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imaginedxlan · 3 years

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Alpha Pt. 3 (Grayson Dolan)

a/n: I think its actually been two years since I wrote the first two parts of alpha but idc I’m actually in college now i feel like I have actual insight on how Mr. Alpha of ATO would act around y/n.

After their date, or forced casual hangout according to y/n, Grayson doesn’t necessarily keep his end of the deal.

y/r/n = your roommate’s name

warning(s): sexual allusions, cussing, drinking

(part one/part two)

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When you return home from your, well you’re not actually sure what to call it, with Grayson, your roommate immediately sits up to see your face, looking for any indication of how your night went. She throws her chem textbook to the side and give you a look as to say well?

You close the door behind you before putting your face in your hands and taking a seat at your desk. You keep shaking your head, there is not a chance in hell you have feelings for this boy. The boy who preyed on a freshman at her very first college party. The boy who stalked you around all of your classes, got your phone number and somehow found out all about your life in the span of a week. You keep reminding yourself of the weird and uncomfortable things he’s done to distract you from the way he planned out an entire evening for the two of you, or that he actually helped you find your sister and her friends or how good he looked when the setting sun hit his tan skin in his topless Jeep only hours ago. Jesus, y/n, snap out of it.

“Come on, spill!” Your roommate begs, she had to deal with your ranting about not wanting to go all afternoon, she deserves to at least know how it went. “What did you do? What was he like? How’d he dress? Oh my god did you hook up?”

“Ew, y/r/n, no!” You gasp at her last question. How could she expect you to hookup with someone you hate? “It was fine. We ate dinner in some park then he took me to that neon sign museum. Nothing fancy, he had a shirt on which was a first. He acted nice but I don’t buy it for a second.”

“Neither,” She replies, knowing the boy only from how you’ve described him. “He’s probably just trying to get in your pants so he can bug your sister about it.”

She’s right. You can’t fall into his trap, he has ulterior motive. They always do. You just have to go on and find some boy on your floor to kiss and get him out of your head for good. Every part of you wishes your sister hadn’t broken up with her boyfriend, he would’ve given Grayson a piece of his mind if he knew that he was bothering you. Unfortunately for you and her ex, y/s/n does not like to be tied down and she needed to “have her fun” for her last first semester. You and y/r/n talk for a little while longer, about classes and whatnot, but mostly end up talking about Grayson again.

“We should go to bed.” You finally say, yawning and looking down at your phone screen that read 12:47 am. Your roommate huffs, obviously wanting to hear more about your night with the infamous Alpha Dog of ATO. “Recruitment starts tomorrow, we have to meet our groups at eight in the morning, remember?”

“I know, I know,” She replies, slipping out of her bed so she can gather her things to get ready for bed. You grab you toiletries bag as well and head toward the bathroom with her. “We’re talking about this tomorrow, don’t think I’ve let up.”

Recruitment happens over the span of four days, this weekend and next. It’s a dry rush period so no potential new members can be seen on frat property, giving you a good enough reason to avoid Grayson. Going into recruitment you’re already around ninety-two percent sure you’ll end up in Delta Gamma, just like your sister and your mom. The next few days of recruitment go well, you meet new friends from your rush group who help through the stressful process. Throughout the week you get sporadic texts from none other than Grayson Dolan wishing you luck with those days rounds, giving you unsolicited pointers of where to pref, and telling you that he saw you walking on greek row. You don’t respond to any, hoping he gives up on trying to woo you. So much for leaving you alone after one date. You pref Delta Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta, but end up ranking DG first, not wanting to end your legacy but also because you felt you fit in most there. It was no surprise when you got a bid. Your sister is over the moon, shrieking over how her biological sister is now her deegster. You still have to get used to the lingo.

You come to find during bid day, which is Space Cowboy themed of course, that your new pledge class will be going out for bid-night with your bid day bigs. You don’t understand half of the things they’re saying to you, the language of sorority girls still lost on you. You’re added to a GroupMe with the new pledges of Alpha Tau Omega, just when you thought you could escape that fraternity as a whole, your bid night is with them. You almost immediately get a text from Grayson.

following in sissy’s steps? see you tonight miss delta gamma, anchor down ;)

What is it with him and these nicknames? You show your sister and she fake gags, saying she can’t believe he’s still texting you after all this time. She still has no idea about last weekend, you intend to keep it that way. When you get back to your dorm, you and your roommate talk all about bid day, she ended up going Kappa. Her bid night was with Phi Gamma Delta, or Fiji. If only you could have been so lucky. She can’t help but snort at the fact that you’re going to ATO tonight, she says it’s the universal pulling you and Dolan together.

Your sister won’t being coming out with you tonight, having a lab tomorrow morning that she simply cannot miss. You’re partly grateful for it, now Grayson can’t let it slip to her that you two went out together. You end up getting ready in the room of a girl of your floor who you met today at bid day, wanting to base your outfit on someone else’s to blend in as much as possible. With the massive group of girls coming into his house, surely he won’t be able to find you. You meet up with your bid day big along with the girl on your floor’s and you all walk toward the ATO house together. You’re nervous, extremely nervous, but you don’t show it. As you near the house, you’re met with the mix of conflicting basses coming from any frat basement on the block. There are a few girls waiting outside the familiar house, and thats when you see it.

Grayson Dolan at the door, personally greeting every single one of your new sisters, his eyes scanning over every single one of the freshman walking into the door, earning him plenty of groans from the older girls. You don’t mean to say anything out loud, but you let an oh god slip. Your bid day big turns to you with a confused look.

“My sisters warned me about him,” You tell her, which is half of the truth. “Real scumbag I’ve heard.”

She just laughs, not even needing to agree with you for you to know she feels the same way about him. The closer you get to the front door, the more your stomach aches. If only you could be in your dorm watching Barbie Mermaidia with your roommate like last night. You try your best to hide within the group you came with, but it’s no use, he has his single file, one over strategy down to a science.

“Hello you.” He greets you with a shit-eating grin. You hope the girls with you don’t catch him singling you out. “I’ll see you inside.”

“Fuck off Dolan,” Your bid day big calls over to him. “She’s not one of your play things.”

She pulls you inside before Grayson can say anything else. Luckily he doesn’t follow the two of you either. She gets you a drink and you socialize with the girls and some of the guys. You’re more focused on making girl friends tonight, as much as you’ve loathed your time at ATO, finding a group of girls to wander around greek row on a Saturday night is and essential part to your freshman year plan. You don’t even realize how drunk you’re getting, you follow your sister’s order to never take a cup from a brother, only ever allowing something you or one of your sisters have mixed to travel down your throat. You recall the words of your sisters earlier in the night, ‘bid night means black out ladies.’ You certainly don’t want to black out, but getting a little tipsy won’t hurt anyone. Toward the middle of the night you’re all dancing, body to body in their packed and sweaty basement. You have to admit, you’re actually kind of having fun. When you feel a pair of hands dig into your hips you don’t even flinch, simply moving your hips along to whatever shitty remix is coming from the massive speakers. You swing yourself around to face the boy and wrap your arms around his neck while his stay on your hips. You don’t recognize him, but from what you can see under the dim colored lights he’s cute. Mostly everyone in ATO is. He gives you a grin, letting one of his hands travel closer toward your ass, you don’t mind it, at least it’s not Grayson.

Grayson. Where is that boy? He said he’d meet you inside and it’s been at least an hour and a half. You don’t know why your mind is suddenly wandering off to Grayson. How he must look right now, definitely shirtless with some stupid phrase painted across his chest. How the sweat from the sheer amount of bodies in the house is probably making his tan skin glisten under the LED lights. How his hands are probably wrapped around a red solo cup so perfectly. You don’t even realize you’re biting your lip until your lips are connected with the boy you’re dancing with. You don’t hesitate to kiss him back, suddenly feeling all hot and bothered after picturing Grayson, wherever he is in this house. Snap out of it. Finding Grayson even remotely attractive would go against everything you stand for, your sister would probably smack your head to make sure there is still a brain in there.

You keep drinking, everything practically going down like water at this point. Your speech is slurring and the room spins around you. You leave the boy you’re dancing with for another drink, finding the stairs to the main floor and gripping onto the handle for dear life. You stumble towards where some boy is pouring a mystery liquid into a cup and stop in front of it. Your new drink is swiftly taken from you and placed back on the table and you’re pulled from the crowd of people.

“How much have you had to drink.” It’s Grayson. He looks so good, you think. He’s shouting over the music for you to answer him. “I’m serious y/n, I need a number.”

You try and do the mental math but the only clear thought in your brain at the moment is how good he looks with his shirt off. You start to count on your fingers but lose track at five so you just shrug. He rolls his eyes, knowing that if anything were to happen to you your sister would beat his ass like it was somehow his fault.

“Why do you care, dad.” You mock him as he tries to think about what he should do with you. “I have to drink this much, I’m in a sos-sorotity you know?”

He can’t help but laugh at the way you’re butchering the words coming out of your mouth, the slurring evident on your tongue. “Okay, miss sorotity, follow me.” He grasps your hand, interlocking your fingers and begins to pull you up another flight of stairs that you’ve never been up. This house is massive. He pulls you into a room and locks the door behind him. Even with the room spinning you can make out a few features. A bed with a white comforter that lies low to the ground, a big frame holding what looks like a yearbook page of girls, and a lava lamp.

“Is this your room?” You ask, leaning up against the wall for some stability. He just nods, fiddling with something in his drawers. “I’m not having, s-sex with you Grayson. You can’t make me.”

“I don’t want to have sex with you, sweetheart.” He mumbles back, pulling an article of clothing out of the open drawer. Once you process what he says all you can think is ouch. He’s fucked practically every girl on at this school, are you so repulsive you’re excluded from the campus wide Grayson Dolan body count? “Oh don’t be sad, I meant I’m not having sex with you tonight, y/n. Contrary to your hilarious nickname you came up with for me the first night we met, I don’t fuck drunk girls.”

You realize you may have said ouch out loud, have you been doing that all night? He’s only telling you this because he’s almost one hundred percent certain you’ll remember none of this in the morning. Between the jungle juice and natty seltzers, the only thoughts in your brain tomorrow will be getting to a toilet bowl immediately. He pulls out a shirt and a pair of boxers and tosses them your way. You don’t catch them, just start stripping your shirt off.

“Jesus, y/n, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you were giving me a little strip tease.” He jokes with you, turning his head away from you, letting you keep at least part of your dignity. “Tell me when you’re done.”

“I can’t put them on, Grayson.” You whine, your drunken brain unable to comprehend how to put on a t shirt. You pick it up off the ground and hold it out for him to grab. “Help me.”

He huffs out and takes the shirt from your hands, he should at least be getting paid for babysitting you like he is. He pulls his shirt over your head and forces your arms through their respective holes. As he’s about to walk away from you again, you put and point at your shoes and jeans. He rolls his eyes and pulls both your shoes and socks of both feet before carefully undoing your zipper and shimmying the fabric off your sweaty legs, then pulling the pair of boxers over your hips. He’s usually taking underwear off girls, not putting a second pair on. His breathe hitches at the oddly intimate moment he’s sharing with you, you won’t remember any of it but he doesn’t usually do this. You suddenly feel very tired, almost collapsing on top of Grayson before he steadies your hips. He pulls back his comforter for you to slide under. You sink into his mattress and smile at your need for a bed being fulfilled. The lights shut off and you hear him unlock and open the door.

“Wait!” You call after him, making him stop in his tracks. “Can you stay?”

“You’re one needy chick when you’re drunk, huh?” He asks, walking back into the room and locking the door behind him again. “You’re lucky you’re pretty, you know that?”

You just give him a cheesy smile, not sure if he can even see you in the dark room, but you don’t care. You hear his shoes hit the ground and the bed dips next to you. You can still hear the music coming from the basement, it’s muffled but you can still make out every word. You roll over to face Grayson and he’s already looking at you.

“What’re you looking at?”

“You.”

A goofy grin graces your lips when he says it. If you were sober you’d probably protest, whack his arm or something, but now you don’t care. You let your index finger drag along his bicep, up over his shoulder and neck, around his face and then boop his nose. You can feel his face shift when he smiles.

“You have a pretty smile,” The words leave your lips before you can even think if it’s an okay thing to say. He lets out a short laugh, finding your drunk self’s inability to filter your thoughts amusing. “You’re handsome, Grayson.”

“You’re drunk, y/n.” He teases you. “You need to stop talking before you say something you regret.”

You whine, faking a pout on your lips. “I think it when I’m not drunk too.”

He can’t contain his smile, pushing a piece of hair that has fallen into your face. “We’ll talk in the morning. Goodnight, y/n.”

You wake up with a pounding headache and no recollection of last night past kissing some boy in the basement of ATO. You rub your eyes, shielding them from the light coming in the large window. Large window? This isn’t your dorm, you’re not in your bed and that is certainly not your roommate passed out next to you.

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck.” You whisper repeatedly as you try your best to slip out of the bed you’re currently in. Your shirt and jeans and shoes are strewn across the floor and your in someone else’s shirt and pants. Underwear is still on, two pairs now which is comforting. In your attempt to sneak out of whoever’s room this is you ram your knee into the dresser beside the door. “Goddamnit!”

Before you can continue gathering your things, the figure that you were just sleeping next to takes in a deep breath and let’s out a loud groan, stretching out his arms. “Y/n?”

You know that voice from anywhere, you’re so fucked. “Grayson?”

He sits up and runs his hands through his hair. The contrast of his tan skins against the white comforter is breathtaking. His hair is going in all different directions but he still looks good, how does he always looks good? His silver chain hangs loose around his neck and falls just belong his collar bone. You genuinely believe, at least physically, he is without flaws.

“Surprised?”

“Obviously I am!” You shout back, hurting your own head in the process. “Oh god, oh fuck, did we?”

“God, no, y/n.” He stops your spiralling. You let out a breath of relief that you didn’t even know you were holding. “You think I would have sex with you if I had any doubt that you would remember it in the morning? No, you were hammered and about to keep drinking and I saw where the situation was going so I room you out of it. End of story.”

“So I changed myself?”

“You were meant to, but you started whining like a three year old that you didn’t know how to put a shirt one.” He replies. You’re not really sure how to feel about it, but it’s better than the alternative. “I put your clothes on and put you to bed.”

You let out a sigh, plopping yourself back onto the bed now that you know who it belongs to. You wish you could remember last night, knowing you probably did and said some things in your drunken state that you’re sure you’ll regret if you ever hear of them. Grayson just looks at you, wondering what’s going on in your mind and thinking about what you said to him last night. How you complimented his smile and called him handsome. He couldn’t get it out of his mind. When you turn your body to face him, he scans your features. Hair a mess from both the dingy basement and the hours of sleep you just got, your mascara has collected under your eyes but you still look pretty.

“Stop looking at me like that.” You pull him from his thoughts of you, he didn’t even realize he was staring. He shakes his head and puts on his signature smirk to prevent you from thinking anything other than that he’s an asshole who’s mind is on girls 24/7. He has a reputation to keep and all.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re about to kiss me or something.”

“You’d like that wouldn’t you.”

“Oh fuck off, Dolan.” You scoff at him before he makes the decision to bring himself just inches from your face. So close that you can feel the warmth from his body. Your first instinct is to touch him somewhere, anywhere, but you don’t act on it. “What are you doing?”

“Just getting a better look,” He replies making your eyes roll. Anytime you think you’re letting yourself fall for him he says something gross. “Do you want me to be doing something?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about, y/n.”

It’s silent. There’s nothing to say. Your chest is moving up and down at a rapid pace, you’re not sure why you can’t seem to catch your breath but you can’t. His eyes flicker between your and and your lips. Before you can stop yourself you reach your hand to sit on his cheek and inch your body closer to his. The closer you get the more you can feel his hot breathe on your lips and without a second thought you bring your lips to meet his. Your brain is fuzzy and your body feels like it’s on fire but it feels right.

It doesn’t take long for Grayson to kiss you back, he’s actually shocked you gave in given the way you ignored him for weeks. He rolls over so that he can steady himself with him one arm beside you and the other gripping your waist. You can still barely breathe and he notices. He pulls away from you and give you the biggest shit eating grin. “Can believe you gave in.”

“Shut up before I change my mind.”

#grayson dolan #ethan dolan #the dolan twins #the dolan twins imagine #grayson dolan imagine #ethan dolan imagine #dolan twins

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itssweeter-than-fiction · 4 years

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Take Me Away

Chapter Two: Two Discoveries

Twenty Years Ago

“Now you hold it like this . . . yes, Mary, just like that. And then you just fly it over the sand . . . see? Watch me . . . Just like this. Now you try.”

Grandma’s beachcombing metal detector was like my version of a lightsaber. It was magnetic, appealing to my eyes, and all consuming. How it found mysterious and unexpected items along the sandy shores of Bodega Bay made my six year old heart leap out of my chest and joyfully want to hunt down any undiscovered pirate treasure.

Grandma’s hands which had held mine in place over the detector left, and instantly I felt the heavy weight of the detector fall on me. I stifled a grunt, holding it up to the best of my ability and slowly began to scan it over the wet sand. A crackling sound came from the detector, earning a confused gaze to my grandma who smiled.

“Why does it make that sound?”

“Oh it does that so when it makes a beeping sound you know you’ve found something special!”

“How long will it take to find something special?”

Grandma shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure baby, but we’re bound to find something! I can promise you that!”

Sure enough, twenty minutes later, I found an old coin — actually a nickel dated back to 1972 but for me it was still invigorating. Grandma let me keep it, and to this day I still have that same nickel as a keepsake to remind me of my first discovery in beachcombing. It was the only thing I found that day, but in the weeks, months, and years that followed, I discovered and found more relics with grandma. Part of me was convinced she’d lay some relics of her own out of the beach before I got there . . . it made my young heart swell. But as I grew older and we visited other beaches around California, I found many of my own tiny treasures.

Summer — Four Months Earlier

After my nap, I wound up taking grandma’s detector down with me to the lobby where Kimmy and the rest of our tour group were meeting for our talk. I’d changed into a pair of high-waisted jean shorts, and navy tank top while clutching the detector close to me. Some of the people in the group looked at me oddly, but I smiled back, finding a seat in the front as Kimmy pulled out a pile of papers which she started to hand around.

“Since Lido Di Camaiore is more known as a vacation town for locals, I thought you’d like some help in determining which places to visit, what events I’ll be leading during our stay here, as well as some great restaurants to eat at! For now, I’d like to leave you to yourselves the rest of the evening by enjoying the food here at Casa Reale di Lido and the beach. Might I suggest walking the pier at sunset? It really is quite the view!”

I looked over the paper as it was handed to me and passed on the rest. Below, Kimmy had perfectly typed out our schedule. Tomorrow on we had may things planned. Thankfully they were all optional but you were required to attend at least one a day. From the looks of it, I would be spending the majority of my time on the schedule and hopefully on the way, make a couple of new friends.

Folks started pouring away. Some filtered into the bar and restaurant scene, while others began their exodus out to the beach or to walk the small strip of shops downtown. Standing from the chair I was sitting in, I clutched my detector close to my chest and followed those who were headed outside.

Kimmy was right. The view was stunning.

The water was blue — clear like Lake Tahoe. It lapped up onto the soothing sandy shores with a calming swooshing sound. Children squealed in delight as they raced up and down the shore after another. Umbrellas lined another parallel to another and went all the way down the beach, blending in with the multiple other hotels which lined the shore. Overhead, the sun was beginning it’s descent down from the sky, creating a blend of colors to take over. From oranges, pinks, blue, reds, yellows, even purples, I felt like I was immersed in a gorgeous water color painting. The colors reflected from the water and the suns glinting gave it more shine.

I gazed far down the beach, a hand covered over my forehead to shield the bright light from my eyes. There was a small area less crowded further down and I felt it was the perfect spot to start my excursion. Despite this, I turned on my detector and began to hover it just above the sand as I began walking. The sand squished between my toes, the dampness of it making them curl.

As I passed under the long boardwalk, fewer and fewer people strayed my way. The sun was setting lower in the sky, the breeze in the air sightly more chilly. I regretted not bringing a sweater but pressed on, determined to find something interesting. The detector had fooled me a few times, where it only came up with old fishing gear or broken pieces of metal and other debris which must have sunken into the sand from prior people lounging on the sand. I was beginning to grow a little agitated, disappointed that my first time outside of the U.S. had resulted in zero findings or discoveries.

