. So we dragged deck chairs down to the dock and comfortably settled in as the sun made way for the stars.

We sat in comfortable silence, my feet dangling in Jack's lap as he traced shapes on my ankles over some of my tattoos. He broke the silence first, “This connection is crazy.”

“Hmm,” I hummed as I tore my gaze away from the sun setting on the water to pay attention to Jack.

“The connection between us,” he reiterated. “I don’t know how you feel, but it feels strong to me,” he commented as his hands stilled on my legs. His gaze was soft, reassuring.

“I feel it too, feels like we’ve known each other way longer,” I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear as I leaned back in my chair. “I feel comfortable with you.”

“Me too,” he smiled while giving my leg a little pinch, maybe to reassure me. I have never felt so comfortable with a man this quickly, not in any of my past relationships. It feels like there is this force pulling Jack and I closer, it’s what’s made our connection so strong. This feels so different for me, maybe he’s different from the other guys. I have a feeling he is. “Kira?” Jack’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts as I let out a shaky breath. “You okay?”

Nodding silently, I try to muster up whatever courage I have within myself. “I was nervous today,” I start, Jack nods encouraging me to continue. “I was nervous because…” I pause for a moment and take a deep breath. Jack pulls me from my chair and into his lap, his arms feel like home. “Well, my last relationship ended quite badly. He really hurt me, I think intentionally and it’s just…just hard for me to open up to people,” letting out a shaky sigh as the words tumble out of me. It feels freeing actually, getting all that out, so it isn’t a secret looming over me.

Jack shifts me in his lap so I can meet his eyes, “I don’t know what happened in your last relationship, but Kira, I promise you I will never do anything to intentionally hurt you,” his words pierced my soul as his thumb grazed my cheek. “I can’t guarantee I won’t fuck up sometimes, but I will do everything in my power to make you happy.”

His eyes were locked on mine as I melted into his touch. “I know you will Jacky, I feel comfortable around you,” my voice is small as my eyes break from his and dart to his lips. He seems to pick up on my gesture as he takes my face in his hands.

“Can I kiss you?” Jack asks gently. I bite down on my lip to try to hide my smile as I nod my head. Time stops as Jack leans down to connect his lips to mine, his lips are warm against my own as they move in unison. Jack’s tongue ran across my own as I granted him entrance; he tastes sweet, like the wine we were sharing earlier. Our lips locked for a while before we both pulled away for air, huffing as we did so.

“That was…” I trailed off, resting my forehead against Jack’s.

“Pretty damn amazing,” Jack finished my sentence. We stayed like that for a while, foreheads resting on one another; the sunset in the distance long forgotten.

“You know,” Jack’s voice broke through the comfortable silence. “You got to plan our first date, it was cool to see your favorite spots,” his breath tickled my skin as we remained close.

“I’m glad you liked it,” I smiled as I pecked his lips gently.

“This just means that I need to plan a date where I show you my favorite spots in Michigan,” he smiled as a playful energy danced through his eyes.

“Bold of you to assume there will be a second date,” I teased. Jack threw his head back in laughter, enjoying the playful jokes we were already comfortable sharing.

“If you’ll have me,” he pouted jokingly.

“Oh I guess, if I must,” I mocked, unable to hide my smile.

“If you must,” Jack scoffed as he brought his lips back down to mine. Resuming our passionate makeout session, pulling away a few minutes later we were both panting like teenagers with no stamina.

“Okay, fine. I’ll go on another date with you,” I commented as our lips were still attached.

Jack smirked against my lips, “Good, glad I could convince you.”

“You are very convincing,” I said before pulling him in for more. We spent the rest of the night kissing and cuddling underneath the stars, enjoying each other’s company and growing closer than I ever imagined.

It’s hard to believe this was only our first date, everything is so comfortable between us. Feeling hopeful that there would be another date with the gorgeous hockey player, I can finally smile when thinking about meeting someone when I least expect it. Jack truly came into my life when I didn’t expect it and I hope that he’s here to stay.

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flamingskull28 · 2 months

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3 paced back in forth in front of her usual seat in Alterna, the extra chilly air nor the aches caused by lack of sleep did little to deter this.

"4... she..she hasn't called or texted in weeks.. She's never missed a call not even at night." The squid sisters listed to the rambling of their captain, she was rarely so chatty or scared so they weren't going to brush this aside.

"Come on, remember she went with Off the Hook and 8 right? She's fine Cap.." Callie couldn't help but grimace seeing 3's worry for their girlfriend.

"Yeah weeks ago! We haven't heard from them either! Plus don't you remember you and have of Splatsville being unresponsive for a few days?!" 3 kicked the box they usually sat on then cluched their foot from the pain. She looked at Callie and Marie's blank states and sighed "Sorry... I'm just worried... I miss 4." Her voice whined almost patheticly as she spoke.

"We understand, don't worry okay? How about this, we go out looking for-" Marie was cut off by the high pitch yell of a nearby kettle, the one to enter Alterna specifically.

3 shot up to look over, the longing feeling in hee chest being pushed away by joy as she saw 4 standing there. The girl took a second to get her barring then spied 3 and dashed forth without hesitating. "3!"

3 was almost knocked over by the hug, which she returned tightly. "4... I missed you..." 3 spoke muffled into 4's shoulder.

"I.. missed you too 3." 4 pulled away from the hug and 3 let out a gasp seeing their face up close.

Marks of an electric burn were etched into her face. Her eyes seemed to be the leading point for this.

"What happened to you!?" 3 grabbed 4's head. Behind them Callie and Maire gasped as well.

4 was silent and fixed her gaze to the floor. 3 bit her lip, this seemed all to familiar...

"I.. think I can explain." Marina had appeared to, but hadn't been noticed. 3 glared up at Marina, stareing daggers into their soul at the idea she was responsible. Marina cleared her throat nervously.

"Well.. as you know I wanted 4's help with my Memverse project, it was meant to help the sanitized gain their memory's back.. but a Rouge AI was born from the wish for an unchanging world of the engineers that helped me... the AI know as order trapped me, Pearl 8 and 4 in the simulation. Since 4 was meant to be security for the spiral, order controled 4 used them as a sort of boss to keep 8 from stopping them... 8 manged to beat them a few times. I think that might've caused her real life headset to overload slightly and... burn 4 slightly."

4 stayed quiet as Marina explained, pulling herself closer to 3 who held them tighter in response.

"4 is..is. this true?"

She nodded. 3 felt a flurry of emotions hit her, rage, grief and slight relief that 4 was okay. Part of her wanted to stomp Marinas head in but.. she knew it wasn't their fault. It had always been one of 3's nightmares that 4 would be controlled as she was, being by an AI made it worse. She'd make sure that thing paid but for now...

"4 I was you to listen to me, I'm here for you. You are your own person and no one is going to take that from you okay? I promise." 3 spoke the words she wished were told to her. She also gave her signature glare at the others signaling them to leave which they did quickly.

"I..." 4 paused, the liquid from her tears soaking into 3's sleeve "I love you... please... stay with me for a while..." 3 squeezed her tighter.

"I love you too, and I won't be going anywhere... just like you did for me..." the two sat their unmoving. That was okay with 3, she wouldn't let 4 go through this hell alone.

#splatoon #agent 4 #agent 3 #agent 12 #splatoon 2 #callie and marie #Marina #new squidbeak splatoon #agent 4 side order #side order #parallel canon #angst #trama

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ros3ybabe · 8 months

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Do you have any study tips for people who find it hard to concentrate for long periods of time, or just struggle to even sit down and focus?

Hi! I'm so sorry for the late answer, I've been busy with classwork, curating my schedule for the next few weeks, and just life in general.

I myself struggle to sit down and focus and have trouble concentrating for long periods of time. Everyone works differently and some things may not be helpful to everyone, just a disclaimer!

Something I do that really helps me is to have a set "ritual" I do every time I need to or at least know I need to do school work or productive things that I personally want to do.

My current "ritual" includes the following, in order:

Make a cup of my preferred drink (currently iced coffee with one sweet n low and French vanilla creamer) + grab a glass or bottle of water

Set out all my necessary materiales (studying ex: textbooks, stationary, technology, planner, etc)

Take a deep breath

Write out a todo list that is managable for what I want/need to accomplish

Flick on my desk lamp

Begin the first step for the first talk (open textbook, go to website, write out note title, etc)

My brain got into the habit of "lamp flicks on, sip of coffee, time to work" and it became very automated.

Lately, I've tried to spread out my necessary tasks out throughout a week (within necessary due dates) with daily planning for flexibility of my schedule and whatever things pop up. I believe being flexible with scheduling tasks helps a lot because sometimes I have more energy on some days than others, and other times, I need to allocate energy to other priorities.

For concentrating for long periods of time, I try to figure out my limits, and do whatever I can to work with myself and not against myself. I have severe unmedicated ADHD (as well as other things mentally) and I've learned to listen to my brain and body as best I can.

I can not concentrate if my phone is not near me or within eyesight when I study. I will be too preoccupied thinking about my phone and any missed notifications if I can't see my phone. Answering texts and calls while doing homework does not interfere with my productivity as it takes me a few seconds to type out a message and hit send or answer a call and listen/explain that I'm busy. (it's usually my dad who calls me, and I have no problem stopping my work to talk to my dad).

I need caffiene to give me that push to start. Once I taste my coffee, I know it's time to crack down on my assignments and start focusing on my work.

Background noise!! Very rarely can I listen to music when working at home, so I usually have a comfort show or some youtube video playing in the background while I do work. When I'm on campus, I listen to a specific playlist while doing schoolwork, usually more mellow music like Lana Del Ray, The Neighborhood, Chase Atlantic, MARINA, Mitski, Arctic Monkeys, Mother Mother, Cigarettes After Sex, beebadoobee, Taylor Swift etc. I normally listen to K-pop, but my favorite songs are too upbeat for getting work done.

I try not to watch the clock or set a timer because I never really know how long some assignments will take and if I'm watching the time pass I tend to get anxious and then my mind will wander from the task at hand.

Water!! I have to remind myself all the time, but having water at my desk or study area keeps me hydrated, which keeps me focused and awake.

I try not to eat big meals right before I do work. If I do eat something substantial before I need to work, I always wait 30 to 60 minutes so I can perk back up and properly focus on my work.

Never push past my physical energy limits. If I'm falling asleep at my desk, if I'm yawning uncontrollably, if my body feels heavy with fatigue, I will not push myself past exhaustion as that is no longer healthily productive.

Sleep is a priority!! If I'm sleepy and tired and groggy, I can't work properly. When I'm low on sleep, I also tend to over do the caffiene and overeat, which makes me both uncontrollably anxious and shaky while also making me more lethargic, thus inhibiting my work ability.

Listening to my body and learning how I work best has been the most helpful in my concentration and productivity abilities. I know when I'm feeling off, how to determine what I need in order to feel more regulated and functional. Good, healthy habits and a little self intuition go a long way for me.

I hope this was helpful in some way. I didn't want to give generic or basic tips because this is not a one size fits all topic. I'm open to any other questions!!

Til next time, lovelies!! 🩷

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slashingdisneypasta · 1 year

Text

Dark!Disney Villains x Reader || Drabbles

Plots / Includes:

Possessive!Gaston x RegretfulLover!Reader- Your ex-lover who refused to marry you, who only wanted cheap sex from you, turns up at your wedding and takes you back.

Sultan!Jafar x Mistress!Reader- You're his very capable, and beloved, mistress.

Manipulative!Wheezy Weasel x Traumatised!Reader (x Offender!Greasy)- Wheezy likes to leave you alone with Greasy just so that you’ll appreciate him more when he, eventually, comes to save you.

Warnings: Colour coded! INTENSE VIOLENCE/BLOODY BEATING/BONES BREAKING, possession, sexism, creampie/breeding kink reference, Royal/Servant dynamics, Royal/Mistress dynamics, consensual smut, begging, AFAB reader, reader being VERY eager to please nasty old Jafar, sexual harassment, almost/intended rape (Greasy), mental and emotional manipulation, whatever its called when you let your sick perverted friend attack someone in order to manipulate them, possession, unhealthy attachment, and probably more.

Gaston:

How I loved those possessive hands of yours... - Marina Tsvetaeva

The way Gaston made his entrance was bad, slamming the doors open so hard that the walls actually shook behind him and some stone crumbled right off the old, weathered walls and hits the ground. Dust from the roof had descended after being disturbed like that as he stormed up the aisle to you and Castor.

But what he did next, was infinitely worse. The first punch was terrible, Gaston’s giant fist crashing against Castor’s cheek so hard you swear you heard the bone crack underneath the now bruised, tender skin. Your fiancé hits the marble floor but that’s not the end- no- that would be too easy. Too kind. And Gaston isn’t kind.

He’s selfish. And narcissistic. And cruel.

Your pleads fall on deaf ears, Gaston surely doesn’t care about your want to save the man you love and Castor cant hear you over his own blood curdling screams. Gaston is a monstrously large man, hard muscles bulging at the seams of his clothes, and Castor is totally out of his league- all he can do is lay there and sob as fists and feet teeth beat at him.

There’s blood all over Castor, coming out his nose, his ears, plastering his hair to his forehead, broken skin, and pools onto the ground. You’re not even sure where exactly the bulk of it’s coming from but it dyes the bottoms of your perfect white wedding shoes a deep, terrible scarlet. God, you didn’t think this would happen. You didn’t think Gaston would react like this.

“No!” The cry slips out of you as soon as the familiar door opens up the night before, and Gaston’s eyes fall on you- and then he reaches out and grabs you. Like you’re his, even after all this time and the distance you forced between the two of you. You gasp, his touch burning your skin now and making you really nauseous, and try to slip away again. “No, I- I’m… I didn’t come here- to do- for this… “

“Y/N.” Your name on his voice only make you feel worse, sicker. You shouldn’t have ever even been with him in the first place, you know that now. But what’s done is done and all you can do now is set things straight- if he’ll listen. He has to. “Of course, you did! Come on, come inside. I’ll pump you so full you’ll be leaking for days- that’s what you want. That’s what all whores want.”

Flinching at the name, and the vulgar language, you fight not to turn and just leave. Because he would follow you, and yell, and then you would be running away and you can’t show him that weakness. “N-No, I don’t. I just wanted- “

“I’ve missed this. When did you come back to town? Am I right to guess I’m your first stop? Of course!- “

“I came back… yesterday… I’m only here to tell you something about to tomorrow.”

At this Gaston stops tugging you to him, but doesn’t let you go. And that make you so nervous. “Yesterday?? What- “

“Tomorrow I’m getting married.” You say quickly, unable to wait anymore. You need to get this over with. And you need to leave. “In the church in town. I um.. I don’t think you should be there. I came to let you know, because… “Because the thought of seeing him on that day makes you feel sick. “I respect you.” You lie, instead of tell him the truth. “I thought maybe you would w-want to go hunting, o-or something, instead of going into town… “

“You’re… getting married… “

“He’s a good man.” Gaston’s blue eyes are suddenly positively venomous, and you quickly rip your arm out of his grip and step back. “G- Goodbye.”

Briskly you turn around and walk off, as fast as you can.

Should you have told him sooner? Should you… have moved away first? Should you never have even triedto move on and be happy?? Why is this happening, Gaston didn’t want you, why is he doing this!?-

Tears fill your eyes and slip uncontrollably down your cheeks and your whole-body wracks with sobs, and no one in the audience does a thing- Not to stop Gaston brutalizing Castor until he doesn’t move anymore- but doesn’t stop, even then. They all just stay in their seats and watch with you, because there’s nothing anyone could do. No one is as big as Gaston, no one as strong, no one as bloodthirsty.

Cracks and rips and horrible squelches fill the air… until Gaston’s knuckles tear open, and he has had enough.

