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jobean12-blog · 4 years

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Top Shelf: Chapter 16- Turning Over a New Leaf

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader (Bookshop/Bartender/Baking AU)

Word Count: 2,255

Summary: You’re busy with all the good stuff and renovations are well underway at the Bookshop, you set a date for the reopening, Bucky wants to make a change but he’s not sure how you’ll react.

Author’s Note: Happy Monday again guys! As always just want to thank you again for coming along on this journey with me. Every time I write a new chapter it makes me smile and I hope you do too. This one was fun for obvious reasons...don’t be mad at me! I had to do it. Thank you again for your continued support and kindess and for reading! Much love always ❤❤❤

Warnings: Fluff (as usual), fun with friends, some sexy teasing and flirting and implied sexy times, Bucky’s beard...

Top Shelf Masterlist

The next few weeks fly by in a dizzying haze of Bucky, the Bookshop renovations and your friends. You somehow manage to fit working a full-time job in there but it’s the least of your priorities and you are seriously starting to question how much longer you want to work there. It’s great and the people you work with are nice, but your heart just isn’t in it.

It’s already the end of August and Steve is finishing up the construction at the Bookshop. It’s coming along nicely, and he has even gotten Bucky to help and learn a few things along the way. “Hey Buck, hand me that saw please.” Bucky grabs it from the table and hands it to Steve but not before tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear and nearly stabbing himself with the pointy end.

“Bucky. You gotta watch out. You’ve been messin’ with your hair all day. What am I supposed to tell y/n when you’re missing an ear?” Bucky chuckles at that but blows over his face to try to get the hair out of it. “It’s gotten so damn annoying. I really want to cut it.” Steve starts sawing, keeping his eyes on his work while he asks, “then why don’t you just get it cut?” Bucky takes his hair out of the bun and tries to smooth it back, sliding the hair tie over his wrist. “Because I’m pretty sure she’ll kill me if I do.”

Neither of them hears you come in over the sawing and their combined chatter. “Who will kill you if you do what, babe?” Bucky’s head shoots up mid hair fixing, and he smiles. Quickly securing it with the elastic he walks over and grabs you up in a big hug, kissing you several times before placing you on your feet. “I brought lunch,” you say holding up the bags with a warm smile.

Steve whoops and takes one bag, sitting himself on the floor and digging in. “So, Bucky thinks if he cuts his hair you’ll freak,” Steve explains through a mouthful of sandwich. Bucky grits his teeth but manages to look you in the eye, “don’t listen to him, I won’t cut it.” Steve flaps his sandwich in your direction. “He has been complaining about it since we started this and today has been the worst.”

You laugh at Steve with his sandwich but when you catch Bucky’s eye again, he looks worried. A loose strand of hair has fallen in front of his face again and he tries to blow it away. It doesn’t work so you tuck it behind his ear and trail your fingers down his jaw, gently combing through his full beard. “Ok, first of all. I wouldn’t freak out. I love your hair but honestly baby, it would be fine if got it cut. You’ll look handsome with any style and I’m not in love with you for your hair you know.”

Steve makes a gagging noise from the floor and Bucky shoots him a death glare. “Are you choking, or do I need to kick your ass?” He swallows his bite and makes a face, “you guys are sickening you know that.” Popping your head over Bucky’s shoulder you point a finger right at him. “Don’t you start sassing me Steve Rogers…I have to deal with you and Peggy through all this wedding planning and I haven’t said a damn word because I love you and I’m happy to be a part of it. So, shut it! Or…I’ll tell Peggy.”

That shuts him up but not before a few more grumbles. He finishes eating and gets back to work, leaving you two to your hair conversation. “Are you sure you don’t care?” You give Bucky a reassuring smile. “I definitely do not. BUT there is one condition.” His eyebrows meet his hairline as he waits. “You cannot shave your beard.” You say it with such authority and seriousness it has him throwing his head back in laughter. “Ok, boss, you got it.”

Throwing your hands up you roll your eyes and smash the bag of lunch into his chest. “Eat! I got your favorite.” Bucky leans against the table and opens the bag, pulling out his lunch and grinning. “Thanks, beautiful, I’m starving!” He eats it fast and gets back to work with Steve. You ask if they need anything else before heading back to work.

Bucky walks you to the back to get your bag but before you can retrieve it, he has you pressed against the bookshelf. “I wish you didn’t have to go back to work.” His thigh parts your legs and pushes against you, earning him a soft moan. “Bucky…don’t tease,” you whisper, closing your eyes when he starts kissing along your neck. He holds you against the bookshelf for a few more minutes, slowly building you up before he pulls away and smirks.

“Better get back to work before you’re late.” You level him with a warning look, forcefully pulling your bag over your shoulder. “Oh, you’re so dead, Barnes. Two can play at this game.” With that you stalk off, yelling bye to Steve on the way out. “Hey babe, wait,” Bucky calls after you, stopping in his tracks when you turn and glare. “Um, I’m gonna try to make my hair appointment for after work. Just wanted to let you know.” With a twinkle in your eye you give him a thumbs up, “sounds good baby, see you tonight.”

The rest of the day flies by as you push through e-mails for work as well as e-mails regarding the new baking equipment that has to be delivered next week. You’re going to set yourself up with a small kitchen in the back area so everything can be freshly baked at the shop. Bucky is also getting a state-of-the-art coffee machine and all the necessary accessories.

You and Bucky continue you to tease each other over text and when you finally get home, you’re exhausted but completely riled up at the same time. Deciding a bath might help you relax you fill the tub with hot water and get in, sinking down to your neck and letting out a deep breath. Not long after you hear the sound of the door and Bucky’s voice calling from down the hall.

“I’m in here Buck!” Your eyes are closed so when he first walks in you don’t look up. He kneels down near the tub and brushes his hand over your cheek. “You look soft and relaxed,” he whispers. You hum and turn your head, slowly opening your eyes. With a gasp you sit up, sloshing water out onto the floor. “Oh Bucky. WOW.” He looks concerned and asks, “like a good wow or oh no this is bad wow.”

Instead of answering him you stand up and reach for your towel. His gaze roams over your wet body and he adjusts himself in his jeans. “I’ve been thinking about this all day, you’re not helping, and you didn’t answer my question.” Stepping out of the bath with the help of his hand you wrap the towel around you and look him over again.

“That was a good wow. A very good wow.” Taking your hand, you comb it through his short but fluffy locks. They are silky soft and still long enough to tug which you do, and he moans. “I love it. I love it so much.” Pressing yourself against him you let the towel fall to the floor, placing kisses up his neck and over his beard. “You know, I had this whole plan to put on some lingerie and tease you…give you a taste of your own medicine, but now…” You trail off when your lips find his and you cling to his biceps to steady yourself.

He pulls away, breathing against your lips, “and now?” Your hands are in his hair and your lips brush over his jaw. “Now I can’t wait another minute. I need you.” With those words he lifts you into his arms and takes you to bed, making up for all the teasing and more.

When you wake the next morning, you’re tired and sore but in the most satisfied way. Thankful it’s Friday you take your time getting ready for work, periodically breaking to watch Bucky sleep. His hair is tousled from your hands last night and the morning light catches some of the lighter strands, reminding you of caramel. You really like this new look.

Once you’re ready to leave you round the bed to give sleeping beauty a kiss. His eyes flutter open when your lips press to his and his hand wraps around the back of your neck. Before he can drag you back into bed you pull away, tracing your fingers over his mouth. “I love you.” His soft smile fades when he closes his eyes again, kissing your hand and murmuring, “I love you,” before his gentle breathing is all you hear.

You stay seated on the edge of the bed for a few more moments, running your fingers through his hair and just admiring how handsome he is. When you finally make it out of the apartment you have to haul ass to make it to work on time, sitting down just as your phone rings. It’s Tony. He wants to discuss setting a date for the re-opening of the bookshop. You update him on the construction and delivery schedule and agree to meet early next week to figure it out.

Nat and Peggy come over later that night and the three of you work on wedding things. Peggy asked you to make the wedding cake and you’re terrified but of course you said yes. So, you spend the evening talking about the boys, trying some cake flavors you baked and looking at wedding dresses on Pinterest. Sam and Bucky are working the bar tonight and Steve is there hanging out, so you keep getting silly pictures of the three of them in a group text.

“Bucky looks pretty amazing with that new haircut,” Peggy comments, looking at the newest photo they sent, “and I wish Steve would let his beard grow out!” Your grin turns devious under your wine glass, “have you told him that?” Peggy smirks, giving you a sideways glance. “Not in those simple words.” Placing your glass down you lean in close as if Bucky is near enough to hear, “we’ve been so busy right, so shaving wasn’t really something Bucky wanted to do regularly because it’s a pain in the ass so his beard kept getting more full and I love it…you know.”

Nat looks at you expectantly and Peggy just looks confused. When your silent for another minute they both shout, “you know what???” Standing up you cover your mouth to stop your giggles and put your hands on your hips, “I can’t believe you aren’t catching my drift here.” They give each other a look then glare at you. “But you haven’t said anything except he didn’t feel like shaving much, so his beard got full,” Peggy states with a hmpf.

Nat’s eyes begin to narrow as she pieces it together. “Oh my god! You mean you like it between your legs, don’t you? You couldn’t have just said that?” She throws a crumpled napkin at your head and you all burst into laughter. Peggy grabs her phone and types a mile a minute, squealing when she sets it down. “I just text Steve and told him I want him to grow a beard so I can feel it between my legs…” You hear your phone chime and suck in a breath. “Did you send it just to Steve or to ALL of us?” Peggy pales, taking her phone and checking the message. “OH MY GOD!”

Next week…

After a very long but productive meeting with Tony you all decide that you should be ready to reopen on September 22nd. It’s the official first day of fall and a perfect way to launch into all the pumpkin spice and fall goodies you have planned. This gives you just about 4 full weeks to bring it all together. You’re sitting on the couch going over a list of what you want to serve at the opening when Bucky walks in after a shower. His long fingers comb over his beard as he watches you. “I still can’t believe Peg sent that text. I’m still laughing.”

“Oh, me too, I nearly peed my pants when it happened. And now that Steve is growing out his beard, we can endlessly tease him!” Silence descends and you feel the couch dip when he sits, drawing your attention from the list. “Hi.” Leaning forward you kiss his cheek and sit yourself in his lap. “Wanna see my list so far?” He wraps his arms around you and leans his head on your shoulder. “Of course. Do I get to taste test all of these?”

Counting down your list you have 8 treats, none of which he has eaten yet. “Oh definitely, I’m going to be doing a lot of baking the next couple of weeks. I can bring them to the bar for Sam and everyone to try too.” With his face in your neck Bucky hums his agreement. “You know what I think I’m most excited about,” he says, tickling you with his beard. “What?” you laugh, turning to meet his eyes. “For Grandma to see it all.”

@aesthetical-bucky @auro-ora @bugsbucky @buckys-broody-muffin @buckys-henley @buckys-minty-breath @book-dragon-13 @bucky-on-my-mind @eurynome827 @hiddles-rose @ikaris-whore @itsunclebucky @imgaril-lindru @jhangelface0523 @jewels2876 @kaosera @loricameback @lorilane33 @littledarlinhavefaithinme @littleredstarfish @breezy1415 @mushyjellybeans @marvelandotherfandomimagines @marvelgirl7 @nano--raptor @pinkdiamond1016 @randomfandompenguin @sallycanwait68 @softpeachbarnes @tuiccim @the-wayward-robot @yansi1923 @hiddles-rose @hailmary-yramliah @hawksmagnolia @flyawaybay @throwmyheartawayagain @amandatar-06 @nd1998sc @captainchrisstan @vherriepie @godofplumsandthunder @when-the-hell-is-bucky @fire-flv @jamesbarnesappreciationclub @irishflutiegirl @rinthehufflepuff @moonybarnes @nordlysinthewoods @scarletsoldierrr @inflxmes @lauratang @my-favorite-fics-and-imagines @buchanansebba @emilylyoness @curlyred2020 @addikted-2-dopamine @lady-pswrld @lookiamtrying @tales-of-spring @lokilvrr @mishaandthebrits

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usual-day-dreamer · 4 years

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Let Me Touch Your Fire (Steve Harrington x Henderson!Reader) Chapter Four

MASTERLIST

"I've been having really weird dreams lately"

Robin was on her break and you were sitting at the farthest table so you could talk and relax a little before you started figuring out how to get inside the elevator.