It was as I was ready to give up that I noticed another figure in close proximity to me with another detector. Just as mine went off, I heard theirs. They looked up and my breath caught in my throat.

It was Aaron again.

For a brief moment, I was unsure wether to stand still while staring at him or just follow the sign in which my detector was screaming at me to go in. I went with the latter only to notice that seconds later, Aaron was following closely behind. My heart felt lodged in my throat to the point I believed I was going to throw up, but the nausea passed on, while the drive to find the hidden treasure under the sand grew.

I was getting closer to the shore, my detector a constant long beep sound, signaling I was just above where the object lay. I dropped the detector on the sand, letting my knees soak into the cool ground as I swiftly began to pull the wet sand back. Nearby, I noticed Aaron had fallen to his knees as well, throwing sand to and fro as we both hunted what we were looking for.

Ironic how hot celebrity crushes enjoy the same activities as you do... okay that just had to be a coincidence.

We were drawing closer to another, our breaths seemingly corresponding together as the distance between our bodies closed. Soon enough both of the holes we had dug, converged together, creating a small ravine of sand and sunken water. I dig faster, looking up just barely as Aaron looked at me.

I smiled, my cheeks heating up. As I opened my mouth to say hello, I was knocked down with forceful words that took the wind out of me.

“Don’t say it. I was closer, this is mine. Whatever it is, it’s being sold by myself to the nearest pawn shop or museum.”

I raised a brow. “Uh, excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said matter of factly. “Now go on. Find another place.”

“But don’t you have enough money already?”

“What?” He looked puzzled.

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t try that reverse psychology shit on me. I know who you are.”

Aaron’s smug look fell. For a brief couple seconds he stopped everything he was doing as I continued digging away. It wasn’t until I was screaming that I’d found something that he got back to digging and trying to peel away what I had found from my hands.

I stood up doing a jig. Some people on the beach gazed at us awkwardly as they passed by. I was holding a handful of sand with whatever I had found inside it. From the looks of it, an old chain was hanging partially out, so it had to be a necklace or bracelet. Grabbing my detector, I raced over to the shore, cleaning the sand off of my hand and the object. Aaron was right behind me, leaning over my shoulder as we both ogled at what I held.

I was old and rusted. Without pinpointing it, I felt that it had to be almost a hundred years old . . . possibly older. As I held the chain in my hand, I brushed aside the residue sand over the coin like piece that hung at the bottom. A face on the outer side of the object was crowned in what seemed to be a circle of olives or leaves. A large bulbous nose was the striking feature of the person who seemed to be a woman. The art was beautifully etched into the old element which I guessed was silver, possibly bronze.

“Wow,” I said in awe. It was quite the discovery.

Aaron’s breath hit the back of my neck and I swung around, my fist coming into contact with his chest. He staggered back a few feet, gasping for air as he clutched his chest. Eyes bulging, his face turned read.

“What the hell was the for?!” He cried.

“Being too close! Jesus, do you know anything about personal space?”

Gaining his ground, he stood straighter, coughing briefly. “I was just trying to see what you found,” he said.

“Well don’t get so close!”

“Can I see the necklace?” He asked this time quieter. Holding out his hand palm faced up, I glanced down to it, wondering for a brief moment what it would feel like to put my hand in his.

I let the thought delete itself before I could and looked back up into his eyes, glaring.

“Like hell.”

“Hey, lady. Great, thanks for helping me find the necklace, but I really gotta go. It’s getting late and I have dinner plans.”

“First of all, my name is not “Lady”. It’s Mary. And second of all, I touched the necklace first, which means I actually found it first. You were digging too far away!”

He rolled his eyes. “God, you’re stubborn . . . Okay, Mary. May I please have the necklace? What do you want for it?” He delved his hand into his pocket and brought out his wallet. Looking inside, he waded through some bills. “I got a hundred and sixty bucks in here plus fifty euros. I’ll give you it all for the necklace.”

He held up the wads of cash and put it in front of my face.

In my best impression of Randy from American Idol, I said, “It’s a no from my dawg.”

“Alright, I’ve had enough of this shit,” Aaron said his voice growing agitated. “Give me the necklace. Now.”

“No.”

“Please.”

“Again, nah dawg.”

He looked away briefly, biting his lip. I could only guess what he was thinking in his head. But before I could, he lunged towards me and yanked the necklace out of my hand.

“What the hell!?” I yelled. I attempted to launch myself at him.

“Uh, miss, is this man bothering you?” A voice caught both Aaron’s and my attention and we turned around to see an older couple ten feet away. The man and woman were familiar — both on the same tour as me. The man wore a tan straw fedora while his wife wore a visor. He stared at Aaron and I before Aaron straightened up and wrapped his arm around my waist. I pushed him off.

“This man is in fact bothering me,” I said. “He has something of mine and won’t give it back.”

The man looked at Aaron.

“Is that true?” He asked him.

Aaron stuttered and I felt the corners of my lips turn up, only to have them frown as he spoke the words:

“Not at all, sir! You caught us in the middle of our role play! You see, we’re both prepping for this show we’re in, and we wanted to authentically go over a few scenes on the beach . . . cause that’s where the show takes place.”

The man and his wife seemed confused.

“You were on the bus with us earlier,” the wife said pointing at me, then turned to Aaron. “But you weren’t.”

“I had an earlier flight! Actually got in a day early,” Aaron easily lied while chuckling. “This ray of sunshine wanted the full experience though.”

I gritted my teeth. He was convincing them. To a degree.

“Well,” the man said awkwardly, “continue along I guess. We’ll see you both tomorrow for the first tour event.”

Aaron sighed. “Unfortunately I won’t be able to make it tomorrow. I have a Zoom call meeting all day for an upcoming fundraiser back in New York. I’m part of the party planning committee and just so happen to be the guest speaker too.” He held out his hand for them to both shake. “Aaron Tveit, nice to meet you . . .”

Sydney and Lynn,” the man said trying to smile. “No wonder you looked a tad familiar. You were in that TV show we watched. . . the one about the undercover FBI?”

“Graceland,” Aaron said with a grin, “glad you liked it!”

“I didn’t say we did,” Sydney said as he took Lynn’s hand in his. Aaron’s smile fell and I tried to hold in a laugh.

“See you tomorrow . . .”

“Mary!” I replied happily. Lynn smiled at me as her and Sydney turned to head back towards the hotel. Meanwhile Aaron and I stood side by side watching them grow smaller until they were eventually out of sight. The minute that happened, I turned on him and pounced.

“GIVE. IT. BACK! I found it first!” I said, brows knitting together. I grabbed it from his hands. “Finders Keepers. Besides, all of us could read through that joke of a lie you told. Instead of Broadway’s Boyfriend you should be crowned Broadway Brat!”

Aaron’s eyes widened in shock, then he scowled.

“Broadway Brat, that sounds so very clever.”

“Do you like Broadway Bitch better?”

He took a step back, shocked. Opening his mouth he attempted to speak but I cut him off.

“You know I thought this was going to be a super awesome part of the trip, after I recognized you earlier in the elevator. I was totally going to praise you on all your credits and Tony Award — WAIT YOU DON’T HAVE A TONY AWARD, HA! — and say that you’re a top-notch actor, but after this conversation and meeting, I’m gonna cop out of that. In fact, what I’d like to say is you’re a class one dickwad and I hope you never get a Tony Award in your life."

That shut him up. I’d caught him off guard for sure, especially with the Tony Award part. With a winning smile, I stowed the necklace away in my purse.

“Well, it’s been a downright tragedy meeting you . . . I guess people are right when they meet celebrities!” I patted my purse, showing off how thoroughly I packed the necklace. Aaron glared at me as I took my detector and switched it off, picking up my flip flops before beginning the long walk back to the hotel.

“Have a nice vacation!” I shouted not bothering to look behind me. I could tell he was watching me go; hands snug deep in his khaki pockets, and his polo shirt blowing just the perfect amount to sweep over his abs. Did I get a small peek before leaving him? You bet. Despite him being a dick, I would cherish the sight of those abs for the rest of my non-menopausal life.

When I got back to my hotel room, I put the necklace on my neck, letting it dangle between my collarbones. I looked at myself in the mirror, noting the stains of water and sand on my clothes. As I shredded the clothing off, I hopped in the shower, lathering myself in soap. I’d go down to the bar for a couple drinks later. But as I rinsed the shampoo and conditioner out of my hair I couldn’t shake the fact that I’d made two very important discoveries today:

One was that I’d found a necklace. And I had to figure out what it was. That would be my main goal for the trip. And two: Aaron Tveit was not the man I thought he was . . . or would be.

__________

Taglist:

#Aaron Tveit #aaron tveit imagine #aaron tveit au #aaron tveit fanfiction #aaron tveit fanfic #hollybio #holly mae #Holly's writing #holly's masterlist

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crocodileniall · 4 years

Text

Part 9

“I couldn’t sleep,” Quinn admitted quietly. “So I came in early. What kind of person goes in to work when they can’t sleep? I’m an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot,” Niall chuckled. “I’m...” he trailed off. “I’m going to come pick you up. We can go for a drive. Grab something to eat.”

“No it’s okay,” Quinn protested weakly. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m sure you have a ton of shit to do today.”

“I don’t,” Niall replied firmly, not taking no for an answer. “I have the day off.”

catch up here

warnings: NSFW, swearing, alcohol use (brief), lil bit of angst ;)

♡ ♡

It was a particularly bad day. One of those days where Quinn just knew she shouldn’t have gotten out of bed. She could attribute it to the fact that she didn’t sleep. Or the fact that she’d hardly talked to Niall in a week. Or maybe it was the fact that her mother had left her four voicemails throughout the night which resulted in her unable to sleep.

Whatever it was, there was something in the air. It was a storm cloud. Quinn could practically see it as she walked into work. She was early because she tossed and turned the whole night, giving up around five.

Her boss was waiting for her, a frown on her face which never was a good sign. Quinn barely got a breath out before her boss jumped on her about an article that wasn’t done. And Quinn was finding herself confused because obviously she can’t write an article if she doesn’t know about it that’s kind of like philosophy. Philosophy is kind of like one of the pillars for which the natural history museum was built on.

Quinn was angry. Not because she was given a deadline. She could meet the deadline. Quinn was angry because it wasn’t her fault and somehow when things went to shit they were not her boss’s fault, they were Quinn’s. Quinn hated it.

It had her sitting at her desk ready to cry, ready to pull her hair out because it wasn’t fair to be this stressed out and angry about a job she only half liked. Quinn was suddenly angry at herself for in this moment of deep frustration she wanted nothing more than to hear Niall’s voice.

“Fuck,” Quinn breathed out, feeling her eyes sting. She would not cry in her office. She wouldn’t. “This day is so stupid,” she mumbled, picking up her phone.

Her fingers moved on their own, dialing Niall’s number. She pressed the phone to her ear, knee bouncing under her desk. She clutched her cup of coffee in her other hand, lip tucked between her teeth.

On the last ring, Niall picked up, voice rough and scratchy. “What’s up,” he whispered.

Quinn was angry with herself all over again because she’d woken him up and he didn’t deserve that. For her to be waking him up at the smallest inconvenience. “Sorry were you sleeping,” Quinn answered after a moment.

“Yeah I was,” Niall cleared his throat. “Fuck it’s early.”

“I’m sorry,” Quinn repeated. Her voice cracked and she knew he could hear it. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for his response.

“What’s going on?” Niall asked softly. “Talk t’me.”

“I hate it here,” Quinn rushed out, clenching her fist. “I hate it here. Everything is my fault. All the time and I fuck-“ Quinn cut off with a strangled groan. “I hate it,” she whispered.

“Are ya at work?” Niall asked. “Where are you?”

“I’m at work,” Quinn told him.

“Why?” He asked though she could hear shuffling on his end.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Quinn admitted quietly. “So I came in early. What kind of person goes in to work when they can’t sleep? I’m an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot,” Niall chuckled. “I’m...” he trailed off. “I’m going to come pick you up. We can go for a drive. Grab something to eat.”

“No it’s okay,” Quinn protested weakly. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m sure you have a ton of shit to do today.”

“I don’t,” Niall replied firmly, not taking no for an answer. “I have the day off.”

The thought of getting the whole day with Niall was so relieving. Quinn took a deep breath, nodding her head. “Okay.”

“I’ll be there in a few,” Niall told her. “Don’t do anything rash, okay?”

“Okay,” Quinn chuckled weakly. “I won’t.”

Quinn tossed her phone on the desk and let out a sigh. She rubbed her eyes and shook her head. Why would Quinn do something rash. That wasn’t like her. At all.

But she just kept having these thoughts about sticking it to her boss. Storming into her office and demanding the respect she deserved. Or just quitting. No two weeks notice just a fuck over.

Nothing rash, Quinn repeated in her mind. She shoved her laptop into her work bag and sat back in her chair. She typed out the most polite, most passive aggressive email she could to her boss.

She let her know she’d be out of office all day and will handle her obligations in a timely manor but would like to not be contacted unless absolutely necessary. Quinn also included that she wouldn’t be able to meet the deadline she was given this morning and would explain it to the higher ups if needed. Though it would probably be her fault considering Quinn hadn’t even heard of the assignment which required at least a few hours of research and consulting among departments.

Quinn felt a little bit of pride, sending the email. She didn’t really have the authority to say any of that but it wouldn’t stop her from saying it. Quinn shut her office light off and closed the door behind her.

As she took the steps, Quinn saw Niall pull up to the curb. She felt a new sense of relief. And she even promised herself she would not cry when she saw him. She wouldn’t.

Quinn opened the door, climbing in. She collapsed against the seat, eyes closing. “Don’t look at me.”

“Why?” Niall mused, hand settling on her thigh.

“Because I’ll fuckin cry,” Quinn whispered, fingers winding into his. “And I don’t want to cry right now.”

“What happened?” Niall asked softly. “Quinnie.”

“So much,” Quinn shook her head, opening her eyes. “I slept maybe three hours last night. My mum kept calling. Over and over.”

“What did she want?” Niall asked.

“I don’t know,” Quinn shrugged. She took a deep breath. “Her first voicemail was silent. Her second voicemail was her just asking a bunch of questions. I think she was drunk. I don’t know.”

“Weird,” Niall murmured. “What else happened?”

“My boss keeps trying to push things on me that she forgot to do,” Quinn shook her head. “Like apparently there was a special issue of our newsletter that needed done like last night and she caught me as soon as I came in giving me shit.” She let out a groan. “I didn’t know anything about it. Fuck I was in Tring for how long? They didn’t CC me in any emails so how the fuck was I supposed to know!”

“You weren’t,” Niall agreed. “And it wasn’t your fault that you didn’t know.”

“Why does it feel like it is?” Quinn whispered, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I do my absolute best and even on my best day she makes me feel like shit. For things she didn’t do.”

“It isn’t fair to you,” Niall commented. “To always be her scape goat. It seems like she’s abusing her power.”

“I just don’t want to go above her,” Quinn shrugged. “And like complain. It’ll seem like I can’t handle it.”

“But obviously you can,” Niall argued. “If even after getting shit thrown at ya you still first of all, show up to work and second of all do your job well.”

“I might be able to like talk to HR or something,” Quinn shrugged. “I dunno.”

“I think you should,” Niall nodded. “And remember if-“

“If things get physical you have the best representation,” Quinn cut him off, turning to look at him for the first time with a smile.

Niall smiled back at her, a chuckle escaping his lips. “See your catching on. The law can’t touch you as long as I’m here.”

“That’s reassuring,” Quinn agreed. “Though it might be an abuse of your power.”

“Might be,” Niall agreed. “But as your lawyer that wouldn’t be any of your worry.”

“Okay,” Quinn laughed. “Can I have boyfriend Niall back?”

“What the fuck you need him for?” Niall asked, mock indignant.

“Because I want to kiss my boyfriend not my lawyer,” Quinn laughed, rubbing her hands over her face. “Jesus.”

Niall laughed, leaning towards her. He kissed her chastely on the lips. “Kissing your lawyer might be kind of fun, though.”

“Well I don’t know how to tell you this,” Quinn began slowly. “Lewis is my lawyer. Not you.”

Niall breathed out a laugh, head dropping. “Fucking hell.”

“I’m sorry,” Quinn shook her head. “He convinced me last weekend at the event. There would be a fair amount of bias towards me on your end. And obviously when I marry you and kill you for insurance money you won’t be able to represent me then,” she shrugged. “It’s best for all of us if he represents me.”

“I tell ya you’ve been spending entirely too much time with him,” Niall laughed, pulling her in for a gentle kiss. “And never talk about Lewis while we’re kissing.”

Quinn breathed out a laugh, kissing him again. Niall hummed against her lips, fingers brushing through her hair. “Missed this face,” he murmured, thumbing at her jaw.

Quinn let out a breath, eyes fluttering shut and then open again. “Niall,” she whispered.

“What lover,” Niall whispered, lips ghosting over hers. He kissed her softly.

“Mmm fuck,” she mumbled, eyes squeezing shut. “I’m gonna say it.”

“Say what?” Niall asked, pulling away to look her in the eyes.

“I love you,” Quinn whispered, eyes stinging. She’d gotten a good look at him and the emotions were rushing over her.

Niall didn’t give her a second to even let a tear fall. He surged forward, kissing her with a force that had her clutching his shoulder for balance. It was all tongue and teeth and emotion that made Quinn want to burst into tears right on the spot.

Niall pulled away, wiping her eyes with his thumb. “Do ya really?” He asked softly. “Like really really. Not just-“

“If I didn’t do you think I’d be crying?” Quinn cut him off, laughing wetly.

“I don’t know,” Niall chuckled. “Maybe you’re crying because you feel so awful saying it because it isn’t true.”

Quinn sniffed, wiping her eyes on the back of her sleeve. She cleared her throat, shaking her head. “Or maybe I’m crying because you’re the first man I’ve ever said it to and it makes me kind of emotional because I never learned how to say that word when I was a child.”

Niall hummed, nodding his head. He breathed out a chuckle, scratching at his jaw. “I’d say that’s a similar feeling I have.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner,” Quinn apologized. “And I’m probably still not good at saying it. Even if I don’t say it a lot. I do. Love you.”

“That’s okay,” Niall shook his head. “Don’t apologize, lover. It’s okay. Really.”

“So uh...” Quinn trailed off. “Are ya hungry?”

“Mm yeah,” Niall nodded. “I could eat,” he said though his eyes were settled a little south of her eyes.

Quinn’s cheeks flushed, she pushed him gently. “Food. Eat food.”

“Oh food,” he repeated, surprised. “Then no I’m actually not hungry.”

Quinn rolled her eyes, sitting back in her seat. “Well I’m hungry. I’d appreciate it if we got some food before you take me to bed so I don’t cramp.”

“If you insist,” Niall shook his head, starting the car. “But I’m going to be honest, this is a bit weird of me to do for a client. I’m breaking a lot of lawyer ethics and morals.”

“Shut up,” Quinn laughed. “Niall if you can’t be my lawyer and my boyfriend I will absolutely ask Lewis to be my representation.”

“Honestly it might be for the best,” Niall nodded, chuckling. “I don’t think I can handle it and I just find myself thinking of a lot inappropriate things when I consider you as a client.”

Quinn shook her head at him, settling into her seat. She’d finally taken in Niall’s state. He was in a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. He had ruffled hair and tired eyes. His face was pale, chin covered with a two day scruff.

It made Quinn’s heart ache a little to see him like this in a way that he never presents himself. It’s always cleanly shaven, styled hair- or at least brushed hair.

“You really jumped right out of bed this morning,” Quinn commented, looking him up and down.

“Of course,” Niall smiled, eyes focused on the road. “When my best client calls I’m up and out. No questions asked.”

Quinn rolled her eyes, biting back a smile. She fished her phone out of her pocket. “That’s it I’m calling Lewis I cant take it.”

“Obviously I was joking!” Niall exclaimed, snatching her phone from her hands. He tossed her phone into the back seat. “I’m not ready to give you up.”

“Oh come on Niall,” Quinn groaned, laughing. She twisted in her seat to look for her phone. “I was obviously joking too I don’t even have his phone number.”