You watch his back as he slowly straightens up again- his strong legs parted, and feet planted firmly to the floor- broad shoulders pushed back- veins bulging in his forearms… He’s terrifying, especially covered in Castor’s blood and tears, but you don’t look away until he turns to look at you. You can’t- You can’t look at his face-

“Ah- “Suddenly one of those large fists, that are soon to be covered in black and blue shades matching all of Castor’s body, encloses securely around your delicate wrist; So breakable and pathetic under his strength. He could snap your hand right off of your wrist if he wanted and god you’re shaking under his touch. “Gaston- please- no!- “

He rubs a soothing thumb into your skin. “Y/N… Don’t make me do that again. I allowed you to go away, but I think we both understood that when you came back… “Thankfully he lets you go, but only to trail his knuckles up and over your skin- until he gets to your neck, which he grabs. “You would be mine, again.”

Jafar:

I like the way you look at me. Like you are about to talk to me, or devour me, and I am fine with either. - N. R. Hart

As a servant in the palace, you’re never too far out of reach to him- and that’s the way he likes it. No commute, no waiting. You’re there for all his meetings, all his duties, all day long. You see everything that frustrates him and makes him need you, and he can just look at you a certain way- and you know that you’re to be in his bed by the time he’s able to excuse himself; Waiting patiently for him.

After seeing all the stress that he’s put through every day, and after so many nights with him, you’ve come to learn what he needs and when.

Tonight, you know you’ll have your work cut out for you. Your Sultan has had a long day, full of filthy nagging peasants, boring frustrating nobility, and that parrot squawking endlessly into his ear. He’s going to need you to be at your best, so you make sure to pick out his favourite garments - the blood red ones, - and light the incense that calms him before he arrives- slamming the door behind him and ranting.

“Did you hear that insufferable Prince?? I can’t be expected to remember every little diplomatic occasion between our two cities, I’m an exceedingly busy man, and there are many other cities, and- “It takes Jafar a couple of moments to look around and realise his surroundings. The way you’ve set up his room, the way you both like it with the candles and the correct pillows. Slowly he reveals a smirk, huffing out a little chuckle.” … my dear, you might be the only one who understands me.”

“Mhmm… “Humming, you trace your arms up and over his shoulders; Face nearing his. Noses rubbing together softly. Lips a breath apart from eachother. “You’ve had a hard day… Let me take care of you?~” You ask, ever-so-quietly, looking up into his eyes innocently, sweetly. Though you both know you’re anything but, and your offer is the furthest thing from either of those things.

His smirk broadens down at you, his favourite little minx, the dirty look taking over his whole face. “Why don’t you go ahead and try, pussycat?~”

Giving a little smirk back, you lean in gently and connect your lips- the kiss is hot, caught somewhere between soothing and sensual. Its not long though before Jafar has you thrust onto your back on the sleeping quarters. A moment after your head hits the soft material, you slip your own thumbs underneath the waistband of your bottoms, and watch the old Sultan’s wide eyes shine wickedly at your naughty intentions. “Sultan~… “

“Yes, servant? ~” When he calls you that, you can’t help the way your eyes light up. He knows you’re more then his servant, you’re the one person who can please him, but to devalue you to simple servant? A simple servant he just needs to force his cock into to relieve stress?? That makes you infinitely wet in your own lower area and you’re okay with it.

“… I’m all yours… if you need me… “

“Of course, you are…” His eyes positively resemble a hungry tigers eyes when you slip the garment down your hips and off your legs. He doesn’t even pretend he cares about anything else but your pussy anymore, eyes glued to your lower area. “All mine~” The last word is a sharp hiss, Jafar being taken over by the serpent inside.

Its not long before you’re a fucked-out mess, desperate and jumbled up as he thrusts you both towards orgasms. His long cock reaches and fills you like no other man’s has before and his movements are very deliberate, every stroke a calculated and purposeful attack. Your back arches up above the pillows into him like a feline and your fingers clench the materials tightly beneath you as your face turns and buries half into the blankets. “Jafa- “Allah, no. Not Jafar. Sultan… Sultan… Sultan… he likes Sultan. “N- S- Sultan! M-Masster-… I- “

“Hold on there, my dear~… “He grins, giving a particularly fluid grind into you. “You’re not finished just yet… “

“You’re- “Perfect. “I- “Need you. “Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,” You whine for him, cheeks burning hot and losing your voice as it whithers away to a breathy whisper. “Please please please… Sultan… Master… Lord… “Whatever he wants to hear, whatever he wants you to moan- you’ll find it and you’ll give it to him. You love this and you’re devoted to him, and this is why you’re his favourite.

Once its over, Jafar tells you that you were very good. You served him exceptionally well tonight and you, my dear, will be rewarded. Freshen yourself up, though- because your task is not complete. There are a few more things he needs you to do.

Wheezy Weasel:

Its alarming honestly, how charming she can be. - Carmen, Lana Del Ray

“Mi vida~“

As soon as the kitchen door closes behind Smartass and Wheezy after dinner, leaving you and Greasy alone- he’s on you. Your breath hitches and your eyes widen, because you thought he left with the others but apparently he laid wait, patiently staying back to be alone with you while you clean the dishes. As soon as Greasy’s hands grip onto your hips, you squeeze your eyes tightly shut, and just pray that Wheezy gets back soon. Where did he go? Why did he go? Why did he leave you by yourself in this house? Again?-

Is he upset that you were talking about going away to college? Sure, he’s going to miss you… and you’ll miss him!- But you thought the opportunity was just too good to pass up… maybe this is punishment-

“Greasy… please… I just- “Afterall, Greasy is always like this. Always reaching, always grabbing. Wheezy knows it!-

“I know, I know~ I’ll be quiet. Wheezy won’t hear anything.” Already his fingers and slipping beneath the waistband of your trousers, brushing at the soft skin hidden beneath. And you can’t help but flinch- when his repulsive, hot breath gets in your ear. “Shhh… “

“No, that’s not- “

“Mm… Do not fight this, bella~ “He speaks lowly into your ear, making it sticky. Instead of digging in further down your pants immediately though, thankfully, Greasy decides to move his hands up; Rubbing slowly up and down your sides and pressing his body into your back. It makes you shudder in disgust, every nerve ending in your body screaming to get away- but you’re too weak. Too tame. Too timid- all you can do is push yourself in closer to the sink to get away from him. Wheezy please, please, please, please come back, you plead, in your mind. “I promise~ I will make this as pleasurable for you as possible~”

He rubs over your stomach, too, and your thighs and your chest, just claiming every bit of you that he can while he has a chance. Meanwhile you wince and grimace, disgusted by the feeling of his hands all over you but too scared to dare speak-

Suddenly Greasy whips you around, your hands that are covered in soap and bubbles from starting the dishes not at all a bother to him as he digs your ass back into the sink, now. He gives a familiar, horrible smirk- and-

“… The hell’s happening here?”

“Wheezy!” You gasp, relief absolutely flooding you as you see the tall smoker in the doorway past Greasy’s head, a dark look in his eyes as he gazes at the scene in front of him; Your cheeks damp from tears, stuck between the sink and Greasy’s hips, with his fingertips digging into your skin under your shirt.

You open your mouth to respond to him, tell him to please please just help you, you need him, but Greasy beats you to the punch. “Nada, mi amigo! Absolutely nothing to worry about, Y/N and I are just having some fun with the bubbles~ Just go about your business.”

Wheezy’s cold grey eyes assess the situation in front of him a moment longer, lips curling into a deeply dissatisfied frown, like he tastes something bad.

“… Mm, nah, I don’t think so. Y/N, why dontcha step away from the sink and come with me?... ” Those eyes turn darkly on Greasy, then. “Greasy can do the dishes for ya, tonight.”

For a moment the two just glare at eachother, one glare as frosty as snow and the other as frustrated as hell and you’re humiliated because Greasy’s hands are still digging into your fleshy waist and his hard crotch is still digging into you and you’re an unpleasant, wet mess. You hope Wheezy doesn’t know that- that he cant tell that you’re-

… Finally, Greasy lets his hands slide out of your shirt and steps back. “Fine… Next time, Bella~” The thought make you shudder, as you cross your arms over your chest and pass him. Wheezy lightly touches your waist as you pass him through the doorway, still glaring the other man down, before he lets the door close behind you both and pulls you into a hug immediately.

As soon as your face is buried in his greying shirt, his good one supposedly, enveloped by the suffocating smell of tobacco, you feel safe. A sigh comes out of you, as Wheezy rubs roughly up and down your back. “’S, okay, toots… I got ya now… “

You pull back, eyes teary and wide, to look at up at him as you grip his shirt desperately. “Why did you leave me?? I- I’ve told you he- He does that. He always does that when you leave. Please, you can’t- you can’t leave me anymore- “

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, it won’t happen again,” He assures, a begging tone to his voice and a certain, solemn look in his eyes. Like, believe me. Please sweetheart. I would never let this happen to you.

You believe him. You believe him every time.

Sniffling, you bury your face back in his shirt. “I can’t… I can’t handle it anymore… “

“I wish I could keep you safe all the time,” He mutters, shaking his head as his chin rests on your crown; Just holding you.

“… at least I have you.” You sigh, totally melting into him. Because you’re sure, because you know- you’re safe with him. Men have always pushed you around, tried to hurt you and have their way with you like Greasy, but you finally found a man that’s different. Who will take care of you and who loves you, and is… good. You trust Wheezy entirely. Can you… risk that? By going away? “I think I need you with me, Wheezy… always… I- I… I don’t think I can go away… “The last part, you whisper so quietly. You’re afraid that if you say it louder, then you’ll be locked into it.

Because you so want to go! Stay away, all on your own, at a college! Get to meet knew people, experience knew things, and learn! But… can you do that without Wheezy?? Can you live without him?

“What was that?” He prompts, wanting you to say it again because he didn’t hear you. Louder.

Wincing, you lift your mouth away from his shirt and speak a little bit louder. “I think I’m staying here with you, now… You keep me safe.” Quickly then, you rebury yourself.

“… Always, princess. I’ll always keep you safe.”

With his chin propped on the top of your head, you don’t see the self-satisfied grin on his face. Damn, he can always rely on Greasy, can’t he?

#Dark Disney Drabbles #Dark!Disney Villains x Reader Drabbles #Disney Villains x Reader Drabbles #Drabbles #Dark!Disney Villains x Reader #Disney Villains x Reader #Disney Villains #Disney Gaston #Disney Gaston x Reader #Disney Jafar #Disney Jafar x Reader #Wheezy Weasel #Wheezy Weasel x Reader

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gumikpxp · 1 year

Text

Never Gonna Happen - C.BG

Rocker AU

pairing: Radiohost!Gyu x (f)Rocker!Reader

Warning: Cursing, Bad Humor, Teasing, Slight bullying.

Synopsis: She's your modern day hannah montana. a goody too shoes to everyone who knows her, the perfect golden girl during the day. but when she's alone she's anything but allowing herself to let go of her perfect reputation. Then theirs beomgyu who's proudly part of the band txt and radio host of the schools most popular station. He hates her, but shes utterly enamored by him.

Chapter 2. interview?

Beomgyu dropped his bag on the cafeteria floor taking a seat off at the table with a huff.

"remind me what we are doing in here again?" Beomgyu spoke glaring at yeonjun who was currently filtering with a group of girls only a few feet away from them, even having the audacity to sign one of their phone cases. "And why is he always doing that?"

"Kai was hungry and they had pizza today. and Yeonjun just like to get his ego stroked." Taehyun answered as he looked over his math work. Kai hummed as he took a bite out of the abnormally large slice of pizza he was served and soobin was seemingly stared off in space in somewhat of a deep thought.

"so Gyu i was thinking for toxdo, we should try something new, our listeners are pretty good right now but a good way to bring in more audience is to talk about the new buzz." Soobin told him and beomgyu nodded.

Most ideas for the show went through beomgyu cause even though Soobin was the leader of the band, Beomgyu was in charge of organizing and being the main host for their show. Usually accompanied by only one or at most two of his members on the show depending on the day and everyone's schedule.

"okay.. what's the new buzz?" Beomgyu asked since he has been practically a zombie all day ignoring everyone around him.

"The Love Abusers, ever since the night at the club they're all people have been talking about. They're new and no one knows a thing about them. Not to mention no one has seen a single one of the members before and that's pretty rare. Our town isn't the biggest." Soobin spoke as he opened up their notebook for the show that had a list of ideas none of them quite hitting the spot in what they felt was needed.

"Wouldn't that make them out competition? why would we give them yet another platform?" Beomgyu asked not quite trashing the idea only questioning it.

"Not everything's a competition Gyu, remember we make music and host a show cause we like it and it's fun, not to be the best." Kai said wiping some of the marina sauce he got on his mouth with his sleeve.

"Kai gross you have a napkin." Taehyun grimaced. "Soobin what if they don't want an interview? i mean they did stay hidden for a reason. what makes you think they want to be known now of all times?" Taehyun added to the conversation and soobin seemed to be stumped with the question crossing the idea off of the paper.

"Because they finally performed. They brought the light on themselves when they went to the club and introduced their band to the world. Plus it never hurts to ask. I like the idea soob." Yeonjun commented the second he joined the conversation. How he heard it? their not sure but none of the boys would ever understand how yeonjun does half the stuff he does.

"Fine, we can ask. only because i am fully stumped and i really really didn't want to go with kai introducing all his plushies to the world." Beomgyu sighs in acceptance however it left kai a bit heartbroken as yeonjun comforted the youngest.

The boys entered the club that thursday on a mission. Everyone in the club was surprised to see them as they never came to the club when they didn't have a performance planned.

"Soobin! boys? what are you guys doing here?" Jisoo asked and soobin smiled at the owner of the club bashfully.

"Hey Jisoo, nothing much we just had no plans today thought we'd come and see the performance today. See what else the new group has up their sleeves." Soobin said and Jisoo rolled her eyes and the boys.

"so you staking the out the competition?" she asked.

"Told you they were our comp." Gyu mumbled and taehyun elbowed his ribs in response earning curses from the long haired boy.

"Well sorry to break it to you but your usual Table is taken by Kat and her group." Jisoo smiled motioning towards the table the boys were all confused until the noticed the familiar girl band sitting in their seats.

"This is really starting to feel like a competition." Yeonjun mumbled.

"Not really we can't expect the table to be free when we are expected to show up." Soobin told them and Jisoo nodded leaded the boys over to a booth a few tables away from the girls.

"Alright we'll get comfortable i gotta go introduce the group." Jisoo said as a waiter came up to the boys placing a tray with their usual drinks in the table.

"Alright everyone! It's the hour you've all been waiting for! They seem to have stolen the hearts of many and it's only their second show here at the bar. Let's welcome to the stage.. The Love Abusers!!."

The club erupted in cheers surprising the boys as the girls all left their booth and got to the stage situating theirselves with the instruments. However it seemed the lead singer ignored her guitar and situated herself behind a keyboard as their bassist grabbed the guitar.

"Hey guys.. it's great to be back, how's everyone night going?" the lead singer spoke again earning another cheer.

Beomgyu cleared his throat hearing the girls voice yet again. He definitely hates that feeling.

"It's been three full days since we performed and Cas here seems to have gotten herself in some relationship drama." The girl spoke looking over to their bassist as she rolled her eyes and approached her mic.

"Oh please Kat, you can't say it's all that surprising." Cas spoke ranting hollers from the crowd as it was their first time hearing her voice.

"Definitely not, you see guys Cas isn't much of a saint... and because of that i've written just the song for her." Kat spoke as the drums picked up behind her and Cas started strumming.

"I've been a bad bad girl..." Kat started her eyes drifting to the boys of txt as she smirked. The crowd cheered at the beginning of the song.

"I've been careless with a delicate maaann..." her eyes left the group and they all looked at eachother.

"that's a dirty trick." Yeonjun huffed slouching in his seat not strong enough to admit that he liked the song.

Beomgyu took in the melody of the song. He sighed as he tried to wrap his head around the fact that the song was written in about 3 days and already sounds this good.

"Well they have talent. Where have the been hiding?" Taehyun asked and they all shrugged.

"i guess we know what to ask when we interview them." Beomgyu said and they all looked at him.