"What kind of dreams?" She asked you

"I don't really know, I just remember this guy I've never seen before, he repeats over and over 'save them' but I don't know what he's talking about"

"You dreamt that last night?" She asked you

"No, probably because I slept with Steve"

"Oh" you missed her disappointed tone and eyes as you clarified

"Not like that, we just shared a bed" you blushed

Robin kept quiet, looking down at her sandwich

"I hope you figure out what the dream means" she said and as she looked at you, you noticed his saddened look.

"Robin are you okay?"

She nodded "Totally" but her eyes said otherwise

"Maybe later you could-"

She interrupted you abruptly by standing up and running towards the tip jar

"Hey! Half of it is mine!" Steve said

"Sorry, I'll be back in 20!"

And she was gone

Steve looked at you with a frown

"Where is she going?" He asked

"I have no idea"

"The best things is to wait" he agreed, and you walked next to him hitting him playfully with your elbow. He smiled at you and you smiled back.

Dustin frowned looking at your interaction, that was new. He looked at you deep in thought as Steve gave you an ice cream. Suddenly it clicked

"You two had sex!" He exclaimed. The costumers on the tables turned to look at him with weirded faces, Dustin ignored them.

"What?" You asked and looked at Steve

"You guys have been acting weird since we left Steve's house and I figured that you two had sex last night"

"Woah woah" Steve said "What's gotten into you, Henderson?"

You were blushing madly now completely uncomfortable

"It's just that you-"

"I forgot I had to buy some stuff for later, I'll be back" you walked hurriedly out of Scoops Ahoy and soon disappeared into the crowd.

"Congratulations genius, you scared her away" Steve said with a scoff, turning back to cleaning the counter.

"You totally have feelings for my sister"

"I told I don't, you should really drop it Dustin I don't want her to feel uncomfortable or something, I mean, she literally ran away just now"

"She went to the record store; she loves it and she told me she was looking for a new album or something"

"Whatever"

A costumer ended their argument

"Welcome to Scoops Ahoy, I'm Steve and I'll- what the he'll are you doing here?"

"Hello Steve"

Dustin couldn't remember the name of the guy but he knew who he was, he was part of the basketball team and if he remember correctly, it was the guy that Steve was complaining about because he kind of stole his role with the ladies even though he never actually played on any basketball match.

"Working here seems pretty cool" his sarcastic tone made Steve glare at him.

"Yeah, it's cool because I have a perfect view of how you lie to all the girls telling them what an awesome basketball player you are even though you don't actually played" Steve ended his comment with a smirk.

"Anyways, I'm looking for a girl that seems to hang around here a lot" he ignored Steve's comment completely

"You mean Robin?"

"No, not your coworker" he said walking closer "It's a really cute girl with Y/H/C not wearing a stupid sailor costume"

"Y/N?" Steve said confused

"So that's her name" he was smirking now

Dustin looked at Steve trying to hide his smile at the sight, Steve was beyond furious.

"Hey Steve, can I- oh..." you were back, a plastic bag hanging from your wrist

You paused, the tension in the room unbearable.

"I was just asking for you"

"Really?" You looked quizzically at the guy in front of Steve.

"Yeah I'm-"

"You want to leave those at the car babe?"

The nickname made you froze, you looked at Steve and nodded slowly, you face showed how confused you were but decided to play along. He walked out of behind the counter and handed you the keys to his car

"Okay... I guess I'll get going" you said and kissed Steve's cheek "Goodbye" you waved at them with a smile and walked away. Steve felt his cheek burning in the spot where your lips touched, he cleared his throat and looked at the guy.

"She really isn't interested, and now that that's settled, bye" Steve made a small gesture with his hand and the guy walked away angrily.

As soon as he was out of sight Dustin laughed loudly

"What?"

"You should've seen your face; you were beyond pissed" he laughed once more, and Steve scoffed

"What the hell was that all about?" You walked inside Scoops Ahoy again, you needed answers.

Steve jumped and looked at you "He's an asshole not worthy of your time"

You eyed him suspiciously and looked at Dustin, he just shrugged his shoulders and smiled

"I'll decide if he's worthy or not" you said and looked at Steve crossing your arms across your chest

Steve looked at you and opened his mouth, then closed it again.

"You'll be surprised what 20 bucks can do" Robin's voice brought you out of your conversation and you followed her to the back room.

"So" she placed the blueprints on the table "Turns out, that mysterious room beds ventilation like every other room here"

"This is Scoops" she circled the spot with a red marker "We just need to get inside the air vents and move from here to here" she drew a line from one spot to another "We just need someone to do it"

"I'll do it" your gaze moved to Dustin "Are you sure?"

He nodded

"I can fit anywhere, I'm like jelly"

A few minutes later, Dustin was trying to get inside the vents

"Push me harder Steve!"

"I'm trying" Steve grunted

"What did you said he had again?" Robin asked you

"Cleidocranial Dysplasia, he has no clavicles"

Robin nodded with a small oh, her mouth slightly open.

"You'll have to touch my butt" Dustin said

"I don't want to do that!" Steve exclaimed and you laughed

"Touch my butt!"

Steve pushed Dustin harder but failed

"You don't fit in there Dusty" you said, and he sighed.

The bell made you turn away from them. A little girl was impatiently touching it

Robin and you looked at each other, thinking the same thing.

Erica hummed checking inside the air vent with a lantern.

"Yeah, I don't know" she said coming down the ladder. Steve, Robin, Dustin and you were watching her every move.

"You don't know if you can fit in?" Dustin said

"Oh, I can fit. I just don't know if I want to" she answered.

"Are you claustrophobic?" Robin asked

"I don't have any phobias" She snickered.

"Then what's the problem?" You asked

"The problem is" she said "I still haven't heard what's in this for Erica" her sassy tone almost made you laugh.

A few seconds later you were all sitting on a table, all kinds and flavors of ice cream filled the table as Steve handed her one.

"More fudge please" she handed it back to Steve and he hesitated "Go on" she ushered him with her hands and Steve walked back with the ice cream in hand.

As he walked away Robin grabbed the blueprints again

"Okay, you see this? This is the route you are going to take" she pointed at the line she made a few minutes before.

"Then we just wait for the last delivery to go out tonight" you added.

"Then you knock out the grate, jump down, open the door" Robin said, her tone making it sound like the easiest thing in the world.

"Then you find out what's in those boxes?" Erica said playing with the spoon.

"Exactly"

"Mh-mmm, and you say this guard is armed"

"Yes, but he won't be there" Dustin quickly answered

"And booby traps?"

"Booby traps?" You asked. Robin, Dustin and you exchanged looks.

"Lasers, spikes in the wall?" Erica said it as if it was the most obvious thing.

"What?" Robin said

"You know what this half-baked plan of yours sounds like to me?" Erica looked directly at Dustin "Child Endangerment"

"We'll be in radio contact with you the whole time-" you said

"Ah, ah, ah!" she said with the sassiest tone ever "Child Endangerment"

Robin rolled her eyes annoyed, honestly, you were starting to lose your patience too.

"Erica? Hi, uh" Dustin looked at her "We think this Russians want to do harm to our country, great harm. Don't you love your country?"

"You can't spell America without Erica" she answered and took a long sip of her float.

"Uh, Yeah, yeah" Dustin looked confused but you decided not to interrupt him "Oddly, that's totally true, so don't do this for us, do it for your country, do this for your fellow man"

She continued to sip loudly

"Do this for America... Erica" Dustin ended the speech with a smile, you almost melted, he's so cute.

"Ooh!" Erica exclaimed "I just got the chills... oh yeah, from this float, not your speech"

Dustin's smile disappeared

"Know what I love most about this country?" Erica continued "Capitalism" she looked towards Dustin.

"Do you know what Capitalism is?"

"Yeah" Dustin answered

"Yeah" you and Robin answers in unison

"It means this is a free market system. Which means, people get paid for their services, depending on how valuable their contributions are. And it seems to me, my ability to fit into that little vent is very, very valuable to you all. So, you want my help? This USS Butterscotch better be the first of many, and I'm talking free ice cream for life" she ended her speech eating the cherry looking at Robin.

"We have to agree, it's our only chance" you said

Robin sighed "Okay Erica, you'll have your free ice cream"

Erica smiled triumphantly.

Steve finally came back "What did I miss?" He asked sitting down next to you.

"Erica agreed" you said with a laugh, Steve smiled at you.

"Great! Now what?"

"We wait" Robin said.

___

Closing time came faster than you expected and honestly you were anxious to see how the plan would turn out.

"Erica, do you copy?" Robin said through the radio

"Mh-mm, I copy" she answered "You nerds in position or what?"

"Yes, we are in position. It's all quiet here so you've got the green light" Robin answered.

Dustin has the binoculars, you and Steve next to him.

"Roger that, commence operation Child Endangerment"

You rolled your eyes and smiled at her comment.

"Can we not call it that?" Robin said and Steve nodded.

"See you on the other side nerds"

Steve and you looked at each other, worry adorning your faces.

The next few minutes felt like hours, your hands were starting to sweat, and a weird feeling settled in your stomach. You tried to push it away and wait.

"All right nerds, I'm there"

Erica's voice made you relax; you closed your eyes with a sigh and waited for the next step.

"Do you see anything?" Robin asked

"Yeah, I see those boring boxes you're so excited about"

"Any guards?"

"Negative"

"Booby traps?"

"If I could see them, they'd be pretty shit traps, wouldn't they?

You smiled, relaxing more at her comment

"Thank you for that" Robin sounded a little annoyed.

Steve looked at you with a small smile and you returned trying to contain your laughter.

"I'm in"

"Oh, god" Steve said covering his face with his hands. He was just as nervous as you were and that made you smile a little, he was really cute.

A novice came from the door and Erica walked out

"Free ice cream, for life" she said.

You quickly stood up and made your way towards her. Your heart beating loudly, excitement running through your body.

Once you stepped inside the room Steve quickly made his way towards a box and opened it, inside there was another metal box with a lever in the middle, he turned it around and pulled it opening the box.

You looked inside and found four round things with levers

"That's definitely not Chinese food" Steve said looking down at the contents of the metallic box.

He grabbed one and looked at us "Maybe you should, you know, stand back"

Erica and Robin did, and you hesitated. Steve gave you a nod and you did the same. Dustin didn't move.

"Come on Dustin, do as he says" you said

"No"

"Just stand back"

"No"

"Step back, seriously" Steve said placing and arm in front of Dustin

"No! No!" He said "If you die, I die"

"Okay" Steve said, and you looked at them with widened eyes but before you could move again Steve turned the lever and pulled out a container with a green liquid inside.

"What the hell?" He said

"What is that?" Robin asked staring at the container

Suddenly the room started to shake violently, and you looked around

"Booby traps" Erica whispered

"Let's just grab that and go" Robin took the container out of Steve's hands and walked towards the entrance.

Dustin presses the button, but it didn't work

"Which one do I press Erica?" He said

"Just press the damn button nerd" she answered

"Which one?"

"Press open door!"

"I'm pressing open door!"

Everyone started talking, giving solutions and commands, Steve walked towards the panel and tried to help Dustin while Robin was trying to move them away so Erica could press the right button.

Your head was spinning thinking of what to do as your heart hammered inside your chest.

Another door closed and you froze.

The room started moving faster, it felt as if you were falling.

Robin screamed

"Dustin!" You screamed and ran towards Dustin holding him as the room continued to fall.