Niall’s boisterous laugh rang out in the silence of the car. Quinn couldn’t help but laugh with him, grabbing her phone off of the floor. “You ever fucking throw my phone like that again you’ll be the one who needs a lawyer,” she muttered, settling back into her seat.

“You’re all talk,” Niall shook his head, sparing her a glance. “Besides I’m not scared. I know how to make you moan.”

“There was no need,” Quinn shook her head, a begrudging smile on her face. She rubbed her forehead, looking out the window. “No need to turn this into a sex thing.”

“I haven’t had ya in ages,” Niall murmured. “Just wanted to make it explicitly clear that I want ya bad. Like I’d take ya in this car right now.”

“And I’m asking you to not do that,” Quinn laughed, looking out the window as the city passed them by. “Where are we going?”

“How pissed would you be if I said Tring?” Niall asked, an amused smile on his face. Quinn narrowed her eyes at him and he laughed. “It’s a restaurant in Camden. Best waffles. Hands down.”

Quinn hummed, nodding. “If you say they’re the best then they must be.”

“Oh they are,” Niall nodded, voice serious.

It wasn’t long before they were sitting across from each other at a diner the size of a shoebox. Niall was explaining what had happened this week and why he was so absent. He apologized over and over again but Quinn absolutely wouldn’t hear it.

Niall ordered blueberry pancakes and Quinn got vanilla cinnamon sugar. She had to agree they were incredible waffles. It lead Quinn to believe that he was right about everything. Including that she was worthy of his love even if it was hard.

Quinn ordered her second coffee of the day and sipped it slowly. She knew no amount of coffee would keep her awake. The moment her head hits the pillow, she’ll be fast asleep.

Niall’s phone rang many times during their breakfast but he silenced it, shoving it in his sweatshirt pocket. Quinn insisted that he took it but he shook his head. In a soft voice, he murmured, “I’m with you right now. I don’t want to think about anything but you.”

Quinn’s cheeks ached as she smiled. “It could be important, though.”

Niall shook his head, eyes meeting hers from across the table. “There’s nothing more important.”

And what Quinn didn’t know was that before she called he didn’t have the day off. He actually had a lot to do that required him to be in many different places at once. But there wasn’t really wasn’t anything more important. Quinn needed him and he could see that. He needed her too.

Their stomach were full by the time they left. Quinn had ate her body mass in fruit and Niall only encouraged her, winking as she bit into a pineapple. “Go on, lover. Eat some more,” he’d said.

Quinn groaned, rolling her eyes. She shifted in her seat because it was absolutely embarrassing the effect he had on her.

Niall drove with his hand on her thigh. Quinn felt the heat through his hand. It sent a wave of arousal through her that she couldn’t quite explain. Niall played the radio on the oldies station and it reminded her of home just a tiny bit. The home in Ireland that she desperately clung to as a child.

The drive back to his flat felt like forever and sleep was calling for her at the most inconvenient of times. She fought it hard, eyes sliding along the building they passed. She wondered if the other versions of herself in other universes were as happy as she was now.

The thought escaped her as he parked the car. Quinn hated driving to his flat because there was never anywhere to park. Somehow Niall always got a spot right in front of the door.

Quinn got out, shouldering her work bag only for Niall to take it from her. He shook his head, throwing an arm over her shoulder. He pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “Do you feel better?” He asked her.

“I do,” Quinn nodded. “You’re good at it.”

“At what?” Niall mused, pulling the front door open for her.

“Making me feel better,” Quinn told him, shrugging her shoulders. “It’s a little scary.”

“Yeah it is scary when you get mad,” Niall agreed.

“That wasn’t what I was talking about,” Quinn muttered, shoving him gently.

“Quinn I thought you were gonna kill someone,” Niall laughed. “It’s not enough that you get mad you get so emotional and I can’t tell you how many crimes of passion happen in London every day.”

“Enough of the lawyer talk,” Quinn groaned, slumping against the elevator wall. “I am not your client I’m your girlfriend and if you think that I’d be capable of murder I think we need to have a very serious chat.”

“If you think we’re chatting when we get inside you’re sorely mistaken,” Niall shook his head, staring down at her.

“I really do feel like just unpacking my whole entire childhood,” Quinn shook her head. “And then after that we can figure out why I can’t stand up to my fucking boss. Together,” she had an adoring smile on her face. “That’s what makes this so special. We can jut talk for hours and hours about everything.”

Niall shook his head. The elevator doors opened and he let out a grunt. “I’m sorry Quinn that’s not what’s going to happen.”

“Then what’s going to happen?” Quinn asked, leaning against the wall as he found his keys.

“What’s going to happen,” Niall whispered, pulling his keys out of his pocket. “Is I’m going to open this door and I’m going to absolutely wreck your shit.”

“Please tell me more,” Quinn encouraged, looking him up and down.

Niall breathed out a laugh, eyes slipping shut for a moment. “We’re both tired so I’m just gonna give it to ya good and we’re both goin to sleep. But just you fucking wait until we wake up.”

“Sounds to me like you’re all talk,” Quinn murmured. Niall unlocked the front door, pushing it open.

But Quinn knew that he wasn’t. He was usually pretty honest considering all the shit he said. That didn’t stop Quinn from pushing his buttons just a little.

When Niall got Quinn into the bedroom he kissed her teasingly, lips barely brushing together. He pulled away, taking his time to unbutton her blouse. “This is meticulously work,” he murmured, looking from his hands to her eyes.

“Of course,” Quinn agreed. “Though some would argue you’re going so slow because you don’t know what the fuck to do with me. A woman in your bed? You haven’t got a clue.”

Niall let out a laugh, nodding his head slowly. “Alright if that’s the game you want to play fine. I’ll play,” he shrugged. In one swift motion, Niall tore her blouse apart. Buttons ricocheted around the room.

Quinn covered her eyes with her hands, laughing. “Oh my god, Niall. This was like my favorite shirt.”

“Well,” Niall shook his head, roughly pulling her pants down to her ankles. “You drove me to it and I won’t apologize.”

Quinn was still laughing when he finally kissed her again. This time, with tongue and passion and it shut her up for good. Niall’s hands were between her legs, brushing over her spot and it made her moan into his mouth.

The things Niall’s fingers could make her do were ungodly and Quinn loved every minute of it. Niall gave it to her good, panting against her neck. He held her hands above her head and sucked at her neck.

Quinn gasped his name, back arching off the bed. She writhed, eyes pinching shut. Niall moaned against her neck whispering nothing but filth into her ear. Their orgasms washed over them at the same time. Quinn moaned loud, legs wrapping around his hips. Niall grunted, head dropping.

After a moment, Niall pulled out, collapsing on the bed beside her. He tossed the condom in the trash and settled into bed, eyes slipping shut. Quinn was breathless, chest heaving. “Fuck,” she breathed out.

“What was that you were saying earlier?” Niall asked, head rolling to the side to look at her. “About me not know what to do with ya.”

Quinn chuckled, opening her eyes to look at him. She shrugged her shoulders and licked her lips. “I don’t recall.”

“Right,” Niall chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re full of shit.”

“I suppose I am,” Quinn agreed, sitting up. Niall grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back down. Quinn laughed, twisting in his arms. “I need to get up.”

“Stay here,” Niall mumbled, nose brushing against her jaw. He placed a kiss to the soft skin below her jaw.

“I’ll be right back,” Quinn laughed, peeling his arms from her waist. She leaned down to grab her underwear off the floor, pulling them on.

Niall let out a groan as she tugged a t-shirt on. Quinn shook her head, glancing over her shoulder at him as she walked toward the bathroom.

When Quinn came back, Niall had turned the TV on. He was laying there, eyelids heavy. Quinn turned the lights off, crawling into bed. Niall wrapped his arm around her, kissing her on the forehead.

“Do you ever just want to run away?” Quinn asked, voice barely a whisper.

Niall hummed, running his fingers through her hair. “Sometimes.”

“Where would you go?” Quinn asked, looking up at him through her eyelashes.

Niall thought about it for a moment, eyes shifting down to look at her. He breathed out a sigh, shaking his head. “I dunno maybe Ireland.”

“Ireland?” Quinn mumbled, eyebrows wrinkling.

Niall smiled, smoothing out the crinkles on her face with his thumb. “Not like home,” he said. “Like the coast. Where there’s absolutely nothing for miles and miles. And it’s a little cold and rainy but the ocean...” he trailed off, head resting against the headboard. “The ocean just makes it all okay.”

“That’s sounds nice,” Quinn murmured, eyes fluttering. “Am I there?”

“Oh no,” Niall shook his head. “I don’t believe you’d every willingly go to Ireland. Any part of it.”

Quinn laughed, resting her head on his chest. “I’d go with you. As long as we didn’t go home home.”

“Alright then I guess you can be there,” Niall nodded, smoothing her hair out. “Where would you go.”

Quinn breathed out a sigh, eyes slipping shut. “I think maybe France. Just a busy city, lots of people. No one knows us. And we just drink wine and,” she hummed. “It’s nice.”

“Sounds nice,” Niall agreed. “Sounds a bit like you’re reliving your uni trip.”

“Maybe,” Quinn chuckled. “It was fun. Have you ever been to France?”

“I can’t say that I have,” Niall responded softly.

“It’s amazing,” Quinn murmured. “Just wine and sex and amazing food.”

“My three favorite things,” Niall chuckled. “I’m sold. Let’s go.”

Quinn laughed, rolling off of him and onto her pillow. She tugged the duvet up to her shoulders and smiled up at him. Niall sighed, rolling onto his side to face her. “Now why did ya move so far away.”

“I’m about to fall asleep,” Quinn mumbled, though Niall slid his arms around her waist.

“So,” he mumbled, brushing the hair from her eyes. “God Quinnie. I just look at ya and I’m like fuck I can’t believe it.”

Quinn breathed out a laugh, closing her eyes. “Niall,” she whined.

“Mmm sorry lover,” he whispered.

“Go to sleep you’re talking absolutely madness,” Quinn mumbled, eyes closing as his fingertips slid up her back.

“You go to sleep,” Niall murmured.

Quinn let out one final sigh and Niall knew she’d fallen asleep. He smiled, adjusting the duvet to cover her shoulders. Niall sat up, grabbing his phone from the bedside table. He tugged his sweatpants on and lumbered into the living room.

He had multiple missed calls and messages from various people at work. He sat down on the sofa, taking a deep breath. Niall dialed Richard’s number and pressed the phone to his ear.

“Niall,” Richard answered. “Marie told me you’d gone AWOL this morning. I was just touching base.”

“Yeah I’m really sorry,” Niall answered slowly. “There was a kind of emergency. Something personal came up.”

“I’m really sorry to hear that,” Richard responded, not skipping a beat. “Do you need some time off or...”

“No no,” Niall shook his head. “Just the rest of the day. If possible.”

“Of course,” Richard replied. “I wanted to talk to you about partnering. Do you have a moment?”

“I- yeah,” Niall nodded, rolling his bottom lip between his fingers.

“We are holding formal interviews next week in front of a panel,” Richard told him. “It‘s quite unusual to do it this way but the board members are having trouble agreeing unanimously.”

“Oh okay,” Niall nodded.

“My assistant will email Marie and they’ll coordinate everything. All you have to do is show up and be yourself. I must say that your votes are high,” Richard told him. “And you obviously have my endorsement. I think it will go very well.”

“That sounds great,” Niall agreed. “I was just wondering if making partner I’d have a lighter schedule?” Niall asked. “It’s not that I can’t handle it I just-“ he cut off with a sigh. “I’ve been really tired lately and it seems like Connor’s been dumping a lot of shit on us last second. And it’s not difficult by any means. It’s just like we don’t have a lot of time to do it and it’s been kind of hard.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Richard hummed. “I wasn’t aware of the load Connor’s been giving you guys but I’ll definitely talk to him about it. As for partner, you will have a much lighter schedule and a lot of freedom to make it as you choose.”

“Thank you,” Niall breathed out. “I really appreciate it. Honest.”

“No problem,” Richard chuckled. “Oh and Elise has been buggin me about it. She wants to have you and Quinn over for dinner sometime this month. Just let me know a day that works.”

“I will,” Niall nodded. “I’ll talk to Quinn and let you know.”

“Alright, Niall. I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Bright and early.”

“Bright and early,” Niall echoed with a smile.

Niall ambled back into his room, relief settling over him. Quinn was still fast asleep and niall knew he’d be right behind her.

///

Quinn awoke a few hours later to her phone buzzing beside her ear. She let out a groan, rolling over. She blinked the sleep from her eyes and sighed, picking her phone up. It was Brigid.

“Fuck,” Quinn breathed out, pressing the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

“Quinn,” Brigid answered. “What are you doing.”

“I just woke up,” Quinn mumbled. “What do you need.”

“You just woke up?” She asked. “Isn’t it the afternoon?”

Quinn fully sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Yes. What do you need.”

“I was calling about last night,” Brigid sighed. “I wanted to apologize. Your father and I got into a fight and things got kind of messy.”

Quinn pushed her fingers through her hair, taking a calming breath. “What’s going on?”

“He’s been working so much,” Brigid explained. “And I’ve been lonely. I tried to talk to him but things got all turned around. I dunno.”

“I’m sorry,” Quinn mumbled. That’s when Niall rolled over, eyes bleary. He wrapped his arms around her leg, cheek resting on her thigh. Quinn ran her fingers through his hair, eyes flicking down to meet his. Niall smiled at her, cheeks red from sleep.

“I’m sorry that I called you so many times,” Brigid apologized. “I drank so much that I can barely remember what happened.”

“It’s okay,” Quinn nodded. “I have t’go though.”

“Okay,” Brigid responded quietly. “We’ll talk soon.”

“Bye,” Quinn breathed out before hanging up. She tossed her phone on the bed and sat back, eyes slipping shut.

“Everything alright,” Niall asked, voice soft.

Quinn nodded, feeling the curl of his fingers against her leg. She let out a sigh, fingers moving through his hair. “Just a fight me mum and da’ had. Not a big deal.”

“Are ya sure?” Niall asked.

“I dunno,” Quinn shrugged, looking down at him. “For some reason my mum was piss drunk on a Wednesday night? She said she’s been so lonely what the fuck does that even mean?”

“Maybe that she’s lonely,” Niall offered.

“Or that she’s got a boyfriend and my dad found out,” Quinn concluded, voice quiet. “No one handles loneliness quite like Brigid.”

Niall dropped a kiss to Quinn’s thigh, eyes closing. Quinn breathed out a sigh. It wasn’t until his fingers brushed against her pantie-clad center that Quinn knew what he was doing. “Niall,” she warned though there was no heat behind her words.

“What’s up?” Niall mumbled, eyes opening to look up at her. There was a smile tugging on the corner of his pink lips that Quinn could see. He wasn’t slick though he probably wasn’t trying to be.

Quinn smiled at him, shaking her head. “Honestly. We just woke up.”

“I know,” Niall mumbled, fingers stroking the inside of her thigh. “But I woke up hard as fuck and now that I’m lookin at ya...”

A laugh rumbled out of Quinn’s chest despite her best efforts not to entertain his ideas. The feeling of his fingertips on her skin always lit a fire within her. Quinn let her eyes slip shut for a moment. Her stomach growled. “I’m hungry.”

“Me too,” Niall agreed, kissing her thigh.

“For food,” Quinn clarified, shaking her head. “Jesus Niall why must I always say that.”

Niall laughed, finally letting her leg go to roll over. Quinn immediately felt the absence and longed for his touch again. Niall grabbed her phone from the bed, unlocking it. “What do you feel like?”

“Mmm,” Quinn hummed. “Maybe wings?”

“Sounds good,” Niall agreed, opening postmates to order their food.

Quinn looked at the clock, feeling a sense of urgency. It was nearing six in the afternoon and she’d done nothing all day and it made her anxious beyond belief.

After a moment, Niall set her phone down on the bedside table, sitting up. “Alright, lover lay down.”

“Why?” Quinn chuckled, eyebrows furrowed.

“Because I’m absolutely starving and if I don’t get me mouth on you I’m probably not going to make it,” Niall shook his head looking at her expectantly.

“Well I’d just hate for that to happen,” Quinn agreed as he shifted between her legs.

Niall tugged her panties down, hands wrapping around her thighs. He let out a hum, nodding his head. It wasn’t long before he was diving in, tongue flicking against her clit. Quinn relaxed against the bed, eyes slipping shut. And when he pushed two fingers inside of her, Quinn moaned, back arching off the bed.

Niall had her cumming not long after, mouth sucking on her greedily. Quinn moaned out his name obscenely, fingers gripping the sheets and it was everything Niall’d wanted. There was nothing he loved more than watching her come apart.

Quinn had barely come down from her high when she panted, “fuck me,” against his lips.

Niall’s lips brushed against hers, as he asked. “Ya sure?”

“Yes,” she nodded, eyes slipping shut.

Niall kissed her lips soundly before pulling away to rummage around in the drawer beside his bed. It only took a moment for him to pull a condom out triumphantly.

Quinn already had her legs spread and her t-shirt bunched up. Niall kissed at her neck, positioning himself between her legs. Pushing in, he whispered, “fuck,” against her neck.

Quinn tugged on his hair, pulling his head back to look at him. “What did you say about wrecking my shit? I’m ready for it.”

Niall grunted, kissing her forcefully. He tugged her bottom lip between his teeth slowly. “I don’t think you are, darling.”

Quinn wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him in. Niall groaned, eyes sliding over her face. “I actually think I am. But I’m thinking you’re not. Can’t hang.”

“I can fucking hang,” Niall grunted, pulling out only to fuck into her with a force that had her gasping against his lips.

“Oh fuck yeah,” Quinn laughed, eyes slipping shut.

Niall kept fucking into her, mouth finding her neck to bite and suck. It had Quinn a mess, nails digging into his back, gasping his name. It wasn’t long before she had him cumming, eyes slipping shut as she clenched around him.

Niall caught her lips in a clumsy kiss. He breathed out, “fuckin love ya. Jesus Christ, Quinn.”

Quinn smiled, pushing her fingers through his damp hair. “That was all you. I suppose you are a good fuck.”

Niall breathed out a laugh, rolling onto the bed beside her. “Fuck off Quinn. I can’t get wound up again.”

Quinn smiled, rolling over to face him. She slid her fingers over his flushed cheek. “I think you probably could.”

Niall’s eyes fluttered. He tilted his head, kissing her palm. “Fuck I could.”

Quinn took the opportunity to kiss his lips slowly, taking her time. She licked into his mouth, a moan escaping her lips. Niall’s eyes fluttered shut. He groaned against her lips.

Quinn reached down between them, pulling the discarded condom off of him. She leaned over, tossing it into the trash can. Niall slid his hands down her back, pulling her in.

Niall was breathless, kissing her, hands roaming all over her body. He let out a soft sigh, pulling away. He murmured. “Need a moment.”

Quinn hummed, kissing at his jaw. She rested her head on his chest, fingers sliding down his stomach. The rise and fall of his chest was enough to make her want to fall asleep again.

A knock at the door had Quinn groaning, rolling off of him. Niall sat up, a smile on his lips. He chuckled, “I’ll get it.”

Niall tugged his sweatpants back on and stood up. Quinn watched him walk out of the room, pulling a shirt over his head. Quinn took the moment to go to the bathroom and to search for some clothes.

It must have been a miracle for her to find a pair of leggings shoved in the top drawer of his dresser. Quinn looked around the room, eyes falling on the overflowing laundry basket that was sitting in the corner.

Quinn sighed, tugging her pants on. She met Niall in the kitchen. The takeout was spread across the table and he had two wine glasses filled halfway.

“A fancy dinner,” Quinn commented, sliding into the chair across from him. “If I’d known I wouldn’t have put pants on.”

Niall chuckled, picking up his glass. He took a sip and sighed. “What a fuckin day.”

Quinn hummed in agreement, sliding her container towards her. She picked up a wing in her hands and took a bite. Niall cleared his throat. “So I talked to Richard earlier and he wanted me to ask you about dinner with him and Elise.”

“Oh,” Quinn nodded. “When?”

“Whenever we’re free, I guess,” Niall shrugged. “He told me to let him know.”

“I’m free whenever you are,” Quinn offered, taking another bite. Her eyes shifted between Niall and the table.

“If you don’t want to we don’t have to,” Niall added tactfully. “I know you said it was kind of weird.”

“It was,” Quinn nodded. “Definitely weird but it’s your boss. I wouldn’t mind.”

