#You are pulling bullshit I have already seen. My advice is to just log off already and sort your problems out.

[thenovelartist]

Burned Beginnings, Chapter 3

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7. Homemade Gifts

Marinette prided herself in not caring about the looks of others. After all, beauty meant nothing if their heart was trash. They’d always just be a pig in lipstick.

Unfortunately, if they did have a good heart, Marinette discovered that she did care for their looks a little more than she would have cared to admit. Particularly when it came to a former model turned baker.

Which was why, much to her chagrin, she’d ended up losing the bet.

It was just a pair of glasses. A simple, functional accessory. However, with the frame he had, ones that held a dark green hue that accented his eyes and were square in form—somehow, a perfect match for his angular face—she couldn’t help but to have stared a bit.

By the time she caught herself, Adrien was already grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

She hoped beyond all hope her cheeks hadn’t colored, or at the very least, Adrien hadn’t caught it.

And now, she was having to bite the bullet and watch an anime of his choosing. Honestly, it wasn’t a bad loss.

Hopefully.

Depending on what he chose…

Oh, please don’t be anything stupid.

Marinette finished her work, then clocked out, hurrying to go shower quickly before Adrien came over. Not that Adrien hadn’t seen her covered in flour and looking like a hot mess already, but she’d rather be clean and comfy if she was going to have to suffer through her punishment for losing the bet. They had planned to meet at her house for the viewing. Adrien would bring over his computer and cables to hook it up to their tv so that he could easily access his anime accounts. He said it would be a piece of cake.

She threw on a comfy t-shirt and lounge pants, then she dried her hair. Once that was done, she went downstairs to begin preparing the dinner she’d prepped earlier that day.

Halfway through, a knock sounded on the door, signaling Adrien’s arrival. She answered, only for her gaze to fall to the box in his hands. “What’s that?”

One of his hands reached up to rub the back of his neck. “I wanted to bring some homemade food since I knew you’d be working all day. And I need to practice my cooking skills, anyway.”

She smiled, taking the offered gift. “Thanks, but I actually started making something thinking that it was the least I could do since you were bringing everything over.”

Adrien looked surprised for a moment before he chuckled. “We should have planned that better.”

“Oh well. Left overs for days, right?” she said with a shrug, stepping aside to let him in.

“That’s one way to look at it.”

 8. Commissions

“Can I ask a question?”

“I don’t know? Can you?”

Adrien looked up from his computer screen to shoot a grinning Marinette a flat look. This was the fourth time he’d come over so they could continue the anime he’d chosen. He had known from Mr. Dupain that he and his daughter both loved video games, and henceforth, he’d chosen accordingly in hopes to get Marinette hooked.

He knew he’d succeeded when they binged the first four episodes the first day. He’d then hung it over her head that “why would he come back again? He’d won the bet, and she’d paid her price, so for what reason did he have to come over again?”

He had had fun teasing her, because her huffy, unamused expression was too darn endearing.

“Look,” she’d said. “I just need to know what happens to Princess Bitch.”

He’d snorted, trying and failing to withhold his laugh. “You don’t get to call her that yet.”

“Why not? You don’t get to pull that level of manipulative bullshit, ruining the other person’s life like that, and not be dubbed with the title ‘Princess Bitch’.”

“So…” he drawled out, teasingly. “Are you saying you care about this anime?”

She’d fallen silent, and he couldn’t help but to laugh once more.

In the end, after more teasing on his part, he’d caved and said he’d come over again so they could finish it out.

Hence why he was here now.

“Haha, funny,” Adrien deadpanned, turning back to his screen.

“Okay, okay. I’ll be nice,” she said a little too sweetly, placing two plates of food on the coffee table before plopping down on the couch. “What’s on your mind?”

He took a second to log into his account before turning back to her. “I don’t know if this is overstepping, but… are you happy working at your parents’ bakery?”

Marinette froze, and for a moment, Adrien grew worried.

Thankfully, she seemed to take it well, although it was clear she was confused. “What brought that on?”

Adrien shrugged, looking at his screen again to select their anime of choice. “I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I feel like we’re close enough to be friends. Right?”

Marinette didn’t hesitate to nod. “Yeah, I would consider you one.”

Adrien pushed aside the very happy feeling that blossomed in his chest. “I guess I’m just… curious… about you… as a friend, of course.”

“No, I get it,” she assured. “Now that you mention it, I guess I could say the same for you.”

Adrien felt extra warm now. “So, do I get an answer to my question?”

Marinette paused, her expression falling as she bit her lip. “Only if you promise to keep it secret from my parents.”

“Yeah, totally,” he promised, smile falling from his face. “Cat’s honor.”

Marinette sighed. “I… I am happy,” she said. “Really. It’s not an issue of me being happy here. But running my parents’ bakery wasn’t my dream, you know?”

With the episode loading, Adrien decided to take a seat next to Marinette. “What was your dream?”

“I wanted to be a fashion designer.”

That came as a surprise to Adrien. “Really? What stopped you?”

“Chloe.”

Somehow… that answer shouldn’t have surprised him. “Chloe?”

“She got her mom to block me from going to any fashion or design school.”

“She what?!”

“Shhh!” Marinette shushed, finger over his lips. “Not so loud.”

Adrien felt his face heat at her touch. “Er…sorry.”

She then took her finger away, and Adrien tried not to think about why he was disappointed. “Chloe did that?” he asked, his voice just above a whisper. “How? And how’d you know?”

“Um…” She suddenly turned sheepish, and that spitfire edge he’d come to love diminished a bit. It made her look younger and sweeter. He didn’t mind that change. “Well, due to the methods used to acquire such information, I must refrain from answering that. Just know I trust my source and the information that was found.”

Adrien sighed. Honestly, even if he wanted to come to Chloe’s defense, he couldn’t. She ran in a pretty elite crowd and had some powerful connections. If she wanted to block someone from entering a fashion school, she could. And since Adrien knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t be above such tricks, Adrien accepted Marinette’s word as truth.

Besides, he knew Marinette well enough by now to know she hated liars. He doubted she’d lie about this.

“So, have you thought about applying outside the country?”

“Yeah,” she answered. “I just… didn’t. It felt too overwhelming.”

“So, what about skipping the education entirely? Find a niche and start your own business taking commissions or what not?”

Marinette paused, her eyes glazing over a moment as she thought. “I… it’s an idea that’s come up before.”

“So, what’s stopping you?” Adrien asked. “Even if you got an education later, you’d at least have a reputation you’re building up now.”

Again, Marinette was silent. “You know…” she began, her tone softer and more earnest than he’d ever heard before. It felt raw. Open. And that did something to his heart.

Protect her. The words popped up in his head, and his heart clenched onto them before he could even realize it. But all he could do at the moment was listen. So he would.

“I decided I’d step back and do a lot of thinking.”

“About?”

She sighed. “It’s easy to say ‘I love fashion so I want to be a designer’. It’s easy to have those dreams. It’s easy to think that your hobby can become your profession. But the easy stuff isn’t all the fashion world consists of. It’s a competitive world filled with both nice people and people like Audrey Bourgeois. It’s filled with more than fashion, and when faced with the reality that I’d been barred from fashion college because one person in the industry had that much power, I had to do some reflecting. If I accept fashion as my career, I get to set foot into that world. And I had to face the question of ‘am I ready and willing to accept that?’”