"Shit" you heard Steve said as you closed your eyes holding Dustin tighter.

#steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #stranger things

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rogerstoast · 4 years

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Pizza Delivery Boy // Roger Taylor x female reader

Summary: reader is staying in for the night, and orders a pizza. both reader and roger are left stumbling at the door when they are both hungry for more than just a pizza.

Request: @comehereroger this girl literally gave me the idea I love her! Thank her for this!

Warnings: Fluff, flirting, a bit of smut, kinda dirty.

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You plopped down on the couch after a stressful week of tests and finals, prepared to sleep and do absolutely nothing this winter break. All you wanted more than anything was to relax and take in your surroundings. But the loud grumble erupting from your stomach said otherwise. It’s about dinner time anyways, but you were too lazy to get up and actually have to cook something. Nonetheless, you reached over to grab the phone resting on your coffee table, ready to order a pizza for one on your night in.

“Rocky’s pizza! What can I get ya?” A voice answered on the phone.

“Can I get an extra large cheese pizza? With some muchrooms, and uhh... extra sausage?” You ordered, mouth already watering at the thought of your dinner.

“Sure thing. Anything else?”

“That’s it.”

“Your total is $10.75. Pick up or delivery ma’am?”

“Delivery please!” Pff, like you were going to pick up a pizza three blocks away. The thought of having to get up from the couch to eventually answer the door was tiring enough.

*25 minutes later*

You sat all cuddled in on your couch, a soft tune playing on the record player throughout the apartment, as you switched between channels finding something to watch. All of sudden, you hear a knock at the door.

Pizza time baby.

Groaning in response, you slowly got up from the couch and trotted to the door. You unlock the door, and open it. Holy—well hello there, you thought. He must be new, never seen him before.

“Pizza delivery, for uhhh,” he squinted his eyes at the receipt, “y/n?” He asked in a soft, deep voice. His hair was blond and wavy, almost made you want to run your fingers through it. And the way the tight red T-shirt perfectly fit his toned body almost made you weak at the knees. But what killed you the most was the smile he shot at you once your eyes met each other’s. Those god damn eyes. Shit, snap out of it y/n.

You stumbled over your words, “uhh yeah that’s me.” You smiled back. Fuck, I can’t just give him the money, you thought. Screw it, it’s Friday, what’ve I got to lose?

“extra sausage right?” Really y/n?! Did you seriously just fucking ask that? Idiot.

He chuckled and blushed a bit, “I think so. Would you like to check?” *sir?? excuse you?* “You know, to see that they got the order right?” He asked, opening the box.

And they sure did, extra large sausage too.

You nervously chuckled, trying to keep your cool. “H-how much do I owe you?” You asked.

He leaned against the doorframe as your proximity to each other minimized by a couple inches. “I don’t think it really matters love, it’s on me.” He said, shooting another smirk your way as his looked up and down your body, subtly taking you in.

Ah Fuck.

“A-are you sure? You don’t have to, really—“

“No no no, it’s fine honestly. Don’t worry about it love.” He insisted. “I’m Roger, by the way.”

Roger. Good name. Quick y/n, uh, be sexy!

“Say, Roger. I don’t know if I’ll be able to eat this whole thing by myself,” you smirk up at him with a mischievous look in your eyes, “do you maybe wanna come inside and help me, finish it?” Dang, I am on fire tonight.

He leaned in a bit closer, one arm resting on the frame while the other held the pizza. Yet, whatever cologne we was wearing overpowered the smell of the food, and began to captivate you even more.

“Oh love, I thought you’d never ask,” he nearly growled at you, your faces merely inches apart as his eyes flicked down to your lips a few times.

“Oh yeah?” You smirked up at him, biting your lip.

“Yeah.” He looked down at your lips and licked his own. Message received.

“Why don’t you come inside then?” You ask a bit more seductively, placing your hand over his arm that carries the pizza, signaling to pull him in.

Within in seconds, he pushed himself in, throwing the pizza on the nearest table, pushing you against the door as it slammed shut. He pushed his lips against yours in a slow yet passionate kiss, as his hands traveled down to your waist, lightly squeezing your sides. In response, you threw your arms around his neck, tangling one of your hands through his soft hair. You deepened the kiss, as he slid a hand down to your ass and gave it a quick squeeze. As you let a slight moan escape, he swiped his tongue over your bottom lip begging for entrance. You let him in to explore your mouth, as you did the same with his. Tongues intertwining, fighting for dominance. You let him overtake you, you couldn’t help how good he tasted. He smiled against your lips, letting out slight moans all while letting his hands travel below your ass even more.

“Up.” He grunted against your already swollen lips. You didn’t hesitate to listen, jumping up and wrapping both your legs around his toned torso.

You continued your heated make out session, cupping his jaw to bring his face closer to yours if that was even possible. He pushed you up more against the door, until you felt something poking against your lower abdomen.

You broke apart momentarily, “bedrooms down the hall.” In response he placed his soft lips back onto yours, smiling as he began to trail his wet kisses down your neck. All the while racing the two of you to the bedroom.

He slammed the door open, and threw you on the bed, hovering his body over yours. Continuing to suck on your neck and the soft spot right below your ear, you were reaching down, and begging working with his belt. Roger lifted his shirt off, then yours each in a swift motion. He looked down shortly to admire the beauty that lay before him. You smirked up at him as his eyes took you all in.

“You do this often?” You asked in the heat of the moment.

“It’s only my first day on the job, you do the math.” He laughed lightly, reattaching his lips to yours.

His hands squeezed your hips, massaging and rubbing your sides all over. It felt so good, you were almost convinced this moment wasn’t real. You roamed your hands up his back, slightly digging your nails in it leaving red marks all over. until they were back in his hair. You lightly tugged at it, moans escaping his mouth as he brought his face to burrow into your neck, sucking and bitting your smooth skin. Roger reached one of his hands up to cup your covered breast, massaging it, still planting a wide display of hickies all over your chest.

“Rog, feels so good,” you moaned out. He reached back and unhooked your bra easily, like a fucking pro. Who is this man?

Roger fed off of your desire for more, as he reached down, prepared to rub his fingers where you were in desperate need of some friction. Just as fingers began to peel back the soaking wet, thin lining covering your entrance, something just HAD to go wrong.

*ring ring* *ring ring*

“Fuck.”

“What Roger. What is it?” You ask, confused as to why he just stopped.

Roger groans in annoyance, kissing you on the lips quickly before getting off you and stumbling to put his pants back on. It was his boss calling him in for another order he needed to deliver.

“I forgot I actually have to work,” he laughed to himself, “I’m sorry love i have to go, wouldn’t want to get fired on the first day for being late.”

Although you were merely disappointed that the two of you were unable to finish, he was in a way total stranger, who also had to do his job.

“It’s alright Rog. Maybe next time we can finish what we’ve started here tonight?” You asked, pulling the sheets up to cover your chest.

Roger had his shirt half way over his head till he froze. “Next time?” He mumbled through the fabric.

You chuckled and threw on the robe from the side of your bed. “Yes, next time. I really want to see you again Roger.”

Roger now was fully clothed and walked towards you, wrapping his arms around your waist as you placed your hands on his arms. He looked down at you and smiled. He saw something in you. He was thrilled that you wanted to see him again, because he wanted to see you again too.

“Yeah, id like that.” He hummed in response.

You beamed up at him. You were still in a bit of a shock and what was about to go down between the two of you. Two complete strangers who don’t know a thing about each other. Literally in your bed about to fuck because of a fucking pizza. Damn that extra large sausage.

As you walked him to your door, he left a passionate kiss on your lips. Except he didn’t stop. He was still craving for your touch. After all, neither of you got to finish. You opened the door and pushed him out a bit, breaking the kiss.

“Oh come on!” He complained with that stupid smirk across his face.

“Maybe next time pizza boy.”

“That next time better be tomorrow night because if you—“

You rolled your eyes laughing to yourself as you slammed the door in his face. If only he knew how hungry you were for tomorrow nights dinner. Maybe even hungry enough to call for another pizza in an hour. Or even better, just a good old extra large sausage.

————————————————————

Lmk what you think :)

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oh-ranpo · 5 years

Text

i hate valentine’s day. {roger taylor}

AN: Cause I really need more one-shots right now when I still have seven requests for my writing contest, but in the spirit of the holiday, I had this idea. I hope you like it! Let me know what you think.

“I hate Valentine’s Day,” you growled, as you plopped down on the couch next to Brian. You had just arrived at the studio where your friends were recording, and they all looked over at you when you came in.

“What are you going on about?” Freddie asked, as he went back to scribbling furiously in one of his lyric journals. Brian was giving you a sympathetic smile from next to you, and John was watching you intently from the chair next to Freddie, waiting for you to explain your most recent bout of frustration. The only one who didn’t really pay much attention was Roger, who was spinning his drumsticks around his fingers as he stood looking over Freddie’s shoulders as he was writing.

“You know that guy I’ve been seeing?” you asked, drawing Roger’s attention to you.

“Yeah, Jack?” he asked, and you narrowed your eyes at him.

“Jason. Well, he decided that he was going to ask out another one of my co-workers for Valentine’s day. Can you believe it? He sent her flowers and everything. The prick.”

You crossed your arms over your chest in anger, as the image of the bundle of red roses that had been sitting on Amy’s desk ran through your mind. Of course, you hadn’t been all that interested in Jason, but it was the principal of the matter.

“He was an asshole, YN. He didn’t deserve you,” Brian comforted, as he gently patted your leg. You gave him a small smile, and your eyes lifted to meet Roger’s. He was still staring at you, but after a few more moments, he looked away. You had noticed more lingering glances from Roger lately, but you didn’t really think too much of it. He was a little weird sometimes, but you knew that ultimately it meant nothing.

“Well, Valentine’s day is a little over a week away. You still have time to find a new date,” John said encouragingly, and a scoff fell through your lips.

“That’s totally something a man in a committed relationship would say. I appreciate the sentiment though, Deaky.”

John shrugged, a smug smile on his lips as he stood up from his chair and walked across the room to grab his bass. Freddie finished writing a few more words, and then he finally turned back to face you.

“You know that I’m having a single’s party at my house on Valentine’s day, now you have no excuse not to come. Rog’ll be there. Won’t you Rog?” Freddie glanced up and over his shoulder at the blond towering over him. Roger shrugged, and you weren’t the least bit surprised that he might consider going to one of Freddie’s infamous Valentine’s Day parties. There would be plenty of single girls there vying for his attention. It was right up his alley.

“I don’t know, Freddie. You know those parties aren’t my scene. Besides, that party is known for just hooking people up for one-night stands, and nothing more,” you replied, your arms uncrossing as your leg started to bounce up and down repeatedly. A wry smile crossed Freddie’s lips and he gave you a wink.

“That’s the point, darling. I’m not Cupid, I can’t make people fall in love. But at least it keeps people from feeling alone.”

You couldn’t argue with that, and as much as you wanted to go on a proper date for Valentine’s Day, you knew that Freddie’s party would help you forget, at least for a few hours, how pathetically alone you actually were.

Brian and John pretended like they weren’t listening to the conversation considering that the both of them were in happy, loving relationships. You were happy for them, but you always wondered how they had gotten so lucky so early in life. You weren’t exactly the romantic type, but you were almost 27 years old. You thought that you might have met the love of your life by this point.

“Valentine’s day is a stupid holiday anyways,” you mumbled to yourself, as you sunk back into the couch cushions. No one acknowledged your grumblings, but you didn’t expect them to. They knew, just as well as you, that you would get over it eventually.

x.x.x

When you walked into work the next morning, you received an abnormal number of stares from some of your co-workers. As you passed their cubicles, several eyes glanced up and watched you as you made your way back to your office. You felt incredibly self-conscious, wondering if you had worn your shirt inside out or you had something on your face, but as soon as you caught sight of your desk, you figured out that it had nothing to do with how you looked.