"oh so now you're very into the idea of interviewing them." Kai mumbled as he drank his limonade.

Beomgyu shrugged. "They're interesting."

"He's definitely got a boner for the lead singer." Yeonjun scoffed.

"shut up!" Beomgyu groaned throwing a salt packet at the older.

"What i need is a good defense, cause i'm feeling like a criminal, and i need to be redeemed to the the one i sinned against because he's all i ever knew of love..." She finished the lyrics off as the song began closing.

the crowd erupted in cheers and they chuckled as cas spoke in the mic. "Look at us gaining popularity off of my commitment issues." Cas joked and the drummer laughed.

"Never tell Kat she can write a song about your love life because she'll drag you through the dirt." The drummer spoke.

"Awe JJ you know that's not true... okay maybe a bit." Kat smiled as the audience listened to their batter on stage.

"Speaking of JJ, didn't she write one for you too?" Cas asked and Kat put her hand in her hands.

"hm.. you know what your right she did, care to share it with the class Kat?" JJ asked with a smile and Kat nodded leaving the keyboard taking her guitar from Cas as Cas went to her Bass.

"my love i missed you." Kat spoke kissing her guitar.

"if that's not beomgyu i don't know what is." Taehyun teased and beomgyu rolled his eyes.

She sighed and began strumming. "Everyone this is Bite me." JJ announced.

"Don't act so innocent this was no accident, You planned this in the end and now it's over.."

"they seem so natural.." Soobin mumbled confused since they were suppose to be rookies.

"definitely they're very comfortable on the stage."

"Beomgyu ask!" Kai mumbled and he shook his head.

"What? me no it was soobin a idea!"

"Oh jeez move you losers..." Yeonjun mumbled. "Hey! Love Abusers... Come here!" Yeonjun waved the girls over and they smiled walking over.

"If it isn't TXT.. coming to see our set? how nice." Cas smiled at the boys.

"Ah so you know us?" Yeonjun smirked at the girl and she scoffed.

"It's not a very big town." She told him and taehyun nodded at that.

"And yet you guys stayed hidden quite well, you're very comfortable on stage you know that?" Taehyun said to the girls and they looked at him.

"we have a very nice garage." JJ retorted crossing her arms feeling a bit hostility from the shorter.

"We'd like to interview you guys, for our Radio show it's called toxdo have you heard of it?" Beomgyu asked wanting to end the conversation his eyes glancing towards kat who off stage seemed a bit timid and was the smallest of her group.

"like we said, small town word gets around. We've heard of it." JJ smiled and beomgyu nodded.

"Are you interested than?"

the girls looked at kat and she nodded.

"Sure, here's my number i'll text you later tonight about it, it's tomorrow right?" JJ asked giving her number to beomgyu and he nodded.

a ringing went through all their ears and Kats eyes widen checking her phone.

"We've gotta go. Like now." Kat said and the girls nodded.

"See you guys tomorrow!" The girls waved as they rushed out the club.

the boys looked at each other from the odd exchanged but shrugged. They got the interview.

songs of the chapter.

Criminal- Fiona Apple

Bite Me- Avril Lavigne

#txt soobin #txt fanfic #txt heuningkai #txt yeonjun #txt angst #txt #txt smut #txt fluff #txt taehyun #txt beomgyu

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buriedabove · 2 months

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❯ SONG CHALLENGE. Share at least 5 songs that you associate with or remind you of your muse.

BURIED ABOVE GROUND, GILES COREY There’s a devil on my back ( … ) I’ve been wailing like a child / At the bottom of a well / I’ve been pacing like a man / In a prison cell / I get buried above the ground

If I were to choose a theme song for him, that would be it. The stagnancy causing the impression that he’s barely making any progress and the overall feeling of numbness are elements I keep accentuating in his characterisation & what always strikes me the most in this song is the last line about being buried above the ground. He isn’t yet dead, officially, but he feels like he’s already used up his time on earth and now he’s nothing but a walking corpse, stuck in his vicious cycles and crying out for help when nobody is listening.

OBSESSIONS, MARINA People are staring, time ticker-quicking, skin is on fire ( … ) We’ve got obsessions / I wanna erase every nasty thought / That bugs me every day of every week ( … ) You never told me what it was that made you strong / And what it was that made you weak

Leon’s got a terrible tendency for doing things obsessively, especially when it comes to picking apart the past. Although he wouldn’t admit it openly, he is concerned with how other people view him and he doesn’t hold himself in the highest regard once he’s starting to think about it more than a healthy amount. He always feels like someone is watching his every single move & judging him for each twitch and quiver. His mind usually is occupied by rumination far from positive, and he obsessively tries to oust it, but to no avail. While he’s hung up on memories, rarely does he make the bold move to open up to someone about how his experiences shaped him.

BULLET PROOF… I WISH I WAS, RADIOHEAD Every day, every hour / Wish that I... was bulletproof ( … ) You have turned me into this / Just wish that it / Was bulletproof ( … ) So, pay me money and take a shot / Lead, fill the hole in me

Despite standing tall against all odds and taking on the struggles thrown his way with a brave face, it’s mostly an act. Not indestructible nor unbreakable, though he wishes he could be. Only so much he can put his body through, only so much he can put his psyche through. But he no longer feels like a person; he’s losing the grip on who he really is. They made him into this, that toy soldier taking every hit & shot fired. With how disconnected he is from himself, he doesn’t care what happens to him and how it may affect him. He’s not his own person anymore, they made him sign his life away.

GRAVEYARD WHISTLING, NOTHING BUT THIEVES No one’s getting younger / Would you like a souvenir? ( … ) ‘Cause if you don't believe / Then you know, then you know, it can never do you harm / If you don’t believe / It can’t hurt you

I consider that one more fitting for older Leon, who happens to be looking back at his life from a slightly different perspective. Perhaps less regret and resentment is clouding his vision for once, so he can finally take the examination of conscience in his stride. The factor of faith also comes into the picture. He doesn’t have a god he prays to and doubts the force majeure. Because if he shoves it aside & makes himself a nonbeliever, then it means it cannot touch him. And if death were to come, he shouldn’t fear it… because it can’t hurt him.

SPECIAL CASES, MASSIVE ATTACK The deadliest of sin is pride / Make you feel like you're always right / But there are always two sides ( … ) Take a look around the world / You see such mad things happening / There are few good men / Thank your lucky stars that he's one of them

Merely because he doesn’t necessarily respect himself, it doesn’t mean that his ego can’t get bloated. He hates being proved wrong & hubris he often indulges in. At times, it can be dangerous to have his common sense gone blurred and hazy due to unadulterated pride. Still, he remains appalled by the state of everything surrounding him and even though the havoc and desolation can sometimes strike him with utter powerlessness, the flame urging him to keep fighting for the cause hasn’t been completely stubbed out.

TAGGED: @valour-bound ( thank you a lot! ) TAGGING: @prosopagn0sis, @lickbatteries, @heavenprotect, @untodeath ( for luis? ), @sp1ed, @lasraichean, @wintersdecay & whoever else wants to do it!

#drinks are on me. ❯ dashgames.

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reversalsun · 12 days

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5 Songs I'm Into Right Now

tagged @sailor-artemis thank u I'm finally getting to this

KICK BACK by Kenshi Yonezu A friend of mine played it while we were all chilling in our hotel room at a con, and its been stuck in my head ever since. Doesn't help that me and my friends just finished our read through of CSM part 1 in our manga book club. That baseline is so addicting....

youtube

New Shapes by Charlie XCX I'm mostly here for Chris, but the sound overall really hits for me, I love all the solos. The vid for this one is super enjoyable too, I enjoy Chris doing what I can only describe is "aggressively nonbinary dancing" in contrast to the other two. Great costume design too.

youtube

Hysterical Us by Magdalena Bay A song that was introduced to me by the person who tagged me actually. Very fun, very good vibes. Feels just a little bit magical and I like that. Fits right onto one of my many character playlists lol.

youtube

Chariot by Burn the Ballroom Came across this one recently via my Discover Weekly. I like it quite a bit, but it feels like its missing something. I think it would be perfect if it had one more verse in the last third instead of just playing some variations on the chorus. Well it is what it is and I still like it.

youtube

Souven1r from Splatoon 3: Side Order Excluding Spectrum Obligato, I think this is my favorite level track in Side Order. Very chill with just enough strangeness that occasionally resets my brain while listening to it. A mix of Side Order music have been getting me through some extremely busy work days and writing sessions recently, and I always appreciate when this one shows up.

youtube

(Ahhh... I forgot Unconscious... a song too good to only be used once in Side Order.. Can I give Unconscious the honorable mention? I love how much you can tell Marina's voice actor has grown in the last couple of years.)

Anyway. Tagging @kingcheddar @utopianparadoxist and @chidorinnnnn if they'd like to share some songs :]

#Youtube

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clambuoyance · 2 years

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Could you do an analysis of Conner's character with the song "I'm Still Here (Jim’s Theme from Treasure Planet)"

Because there is some correlation there but my mind ain't thinking of the words to form a sentence about it. And I've been listening to it for days- and want to hear someone talk about it. My favorite cover is Annapantsu's.

Just imagine Conner mumbling the lyrics under his breath and fumbling his fingers on the strings of the guitar mimicking its melody. He'd be so sad but finds comfort in a song that reflects his hope and his situation he was in. Like brrruuuhhh, cause I get that feeling when a song relates to me a lot and still wishes hope for the listener. Anyway got songs that makes you think of Superboy?

GOD. it's been AGES since i've seen this movie but this song is giving me brainworms. Jim even has an undercut and an earring and a cool jacket in the movie im getting ideas uh oh...

anywaysss this song is very fitting in general for like young ppl trying to grow up and form their own identity but it fits so well with kon like.

"i am a question to the world/ not an answer to be heard" idk but this is like his debut and clone origins in ROTS i guess, like what will the world look like without superman. actually i think part of kon's early character was based on the question "what would superman be like if clark was not raised by the kents when he was young?"

and the next verse is sooo him. "i won't listen anyway" yEAH he never listens he's a bit of a rebellious boy, "and i'll never be what you want me to be" *gestures wildly at his whole schtick* yeah. yeah that fits

"I'm a boy/No, I'm a man" God a major part of his whole character is relationship to aging and maturing and being young and growing up THIS DO BE HITTING DIFF

"And how can you learn what's never shown/yeah, you stand here on your own" he literally only has implanted knowledge and memories but like. He's never shown or taught things and kinda just fucks around and gets himself into messes and SOMETIMES people come in and lecture him

"And I want a moment to be real/Wanna touch things I don't feel/Wanna hold on and feel I belong" ive seen people say that another reason kon acts like That in the beginning is bc he wants to experience everything bc everything in his brain is not his own or artificial and he wants to make it his own. and ugh yes BELONGING T-T

"And how can the world want me to change" everyone telling him to grow tf up

"They're the ones that stay the same" ironically its usually HIM who doesnt want to do the changing

And then the whole "Im not here" to "Im still here" just gives me the vibes of him hating being called superboy and the very thought of being STUCK as superboy and never getting a chance to be superman, to him accepting the title and saying things like "I'm superboy! I don't have a mother or father--all I got is who I am!" LIKE no matter what he will get up again and give his whole heart and everything into things

OKAY I COULD GO ON BUT YES. GOOD SONG CHOICE

as for others that remind me of Kon:

Get Famous - The Mountain Goats (i wanted to make an animatic to this butttt oh well)

Runaway Runaway - Mars Argo

Good Kid - The Lighting Thief Musical (this whole musical fits the yj/teen hero squad but this song in particular reminds me of kon)

Zero to Hero - Hercules

So many Lana Del Rey and MARINA songs...

#im SO NORMAL ABOUT HIM GUYS AAAAAAAAAAAh #TY FOR ALL THESE BANGER SONGS #kontent #kon el #clam answers #dc #sorry for my ramble #corn-fish #song tag

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cinimon01 · 9 days

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Mai Tai experience 2024

Adventures of 60 somethings on board a catamaran.

On the 31st of January 2024, we became the proud owners of a Lagoon 400 2010 model, located in Opua New Zealand.

On the 27th of February, after a few family engagements, we flew to Auckland and drove 3 hours to Opua Marina, gathering some simple supplies on the way. I felt so cold and exhausted when we arrived that I nearly cried at the thought of living on this small, damp and smelly boat for the next 5 years. What had we done, we had a perfectly good life in a house. Why why why?

The next day was better.

28th February 2024, we sorted out a few things and organized a few others. Where to put clothes, towels, and did we have enough. Sheets were on board, but I threw most out as they were thin and barley reuseable. I started a list of things to but for us and the boat to be comfortable and livable for the next…..years?

So first trip in our hire car to Whangarei, (Pronounced Foneray) we found Spotlight, Countdown, Kmart and Bunnings. We loaded up and drove the 1 hour back to Opua.

1st March 2024: Next day we though we would take her for a spin and charge batteries and empty the black water tank, (the wee and poo tank). So we got out to open water and came into the bay of Russell. Lovely little spot but the anchor wouldn’t go down, so I suggested David just drive around and Ill cook breakfast/brunch.

So we did that and headed back to the marina. On our approach, on an outgoing tide, she was hard to handle. The birth spot was big enough for a catamaran but not big enough for us to park in with our limited experience and a tide that wanted to push us where we did not want to go. So I am running around the deck shouting directions to David. More like, “STOP, YOUR GOING TO HIT THE WHARF”. More things like, “Oh what the FUCK, we are going to crash”. Came out of my mouth on several occasions. We had the neighbours, folk from boats near us, on the dock along with the harbor master Shane. He was speaking calmly to David about pulling back and not so heavy on the power, but I don’t think he could hear him over my screaming, “We are going to crash.”

Yes we hit the dock and crushed our port side sugar scoop with an indent of about 25cm long and 10cm deep. Not too much damage to the boat but our self esteem was shattered, and I was a nervous wreck. One of our neighbours from a boat named Scallywag, was on the dock to console us. He had just had a similar experience and the tide pushed him into the bow spirt of another boat punching a hole in the side of his 50 ft catamaran…..Ouch.

2nd March 2024: Olly the previous owner came by and he sorted out the windlass, (anchor) not working problem. He said he cleaned up some loose wiring and maybe some got lost in the process and he unplugged the windlass. Not sure but he got it going and answered a lot of David's questions. We told him about our encounter with the dock and he said, “You know what they say, “You haven’t been around if you haven’t run aground”. I’m not sure if that made me feel better but, there you have it.

3rd March 2024: We gathered up our torn confidence and broken dreams decided we had to get back on the horse….so to speak. So out we went for another attempt at having fun on our new boat. This time we dropped the anchor in Russell, and I just put the kettle on when the afternoon storm that was expected at 1pm came early and interrupted our 10am brunch. So up came the anchor and we headed back to the marina. Before we even arrived my stress levels were off the chart. But we listened to Shane and came in on a slack tide and we managed to berth Mai Tai without incident. This was cause for celebration, so we had a shower and went into Paihia for dinner and a bottle of wine.

8th March 2024: Flew back to Sydney for my 60th birthday cruise on board Celebrity Edge to …..of all places, New Zealand. During this cruise we saw parts of the South Island and the sounds that were absolutely breath taking. The enormity of these places that we could now explore in our own boat! So we decided to skip the Rally to Fiji this year and explore New Zealand for 12 months. Plus we are not experienced enough in operating our boat yet. We need time and some nautical miles before we conquer open water.

#first time cruising #catamarans #sailing retirees #first year on a boat

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tim-lucy · 1 year

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You're top 5 songs that gives you all the chenford feels and why? :D

Five is so hard!! I actually have four different playlists from different chenford eras. I usually make a new one every year, but I've already made two for Season 5 and we're only on episode 11 😵‍💫

Out of allll of the songs I've put on them the ones that hit most are probably:

About Love by MARINA – There were very few edits (the fandom was like 4 people 😂) at the time and then someone popped off and made this amaziiiing video and it became like THE video for me! I literally remember listening to it on a run and having a breakdown LOLOL. Now the song always makes me flashback to the early chenford days and I get emotional :')

What Am I by Why Don't We — In all honesty, I got it in my head that they would do the deed to this song lmao. It's been years and I can't picture anything else playing. It's just so soft so them!!