When Marinette came to a pause, Adrien stopped to think of his response. “Honestly, as someone who comes from that world, I completely understand your feelings. I’ve seen the good, and I’ve seen the bad. I’ve watched people succeed and climb the ladder, and I’ve watched people crash and burn. And I think there’s such a fine line between the two.”

“See, that just feels validating,” Marinette said, small smile on her face. “I understand that that is basically every job field. I understand some are better than others. But with what I’ve seen from the fashion world… I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m as adamant about it as I was when I was in high school.”

Adrien sighed. “I don’t understand what it’s like to have a passion,” he admitted. “I’ve never had one, so this might not mean anything coming from me, but I think… it would be better to keep your passion a hobby… if the profession will burn you out. Because then you’re not just loosing your profession, but the hobby meant to bring you joy.”

Marinette was silent for a minute, and Adrien thought he’d said something wrong. But that tension in his chest eased hen a small smile crept up on her lips. “That’s good advice,” she finally said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Adrien reached out to pat her shoulder, surprising her a moment. When she turned to him, eyes wide and clear once again, he gave her a smile. “I’ll be rooting for you. And if there’s anything I can help you with, I’d be happy to assist.”

Slowly, her small smile grew. “Thanks,” she said, her voice surprisingly sweet. But she soon turned away, and Adrien pulled his hand back. “So, um… fair’s fair,” she started up again. “Are you happy working here?”

Adrien didn’t hesitate to nod. “Honestly, it’s hard work, but it’s something that I chose, for once. This is something I myself am doing. I don’t want to say the novelty of doing this hasn’t worn off yet, but it feels… worthwhile.”

Marinette nodded. “Have you considered other paths or what you want to do for the future? Or do you see this being long term?”

Adrien shrugged. “I don’t know, yet,” he said. “Honestly, this whole ‘I’m my own person and on my own’ thing still hasn’t fully caught up to me yet. I feel like I’m still playing pretend. It’s… weird.” He turned back to her, forcing a smile. “Hazard of growing up super sheltered, I guess.”

Marinette hummed. “Well, I think you know Papa will love having you around as long as you plan to stay.”

He smiled, a genuine grin this time. “Yeah, I know. And you?”

“What about me?”

“Do you mind having Asshole Agreste around?”

Her expression changed from shock to irritation. “Are you really gonna dredge up that old nickname? No, wait!” Her brow furrowed in a mix of anger and confusion. “Where did you even hear that? I never called you that here!”

He grinned a little wider than he’d thought he would. “Chloe.”

Marinette growled.

He couldn’t help but laugh.

“You know I don’t think of you like that anymore, right?”

He couldn’t help teasing her a bit more. “I don’t know. Do I?”

Marinette glowered at him, and he burst into laughter again.

With a growl, she turned away, crossing her arms with a huff. “Just turn on the anime again. I need to see Princess Bitch get her comeuppance.”

Adrien laughed. “We’re only on episode fourteen. You still don’t get to call her that yet.”

“Why?” she cried. “What’s gonna happen in the next few episodes that changes? Does she get worse? And if so, how? She’s already about as low as she can go. Like, almost past Chloe-level.”

He shook his head. “Nevermind. Just wait and see.”

 9. Baking Lessons

Marinette felt like she was up to her ears in information.

After her talk with Adrien, she decided that she should do her research on the fashion industry as much as she could. But she also knew to take everything with a grain of salt. Only once she felt prepared enough would she make a decision on her future.

On one hand, it was satisfying to pick up her dreams again, dust them off, and put plans to them. On the other, it was overwhelming, and more did once did Adrien’s warning of “don’t burn out your passion” cross her mind.

It was well into the afternoon that she realized a break might be in order and food would be beneficial.

She headed down into kitchen, only to startle at the unfamiliar face there.

“Um… what are you doing in my house?”

Adrien glanced over his shoulder to look at her, then shot her a smile. “Your parents asked me to. They each had their break and said you hadn’t been down all day. So now it’s my turn for a break, and they asked if I’d take a minute to make sure you ate.”

Marinette looked at the sandwich on the plate he extended towards her. After staring at it a moment, she realized she should take it. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Busy?”

“Yeah. I… kinda forgot the last time I was so engrossed in something that I forgot to eat like this.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Um… I decided to dig into researching the fashion industry.”

Adrien turned back around, glancing at her with surprise. “Oh? How’s it going?”

Marinette’s lips pursed in thought. “Up and down. Every other article seems to pull me the opposite direction.”

“Fair,” he said with a nod. “Which way are you leaning now?”

“The ‘This is bullshit. Why do I want to be in this hellish industry?’ direction.”

A lopsided grin flashed across Adrien’s face. “I feel that on a personal level.”

“I’m sure you do,” she muttered, walking over to the table to have a seat. “But enough of me griping. You? Have you thought of your future at all since our talk?”

He grabbed a paper bag on the counter, pulling out a tupperware container with a sandwich of his own inside. “Not really.”

“Not really?” she probed, pointing at the seat directly across from her.

He took the hint and took a seat. “I haven’t given much thought to anything beyond the baking lessons your father has been giving me. I mean, maybe one day I’ll go to school for something, but I’ve really decided to give myself a full year of this before committing to anything. Let me learn how to be an adult on my own first before I move forward, you know? It’s easier to start running when your feet are solidly under you.”

“Understandable,” Marinette said. “But just so you know, I’m going to hold you to that, now.”

“Oh?”

“Yup. I’d like you to know you have six months, three weeks, and five days remaining before you have to make a decision.”

Adrien froze, sandwich halfway to his mouth.

Marinette couldn’t help but giggle.

“Is that a legit number or one you just threw out.”

“I don’t know. What do you think?”

“I think that when it comes to you, I don’t always know what’s going on in that pretty head of yours.”

She giggled, feeling a little too giddy for her liking. She played it off with a wink. “Got to keep you on your toes somehow.”

Adrien scoffed. “Don’t worry about that,” he dismissed with a charming smile that she hated to admit could knock her off her feet if she were standing. “You already do.”

#miraculous ladybug #fanfiction #adrienette #AdrinetteApril2021 #teasing #fluff #and a heart to heart talk #Bonus points to whoever guesses the anime XD

[gracelessfighters]

Dragonfly - Chapter 4

JJ Maybank x female!reader series

Summary: Y/N is invited to her first kegger, where she has lots of fun but there’s a fight which turns her night upside down (a shit summary i’m sorry)

Word Count: 3.5k 

Warnings: swearing, fighting - hasn’t been proofread so most likely bad grammar

A/N: I enjoyed writing a lot of this chapter, and I canny look forward to the next one which is going to be very angsty hopefully

Chapters 1 - 2 - 3 -

You had fallen into a routine these last few days, getting up, going to work and then coming back home to have a meal with your dad before going surfing at night. Not that you minded too much, routines had always helped you cope with stuff, originally when your mum died all you wanted to do was carry on your days as if nothing had happened but your dad always thought this wasn’t coping - more just ignoring the issue.