“Are you sure?” Niall asked skeptically.

“Of course,” Quinn nodded, looking up at him. She shrugged her shoulders, taking a sip of wine. “Just a night. I’ll survive it.”

“Okay,” Niall chuckled.

“Besides you’re a fair man,” Quinn added, a smile spreading over her lips. “If I do for you I just know you’ll do for me.”

“Interesting,” Niall murmured, an amused smile on his face. “And I am a fair man. I’m sure we can work out some sort of deal.”

“Of course,” Quinn murmured sultrily.

Just by the way Niall was looking at her, Quinn knew they were in for a long night. Quinn couldn’t wait to fall back into bed with him. And maybe in the shower too. It was safe to say she’d sleep like a baby tonight.

///

Soooooo what did we think? let me know how you feel, what you loved or what you didn't!

here is the lover board

and my other works

thank you for reading :))

#lover au #lover part 9 #niall fanfic #Niall au #niall horan fanfic #niall horan fanfiction #Niall smut #all I have to say is #WE PRACTICE SAFE S*X IN THIS HOUSE #and I love Niall and Quinn that's all

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shitty-check-please-aus · 4 years

Text

2020 Books Read So Far, Part 2

Prior post here

So it turns out that it’s really hard for me to actually read books when I’m stressed out about a once-in-a-century pandemic, so this list is a bit shorter than my February post. Factors include: no commute, so harder to focus on audiobooks, stress, the purchase of my Nintendo Switch and Animal Crossing. All ratings are completely subjective and basically just how much I enjoyed reading them.

The Feather Thief, Kirk W. Johnson 4.5/5. This was a pick for my book club because we wanted to read about some kind of heist, and it delivered! It’s nonfiction, about this guy who stole a ton of really old and scientifically useful bird skins/feathers so he could recreate Victorian fishing flies, and also make a ton of money. Do you ever delight in reading about drama that in no way can ever impact you? You will enjoy the drama of the fly-tying community, which is a real thing with an illicit underworld that violates like a billion laws on poaching. Do you stay awake at night wondering what really happened to the paintings in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist? Enjoy reading about how they caught this asshole and figured out how he did it.

Untamed, Glennon Doyle 2/5. The thing is, I think this would be a great book if I was a straight middle-aged woman going through some stuff in my marriage. But I bought it for my book club’s pride month read, thinking that it would be more about her marriage to the USWNT captain and less about her divorce with some asshole who cheated on her. Doyle also just hit on some sore spots for me (”why are so many queer people prejudiced against God and Jesus” ma’am, my atheism literally does not impact your life whatsoever and my issues with Christianity are between me and my therapist).

She completely lost me when she described going into an airplane bathroom and straightening her hair and putting on a full face of makeup. I guarantee you that SOMEONE on this cross-country flight was sitting there, pissing themselves in their seat while she spent fifteen minutes minimum doing some glamming up. Why did she not wait to get to her destination airport? This should be a crime. I also hate when parents talk about personal shit their kids go through for profit.

Her prose is also incredibly flowery, and I do not believe for half a second that anything presented in quotes was actually said verbatim. I also feel like if you’re going to name drop, don’t be coy about it. “My friend Liz came over” you mean Elizabeth Fucking Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love, who like Doyle famously divorced her husband and married a woman? If you’re bragging about meeting Oprah you should go all the way in your name drops.

tl;dr it’s a book that’s written for a straight audience, and I am not a straight audience. The cover design is excellent, though, I would definitely put it on a coffee table if I was styling a photoshoot. Probably wouldn’t have finished it without my book club as motivation.

The Hand on the Wall, Maureen Johnson 5/5. This is the third book in a trilogy, and it wraps up the first two books wonderfully. Without getting too spoilery, the main mystery is like half Leopold and Loeb and half the Lindbergh baby. You can tell from every sentence how much Johnson loves mysteries, and knows how to craft compelling, complicated, sometimes annoying characters, It’s also so tantalizing to feel for a minute like we could solve some of these ice-cold cases in the real world.

The Adventure Zone: Petals to the Metal, The McElroys and Carey Pietsch 5/5. Really fun read! I love graphic novels that really force me to look at the art, pay attention to details, and take my time reading. This is also a really fun adaptation of one of my favorite arcs in the podcast, and manages to either keep the same level of fun or even ramp it up consistently. I love Pietsch’s facial expressions, and the tiny easter eggs she’s hidden on almost every page. The choices they’ve made in adapting it from podcast to graphic novel are also very well-done. Some things work better in audio improv than they would in this form, and they’ve recognized that some changes can improve the story (it’s a graphic novel, we don’t have to be as tied to the three main players as we do when they’re doing the voices).

Wires and Nerve, Marissa Meyer, Stephen Gilpin 4.5/5. This was also a fun, fast read! I love the Lunar Chronicles, so it’s interesting to see it as a graphic novel. The half point deduction is maybe unfair, because it comes from the characters not looking the way I pictured them in my head when I read them. It follows Iko, Cinder’s android friend, and has a lot of good questions about whether a robot/android can be a person (imo, they absolutely can).

Wires and Nerve: Volume 2, Gone Rogue, Marissa Meyer, Stephen Gilpin 4.5/5. Again, fun, fast, exciting. Some parts made me actually gasp out loud, there are good twists, there’s romance, it’s overall highly recommended! We get to spend significant time with everyone from the main series, which is lovely. Like meeting up with old friends.

#off topic #long post #Marina Reads

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suffering-and-happy-about-it · 4 years

Text

I want to tell you... (Part 9.)

Description: Nathan Drake is not the exact definition of an unhappy man. His job is steady, his friends still see him from time to time, he plays football, but his marriage is his main problem. Many things will change when a special person comes to his life.

Part Summary: Nathan and Sully had talked you down to join them for a family dinner, at which a set of unfortunate misunderstandings was started

A/N: This shit was hillarous to write, I tell you that.

Word counter: 2.9K

Tagging: @missdictatorme, @peakymarvels, @nemodoren, @flavorishy

Series master list: H E R E

Nathan’s car sing-along playlist: H E R E

GIF SOURCE

"Oh no, no, no, crap, what the hell did you manage to do with it?" - Nathan yelled with a horrified expression, running to you with a tea towel swing over his shoulder. He looked at the cut in your finger, inspecting it in its entirety as if you should die any minute because of fatal blood loss. You were kind of snickering at his reaction because Nathan was really cute when he was worried about you.

The man ran away for one minute. One minute to look at some gig Sully was thinking of accepting. And when he got back, you were suddenly bleeding. Jesus fucking Christ, you were kinda hard to wrap the head around. But you were still fun, so Nathan was only half-terrified.

"Shove it into your mouth and suck the blood out, come on." - Nathan instructed you with a serious face. A giggle sounded through the room, which made Nate turn at you from searching for a sticking-plaster for your severely wounded finger. Some mumbo-jumbo left your mouth when you sucked on the blood, watching the man in front of you. - "Come again?" - Nate asked you to repeat yourself while cut off a small portion of the plaster so you wouldn't have it on your whole finger.

"I asked if this is how you acted around in the kitchen when someone hurts themselves. I mean, look at you, you're a drama queen. You will wrap me in a bubble foil to prevent me from getting hurt again." - You stated, having a bit of evil, mean expression in your face. But the smile told Nate that you're just testing him and his patience. Performing you a pitiful 'ha-ha', the man came closer and made the small cut is covered. - "Is this even hygienic, Nate? Will my finger just rot and fall off now? You can start calling me fingerless Y/N by now." - With that, Nate chuckled at the sight of you pretending to be a pirate, making a hook out of your finger. When those theatrics were over, you turned back to cutting the peppers for his masterpiece.

"Human saliva has some healing properties, for your information. But if you'd like me to drench that cut in alcohol disinfection, shove it underwater or different stuff, just tell me." - Nate looked at you knowingly, swinging around with his knife, explaining to you why is licking the cut something he learned that helps a long time ago. When he and his brother were younger, they didn't have enough money to buy proper first-aid kids, which made a lot of things harder. But saliva could do magic in some instances.

"Nah, I think I'm fine, Drake. My finger got the best treatment it could get, so I'm fine." - You chuckled back and heard the front door of Sully's apartment close. Sully himself was sitting in his workroom, going through another possible gig offers - so this must've been his girlfriend Nate and he told you about. And your eyebrows arched when you saw a very young woman dressed up in formal clothes letting her hair out of the bun she had it in as she kicked off her high-heels. You've expected someone... Older. A lot older. This girl didn't have a single wrinkle on her skin - she was gorgeous in every sense of the word. And she was also very eye-catching.

But she stopped at the same as you did, looking at you with her eyes widened. Slowly, she licked her lips, leaning her elbow to the wall next to her while eyeing you up and down. - "Okay, miss, who are you, and what are you doing in my flat?" - The woman asked, making sure you feel cornered by her. And dear lord, she was great in intimidating the living shit out of you.

"I'm... On... A visit?" - You peeped and at that moment, Drake saved your ass by peeking from behind you, sending Florence a casual smile. The anger suddenly disappeared into the thin air. The woman walked to you excitedly, offering you a palm to shake.

"Name's Florence Carter. Nice to meet you." - She told you with pure joy, which dropped a bit when you told her your name. Oh. Sully told you that his and his girlfriend's situation is pretty fresh, so she must've concluded that you're Elena, since she hadn't the chance to meet her yet. But her bright smile was on again in no time at all, as she greeted Nate by a bear hug, leaving to greet Sully as well.

You've heard her talking about some sort of Drake exposition in some institute, which sparked another conversation between you and Nate.

"Listen. Drake... That kinda does ring a bell inside my head." - You turned at him, watching the man preparing homemade tortillas. He turned back to you as well, arching his eyebrows in surprise.

"You're into history?" - He asked before working with the dish-to-be once again. You didn't know the slightest shit about history. Honestly, you could barely remember your homeland's history and that, for you, was the absolute maximum. But you made an agreeing hum nonetheless. - "Go on, who was Francis Drake? You have me shook now."

Fuck. Fuck. Nathan's voice was hinting that he was aware of you knowing an absolute shit about some Francis Drake. Who was he? Well, your time to shine was there, and you didn't want to leave Nate hanging. - "Francis Drake, you asking me, huh?" - "Yea, I am." - "Well, there was this certain craze about marine biology, as you surely know. It was some time after Columbus had discovered the continent and he noticed some big sea animal in the water and he was in awe, to quote him 'I will be exploring the sea life from now on'. Yea, don't look at me like that, Jesus, Nate, everyone knows this shit. And Francis Drake was a man who was watching the dolphins for some time now and he agreed to help Columbus with his research." - You told Nathan, having the man laughing in the half of your on-the-spot-made story. Your confidence was what made him almost weeping tears away from his cheeks. - "Come on, I was at least in the ballpark." - You snickered at the sound of his laughter, which made you secretly smile too.

"You were in a ballpark... Of a completely different era, explorers and scientists. He liked the sea, that's something you guessed correctly, and for all I know, sir Francis Drake could be a marine biologist, but... I don't know if he'd find time to watch sea animals and fish during his thrilling privateer and many believed pirate career." - Nate smiled at you while leaning over your shoulder for a bottle of olive oil. Well, damn you, Nate was clearly very educated in the subject and you just made a total dud out of yourself. But the damage was already done, and you just had to accept the utter defeat.

"And... Is it some coincidence that you have the same surname, or..?" - You asked and added the pepper to the burrito filling. You were already hungry as hell and the meat blend Nate had finished about half an hour ago was smelling so delicious that you thought about eating all of it by yourself before the burritos will be even finished.

"Not entirely. It's..." - Suddenly, the joy had run out of Nate within seconds. He looked in front of himself, dropping the wooden spoon out of his fingers, having a lost gaze and expression on his face. The man licked his lips and tried to ignore the tightening feeling inside his chest. - "It is a long story. I'll maybe tell you one day, huh? Just not right now, okay?" - He tried to talk through the empty silence you had going on.

You felt bad suddenly. You had just bumped into some sensitive topic. And you didn't want to hurt the man who was just starting to be your friend. - "Can I tell you a pirate joke? To make you feel better?" - You asked, standing next to him as he was working on the first burritos.

"Now we're talking. You have my full attention." - Nate turned his head at you as you watched the tortillas frying. You smiled with a slick grin, straightening up to deliver the joke perfectly. - "Why is pirating so addictive?" - You asked and took the first tortilla from him, filling it up skillfully. You couldn't cook for shit, but this wasn't so hard, and you wanted to help him at least somehow. - "No idea." - Nate giggled, already knowing it's going to be one of the worst jokes anyone had ever tell him. And that was almost unreachable primacy because his brother had singlehandedly told him the worst jokes he ever heard.

"Well, they say once ye lose yer first hand, ye get hooked!" - You said with a nasty grin, pretending that your wounded finger is a hook again. The man rolled his eyes, but he laughed nonetheless, saying something along the lines 'this is so bad, Jesus'. Soon enough, you prepared enough burritos for all of you to eat. The rest of the fresh vegetables, of which you took care as well, was for Nate to cook from at his home. Florence had changed into more comfortable clothes and Sully looked strangely contained. You had an idea of what was going on, but Sully most probably had just some good nap to your letdown.

The woman was energetically jolting around the table with a big smile, serving everyone the wine she caught for the occasion, humming one of the summer bops that was playing inside her head. When she sat down next to Sully, the older man chuckled and looked at Nathan. - "She wants to tell you somethin', boyo." - Sully smugged and motioned his hand for her to continue in the news she had to say. Nathan arched his eyebrows, excited about the unknown information Florence had for him.

"The local national museum will have... A wirble, please." - Her elbow nudged Sully's side. The man rolled his eyes because he was just shoving a burrito down his throat, but did as she asked for, drumming his fingers on the desk of the table. - "A permanent sir Francis Drake exhibition thanks to you, Sully and Sam providing me with so many Drake exhibits. We're now talking about the next pirates we would like to include in the exhibition. I will be forever grateful for that, because, now we're in business, baby and I am the project's main curator." - Florence said joyfully, having Sully proudly smoothing the upper part of her thigh while he still shoved the rest of his food down.

Nathan breathed out in shock and leaned his back into the chair, looking into the table with fascination. But that certainly wasn't enough. Florence had more to say. - "And because I am a big animal in the museum, I proposed the idea of us including some most famous legends, myth, and theories surrounding the pirated... I have pulled some strings and your mom's work will be included. If you'd agree, that is." - Florence said quickly so Nathan would know she isn't taking it as a sure thing. Which put tears into the man's eyes.

You couldn't know about Nate's past and his mom, so you were kind of an intruder in the situation. But the revelation and joy radiating out of your friend was handing in the air and it was so clear, that it made you feel good as well. The whole dinner, understandingly, was rotating around the topic of Nate's mother and the whole exhibition.

At the end of the evening, you had to say that Sully and Florence were a true power couple. Sully was a famous Irish pub owner, of which most of the people in the town knew and you had it on your wish-list as well by the time, and Florence seemed to be pulling the strings in the national museum despite her young age. And to be honest, you were kind of having respect for both of them, which was surely applying to Nathan as well, because he was their best friend. Were these guys in a fucking gang or something? The more they talked about their day-to-day life, the more convinced you were about it.

Holy fuck. You just had to have fucking bad luck with people, hadn't you?

And naturally, Nathan noticed your bad mental state as he drove you home around ten p.m. You were awkwardly silent throughout the whole ride that it made him worried. And being the upfront man he was, he just asked you what's wrong. Ever since you told him your theory about Sully and Florence, possibly even him, being leaders of some gang, Nathan couldn't stop laughing about your assumption.

"What's so funny about that? Huh? I'm fucking scared for my life and you're just laughing at me, man." - You exclaimed when you stopped at a red light to wait before continue on your small journey to your home. Nathan gave you such a sweet smile that it made you feel like a total idiot for a moment - but then, you gathered your confidence back, reminding yourself about these two.

"We're not some... Gang. I assure you of that, okay? It's way wilder than some boring gang." - Nate rolled his eyes playfully and stepped on the gas pedal again, moving the car forward. This statement, no matter if it was a joke or not, made your eyes widen. Was Nathan about to abduct you? Just drive off with you into the night? Was Elena even real in the first place? Jesus fucking Christ, you were on the verge of crying at the moment. - "Please, no, no, no." - The man panicked suddenly at seeing you so distressed at some another dumb joke he made. - "We're not bad people, I swear on my life, okay? I am just a normal guy who works as a cook. That's who I am. I have no dark secrets or past." - He was making it worse and worse with each passing second he was talking.

"What if... Crap, listen to me. I'll tell you what we're doing as a side job. And it's nothing bad-people related, but... It sure as hell breaks a lot of laws and you have to stay silent about everything I would possibly tell you." - Nathan burst out in his full-on panic mode. The man wanted to bitch-slap himself so badly. With every word he told you, he just made the whole deal seem more and more serious. - "I am an archeologist. I do search for... Stuff you hear legends about. But I would have to explain to you deeper for you to stop thinking I am some sort of a sociopath. Would you... Listen to it? Please?" - Nathan breathed out, having an uncomfortable expression himself. Quickly, you glanced over to him. And it left you surprised.

His breath was shallow as he fell deeper and deeper into one of his anxiety-panic attacks. He had tears in his eyes while his palms crushed the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles turned white almost instantly. Nathan was just trying to be the goofy guy around the girl he liked and all it had accomplished was that now she thought that he was a criminal of sorts. And he couldn't take any of it back.

"Okay." - You whispered after a moment. It was probably just your brain jumping to conclusions too fast as it always did. Maybe Sully was really just a pub owner who was just a good businessman. Maybe his young girlfriend Florence was an extremely talented historian. And most likely, Nate was just a guy who loved to cook for other people. The man slowly faced you again, trembling almost unnoticeable. - "Okay. You can tell me about this side job you have. But if it just comes across as human trafficking or..." - "No! No. I would never... Never. No." - The man disagreed immediately, letting you know that this reaction was as authentical as it could be.

"Would you like to come to my place to tell me about it?" - You whispered, slowly gaining the initial trust you had for your new-found friend in the strange city you were an outsider in.

"I have a lot of things to prove my storied at my place and I would have to pack them up and move them to my car. Would you mind..?" - Nate asked nervously. It was weird as fuck to ask you to hang out at his place after the full-blown conspiracy theory about him being a criminal who probably kills people, but really - all of the artifacts, books, maps, and other shit Nate hoarded throughout the years were too fragile to just take to your place.

You were silent for a moment as you tried to contain the nerves inside you, but you nodded in the end. You trusted Nathan. And he felt redeemed at the exact same moment.

#nathan drake #nathan drake x reader #nathan drake uncharted #he is such a goofy baby #but he's to oblivious and dumb sometimes #victor sullivan #victor sullivan x oc #uncharted #naughty dog uncharted #we stan nathan's clumsy ass in this house #HE'S SUCH A BABY #i swear

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adarlingwrites · 4 years

Text

Absolution

Summary:

noun: formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment

The Capital Wasteland lauded the Lone Wanderer as a hero, a Messiah, a savior who's willing to give her life for the Good Fight. Beyond the legends, the propaganda, and the mythification that surrounded her legacy, there is only one person who knew her bare soul. She gave him his absolution, and now he will fight for hers.

III

September 17, 2277.

From her reaction to Ahzrukhal’s murder alone, I had a hunch that she’s different from my previous employers.

“I assume Ahzrukhal wasn’t very high on your list of favorite people?” my new employer comments, eyes still fixated on the stump where Ahzrukhal’s head used to be.

“Ahzrukhal was an evil bastard. As long as he held my contract, I was honor bound to do as he commanded. Now, you are now my employer, which freed me to rid the world of that disgusting rat,” I tell her, to which she smirked. “And now, for good or ill, I serve you.”

“You won’t have to throw drunks over the balcony or make young women land on their asses without good reason, I promise you that.”

In secret, I held on to that promise.

Half past midnight, my new mistress and I sit at one of the tables in the Ninth Circle while Ahzrukhal’s body starts catching flies. She skims through my contract, and tucks it away under her Pip-Boy glove. Onlookers were staring, but no one dared approach me, the tall, intimidating ghoul with a shotgun, and the smoothskin girl with a Gauss rifle who holds my leash.