Sitting on top of your desk was a giant vase with a bouquet of white lilies. An audible gasp fell through your lips as you stepped into the room, searching for a card or something that might tell you who the gift had come from. Whoever it was knew exactly what your favorite flowers were. Your mind immediately jumped to Jason, but you figured he couldn’t have been dumb enough to send flowers to two different women in the same office.

You spotted a small white envelope pressed in among the flowers, and you quickly reached out to open it. You were a little disappointed when there was no sender name, but just a quick message on the card that said, “I hope you enjoy these.”

You spent the rest of the day with a smile on your face, and you often found yourself pressing your nose close to the flowers so that you could enjoy their fragrant smell. You still had no idea who could have sent them, but the sour feeling you had felt the day before was completely gone.

x.x.x

The next morning, things returned to normal with no new present on your desk. Your good mood from the flower delivery the day before carried over into the day, and you went happily about your work, as you continued to think about who could have sent them to you.

A couple days later, just two days before Valentine’s Day, you walked into your office and found another large box sitting on top of it. When you got closer, you saw that it was a box of chocolates, and a smile spread across your lips. There was another card, but still no name on who had sent them to you. Instead, there was just a short message of, “Just another little something to help you feel special.” Just as you closed the card, one of your co-workers walked up to your door and knocked gently.

“Does someone have a secret admirer?” she asked with a giddy smile on her face. You looked up at her and shrugged. You really had no idea what was going on, but you couldn’t complain.

“I honestly have no idea where this stuff is coming from,” you replied, as you looked down at the small note once again. You spent the rest of the day trying to scope out whether there was anyone in your office who might have been the culprit. However, everyone went about their normal business, and you gave up trying to figure it out.

x.x.x

You didn’t know what else you expected. Whoever was sending you gifts had already sent you flowers and chocolate, so you figured that would be the end of it. Especially since whoever it was didn’t care enough to tell you who they were. So that’s why, when you walked into work the day before Valentine’s day, you were completely taken aback to see a small stuffed giraffe sitting in your chair. He had a little bow tie, and there was another card attached to it.

You smiled adoringly down at the small animal and you couldn’t help but wonder who knew that lilies were your favorite flowers and giraffes were your favorite animal. The card still had no name on it, but this time, there were instructions rather than a short little sentiment.

“Roses are red, violets are blue. I know you think Valentine’s sucks, but I want to have dinner with you. Meet me outside by your car at noon and you can give me your answer.”

You felt your pulse quicken at the thought that you could be meeting the person behind all the gifts in just a few short hours. Then, as you read over the card again, a thought hit you. There were only four people that knew how much you hated Valentine’s day, and that was Freddie, Roger, John, and Brian. You knew that it couldn’t have been John or Brian who were sending these things to you, or at least you desperately hoped that it wasn’t because that would make things entirely too awkward, so that left Roger or Freddie.

It has to be Freddie, you thought to yourself. Freddie was one of your best friends and he was always looking for ways to cheer you up when you were feeling down. You smiled to yourself as you went about your work, desperately trying to make the time pass quickly so that you could go out to your car and meet with Freddie.

When it was about five minutes until noon, you told one of your co-workers that you were going to be stepping out to lunch and then made your way to your car. At first, you didn’t see anyone anywhere near your car, but you didn’t think anything of it. Freddie was known for running a little behind, even when he set up the time to meet. You went around to the back of your car to wait for him to show up, and after a few minutes you felt a tap on your shoulder. Another smile made its way across your lips as you turned, but when you came face to face with the person who had gotten your attention, your expression drooped slightly.

“Roger?” You gave the blond a questioning look, but he smiled brightly at you. “Where’s Freddie?”

Roger’s smile disappeared and his eyebrows knit together in a confusion.

“What do you mean?” he asked quietly. You noticed that his hands were still behind his back as if he were hiding something from you, but you didn’t acknowledge it.

“Yeah, he’s been sending me gifts this week to cheer me up after what happened with Jason,” you replied, as you looked over his shoulder in hopes of seeing the brunette coming up behind him. There was a heavy silence that fell between you, and you brought your eyes back to his. You were surprised to see hurt in his eyes as he took a step back from you.

“You were expecting Freddie.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. A sad sounding statement at that.

You nodded, but you felt more confused than ever. You had been so sure that Freddie was the one who had put all this together, but the fact that he still hadn’t shown up yet made your rethink it. Suddenly, realization washed over you and your stomach dropped. Roger wasn’t looking at you anymore, and you could see that he felt awkward about the entire situation.

“It was you.”

Roger looked up, but his eyes still didn’t quite meet yours. His hands came from behind his back, and he held out a small black box. Hesitantly you took it, but he still didn’t say anything. You flipped the box open and a you inhaled sharply at the beautiful charm that lay inside of it.

It was a light gold drum head, and as the sun hit it, it shimmered brightly. Your eyes moved from the charm to the bracelet that you were wearing around your wrist, and you realized that it was the perfect size and fit for it.

It had been Roger that sent you the lilies. It had been Roger that sent you the chocolates. It was Roger that sent you the little stuffed giraffe. And now, it was Roger that stood in front of you, offering you the perfect addition to your favorite accessory. You had been so convinced that Roger wasn’t the romantic type, you hadn’t even considered him as an option. When you looked up from the small charm and met his blue eyes, you felt your heart skip in your chest.

“I know you hate Valentine’s Day, but you didn’t deserve what that asshole Jack-“

“Jason,” you corrected, a smile slowly making its way across your lips.

“Whatever. You don’t deserve what that asshole did to you, and I’ve been trying to come up with a way to ask you out for a while, and-“

Your hand gently reached out to grab his, and his words trailed off as your skin made contact. His eyes fell to your hand and then quickly back up to your eyes. There was a full smile on your face now, and Roger started to smile back.

“I had no idea you were so thoughtful, Mr. Taylor. What girl could possibly turn down such a proposal?”

A fluttering filled your chest as Roger let out a sigh of relief and he used the hand that was holding yours to pull you closer. He pressed his lips gently against your cheek before wrapping his arms around you in a tight embrace.

“So, that’s a yes, right?” he asked, as he pulled away to see what your answer was. You quickly nodded before you were pulled against his chest once again.

“Freddie’s going to be disappointed we aren’t attending his party,” you mumbled against Roger’s shoulder before he released you from his arms.

“I told him what I was planning. I think he would be more disappointed if we did show up,” Roger replied.

“Wait, Freddie kept this a secret from me all week? I’m surprised,” you laughed, knowing full well that Freddie was never the best at keeping any kind of secret.

“Why do you think you haven’t heard from him at all? Trust me, it’s been killing him.”

Roger gave you a wink, and you laughed again. You hadn’t really noticed, but he was right. Freddie hadn’t called you once since the day at the studio. You had just been too busy with work and trying to figure out who your secret admirer was to notice.

“I can’t wait to call him tonight and tell him the good news.”

You hadn’t ever really given Roger any serious consideration before because of his usually promiscuous ways with the ladies. He wasn’t the settling down type, and you weren’t the one-night-stand type. It had never seemed like a good match before now. However, as butterflies exploded in your stomach with each look he gave you, and the reminder of all the sweet gestures he gave you, you couldn’t believe that you had never seen it before.

Maybe you didn’t hate Valentine’s Day quite as much as you thought you did.

Permanent Tag List: @dreamer821 @haileylansley @aylinnmaslow @yourealegendroger @gotnofeelgotnorhythm @justgivemethekeys @mads459 @trickster-may @taylorroger-s @mercurys-bike @ksqueenie @musiccureseverythinglove @mespetitestortues @tomhollandsquackson @secretsweetscollectionblog @jennycidesstuff @ladycataztrophe @tini-monster @hoemazzelloo @ceeeece @discodeakyy @burt-macklin-fbi @killerqueen-gunpowdergelatine @inlovewithmiddleagedcelebs @theonlyone-meeeee @chocolatekisses8 @gwilymswife @dinkiplier @justafxngirlx

#roger taylor #roger taylor x reader #roger taylor fluff #valentines day #kylie writes

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kurtty-drabbles · 4 years

Text

Ocean au (cooking something)

N/A: Something is brewing here.

@djinmer4 @dannybagpipesarecalling @bamfoftheundead

The new apartment is splendid and so far, no one dares to break in Columbina´s new home, not even Felicia Hardy and that´s a huge thing as the woman can be noisy sometimes even if she claims is out of love for her young friends. And this line always annoyed Kitty, because, you see, Kitty is actually older than Felicia.

And at this very moment, Kitty Pryde, one of the most famous thieves of this world, is lazy around on her comfy couch and her eyes are in the eternal state of wakeness and sleepiness and as she adjusts her head on the comfy pillows when out of sudden, and is not unusual, Cosmo and Jupiter arrived with their empty plates and are silently demanding food.

"Ok, ok, I´m up...let me..." then her eyes enlarge completely as she puts her hands on her head. "OH MY GOD! We have no food here...Damnit, I forget to make the shop list, damn...what I do?" Kitty is now thinking in a solution, she could go to Richard and ask for food in her sultry way and angelic face, but, he lives far away from her new house...so, what can Kitty do?

Then, as if answering her supplications, smoke can be seen coming from the neighbour´s door and Kitty dash to see what´s going on along with Cosmo and Jupiter, who are still taking their empty plates with them.

And Kitty sees Kurt Ryder putting the fire out as a quick glance can prove that whatever he was cooking was burned beyond recognition and as the man completes to put the fire out he groans loudly as he realizes his shirt is stained ...again. According to his own words.

"Hey? Is everything alright?" Kitty asked already having an idea of what happened and having a plan for the situation. Ryder notices her and nods somewhat sheepishly and explains the situation with a bit of hesitation.

"I was making dinner, but, well...I think I overcooked a little" he admitted embarrassed now and Kitty nods now having a clear idea on what to do.

"But you were ok, right?" Kitty asked and Ryder nods saying the fire is now over as well his dinner and Kitty pretends, very well mind you, to be in deep thought as she then speaks feigning very well to be shy.

"Look, I´m a greater cook, I can cook for you" she suggested and Ryder, being a bit paranoid, now crosses his arms and asked one thing to Kitty who is not surprised at all with such question.

"And why you would want to help me?" typical question of someone that lived in New Gotham for a while and really, Kitty can see why he would be hesitant.

With a shy smile and a good down expression, she explains her reasons. "You see, I would get something out there, my house is completely empty of food and my poor babies" she mentioned her cat and dog who are silently staring at Ryder with empty plates. "Are hungry...plus, you put your kitchen on fire for the second time this week. I can´t be worse"

Good argument and Ryder´s stomach growl in protest, there´s another alternative, he could ask for delivery service, but, at the same time, when you have cute neighbours(and her strange and unnerving pets) cook for you again?

"Ok, but I´m a picky eater"

"Liar!"

And she enters in the house along with the cat and dog, and Ryder admits, her cat and dog give him the chill.

__________________________________________________________________________

Peni Parker has her gadgets ready and MJ is waiting for the signal, all in all, this will be a great mission, if they don´t get caught. Peni still typing in her keyboard makes a question to MJ without looking at her, and focusing, only at her screen, "MJ, they asked help from Columbina...will this be a problem?"

And MJ thought about this for a moment, it won´t be an easier situation, of course, but at the same time, MJ truly believes they can get away with this mission unscathed. "Not really, Peni, not really"

"Oh, then it will be a complex mission...got it!"

______________________________________________________________________________

Felicia Hardy is listening to the information that Lorna, the Oracle, get along with Columbina and this turns of events are not new to anyone who lives in New Gotham or works as a professional thief.

"So...they will give the ruby to Metropolis?" Felicia Hardy asked not surprised and crossing her arms and Columbina, for her part, is not bemused with this news.

"Oh...Clark Rogers lives there, right?" Columbina asked and Lorna gave a loud Duh in response. "So, we can do the heist before they remove the ruby when this will be?" Columbina asked calculating the time and expense necessary for each stunt.