This routine wasn’t like that, it was just the routine of a new life, which you were beginning to enjoy, in the Outer Banks. You had seen Kie most days at work, chatting whenever there were less people to serve in the restaurant, but you hadn’t seen the boys since the boat trip - even though they pretty much told you you were now part of their group, you couldn’t help but think they were avoiding you, especially as Kiara had said they normally come into the Wreck when they’re hungry, which they are most of the time. Any time these thoughts came into your head you quickly pushed them out, you had enjoyed being with them and you really didn’t want to try and push them away or make assumptions before there was any evidence - something you had done lots growing up, always thinking you were hated when you weren’t, and ruining friendships because of this. A new life meant you had to stop making old mistakes, especially ones like those.

The Wreck was emptier today than you’d seen it since you began working there, only a few groups of people had come into the restaurant for food, most people probably staying in the sun for as long as possible as the weather was amazing today, not a cloud in sight, just the hot sun. Not that you could really enjoy it when you were working, but your shift finished soon so you’d be able to do something then.

You were cleaning up a table of a couple that had just left when you heard your name being called out from the door.

“Y/N!” John B shouted, Kie behind him trying to tell him to shut up.

You waved at him, and began to head to a table, Kie, JJ and Pope all following closely behind him.

“Hey, how are you guys?” You asked

There was a chorus of “great’s” before Kie got up, saying she was going to search for some food as the guys were hungry

“What are you doing tonight?” JJ asked once Kie had left.

“Surfing probably, why?”

“We’re having a kegger at the beach later and we want you to come.” John B answered

“Yeah it’ll be your first time drinking properly with us and probably the first time since you moved here as well - so you basically can’t refuse.” JJ smiled at you, waiting for your answer.

“Okay, yeah I’d love to.”

All three boys whooped at this, and as Kiara came back to the table, she asked, “I’m guessing you’re coming then?”

“I am indeed, been a while since I’ve gone to a party though, I feel like I could be out of practice.” You laughed

“Bullshit, we all saw you drink on the boat the other day and I’m sure you’ll somehow show us all up again tonight.” Pope responded, the others just nodding their agreement.

“Good point - when abouts should I get there?”

“We usually set up around 9 so probably then, this means there’s some time before everyone else gets there just us.” John B said, oblivious to Kie muttering under her breath, “Yeah and then you guys will get into a fight like always.”

This comment set you on edge a little, you had never been a huge fan of violence, if need be you could protect yourself but it was seeing people you care about being hurt which upset you, and the way Kie made it sound, that could be a possibility.

“Okay I have to finish clearing up then I need to go home, so I’ll see you guys later.” You said, smiling at them as they all said bye.

—————

You looked around your room, there were clothes everywhere from you changing your mind on outfits to wear tonight about 100 times, you didn’t know whether to keep it casual like during the day or put a little more effort in, both options needing you to decide on how much cleavage you wanted to show. Getting ready was always so stressful.

You collapsed onto your bed in defeat, still not sure what to wear before you heard your phone ringing, looking at it you saw Kiara’s name on the screen so you quickly answered it.

“Hey”

“Hi,” her voice came from the phone, “you alright?”

“Great other than the fact I don’t know what to wear, please help me.”

She laughed, “I felt like this could be something you’d have an issue with - my advice is shorts and a nice top, it’s my go to every time and it never fails.”

“Okay that’s narrowed it down slightly and I think I have an idea now, so you’re officially a life saver Kie.”

“I know,” she joked, “shit - my mum’s calling me so I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Okay bye” you said, ending the call as you stood up, ready to go through your clothes again, now knowing what you were looking for.

It didn’t take you long to find the outfit you were gonna wear, an off the shoulder black crop top and some black denim shorts - the whole outfit making your figure look great, filling you with confidence. You quickly put on some mascara and eyeshadow, then made your way downstairs to say goodbye to your dad for the night, only to find out he’d already crashed out on the couch.

Instead of waking him up, you just decided to leave him a note saying you’d be back later, grabbing some vodka from the kitchen you started making your way down to the beach to meet up with your friends.

They were sat round a fire when you arrived, JJ smoking a joint and the other three all focused on the conversation they were having. They didn’t notice you until you sat down next to JJ, quickly stealing the blunt from his hand and taking a hit before giving it back to him, a shocked and offended look on his face as he muttered, “the audacity.”

“You love me really,” you say nudging him, a smirk on your face that you knew annoyed him, he just shoved you off the log you were both sitting on, “you’re wrong there Y/N.”

You pouted at him as you climbed back onto the log, turning to look at the others, who had witnessed that interaction, Kie now having a smug look on her face, knowing she’d been right about there kind of being something between you guys.

You decided to ignore this, and instead began talking to Pope about what he wanted to do at college. Forensic pathology was the thing he was passionate about, you wish you had the same idea of where you wanted your life to go, but you still didn’t know, and at this point you just wanted to enjoy life for a little while so that’s what you were going to do.

The easy conversations lasted a little bit longer, then as more people began arriving at the beach, John B and Pope went off to man the keg and JJ had gone off to, in his words, “find his fun for the night.” You and Kiara had both made a disgusted noise at this, before deciding you’d rather drink some vodka and then go and dance together. So that what you did.

You didn’t know how much you’d had to drink by the time Kie had dragged you into where other people were dancing, shouting how she loved the songs that were playing tonight, but you were starting to feel the alcohol going to your head. This, of course, only made you enjoy all this more, being so relaxed and happy with others was not something you felt often, and you were going to love every second of it.

You turned to Kie, “Hey, I’m going to go and get some beer, do you want anything?”

She shook her head, then turned back to the group of touron girls who had joined your dancing as you began heading over to where John B and Pope were.

They spotted you and waved as you made your way closer, already holding a cup out to you, you sped up for the last little distance to reach them, taking the cup and saying your thanks.

“How’s your first kegger going then?” John B asked.

“I’m really loving it, I’ve had lots of drink obviously but the whole atmosphere is great, like there only seem to be good vibes, not sure what Kie meant by there being lots of fights usually if it’s like this.”

“Well I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, but I hate to break it to you, there’s still a good chance of there being a fight, the kooks almost always start something, or at least act like dicks, which then starts the fight.” Pope said, patting you on the shoulder as he ‘broke the news’ to you.

“Oh great,” you sighed, “but at least I can handle myself and if you guys need it, I can always help you.”

John B laughed, “You in a fight would be something I’d pay to see to be honest, but please be careful and try not to get into a fight, I mean you’ve only known us a week, that’d be like the biggest sign that we’re bad influences and we don’t need that.”

You smiled at him, “I’ll try my best.”

“Good, that means there’s only JJ to worry about now.”

“Does he get into a lot of fights then?”

“All. the. time,” Pope said, taking a sip from his cup before continuing, “but in fairness, it’s usually to stick up for once of us which makes it slightly better, even if he’s still a pain in the ass.”

You chuckled, “I’ll keep a look out as well then, stop him before he does something stupid.”

It was silent for a few seconds, you all drinking and lost in thoughts, and just as you were going to return to Kie, John B said, “Hey, Y/N, I’m glad you’re in our group now, you make it better.”

You couldn’t contain your joy when he said this, so with a very wide smile you pulled both him and Pope into a tight hug, saying, “Thank you, it’s because I’m amazing.”