“Right! First order of business. My name is Percy Zhou,” she introduces herself, and extends a small, gloved hand. I stare at it at the moment, trying to read any discomfort or disgust on my mistress’ face, and when she raises an eyebrow, I grasp it, and she gives my hand a shake. I couldn’t help but notice how large my hands are in contrast to hers. I let go as soon as I could; it wasn’t unpleasant. Not a lot of employers would go out of their way to touch me, and I am not used to it.

“Can I ask you something?”

“If conversation is what you wish, then I shall provide it.”

“So formal…” she chuckles. “So, is your name really pronounced ‘Sh’aron, or is it ‘Kh’aron, like in those old mythology books?”

No one has pronounced my name like that in quite the long time. When a barely literate raider boss acquired my contract years ago, he started to pronounce my name as ‘Sh’aron out of mockery. It stuck. At my new mistress’ pronunciation of my name, however, my brain is starting to itch again, but the need to respond to her holds me back. “You can call me whatever you prefer, mistress.”

“Don’t call me mistress, please.”

Please. A word employers never use. Coming out of her mouth, it felt strange.

“Anyway, if I start calling you Mr. Dreamboat, you wouldn’t object?”

I snort, despite myself. The reaction elicited a giggle from my new mistress and she waves her hand. My previous employers, Ahzrukhal included, laughed at me, not with me. “Ah, so you have a sense of humor,” she laughs, pushing her glasses into her face. “I’m kidding, don’t worry.”

“Charming.” It came out of my mouth dry and flat.

“I’ll start calling you ‘Kh’aron, then.”

Percy starts digging in her pack and produces two sticks of bubblegum. She unwraps and starts chewing on one of them, and offers one to me. I took it partly to stay in her good graces, and partly because I have been eating nothing but disgusting mole rat meat for quite some time, courtesy of my previous employer, of course. The last time I had sugar... I still had skin.

“Charon,” my mistress calls my attention. She is showing me a map on her Pip Boy.

“This,” she starts, pointing to a waypoint on the map, “is the Museum of Technology. It’s right across us, but getting there isn’t a walk in the park. Unlike ghouls, Super Mutants don’t ignore humans out in the open.” I nod in response.

“Which is why I wore my sneaking suit for the occasion. I don’t want to engage in a direct gunfight. It’s too dark, and my eyes suck. Are you any good at stealth?”

“I am proficient,” I respond.

“Perfect. Anything else that you’re good at that we can use to our advantage?”

“Aside from firearms, I am trained in handling explosives.”

“Great,” she exclaims, and her small hand disappears into her pack once more. She hands me three frag grenades. “I was planning to sell these to Tulip. You can hold on to them.”

I nod, storing the grenades away. “Also, I’d like you to provide me cover fire in case we get detected and this bad boy fails to take down the muties,” she adds, motioning to her Gauss rifle, and I nod. How did a kid like her get her hands on a powerful weapon anyway?

She then starts briefing me on our objective. A satellite dish. Seems simple enough.

When she started a damn treasure hunt in the museum, however, things got more interesting than I previously anticipated. Percy picks off the mutants with her rifle, and scouts forward. She sees the museum terminals and decides to tinker with them. The next thing I knew, I was tailing her around while she hunted for more terminals. My mistress, deep in concentration, stares at numbers at a terminal, muttering something about prime numbers as the green glow reflects on her glasses. At the moment, I was annoyed, but when we found a key in the safe, I was astounded to see a missile launcher inside the gun locker it unlocks. In poor condition, but it’s a fucking missile launcher nonetheless.

At that point, I stopped questioning myself how my mistress can get her hands on valuable loot. She’s thorough. I respect that.

As soon as we finished looting, we proceeded with the mission as normal. We acquired the dish, and what was supposed to be a simple task of locating the Washington Monument to replace the old one turned out more complicated when one of the big green bastards spotted us when the missile launcher rustled against the satellite dish.

“Here we go,” Percy yells, rolling behind a barricade. “I’ll snipe. Cover me.”

One. Two. Three. The mutants start falling. One with a sledgehammer is heading to her blind spot and I finished that one with my shotgun. Four. As my mistress was reloading, one of the mutants threw a grenade to draw us out. Faster than I can think, my reflexes kicked in, and I tackled my mistress, covering her body.

I can barely hear my name as my ears rang, but I can clearly hear the distress in my mistress’ voice. She slips from underneath me and retrieves her rifle while I lie face first in the dirt.

Five. The last mutant fell. I got on my hands and knees and I felt a small hand grasp my bicep, forcing me to sit.

“Shit. Shit. Charon, are you okay?”

I nod. “Are you injured?” I ask her back.

“Shit, big guy, don’t worry about me, you’re the one who’s bleeding” she curses, looking at my back. “You have shrapnel all over you.”

“Your safety takes priority. I can withstand the pain.”

“Bullshit. Once we arrive at the monument, I’m patching you up first before we do anything else,” she insisted, pulling me up and wrapping an arm around my waist as we walked all the way to the monument.

“That is not necessary.”

She ignored me.

As we arrived, the Brotherhood soldier standing at the gate almost opened fire at me if it wasn’t for Percy waving her arms. Percy sets me down near the radio, and starts rummaging her pack for medical supplies, yelling at any gawkers to give her and her patient some privacy.

“This is not necessary, mistress,” I tell her, and she rolls her eyes at me.

“What did I tell you about calling me ‘mistress?’”

“I apologize. I will not call you mistress again, ma’am.”

Percy groaned, throwing her hands up in the air. “Hey. Stop. I’m not used to being addressed as a superior, and it’s making me uncomfortable,” she starts, taking a bottle of antiseptic and giving it a good shake. Taking off her gloves, she splashes them all over her hands.

“I’m asking you to adjust to my methods. In this partnership, we are equals. Got it?”

“The contract dictates that we are not.”

Percy pauses. “It does?”

“Yes.”

My mistress lets out an exasperated groan. “Jesus, dad is right. I need to read contracts before agreeing to them…” she mumbles to herself. “Let’s sort it out later. Take your shirt off.”

Complying, I shed my shoulder pads and stripped from the waist up. My back is revealed to her, along with all the scars, peeling skin, and my protruding spine. I can feel Percy’s gaze as she kneeled behind me. She wasn’t making any movement, or talking.

“Is there something wrong?”

Soft fingers press on old scars, tracing an old whip mark. “Who did this to you?”

Her voice came out as a cracked whisper. Tension started to boil in my head. “If my mistress wishes to find out, I will do my best to recall.”

“You don’t- you don’t remember?”

“No.”

“I won’t press any further. My mistake,” she whispers, apologetic, and she finally moves again. “Hold still, big guy.”

Through clenched teeth, I let out a grunt when she started to pull the bits of shrapnel from my back. “Some of these wounds need stitches. We have no anaesthetic, sorry. Tell me if the pain is too much.”

“How I feel is irrelevant.”

“How you feel concerns me,” she insists. “You said that my safety takes priority, yes?”

“...yes.”

“Then,” she continues, plunging the needle in my ruined skin. “How can you focus on protecting me if you are injured? Or ill? Or in pain?”

“I am trained to withstand great injury and pain. My main objective is ensuring your protection regardless of my physical condition,” I grit through my teeth, and exhaling in relief when I feel her sew the wound shut. “And you did. I’m just returning the favor. Just let me fuss over you, big guy. It won’t hurt either of us,” she argues, her breath warm against my nape, and I hoped she didn’t notice the goosebumps I had on what’s left of my skin.

I stopped arguing with her at that point. She is different from my previous employers indeed.

Percy injects me with stimpaks, then moves in front of me and turns on her Pip-Boy light. “I’m just gonna check for a concussion.” She shines it in my eyes and everything is white.

“I was training to be a doctor before I was forced to leave the vault, you know,” she tells me, then she turns off the light. My vision readjusted to the rising sun, its rays hitting her eyes through the holes in the building, her irises shifting from almost black to a vibrant brown. They remind me of chocolate, a rare treat from pre-war days.

“Your pupils are dilating and constricting equally, so no brain injury. I think. How are you feeling?” she asks me, and I look away, not daring to meet her eyes.

“Better.”

“No headaches or pain?”

“None.”

“Good. Get dressed and rest up, I’ll install the dish.”

I didn’t respond. I didn’t feel the need to.

When she returned, she had a smile on her face and her bun had come undone from the wind up the tower. She slumps next to me and opens a bottle of Nuka-Cola from her pack. After taking a swig, she passes the bottle to me.

“What a day. Let’s rest for awhile here,” she tells me, rolling her joints.

“Certainly.”

“Help yourself to whatever food we still have in the pack,” Percy half speaks, half-yawns. “I’ll take a nap. Wake me up in thirty minutes?”

“As you wish.”

Thirty minutes passed, but I didn’t touch any of her food, content on drinking the sugary drink in hand. I gently shake her awake. When she wakes up, she blinks a few times at me, smiles, and she runs her fingers through her hair, sticky and matted from her sweat. “I should probably get a haircut. Let’s get to Underworld. Snowflake offered to do it for free.”

After resting for a few more minutes, we stood up, collected our gear, and I followed her. While walking back to Underworld, she turns on her radio, and Galaxy News Radio comes in clear as day.

“People of the Capital Wasteland, you can hear meeeee! Yeeeaa haaaa!!! You can't stop the signal, baby! That's right, from Megaton to Girdershade, Paradise Falls to the Republic of Dave, we are coming to you loud and proud, in a special live report! ”

Percy beams and laughs. “That Three Dog is quite the character, huh?”

“But Three Dog? You're in that cool radio studio in D.C. How do you know I can hear you, all the way out here in the ass end of nowhere? Because of the kid from Vault 101, that's how! That gal actually managed to repair our antenna relay. But get this, she wasn’t acting alone! Sources say that a tall, dark, and scary ghoul was accompanying Miss 101 as she braved through the super mutants in downtown DC. Who is this mysterious ghoul? Hired muscle? A slave? A friend? Whoever he may be, the Ranger of the Wastes is safer with him around, so cheers to him too. Now, the two of you, hurry over to GNR. We have a lot to talk about!”

I doubt the last statement.

As we approached Underworld, Willow is nowhere to be found. Something’s wrong, and Percy feels it too, turning off her radio.

“Charon. Willow’s missing. And it’s too quiet.”

“There may be danger here,” I tell her, placing my body defensively in front of her as we approach the entrance.

The doors swung open, and Doc Barrows stood there, along with Willow and a few other residents, pointing their guns at us.

“We need to talk.”

#lone wanderer #female lone wanderer #charon #charon fallout #fallout charon #oc: percy zhou #fanfic: absolution #series: through river acheron #fallout 3 #fallout #fallout 3 fanfic #fallout fanfic #writers on tumblr

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finnwolfhard7137 · 4 years

Text

The Art of Falling in Love-Finn Wolfhard × Reader

Chapter Three is here...

Chapter Four: Paradise

Word Count 2.4k

Warnings: some fluff

_____________________________________

Oakes wakes you and Miles up by shaking the both of you like rag dolls.

Oakes "GUYS!"

"Huh? What's going on?" You look at Finn who is still behind you and he is laughing his ass off.

Finn "We literally just slept outside all night." You face-palm and laugh.

Oakes "Not going to lie...that's fucking goals." Finn laughed even harder and pulled you tighter into his side.

Oakes "Did you guys not go into your trailers all night?"

You both "No."

Finn "I honestly didn't wake up at all last night."

"Neither did I and I always wake up at least once during the night-"

Finn "Me too."

Oakes "Well, you two lovebirds...it's 6:30, let's eat before we have to film." You both agree and get off of the ground.

"Shit...I got your hoodie dirty." You look at the sleeves and sigh.

Finn "Don't worry about it, I can wash it. I wouldn't change anything about last night for the world." You blush and lean into him. You spot Oakes chuckle at you two, to which you kiddingly flip him off. He repays the favor and you both just laugh like three children.

You get taken into your trailer first for makeup and hair because you take the longest to get done, Finn and Oakes just relaxed while you were gone. Oakes noticed that Finn watched as you left and hit him on the shoulder.

Finn "What?!"

Oakes "You love her don't you?"

Finn "I sure as hell like her. What's not to like?"

Oakes "She is pretty great, you two look good together."

Finn "I haven't asked her yet, Oakes. I don't wanna rush her into anything."

Oakes "I think that she likes you too, Finn. If that is what you are worried about, you are crazy."

Finn "I just don't want to mess anything up with her, she isn't like anyone I have ever met, she is like...perfect! Y/n is like the girl that I have always imagined being with..I don't know how to explain it-"

Oakes "I know what you mean dude. You don't need to explain it, I totally get it."

Finn simply nods and takes a drink of his water.

Oakes "Just ask her dude, she's gonna say yes."

Finn "I will eventually, Oakes." Oakes rolls his eyes and he punches him in the arm and starts to laugh, "You are so pushy!"

Oakes "Hey, I just support it! My two best friend's together...like fuck yeah I want it to happen!"

Finn "Thank you, that means a lot. I want to ask her properly...maybe I'll take her somewhere beautiful, other than the desert. Make it memorable, ya know."

Oakes "Yeah, that would be good." They continued to talk until it was their turn to get ready for the day. When you came out, Finn was walking towards his trailer which happened to be right next to yours and winks at you. You almost trip on the last step because he is just so damn cute.

…

You read your script and today, you go to school with Oakes and Boris: He doesn't leave yours and Oakes' side the whole school day, he rides with you on the bus and afterwards, you and Oakes go to his house. It sounds really fun from how the script put it so today is going to be exciting. When he comes out of his trailer, he is wearing a black blazer with a skateboarding graphic t-shirt. He honestly looks so good that you almost drool! You look away so that you don't get caught staring, in a few moments you feel his arms wrap around your neck, across your chest in a warm embrace. You can't help but smile and grab his arm in acceptance.

Finn "Well don't you look beautiful!"

"I have this stupid prosthetic on..how can I be beautiful?"

Finn "You are! Makeup, no makeup..prosthetic or no prosthetic. And hey, you won't have to wear it the whole time."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to future scenes.." he let go of you and crouches down in front of you and smiles. "What?"

Finn "Stop..just stop being self conscious, you are fucking perfect so stop." You smile and pull him up to you to give him a hug. You want to do more but you want him to make the first move...obviously. He hugs you tighter and you just melt.

__________________________________

John "Action!"

Theo "Boris, Pippa is going to join us today."

Boris "Is she really? Excellent!"

Theo "Yeah but she's worried about ya know...getting bullied."

Boris "I like her, I won't let them pick on her. She cannot help it." You come into the view and Finn smiles down at you.

"Hey Boris."

Boris "Hey! You've been good, yes?"

"Yes."

Theo "Come on, we are gonna be late to first period." When you get in the classroom, the classroom stared at your head. Some girls were even laughing. Boris noticed and got in front of you.

Boris "You got a problem, ay?! This woman survived a fucking bombing, show her some respect." The girls immediately started to apologize. All you were told to do was shake your head and take a seat next to Finn which you do.

"Thank you."

Boris "Of course." Theo looked behind him and saw you two talking and gave Boris a smile like, thank you.

John "Cut! Perfect guys." You immediately go back to your normal self as soon as he yelled 'cut' and took a deep breath. Growing up as a kid, you used to get bullied so to have to reenact what you really had to go through, was rough mentally.

Finn "I almost lost my shit…"

"Oh really?"

Finn "Yeah, I hate bullies."

"Me too, but thankfully it's just for the movie." He agreed but before he could say anything, John yelled 'action'.

….

The school day is over and you all get on the same bus. Finn and Oakes sit next to each other and you sit by yourself on the next row.

Boris "Did you enjoy school today?"

"Kinda."

Theo "Well you did good for your first day back, Pippa."

"Thanks-"

Boris "How about you both come over my house? I have drinks."

Theo "Drinks?"

Boris "Yeah, I have beer at my house. You two should come over."

Theo "Do you want too?"

"Yeah, I don't mind."

Boris "Good. Hey, I didn't tell you earlier but um, I think that you look very pretty today Pippa."

"R-really?"

Boris "Of course." Theo nudges him so hard that he almost fell off of his seat, he immediately shoved him back but even harder. Earning a laugh from you, making Oakes look at you with a shock on his face.

Theo "Y-you laughed!"

Boris "So? Everyone laughs."

Theo "No...you don't get it. Pippa hasn't laughed since the bombing." Finn looks over at you and smiles from ear to ear, making you happy.

"You guys make me happy. No one else does." Finn grabbed your hand from across the aisle. You don't remember that being in the script but you really don't care.

John "Cut." The school bus stops and you all get out of the bus.

John "Lunch break guys, you did good."

"Can I get the prosthetic off? It is starting to hurt."

John "Of course, Y/n. Next week, the movie skips a month in advance so you won't have to wear it anymore. Just hang in there for two more days and it'll be off for good."

"Alright, awesome. Thank you!" Finn walks up to you and kisses your forehead.

"Ima get this thing off, you can join me if you want."

Finn "After you."

Bill "oohh it started to come off."

...

"Is that why it started to hurt?"

Bill "yeah, the glue was pulling on your fine hairs."

Finn "Prosthetics hurt in general."

Bill "This is true. I have never had a client be excited to get them applied."

"I was on the first day, not anymore." You three laugh.

It takes a good minute to get it all taken off and your hair fixed up. Finn didn't leave the seat next to you the whole time, he just talked to you and complimented you on today's performance so far. He has been your biggest supporter all week and it never gets old: hearing one of your idols tell you how amazing you are doing...doesn't get better in this line of work.

Oakes comes in, "They got a whole buffet...you guys are missing out!"

Finn looks at you so intensely that you burst out laughing. He picks you up and carries you out of the trailer, running all of the way to the free buffet.

John "Hungry?"

Finn "uh...a little-" he says grabbing a whole plate full of food.

Oakes "look at him, he's a freakin' giraffe! He needs his food.." Finn almost chokes on his food from laughing so hard. Finn is really tall, especially in person.

"You aren't wrong!" He sits down and pulls you onto his lap. John and the rest of the film crew just smile at the sight.

__________________________________

When you three got to the house, the camera's started rolling when you guys sat down in his unfilled pool with beers and cigarettes.

John "Action."

Boris "Would you like vodka?"

You and Theo "No thanks."

Boris "My dad drinks it all the time, so much he can not feel his feet. Literally, it has a name."

"Is it just you two here?"

Boris "Yes. My mother is dead."

Theo "Mine too."

Boris "Mine was alchie...got drunk and fell out the window."

"Jesus."

Boris "Did you lose anyone...ya know. When Theo did."

"My uncle. He took me because it was for my birthday, I just wanted to see the beautiful art with him and then..well you know. It is all my fault."

Theo "Hey, it isn't your fault."

"You blame yourself too, Theo."

Boris "You both are wrong. Don't blame yourselves! You guys didn't know that that was going to happen."

"Change the subject." Finn thought for a moment.

Boris "What is your favorite art piece in the museum."

"It is a piece called The Goldfinch."

Theo "That is where I met her, we were all looking at that painting before it all happened."

Boris "Wow...All I gotta say is that I am glad that you are here, Pippa. With you and Theo here, it is a lot less lonely."

"I am glad much happier here. You wouldn't think that the desert is better than a city but it is to me. Especially now, it is much quieter."

Theo "It will be easier for you to heal."

"Yeah, hopefully."

Boris "Don't you worry, we will all get through our own struggles together."

John "And...cut! Fantastic job guys!" This scene only took one shot to master. You three high five and get undressed because that was it for the day, the rest is for Ansel and Aneurin who play Theo and Boris older in the movie.

…

Aneurin "You make my job hard, Finn...how am I supposed to top that?"

Finn "Oh you can do it, I didn't even do anything."

Aneurin "That is my point!" Ansel joins you, Finn, Aneurin and Oakes.

Ansel "You did great today guys! I'm very impressed." You all thank him.

Oakes "What are you shooting today?"

Ansel "With Nicole..I'm visiting her after years of not seeing her."

"Oof so an emotional day?"

Ansel "Oh yeah."

Oakes "You've got this. You can cry on command."

"You can?"

Ansel "Mhm."

"If you can cry when I tell you too, I will pay you 20 bucks right now."

Ansel "You are on!"

".....Now!" Sadly..he does in seconds.

Ansel "Pay up, Y/n!"

"Fuck you." You hand him the 20 dollar bill, laughing in defeat. You didn't know that he could cry that quickly, or that anyone could for that matter.