Crowded Heart by Samuel Jack — MY GOD. I just remember the hours leading up to 3x09 and the chaotic "I have feelings for you" promo and how BEAUTIFUL that end scene was. "I'll be wrong before I'm right." She was wrong because she actually did fall for him OOP. It's also my favorite Chenford scene ever! It was the scene where I was like...this is the ship my soul has been searching for. I'm dramatic but also it's true hahahaha

How You Get The Girl by Taylor Swift — Okay there was a promo released right before Day of Death and it had Tim being all stressed looking for Lucy and then this instagram edit was born from it and the song has reminded me of them ever since! It's one of the few that has made it onto every updated playlist 😂 Also Tim is gonna stand there like a ghost shaking from the rain and Lucy's gonna open up the door and say "are you insane?" and also he's gonna tell her "I want you for worse or for better I want you forever and ever" in this essay—

Running In Place by Chris Moreno — THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO!! "I don't want to spend the rest of my life pretending I don't love you" LIKE BRUH. Literally Season 5 Chenford in a nutshell send help!!

Thank you for asking this! It was so fun (and emotional we've come so far)!! :D

#anonymous #the rookie #chenford #ask

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tagraagamduit · 4 months

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I wanna talk abt music

- I LOVE sdc/shauna dean cokeland, her music is so so good and her lyrics hit so close to home

- I am slightly ashamed to admit that I listened to the diary of a wimpy kid musical and genuinely enjoyed it, it’s so nostalgic and “better than you” has been stuck in my head all day

- I’m learning “Obstacles” by Syd Matters on guitar and it is slowly killing me (i hate plucking) I had a LIS phase a few months ago but i hold the soundtrack near and dear to my heart

- About You by The 1975 is one of my favourite songs ever i keep thinking about that one sydcarmy edit when i hear it

- Come On Eileen is so so so amazing and an all time favourite of mine

- I really love Taylor Swifts music (not so much her eco-terrorism)

- PHOEBE BRIDGERS (chinese satelite, would you rather, waiting room, if we make it through december)

- I’m not in the fandom anymore but Wilbur Soot’s new album hits so hard, especially “Trying not to think about it” also Lovejoy, my favourite is “You’ll understand when you’re older” or “Warsaw”

- I love TV Girl, especially Anjela, My Girlfriend, Taking what’s not yours, Song about me and Blue hair atm

- ALEX G <333 Sarah is so me fr

- Boygenius, Me And My Dog, Not Strong Enough, True Blue and Voyager

- “Where I’m Coming From” i think thats what its called?? I heard it when i was watching shameless and it’s become a fast favourite

- Marina is class, I wish someone told me that her album was supposed to be satire before I based my entire personality off it

- My mam and I have been bonding over our shared love of Noah Kahan, he’s an honorary Irish man imo

- The Smiths are really good but I saw someone say that they had to have had a teenage girl ghostwriter and I can’t get it out of my head

- Mitski is a lyrical genius and she changed my life I think

I’ve totally forgotten some artists and I’ll be so sad but that’s my wee rant over <3

#my music #music #taylor swift #phoebe bridgers #noah kahan #the smiths #boygenius #alex g #mitski #shauna dean cokeland #marina #wilbur soot #lovejoy #<3

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frankchurchillsaysrelax · 2 years

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would you give me your self or turn and run

part one of three.

When Colin was little his father had a subscription to National Geographic. Colin used to love laying on the floor of his father’s study looking at the photos and being whisked away by his father's voice telling stories of new places, places outside of England with new people who were so different and yet so similar to them. His father had told him that one day Colin could visit anywhere in the world he fancied, he promised he would take him to some of his favorite places. When he died, so did that dream. His mother also canceled the subscription.

So, Colin spent his early teens perusing outdated issues and reading the articles for himself, recalling the bits his father would embellish and which parts he had left out. When he is sixteen his mother sends them all out to be recycled and he throws a tantrum as if he were still that little boy in his father’s study listening to his endlessly fascinating stories of the new places and new people he wished to explore. Travel was his first love and it ended in heartbreak.

Penelope is the one who encourages him to rekindle it. Once just his little sister Eloise’s best friend, Penelope, cherished by his family, had become his friend too even at just fourteen years old. Her quick wit and kind smile made her a joy to be around at all the functions their mothers were constantly dragging them to. They are at his eighteenth birthday party and he is complaining for the hundredth time about having no plans for his gap year when she says, “Why don’t you travel? You used to love those old Nat Geos.”

He hadn’t realized that anyone noticed, but of course, if anyone would it would be Pen. She’s quieter than his family, but it only makes her more perceptive, more observant of the world around her which gave her an enviable ease of navigating it.

“I can’t just leave and travel,” he says but does not sound resolved at all.

“Why not?” she counters, shrugging her shoulders like it was nothing, a challenging glint in her eyes. “You have the money and the time, you’re eighteen now. What’s stopping you from exploring the world, Colin Bridgerton?”

He spends the rest of the night flirting with Pen’s cousin Marina who was in town for a visit, but the whole time her words echo louder and louder in his mind. What’s stopping you?

So that is what he does, but he doesn’t stop after the year is up. He keeps going, buys a map and marks it up with all the places he’s been and all of the places he has yet to go. There’s no order or pattern to his wandering, he simply goes wherever he feels called to next. He volunteers where he can and bums around wherever he isn’t useful. He sleeps with women he’ll never see again and interviews old couples in broken attempts at their language about the history of their small villages, taking notes in a beat up old composition notebook to read over later. He’s never felt so free in his life. He answers to no one but himself. He only wishes his father was there.

The first email is sent sixteen months into his grand tour in the middle of the night as soon as he reads Eloise’s texts.

Eloise: Pen’s dad is dead

Eloise: Drunk driver

Eloise: Single car accident

He opens his laptop right away, squinting at the too bright screen and still half asleep. He writes a short message and hits send before he can second guess it.

Pen, I’ve just heard what happened. I’m so sorry. That sounds banal, I know, but it’s true none the same. If you need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask. I know you never ask for help when you need it but this time please do. I remember what it feels like. -Colin

Her response comes two days later.

Colin, thank you, it’s very kind of you to think of me. Do you know what’s funny? I don’t even feel sad most of the time. I know that’s horrible to say and I couldn’t say it to anyone else, least of all Eloise who is being so supportive through all of this, but somehow typing it to you feels right. I don’t know what you know of my family but I’ve never been very close to my father. It doesn’t feel real that he’s gone yet, but maybe once that sinks in I’ll be able to cry. I guess it’s not really that funny after all. I’m sorry, that’s probably way more than you wanted to know. Thank you again for reaching out. I hope you are enjoying Sorrento. Best, Penelope

He had always known the Featheringtons weren’t as close knit as his own family. Penelope’s father had been a high functioning alcoholic who avoided social gatherings at any chance while her mother was a social climber trying her best to present a perfect family image. Her sisters were vapid dolls that were dressed up by their mother and shown off to the world. How shy, sweet, witty Penelope could be cut from the same cloth was beyond him. Still, he couldn’t imagine feeling nothing at the loss of a parent. There must be more to the Featherington dynamic than meets the eye and Colin feels nosy and intrusive for wanting Penelope to confide all of her secrets with him.

Pen, it’s ok to feel whatever you’re feeling even if it’s not what’s expected of you. If you feel like you can’t talk to Eloise (though I’m sure she would understand as well) you can always talk to me. I may not be around much anymore but I still consider you a friend. Sorrento is lovely with its painted houses and perfect views of the sea. They have lemons the size of your head. Literally, your head Penelope, I don’t understand who needs that much lemon? I’ve rented a car and take trips anywhere I can get to in a day. Driving the Amalfi Coast at sunset is like driving along the horizon itself, scary and thrilling all at once and ridiculously beautiful. You should see it someday for yourself. -Colin

And so begins their correspondence. He writes to her nearly every week, far more often than most of his siblings, and tells her all about the places he visits, describing the sights, sounds, and smells he encounters, giving far too much detail about foods he tastes.

… I met an elephant today. You’ve never felt so small in your life, both in physical size but also in your connection to nature. That we are able to share this earth with such magnificent creatures makes humanity seem insignificant…

…Carnival is bigger and brighter than any music festival or sporting event you’ve ever seen. I’ve never experienced such a kaleidoscope of colors, surrounding you and swirling together to create a burst of rainbows beaming around you all at once. The sight is only rivaled by the cacophony of sounds. If you stand in the street with your eyes closed you can isolate the voices and music that otherwise creates a buzzing hum in your ears…

…I’ve tasted the food of the Gods. No mortal meal will ever be enough for me again. (Don’t tell my mum I said that.) My tongue is vibrating, taste buds I didn’t even know I have brought to life by the blend of spices…

In turn, she writes back mostly with gossip that his family doesn’t fill him in on; from the obscure, that Marina is marrying her childhood sweetheart (the one she was very much with when she flirted with him on his birthday) to the vastly important, that Eloise has a boyfriend. He asks for all of the details on that little tidbit. She rarely talks of her own life and he has to pull it from her, curious as to what is going on with her as she prepares for her GCSEs or how she is getting on with her family.

…Mum has bought me another yellow dress for the charity gala next week. I look like a lemon drop. Eloise is bringing Theo, his first high society event. I feel bad, it’s like we’re feeding him to the wolves, but you know Eloise, if anyone says something even the slightest bit snide she’ll put them in their place…

…I think I want to go into publishing. I don’t know, does that seem silly? I just love books, I always have. I love words and the way people weave a story from them like a tapestry. I think I’d enjoy being part of that process, creating something beautiful from something so many people take for granted: our words…

His first real return home, apart from the odd weekend here or there spent solely with his family, is nearly three years after he first left. He’s home for two weeks in preparation for Daphne's wedding. He can hardly believe that his little sister, one year his junior but still worthy of the moniker, is getting married, and to a friend of Anthony no less. Watching them together his first night back, he can’t stop himself from privately bemoaning how much he has missed. It leaves an ache in his gut seeing how much Greg and Hyacinth have grown since his last visit, how his mother has redecorated nearly the entire first floor of their house, how beautiful certain people have become.

They are having a small welcome home dinner for him which was meant to be a surprise until Benedict spilled the beans, and he had invited Penelope himself. She was more than likely already on the guest list but he had wanted her to know he wanted her there. He sees her out of the corner of his eye, her bright red hair grabbing his attention from his conversation with his older brothers.

It suddenly hits him that three years have passed for her as well and the young teenager he had said goodbye to was nearly the same age he had been when he left. The last of her baby fat has been shed, leaving soft curves highlighted by the long, flowing summer dress she is wearing. Her hair is longer, nearly reaching her waist, and the light from the chandelier she stands under is reflected in the soft ringlets giving her a golden halo.

“Pen!” he shouts perhaps a little louder than necessary, interrupting whatever Anthony had been saying and attracting more than one set of eyes in his direction. Penelope’s are one of those pairs, shining bright blue even from across the room as she smiles warmly in his direction. He’s drawn to her and she meets him halfway. He holds his arms open for her to step into and after the smallest hint of hesitation, she does so. She’s as short as ever and he squeezes her tight, holding on for perhaps a few seconds longer than he’d meant to. Her hair smells like jasmine reminding him of a wedding he’d been invited to while he was living in Jakarta. When they part, Penelope tilts her head back with a wide smile that leaves sparkles in her eyes.

“Welcome home,” she says and even her voice, though still cheery and comforting, is different. Unless his memory is playing tricks on him.

…I am on a completely different time zone and my sleep schedule is absolutely fucked. Daph has us helping with all the final minutia for the wedding, which is fine, just maybe not on her timetable. It’s currently four a.m. and I’m hand calligraphing name tags for the reception dinner. Meanwhile, you’re just across the square but I haven’t seen you since Saturday. How are you getting out of this…

The wedding is a grand affair. It feels like half of London has been invited and between his mother and Simon’s godmother, Lady Danbury, he’s sure that there is some truth in that estimate. They marry in a church more stately than the church they grew up attending, somewhere to accommodate such a large number, and the reception takes place in the gardens of his new brother-in-law, Simon’s, family estate. Colin wanders them in the new suit his mother forced him to buy searching for a mass of red hair. He found the three other Featherington ladies easily enough and had successfully dodged them but the one he sought was more elusive.

He finds her on the edge of the dance floor watching the other guests enjoy themselves while absently swaying in her safe spot. She had a tendency, he’s noticed, of standing on the sidelines, not just physically but in her emails as well, always holding something back. He hasn’t had a chance to properly speak with her since he arrived home and he has found himself missing their conversations. He is eager to speak to her in person.

“Hey, Pen,” he whispers directly next to her ear, his breath causing the wisps of hair surrounding her face to brush against her cheek. He relishes the way she startles, jumping straight in the air.

“Colin, don’t do that,” she scolds, but she is smiling. She’s wearing yellow again which he knows she hates, the pale color often clashing with her hair. The dress itself is nice; off the shoulder and floor length, hugging the curves of her waist and then fanning out into a fuller skirt. Her curls are tamed and partially pulled back with a pink ribbon, the rest falling over her bared shoulders. She looks pretty and he tells her so.

“Thanks,” she says, glancing down at herself. Then, awkwardly, “so do you.”

“Thanks.” They stare at each other, neither knowing what words come next in this little play they’re performing. He had thought that their easy camaraderie through writing would translate to an actual conversation but instead, he feels stuck.

“How did your maths test go?” he asks just for something to say. She looks surprised that he remembers even though it’s only been three weeks since she mentioned it. Her surprised features pinch into a wince and he laughs for it is answer enough.

She shakes her head at him, an unruly curl falling in her face. She pushes it back and he tracks the movement with his eyes, a burst of affection overtaking him at the familiarity of the gesture, and just like that the tension is broken letting them speak openly. He asks what she’s reading (she’s on a gothic horror kick right now) and she wonders where he will travel to next (Greece and then on to Romania to help an old school friend with setting up his new foundation). They people watch like they used to, trading comments on what they know of the other attendants.

Colin notices immediately when Penelope lights up at the change in song, some upbeat pop number he doesn’t recognize but that sounds like a million other songs he has heard before. Her foot starts tapping along to the music and Colin makes a decision. “Shall we?” He grabs her hand, tugging gently as he nods towards the dance floor in question.

“Oh, no,” she says, shaking her head emphatically. “I’m not much of a dancer.” Well, that’s a blatant lie, he’s seen her and Eloise dance together countless times over the years, always acting silly and enjoying themselves when it was just the two of them.

Still holding her hand he says, “I doubt you’re worse than him,” pointing his chin in the direction of a bloke who was really getting into the song, his dance moves consisting mostly of exaggerated pelvic thrusts and fist pumping. Penelope giggles and he tugs on her hand again, this time meeting less resistance. She follows him onto the dance floor looking nervously around at the people who are paying them no mind. He uses their joined hands to twirl her in place startling a breathless laugh from her. She joins him then in dancing to the beat and soon loses herself in the music. At the bridge, the whole floor starts jumping causing a thundering echo of footsteps as cheers ring through the air. Her hair sweeps off her shoulders revealing flushed skin that travels up her neck and onto her cheeks and her smile is radiant as the song ends and moves on to another.

They stay on the dance floor for some time. Long enough for the sun to set and the sky to grow from vivid oranges and pinks to an inky deep blue, the stars peeking out from their daily nap. Simon and Daphne make a brief appearance to much applause. Daph looks beautiful, the perfect bride in her fine lace dress with baby’s breath in her hair, and her new husband stares at her like there is no one else in the universe. It is a perfect night and it feels like home.