They both were still laughing as you made your way back over to where you last saw Kie, but when you got there, she had since disappeared. You sighed, wondering where she’d gone and when you turned back round, you were blocked by a muscular guy, who when you saw his face, you knew was Rafe from the restaurant the other day.

“Where you going pogue?” He sneered

“What’s it to you?”

“Just wondering, anyway I came over to tell you that you look good, and I could put aside the rivalry for tonight if you wanted to have some fun.”

You scoffed, “only if by fun you mean me hitting you with a golf club, but if not I don’t have much interest.”

He moved forward, grabbing you forearm in a tight grip, “You can’t talk to me like that you little bitch, you have no idea what I’m capable of.”

“Take your hand off me.” You say, ignoring his threat.

“You heard her man, get off her.” You turned around, seeing JJ now behind you, already looking like he was prepared to fight, he looked at you in question to see if you were alright, you just nodded before looking back to Rafe.

In response, Rafe’s grip just tightened, you winced slightly, knowing this would be leaving a bruise on your arm.

Without thinking, you lifted your other hand up, and punched him straight in the face. In shock he let go of you, stumbling back holding his nose and swearing.

He looked up to you, blood running from his nose, “you’re gonna pay for that you bitch.”

As Rafe moved forward, JJ pushed you behind him, ready to take the brunt of Rafe’s anger. Before you could even try and argue for JJ to not get involved, both him and Rafe were on the ground, JJ currently on top of Rafe and punching him in the face repeatedly.

This commotion attracted the attention of everyone else on the beach, you saw John B, Pope and Kie all running over trying to see what was going on and how they could help.

Just as you shouted for JJ to stop, obvious Rafe had had enough of a beating, Rafe’s other goons appeared out of nowhere, pulling JJ off Rafe and whilst one held him in a headlock, the other kicked him in the stomach, causing JJ to bend over in pain.

“NO! GET OFF OF HIM.” You shouted, Kie had a hold on your arms so you couldn’t move forward and get involved.

Pope and John B had now moved in on the fight, John B getting in front of the one who was kicking JJ, pushing him away, and Pope punched the other one, making him release the hold he had on JJ.

They retreated, hands in the air in defence, knowing they were outnumbered, and they had seen that Rafe was still on the floor, maybe even unconscious, you thought, a little happy at that outcome. All of that happiness vanished when you saw JJ, keeled over in the sand, grabbing his side in pain.

Both you and Kie quickly ran over to him, you knelt in front of him, his head moving to look at you, “Holy shit JJ are you alright?”

“I’ve had worse.” You scrunched your eyebrows, slightly confused how this wasn’t a big deal to him, or how anything could be worse, I mean he was covered in blood and was clearly going to have lots of bruises- but before you could say anything he looked up at you again, “how’s your hand?”

“Throbbing slightly but literally nothing to worry about, especially when you look like this.”

John B and Pope lifted JJ up by his arms, “Let’s get you cleaned up man.”

Kie reached her hand out to you, helping you up so you could follow the boys, who were now trying to convince JJ to let them help.

You couldn’t help but slow down, it was your fault he had been hurt like that, you should’ve kept your anger in check, then maybe Rafe would’ve gone away without any issues. Kie nudged your shoulder, “I know what you’re thinking, and this isn’t your fault - Rafe could’ve done something bad to you so its good you stuck up for yourself and JJ was there to help you out.”

When you didn’t answer, she grabbed your hand and squeezed it, “Trust me, this isn’t your fault.”

You nodded, not saying anything as you removed your hand from hers and tried to catch up with the boys who were now arguing who’s house was closer to clean him up.

“I can take him to mine,” they turned to look at you, a bit shocked at your offer, but understood why you wanted to help him when they saw the guilt on your face.

“Are you sure?” Pope asked

“Yes, I might as well clean him up as it was my fault he got into the fight, and I need to ice my hand anyway, so you guys can stay here for a bit longer if you want.”

“Okay, can you carry him on your own?” John B said, interrupting Kie who was ready to say it wasn’t your fault again.

“I can walk on my own man,” JJ muttered at John B as you went to put your arm around his waist, allowing him to put his over your shoulder, and supporting his weight.

“Okay then, we’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry I ruined the night,” you said, looking down at the floor in shame.

JJ squeezed your shoulder as the other three moved towards you and engulfed both you and JJ into a hug, Kie reassuring you that you hadn’t ruined anything, except maybe Rafe’s nose - this earned a laugh from everyone, you included, and when you stepped back, there was a small smile on your face again.

The walk back to yours was slow going, JJ struggling to stay upright and you having to support more of his weight, there was a silence between you, neither of you really knowing what to say to one another, but you used the time to try and sort out the thoughts rushing through your head.

Once back at yours, you unlocked the door, checking the sofa, which your dad had now left, obviously to go and sleep in his bed where it’s more comfy, and leading JJ to the bathroom nearest your room.

You patted the counter, indicating for him to sit on it, which he did whilst letting out a small grunt of pain. Quickly searching through the cabinet, you found some bandages and some saline solution, which you put on the counter before running to the kitchen to get some ice for his hand.

He had zoned out in thought by the time you got back, only coming back to the present when you were standing in front of him, tapping his shoulder.

“Is it alright if I step in between your legs? it's easier to reach the cuts.” You asked

“You can stand between my legs whenever you want Y/N,” he joked, as he opened them for you to step between, you still weren’t sure how he can keep acting like his normal self when he was obviously in a lot of pain.

You stopped thinking and just started cleaning out all of his wounds with the saline solution, feeling awful whenever he winced underneath your touch, but this needed to be done to lessen the pain tomorrow and to make sure no cuts git infected. You had fallen into a concentrated silence, making sure you were hurting him as little as possible, not even noticing how intensely he was looking at you, entranced with how your eyebrows scrunched together in concentration and how you bit your lip, wincing whenever he did.

You were almost done when he spoke up, “thank you for doing this by the way.”

You looked up at him, making eye contact with his intense blue eyes, “I don’t like seeing you hurt, especially when you got into that fight because of me.”

Looking back down at the area on his stomach you were trying to clean, you noticed that there were a lot more bruises and marks than just from tonight, you were going to say something but if it was something he wanted to talk about he’d tell you when he was ready, so you just stepped away from him, washing your hands in the sink.

Only now you were washing your hands did you realise how red the one you had punched Rafe with had become, and that there was now already a bruise from where he grabbed you. JJ had noticed you pause, and looked to where your eyes were focused - he couldn’t stop way his stomach lurched at the idea you were in pain, he was used to it and even though he hadn’t known you for long, he didn’t want you ever to be in pain again.

He grabbed your hands, the water from the tap flowing over both your hands, “That fight wasn’t your fault, it was Rafe’s, and I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner.”

You turned to look at him, a tear escaping you eye, which he quickly wiped away with his thumb, “well if it’s not my fault, then you’re not allowed to be sorry either, deal?”

He let out a small laugh, “Okay that works for me,” he went to open the bathroom door, “anyway I should probably get going, don’t want your dad seeing me.”

You grabbed his arm before he could move any further, “Nope.”

“What?”

“I don’t want you walking on your own when you’re in this state, so you’re going to stay here, you can share my bed with me, obviously without any funny business though.”