John "We are shooting in 5!"

Aneurin "I'll see you guys later." The two boys left and started shooting.

__________________________________

You three ended up watching them film: taking in their movements and the way they say some words and how they react to comments and such.

Finn "Hey, it's getting late. Wanna go for a drive?"

"Yeah, I'm down. Oakes, you coming?"

Oakes "Nah, you guys go ahead. Have fun."

Finn smirks at you and runs to his car, opening up the door for you.

"Where are we going?"

Finn "I know a beautiful place back here, I've been waiting for an opportunity to take you."

"Ohh I'm excited." In the drive there, you text your mother about your amazing day and sing songs with Finn. When you are with him, it is just pure happiness and bliss. You have never experienced this feeling before: crushes yes, dating yes but not actually being in love with someone completely and fully and getting that same energy in return.

…

Finn "We are almost here. I want you to close your eyes!"

"Really?!"

Finn "Yeah, come on close em." You feel the car stop and you hear him put the gear in park. He gets out of the car and he helps you out. A few steps forward, you can feel the sand beneath your toes.

"The beach?!"

Finn "Just wait." You two walk until he stops. "Okay, open." You open to see the most beautiful sunset over the waves.

"Oh my god. It's so..beautiful."

Finn "I knew that you would love it. I remember when we all went to Chick-fil-a, you told me that you loved the beach."

"I do, it's my paradise." Finn smiles at how amazed you are at your view. But to him, you are his view. You are way more beautiful to him than the ocean. He puts his arms around your waist and watches the waves crash onto the shore with you in his arms.

To be continued...

@moriartysringtone7137 @euphoricsunflowrr @spidey-starky @tysblackswan @strangerev @keeshonds @itlittlefangirl

#the art of falling in love #the goldfinch #finn wolfhard #boris pavlikovsky #theo decker #oakes fegley

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userseokkie · 5 years

Text

Met Gala, Stony, 2.3k

In honor of the Met Gala tonight, I whipped up this quick fic. It’s so self indulgent but it’s fluffy and short. No smut, but I might be persuaded to do a follow up. Enjoy!

***

The flashes of the cameras were the first thing Tony could notice even before the limo rounded the corner. The paparazzi were swarming the entire entrance and media vans were parked well down fifth.

While Happy was busy cursing every poor reporter that dared get in the way and mumbling god knows what, Tony checked his phone one last time, thumbing a quick email before sliding it back in his pocket. He glanced over at Steve.

“You know, if you’d only let Carla style you-”

“I’m fine, Tony. What? This is just a gala.” Steve peered out the window, his brow pinching slightly the way it always did when he got nervous.

“Jesus, I already told you, this isn’t just another gala, this is the Met Gala and Anna trusts me to carry this event-”

“Just say it. Just admit you’re embarrassed by me and that I’m hideous and not worthy of being your date,” Steve said with that deadpan tone he used, and god his jaw could cut through glass. Tony bit his lip unconsciously, trying to get rid of inappropriate thoughts. This outfit was too tight to be getting hard.

Through the honking, Tony shrugged and smiled despite his efforts. “You know you’re the only one who could be my date, stud.”

Steve’s eyes softened, a glint on his blue eyes as they focused on Tony.

“I mean, Natasha and Clint are going together, Thor is bringing Jane and I’d have more luck convincing Bruce to smoke up with me than bringing him to one of these things. You were the only one left, obviously.”

“Tony.” Steve rolled his eyes. “I just don’t see what the big deal is, we go in, we have dinner, we donate some money to keep the museum funded.”

Tony was about to object to how Steve casually referred to 1.5 million as some money, but their car came to a stop. “We’re here, boss.” Happy announced.

Steve looked at him once more, an expectant look on his face. “Do I really look bad?”

The theme for this year was Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, which, duh. Of course it was important, when Anna had called Tony and asked him to host, it was a no brainer. This was practically made for the Futurist, and the media had gone ballistic when they announced Tony was co-hosting. This entire thing was built on the Mark LVII. Not to toot his own horn, but Tony had really outdone himself with this one.

Dragging his gaze up and down the super soldier in front of him, it was hard to be objective. But Steve certainly didn’t look bad, he just looked... like himself. The Met Gala was meant to go outside your comfort zone and push the envelope on what fashion meant, if Jan had taught Tony anything, it’s that fashion is for the brave and bold. And he was anything if not ballsy. Steve, however, in his all black suit, head to toe Dior, looked like a devil put on Earth to tempt Tony into unspeakable acts. Did it scream fashion and technology, though? No, it didn’t.

“Honey bunch, you look like sin incarnate.” Tony slid across his seat, making to get up. He leaned in, grabbing onto Steve’s bicep for support. “And I’ll make sure to let you know just how crazy you are making me with that outfit right after this thing is over.” His whisper made Steve shiver, and when he looked at his face, Tony could laugh at how big Steve’s pupils had become. He counted it as a win.

He slid his sunglasses on and turned to the door. “But now, it’s showtime.”

***

The steps in the main entrance were covered in a plush red carpet that felt thicker than some floors, and Steve appreciated the decoration lining up each side. People must have worked real hard for this event.

“Tony! Tony, over here!”

“Tony, who’re you wearing?”

The photographers were going nuts over Tony. Steve could swear a woman had fainted in the entrance.

“This is a Stark original, darling,” Tony drawled, and twirled to let them get a good look.

And boy, was it a sight for sore eyes.

The celebrities coming in were starting to gather around, some walking slower to let the photographers get a good shot, some talking with the cameras over on the steps. But not a single person had so many people focused on them as Tony. He had worked with those designers real hard, and what they’d come up with was a piece of pure technological genius that managed to look amazing and unreal at the same time.

Nanotech, Tony had called it. Steve had sit through the entire explanation about the nanotubes and how Tony “would be damned before he let another ant sized fucker get into his suit,” but he’d only use it to design a new Iron Man armor until last year. When he received the news he’d be hosting the Met Gala, Tony had called one of those world famous designers and they’d work on this outfit for seven months. Versace, Steve thinks.

The result was a nanotech armor that felt like fabric and looked like fabric, with the density of a hair and the resistance of a Falcon 9 spaceship. The suit managed to look slick and bulletproof at the same time, and well, the way it hugged Tony’s ass was reason enough to be here.

Steve saw Tony’s arm reaching for him, and he walked up to join him in front of the cameras. “Dazzle them, Steve.” Tony grinned at him, and Steve felt his heart grow a little bit. God, he loved this man so much.

The flashes were getting a bit too overwhelming for Steve, the way they always did, but even he had to admit it felt kinda good to have Tony on his arm and the whole world to see them. He had always admired Tony’s philanthropic nature and his tech genius, and the world needed to admire it too.

“A kiss, give us a kiss!”

The guys with the cameras egged them on, and since Tony liked to put on a show so much he figured he could do this for him. Tony looked at him and shrugged slightly, as if saying “it’s your call, Cap.”

Good thing Steve’s reflects were so fast. He slid his arm behind Tony’s back and with the other one he held his left hand, putting his leg behind Tony’s thighs quickly.

The photographers started dog whistling and cheering when Steve swooped Tony and dipped him into the ground, kissing him softly.

He felt Tony sighing and his lips parting, and it took all of Steve’s will to keep the kiss short and sweet, instead of doing what he really wanted to do. But he couldn’t resist swiping his tongue over Tony’s plush bottom lip once.

He parted the kiss, but remained with Tony dipped like a princess for a second. The chocolate eyes he loved melted and blinked up at him. “Woah, you’re pulling out all the tricks tonight, Captain.” Steve felt inner pride swell at Tony’s slightly dazed expression when he said that.

“Well, I have to make up for my terrible outfit, don’t I?”

After that, they continued their stroll down the entrance, stopping to talk to reporters and saying hi to some of the other guests. Tony stopped to talk with George Clay? George Crowley? Whoever, he was familiar from that movie they went to see last month.

“Hey, Steve,” A voice behind him said. “You look awfully ordinary today.”

Natasha came with Clint in tow, as Tony had said. Her red dress reminded Steve of a knight’s chainmail, but he couldn’t tell if it was made from the same material. “Nat, you look like a fairy tale. Where’s the charming prince?”

“Hey, right here.” Clint piped in. Well, he was wearing a suit just like Steve was. Except he had put on a type of metal prosthesis over his arm. Great.

“No, really, where is he?”

“Very funny, Cap,” Clint punched him with his metal arm. “You might wanna stop the banter and make sure someone doesn’t steal your man.”

Natasha arched an eyebrow, looking over his shoulder.

Steve turned around to see Tony chatting with a different guy from the movie actor. This man was tall and blonde and- well, he looked like a real dickhead if Steve was being honest. But Tony didn’t seem to mind, as he was deeply in conversation telling a very entertaining story, judging by the man’s laugh.

He shrugged. “I might have to take some measures.”

Nat smiled at him, knowing he was joking, and pat him on the shoulder. “I’m sure he can fend by himself any potential suitors.”

“Hey, did you see Thor?” Clint turned his head, cackling. “Holy shit, he’s gonna start summoning thunder soon.”

And Thor was a few meters behind them in the main photo stand with Jane by his side, the media couldn’t get enough of him. He was swinging Mjolnir around, his cape glistening with the camera flashes.

“Hey, that’s cheating.” Steve frowned. “He’s just wearing his regular battle outfit.”

“Well, how much fashionably avant garde can you get when you’re an Asgardian god?” Natasha tilted her head. “I think they look cute.”

“Yeah, just wait til he pours a storm over them. One of the paparazzi almost pushes Jane out in the curb.” Clint said.

Tony appeared right beside Steve, his suit catching the light. “Hey Barton, lost your Robocop helmet back there?”

“For your information, this is Armani. Not all of us can get a custom made armor suit.”

“Miss Romanoff,” Tony kissed Nat’s hand. “You look particularly deadly today.”

“Thank you, Shellhead. I was going for that.”

A reporter asked them to pose for a group photo, and then when Thor joined them they had to go through another eight rounds of posing for every media outlet in existence. Steve was getting a little bit antsy, but luckily the dinner came after this. He could eat.

The darlings of the night were Tony and Nat, obviously. They posed for some duo photos and Steve had to admit, the sight of the two of them together could probably turn any man or woman, no matter the sexuality.

Nat’s firey red hair was styled into a short, disheveled bob with bangs reaching her mid forehead. Her dress, now that Steve had seen it properly, was part dress and part chainmail indeed. She looked stunning.

But Tony, Tony was on a whole new playing field. Right after the announcements and the opening speech, the media asked for some last photographs. Tony humored them and as the crowd rose into applause, he tapped something in the arc reactor (or nano case as he had called it), and the suit transformed right before them.

Steve had seen the way the tubes formed over Tony’s body many times, how it looked almost like a living entity, swallowing Tony, spreading around him to protect him. He must admit, he had been a weak man more than once and dragged Tony right after a debriefing into the nearest closet or conference room and, well. Let’s just say it’s incredibly easy to fuck someone wearing nanotech tubes, as they need to just open up around the right parts.

And now the crowd was going crazy with it. The suit formed arm gauntlets, and then in the back, something that resembled the flight stabilizers that the armor often had came up, forming a circle of long spikes framing Tony’s head, with an almost regal nature. The suit went from a steel gray to the classic red and gold colors, and Tony smiled. Steve was getting as hyped as the crowd with this, honestly.

“He’s born for this, it’s ridiculous,” Steve heard Clint say behind him. He thought of other adjectives rather than ridiculous, but whatever.

***

The dinner was good, but it wasn’t shawarma or some greasy spoon’s cheeseburger. “God, I’m so getting burgers after this,” Tony mumbled, placing the fork and knife over his plate in a cross.

“Tell Thor that, he just asked for doubles and the head chef had to come and tell him they don’t do ‘doubles’,” Steve chuckled next to him.

Things had been surprisingly well. The exhibition was exquisite, as always. Tony had to go find Anna for the final speech, but things were sailing smoothly.

“Hey, how are you holding up?” Tony placed his hand over Steve’s on the table, turning to glance at him. “I’ve been so busy mingling and being the MC, I hadn’t checked up with you.”

Steve smiled at him, nodding. “I get it, don’t worry. You’re the main attraction. I’ve been perfectly alright just sitting back and watching you.”

Tony definitely did not blush at that. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, it’s easy to just stand back and look pretty when you have the experience.”

Steve put his hand on Tony’s thigh under the table, squeezing slightly. “Yes, it is. But I might have to stop sitting down and be right behind you, like a bodyguard. What with all these men coming after my fella.”

Tony snorted. “Like a bodyguard, huh? Like Whitney Houston and Costner?”

“Have we seen that one?”

“No, I don’t think you have,” Tony tried to remember. “Doesn’t matter. It doesn’t end well for them.”

Steve’s hand felt warm and solid even over the nano layer of the suit.

“But yeah, I might have to step up. I’d hate to cause scene at this fancy event, though.” Steve said, looking at Tony sideways. His smile was charming as ever.

“Captain?” Tony arched an eyebrow. “Are you getting jealous over here?”

Steve lowered his head, looking down at his hand on Tony. “I mean, I can’t blame them. You’re a vision in that outfit tonight.”

Tony felt himself getting hot under the collar. Steve praising him always did things to him, weird, mushy things, dammit.

“Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.” Tony peered at Steve through his eyelashes. “Remember what I told you in the car? Cause I’m good on my word, soldier.”

He enjoyed so much getting Steve riled up in public. His lips parted slightly, his eyes always widened and his jaw started clenching when he tried to control it. Steve never looked more attractive.

“Well, you better sweetheart. Because I have some ideas for this suit of yours.” Steve said quietly, his hand moving higher up Tony’s thigh and squeezing right before taking it away and turning his body, acting like nothing had happened.

Tony almost combusted. Right before he could suggest taking things to the restroom, he heard a voice in the speaker call his name. It was Anna.

Dammit, time for the closing ceremony.

Steve chuckled as he made his way up the chair. “You’re so paying for this, Steve,” Tony said, getting up behind him.

“I sincerely hope I do,” Steve replied, biting his lip. He put his hands on Tony’s shoulders and patted him, a big smile on his face. “Now go get them, tiger.”

Tony was adding this to the list of Reasons Why Steve Isn’t America’s Boyscout And He Has Everyone Fooled.

#stevetony #fic rec #tony stark #steve rogers #stony fic #stevetonyedit

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moonmothmama · 4 years

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when corona is over, among other things, i’d like to go to queens and see my grandmother’s apartment building... just stand on the street and look at it. in person, with my waking eyes.

once in a while i toy with thoughts of contacting whoever lives in her apartment now and asking permission to take some pictures of the views out of the windows. my memories are fading around the edges. i don’t know if that would be creepy of me. i guess that’d be up to whoever lives there now to decide.

but even without the pandemic, idk if my anxiety would actually allow me to do that.

i remember going to the museum of the moving image with my friends before they moved away; it’s also in astoria, and per my request, we rolled by the building on the way home. i snapped a picture of it. the doorway is really distinctive, there’s a grey cement arch. i remember the countless weekend drives out there, waiting to see that doorway all the way. how many times have i walked through it?

it’s been sixteen years.

i don’t know why i’m so stuck on this. and i still wish we could have saved more of her things. there was one of those ceramic planters in the image of the Virgin Mary on the window sill in the back room; more than anything i wish i could have taken that. i’m not even religious. not the slightest bit Catholic in anything but inherited guilt and a name that sounds like it should belong to a nun. but i wish to Christ i had that planter. a few years ago i found a similar one on etsy. it’s not the same, but it’s... something.

there were so many Jesuses in the living room... portraits and crucifixes and there was this... doll... like a jesus doll under a plastic sheath. the infant of prague or something. if that sounds weird... i mean, it was. and each bedroom had a Blessed Mother. in her bedroom there was a statue of Mary standing on a hill with roses, and i vaguely remember a snake. could be wrong about that. i remember me and my sister sitting by those windows and looking out past the fire escapes to the street.

Mom has one of her rosaries. a tiny red thing. it’s not a full sized rosary, it’s very small, and it has a medal on it; i can’t remember who’s on the medal though. Nan was big on saint medals.

i wish i had something of hers. one of the things i remember, like one of those Mary figures, or that abalone shell she kept on her dresser and used as an ashtray (god, Nan), or one of those vintage corelle butterfly gold pattern cups she drank coffee from, or something. something i could hold in my hand.

i hadn’t even gotten to the cemetery since the burial. mostly because for a long time it didn’t have any meaning for me. it’s not where she is, or even where she was. but now... the idea of seeing her name in stone- something about that would be comforting in a way i can’t quite describe. just seeing her name. i can’t go to the cemetery now because of the virus. they’re asking people not to come except for immediate situations. i can understand that. but like. i don’t know where to put this feeling. i don’t know where to go with it. i never do, really.

i was the only one who refused to go to the funeral for one of the two days. i stayed home alone and fried spring rolls and ate cake icing out of the container for lunch and cried. it was the second day iirc. going the first day was so bad that i couldn’t handle the second.

it didn’t look like her in the casket at all. the room was full of my uncle’s business contacts who came out of respect; that was the first time i saw my uncle in years, the second time in my life that i can recall, and also the last time i ever saw him. so the room is full of people i don’t know. a social anxiety nightmare at the best of times; an inescapable hell on one of the worst days of my life.

i burst out crying during one of the quiet parts; i remember people turning to look at me. my baby cousin (who really was a baby then) asked my sister “Kathleen sad?” in that innocent way of a small child struggling for context in a situation they don’t wholly understand. i remember the way my sister’s voice broke when she said i was. she was sitting next to me on this couch on the side of the room, facing out at all the rows of chairs. i remember virtually nothing of the wake after that. my next memory is eating little miniature spring rolls alone on the couch.

nothing can really predict when i go off on these little mental grief journeys; there’s no pattern i can discern. sometimes they’re set off by something (like today, a blog i follow posted a photo from her neighborhood), sometimes it’s out of the blue... i guess it’s pretty obvious that lately some of these moments are tied up with missing loved ones i can’t visit.

loss is such a simple concept and such a complicated feeling.

anyway i’m fine. in case i’ve worried anyone with this out-of-the-blue rant about a sixteen year old grief: i’m not just saying that, i really am fine. i just miss her sometimes.

#personal #blogging on my blog #plague diary

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gwaciechang · 4 years

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Stars, Hide Your Fires (1/5)

“Roll away your stone I will roll away mine Together we can see what we will find Don’t leave me alone at this time For I am afraid of what I will discover inside”

There’s dubcon kissing and touching in this because Dixie’s a prostitute and Laurie doesn’t actually want to sleep with him when they pay him. Specifically, when the elevator door closes, and after they’ve eaten pasta.

I’ve never hired a sex worker before, so I don’t know whether the prices here are correct or not. I’ve also never actually watched Murder on the Home Front, just gifs, nor do I actually want to, so if somebody could link me to a compilation of just Dixie’s scenes, that’d be great.

If you want to be tagged in future installments for this, please let me know by either commenting or replying to it. Thanks!

Somewhere, a person falls from an iron maiden into the arms of a scared stage manager. Elsewhere, a person is driving the man they don’t know they’ve married to a methadone clinic. And in a different place entirely, someone is playing guitar to their neighbor.

Meanwhile, you’re taking a garbage bag full of moldy cakes to the dumpster.

“You going to be okay?” Shelley asks.

“It’s five steps from the door, what's going to happen? The cakes become sentient and try to eat me back?” you offer him your most reassuring smile. “Go home, Shelley. Let me close up today.”

“Drive safe,” Shelley says as he walks to his car. You have no doubt that he’s actually going to sit in his car until he sees you leave. Well, this shouldn’t take you more than five minutes.

It does, because you almost step on a person about to go down on someone.

You let out a little shriek, which makes the man look up. You forgive him immediately, because he’s really, really attractive. He’s not really dressed for the night chill, and you can see suppressed shivers. The warmest thing on him is the old-fashioned cap you think you’ve seen in a museum somewhere, beneath which shone perceptive eyes in a sharp, elfin face.

“Hey!” you croak out. “Not here!”

“I paid good money for this,” the woman above him snarls

You hold your ground. “I don’t care, you still can’t fuck at the back of this restaurant. Just be glad my manager isn’t the one who caught you.”

The woman opens her mouth to yell at you, but the man in the old-timey hat gives you both a swollen-lipped, charming smile. “I won’t charge you while we find better accommodations,” he runs a finger down her cheek.