…I was standing in the middle of the ruins of Delphi when I was hit with a wave of homesickness. I can’t tell you what caused it, all I know is that suddenly all I wanted was to be back with my family. Or maybe I just wanted you all to be here with me. It was nice to be home for a while but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a thrill as soon as I stepped on that plane…

…Do you think I should be doing more with my life? Be honest. I mean, Fife has set up this whole non-profit, Anthony made partner at 28 which is unheard of, and Ben is getting his first proper gallery show next month. What have I done except spend money hopping from one city to another? I’m nothing. Never mind me Pen, I’m drunk...

He sends the rambling pity party masquerading as a normal email even though he probably shouldn’t. He doesn’t expect a response but as always, she surprises him.

Colin, you asked for honesty and that is what you’re going to get. I think what you’re doing is amazing. Most people never leave their hometown except maybe to go to a beach somewhere or a long line of museums, but you’re out there expanding your worldview, helping people. You immerse yourself in whatever new place you settle. I have your emails as proof if you don’t believe me. The way you write about every experience is beautiful and I can tell that you are making the most out of each one. You are truly living and not just bumming around aimlessly or taking the next expected steps like the rest of us. Also, you are only twenty one, Colin. You needn’t be comparing yourself to your brothers (or anyone else for that matter) who are older than you and at a different stage in their life. You have time. -Pen

The next time he’s home is for a funeral. Well, actually it is another wedding reception but seeing as Anthony eloped without anyone knowing he was seriously dating anyone, Colin’s mother hasn’t ruled out the possibility of murder.

He arrives late, straight off the plane after a nine hour flight. The world spins slower, changing gravity’s pull and making everything feel heavier from his feet to the air in his lungs. The first person he sees is Benedict who immediately offers to fetch him a drink which he doesn’t say no to. The second is Penelope.

“Col, you made it!” she says joyously, reaching out to give him a hug. He leans on her a little more than necessary as he tiredly reciprocates. “Did you just get in?”

“Yeah, came straight here. My bag is in the lobby.” He offers her a real smile, feeling more energized just from her sunny presence.

She laughs and looks him over from head to toe, taking in his dark joggers and wrinkled button down, the patchiness of his beard and undoubtedly translucent pallor of his tanned skin. Her nose scrunches up. “You look terrible.”

“Thanks,” he snarks though with little heat as he knows she’s right. “Figured I’d give Anthony a bit of reprieve from mum’s wrath. Wedding present and all that.”

She throws her head back in laughter and it sounds like a lullaby, soothing his weary edges. “So, have you met the lovely Kate yet?”

“No,” he sighs, “but Daph says she’s wonderful.” Kate, the sister of Anthony’s blind date who’d shown up as backup only to leave with Ant’s phone number.

“Oh, she is! And Anthony is completely different around her. He smiles,” she whispers with raised eyebrows, “and he’s all loved up. I think it’s sweet.”

Colin finds he can’t wait to see it. His brother had sounded different on the phone for the last few months but Colin had just assumed he’d been doing well at work. The thought of their eldest brother, the perpetual bachelor, falling in love and getting married was too much for him and his siblings to wrap their heads around. They’d been texting each other daily trying to decide if the whole thing was an elaborate scheme.

“Speaking of loved up, is Connor here?” Penelope has been seeing a guy from Uni for a short while now. He has limited details parsed over several emails: Irish, kind, rugby player.

“No, he had to work,” Penelope says almost dismissively. “He couldn’t get off on such short notice.”

“Too bad, I’d have liked to meet him.” He doesn’t know why that feels like a lie, the words sticking to the insides of his dry mouth.

“Maybe next time.” With how rarely he visits, Colin wonders if she’ll still be seeing him next time he is home, if it is that serious, but wisely says nothing.

…Eloise says she told you. I’m so proud of her. I could tell she had been struggling with something for a while now and I hated seeing her hurting so. Luckily, Theo is the sweetest man and they’ve stayed friends. I talked to him at dinner last week and I think he’s always known, or at least suspected, that she’s gay. I can only imagine what it must be like to love someone for years while knowing they’ll never feel the same…

…What is happening with my family? First Daphne then Anthony and now Benedict? And mum is asking me when I’m going to come home and settle down. I’ve never even been in love, haven’t had a girlfriend in years, and now she wants to marry me off. Is there something in the air? The water? Whatever it is, keep it away from me. Did he really not recognize her twice? And they call me the oblivious one…

Augie is the cutest baby he’s ever seen and he’s not even exaggerating. He doesn’t let go of his nephew for at least an hour after Daphne introduces them, the baby falling asleep in his arms. His mother takes her grandson from him eventually and he wanders out to the terrace to find his older brothers. It’s a full house, everyone having descended upon their childhood home for Sunday brunch and he hasn’t had a chance to catch up with either of them yet.

“So when are you coming home for real, brother?” He should have stayed with the baby.

“Not you too,” he groans. “Mum is already on my case and I’ll tell you what I told her: I have no plans to permanently move back to London.”

“You’ve been doing this travel thing for seven years,” Ben says seriously. “Don’t you think it’s time to get a job?”

“Says the artist!” Colin scoffs. He doesn’t need a job any more than Benedict does, each of them able to live comfortably off of their trust funds if they so choose. He feels wounded at the implication that he isn’t doing anything with his life, the sentiment hitting too close to every one of his insecurities.

“Maybe meet a nice girl and settle down?” Anthony teases with a shit-eating grin on his face. He’s never wanted to punch someone more in his life.

“I know plenty of nice girls. None that I can’t see myself settling down with.” He is so over this conversation.

Benedict and Anthony share a look, communicating something silently. Anthony must lose whatever competition they’re having because suddenly he asks, “Not even, Penelope?”

Colin blinks owlishly at them. “Penelope? As in Penelope Featherington?” They can’t be serious. Pen is his friend, a good friend, but there’s never been anything more than that between them.

“Yes,” Anthony continues, crossing his arms and leveling him with an austere expression that bores through him to his very soul, “you two have gotten quite close over the years. We know all about your letter writing.”

“Emails,” he corrects, still completely lost at the direction this conversation has taken. Letter writing sounds far too old fashioned and romantic. He feels exposed, parts of himself he’s not sure are true on display.

“Whenever you’re home you spend an awful lot of time together.” Benedict looks positively gleeful. “You can’t say you’ve never thought about it,” he accuses.

“I haven’t,” Colin swears, fiercely. It’s the truth. “Pen is…well, she’s Pen.” He feels a bit helpless. He contemplates how high the jump off the terrace would be.

“She’s also a beautiful young woman that you care a great deal for,” Anthony pesters leaving Colin feeling hot and itchy like he’s having some kind of allergic reaction.

He erupts. “For God’s sake, I’m not going to marry Penelope Featherington.” Her name on his tongue tastes sour for the first time. The very thought causes an odd fluttering in his stomach and he has to latch onto the back of a chair to keep himself tethered to reality.

Benedict goes to say something else but freezes, his gaze fixed on something over Colin’s shoulder with a worried look on his face. When Colin turns to look at the doors behind him there is nothing there.

…I haven’t heard from you in a while. I’m sure you’re busy what with it being your last year of school and all but I miss you. Your emails are something I look forward to every week and their absence has been loud. I’m not saying this to guilt you into writing to me, I just wanted to let you know how precious you and your letters are to me…

#my fic #polin #colin bridgerton #penelope featherington #bridgerton fic #bridgerton #posting it in two parts because i can't read this another time #would you give me your self or turn and run

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fatalezr · 1 year

Text

NYC Takeover (Finale)

Lilly held out her hand in front of Lucia when her friend walked through the door of the apartment they were in. "Pay up" she said.

Lucia scowled at Lilly before putting her hand in her back pocket and pulling out five twenty dollar notes and handing them over to Lilly. "Bet mine were cleaner though" Lucia told her.

Lilly laughed and the two went to the living room to catch up. They talked of each others hits and Lilly listened eagerly when Lucia described doing a quick hit on one of the Piacenza lieutenants as he got off a subway train, easing him down onto a bench as she did so to make it look like he was simply resting. They continued chatting and were soon joined by Katja and Petra, who had also been successful.

Marina was the last person to enter the apartment, looking resplendent still in a pinstriped skirt suit that just about showed the suspender bumps underneath holding up her brown stockings. "Excellent" Marina said as she saw the group, "I am glad you're here". She turned and welcomed in a skinny young woman in an oversized hoody and jeans who seemed to be engrossed by something on the small laptop she carried. "This is Harriet" she said, inviting her into the room.

Harriet briefly looked up and offered a half-smile before heading straight to a table and typing on the laptop. "We're going to be joined by a few more allies shortly" Marina said, "do make them welcome ladies, they are all as talented and brilliant as yourselves".

Lilly looked at Lucia. She knew that other plans were afoot in the city today but not the specifics of who might be involved. She walked to the kitchen area to begin brewing some coffee and saw Marina looking at a message on her phone. "All OK?" Lilly asked her.

"Ah yes" Marina said, "we've managed to make the front page of a few papers already with some of our exploits". She showed the phone to Lilly. 'Man killed in strip club' was one of the headlines, along with another about an attack on a prisoner transfer. "One of yours yes?"

Lilly nodded and Marina smiled. "It sounds an ingenious plan" Marina told her, "I'm proud of you Lilly".

"Do you think it's working so far?" Lilly asked her, unsure whether it was even an appropriate question to ask.

"The next hour will answer that question" Marina told her, "but my gut says yes. Yes - we can rid ourselves of Salvatore Piacenza and Tony Falcano all in one day".

"And...and then what?" Lilly asked, the question burning in her, "do you want us to return to New York?".

"That will be up to you" Marina said, "I have other plans to continue what we started in Miami and expand globally but if you wish to stay, I know there will be work here for you to do as well". Marina laid a hand on Lilly's shoulder. "You're not my maid anymore Lilly, you're a free woman, with a free woman's choice and one that I respect".

The words made Lilly choke up slightly. She realised what it meant - she did not have to stay with Marina, she could work with her wherever she wanted. A rush of thoughts came into her head - how much she loved being in New York and its energy, but also the camarderie in Miami, not to mention the weather. And there was a world beyond that. She had always wanted to travel out west or to visit Europe for the first time. Could the possibilities really be endless?

A knock at the door broke her daydreams and she walked through to the lounge area with the coffee pot as a woman in a tight leather skirt and white top with a black jacket walked in. "Hey Lisa" Lucia said, welcoming her in and Lilly could tell it was her. They had not spoken much when Lisa had initially visited their island but knew that she had recently been in touch with Marina and so it made sense for her to be there.

Lisa smiled politely at the room and also to Harriet, who was still busy and working away. She accepted some coffee from Lilly. "So...how's your day been?" Lilly asked as she poured her a cup.

"Eventful" Lisa said. "And you...sorry, forgot your name..."

"Lilly" she replied, "it's been....profitable, right Lucia?". She flashed her a friend a wink.

"Oh fuck sake, you'll never let this go" Lucia said and began explaining her small wager with Lilly over who could assassinate the three targets the quickest. Lisa laughed and told the women of her own day. She had not just taken out a couple of targets in an apartment, but also blown up two cars and massacred a bunch of key Falcano lieutenants. Lilly was stunned into silence - Lisa was so calm and professional that killing over a dozen mobsters seemed easy work for her.

They were interrupted by another knock at the door and Lilly went to answer it. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened it and looked at the face and dark hair of Tony Falcano's machine-gun toting assassin, Yelena. She has last seen her in Miami, killing Gio and the rest of the household, only sparing Marina and Lilly. A lot had happened since that time.

The assassin seemed to be giving her a curious look too, perhaps recognising Lilly's face from that night but unsure if it was the same woman. "Good afternoon Lilly" she heard and saw that behind Yelena were more people, including the British woman Sandra she had met once or twice.

"Hi" she managed to muster back before stepping aside and letting Yelena lead the way into the room, followed by Sandra and a handsome Latino man she had not met before. Lilly looked at him. It was rare to see a man as part of their gang. The group entered and Lilly saw Marina and Sandra embrace and kiss each other on both cheeks before introducing the various groups.

Lilly was about to shut the door when she heard another British voice say "Good afternoon" and she looked as a beautiful blonde woman in a white skirt suit came along the corridor, along with a redhead in a leather coat and finally an exceedingly tall and muscular woman with blonde hair and a scowl that even Lucia would be proud of.

She welcomed them in, wondering what had brought such a curious bunch together before remembering Marina, who could find talent and skill in people of all shapes and sizes.

The various women all looked at one another with curiosity and intrigue. Lilly's usual compadres were silent as everyone took in the scene around them and Lilly shut the door. Everyone looked to Marina, who was beaming.

"Ladies, I have been dreaming of this for some time" she said, addressing the group. "I know that some of you will not have met me before but I am Marina DaCosta. I lived here for many years with my husband until he met his...untimely demise...at the hands of me and Yelena". She gestured towards the leather-clad assassin and Lilly saw the looks from Katja, Petra and Lucia as they realised they were in the presence of the woman who now had an almost legendary status.

"For some time now" Marina continued, "me and Sandra have been building a network that we believe can take over and run this city, not in the autocratic fashion of the mafia, but a disciplined group of technocrats to wield power subtly and delicately, and you are all to be equal partners in doing this. When we take over this city, each of us shall take an equal part of the spoils and be free to do as they please, be that stay here or move on to other ventures".

"And when is that?" the muscular woman piped up from behind the sofa, "I mean this is all good, but we don't have Piacenza and Falcano yet".

"You're right Bea" Marina said, smiling at her, "but that will not be too long, right Harriet?" She gestured to the small woman who was still clicking and typing on her laptop, almost ignoring the rest of the world around her.

Harriet only seemed to look up when she realised all eyes were on her. "Oh...erm, yeah, ten minutes or so, just....talk amongst yourselves" she offered.

"And then we will conclude the business that we started" Marina said, "and then maybe look at other targets. Lauren" she said, gesturing to the other English woman in the room in the white suit, "I believe we can thank you for not just helping to ignite this current war between Falcano, Piacenza and my late husband, but also I believe Las Vegas is in a bit of a shock after the death of a major patriarch there...was that adventure profitable?"

The blonde Englishwoman smiled and looked at the redhead sat next to her. "In so many ways" she said.

Marina nodded. "Exactly. This is our future, if we choose it. Right now, Falcano and Piacenza are cornered and the two enemies will be forced to go to their last option - and form an alliance. They will meet, and we will strike".

Bea looked unconvinced. "What makes you so sure?"

"Easy" Marina said, "because between us we have forced their hands. You, Sandra and Yelena stole Piacenza's funds and today, his key lieutenants were eliminated. Falcano still has some cash but his key men have all been slaughtered by Lisa and his son and heir is dead".

"You took out a load of Piacenza's men?" Bea asked, looking at the group, "nice, very nice".

"It's like I've said all along" Sandra piped up from next to Marina, "the only thing more deadly than a gun is data...in the hands of a woman with a gun". That made Lilly smile. She liked Sandra, even if they had only met briefly.

"Oh, got it!" Harriet shouted from the computer, startling the room, who turned towards her. "Got them unlocked...and there's your location". She swung the laptop around and showed a message, indicating a meeting place in the Bronx and a time - mindnight. "That's Falcano texting Piacenza".

"Wait, really?" Lucia asked, "how did you manage to get that?"

"Oh, well, you've been building up a network of their phones for weeks and with all the key men you got today I managed to extract a load of data, push it into my algorithms and track it down" Harriet said proudly.

"Harriet, you're a genius" Sandra proclaimed.

The young woman smiled and shrugged. "Simple enough when you know how".

Lilly turned to Marina, as did the other women. "Well ladies" Marina said, "let us prepare".

------

Lisa looked back towards the lights of Manhattan. The city that never sleeps was still awake despite the late hour but around her in the leafy suburb near Van Cortland Park it felt like it was a completely different city. She sat in silence next to the large muscular woman she now knew as Bea driving and checked her equipment again. She was dressed in all-black, complete with a black balaclava that covered her face and ready to use night vision goggles.

She chambered a round on her suppressed Sig-Sauer and tucked it into her shoulder holster and picked up the suppressed BCM rifle. She could tell they were almost at the location and before long Bea slowed the car to a stop.