His mouth had gaped into an ‘O’ in shock, “Are you sure?”

“100%, and then we can make our way together to see the others tomorrow.”

“Oh, okay then.” You led him to your bedroom, throwing him a pair of your dad’s old joggers for him to get dressed into, turning away from him as you changed into a large shirt and shorts, before getting into bed next to where he had already settled.

You could feel his eyes on you, so you moved onto your side so you were facing him, before smiling at him, “Night JJ.”

He smiled back, “Night Y/N” and you both drifted off into sleep.

Taglist: @jellyfishbeansontoast​ @tangledinsparkles​ @k-k0129​ @jjsbxtch​ @outerbankslove​ @obx-beach​ @emerald-xcd​ @danicarosaline​ @belledutchess​ @teamnick​ @justcallmesams​

#jj maybank x reader #jj maybank x y/n #jj x reader #jj maybank #jj maybank imagine #jj imagine #outerbanks fic #obx fic #outer banks imagine #outrebanx #outrebanx dragonfly #john b routledge #kiara carrera x reader #john b x reader #kiara carrera #pope heyward #pope heyward x reader #rafe cameron #rafe cameron x reader

[the-blind-assassin-12]

Misunderstanding

A/N: just another smooch featuring everyone’s favorite black hat. this one is stand alone so this is not the Logan from Oblivion/ Simplify or The Bottom. smooch #7- 12 to go! 

Warning: language

Word Count: 2,260

Prompt from: @thesumofmychoices who wanted Logan by the campfire with a kiss of relief.  giddy-up. 

 “Fuck!” 

 Logan kicked the boulder that he’d been sitting on before standing to pace around the campsite, sending a blunt pain through his foot and up his shin into his knee. “Mother fucker!” He took an uncoordinated hop, nearly falling over but catching his balance at the last second. It wasn’t clear if he was cursing at himself or at the boulder, at you or at the fact that he’d lost track of you somewhere in the park. Ripping the hat from his head he tossed it into the dusting of snow that had settled over the scrubby ground, the dark black felt in stark contrast to the pristine white glitter that had just started to fall. He looked at the way it stood out in the glow of the flames that wouldn’t last if the weather kept up. Shouldn’t have fucking let her go...no idea where the fuck she went now...goddamn it, Delos you really fucked this one up…  

 The biting cold was already working to numb the ache of what was surely a broken foot, and he considered giving the boulder another kick just to punish himself further. Feeling pain was relatively new to Logan, and he wasn’t sure that he’d had his fill. It had only been a few months that he’d been clean from the drugs that let him feel nothing in abundance, but abundance was what he knew best. If it couldn’t be an overflow of emptiness, he’d settle for another round of blinding pain. Anything was better than the cocktail of guilt and panic that was stirring his stomach and clawing at his chest. 

 “You’re being an ass, Logan.” You’d said it tight lipped with hard punctuation as puffs of white vapor formed in the cold air. He watched as you crossed your arms over your chest, tight lips turning downwards after you finished speaking. 

 He’d wanted to apologize. He wanted to take back what he’d said about how you’d only agreed to come on the trip so you could fuck your way through the wild west, about the looks he saw you giving some of the male Hosts you’d encountered, and how you should just get to it if that’s all you were here for. He wanted to grab you by the face and kiss you so hard you’d forget all about them and forget the hurtful things he said and the seemingly uncaring way in which he’d said them. He wanted you like he’d never wanted anything and it threw a wrench into the way he would normally operate. What he did instead was much worse. 

 He raised his eyebrows and gestured up and down his body at himself as he spoke. “Yeah? Well that’s me. I’m an ass.” He licked his lips, advancing on you, feeling his own eyes grow darker with anger. At himself. With every dumbass word he spoke. “So go ahead and get yourself one of those good guys back in Sweetwater, darlin’. I know that’s what you want. I know that’s why you came. Don’t let me stop you.” The fuck am I saying? He thought. Logan knew you, and knew that you weren’t a shallow puddle like the rest of the women he knew, like the rest of the eager young Delos interns that he’d “shown around the park”. This isn’t how I wanted this to go. At all. 

 You didn’t budge, even as he stepped within inches of where you stood, boot tips almost touching yours. “I’m not here to fuck dolls, Logan.” You poured acidic venom all over his name. 

 I know you’re not. “Coulda fooled me.” He knew he was sabotaging himself but he didn’t know how to stop. Normally, he wouldn’t think twice about how he’d spend a trip like this one, pushing the hair away from the ear he’d whisper into, saying things like “I’m not your boss in here, we can do whatever we want,” or “You really want the cowboy experience? Lemme take you for a ride, darlin’.” Normally, he’d take you into the tent or room or train car or carriage and he’d show you that while he was talented in the boardroom, he was even more talented outside of it. But there was nothing normal about the way he was feeling right now, the absence of any residual substance in his bloodstream allowing him to feel things that he had no prior experience with: jealousy, fear and hope. 

 You’d narrowed your eyes then, nostrils flaring. Dammit she even looks good when she’s pissed. “You know what?” You shook your head slightly, clearly frustrated as you dropped your arms. “I think I will go take a walk. Maybe I’ll walk all the way back to Sweetwater. Because I can’t with you right now, Delos.” You scoffed and turned on a dime, stalking off through the bushes that Nadia and Simon- the other two Delos employees that had been on this trip with you- had disappeared through about a half hour ago. 

 “Fine with me, sweetheart!” He spat after you. But it was not fine, not at all, and as he watched you walk away the anger started swirling with the other things he was feeling, and he thought about stopping you, but didn’t. She’s better off. Let her cool down or...or let her do whatever she wants… let her get the fuck away from me. 

 Ten minutes turned into twenty, and twenty into forty. Nadia and Simon were still gone, and Logan didn’t expect them to come back. Nadia had made eyes at Simon when they’d passed an abandoned homestead on their way out to where camp had been set up, and he knew what they were up to. It was what he wanted to be up to with you, but he couldn’t. Because he was an ass and he’d ruined everything. He sunk down onto the boulder, poking at the fire with a long stick to keep it going as the air temperature dropped and the sky darkened. Everything around him was quiet aside from the crackling logs, and he was left alone to wonder where you’d gone or if you’d taken his advice and found yourself a white hat to play with. Pulling his watch out of his pocket he realized it had been an hour since you’d stalked off, and just as he noted the minute hand passing the twelve, a snowflake fell on the watch’s face, melting against the fire-warmed glass. 

 Shit. Now it’s snowing. Why couldn’t this trip wait until fucking Spring? Another thought gripped him, and Logan felt another new sensation take hold- you’d never been to the park before. You had no idea how large it was or how easy it was to get lost. You weren’t an idiot, and you’d seen maps and pictures, knew the actual square mileage and all the details, but knowing the numbers and actually being there were two very different things. You could be lost. And cold. You could be scared. And he was worried about you. That’s when the pacing began. 

 ..  ..  ..  .. ..  ..  