Lorna spies at Felicia for a moment, somewhat amused and somewhat dubious, as she reveals the date. "20 of next month" and it takes a minute for Columbina to register what she meant by that and Lorna is too amused now.

"No, You can´t bail out the party!" Felicia warned Kitty and put her hands on her hips. "I was serious that day, Kitten, you dating ...eldritch abominations are not healthy, you can´t escape the party nor get a date" Felicia activated the mother hen and Columbina shiver imaging Felicia and Terry Pryde talking about Kitty´s love life.

Lorna is eating Kit-Kat as Kitty sighs and Lorna gives some suggestions of dates for the party, and Kitty shuts them down. "I can´t go to this party with Lorna, Felicia" and asking why the green-haired woman laughed and reveals something that is a plot twist of sorts.

"Felicia... we're sisters, by blood, mom married a meta-human with green hair, I think" Lorna is now laughing and Felicia is surprised as Columbina shurgs.

"We don´t talk about our personal life with everyone and NO, I won´t take Lorna to another party like this...we did that in Paris, and everyone, I meant everyone, thought we were lesbians...NO!" Columbina declares hotly and Lorna stops laughing and nods saying she does not want to go to this experience again.

"Plus, I have plans for that day as well, I´ll be in Jump City for a conference" Lorna confessed smirking as whatever Lorna will be doing on that day, well, Jump City will know.

"Ok, fine, so take the ruby before the party...and go take a date, Kitten, I´m serious"

"Cool, so...Am I Severus here?"

"No, too cheerful for that"

__________________________________________________________________________

Victory Manson ''Drake'' is the daughter of Miranda Manson, an old maid that used to work in Drake´s mansion, yet, 21 years ago, she committed a misdeed and slept with her boss, who at that time, was having several problems in his marriage and sleeping with Miranda was more fun and exciting than fight with the spouse, yet, time goes on and Mr Drake ended up reconciling with the wife...right after Miranda got her pregnancy test positive.

Of course, the boss rejected the claim and the wife would not be so happy to share her husband´s affection with a maid, so, she was fired and was heavily pregnant.

Now, that Tory has 21 years old, the Drake family seems to have a change of heart and wants to adopt Tory into their household, and while, Tory is not exactly happy with this decision, she´s not unhappy either, after all, who wouldn´t want to be related to rich people?

Her cellphone rings and is Columbina. "Kitten, do you need something? Wait, what? Oh, well, I don´t know...Ok, ok, I will be your date, I suppose, but if someone mentions the Drake thing I´ll punch them in the face, yep, that's settled"

_______________________________________________________________________

Peter Ross is having a nice date with Gwen Stacy as to be more in tune lately after she gave the information about Emma Frost to make sure she won´t escape prison so easy. And maybe, finally, Peter manages to sway Gwen to his side and break the spell Kitty put Gwen under.

"Gwen, I want to say something" Peter begins and Gwen is a bit nervous now and tries to stop him, but, is too late. "I really like you and I want to date you, Gwen, I think we can be great together" and once Peter looks at her face, he realizes he made a mistake.

"Oh Peter, I already like someone else..." Gwen confessed and Peter mutters something under his breath.

"Then...should I give Kitty congratulations?"

"Why? Kitty is my friend, not my girlfriend" she replies confused and then she reveals who is her crush/boyfriend. "Clark Rogers" and Peter Ross is completely shocked, but, he´s far from the type of man who would complain about a rejection.

"That´s a twist, well, then congratulations to you and Clark"

"Are we still friends?"

" Yes, like I said, I like you and even though I got reject" he jokes here "I don´t want to lose your friendship"

"Thanks, Peter, making friends is really hard for me...not sure why you thought I was dating Kitty, though, but thanks"

When Gwen leaves, waving goodbye, Peter is left drinking his coffee and looks up to see Kurt Ryder grin and much to his irritation the man sits next to him still with a big grin on his face.

"I heard that sorry about that" Kurt said with a grin but his words are genuine. Well, he never hated Peter to wish for him to be rejected and over Clark Rogers.

"What are you doing here? Don´t you have a date with a model or something?" this question makes Ryder think of Kitty and her cooking and how is delicious and she eat more than him. Will this be a new thing?

"Not today, I came here to brought coffee for someone" Kurt won´t elaborate and Peter thanks God for that. "Are you going to Bruce´s party?" and Peter nods not getting Ryder´s point. "Well, so do I, and are we really have to take a date?" Peter give him the middle finger and Ryder laughs. "I´m not mocking you here, not now, I swear, I just...last year I brought, uhm, the wrong type of date and this time I just want to do something nice"

Peter is not impressed. "Don´t bring a whore, that´s easy. And keep in your pants" and Peter left leaving his newspaper on the table, the case of Marcus Drake public announcing he had a daughter with one of the maids and wants to adopt her. Her name is Victory Manson ''Drake'' and so far, no one saw the lost heir yet.

#ocean au #kurt ryder #kitty pryde #kurtty yet #yes she dated eldritch abominations #thank god it was Zaorva´s kids #Tory Drake

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courtorderedcake · 5 years

Text

@captainswanbigbang & @captxinswans present:

RIPTIDE by @courtorderedcake Beta’d by the wonderful @ultraluckycatnd

An Enchanted Forest AU where the dark one was never released into the world in a vessel, thus causing a massive shift in timelines. The ogre wars have ravaged kingdoms, untold destruction spanning continents, rulers displaced. Even as the wars sputter to ash, the safest place to be is at sea, and that’s not very safe at all - as Emma and Killian find out, fates intertwined against all odds.

Rated: E/X - heavy content : warnings of assault, rape, noncon, just everything, I feel like the rating says enough. It’s something.

WARNING: READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Read on Ao3 HERE .

Chapter XIII : Spyglass; An Epilogue

Thomas Harriot is known to have turned a spyglass on the Moon, though with only three powers, he was unable to correctly discern neither crater nor mountain. Such a feat would require five to six powers, or higher.

-The History of the Spyglass

Time passes and tongues wag to fill quiet spaces.

The captain of the Gilded Wing, in his wisdom, decided piracy was not for him. With his bonny bride and an assortment of ex-privateers, they become a well respected merchant vessel and tradeship. Some said it was his charming and silver tongued demeanor, while others swore he was the gruffest man they ever traded with. Either way, his coffers were that of a king. If anyone asked about the haggard blonde and dark haired man with one hand juggling two wide eyed babes, they received no answers. Silence was a deafening warning.

The Jolly Roger is rumored to have sank in a battle with the Gilded Wing, the reckless captain duo of pirate lovers, Hook and Swan, finally finding a watery grave; together even in death.

Sightings of a glowing ship flying their flag are whispered among slave ships and crooked pirates who deal in innocent blood. It appears out of a dense fog, a ghostly enchantress with blonde hair whipping in the wind with her eternal love at her side, coat flapping and hook raised. Demons who leave no survivors except those bound in chains or held in a brig. Ghosts who steal back treasure that was taken wrongfully.

Or, as Emma calls it, 'date night’.

More children join the twins on the timbers of The Wing. Snow unexpectedly going into labor with her son Leo six months after the twins are born. Luckily, Whale and Tink had decided to stay on. David loses his mind with worry at not being prepared, but Snow breezes through the delivery right into motherhood.

“I didn't even get morning sickness, and I really didn't gain much weight. I'm lucky I didn't do anything crazy, or my labor might have been earlier and rougher,” Snow confides in Emma, as they nursed together in the sunshine of the deck. Leo latches easily, Snow smiling serenely. Emma has a foot in her face and both of her beloved children have fistfuls of her hair.

“Well, aren't you special,” Emma grumbled.

Maggie watches their twins with joy, bouncing them on her knees and singing to them while letting them eat as much pie as their small hands can grab. She quilts them beautiful blankets and knitted toys. Her shy husband even makes wooden toys for them, and does small magic tricks. Emma realizes that the shy bearded man is the tallest dwarf she’s ever seen slightly too late, and he laughs it off without worry. “i used to get grumpy about that sort of thing, but up here? I’m dreamy,” Leroy tells her, and he comes out of his shell completely.

Some of the crew leaves, as is expected when things change. They say goodbye to Rory and Phillip first, as the call comes that they can return for the throne of their homeland. Rory starts to send letters to them with her full name, Aurora, detailing palace life and asking for advice on policy. Emma finds it dreadfully boring, but David, Killian and Snow have vigorous debates on the shaping of the country.

Graham and Ruby leave to start a pack in unclaimed territory of the Enchanted Forest, gathering lone wolves and setting up rules that soon become a permanent structure. While there is still an ogre problem, the pack is strong and faces the danger head on.

Mal and Z return to the dragon lands together, slipping away quietly and without much notice. Killian can only laugh as he watches two dragons on the horizon disappear into the sunset.

Graham and Ruby return to say hello now and then when The Wing docks in The Enchanted Forest. Eventually, they rejoin the crew, the risk of Ogre attack while Ruby raises their litter of three beautiful boys deemed too dangerous by Graham. Hunter, Willow, and Forrest all have the same dark brown shock of hair, heavily taking after their father. To Graham, his small pack is everything, and Ruby feels the same; they'll forego the change to raise their young with no regrets. Emma happily brews them a Lunar Stasis draught, and they fall into the routine easily, Ruby complaining about constantly having a babe to her breast while the other women nod and bounce her other triplets.

Mal and Z do not visit. Instead, they extend an invite to show off their egg. The entire crew doesn't know what will be inside, until they get a bans stating, ‘It’s a girl! (Dragon, but currently unable to transform). Please welcome Lily.’

Snow notes the design is lovely, irregardless of the strangeness of the message.

Regina and Robin welcome a beautiful dark haired girl around the time the twins see eighteen months, and a once hardened Regina softens completely. They name her for a powerful enchantress in another realm, Lucinda, or Lucy for short.

Snow and David welcome a blonde tufted girl to the world soon after Regina’s daughter is born and Leo turns one, David immediately finding himself wrapped around his daughter's finger. They name her Ruth after his and Emma's mother. Leo is insanely jealous, but makes do by going through a shrieking stage.

Merida and Fa finally get married, the ceremony a complete hodgepodge of both of their cultures that somehow not only works, but works well. Plaid tartan and silk floral prints drape a verdant forest glade, a bamboo archway placed where they exchange vows. There's a tea ceremony followed by knotting their hands in a complex golden rope. The reception is visited by Merida’s estranged brothers, who finally accept she is not after their claim to the throne.

Emma dreams, or more appropriately, has nightmares of a dark castle that crumbles and rots. Something slithers and its claws click and scrape on the moss covered stones. A man calls out, his eyes burning behind brown irises, blood on his hands as he feeds a golden monstrosity. Willing herself to wake up, they look at her and she swears the scaled creature smiles, not a man but a beast, next to another pretender of a lost boy in the guise of a man and warlock. The warlock looks at her hungrily, a predatory gleam in his eyes as he surveys her body. The creature only glares. Together they are a golden eyed man who chases her in the recurrent night terror. Somehow she knows they are a portent of doom, but the dreams fade fast as she wakes up thrashing, soothed by Killian.

Smee's lap is a source of argument amongst the rowdy lot of toddlers, especially as he reads stories aloud. He always has a knack for getting a hold of rare items - and by rare items, he means sugary sweets that have been the bane of his old captain’s existence. Luckily, these days, the Captain is a dear friend and his Missus is in on Smee's trade. The Twins lead the pack at two years old, Emma and Killian no longer running ragged but instead, thriving in a new sort of chaos.

Killian still hooks yarn together, darning socks and making less lumpy blankets for anyone who needs them, and constantly making socks for little feet. With a little finesse, he’s able to make a few rudimentary stuffed toys, until suddenly he has made an assortment of soft toys. Esper is fond of a jellyfish the color of lilacs, while Ian chooses a shark, making roaring noises that rattle the timbers of the deck. Leo chooses a lion, his father beaming, Ruth clinging to a plush ginger kitten. Lucy chooses a frog with a giggle, Killian’s handiwork clear as the frog has a curled tongue in its mouth. It becomes a tradition for him to make something for new crew, and he frequently gets requests.