"Ready?" Lisa asked her. The blonde woman nodded and pulled on a black balaclava of her own that matched Lisa. She was also all in black, wearing a long-sleeved top and black leggings.

"Always" Bea said, and she slung a suppressed assault rifle over her shoulder. The street in the suburb was quiet and they both got out and moved quickly towards some hedges before finding a wall. Bea took a running jump at it and hoisted herself on top. Lisa admired her strength and waited for her to drop a hand before taking a jump and catching it. Bea hoisted her over the wall and into a back garden of a large property.

They crouched in some hedges and Lisa looked around. The garden was large and dark and she switched on her night vision goggles, taking the BCM rifle off her shoulder and preparing it. There were four men she could see, all looking around nervously. Most were standing near the large house that they were by, its imposing white walls and large windows making it the most impressive home in the neighbourhood, more befitting of a nice hotel than a place to meet for criminals.

One man in a shirt and bomber jacket seemed to be patrolling, an Uzi in his hand. He was walking around the empty space that was bedecked on the sides by ornate flowers. Lisa could see him approaching their position and signalled to Bea where he was.

Bea moved with a lightning pace, emerging behind the man and muffling his shouts as she clamped her hand around his face and his neck and snapped it in two like she was breaking a small twig. She eased him into the bushes whilst Bea looked through her goggles. The other men looked on without seeing anything.

She saw a man light a cigarette before another man emerged from the house and said something before returning inside. Lisa could tell what that meant - Falcano and Piacenza were inside. The man shifted before looking out again over the garden. He beckoned for the other three men next to him to follow as they did a small tour.

When he stepped down into the garden, Lisa made her move. She emerged, BCM rifle already moving up to her shoulder and her finger going to the trigger. Tik-tik-tik. She placed a quick burst into his chest but kept the rifle up and moving to the next target as the man fell. Tik-tik-tik, tik-tiktik. The two men immediately behind him were downed, their chests puncturing. Tik-tik-tik-tik-tik-tik. The final man was downed by Bea with her rifle.

Together, they moved swiftly and alert through the garden, keeping alert and silent. Tik. Tik. Tik. Tik. Lisa only briefly paused at the four bodies they had created to administer quick headshots and take a brief second to see how well she had grouped her shots from a distance.

There was no more noise in the back garden now. Her and Bea secured it and Lisa took up position out of sight, ready for what was next to come.

------

Lauren gave Sally a quick kiss before Sally exited the car. Her readheaded lover was still wearing the black leather coat she had worn for the rest of the day. Lauren could still see how it barely covered the top of her dark stockings and allowed herself a moment to admire it as she walked.

She had finally changed from her skirt suit into a more practical outfit for the assault, putting on an all-black catsuit she had brought over from England that zipped over her front. Her Taurus pistol was suppressed and in her hand, a round already chambered. She watched as Sally sauntered towards two cars that were stationed outside of the large house in the Bronx, it's wrought iron gates looking imposing.

Timing this next part would be key, she knew. Each of the two cars in front had two men inside, but they could easily bring out more reinforcements from the house or disturb neighbours if they were not dealt with quietly.

"3...2...1" Lauren counted to herself before getting out of the car as Sally approached the two cars, looking like she was simply taking a walk on the street, her heels clicking on the sidewalk.

She saw the two men in the car closest to her turn to look at Sally as she walked and Lauren knew this was her chance. She quickly rounded on them, raising her Taurus to shoulder height and aiming at the windshield of the car. Pfft-pfft, pfft-pfft. She placed quick shots into the driver and the passenger, puncturing the window and seeing their chests jerk with the shots.

In the other car she saw the men jerk too as Sandra emerged from behind the car, her suppressed Glock 17 pistol in hand and Lauren was pleased to see her old friend and mentor was still as deadly as ever.

The men in the car in front of her were looking dazed and she walked quickly over to the car window. She took careful aim. Pfft-pfft. She put two bullets into the passenger man's head before looking over to Sally and giving her friend a smile. Sally had drawn her pistol from inside her coat and held it in her gloved hands. Pfft-pfft-pfft. Sally unloaded and Lauren saw her smile and give a slight moan as she shot the man behind the drivers seat.

Sandra was beckoning them to the large gates of the house and Lauren finally saw the white walls behind it. It looked beautiful, not out of place with many fancy homes in the South of England. Sandra pointed at a box near the gate and ushered Harriet, who had been walking behind Sandra in an oversized hoody still, to do something.

The young woman knelt by it and placed an electronic device over the box. She then tapped some keys and Lauren could hear the faint electric buzzing from the gates stop. She pulled them apart with Sandra as Marina's car pulled up into place outside.

------

Lilly sat silently, occasionally glancing around the rest of the car she was in with her crew but not wanting to make eye contact with Yelena sat next to her. Something about the assassin still sent chills down her spine. She glanced again to see the woman next to her was frowning and looking at her.

"Have we met before?" Yelena asked her quietly.

Lilly looked at her. "Yes...yes we did" she said back in a quiet voice.

"Where?" Yelena asked her. It was clear it was puzzling her.

"Well actually it was...down in Miami" Lilly told her.

Yelena's eyes widened. "Oh the other maid" she said and Lilly nodded. Yelena frowned again, perhaps wondering why Lilly was there next to her.

"Well...I do...a few things these days" Lilly said, giving a wry smile that seemed to amuse the assassin too.

"It's time to move" Marina said from the front of the car. Petra was driving their large SUV and accelerated a couple of blocks towards the front of the magnificent property that was being used to house the meeting of Piacenza and Falcano.

The car pulled up outside the property and Lilly immediately got out, gripping the suppressed H&K MP5 in her hand as she did so. She saw the dead bodies in the cars outside the house and that the gates had been pulled open by Sandra, Sally and Lauren but moved quickly. She knew speed was now of the essence.

Lucia led the way, a suppressed BCM rifle in her hand and with Katja at her side with the same weapon. The group were dressed in all-black, the only exception being Yelena in her leather jacket and trousers that she seemingly always wore and Marina, who brought up the rear in a pinstriped skirt suit, perfectly tailored to her curvacious body.

Tik-tik-tik. Lilly heard Lucia's gun fire and a shout of pain as she shot a guard in front of the house. Lilly kept her gun ready as they moved forward and sure enough, she saw two men coming from the right, drawn by the shout of their fallen colleague.

She raised her MP5 and pressed the trigger. Tik-tik-tik-tik, tik-tik-tik-tik. The full auto weapon burst into life and she brought down both men easily. There were more sounds of silenced gunfire as they advanced towards the front of the house and the front door.

It was black and imposing to contrast with the white of the rest of the house and Lilly already knew the inside would be grandiose. She ran to one side of the door and grabbed it as Petra did the other. They gave each other a quick nod and pulled the door open for Katja and Lucia and Lilly immediately heard more tik-tik-tik, tik-tik-tik bursts of suppressed gunfire.

She swept into the house behind the two of them, just in time to cover a man emerging from a hallway on the right. Tik-tik-tik-tik. She fired and felt exhileration as she killed him before he could react. She wondered if Yelena was seeing this and still thinking of her as a maid, rather than a deadly member of a group of assassins.

Lilly continued to scan the corridors. The walls had paintings and were beautifully decorated and the floor was spotless clean marble but she did not care about them. Tik-tik-tik. She picked off another man as they ran towards the entrance.

The sounds of suppressed gunfire around her died down and were replaced by the simple clicking of Marina's heels as she walked towards the main ballroom of the property, stepping over the bodies of the two men who had been in front of it but downed by the bullets of more of the gang.

------

"Yelena, shall we?" Marina asked.

Yelena looked at Marina. Her suppressed pistol was already smoking from the shots fired as she changed the magazine. Yelena put a fresh magazine into her Mac-10 and nodded before aiming a heavy kick at the ballroom door.

They burst open as her boot made contact and she brought her gun up ready to strike. There were two men in suits holding guns that aimed at the door but before Yelena could shoot she heard a pfft, pfft, from her side and saw both of their heads snap back as Marina shot them both and Yelena was impressed by the pistol accuracy.

In the middle of the room she saw the other occupants and her heart skipped a beat as she saw Tony Falcano again, his round face looking older and more crestfallen than when they had last met many months ago. He was standing next to a tall thin man she recognised from photographs as Salvatore Piacenza but his face too looked old and sullen. The men turned to run towards the rear of the house but stopped in their tracks as the shapes of Bea and the professional hitwoman Lisa emerged, suppressed rifles trained on the two men.

Falcano turned again and realised there was no escape as Yelena marched into the room. Their eyes met and he seemed to give her a questioning look, perhaps wondering if it was really her. She would care about that later.

"Hey, hey, what the fuck is-" Piacenza started to say, looking round with fury in his eyes. Yelena did not need to waste time with him. She brought her Mac-10 to her hips and fired. Pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft. She smiled as she saw Piacenza cry out with pain as his stomach became riddled with her bullets. Pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft. She continued to pummel him with bullets, her suppressor smoking but the feeling of revenge was intoxicating and she loved it. Pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pffft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-click. She did not let up until the magazine ran dry and Salvatore Piacenza's dead body slumped to the floor.

Yelena closed her eyes and breathed deeply. The two bastards who had tried to kill her and Raoul were now dead. All that remained was Tony. She turned towards him and changed the magazine on her Mac-10.

"Is this my fate too Yelena?" Tony asked. She saw the greys in his balding hair, yet he looked calm as usual. He did not raise his voice. "I always admired your skill. You were like a daughter to me".

"No" she cut in, "no. I could never be that to you. Your traditions would always prevent it. That is not the way it works".

Tony considered but then nodded. "True" he said, "I assume that you eliminated Enzo this morning?"

Yelena nodded. "It was revenge" she said, "he tried to kill me and Raoul first".

Tony sighed. "Foolish boy" he said, shaking his head, "foolish boy..." He looked up again at Yelena. "And now my turn to feel your wrath?"

"No" Yelena said, giving him a smile and lowering her gun, "no, I am done for tonight". She looked over to Marina. "I'm a free partner yes? Free to do as I please?"

"Of course" Marina told her.

"Then I am done" Yelena said, "and you are free to do as you please". She noticed Marina's approving nod before the woman in the pinstriped suit raised her gun towards Tony.

Pfft-pfft. Marina double-tapped the trigger and Tony Falcano fell forward, two neat holes in his head. Yelena felt neither sadness nor elation. She simply longed to sleep now. She wanted to feel Raoul next to her and to spend some time debating what would come next.

As the group filed out of the house and into cars again, Yelena breathed in the cool night air into her lungs, keeping quiet in the car as the other women from Marina's gang celebrated and laughed about their successes. A sense of peace came over her. She decided that she did not need to know what her next moves would be. She would decide that in time but for now, she was free. The war was over, and she had won, and tomorrow would be a new day.

#hitwoman #silencer hitwoman #silencerhitwoman #female assassin #femme fatale #lilly #lisa #yelena #lauren

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teribst · 8 months

Text

Always Bitching

A STORY BY

MIKE

It had seemed like pulling teeth to get her out of the house and into the truck, but finally, we were on our way. Driving away from the rat race in LA to spend 30 days of nothing but sun and fun out on my 34-foot MacGregor sailboat. It was a fully self-contained sloop and would sleep 6 but in reality, it was most comfortable with 4.

It has a shallow draft centerboard that can be pulled up so that with the sails down and running on the little 40-horse diesel that also served as a generator it could handle 3 feet of water. That meant getting up close to if not up to shore.

My longtime girlfriend, Sandy, was in the passenger seat of my F350 and as always was grumpy and bitching. She didn't like the sun, she didn’t like my boat, she didn't like my truck that was brand new or going to Lake Mead. And so for the whole 3-hour trip, she let me know all about how miserable she was sure she would be.

We were about 75 miles outside of Vegas when I finally had enough and when we got to Las Vegas I drove right to Mcclarin Airport. Looking around she asked, “Where are we going?” I pulled up to the passenger unloading lane and without a word went to the back of the truck and pulled out her bag. As I was sitting it on the sidewalk she was looking at me like I had 3 heads “Mike, what are you doing?”

I opened the truck door and smiled as I said “I have listened to your whining and bitching long enough. Get the fuck out of my truck.” her mouth opened “Nope you and I are done. Go find some other dope that you can make miserable because it won’t be me anymore.” I took her by the arm and pulled her out giving her purse to her as I looked into her very beautiful and very confused face and said, “Holy fuck I’m glad I didn’t marry you.” I saw in the rearview mirror she was standing and staring after me as the truck pulled away.

A couple of days before I left LA I had called ahead to the marina. It had been about 2 months since I had been on the boat so I had asked them to get her ready. I had given them a grocery list as well as had them service everything on the boat. I was humming to myself as I put my bag and camera equipment into a cart provided to haul crap out to your boat. Out on the dock as I was passing it, I stuck my head into the marina store's door and smiled at the middle-aged blond behind the counter as she looked up “Hay Tina, am I all set?”

“Hi, Mike! She smiled, “Yup you're all set to go.”

“Do you want me to settle up now or when I come into refit?”

She waved her hand as she looked past me “When you come back will be fine. You alone this time?”

“Yes, it’s just me.”

She chuckled “Good thing my old man is around. I’d fill that empty boat seat for ya.”

Cregg Simms, her gruff old husband of 40 years stepped out from behind the counter “Ohh hell yes! Mike take her please!” He snorted as he laughed pointing out to the marina. “Mike, my boy, I had to pull her out and grease the tiller but other than that your boat is in fine shape.”

From the store, I pulled my little load behind me as I walked the short distance over to the Ranger station to check in. Only a fool went out to spend any time more than a day on Lake Mead without signing in. Because of the lake's massive size, it could take the Ranger Service days to find a lost or broken-down boat, making it one of the most dangerous lakes in the national park system. It was even recommended that some foodstuff, like Spam or something that could hold you over for a day or so be stored on your boat, and of course it goes without saying, there should be a working two-way radio.

It was 102* and the cool of the AC hit me like a slap in the face as the door to the ranger station hissed closed behind me. I looked at a map of the lake as I stepped up to the counter and as her head came up from her computer I found myself looking into eyes so blue they almost looked...well they were robin's egg blue. “Can I help you?” She smiled and her freckled face went from beautiful to stunningly beautiful.

“Um, oh hi um yes… I’m going to be out on the lake for a few days and wanted to check-in. My name is Mike King.” I watched her write it down on a piece of paper before getting up and moving to a dry-erase board.

“Going anywhere in particular?” She asked.

“Hole in the wall then wavy beach and from there I’m not sure.”

I watched her write King down in blue marker and draw a line out to a hole in the wall and then to the wavy beach as she asked “How many in your party?”

“Just me.”

And that made her turn and look at me, “And what kind of boat are you going to be on?”

“She is a McGregger 34, she is called The Friendship.”

Still looking at me she said “I have seen her. Nice boat, but a little big for one person.” And I knew she was sort of testing me thinking she would be out saving my life before the day was over.

I chuckled “When I bought her I had her set up to single hand.” I had tried so hard to not look at the full round boobs filling out her uniform shirt but now I did, taking them in as I looked at her name tag and went on “And Range Simms I thought I would sign up for a 4:30 pm call in with my location and a weather check.”

Moving back to her desk she smiled “Well then you're all set.” She tilted her head to the side a little letting her almost Lucy-red shoulder-length hair fall away from her face “You be safe.”

The rest of the afternoon I spent stowing my gear and what few clothes I had brought away. Then I spent some time checking the friendship out. She was still hooked to shore power and the AC hummed softly as I went through all of her working parts. I knew Mr. Simms had done a good job but it was still something I loved to do. By the time I was finished it was early evening and I was hungry. All I had eaten all day was jerky and my stomach was rumbling in protest as I walked to the marina restaurant. I had a pot roast plate with mashed potatoes and spinach followed by a big piece of cherry pie and coffee. It was still pretty early when I got into the big king-sized bed in the master birth and I don’t remember my head hitting the pillow.