 He really is an ass. I can’t believe...that’s really what he thinks of me? How dare he...? He...goddamnit why does it have to be him? Why couldn’t I just…

 You stomped away from the campfire, woolen stockings slipping in your leather boots with every purposeful step. You wanted to rip every last hair from your head. He really thinks I’d rather waste my time with a goddamn robot? When he’s right there and he’s… You grumbled aloud to yourself. You were in no way going back to Sweetwater, and you certainly were not about to go screw some bag of bolts. You just needed time to cool down before you talked to him. What am I even going to say? 

 You huffed and thought about how to bring up the fact that you were actually developing feelings for your playboy boss, and that you could barely focus on your work after he’d taken you out on two ...could you call them dates? Nothing had happened, he hadn’t even kissed you...Oh god, they weren’t dates. They were business lunches. Shit I’m… 

 You hadn’t gone far, knowing full and well that the park was huge and you didn’t want to get lost. You walked in circles, keeping the rising smoke of the campfire in your sights the whole time. You hadn’t noticed that a chill had crept into the air, too annoyed and worked up to feel it, but now a flurry of snowflakes were floating down to the dirt and you knew you had to get back before it turned into a storm. Why did we come in fucking February? 

 As you circled back to the campsite, the snow making the ground slick and the silence heavy, you heard him cursing to himself and ducked behind the twiggy branches of a barren bush. There he was, hair messed and hands tugging at his neck as he paced around the fire. Is he limping? You asked yourself the question as you saw him draw his foot back and direct another kick at the rock. You flinched. Yup, he’s limping. You were about to reveal yourself when you heard him speak, and shrunk back out of sight. 

 “Fucking idiot. The one good thing in your life...the one person who sees more than the bullshit… and you push her away...And now she’s gone...” He hopped on his injured foot and you felt your shoulders fall. Oh, Logan… 

 You bit your bottom lip as you watched him sit back on the rock he’d abused, hands in his hair and elbows on his knees. Could he actually… was he...worried? That I wouldn’t come back? You decided that he’d had enough punishment for his behavior from earlier, and you stepped out from behind the bush, clearing your throat. “What’d that rock do to you, Logan?” You tilted your head and felt your eyes soften as he looked up at you. 

 He rose, mouth falling open before he swallowed. “You’re back…” he tried to take a step towards you and faltered with a flinch from the weight he tried to put on his foot. 

 You shook your head and hurried closer, not wanting him to hurt himself more than he clearly had. “Yes, Logan, of course I’m back, did you think I was going to…” 

 “I thought you left…” His eyes were on yours and they were shining with more than the reflection from the firelight. “Or got lost or,” he sighed. “Or you had enough of...of me.”

 Not nearly. You reached for his arm, fingers closing around his wrist as you tugged him back down to a seated position to get him off his foot. “No, Logan. I didn’t leave.” You sat on the boulder beside him, close enough that your thighs were touching, and despite the snow you felt a warmth coming off of him that was unexpected. He was staring at your fingers as they slipped under the sleeve of his jacket. “I didn’t get lost. I…” you let out a little laugh. “I didn’t even go very far.” You gestured off in the direction that you came from. “I just walked in circles because I… I needed to clear my head, Logan. I couldn’t believe that you really...that you thought I was interested in the Hosts…” He looked up from your fingers as you felt his pulse quicken beneath them. “Guess I didn’t do a good enough job showing you what I was really interested in…” Well there it is.  

 “Me?” He asked the question like it was the most outlandish thing in the world. 

 You sighed, unable to take your eyes off of his. “You, Logan. I don’t give a damn about the Hosts. If I looked interested, it was just because I’d never seen them before. But...you… you’re what I…”

 He cut you off then, lips finding yours as snowflakes landed in both of your hair. Oh! The kiss caught you off guard with how soft it was, how delicate and slow. His hands came up to cup either side of your face, keeping you in place, your hand still wrapped around his right wrist, now moving up to run your fingers over his knuckles. Is this really… this is really happening. He’s… this… 

 He pulled apart and you were almost thankful- your thoughts were already scattered enough. “I was worried… about you… about… I thought I blew it. But you came back and… and you…” there were questions swimming in his dark eyes as he shook his head slightly. “You actually want… to be with me?” 

 You nodded, fully aware of how close your face still was to his. “Yes, ass.” You couldn’t help yourself, smiling and feeling downright drunk from the kiss and the way things had gotten misconstrued and how you’d watched him pacing around. He smiled, too, sheepishly, and brushed his nose against yours. 

 “I deserve that,” he laughed before placing another quick kiss to the corner of your mouth. 

 “You do, Delos.” You responded. “Now, let’s get inside so we don’t end up as popsicles, huh?” 

 He rose immediately and winced again. “Pretty sure I broke my foot…” 

 You rolled your eyes, despite your smile. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure you did too. That’s what happens when you kick boulders, Logan.” You rose on your tiptoes to drop a kiss to his cheek. Now that he’d kissed you, you couldn’t get enough of it. “Come on, cowboy, I’ll take care of your purple foot.” 

@something-tofightfor @its-my-little-dumpster-fire @suchatinyinfinity @agent-bossypants @lexxierave @thesumofmychoices  @belladonnarey @ymariejp@obscurilicious @ms-delos @songtoyou @gollyderek @traeumerinwitzhelden@breanime @drinix

#logan delos #logan delos x you #logan delos x reader #logan delos smooches #logan smooches #kiss prompts #smooch drabbles #logan delos fanfiction #logan westworld #a kiss by the campfire #for relief

[thelifetimechannel]

The Dave and Dirk log, for obvious reasons, was something I wanted to try very hard to get right. That meant although we drafted it together via msparp, as was our custom, I ended up overhauling it way more than any of our other combo walkaround logs. A few chunks did survive the transfer, though.

In other news, we’ve made a solemn pact to finish TLC over winter break, which is good because I’m running out of bonus content. Hopefully we’ll have some assets to show off soon. I’ve already seen a few; they’re very nice.  