Jefferson and August finally decide to be more than just an occasional fling that happens more than just occasionally. They depart after the space becomes crowded and August expresses interest in traveling down many different rabbit holes. They are only seen on big holidays, bringing the most ridiculous gifts from their travels. Killian eventually bans any gift that makes ‘extravagant and unnecessary noise’ after a teapot given to Esper keeps singing off tune and nonsensical nursery songs at all hours.

After a particularly intense night of freeing slaves, Fa finds a small wide eyed girl clinging to her belts. Merida is immediately in love with the ginger haired child with stormy gray eyes, and no one bats an eye when suddenly, a young, wild haired girl is leading the pack of children across the decks. Not given a name, Fa coaxes her to choose one whenever she is ready, her quiet voice soothing as she stroked the girl's hair. Fa tells her stories, and Merida tells her tall tales and myths. She eventually chooses the name Rowan for its strength, just like her mothers.

Rory and Phillip send word from their kingdom that they have a daughter, naming her Rose. The crew attends the announcement ceremony, happily greeting their long time friends: Jasmine and Aladdin, now rulers of Agrabah; Tiana and Naveen, happily avoiding royalty in their restaurant; the vibrant ex-mermaid Ariel and an ecstatic Eric. Esperanza takes to Ariel, who despite being in what Emma refers to as 'the 200 months pregnant stage’, keeps her two and a half year daughter entertained. Ian, like his father or mother (depending on the day and who you asked), made trouble by slipping a tray of pastries under a skirted table, sharing his loot with his cousins, and inducing a glorious sugar crash.

In the brief moment of peace, Emma and Killian disappeared into one of the quieter roped off parts of the palace.

“We have to -” Killian's mouth met hers, demanding and hungry, intimacy not in short supply but not frequent either, always having to be carefully planned. Spontaneous escapes like this were rare if not unheard of. “Be quick,” Emma moaned as he nipped at her collar bone, hiking up her skirts.

“Bloody hell, I don't want to be quick,” he murmured against her throat, licking a trail to her ear. “I'd love to taste you, mark you -”

“For now.” She palmed him through his trousers and he hissed. “This. I need to feel you inside me.”

Another crash of their lips, her hands finding his belt as he pushed her against a wall, fingers pumping inside her wetness until he was freed. Moaning into his mouth as he thrust into her in a smooth motion, Killian grabbed her leg to pin her tightly between the wall and his body.

While it was fast and hard, it was also passionate. Emma clawed at him and they moaned together, savoring the heat that sparked every time they connected. They came together, each other's names sweet in their mouths. Sneaking back to their seats, only David narrowed his eyes with a shake of his head. Killian gave him a cocky nod and a wink.

Will and Belle had almost given up trying, but finally welcomed a tiny baby girl into the world. They named her Victoria, and Will finally got his comeuppance for teasing his fellows about crying when their children were born. He sobbed, holding his baby for the first time, her small hands making his look so large. Belle lay sick after they birth for several weeks, Will reading to her and rocking their babe as the crew took care of her, the day she wa finally able to come up on the sunshine of the deck with her small baby girl celebrated.

Whale gave in to Tink’s demands, accepting a steady stipend paid for him to stay on board to provide care for the children he delivered and their mothers. His bedside manner did not improve but deckside, Uncle Vic was a delight to as many children he could chase as they pretended he was a monster.

The Gilded Wing was alive with activity and noise from dawn until dusk, tired parents staying up when they had the energy to make conversation or nodding at each other in shifts as they groggily bounced or rocked children back to sleep in time with the ocean’s sway.

Emma found herself on deck more often than not. Esperanza was still a sickly child who needed the fresh night air. The Twins were almost three, talking non-stop and inquisitively taking in the world. It was exhausting. Luckily, Ian slept like the dead, his wild running throughout the day leading to a blessedly quiet wind down. Esper fought sleep, longing for starlight and the moon, Emma whispering constellations gently in her dark hair until Killian joined them on deck or she joined him in their bed.

Laying a finally sleeping Esper down in her bunk above Ian's, Emma made her way through the quiet corridor, slipping into bed and her waiting husband's arms.

“I love you,” he murmured in her ear, and when her answer didn't come in return, he cracked open an eye. “Love?”

“When was the last time I bled?” she whispered, facing away from him.

“I figured two weeks ago; you were moodier than usual and I let you be.” Killian replied drowsily. Her hand guided his to her stomach, a familiar swell against his palm jerking him awake. “Emma?”

“I didn't put the pieces together until a week ago. I should be just about four months along or so, maybe five. That’d be Rose's announcement ceremony. I haven't felt kicking yet -” Rolling her towards him, he captured her lips in his, grinning.

“You are a marvel, Swan. A bloody marvel. I love you so much. How do you feel? You're so small, I wouldn't have guessed...” Kissing her breathless, she pulled back laughing.

“Thank the Gods above and below, I believe there's only one this time. I'm fine. Tired, but fine.” Killian pressed a kiss to her forehead, blue eyes dancing as he looked down at her.

“Are you sure you can't make it two or three? David's lot is catching up to us, and if we get a nice lead -”

“Oh, shut up.” Smacking his chest and ignoring the salacious eyebrow wiggle he gives her, she doesn't ignore the steady beating of his heart as it lulls her to sleep.

Emma's second labor is easy, a chubby girl who is absolutely determined to prove her lungs work well. The name is long planned in advance; his mother’s name. Alice. She is fair haired and light eyed, a lighter shade of blue than Killian's own when they finally finish their change.

Liam's eyes, Killian tells Emma in the quiet still of the night. A reminder that even in all of this love, there are still scars and quiet pain they all share. Her arms around his neck is a soothing balm; each of them having a source of relief from old nightmares. Emma finally relents, and they spend some time in the small cabin on the cliffs he owns. She finds it’s not as terrible as she imagined and enjoys the quiet, or swinging on the creaky porch watching their children play. Not enough to give up the sea, or the ship, but enough to take reprieve when things get to be too much.

Killian reminds her that they’re old, but not that old. He reminds her frequently, until she tells him that she has suspicions that his reminders have ended in a well intentioned accident. Emma feels the movements earlier this time, hasn’t been as sick as her first pregnancy, but it’s still rough. Killian sits through a delivery that feels so much like when he almost lost her, so much strain and struggle, but Emma beams at him when it’s done.

“William?” she whispers softly, tucked into Killian’s side. He’s holding their last child and crying with her, arms wrapped around them both in the quiet before the rest of their children wake.

“William,” Killian agrees, pressing kisses on her sweaty forehead, making Emma chuckle. “Liam for short.” Her head lolls, exhaustion setting in although she fights it and the pain she's in with a grimace. When she shifts in the bed, Killian watches her with an ache in his chest as she swallows back whimpers and curses.

There’s no question about how close to leaving him she came again as her screams echo in his head, but Killian changes bloody sheets, and tells her after he’s sent their children off to play on deck that he loves her more than anything - That the thought of not having her sends him reeling. Pressing soft kisses to her pallid forehead, he cried into her hair, holding her tightly. Regina visits later with a potion that ends any worry for them, which thrills Killian even if it means his wild oats have ended their run.

Their children grow, and Piracy loses its appeal all together as raising them turns out to be much more terrifying and complicated than anticipated. Emma and Killian barely survive, the world around them changing rapidly, threats rising and danger around every corner.

Why wouldn’t it change, when someone finally let in a golden crocodile to their soul with open arms?

But that’s a story for a different time.

#Riptide #Finale #CSBB #CSBB 2018 #captain swan #captain swan fanfiction #Courtorderedcake

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izzy-b-hands · 4 years

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Neither Snow, Nor Rain, Nor...

Written for my DL server Bingo Card prompt: Delivery Person AU.

Tbh, struggled with this one. But I think this little thing is decently cute and silly!

The lads take up helping John deliver parts for an electrical supplies shop he works at, to bring in extra money for them all as a band (and also to survive in general, with money being tight.)

That’s easy. You take the package, deliver it to the person, done! Can’t be messed up, right?

Right?

My love to all who read/like/reblog!

“Long story short, it’s a really easy gig, we can all take turns at it, and they’ll pay us decently for each delivery we make,” John said. “So long as we’re careful and the various bits and bobs get where they need to be safely. I mean, it’s electrical components and things like that, so it isn’t that they aren’t sturdy, but all the same, we don’t want to roughhouse with them.”

“You like this job, right?” Roger asked.

John nodded.

“Yet you’re telling us about the opportunity to join you in doing it,” Roger continued.

John nodded again. “Your point?”

“I ask because I feel like if you enjoy the job...you wouldn’t want to introduce us to it...” Roger said.

“I trust you all to do your best,” John said. “Also, unrelated, don’t check the shared bank account if you don’t want to be incredibly depressed.”

“We’ve got enough for the week at least,” Brian said.

John shook his head very, very, slowly.

“...So when can we start helping move their deliveries?” Brian asked brightly.

“Now,” John replied, and starting handing out boxes. “We’re behind at the shop, by nearly a week. If we weren’t, I wouldn’t have been allowed to bring these home to be delivered, but the owner doesn’t care right now so long as they get to the right people and places.”

“It’s nearly four in the afternoon,” Freddie said. “Surely that’s too late?”

“Doesn’t matter,” John said curtly. “If people don’t like it, too bad.”

“And if they complain to us and want an explanation?” Freddie asked.

John shrugged. “Say sorry, hand the package over, and move on.”

“That’s...I don’t think that will work,” Freddie said.

“Done it before, they’ve all come back in for more parts,” John said. “Don’t waste time giving them extra words to argue over. Apologize politely, hand it over, walk away.”

“It’s all been paid for in advance, right?” Brian asked.

John nodded. “Literally, just hand them the package and go.”

Roger raised his hand.

“No, you cannot toss it to them,” John said. “Or to their door. Set everything down nicely, please.”

Roger put his hand down.

“I’ve got maps,” John said, and handed them out. “I couldn’t have made this any easier for you.”

---

“Couldn’t have made this any harder,” Roger scoffed. The borrowed messenger bag full of parcels bashed into his hip with every step, as he plodded down the sidewalk with the map open. “Why not give us routes all in a straight line? On to one block, then back to another, then over again...honestly, Deaky...”

“Why do you have all those?”

He jumped a foot at the tiny voice by his side. “Who the fuck?”

“Hello!”

The kid was all of maybe six, a little boy with a lolly in hand...held by the candy itself, not the stick. “Why do you have so many boxes?”

“It’s for a job,” Roger replied. “I’ve got to go now.”

“Is it a good job?”

“Jobs are just...jobs,” Roger sighed, keeping on down the pavement, the kid beside him, little legs jogging slightly to keep up. “You’ll understand when you’re older. Where’s your mum anyway?”

“Somewhere,” the kid shrugged. “Like everybody else.”

“And what does that mean?” Roger laughed.

The kid shrugged again. “Can I have one of ‘em?”

“No, they’re for the people I’m delivering to,” Roger said, and shifted the bag to his other hip, away from the kid.

“You seem mean,” the kid frowned. “My mummy says mean people end up all alone.”

“You should tell your mummy it takes one to know one,” Roger muttered. “Why don’t you head home?”

The kid reached for his bag, and he swerved away wordlessly.

But the kid tried again, dropping their candy to the ground and reaching with both hands.

“It isn’t even anything interesting!” Roger shouted. “It’s electrical bits and what not. Nothing for kids!”

“I don’t care,” the kid said simply, as if it should have been evident from the start.

“Well, I don’t care that you don’t care!” Roger cried, swerving again away from the kid’s grasping hands. “Stop it!”

He took off down the sidewalk, the kid on his heels, and swore under his breath.

How much money could this hassle really be worth?