It was just before daylight as I let her lines loose and with the diesel rumbling softly in her belly put my foot to her big beautiful butt and pushed her away from the dock. I backed the big boat out of her slip and it took a few minutes of winding through the marina before we got to the channel leading to the open lake. My heart was full because it felt great to be on the boat and when I turned the Friendship across the wind I watched the sails fill with a pop. With her sheets full of air she heeled over to the port and I took her out of gear but left the diesel running to keep the AC going. My heart sang as I sailed into the morning.

It was just past noon and the thermometer setting on the boat's dash next to the barometer said it was 101. The wind coming through the shade of the cockpit bimini top was fresh spray blowing back off the water making it seem a little cooler. I laughed to myself saying out loud “listen” because there was not a sound save the wind in the sails, the water lapping on the hull as we rushed through it, and the soft rumble of the diesel running in the big boat's belly. “No one has complained about a thing. Not one fucking thing!” I shook my head “How can anyone as smart and beautiful as she is, be such a complete bitch?” I smiled and still talking out loud to myself said “Well I know her boss Andy will be happy about the breakup.” I laughed, “He deserves her.”

As the wind freshened I let the boat have her head. She is by no means a fast boat but when the sails are full and she is running with the wind she is a blast to sail. It also meant that me and her made it to the cove called hole in the wall well before sunset. It's a popular place because it's a very well-protected cove and with 3 other boats already at anchor there I wasn’t going to be the only boat with her anchor lights on that night.

I had a couple of burgers on the small deck-mounted gas BBQ as I called into the ranger station to let them know where I was located. I felt a smile come to my lips as ranger Simm's voice confirmed my location.

I was thinking about not seeing a ring on her finger when my cell phone using my boat's internet hotspot went off.

“Hello.”

“Do you even care that I made it home safely?”

“Sure I do. But you're a big girl and I knew you would.”

“I can catch a flight out in the morning and come back.”

“No, when I put your cute ass out of the truck I didn’t mean for it to get back in it. Sandy, I can’t sand all of the griping and bitching anymore. God woman you were riding in the top-of-the-line brand new Ford truck and bitching about the color, how hard the seat was and you didn’t like the buttons to a dash. You will, I'm sure, make someone a great wife, just not me.”

The phone went dead.

With my second cup of coffee setting snug in its gimballed cup holder and the sky just showing its first sign of light I pushed the anchor up button. When I felt the boat start to drift I slipped her into gear and moving forward just made way enough to help the winch. The anchor clattered into its space shutting off and as the green light came on I added power. Not much, just enough to keep us straight into the early morning breeze as I let the winch on the mast pull out the mainsail. It was up and locked as I was just passing through the mouth of the coves inlet and I let the jib loose. Turning a few degrees to port the sails filled and as she heeled over I took her out of gear.

I picked up the 2-way microphone and gave my call sign “KA15125 Friendship calling Los Vegas Wash Ranger station for travel info and weather.”

Her voice came through the speakers and there were a whole bunch of numbers then “Las Vegas wash has you 5 by 5. This morning will be clear but thunderstorms are expected up lake late this afternoon. Over.”

“Thank you Las Vegas wash. Friendship is en route to Wavy. Over.”

“10-4 have a good morning. Vegas Wash out.”

I locked the wheel and went below, coming back a couple of minutes later with a bowl of Crunchy O’s. I sat watching the sun coming up over the bow of the boat enjoying the feeling of her power as she moved effortlessly through the water. The small wind-driven swell was nothing for the big girl and she showed almost no sign of role as we went, with me thinking about Ranger Simms and how she would look naked. I laughed out loud saying to no one “It sure looked like she had nice tits.” I sat the empty bowl on the small table next to me and picked up my camera for some first-light photos.

As the morning went on I was the only boat I could see. Lake Mead is massive and the last time I took this trip, it took 6 days of sailing to get from the bottom where I started to the top where the Colorado River runs into it. And so with 1000s of miles of shoreline, it wasn’t uncommon on a weekday to be the only boat seen. It also meant that with no one around I was sitting at the helm very naked and loving it.

Sailing is a kind of dance with the wind or could be likened to flying a glider airplane. The wind moving over the sail causes lift as it is pushed on just like the wing of a plane makes lift as the air passes over it only...well no it is like flying except that with every change of the wind or air it affects how the boat is pushed through the water. When I left the cove I had set us on a track east that I hoped would when I tacked back to the northwest would take us right into the mouth of Wavy. Navigating, using what little math skills I had, and following the plot on my lake chart was, at least for me, a very big part of the fun of sailing. We had sailed in a straight line for about 3 hours when according to my chart I needed to turn us. After coming about and everything was set back in place I pulled out my GPS. When I turned it on and followed our track I gave a hoot “WAHOOO!” The GPS showed I had nailed my time to turn and showed the track to Wavy was just like I had it plotted on the chart. And I did a little naked dance on the open deck in the cockpit of the boat.

Now with my mind back on sailing, I looked off to the northwest. The weather was building for sure and as always talking to myself I said “I think we will make it about an hour before any weather gets this far south.” Movement off the bow caught my eye. It was the 24-foot Boston Whaler Rangers boat out of Los Vegas wash and it was flying. The boat had 3 Black Max 200 horsepower Mercurys on its transom and as fast as it looked the boat was using all 600 of them. “WOW!” I muttered thinking it must have been running 65 or 70 miles per hour. I shook my head saying, “Wow!” again.

It was just after 4 pm by the time I got to Wavy and dropped the stern anchor. I let it drag until it hung in something and played out the line until the Friendship nosed softly into the sandy beach. The storm had moved south faster than I thought it would and as I tied a bow rope to a tree on the beach it started to rain. I looked up when I heard the 3 merc’s throttle down and turned just in time to see the Ranger boat coming down off plain. I watched with some interest as it moved to shore about 50 feet away from my boat. I was just thinking there was nothing to tie off over there when all 3 motors came to life and the big boat ran about half its length up into the soft sand. I turned back climbing aboard the friendship and was just sitting down under the cover of the canvas bimini top when the radio came to life. It was ranger Sims calling to tell them back at the ranger station where she was and that she would be staying over until the lake calmed.

I watched as she finished covering all of the electronics in the front half of the boat with a cover that I knew she would also use as a sort of tent. I picked up my 2-way microphone “Hi”

Her head came up “10” That was an alternate radio channel and I quickly changed to it.

“Yes.” She was looking at me.

“It's dry and I have coffee.”

She waved and I knew it was because everybody under the sun was listening to the radio. A moment later she hopped off her boat and with what looked to be a waterproof bag came walking through the rain to me. When she got to the boat she waded out into the waist-deep water to the ladder. Her wet but sand-free sandals came up over the side then her bag. A moment later her head popped up and her perfect smile with those amazing blue eyes greeted me, “Did you say coffee?”

“That I did.” I was pouring her a cup and looking at her in her soaking wet ranger shirt as she came up the ladder. Her shirt was tucked into her knee-length khaki walking shorts and her work gun was holstered and strapped around her slender hips. She was smiling as she stepped over the side and on board.

My brain spun as I thought to myself “Fuck me! Godman she is even more beautiful than I remembered. I wonder if there is anything in her head and if she bitches about everything she sees.” I handed her the warm cup, “Sugar or cream?”

“Nope and thanks.” She gave me a look “I was hoping you would be here. I stay out overnight a lot but it is nice when someone you know is close.”

“Well,” I waved my hand around in a grand gesture “Welcome aboard the Friendship. It’s always nice to have a guest.” I set about letting down the bimini’s clear plastic side windowed on the north side of the boat to stop the wind from blowing rain on us. I looked at her waterproof bag and nodded to the open hatch leading below and said, “If you want to get dry I have something you could put on.”

“I”m good. I have something in my bag if you don’t mind me going below.”

“Nope, not at all.”

It wasn’t 10 minutes and she was coming back up on deck in a T-shirt that was wet from her bra under it and dry walking shorts. She was finger-combing her wet red hair and smiled when I asked, “So how long have you been a Ranger?”

Looking at her beached boat she said “Most people ask why first. I had applied for and got a 4-year internship when I was in high school and came right to work when I got out of college.” She looked at me, “That's all I ever wanted to do really.” She shrugged, “The money is ok, but look at all of the fun I get to have and the things I get to do.”

I could hear in her voice she loved the work as she gave me a sideways look. “And why would a man be all alone out here on this beautiful boat? Are you running from something, or maybe someone?”

It was my turn to smile and I don’t know why but I told her about dumping Sandy at the airport. “I am as serious as a heart attack, she even griped that the soda I got from the ice chest was too cold.” I shrugged “I just had enough and so here I sit in the middle of nowhere in the rain with a cop.”

After an hour or so the wind really picked up and that's when it really started to rain and when the wind started to blow around the clear plastic curtain I said, “Look I know you're working, not working, kind of whatever it is you call it when you are caught in a storm, but it’s getting wet out here.” I pointed to the hatch leading below. “I got more coffee, Coke 0, some wine, and beer. I am also having Pork Chops for dinner,” I kind of gave her a sideways look “Your welcome if you have a mind to stay.”

She looked out into the storm and pointed at the 2-way radio, “May I?”

“Of course.” And as she called into the ranger station to let them know she was ok and taking shelter on the sailing sloop Friendship I went below.

When she came below she had a bleak look on her face. “The weatherman says this thing is growing and my not moving off from over us until 3 or 4 in the morning.” She looked around as she moved to sit on a high-backed stool kind of to the side of the gally part of the living quarters. “I told my dad you had this boat set up beautifully.” She blushed “Sorry my dad is Cregg Simms he owns the marina. Sometimes I do the leg work for him when we have a customer that wants us to outfit their boat. I did yours the other day and helped him loosen and grease the tiller.”

I smiled, “I’m glad you like her. She is for sure my pride and joy,” I looked at her. “I can see a little of your mom in you but nothing of your dad. I don’t know why the name didn’t click until you said something.”

“I never knew my real dad. He was killed doing some hocus pocus crap with the IRA in Ireland. Mom loaded me up and came over to America to get out of it. She met my dad when I was about 3.” I could see by the look in her eye she loved the old guy a lot. “You would never know I’m not out of his blood.”

As I cooked we talked of her being a ranger, and of me being a civil engineer and selling some of my photography here and there. We talked about just about anything until I said “You know why I’m out here and that I’m single, so are you, single I mean?

A slight smile came to her lips. “Yes, I”m...well, I just don’t date much.” She looked at me and said, “I guess my last date was when I was in high school.” She frowned “I’m not gay and I love sex so don’t go off thinking I’m,” She started to laugh “Well I guess maybe you could think it if you want to because I am a bit of a weirdo all right.”

“You like rummy?”

Her smile lit up the room “I’ll wax your ass.”

The boat moved from time to time in the wind and it seemed the storm must have dumped 10 inches of rain on us as we sat playing cards and talking about whatever came up. When I looked at the clock it was a little after midnight. “Am I going to get to know your first name or is it simply Ranger?”

I loved the way the corner of her mouth turned up in a slight smile. “Yes, I like it so Ranger will do.”

“Well then Ranger the front berth is clean and made up and you are welcome to it or the couch, you pick.”

I was sitting out on the deck in cut-off jeans shorts with a cup of coffee waiting for the sky to grow light when I heard the electric pump come on running water to what I assumed would be the forward head. It was a small wet room with the shower, toilet, and sink all built into the room, so if you showered everything got wet. It was also nice to have the toilet with its lid down to set on while washing up.

A few minutes later her smiling redhead came out of the hatch “Would you like your coffee warmed up?”

Handing her my cup I said, “That would be lovely.”

When she came back out on deck she handed me a freshly filled cup “Lovely isn’t a word most men might use.” She was smiling in the dim light given off by the mast's anchor light 45 feet above us.

“I’m not like most men.”

“So I have noticed.” She looked around “Mind if I call in?”

A few minutes later she sat with her coffee silently watching as with my camera on a tripod I took a couple of shots of the tailend of the passing storm in the morning light asa it was coming through the rigging. “How long have you been a picture taker?”

I chuckled “Long enough to know to not quit my day job. No, I really started when I was in JR high school. Once the bug bit me I was hooked. I made good money at it up until the whole digital thing and now with everyone having a better camera in their cell than I can afford to buy, well it’s mostly just for fun.”

“I’d like to see some of your work sometime.” She pointed to my cell phone laying on the helm's dash. “Let me see your phone.” I handed it to her and watched as she put her number in it. “I don’t know why but I like you.” She picked up her waterproof bag and hooked her holster over her shoulder as she moved to the deck rail “Where are you going from here?”

“I was thinking I might go up and stay a day or two at Sandbar.”

“Cool.”

I watched as she went down the ladder and dropped off into waist-deep water and realized I was more than a little unhappy to see her going “Do you need help getting the Whaler back out into the water?”

She turned and walked backward and said “Naa, the water is deep enough behind her that those monsters on the back will pull her out.” She turned back and walked to the boat and gave me a backward wave as she walked away “See you later.”

I watched as she used the big motors to pull off the beach and she stayed about 10 feet out as she Idled up behind the Friendship, “Keep it on 12.” she smiled “And just so you know I let you win last night.” She was laughing as she drove away.

I changed the channel on the 2 way to 12 and as she was going around the point. “Thanks,” came through the radio speakers.

It suddenly seemed very quiet as I got the bow line loose from around the tree. With it stowed away I let the winch pull us off the sand and as I drifted back on the anchor let the centerboard down. Then with the stern anchor stowed away, I turned the Friendship toward the entrance to Wavy Beach

The lake was still pretty rough after the storm the night before but the big heavy boat pushed right through the swells. We were under full sail and she was well-heeled over to the gumells with spray coming back off the bow. It was refreshing in the already hot morning as my mind wandered over the night before. I had to say that as much as I loved sailing the old girl it would have been more fun if someone was with me. Then I laughed “You dumb fuck she wouldn’t even tell you her first name. It sure as fuck wasn’t Ranger.”

By noon the lake had claimed to become its normal beautiful self and the Friendship was performing like the queen of the sea she was. With the wheel locked down, I had gone below and was just finishing making a baloney sandwich when my cell buzzed with a text. I didn’t look at it right away thinking it was you know who but when it went off again I picked it up looking at it. I was right, the first text was from her “I went out with Andy last night.”

I sent back “ : ) good for you. Maybe he will make you happy.”

I smiled looking at the caller ID for the next text. It read RANGER

“Too many people know my voice over the 2way. Want some company at SandBar?”

“I simply sent back “A rematch is called for so yes, please. ; )”

My whole day brightened with that text. I shook my head “She may be way out of your league old boy, and then she is a cop. How do you feel about that? What if you hooked up with her? What if she got hurt? How would it work with me living in LA and her up here for work.” And it was just about at this point of crazy in my head I heard it. I thought it was an airplane at first then looking around I spotted a yellow dot on the water that was getting bigger at a surprisingly fast rate of speed. I picked up my binoculars and looked.

It was a go fast or sometimes it was called a cigarette boat. And it looked to be every bit as long as the Friendship. “Wheewweee holy fuck that thing is flying!” As fast as it was coming to me I knew it was running well over 100mph.

I picked up my camera and started taking pictures of the beautiful yellow, and looking through the viewfinder of my zoom lens saw it was a red-trimmed boat. It was only minutes and the boat had covered the 10 or 15 miles that it had been away when I spotted it. It was well trimmed out and riding on its stern with what seemed to be nothing in the water but its props. I didn’t know much about motor boats but thought it beautiful as it blew past me, “Hi!” came through the 2 ways speaker, and rather than answer her I waved.

The Sandbar as it is known is a shallow piece of mountain that runs out in a peninsula from a rugged hillside. It turned into a sandy beach that disappeared into the lake for about a half mile before dropping off into some really deep water. It is well marked and yet it still gets to rip the bottom out of motor boats or the keels off of sailboats all the time. It is also a favorite place of the more open-minded lake people because it is so far from anything no one cares if you're nude or not. Well, no one really cares about nudity anywhere on the lake but Sandbar is a little more relaxed than most other places.