“Alright, dearest,” the woman smiles back cloyingly, and then they’re gone. You breathe a sigh of relief as you go inside and hang up your apron.

The day had been terrible. One of the cooks had burned a steak that Shelley had to remake while trying to keep them from crying. A waitress had spilled watermelon juice on a customer, so then Shelley had to sweet-talk them from yelling at her. And that brought you to now, hours and possibly days after someone had knocked the plug for the dessert freezer, turning all the cakes moldy. You end up having to take another fifteen minutes to drop all the cakes into the dumpster, mourning the time the newbie baker spent making them, and ignoring the grunts coming from far too closely.

By the time you finally get to your car, even Shelley has clearly decided to leave, but the man in the old-timey hat is still in the street corner, leaning against the wall of the building that always smells like burning chemicals of some sort. You walk up to him, intending to thank him for saving your ass earlier.

He looks you up and down before licking his lips lasciviously. “Looking for a good time?” he walks closer.

You're not stupid, you know prostitutes frequent this area, but it’s never been your business. Everybody has to make money, and as long as nobody gets hurt-

And now he’s close enough that you can see the swelling around his eye. You have to squint to see the bruise, meaning it’s been covered up by a practiced hand.

“Who hurt you?” you step closer to him.

“No one,” his smile doesn’t fade, but he visibly tenses.

“Then who punched you in the face?” god, you need to stop being as frank as your roommate. Blunt might serve Alex well, but you’re not a journalist, you’re waitstaff. “Never mind, what’s your name?”

“Matt,” he lies.

“Okay, ‘Matt,’ How much do you charge?”

Just like that, the Cheshire grin is back. “A hundred an hour, double if you want to do weird shit.” He looks you up and down again, slower this time, deliberate, like he’s undressing you. “But for you, I think we could negotiate.”

“How much for a whole night?”

“Matt” scoffs, “No offense, but I don’t think you can afford a whole night.”

You think about how much food you have left in your apartment, how long it’s been since Alex has had an article, how there’s the outline of another bruise below “Matt’s” collar, and your mind’s made up. “How much?”

“Matt” looks surprised, and it takes a while for the smile to return. “Five hundred,” he says finally, “half up front, half in the morning.”

“I’m guessing you need it in cash?” your last roommate was a meth addict, you learned how this works. “I have to hit the ATM. My car’s this way,” you wave him along.

“Wow, hot, rich, and smart,” he falls into step with you. “You’re going to be fun.”

You blush, even though you know it’s his job to pretend to be attracted to people. “Not rich, just financially savvy.”

“Except when you hire a prostitute for the whole night,” “Matt” points out.

“You’ve got a point,” you shake your head at yourself.

The moment the elevator doors close, “Matt” gets into your space, pushing you up against the wall and sliding a hand down to squeeze your ass.

You push him off you with a yelp. “What the hell?”

“It’s what you’re paying for, gorgeous,” his whisper is hot, but his lips and hands are cold. “Calm down, let me take care of you,” he keeps his grip on your ass when he presses his hips forward, and, okay, this has to stop before you lose your mind.

Thankfully, the elevator dings right then, and “Matt” straightens out, wiping his kiss-swollen lips and walking out like a normal person. He stays silent until you both enter your apartment, where Alex is sitting in front of their computer munching on a block of cheddar cheese like some sort of heathen. Their eyes narrow as they take in you, then “Matt.” Too late, you remember the “investigative” part of “investigative journalist.”

“A threesome is extra,” “Matt’s” eyes go wide as he looks between the two of you.

Alex’s jaw drops, as does the piece of cheddar in their mouth. “Laurie, what did you do?”

“Matt” covers his face with his hands and groans. “You’re not going to try to peddle the Bible to me, are you?”

Alex snorts. “As if either of us are in a position to preach.”

“Sinners, both of us,” you agree, grabbing your handtowel out of the bathroom and running warm water over it. “Come, sit on the toilet,” you motion.

“Matt’s” eyes squeeze shut as you wipe the makeup off his face, even though you’re going as gently as you can, to reveal the purple ring around his eye.

“Put some ice on that,” Alex says at the door, holding a bag of frozen peas out to you.

“Matt” says nothing, but judging from the unhappy tilt to his mouth, he’s probably only letting this happen because he’s getting paid.

“Thanks,” you take it from them gratefully and have “Matt” press it against his face. “So, you hungry?” you ask, walking out to the kitchen.

“What do you want?” “Matt” asks flatly, “I’m not complaining, but six hundred dollars is a bit much for a therapy session.”

“It’s cold out,” you say lightly. “Days like these, I know I want to eat something hot.”

“Matt” thrusts the bag of frozen peas back to you. “I don’t need saving.”

“I know,” you don’t tell him that you’re lonely. You also don’t tell him that the last three people you saw around the building he came out of were dead.

There must be something in your face that gets his approval, because “Matt” puts the bag of peas back on his face. “Macaroni and cheese,” he says, before sitting stiffly on the couch.

“The macaroni I can do,” you dig the box of pasta out of the cupboard. “Unfortunately, the cheese,” you nod to the cheddar in Alex’s hand.

They shove the rest of the cheese in their mouth, probably just out of spite. But then they wave you into their room, just after you put the pasta in the pot to boil. They lean down to the safe they have in the corner, next to the closet, and opens it to reveal more money than you’ve ever seen at once. “When you get the sort of assignments I do, you learn to keep a thousand dollars in cash ready to go,” they say ruefully. “How much do you need?”

“I can’t-”

“Can he?” Alex cants their head to the guest in the living room.

You take the money. For some reason, Alex takes their laptop and shuts their door after this. Music blares from their room, and then it’s just you and “Matt” in the living room.

You sit uncomfortably at the dining room table across from him, and you eat in silence. “Here,” you say finally, handing over the other half of the five hundred.

“Matt” doesn’t touch it, instead coming to stand in front of you. In between one blink and the next, he’s straddling you.

“Matt-”

“Let’s figure out how to make you feel good,” he murmurs against your jaw before swooping down to kiss you, hot, wet, and absolutely filthy. His lips curve against yours when you shiver from it, and only now do you realize you’ve been kissing back. He tastes like your boxed pasta, like mint, like that weird burnt chemical smell from the building he came out of.

You wrench away. “Jesus, stop, fuck!”

“Matt” frowns at you. “Why?”

“Fuck, I don’t need-” your voice cracks. “You don’t have to do anything. I’m sorry,” your legs are shaking too hard to stand up, but “Matt” gets off you regardless and sits on the couch.

“I’m clean,” “Matt” says quickly. “I go to the clinic every week. You need to see the test results?”

“No,” you manage to stand mostly without staggering. “I only have sex with people who want it.”

“Matt” scoffs. “Well I want what you paid me for,” he nods to the money that’s still on the kitchen table.

“Well, I paid you to sleep on this couch,” you nod to it. “Do you want a blanket?”

“You’re no fun,” “Matt” spends too long rolling his eyes for it to be sincere. “I’d like a pillow, too.”

You get them for him, and then you lock your bedroom door and spend less than a minute jacking off before orgasming as silently as you’re capable of.

#dixie #shelley #drug reference #prostitution tw #into the joeyverse #joey i am literally begging you not to look through this tag

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ephemereos · 5 years

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This is gonna be a bunch of nonsensical thoughts, but lately i’ve been reflecting a lot bout my relationship with religion and religious beliefs. I’m Italian and I’m from a catholic family. A very catholic family I’d say, nothing too over the top, but still quite attached to religion. From a very young age, as soon as I was able to sit still and behave, my mom started taking me with her to mass every sunday morning. When I was little i’d like that. I liked sitting there, with the mass of people praying and singing together, I liked listening to the stories from the bible, it was almost a fun event for me, it didn’t feel like a chore. At that point in my life I felt safe there, because what i’d get from those masses was “Jesus loves everyone. If you do wrong, he will forgive you as long as you admit you did a bad thing and feel bad and try your best to make it up and do better.” I also had the luck that the priest we used to have was a nice, calm, kind old man. Reserved and almost “professional” but loving and kind. He overall was quite a good person. Then cane the time when I reached the age to go to catechism lessons to you know get ready for communion and confirmation. Around that time, my neighbour also had to start, but along with catechism he would be “studying” to become an altar boy. I begged my mom to let me do that too because I always admired the kids who were like, helping the priest and all that and I wanted to do that too. My mom let me do it, and was actually kinda surprised I showed interest in that. So for years I went on doing that, helping my local church and later on getting communion and confirmation. On both occasions my grandmothers wanted to go all out because to them, especially the one on my mother’s side, it was something extremely important. She got me a pendant with the virgin mary and my (dead)name and date of confirmation engraved on the back. She always asked if I went to church regularly and all that. Those days it felt good and right to always go there, but growing up it started feeling...uncomfortable. From the age of 12 to 14 I stopped going because I went to live abroad and when I came back it started feeling more and more like a chore. I got forced by my parents to join the church’s youth groups, where I always felt out of place and uncomfortable. During that time was also when I started feeling like I might not be a girl, and that i might have liked girls too as well as boys. That really fucked with me. to top it all off, the priest we had before went away and a younger, more conservative and bigoted one arrived. ( Jsyk: this priest is still here but many are unhappy because there is a chance he might be corrupted or something. Anyways, hes a bitch) That’s when I began to completely detach myself from religion, although it’s a hard process that’s still going on. I completely stopped going to the youth groups, not giving a real explanation because I was too scared and embarrassed and I stopped going to church except on rare occasions because I felt on edge. As if the old women might try to harass me, despite there being NO PROOF they would do that. I’m just paranoid. With the fact I grew up in such a religious environment, though, the guilt of detaching myself from it still haunts me, eating me alive from time to time. Every time I get asked “are you religious” I don’t know what to answer because I’m not really religious, but I’m not completely atheist either. I’m in a weird limbo where I fear the wrath of a God I used to feel so close to, but at the same time I do nothing to honor him and I don’t pray every night anymore. I feel a strong guilt because of my love for religious symbolism and imagery and I feel like I’m being blasphemous if I wear a cross or pose like a religious painting/sculpture while being a dumbass with my friends at art museums. And all this is another reason why I always try to understand or even defend religious people who are doing no harm and that get made fun of or mocked by atheists that think they’re “morally superior” or something. Religion is something private that can give a certain comfort and anyone should be free to hold on to the bit of faith they have if they want to. Most religious people don’t harm anyone, so why give them shit for it. This isn’t meant to go anywhere, but I wanted to dump my thoughts somewhere.

#personal #religion #catholic #if u wanna reblog or ad stuff feel free to especially if u have had similar experiences #it would be nice to be able to discuss this stuff with other people who’ve had the same doubts as me #even if u have another religion !

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finderskeepersff · 5 years

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15. Part 5

Headache, that is all I feel right now is headache and pain. Did I drink last night, I must have because my head is pounding “wake up fatty” hearing Sofia say “I see you moving, we ain’t got time for you to be staring up at the ceiling” I really don’t want to leave the bed “mhmmm” turning onto my side hiding in the covers “that’s what you get for getting drunk” I’m to blame, I’m sure she was the one at fault. Poking my head up from the covers “I’m sure you are at blame” Sofia looked behind herself at me “me?” She pointed at herself “oh so you remember now?” I had to laugh because I do a little “you got drunk and told everyone you’re rich” I sighed out placing my head back onto the pillow “are you rich Cassius?” Sofia asked, I laughed “so is it nice outside?” Changing the subject “and you sang to me, you are something else Cassius Warren. You told me you made a song for me” feeling the covers being dragged off of me “didn’t even get dick, went straight to sleep” turning onto my back “I’m a bad drunk” I admitted “millionaire drug dealer?” I’m so stupid “wow! I said that!?” Jesus Christ what is my problem “are you though? I mean you’re sweet too, singing to me and saying you don’t want me to work but they don’t need to know that right?” Shaking my head “is it all true? You have money in that home?” Nodding my head “I never lie” Sofia held my hand “why leave it there? Do they know?” Shaking my head “it’s my way of control because my family think they can control me, one phone call I can get them fucked up, it’s not everything in there but enough to show they do drugs, I had too. I couldn’t trust them” Sofia nodded her head “where do you keep this money? You have a duffle bag but the rest?” Sofia is asking me, she wants to know and I’m not so sure “we have it in a secret location” Sofia raised an eyebrow “not telling me? Like I’m going to roll up to your secret location? You talk too much and honestly half of the stuff you said you get so cocky and you said many things I’m going to question it, I’m going to live with you. And if you want to keep quiet then so be it, I’ll have to get you drunk again” She deadass will “Sofia the money means nothing to me, we have the money but it’s currently in the process of getting clean, we have a guy that is helping us with it. I ain’t going to lie to you but that five thousand I haven’t touched yet, it’s nothing to me. We got to the point where we are selling drugs to celebrities, not me personally but me and them, we are leaving that, it’s too much” Sofia is less than impressed “right, the money you have at your mom’ house, you move that. You’re linking yourself to them, you move that and you take it somewhere” Sofia demanding things now “I’ll give it to your family” Sofia frowned at me “why?” She questioned “I heard you speaking to your mom, I don’t want you giving the money you need yourself. That is your money so let me give” Sofia walked off “no, just put it somewhere” I have a headache.

I keep falling asleep while at the table “you want to just go back to bed? I’ll tag along with the rest again?” Dragging my eyes open “no, I don’t want you to do that thanks. So how are you going to give money to your mom, you said you was so how?” I may have been too nosey “bottle service girl again?” Sofia didn’t like me saying such a thing but I’m right “don’t speak on that Cassius, is that my fault you spilled your life out on the table, a millionaire drug dealer?” Sofia said in a whisper “millionaire drug dealer, let that sink in. To me that is mental, I just don’t get it Cassius. Make me understand” taking in a deep breath “so it’s all true then?” Licking my lips “I been doing this shit since I was fifteen, so you know” I don’t know what she want me to say, I mean it’s the truth “know what Cassius? You said you was supposed to be dead, you wasn’t supposed to be here, you also said you can drop money on a house like it’s nothing. So tell me yes or no am I sleeping with a man that is what you say you are” I may lighten things up for Sofia “am I what?” I want her to say it “a millionaire” she didn’t say drug dealer, moving in the seat “think of it like this, if that duffle bag has hundreds and fifties in and it’s full. That is just one Duffle, think how much that is just there, then I have another in my mom’ house, then I have the others. I came out that place broke, now. Not so much so, I made connections inside. I defeated the people that took business from us which opened us up from attacks. I wouldn’t say broke, my boys wouldn’t allow any money to leave their side. But things were done” I shrugged “this is what I say about you, there is more to what you are letting on” she pointed at me “and I don’t flaunt it, I am just me Sofia. I don’t do shit, not now. Me, Kyle and Myles, don’t do shit because we been doing it. I don’t do it” she needs to know that “but you are still there, Cassius. You are exposing yourself to bad vibes, you need to fix your mess up. You need to make out it was a lie, you cannot and I beg you. You cannot leave it at what you said last night. Me, I will never tell on you” I sighed out “but they your friends” I said, Sofia nodded her head “my friends, yes. But do I trust them with your life, no. They would save me rather than you” she isn’t wrong “you really need to quit, like please. I get it. You are the top dog, you don’t need to do anything but what about when someone knows I am with you and they come for me? I am not going to panic because right now it’s just scary. I am with a man that is far into drug dealing, you have to make sure you say that shit was you talking shit” Sofia is not happy but again is trying to keep me safe “I will” I mumbled.

Drinking the Red Bull can, shit is too early but I am trying to stay awake for Sofia so we can do things. It’s alone time for us so I want to be awake for her “Cassius, I was thinking” she walked out of the bathroom “thank you for offering about my family, I was just thinking while putting my face on. Thank you” nodding my head “it’s ok, get ready. I am waiting” I will end up falling asleep before she even finishes “I think the reason why things were so good for us, you know when you’re young and in danger is just whatever, your parents are happy for you, you see money. It just rolls in, it just happens. I am not the only one, Kyle and Myles parents, they all living off them. I mean shit, we came from the gutter, we didn’t have much chance but to stay together and build on it. Put aside feelings because I seen shit I wish I ain’t seen and I ain’t proud to have seen it Sofia, but it’s life and it had to happen. All I’m going to say is that I didn’t do half of the shit Kyle and Myles did, I was more of the brains and them two were the ones to do it. The shit works and it always has, it would have always worked if Jordan didn’t get me like that. But you need to understand why I have so much money, it’s been years and I have friends, ride or die. Kyle saved me just for him to be in a coma, people tried to get at me because they know I am the brains, I can make a hit happen and make it happen right like that, I know how to do a lot but never did I know how to love, I do thanks to you. It’s a slow process but it will be done, just ride the wave for me” that is all I want from Sofia.

I smiled staring at Sofia as we got the elevator down, anything this girl wears looks beautiful. It’s crazy, she makes everything look so beautiful and I love it “what are you grinning at?” Sofia asked, dragging my eyes all the way down to her nude colour heels “thinking about you, you looks so beautiful baby” Sofia looked away, turning away from me “you really do, I am so lucky to have you. Like, I don’t honestly deserve you and everything you are doing, holding out for me. God will award you, award us. I promise” she hasn’t so much say she is riding it out, I am assuming and praying she does “Cassius, I am going to ride it with you. Just because I do believe you and I also don’t see myself with anybody else” the elevator doors opened, pushing myself off of the elevator side and walked off slowly behind Sofia “oh hey girl” Sofia said, seeing Kenton “you been shopping? You spending that cash already?” Sofia pointed at the bags Olivia held “hell the fuck yes, anyways have fun you too” smiling a little as I walked by them.

I ain’t going to lie but I don’t do tourist shit, Sofia is all about it but me on the other hand. I just want to sit and eat or even then just sit around “I have always seen Louvre Museum on pictures and look at this, I am here” Sofia said, she looks so happy so who am I to tell her I hate doing this shit, I will just suck it up and get on with that shit “you know Museums are boring?” I pointed out “but I know you will see that shit with me” I had to laugh, she knows me and knows I will “what you doing?” I asked as she moved back “I am taking a picture”moving to the side and towards Sofia “no nigga, you stand there. I want a picture with you and the Louvre Museum behind you” pulling a face “but why?” Sofia glared at me and I just shut up, I had too. Me and pictures don’t mix so I hate it “smile for me please, come on” placing my hands behind me licking my lips “when you ready to smile we can move on” rolling my eyes an then smiled, more of a forced smile then anything “you can be so moody at times, can you just take a picture of me and my man?” Sofia asking people again, this woman is something else “thank you” she ran at me, putting my arm around Sofia and smiled because I know how much she loves memories and pictures “thank you” the guy passed the phone back.

I assumed Sofia was going to go inside the Louvre Museum but she didn’t we came to have lunch, it’s dope because we can see the Eiffel tower from here. French food is weird, I just be poking the shit with my fork “do you love me?” Sofia said randomly, I just nodded my head staring at my plate “why they put all this extra green shit” I complained, Sofia’ hand went just under my chin to make me look up at her and I was met with her phone in my face, her hand rubbing just under my chin “do you love me?” she said again, looking at Sofia and then at the phone “you know I do” her thumb outlined my lips “I do love you Sofia” reaching my hand up and holding her hand in mine, she finally moved her phone “what was that all about?” I wonder what she is up too “updating my gram, I am editing the video. Just when I touch your lips, the love you thing is for me” she is crazy, moving my hand away from hers “but on a real, why so much grass on my plate” I am still thinking on this “look” Sofia turned her phone to me, watching the video play out. You can’t even see my full face, it’s just my lips and Sofia touching them “whatever makes you happy” if that shit makes her happy so be it “read the caption” she said, looking down a little “my perfection” I read aloud, I cooed out “that’s cute, how many people follow you on this thing anyways? What is so good about it, I know my brothers were on it, they be having a lot of people” I never understand this shit “I have ten thousand now” raising an eyebrow “the fuck you doing? Posting nudes?” how can ten thousand follow her “no, I don’t know. Just my face” letting an oh “so it’s those thirsty niggas following you” it must be.