DIRK: Hey, dude. You did pretty well out there. DIRK: Didn't even die once. DAVE: twice in a day is my max im satisfied with keeping that record DAVE: even if getting machinegunned is rapidly becoming my "thing" DIRK: Seems we each have our respective "signature deaths". DIRK: Or at least it ain't a party until I get decapitated. That sure was something we needed to do again. DIRK: Just once, for old time's sake. DAVE: well that puts the nail in the meme coffin DAVE: any time you panic someones gonna tell you to keep your head on DAVE: like keeping your hair on except you know that shit aint going anywhere its probably shellaced DIRK: That shit is bolted to the floor. Did you know I walked around with a girly-ass pink tiara on my head this whole day and had no idea? DIRK: I had no idea. Couldn't feel a thing. DIRK: And people let me do that. DIRK: Can't fuckin' believe it. DAVE: oh DAVE: i figured you knew DIRK: I am less than pleased with my Skaia-ordained divine color scheme. DIRK: But I guess I have to live with it. It's part of the team aesthetic. DAVE: you could always change DIRK: Nah, with the tiara and tights ditched I have at least mitigated the enforced flamboyance. It's bearable. DIRK: I can't be the one dude out of uniform. Couldn't bear the shame. DAVE: my outfit is pretty sick ngl DAVE: sburb knows everyones secret desire is to have a cape DIRK: Unfortunately, mine isn't long enough to also make for a good tactical maneuver. DIRK: Not gonna lie, that was pretty funny. DAVE: if nothing else my attempts at combat can provide a source of humor in our lives DAVE: but honestly id be fine if my fighting days were over DAVE: i was never into it DAVE: rose on the other hand was obviously itching to beat people up DAVE: one of those 12 year olds who wants to get jumped in an alley to work out her suppressed anger DIRK: Maybe Skaia did make a few miscalculations in dumping your asses with your respective guardians. I think you'd get along well with Roxy and her cats, make her budget her time away from the alcohol. DIRK: ...in theory. DIRK: Rose can go a few rounds with me if she wants, we still need to sort out who has the rights to document our legendary journies. DAVE: ill plan your funeral DAVE: what kind of flowers do you want DIRK: ...there's different kinds? DAVE: damn thats right you grew up in waterworld DAVE: these choices matter DAVE: allegedly theres a thing called "flower language" DAVE: whether you can actually send someone a boquet telling them to meet you in the pit i dont know DIRK: Like, I get that, in theory, different kinds of flowers exist. But I fully anticipate any attempt on my part to conjugate in the language of said plants would end in my coffin declaring my hovercraft was indeed full of eels. DIRK: Maybe it'll have thorns on it. Or it'll be like the sixteen millions tons of green bullshit covering my land and making my nose itch. DAVE: probably DIRK: Worst case scenario, I'll pick out something orange and present to a prospective love interest and it'll mean something like "my brotherly passion for you knows no boundaries, and also no homo". DAVE: my bro wouldnt go for flower arranging DAVE: or pink tiaras DAVE: he was pretty uptight about the whole rah rah macho act DAVE: probably subscribed to alpha males weekly DAVE: which is weird considering DAVE: well DAVE: youre gay right DIRK: Uh. DIRK: Well. DIRK: My symbolic quest land is not covered in green bullshit, but I. DIRK: Happen to like watching birds, if you know what I mean. DIRK: Fuck, you probably don't know what that means. Jake and his goddamn thousand euphemisms. DAVE: cant say i do no DIRK: Nobody knows what it means but Jake. It's an old time epithet for being into dudes. DIRK: He knows all the old epithets, including some I suspect he made up. DAVE: so DAVE: thats a yes DAVE: in a roundabout way that includes birds DIRK: I've never denied it. DIRK: I'm just. DIRK: Not a huge fan of the word. Why, in this world post-society, do we need to confine ourselves to labels like "gay"? Such constraints were washed away from my world with the rest of the human race. DAVE: holy shit that was such a pretentious dodge DAVE: dont let rose hear you say that DIRK: Rose can hear all she likes. DAVE: but anyway DAVE: i wasnt asking to get up all in your business like SOME PEOPLE DAVE: who are so into getting into other peoples businesses theyre basically the fucking mafia or the irs DAVE: but DAVE: it explains some stuff DAVE: but on the other hand it doesnt DAVE: the way you raised me was kinda aggressively mainstream masculine enough that it wasnt something that ever seemed to come up as an option DAVE: [describe that type of culture and mindset better later, I KNOW what i mean but im tired rn lmao] DAVE: and anything outside of that id just brush off because it couldnt apply to me DAVE: and that went for pretty much everything that went against what you wanted for me DAVE: including that DIRK: And yet, here the man was, subconsciously shrieking his desire for floppy felt dong through, DIRK: What I guess you could call his art, for want of any other applicable word at all. God, the mental images are crawling up the insides of my skull like the Exorcist child, do I want to know? DAVE: probably not DAVE: guess trying to act peak male has its drawbacks DAVE: weirdly enough troll culture is obsessively hyperviolent but doesnt give a shit about sexuality DAVE: they dont see the difference most of the time i guess DAVE: and so like DAVE: maybe it rubs off on you because in some ways that kind of makes sense DAVE: but after so long its hard to know what i feel and what it means because i spent so long ignoring it DAVE: so i guess i was wondering DAVE: if you had anything that might help with that DAVE: or if youre also trapped in this whirling screaming maelstrom of bullshit DAVE: while kinsey sits in the eye of the storm laughing DIRK: Wait, wait, wait. DIRK: You're coming to me. DIRK: For advice. DIRK: Do you know what a laughable hurricane of disaster my interpersonal life has been? DIRK: Like, in a weird way, I'm kind of honored, especially since about five hours ago you were scared shitless to be around me, but. DIRK: I'm standing here and waving my credentials in the air just to display how I don't fucking have any. My degree is a sham and my hands are empty except for a crudely scribbled on piece of construction paper. DAVE: are you suggesting theres a gay university DAVE: where you study bird watching DIRK: Do I look like a man who's been to college? DAVE: fair DAVE: but like DAVE: your friends know DAVE: how did you broach the subject there DIRK: I might as well have been dating a Yoko Ono for the devastation it wreaked on our friend group, so yeah, it was a little hard to ignore. DIRK: Compounded by the fact some smartass from Gay University was using my social circle for romance geometry homework. DIRK: It wasn't even a love triangle so much as a love roundabout. DAVE: ok but thats just because you were a dipshit not a gay dipshit DAVE: they were chill about the first part right DIRK: Thanks. DIRK: I mean... Roxy always seemed disappointed. DAVE: luckily i dont think anyones waiting in line for me DAVE: i guess im blowing it out of proportion DAVE: i dont think anyone will MIND DAVE: no one did about rose and kanaya DAVE: didnt even question the vampire bit which goes to show what our lives are like these days DAVE: like ok our outfit has vampires now DAVE: thats a thing that we have DAVE: if i say oh hey i might be bisexual theyll just say sure pull up a chair at the acronym table DAVE: the only one who might be weird about it is john DAVE: but hed be just as weird if i told him id changed my favorite color hes just like that DAVE: the only person its really a big deal for is me DIRK: Jane was a little bit like that. I'm pretty sure the only reason she had to object was because she found out the day I made a move on her crush. DIRK: It might just be growing up in a household where you're not regularly fighting for your life, and thus what genders are kissing whom has the space to be higher on your priority list. DAVE: that aint anyones priority these days DAVE: im prepared to acknowledge the concept that hey maybe everyone elses lives dont revolve around me and my personal drama or self revelations might have some merit at least as a hypothesis DAVE: when i met kid english he kept going on about how i was the most important person and everyone else was side characters DAVE: and maybe ive acted like that sometimes DIRK: Yeah, like you alone are the one responsible for everyone around you. DAVE: and maybe ive acted like i think that way too sometimes DAVE: ive been wrong about people DAVE: people i care about people i shouldve known better DAVE: i was wrong because i wanted to believe things that matched how i wanted the world to be DAVE: things that made it easier for the story i was telling myself DAVE: i dont think kid english meant to call me on it but damn DIRK: Reality is, after all, something we construct for ourselves. DIRK: I think maybe I knew that all along when I surfaced for air inbetween shoving my head as far up my ass as it would go. DIRK: Or maybe that's just what I try to tell myself in hindsight. DAVE: well if it takes a hyperactive 12 year old version of the final bosss creepy hero worship of me to make a point i guess thats not the least subtle way the universe has sent me a message lately DIRK: You want unsubtle? Let me tell you about my damn planet quest. DAVE: haha DAVE: i didnt have to do much of my quest because im invisible DAVE: thanks mom DIRK: My denizen practically sat me down like it was my life coach and growled in my ear about improving my communication skills with a guy I told to go fuck himself not eighteen hours prior. DIRK: So while I'm glad SBURB has a vested interest in me repairing my friendships, playing electroshock death DDR with him was a little on the nose. DAVE: maybe getting shot again wasnt that bad DAVE: so weve all learned our life lessons good job team DIRK: Exactly. Can we wrap this up now? Can we please go rest? DIRK: I'm so exhausted I haven't even noticed I'm still hungover. DAVE: sure thing DAVE: but if i need tips on leaping out of a closet to intimidate passerby i might text you DIRK: I mean, I can try. As long as you don't ask me for dating tips. That, I definitely shouldn't be helping you with. DIRK: Go talk to your sister for that. DIRK: ...wouldn't she, by the transitive property of siblings, also be my sister? DAVE: yeah i guess DAVE: but theres no way in hell im asking rose for dating advice DAVE: on her first date which she refused to admit was romantically oriented she got wasted in anticipation forgot to show up and then fell down the stairs DIRK: Oh my god. DAVE: she tries to look like shes got her shit together but its a lie DAVE: if you find my corpse floating on lolar in the next few hours dont let the truth die with me DIRK: Why are we like this? DIRK: Is there actually something hardwired into our DNA that predisposes us to being disasters? DIRK: But, that aside. DIRK: I won't object if it's me you come to talk to. DAVE: ill hold you to it DAVE: and if you ever want to publicly you admit you DAVE: "enjoy birdwatching" DAVE: in less vague and evasive terms DAVE: ill have your back DIRK: Thanks.