I was about a mile out when I started pulling in the sails and by the time I had everything stowed and put away I was only a few 100 yards from the hidden beach that lay under a couple of feet of water in most places. I saw the big go fast with its bow out to the lake and anchored so that its stern was only a couple of yards off the shore. Quickly pulling up the centerboard as I took the diesel out of gearl\ I let the Friendship nose her way into the sand.

Ranger was sitting on a short beach chair so the water was just about at her waist. My heart just about jumped out of my chest as I looked at her while letting the stern anchor loose. She was sitting in a T-shirt and shorts and my eyes were drawn to her like they were pulled by magnets. I was looking at her while stepping over the side, I missed the bottom rung of the boat's ladder. I think I made an “EEP!” Sound as I fell into the 4 feet deep water sputtering and spitting as I came up for air.

For her part, Ranger was laughing her ass off as I walked out of the water leaving any dignity I had behind in the lake, “You sure do know how to make an entrance!” She snorted as laughter took her over again. Her eyes searched my face and she chuckled “Are you hurt?”

“Just my pride.”

“I bought steaks, a couple of potatoes, and salad.” She was still chuckling, “I thought it would be my turn and I’d cook for you.”

“That sounds great!” I smiled “I don’t know what I am wanting most, to just sit next to you or to see your boat.”

She smiled standing up “Well I guess since you showed me yours I could show you mine.” her cheeks flushed “You can sit next to me after.” and when she looked at the big boat her face softened “That is Piggly Wiggly. I named her that because running like we did today she sucks diesel to the tune of 5 gallons per mile, and I do love to let her have her head.” We stepped up onto the swim platform as she went on “She is 48 feet long and has two 1400 horsepower cats that make her go.”

“1400 is a lot of ponies.”

She shook her head, chuckling as her hand came to my arm “Honey that’s 1400 each.”

As she took me through her boat I could see she was very proud of it, with its front V birth, small galley, and a potty. I was impressed that the cockpit had every button and dial there could be. Hell, she had a depth finder as well as a small radar. She ran her hand lovingly over the helm as she ended the tour with “She is this girl's dream. I worked my ass off to afford her. She was salvaged out and with my dad's help I had to almost completely refit her.” She pointed back to the beach “The water is cooler.”

We spent the afternoon talking about growing up, me in Texas and her in the marina. We found we had a lot in common with us both liking baseball but not so much football. She liked golf as did I and it just went on with us talking about everything. It seemed there was no filter as we became more and more relaxed with each other. She gave me a sideways look, “I wanted to thank you for not making a pass at me the other night.”

I grinned at her “The other night you were a woman that could use some help. What kind of an ass would try to take advantage of that.”

“Oh, I’d be willing to bet 99% of the guys I know would.”

“Maybe you just don’t know the right guy.”

Her eyes kind of searched my face “Do you think I know one now?”

“I hope so.” I felt myself frown “But you said you don’t date?”

“I did say that, didn't I.” She reached into the water coming up with a handful of sand and watched it as it trickled back from between her fingers. “I bet when dad told you we had to fix the tiller on your boat he said his boy helped didn’t he.”

It had been more of a statement than a question and it hit me like I was hit in the face “Shit are you a dude?”

She laughed a little softly “In no way shape or form.” She dropped the sand and rinsed her hand “I was born with an oversized clitoris. That's why dad calls me boy. I don’t think he did it to be mean when I was little, but with him it just kind of stuck.” She gave me that sideways look again “I’m not a hermaphrodite either. I’m one 100% woman.”

I had been sitting on the sandy bottom and leaning back on my elbows so the water was almost up to my neck. “Ok, so you know I have to ask, Ranger, how big is big?”

“Normal like now it’s about an inch long.” She sighed “But when I get excited it can get to be almost 3 inches.” she started to get up picking up her chair “And that's why I don’t date.” She started walking to her boat. “The one and only guy to ever see it fixed that.”

“Hay! Where are ya going? I thought you were cooking me a steak later.”

She stopped and turned to look at me and there was something new in her eyes as she asked “You don’t care that I’m deformed?” she looked down at her feet “And if you don’t count the use of toys a virgin.”

I got up and walked to her, putting my hands on her shoulders as I pretended to look her over. “I see two arms, two beautiful legs and I don’t see a 3rd blue eye” I chuckled. “And not that I looked but I’m pretty sure I only saw two boobs. So Ranger I’d say I see about the most perfect and beautiful woman I have ever seen.” I took her hand “Don’t judge me by what others do or say, just give me the chance to fuck things up by myself.”

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the water and when she looked at how low the sun was getting in the sky she asked if I was hungry. I hadn’t thought much of it but suddenly I was starving and said “Oh hell yes.”

She got up and went to her boat and once on board lifted an ice chest up onto the rail. “Come get this. I’m messing up your boat, not mine.”

As she sliced the potatoes she told me of her life with her dad who at one point had been a county sheriff and a drunk. “He got sober when I was umm…12 and he became a different man. So now we are close, in fact, I’m closer to him than mom.”

I told her about growing up on an 800-acre farm with the closest neighbor being 4 miles away. My life was uneventful and when I lost my parents I sold the farm and moved to LA. I felt the frown when it came, “It always pissed my dad off that I didn’t want to be a farmer.”

She smiled. “If you put the stakes on the grill they should be done just about the time they are.” She put the pan of potatoes and onions on my galley stove as she lit it. “I know you said you had some but I brought Wine.” She looked at me, “And beer.”

The food was perfect as was the company. We had just finished cleaning up when her hand came to my arm “Mike, am I staying over?”

“I would love it if you did, but Ranger I don’t want to pressure you.”

“I know that's why I want to. Let me go get my bag and when I get back I'll kick your ass at rummy again.”

Not long into the card game, her hand came across the table coming to rest on top of mine. “Mike I’m too excited and way too nervous to be any good at this.” She stood up pulling my hand with hers. I got up and let her pull me to the master's birth. In the small but nicely laid out bedroom, she pushed me back and down so I was sitting. Her eyes searched mine “I told you I only went on one date and I thought he was the one. It was when I took off my clothes he started to laugh. That’s how he left me standing naked and very hurt.” She hooked her finger in the bottom over her shirt saying “I want you to see me. I want you to see me as I am.”

As her shirt went over her head and her full round breasts with their nipples so pink they were almost skin color came into view, I didn’t really know I said it, “Holy fuck!” I looked at her face saying, “They are so... so perfect!”

I started to reach for her and she pushed my hand away “No.” I could see she was breathing a little hard. “Oh god, I’m really doing this!” Her thumbs went into the waistband of her shorts and with a downward push, they fell to her feet. She wasn’t wearing panties and as the shorts fell to the floor the hair on her mound came into view revealing that it was every bit as red as the hair on her head. I must have gasped because her hand went over her mound. I looked up at her “Oh please no! Never cover it. Fuck it’s simply perfect!”

A slight grin came to her lips as her hand moved a little shyly away and in the lamplight from the nightstand, I saw her lovely girl's lips were swollen and puffy and I saw that she was so wet it was leaking out onto her thighs. I slipped off the bed onto my knees saying “I want to see it.” I looked up into her eyes “Please.” She bit her bottom lip as her fingers went to her girl's lips and I watched as she slowly pulled them open. It was long and thick and full of blood so it was beautifully swollen. Without a word, I reached to her putting my hands on her hips and she stepped to me as I pulled, planting my face in the V between her legs. I moaned softly as the heat and smell of her sex took over my senses and with my eyes closed I pulled the rubbery clitoris between my lips and revealed in its softness thinking “My god even her clit is perfect!”

I was only there a moment when I pulled back. I had to have more and with my hand on her hips turned her pushing her back so that when her calves hit the bed she fell back onto her butt. I knew or thought I knew to go slow but her hands came to the back of my head pulling me to her as her legs went around me. She moaned “Oh yes!” As I sucked her back between my lips. I was only there for a moment, but I wanted her nectar and slipped down so I could dive my tongue into her, stabbing her over and over as she lay gasping for air. I moved up, taking her now fully swollen clit in my mouth and sucked it. “Oh HUH HUH!” Her butt pushed up into my face “Aaaaa!” She came in one long push then it was suddenly like a jackhammer pounding into my face as I sucked her to another mind-numbing climax. “OH, in me. I wan, ohhh I want it umm AAAA in...mmMeeee.”

With my shorts pushed down around my knees I wasn’t going anywhere even if I wanted to and with her legs still around me it made it even more difficult to get my steel hard up to her opening, but I did. The second she felt the tip at her opening she was pulling me in with her strong thighs, her hands pulling my head so my lips found hers. I smiled saying “Yes but...um easy honey I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Umph.Oh, fuck push! Ohh yes I want it, Ohhh yesssss!” I pushed as she pulled until she cried out “Oh my god you must be in my womb! AAAaaaaa fuck yes, oh oh oh god oh yes fuck me push it ohhhh!”

I moaned “I’m gonna cum.”

I thought she would let go but her eyes met mine “Oh yes. I want that! I want to feel it!”

“Oh god I, I'm!” Her eyes got big as plates and she cried out “I feel it oh, it’s so hot! Oh, fuck yes OHGGAaaaaaa!”

As I grew soft in her I sort of pulled her over on me and we both kind of collapsed together. Her lips came to mine and she was crying as her fingers ran over my face. I wiped her tears “Why are you crying? Oh shit! Did I hurt you?”

She laughed “No, not at all it was perfect!”

We both moved around so we were more on the bed and I pulled her into my arms. It was late and still holding her I flipped off the light. It was a few minutes before she whispered “Mike it was all I ever dreamed it would be.”

“You make it sound like I won’t be doing it again.”

She sort of lifted up moving more on me and I could see her face above mine in the dim light of the galley “You mean you want to do it with me more? I thought, well I just thought…”

“Oh, you silly, silly girl. I think you're going to have a hard time getting rid of me.” I put my hand on her hip pushing “Here move over me.” When she was straddling I said, “Lift up.” And I put the tip of my again erect cock at her opening. She quickly figured it out and slid slowly down on me.

“Oh mike it's pushing, it’s so deep, I mean how long is it.”

I smiled to myself “Just under 10 inches.”

She moved slowly, letting herself adjust to my length and girth. “I thought you were all the way in me but you weren't. Were you?”

“No, I didn’t want to hurt you.”

She leaned forward on her hands, her red hair falling so it covered her face in the shadows as she moved very slowly on me. When her pubic mound found mine she let out a soft sigh “I think you have a problem.”

I felt her insides trembling “I do?”

She moved a little up then down grinding that beautiful big clit into me “Oh HUh huh umm. Oh God Aaaaa.” She jackhammered her mound into mine as she came, then she froze. “I, I can't move because if I do I’m going to cum again and if that happens I won’t want to let you go.”

I pushed up into her. “You might not have a choice about who is doing the moving on who.”

“Oh fuck Mike OH FUCK! Ungaasshit!” her lips found Mine “Cum for me! Oh honey I want to hoooo shit AAAaaaa!” As she came I pumped up into her pushing in as deeply as I could as my seed jetted into her belly “OH, OH YES OH!”

I took her hand. “Come on, let's go out to the swim platform and shower.”

We were both sticky with cum and sweat as we padded naked through the boat. The night air was perfect and the water pumped from the lake while cool was not cold at all. We took our time washing each other, tickling, and playing. Back on deck, I got a couple of fluffy white towels and without talking we stood in the middle of the cockpit drying each other. With her towel between us, she pressed herself into me as her hands came to my face. When her lips found mine they were not demanding but so very soft and warm. She put her head on my shoulder softly saying. “How can I feel like this? Shit man, I have only known you for a hot second but it seems like all my life.” her lips found my neck and she nipped it before moving away.

“I feel the same way. It is crazy but I think the good lord made you just for me.”

“Kim.” She moved so her teeth found my bottom lip and nipped at it pulling on it “My name is Kim.”

Kim in nothing but a T-shirt stood by the Friendships Helm looking at the ship's clock and the sky. “I have to work tomorrow and It’s getting late. I was sitting on the high captain's chair and she stepped to me “If I leave now I won’t have to push it so hard to get back to the wash before dark.” She moved to me bending so her face got really close to mine “I’ll leave my ice chest so I know you will have to find me to give it back.”

I grinned at her “Oh me finding you will be about the last thing you need to worry about.”

It of course took me 2 days to get back to the marina. It was the first time since I bought the Friendship that I had wished she wasn’t so slow.

We text constantly, nothing too serious, just silly little thoughts, and when I came around the end of the breakwater I saw her walk out of the ranger office on shore. By the time I made the turn she was standing on the finger of my slip when I eased the Friendship to a stop. I went forward and tossed her the bow line and as she made it secure I got the stern line all secure. There were a number of people around, fishermen, and other boaters staying on their boats,s and Kim coming down to meet my boat really was pretty unusual. When I stepped through the gate in the handrail she said loud enough for anyone to hear, “I’m here about the chest you found and the contents you called in about.”

I smiled “Ok it’s below if you would like to come to take a look at it.”

The second we were below deck and in the cool of the AC Kim turned and was instantly in my arms. Her lips were trembling as they met mine, then she stepped back looking at me, “I really don’t like not being with you.” She stepped back and shook her hair as she started for the hatch “I’m off at 5 but need to go home and change. Meet me at the Fog Horn and you sir are buying me dinner, umm...about 8.”

“Deal,'' I smiled.

I made a mad dash into Las Vegas and was back but about 6 pm. A quick shower and shave and at about 7:30 a text. “I’m here, so hurry.”

I instantly spotted that red hair and smiled seeing Kim. She was standing by the pool table talking to several men and women. She was wearing a yellow knee-length strapless summer dress with 3-inch wedge-style slingbacks and looked simply perfect. Her face broke into a smile when she saw me and said something as she walked away from them. There was no hesitation in it when she got to me and she leaned in giving me a kiss. She chuckled as she hooked her arm in mine. “That will start some tongues wagging.” She pointed to a table in the corner with a great view of the marina below. “I hope you don’t mind but I had them set this up for us.”

Looking around the room as I pulled the chair out for Kim I saw almost everyone in the place was looking at us. “It would seem the locals are either restless or very nosey.”

She smiled, “Nosey.” her smile turned into a grin “Pull your chair over close to me.”

I had hardly sat when the waitress was standing next to me. I could see in her eyes she wanted to know what was going on as she asked “Would you like something from the bar?”

Looking at me Kim put her hand on top of mine, “I’d like a Budweiser.” She looked at me and I said, “I’ll take the same.”

The waitress walked away and Kim looked at me. “It’s ok. This is a small town and everyone in it knows I don’t date so this is quite an event for them.” She shrugged, “It's a small community out here and everyone wants to know what everyone is doing.”

The waitress came back with our beers and smiled as she sat them down, “Here ya go. Do you need more time or do you know what you want?”

I looked at Kim “You order and I’ll have what you have. You know the food here and I don’t have a clue.”

Kim, still smiling, asked “Do you like shrimp?”

“Yes, I love them.”

She got a funny expression as she looked at the waitress “Brandy this is my boyfriend Mike and we will have the 12 piece shrimp combo and you tell Kent to cook them done or I’ll kick his skinny ass.” as Brandy walked away Kim very softly said, “Watch this.”

First, this Brandy went to the kitchen and the cook looked at us with a frown. Then she went to the bar and it was like a match had been struck in the place as suddenly everyone in the room was whispering and sneaking looks at us. “Honey I was going to wait until after dinner to do this.” I looked around at everyone still kind of staring as I pulled the ring from my pocket.” Ranger Kim, will you marry me?” I lifted her left hand and she started to giggle in a very girly way, nodding her head and as I pushed the ring on as she whispered, “yes.”

You could have heard a pin drop in the room and I stood up “Ladies and Gentlemen.” I looked down at a very pink-faced Kim. “She said yes.”

And the room exploded in laughter and applause.

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