---

“Erm,” Brian was squirming inside, uncomfortable with the whole situation. “It’s already been paid for, or so I was told.”

“Mold?!” the bent-over, elderly man in front of him shouted. “No, we’re free of that scourge.”

“Oh lord,” Brian muttered under his breath. “No...I mean you can take your money back.”

He held out the bills for the old man, who stared at him.

“You already paid for the parts,” Brian said loudly, slowly.

“I what?”

“You don’t have to give me money!” Brian tried again, desperately, pushing the money towards him.

“Young man, that’s how selling things works! I’ve got the parts, so you get money! Don’t let your boss man hear you trying to give things away for free!”

“No!” Brian groaned, frustrated. “Please take your money back!”

“Slack?” the old man tilted his head. “I don’t think you’re slacking off; I didn’t say that!”

“I know!” Brian said. “I didn’t say you did!”

“Then what did you say?!”

“Take your money back!!”

“A snack? Well, that’s your own problem whenever your lunch is, young man! You can’t just ask people for food like that!”

Brian sighed, and checked his watch. It was the first house he had stopped at, and he had now been there for twenty minutes. The end of the delivery was not in sight.

He took a deep breath. “Sir, you already paid for the parts...”

---

“Hello!” he said cheerfully as a new tail wound itself around his legs, a tiny head butting against him.

He wasn’t sure if John had given him a route with cats all over it on purpose, or if it was a happy coincidence, but either way, it was lovely.

Freddie had a small army of cats following him from house to house now as he dropped each package off. The people he delivered to were delighted by it, and he was pleased as punch to have company.

He reached the end of the block, and looked to the cats at his feet. “Now, I’m going to the next few blocks over. I’d imagine that’s a good way from home for all of you, so back you go, darlings!”

The cats stared up at him.

He frowned, and took a step forward.

The cats followed.

“No, you lot need to stay near your homes,” he tried again. He knew cats tended to wander, but these had all emerged from backyards and door ways as he’d passed, so he knew where they each belonged.

He took another step, and half of the cats mewed angrily.

“Oh...” he sighed. “Would you like me to deliver you all home as well?”

The combined purring was ridiculously loud, and louder still as he picked one of them up, the one that had last joined their crew.

“Alright. Now, you belonged to that yard with the little girl in it, and she’ll be happy to see you, won’t she? So let’s get you home...”

---

“Thanks,” John said as the door slammed in his face.

He was used to that. It was an equal balance of normal folks making repairs to their homes, and odder ones who seemed a bit reclusive and/or like they were building something weird with all the parts he delivered. A day without a door slammed in his face after he handed over a package was a day that simply did not exist.

He fumbled in the messenger bag for the next package, but came up empty.

“I hope they keep up with this,” he murmured to himself as he started for Roger’s assigned set of blocks. “I’m done faster, and by now, they must be too! We’ll never be behind on deliveries again.”

“You are terrible!” Roger’s voice carried over the next street, and John raced towards it.

There, in the center of the street, stood Roger, arguing with a child.

“I do not like to say that about a kid!” Roger continued. “But you are so mean! Do you treat your friends like this at school?”

“My mummy says-”

“Oh my god, your mummy can stuff her opinion up her fat fanny!”

“Roger!” John called out. “What the fuck?”

“This little shit!” Roger pointed to the kid, who smiled, showing off missing front teeth.

“Did you get anything delivered?”

“A few,” Roger replied desperately. “I’ve been trying! This fucker tries to snatch every package as I hand them over to people! And worse yet, people think he’s mine! Or a little brother, or something! It’s horrible!”

“I’m only trying to help,” the kid said, lower lip stuck out.

“Oh you are the worst,” Roger seethed.

“Enough,” John sighed. “You go on home.”

“M’kay!” the kid said cheerfully, and trotted back the way he’d came.

Roger did a double take. “You’ve got to be joking. He wouldn’t listen to me at all; I begged him to go home!”

“How much have you got left?” John asked.

“Four,” Roger muttered.

John nodded. “Not bad. You know, you can’t acknowledge Thomas like that, or he’ll follow you all the way back home. His mum gets distracted with his siblings, and I think he gets bored.”

“You know that tiny devil?!” Roger asked, aghast.

“Attended his birthday party last year,” John smiled. “At his request. Mum said I made his day, doing that.”

“I...” Roger sighed deeply. “I should get to delivering these.”

“We’ll get them done on the way to Brian,” John said, and took the lead as they found the last four houses on Roger’s route.

As they left the last house, they could hear Brian, shouting hoarsely.

“Sir, please, take the fucking money!”

He was knelt in front of a closed front door, knocking on it rapidly.

“Oh no,” John winced. “You didn’t go to Melvin first, did you?”

“Who?” Brian croaked as he turned around and stood.

John nodded to the front door. “Melvin. Deaf as can be, with dementia or something to boot.”

“Yes,” Brian said slowly. “Yes, he was my first delivery.”

“Ah, rookie mistake,” John laughed. “But my fault, I didn’t think to warn you. We’ll help you get the rest taken care of, and now you know for next time.”

“He paid me!” Brian scoffed, showing John the bills in his hand.

“Yeah, like I said, his memory comes and goes. We just hang onto whatever money he gives us when we deliver to him, and his daughter comes by to collect it at the end of every week. Usually lets us keep a bit, to get a treat for everyone at the shop that day.”

Brian looked ready to cry, and handed the money over to John as Roger trotted to him and led him to the sidewalk.

“If it makes you feel better, I met a fucking gremlin on my route,” he said.

“Thomas isn’t a gremlin,” John chuckled. “He’s six, and he gets bored easily, and thinks any adult wandering about during the day on their own are very cool.”

“He’s a gremlin,” Roger hissed as they followed John to the next house on Brian’s route.

“I’ll take your word for it,” Brian said.

Ten houses later, Brian had no more packages, and they were on to Freddie’s route.

“Wonder if Freddie had it any better,” John mused happily. “Since you two had such a rough go of it.”

“Now, where is your home?” Freddie’s voice drifted towards them, and he nearly crashed into them, his eyes on the cat he was talking to, held in his arms. “How come we haven’t been able to find your home?”

The cat meowed, and he moved past them, not even hearing their laughter as they stopped and watched him go.

“Fred!” John called out. “Where are you going?”

Freddie turned rapidly. “Oh! When did you lot get here?”

“You just nearly ran into us, and walked past us,” Roger replied. “Who is that?”

“I don’t know,” Freddie said sadly. “I’ve got all the cats that followed me round my route home, except for this one. And I can’t recall when he joined up.”

“Did you get them all delivered?” John asked, gesturing to the messenger bag Freddie wore.

He nodded. “But this little one was along for all of the deliveries, every block. No one knows him! I can’t believe it.”

“Well, maybe if you set him down, he’ll find his way,” Brian said, though he didn’t look convinced of his own words.

“No,” Freddie said. “He just follows me then.”

As proof, he set the cat down, and rushed over to them.

The cat followed, meowing excitedly at the chase, and purring as Freddie picked him up again.

“There are a few strays,” John said. “On this route. Possible he’s one of those. And even if he isn’t, I’m sure we could run up some posters about a missing cat, and until we find an owner-”

“Oh, I’ve got a spot already picked out for a bed for you,” Freddie interrupted, snuggling the cat close, who somehow purred even louder. “And we’ll get you toys and a blanket of your own so you can cuddle whenever I’m not home, and-”

“And Freddie is going to spoil you silly,” Roger interrupted with a smile.

“Yes, yes I am,” Freddie agreed. “He was a very good delivery cat. It’s the least I can do for him!”

“Maybe he can come with on the next one too?” John asked.

“...You want us to do this again?” Roger asked, clearly puzzled.

“Yeah, if you’d like to,” John replied. “We’ll all get paid for it, and you did fine for your first time. Why not keep it up?”

“You consider this good?” Brian chuckled. “Roger fought a child-”

“He started it,” Roger grumbled.

“Freddie became a cat father on accident-”

“Happy accident,” Freddie interrupted, giving the cat a soft kiss.

“And I...well,” Brian sighed.

“Yeah,” John said. “Usually the delivery people end up stealing shit, and never actually deliver anything. I’m the only one that hasn’t been fired yet; that’s why the owner trusted me to bring in new people for this. None of you do any electrical work as a hobby, so you won’t steal anything, and at worst...well, what happened today would happen, and that’s really not bad at all.”

“So...more tomorrow?” Roger asked.

John nodded. “If you lot are up for it; there’ll be more to pick up and deliver.”

“Are we proper delivery people now?” Brian pondered.

“Not yet,” John replied. “Not until you meet the dog on route seven, and see if you can outrun him.”

“That’s not funny,” Freddie laughed. “Trying to psych us out like that.”

“Yeah, really,” Roger chuckled.

“Honestly,” Brian shook his head.

John didn’t laugh, and they spent the rest of the walk back home hoping beyond hope they wouldn’t get assigned route seven the next day.

John spent it quiet, having a private giggle inside with the knowledge of the existing routes one through six written down in the notepad in his bag. He meant no harm, but it would keep them from getting overconfident.

Plus, he couldn’t guarantee something like that wouldn’t happen on any of the actual routes. But for their sake, his sake, and the sake of the shop, he hoped it wouldn’t.

He didn’t want to go back to doing the deliveries alone, not when having his friends with made it that much more exciting.

#text post #LeeH writes #queen band fic

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thesnhuup · 5 years

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When Our Students Teach Us So Much – A Report From Our Recent Africa Trip

I’ve just returned from almost three weeks of travel in Africa, covering four countries — Rwanda, South Africa, Malawi, and Namibia. I’ll share my reflections on the first three countries, which were site visits to the camps where we bring SNHU degrees to displaced people. I’ll follow up with a second blog post on our time in Namibia, a family vacation to a place I’ve long wanted to visit. If looking at people’s travel pics is anathema to you, definitely skip the second blog post. I hope you’ll read this one. This post is my attempt to share just a little of what we experienced (a common refrain was “no one back home will really understand what we experienced”) and my own attempt to process.

Through our Global Education Movement (GEM) program, SNHU has launched the most ambitious attempt to bring full degree programs to displaced people (I have committed to rarely using the word “refugee”) in Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya, Malawi, and Lebanon, with plans to expand to more sites. We first announced this effort in 2017 and more details can be found here if you do not know about the program. In every location, we work with trusted on-the-ground partners, use rigorous assessment practices to ensure quality and standards, and work around delivery challenges most institutions never have to think about. All the credit goes to the unstoppable GEM team, led by Chrystina Russell.

The plight of displaced people, especially as reported by the media, sensibly focuses on the misery, ill-treatment, and suffering of the 65 million people either forced to flee their homeland or internally displaced within their own countries. The danger is that the narrative of victimhood crowds out all else, the courage, creativity, humor, intelligence, love, hopes, and dreams that we found in abundance everywhere we visited. These qualities were vividly on display the evening we spent in a Cape Town gallery, where our students’ talents were showcased. In song, painting, craft, poetry, and storytelling, they powerfully asserted their humanity and they shared their ample gifts.

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It was a night when they united as a group of SNHU students, as people who had suffered too much, and found joy in their camaraderie, and in their shared sense of accomplishment–they had completed a college degree; we had just attended their graduation ceremonies–our first graduates in South Africa and Malawi.

I think they were honored that we were there, but we wanted our presence to be on equal footing, which demanded a kind of mutuality, an equal sharing. I’d like to pretend we had equal talent (or even any talent) as we took the stage and did a pretty painful version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” But more importantly, the students loved it, singing along, clapping, and laughing.

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In singing, being goofy (see the Trustee air guitar solo in the video), laughing — being vulnerable — we were, as them, simply fellow human beings reveling in each other’s company. I don’t want to overstate it or speak for others, but those moments were a highlight of the trip.

We saw creative talent that night, but throughout the trip we also saw intellectual prowess, evidence of genius, entrepreneurship, business savvy, and innovation.