#bonus content

[ramblinman-47]

Trucking old school

Long post, sorry for that but if it bothers you don't read it. If it don't bother you share your story too. I remember back in the mid 1960s certain of my dad's cousins had a farm and cattle ranch. At various harvest times they would have me stand on the seat of an old straight truck they had and a much older cousin would put the truck in granny and hop out. It was my job to keep the truck in a straight line while they walked along and threw on hay bales or the crop of the day. Near the end of the field one of them would hop back in and make the u turn because my skinny 6 or 7 year old body wasn't heavy enough to move that manual steering far enough around. By 10 or 11 I could put it in gear and make the u turn. Also at 11 my parents were out of town for a week and I swiped my dad's car. Drove it around for 3 nights but the night before my parents got home I got caught and arrested. Luckily an uncle lived close by so they turned me over to him so I didn't have to go to Juvie. In 1974 or 75 when I was 14 or 15 another uncle started taking me on runs hauling crude oil from Wyoming to the refineries in Utah. I learned a lot on those runs. Not just the truck but the brotherhood. CB jargon, light codes all the fun stuff. That truck was also manual steering plus it had a 5/4 double stick. Scary shit if you missed a gear crossing the sisters with those heavy ass loads. In November of 77 at the age of 17 I joined the Army. My MOS was lift/load operator which is basically cranes and forklifts but I could drive anything on wheels and often did. In the 1st week or 2 of Basic they asked how many of us could drive a stick. Several of us raised our hands but after they interviewed our experience only 3 of us were selected. At 17 I was the youngest by a couple years. The older 2 guys both screwed up before they got out of the motorpool and that left me. I was warned not to screw up. After a modicum of training and a test I spent most of my basic training driving while my battle buddies were marching. I hauled the mail and chow and sick calls. Occasionally a VIP. Sometimes I even pulled the 'cattle' trailer carrying my platoon to different training sites on Fort Leonard Wood. The point of this is not to brag but to show that the bulk of my 57 year life has been transportation. I've hauled heavy equipment and pretty much anything you can put on a flatbed. I've hauled freight and furniture. Milk and oil. Cigarettes and whiskey. Seen good times and bad times and really bad times. Helped a wounded female driver out of a mess you could no longer tell was a truck then went and found the body of her husband who had been in the sleeper when she blew her steer and lost it. I've forced a drunk driver off the road, took his keys and stayed with him until the state patrol could get to us so he didn't freeze to death. I don't know how many miles I've got because we never really use to keep track and in the old days your log often only showed half the picture. I remember watching patrol or dot troopers walking up the side of my trailer while I frantically ran numbers through my head trying to decide which log book to hand him. I estimate over 4 million miles. I see some of the 'expert' advice on here and just shake my head. I see the low timers pretending to be old timers and it cracks me up. Too many modern trainers are barely more than students themselves but the rule of primacy in training states that whatever you learn first is what you will usually remember. Primacy is so strong that even common sense can't overcome it sometimes, that's why we have people shining bright lights in our mirrors on a pitch black night supposedly doing you a favor. They were trained by a student and primacy is stronger than common sense. The new ones have cell phones and Social media and Qualcomm and cameras monitoring everytime they scratch their crotch. If they break down there's a GPS location and a picture of the problem posted world wide before the turbo gets done spinning. If we were very lucky we were within hitchhiking distance of a pay phone but mostly we had the CB, whatever tools we carried and our wits to get us out of trouble. It was common to have to change a fuel filter in sub zero temps because yours gelled up. I'll never forget an old driver telling me that no matter where you are you don't have to walk very far to find some bailing wire and brother I have proved that theory many times to get out of a pinch. I've spliced airlines with the barrel of a ball point pen and hose clamps made out of twisted wire. I've made radiator hose clamps with wire too. They often still leak but it'll get you back to civilization. We were so quick to help each other then because it literally could mean life or death. Now days we don't really need to because of the aforementioned tattletales, communicators and monitors everywhere plus we can't fudge hours like we used too. Sorry but if you aren't in danger I'm not going to risk losing a customer because I ran out of hours before I could get to his dock. Now days you guys post pictures of a guy pissing in the wrong spot but back then we'd have been more likely to use our trucks to block anyone else from seeing him because we just knew he wouldn't be doing that if he didn't need too. We were taught and sometimes forced by law to make as low of an impact as possible on traffic. In some places if there were 3 vehicles stacked up behind us we had to pull onto the shoulder to allow them to pass. Now days they're taught that slow is safe and professional but that is complete bullshit-brainwashing brought on by fleet managers looking to improve the bottom line. We got respect because we gave it and knew how to SHARE the road. Now we get no respect because for the last 10 or 15 years you've been taught that being a roadblock is all about safety and professionalism. BULLSHIT! I spend a little more fuel money because i run posted speed but I have hours available at the end of the day and I guarantee I have pissed off far less commuters who then risked their lives to show me how bad I pissed them off. Use your heads. Low impact will get you far more respect and less close calls. I get that your truck is ridiculously slow governed but that don't mean you have to squat in the middle and make EVERYONE suffer for it. I get that you're pissed off because that slightly faster truck is trying to pass you but be an actual professional and back out of it just a little so he can get it done. I'd dare guess that these slow speed roadblock races are the number one thing that makes the public hate us. Watch your mirrors often. This helps if you need an escape but also pay attention to the traffic. If you are causing problems then do your best to get out of that situation. I could go on but already too long. If you have a question I'll answer. If you have a story I'll read it. If you're a troll or know-it-all I'll just laugh at you. #OOIDA #TRUCKING #ATA @landlinemagazine @ooida