In Kigali, one of our alumna has started the She Can Code program for women, and three of the students shared their projects.

David, a current student also in Rwanda, is working on a startup that will recycle waste plastic to make paving stones, and has his first prototypes completed.

In Dzaleka Camp in Malawi, we visited the TakenoLab, where young displaced people are learning coding skills and building really impressive mobile apps, with little actual connectivity of their own.

Remy, the founder of the program, fled his native Burundi with his older brother when his mother and father were killed in political fighting. He taught himself to code on an aging phone, with no classes or assistance. He started his school, outgrew the original space, and has worked around limited connectivity, regular power outages, and some combination of blackboards and secondhand laptops to develop a growing cadre of talented young programmers.

Remy has set out to create a new generation of expert coders within the camp, has his students build real-world mobile apps, and created special cohorts for women. And he has done it with mind boggling constraints.

I asked him what he could do with actual connectivity and he paused and said, “It would be magic.”

Remy receives far more interest from far more students than he can currently serve in his limited space, so when two current and one former Trustee committed to building a new building in the camp to house his program (and other incubator programming) and bring more bandwidth to the building, he was almost speechless.

They also committed to funding an amazing arts program that serves over 500 young people, developed and run by Roger, another SNHU student. In both cases, a combination of what we can do — education and support — empowers our students to address the challenges that face them. That was a theme throughout our time —a desire for tools, a little support, and a chance to solve their problems on their own.

That theme of pride and self-efficacy was also evident when students invited us into their homes at Dzaleka. In these humble spaces, our students took great pride in pointing out improvements they have made, furniture they managed to purchase, and the interior designs they create.

The women who invited us in are taking care of children, cooking meals, sometimes working, and then late in the evening, after everyone is asleep, they get out their laptops and do their SNHU work, often perched on the side of a mattress on the floor where children are asleep.

We took this trip so Trustees, senior leadership, supporters, and students could see the work firsthand, spend time with our students, and appreciate the impact the program is having on people who have lived through what is often unimaginable. Almost everyone said that it would take time to process what they had experienced. The learning was deep, the conversations powerful, and the emotional impact bordered on the profound.

Fundamentally, our SNHU students in the camps are like many of our online students, even as the circumstances of their lives are so much more limited. This fact was evidenced by the four American students on the trip who immediately connected with their African peers. Sam, Jessica, Diana, and Dan shared their perspective, enriched the larger group, and brought energy and enthusiasm to the journey. Everywhere they went, they formed bonds with their fellow students; it was terrific to have them.

The reactions of the American visitors?

“This trip has changed my life.”

“I’ll never complain again.”

“These students inspire me.”

“I can’t remember the last time I cried this much — in sadness and in joy.”

Like so many of the students who walk across the stage at the arena every May, our students in the GEM program are inspiring. They may be, in many ways, the most impressive students in American higher education today. When we arrived at Dzaleka, for example, a gospel choir welcomed us with this beautiful song they had written.

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A trip like this both breaks and breaks open the heart at the same time, a soul expanding experience (however you define that word) and I won’t reduce it to a list of highlights. What I want to do instead is hold on to whatever it was for as long as I can, because in the time we spent in Africa, especially with our students, I like to think we lived with realities that artists and poets (something about writers and filmmakers feels a bit exploitative) dream of capturing and rarely realize. The realities of human experience writ large and complex and deep.

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doctorwhonews · 6 years

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Torchwood: Aliens Among Us - Part 2

Latest Review: Written By: Christopher Cooper, Mac Rogers, Janine H Jones, Tim Foley Directed By: Scott Handcock Cast: John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), Alexandria Riley (Ng), Paul Clayton (Mr Colchester), Sam Béart (Orr), Jonny Green (Tyler Steele), Kai Owen (Rhys Williams), Tom Price (Sgt. Andy Davidson), Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), Murray Melvin (Bilis Manger), Rachel Atkins (Ro-Jedda), Ramon Tikaram (Colin Colchester-Price), Ewan Bailey (Duncan), Kerry Joy Stewart (Maddy), Diveen Henry (Sandra), Ellie Heydon (Andrea), Marilyn Le Conte (Patricia), Luke Rhodri (Rowan), Charlotte O'Leary (Poppy), Sacha Dhawan (Hasan), Sarah Annis (P.C. Nicki Owen), Rick Yale (Lorry Driver), Laura Dalgleish (Newsreader), Kristy Phillips (Stacey), Aly Cruickshank (Student), Richard Elfyn (Takeaway Man), Sanee Raval (Xander) Released by Big Finish Productions - October 2017 After an eclectic opening boxset pitting its titular team of ‘secret’ agents up against sentient hotels, vengeful brides, increasingly destructive terrorist cells and an extraterrestrial gangster newly appointed as Cardiff’s mayor, what could Big Finish possibly have up its sleeve next for their self-proclaimed fifth season of Torchwood? That’s a fair question, and with Aliens Among Us – Part 2 comes the adrenaline-fuelled, alien STD-carrying answer. “Love Rat”: If James Goss’ brilliantly-named sophomore instalment of Season Five, “Aliens & Sex & Chips & Gravy”, didn’t seem enough like a quintessential Torchwood outing, then “Love Rat” more than fits the bill. From its unashamedly risqué opening moments, involving Captain Jack’s not-so-romantic run-in with an unknown courter, to its hilariously absurd consequences witnessed throughout the hour, “Love Rat” is about as adult, gag-ridden and downright ridiculous as the show’s ever been under Big Finish’s stewardship. As one would expect at this point, though, the play’s ever-delightfully energetic cast take the increasingly bonkers events depicted here in their stride, with John Barrowman naturally relishing the opportunity to transform Jack into the ultimate sexual provocateur for one hour only, while Eve Myles’ bemused Gwen and Jonny Green’s stern yet susceptible PR agent Tyler both suffer the consequences with gut-wrenchingly comedic results. Those hoping for scribe Chris Cooper to push on with Season Five’s underlying secret invasion plot arc might need to take a chill pill here, since barring a cameo or two from Rachel Atkins’ still gloriously malevolent arch-foe Ro-Jedda, there’s little in the way of narrative substance or deep thematic exploration to be found amidst all the coital antics. But even so, complaining seems churlish when, by letting its hair down for once, one of Doctor Who’s darkest offshoots to date offers up such a constantly entertaining hour as this. “A Kill to a View”: That said, anyone concerned that Torchwood’s latest run might follow the traditional US TV model – and indeed arguably Miracle Day’s approach – of marginalising any major plot arcs until its final instalment, especially as we reach its halfway point, can breathe easy as they stick on Aliens Among Us’ sixth chapter. As teased by his familiar silhouette gracing Part 2’s cover, Season One antagonist Bilis Manger has returned to wreak havoc upon the lives of the Torchwood team, his intentions no less sinister than before. Murray Melvin, true to form, once again injects this mysterious adversary with all the understated menace and enigmatic omniscience for which fans knew and loved him back in 2007. It’s thanks to his accomplished performance that as Bilis adopts the role of a kindly Caretaker at the tower block where Mr. Colchester and his partner have coincidentally moved in of late, listeners can’t help but perch themselves at the edge of their seat in nervous anticipation of the turbulent conflict and inevitable tragedies to come. Placing Colchester centre-stage doesn’t do “Kill” any harm either, affording Paul Clayton’s constantly courageous yet endearingly vulnerable – and, thanks to his rather unique work-life balance, multi-faceted – civil servant with some much-needed development, as he realises to a harrowing extent the devastating personal consequences which come with taking the deadliest career path available to Welsh job-seekers. How this compelling character arc will resolve itself by season’s end remains to be seen, but we’re just as curious to see this develop as we are to discover what ominous teases of another old foe’s arrival portend for the second half of Season Five. “Zero Hour”: And what of Ro-Jedda’s doubtless sinister machinations behind-the-scenes? Evidently unwilling to allow Aliens Among Us to lose the gratifying plot momentum gained by Episode 6, Janine H. Jones dives headfirst into this mystery via a topical tale of exploitable employees forced to work inhumane hours just to earn a living. Enter Tyler Steele, whose work at the mayor’s office – and intrigue at noticing the peculiar habits of a delivery worker – sets him on a collision course with the unsettling truths behind Cardiff’s otherwise welcome upsurge in employment rates. Just as Green’s undeniably flawed wannabe journalist served as our entryway back into the covert, casualty-laden world of Torchwood in the season premiere, “Changes Everything”, so too does “Zero Hour” offer listeners the opportunity to experience the latest weekly threat to the Welsh capital’s fragile sanctity from the perspective of a relative outsider, as Tyler soon finds himself in treacherous waters with little-to-no help available from Gwen while she tackles toddler troubles or Jack while he investigates matters further afield. Thus we’re afforded a far deeper insight into a morally complex rogue who’ll cross almost any line to survive, yet shows visible dismay at witnessing his city on the brink of societal collapse. Meanwhile Gwen’s familial woes at home highlight another ongoing character arc which could so easily get forgotten amidst all of Part 2’s other hi-jinks – namely her possession by a still ambiguous alien entity driving Mrs. and Mr. Cooper further apart by the day. No doubt tensions will come to a head in the final four episodes of Season Five due for release next February, but it’s rather frustrating how frequently such a pivotal journey for one of the show’s longest standing protagonists ends up side-lined so as to allow other plot threads to breathe. At this rate, the true feisty heroine whom Myles usually portrays to great effect might not re-surface for most of the run, a crying shame given how Aliens Among Us supposedly marks Torchwood’s triumphant full-scale comeback. “The Empty Hand”: Last but by no means least, Aliens’ second mid-season finale takes the underlying political messages seeded within the previous seven episodes and amplifies them tenfold, namely by bringing ideas such as #BlackLivesMatter and hate crime to the fore as Sergeant Andy Davidson appears to gun down an innocuous immigrant worker in cold blood. As ever in a series whose mother show straddles the line between sci-fi and fantasy, there’s far more than meets the eye in this instance, but the increasingly relevant issues at hand lend “The Empty Hand” a greater sense of moral gravitas than most Torchwood romps can muster. Writer Tim Foley admirably never trivialises his weighty subject matter, allowing his characters to discuss the implications of Andy’s actions at length and affording Tom Price’s oft-befuddled police officer a long overdue extra layer of moral nuance in the process. Thankfully, though, he’s similarly aware that such intricate discussion points can scarcely receive closure over the course of a single one-hour drama, his focus primarily on how the Torchwood team’s struggle to resolve what soon becomes a citywide crisis feeds into Ro-Jedda’s long-term game-plan, and – after a belated intervention from the eternal Time Agent – the lengths to which Jack will go to protect humanity at all costs. Any fan will attest that the latter thematic strand has often proved a narrative goldmine for the series, particularly as Children of Earth drove the man who’d bested gas-mask zombies, Daleks and the son of Satan himself to take the life of his own grandson in the process. Similar to how that fateful decision carried major ramifications for Jack’s role in Miracle Day, so too do the actions taken here by the once and future Face of Boe indicate that life at the Hub might never truly be the same again. Of course, anyone who’s finished the boxset will know a further crucial reason why Part 3 promises to potentially uproot our understanding of Torchwood’s past, presence and future, and anyone who hasn’t will need to pick Part 2 up to discover as much for themselves. Speaking of which, in case it’s not already glaringly obvious by now, Aliens Among Us is fast shaping up as one of Torchwood’s finest hours to date, making the series a must-listen for any devotees who’ve longed for the show’s return to TV. It’s safe to say that Season Five has a hell of a lot of dangling plot threads to tie up in Part 3, from Gwen and Rhys’ fractured relationship to Ro-Jedda’s endgame to that plot twist awaiting listeners at the end of “Empty Hand”, but based on the opening two-thirds of Season Five, finding out how events reach their climax will doubtless prove one of the biggest early highlights of next year. February 2018 is apparently where everything changes, and we’re certainly ready. http://reviews.doctorwhonews.net/2017/10/torchwood_aliens_among_us_part_2.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

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