I have no idea which store she would want to go too, she ain’t saying anything or attempting to go into these stores but let’s try Chanel, who doesn’t like Chanel, I mean women love Chanel I assume so. Sofia is so sweet, she is really window shopping but she doesn’t need too “let’s go in here” I said walking towards the store “how about we don’t Cassius, I ball on a budget, let’s not” let me ignore her, this guy with a suit opened the door for us, he looked reluctant or assumed we ain’t about to get shit “it’s so nice inside” Sofia said in a whisper as we got inside “it is, pick what you want. Whatever you want in this store get it” we stopped abruptly “oh be quiet Cassius” Sofia laughed “I am being dead ass Sofia, get what you want. The world is yours babe, whatever you want get it” Sofia looks so confused “do you need any help at all” now I am not sure if this assistant is being nice or she overheard the conversation “my partner, can you help her buy things. Anything she want, find it. My card is in my pocket so” Sofia eye balled me “stop it, ignore him” moving back a little “do what you need too, I’ll sit somewhere” I am tired, maybe I can have a nap. Sofia thinks I am using that money I put in her bank, I have another bank account with money so she good with all this.

#Chrianna #Chrianna FF #Fanfiction

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newidaho · 5 years

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14. Christmas in Hell, pt. 2

Don’t have the time/patience/desire to read with your eyes? Don’t have eyes? Well, have your friend read you this: You can check out the audiobook for free on Apple, Google, Stitcher, or Spotify. Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday!

25 December 2054 /// 0600h

Charlie’s life wasn’t easy, but he was still grateful. He didn’t get out of his house in the Jungle much, but he knew that there were people who had much more than him, people who lived on the outer edges of the mountain ring. He knew they existed, and he was happy they existed. He could imagine himself being friends with them. In fact, he had a feeling his friend Gamma was one of them.

With that said, it wasn’t that Charlie’s life was bad by any stretch of the imagination. He always had enough to eat. He had a loving mother. He got to go to school and get an education. And he got to learn about God, and the FuTech faith. So he knew he was going to go to heaven.

And today was a day made completely for God. Or, more specifically, God’s son, Jesus. Charlie knew that some people believed that there would be another savior coming, but he didn’t know enough to say whether or not he could or should believe this. If another savior came, Charlie knew he would always and forever still love Jesus. He knew he could do this, because love wasn’t something that was limited.

Today was a day to love Jesus. Charlie had been up since 0530h just thinking about Jesus. To him, this was what the day was for. Charlie never got presents on Christmas, and he wasn’t really jealous of the kids who did. To him, that just seemed distracting. Every Christmas he got excited to think about what his savior had done for him and for all humanity. It was a time of reflection. Of course, he could reflect on Jesus every day, but this day was special. This was his savior’s birthday.

For the past three years, since he was old enough to choose, Charlie had elected to go to all three FuTech Christmas services. Before then he had only gone once a week with his mother, usually at midday. He had to be content with the stadium view, of course, but that didn’t bother him, either. Once again, having the entire stadium to view seemed less distracting than a small room of people he could have paid a monthly subscription to sit with.

Today would be only slightly different. He would still go to all three services, but there was a chance he might sit next to Gamma at one of the services. She had told him at school last week that she would ask her father. He felt a little guilty hoping that her father would say yes—after all, this was just the kind of distraction that he generally tried to avoid. But perhaps sharing his faith with a loved one would make it even stronger?

This was what he told himself, anyway. Only two more hours until the service started. As he laid in his bed, he heard a knock on his door.

‘Come in!’ Charlie said. His mother entered.

‘Hello, Charlie.’

‘Hi mom! Merry Christmas!’

‘Yes, Charlie. Merry Christmas.’ His mother did not sound full of Christmas cheer.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Charlie, we have to talk.’

‘About what?’

‘Charlie,’ his mother sighed, ‘I hate to say it, but you have to work today.’

‘What? Why?’ Charlie did not want to talk back to his mother, but she must have known how important this day was to him.

‘It’s been a tough week on both of us. I haven’t been paid much at the museum. You have been deep in your studies. And don’t get me wrong—I want you to have an education. It’s just that, well, we need money to pay for rent and food. Nobody lives for free, Charlie. Some day you will understand.’

‘I know, mom.’

‘And today, being a holiday and all, they are offering a wage one and a half times the usual for MineShaft work. I hate to say it, Charlie, but we need you in the mines.’

‘…’

‘I know it’s hard. But I need you to put on your mask and get to work. For our family.’

‘I understand.’

‘Good.’

‘But mother, could I at least go to the Christmas services?’

Johnna’s expression looked sincerely pained. ‘I’m sorry, Charlie, but there’s just no way you could make it to the Christmas services today. You know I hate to keep you away from God, but it’s just not possible for us to keep the lights on without today’s work.’

‘I understand. Okay. I will get on Mineshaft.’

‘Good. Let me know if you need anything. I’m sorry it had to come to this.’

‘Thanks, mom.’

Johnna shut the door, leaving Charlie alone in the room with his mask. She knew he wouldn’t sneak into a service without her knowing. Of course, she could always check her bank account to make sure he had worked the full time if she really wanted to.

Whether or not her son was really working, however, was beside the point. Truthfully, she had enough money for food and rent. She even had enough for the next month. The real point was to preserve the illusion of helplessness. What Johnna was really interested in was the narrative.

Since reaching out to New Idahoans Against New Slavery, Johnna had quickly been introduced to the team and the mission by the communications director. Though she hadn’t met any of the members in person yet, she had joined a virtual community and had attended a few meetings. It was at one of these meetings that she had been introduced to the Christmas Plan.

Most of the Guaranteed Income employers in New Idaho offered time and a half for holidays. Christmas was no exception. Though they didn’t offer minimum wage, this was, for whatever reason, the place where employers decided to follow worker’s traditions. Maybe it’s because they knew the interest in working on Christmas would be little to none without this incentive.

This incentive, however, was the key piece of the NIANS plot. Because of the wage increase, it followed that those most hard-up for income would basically be forced to work on Christmas. This was not only a great story to solicit support from the general public—keeping her son away from church because of the disgusting nature of New Idahoan capitalism would surely be a way to get FuTech on the side of NIANS. Once you get a church group on your side, they follow you like lemmings. You could say there’s almost a religious fervor to it.

This was what the NIANS representatives said, anyway. Johnna had to say, it sounded like a good plan. And she wasn’t opposed to making her son work—it was a necessary part of keeping their household up and running. It truly was difficult, however, for her to take her son away from the Christmas services. Though not as steadfastly as Charlie, she, too, was a believer, and there was something almost blasphemous about using their faith as a pawn to acquire better worker’s rights.

What Johnna had to remind herself of, however, was that this was a fight for worker’s rights. She would be repenting for this sin in the future, but for now, this was the only way she could see things moving forward. She had to allow her son to miss a church service. It wasn’t just about her soul, after all—it was about the souls of everyone in the collective body of jungle-dwellers that made up the slums of the “City of the Century”.

Still, she wished that it could be her working today rather than her son. She knew how much FuTech meant to him. At least she could stay in the house with him. She could be present while he remained virtual. And she could make sure to start the penance immediately, lest both of them were condemned to further hell outside of the one they currently inhabited in the jungle.

#New Idaho #Ben Vizy #New Novel #Writing #Writing Community #Novelist #Novel Writing #2054 #Augmented Reality #Futurism #Work on Christmas #NIANS #Protest #Social Justice #Wealth Inequality

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licenselesswriter · 5 years

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The One Who Stayed CH10

Maya wakes up in a room, she was sure it was not hers. She recognizes the Spurs jersey on her, his smell was in all that room, and she wasn't able to suppress her smile - Why now - she recriminates herself while she inhales his scent from the pillow. Unlike the last time, last night he spends the night with her.

She gets up and walks to the kitchen, she found a note over a paper bag "Welcome back to the land of the living" she reads next to a poorly drawn cowboy hat, she chuckles to his sketch. She opens the paper bag and found 3 French Cruller inside - Dammit Lucas - she says while she bites one of the pastries her best friend left for her with a smile on her face.

7 hours later, Lucas walks into his apartment, dragged by the smell of pizza - I know I should be surprised, but at least you paid for pizza - he says while he looks at Maya and 2 empty boxes of pizza.

- Want something to eat honey? - Maya asks in her most sarcastic tone while she watches cars 2.

- Please tell me at least you take a shower - Lucas replies while he takes off his jacket - Want Chinese? - he asks while he picks his phone and dials his usual Chinese delivery.

- You know, a normal person would kick me out after all the time I spend here - Maya says while she mutes the movie.

- I'm not a normal person, yes, hello, yes, yes, ok, I want 1 order of fried rice - Lucas says to his phone, then cover it for a second with his shirt - You want something or what? - he asks Maya.

- Sweet and sour chicken - Mara replies.

- Yes, also 1 order of sweet and sour chicken, yes, look for Lucas Friar, yes, that's the address, ok, thank you - Lucas says before finish the call - I don't want to sound rude, but how you can be that thin when you eat like a pro wrestler? - he asks while he walks to his couch and sits next to Maya.

- Because I ride a bike everywhere unless I have to wear a nice dress - Maya answers and then punch him in the shoulder - And yes, it's rude - she adds, making him laugh a bit.

Until she asks what Lucas wanted to avoid.

- By the way, where's Zay? - Maya asks while she continues watching Cars 2 - I haven't seen him all day, and I'm happy, even when my head hated me for all that scotch - she says, feeling a bit weird when she notices how serious Lucas was.

- Yeah, he's not gonna be around here for some time - Lucas says trying to focus on Mater shooting to the lemon cars.

- Want to talk about that? - Maya asks while she continues looking at him, trying to figure it out what happened from his facial expressions.

- Not before my fried rice - Lucas replies, making Maya smile and cuddle with him.

After 25 minutes, they both hear the knock on Lucas door.

He just looks at the door and caresses her hair - I'm so comfortable here that I don't even want to get my fried rice - Lucas says without any filter.

- Too bad I still want my sweet and sour chicken - Maya replies pushing him out of the couch.

Lucas gets up before ending in the floor, he stretches a little and let a long yawn escape his mouth. He opens his door and receives the paper bags with their food - Thank you - Lucas says and let another yawn escape - Sorry - he apologizes and pays the delivery guy. He walks back to the couch and sits back - Sweet and sour chicken for the Blonde Beauty - he starts, giving Maya her order in exchange for a soft "thank you" - And fried rice for the Mad Dog - he adds making Maya burst in laughter.

- Hey Mad Dog - Maya calls Lucas, the one who says a very soft "yes" - What did he do? - she asks while Lucas looks at her confused.

- Who is he? - Lucas asks back, eating some of his fried rice.

- Zay - Maya replies, making him spit a bit of his rice - Gross - she adds while she passes him a napkin.

- Give me a break - Lucas says and continues eating his rice under the sharp view of Maya - Can at least finish my dinner? - he asks, tired from his work.

- No, tell me - she says with her curiosity at peak.

- For fuck's sake - Lucas says and pull up his phone, then show her the pictures Mark send him this morning.

- The fuck - Maya says while she looks at Charlie and Riley in a series of pictures.

- He found out Riley was cheating on me on the year and a half ago - Lucas explains leaving his rice on his coffee table.

- Damn - Maya says almost regretting forcing him to bring up that subject - So, what you did? - she asks, hoping for the best.

- Well, I start by hitting him - Lucas confess.

- Lucas what the fuck - Maya recriminates him.

- Then I send him to my mother's apartment - Lucas adds while he covers his face with his palms.

- You need to patch things with him, he's your best friend - Maya tries to defend Zay.

- Please, don't - Lucas says to Maya in a begging tone - Also you're my best friend, and I want to spend a nice time watching the rest of Cars 2 with my best friend having Chinese food while I try to not think about how much I miss Lily, can I please have that tonight? - he asks making Maya get close to him and hug him.

- I'm sorry - she says and kisses his cheek, trying to comfort him - Want to cuddle naked and drink wine? - she offers.

Lucas just laughs uncontrollably for 5 minutes - Jesus Christ, I should have done something great in my past life to have you in my life now - he says and caresses her check.

- Is that a yes? - Maya asks, almost fearing to hear him say yes.

- What? No, I mean, I would love to - Lucas says while he allows himself to look at his best friend with some lust in his eyes - But that might end in sex, because you know, we're both hot, and you look especially hot with my jersey on - he adds giving her another lusty look.

But, unlike the other times when they joke about having sex, Maya can't prevent blush on her face - Then we should stay cuddling here, full clothes, while we watch Cars 2 then - she replies while she focuses on the TV again.

Lucas wakes up next morning to the guitar chords of Trace Adkins, he softly pats next to him and surprises hit him when he felt nothing but a warm fade. He scratches his head and yawn - I thought I would be dead, but the day finally came, Maya wakes up earlier than me - he says and laughs at the think of Maya waking up before him, he gets up and walks to his living room, hoping to find her there, but he discovers he was completely alone.

When Cory Matthews walks into his classroom and discovers that all of his sophomores playing with ping-pong balls, only because he took 5 minutes cleaning the cappuccino he drops on his tie, he felt a certain Deja-vu.

- I'm getting too old for this, detention, all of you, all - He says while he points to a certain blonde girl who was next to a brunette.

- You can't give me detention, I'm 29 - Cory hears at his back, making him fastly turn, only to discover Maya, sitting on his chair, with her boots on his desk, playing with a ping-pong ball and a little racket against the wall.

- You - Cory says with a fake disdain tone.

- Me - Maya imitates his first fatherly figure.

- You don't have detention; I know she's the culprit - Cory says to his class.

- Hey! - Maya says with a recriminatory tone.

- Ladies and Gentleman, Miss Maya Hunter - Cory introduce her to his class.

After a few hours of Maya helping Cory with History of Art and why the Nazis rob every museum they can, Cory's class was dismissed.

- So, there must be a reason for you to be here - Cory says while he sits on his chair and Maya sits on the desk that used to be hers.

- There is a reason for me to be here, but - Maya says and then take a little pause - I like this place, remembers me when life used to be easy - she adds, making Cory laugh - What? - she asks him.

- Maybe for you - Cory replies - I had to deal with the whole triangle thing, with Riley stepping aside for Lucaya, then you stepping aside for Rucas, to be honest, I'm surprised Smarkle are still together - he explains to his former student.

- And look at us now - Maya comments.

- And look at us now - Cory agrees with her.

- I think Riley hate me now - Maya expresses her concern.

- Of course, she hates you fierce - Cory says while he gives Maya a sad smile - She thinks you're stealing Lucas from her - he adds, making Maya blurt a tired giggle.

- Yeah, because Lucas wanting a divorce it's my fault - Maya says with her words filled with sarcasm - Also, it's not my fault he thinks I'm a better friend than her - she adds, making Cory get worried a bit.

- I'm guessing he told her that - Cory says trying to not feel bad for his daughter, but he knows she brings all that is happening to her, over her.

- Actually, he hasn't told her this, he told me and Zay - Maya confess, trying to avoid remember what Lucas show her last night.

- That must be hard for him - Cory says with a short giggle - I mean, I still remember what happened when he picked Farkle as Godfather of Lily - he remembers, then notices Maya wasn't giving him any attention.

- I need you to take Lily and Topanga from your apartment - Maya says cutting her former teacher.

- Usually, I would do it, but just out of curiosity, why? - Cory asks Maya.

She just gives him a nervous smile - Riley and I need to talk and get drunk, I don't want Lily to see his mother drunk - Maya explains.

- You're lying - Cory says and gets up, picking up his briefcase - I'm not gonna ask more, and I hope it's not what I'm thinking - he adds. Cory fastly look in his pockets till he finds his keys - Please, try to not break anything, I'm old and I don't deserve to pick up things from the floor - he adds and throws her his keys.

Maya fastly grabs them and give him a sarcastic smile - Can't promise that - she replies while she walks out his class.

20:35 mark the clock when Riley felt her high hopes feel into the ground.

- When my father told me someone special was waiting for me at home, I didn't expect this - the brunette asks, trying not to spit her words to her.

- Thank you - Maya replies with sarcasm - We need to talk - she adds while she walks to the couch with a piece of pizza on a plate - Also I bring tequila so we can talk from the heart - she says pointing at the coffee table.

Riley just look at the woman who she used to think it was her best friend, and she was inches away to run again to her parents on Shawn's cabin, but the smell of pizza makes her stay - About? - she asks.

- About us - Maya replies giving Riley her plate - Also, this - she adds and throws at the brunette the DVD of 27 dresses.

And for a second, Riley thought about it.

2 girls, with pizza, no kids, no parents, no males, tequila, and 27 dresses.

- Ok - Riley says with doubt, walking to her room. a few minutes later, she came back with a simple pajama and her movie blanket - Ok, ready - she says, making Maya smile.

Maya walks back and grabs a piece of pizza for herself, also she brings 2 tequila shot glasses - Ready? - she asks.

- For 27 dresses? always - Riley replies with a smile.

While for herself though, that maybe, just maybe, she's been misunderstanding Maya, and she still is her best friend.

After all, there is no way Maya likes Lucas, at least not enough for her to help him get a divorce.

After 1 hour and 51 minutes, of pure bliss, on Riley's words, they were talking friendly as ever, and almost like the weather knew Maya's intentions, gives both girls a nice rain to solve their differences.

- You wanted to talk about us - Riley starts without looking at Maya.

- I do - Maya replies while she caresses the ring she gave her.

- Are you sure you wanted to talk about us and not about someone else? - Riley asks, making the right question.

- I'm pretty sure I want to talk about us - Maya says while she finally looks at her, taking a little pause - He - Maya says with doubt - He doesn't know I'm here - Maya adds.

- You're on his side, don't you? - Riley asks her. But just as a formality.

- What you did is not a matter of sides, it's a matter of good and wrong - Maya defends herself - And you did wrong - she declares.

- It's not that simple Maya - Riley tries to defend herself - You don't know how it feels being married to the great Lucas Friar - she adds.

- Out of nowhere - Maya calls her attention - Did you try, I don't know, talk to him? - she asks.

- Of course, I tried, but that only makes him more perfect, he left hours on his clinic, and allow me to focus on my career while he takes care of Lily, and even when he did what I ask him, I end hating it - she confesses, making Maya felt guilty about what she wanted to do.

- Then you should have talked to him again, that's what a mature person would do - Maya replies.

- I don't want to hear that from someone who only works 3 days per month - Riley attacks her best friend. Maya gets up and Riley looked worried - Maya? - she asks while Maya opens Uber.

- Then you're gonna hate hear this from me - Maya says to Riley looking at her.

Riley notices how Maya is containing her tears and felt a void on her stomach - Maya? - Riley calls her again.

- I'm going for Lucas! - Maya finally explodes and scream at her best friend.

- Excuse me? - Riley asks in shock.

- I'm going for Lucas - Maya says a bit more calm.

- No, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO! - Riley screams at Maya feeling betrayed.

- I'm sorry Riley, but I've made my decision - Maya says getting up and grabbing her purse - I would love if you decide to not hate me, but I know you do, I'm sorry, but I'm tired - she adds and throws Cory's keys into the couch, next to the brunette.

Maya walk out The Matthews apartment, hearing what she supposed to be the bottle of tequila crashing against the door.

Lucas looks at his watch, 22:56, he reads, then he turns off his TV. For the first time in 4 days he was completely alone, and even when he a bit excited for finally having time for himself, he discovers that he's terrified of being alone.

Being alone wasn't for him, he needed someone on his side, and now that he and Zay weren't on the best terms, he starts to miss his company.

Then he thinks about Maya.

- What I supposed to do with you - Lucas softly says looking at his phone, debating himself if it's right to call her or not.

But then, he notices his headphones, and then back at his phone again, and then back at his headphones. He looks at his wall calendar, he did the math and was surprised for the 8 months and a few days of celibate he did.

He looks around, even when he was pretty sure he was alone, he grabbed his phone and look for Pornhub, he grabs his headphones and connects them to his phone. Then he looks around again, he fastly types "blondes" on the search bar. He felt the excitement on the air, and even when he was just pulling down his pants, he already was hard. he picks the first video, and just mere seconds later.

He was interrupted by the door - Motherfuckers, I can't catch a break - he says before abort what he wanted to do. He pulls up his pants and walks to the door.

Surprised was the first adjective a person would use when he discovers the person knocking on his door was Maya, a soaked by rain version of her.

- Hey Mad Dog - Maya says getting inside with a strawberry smoothie on her hand - Looks like you're happy to see me - she adds while she notices the bulge on his pajama pants.

- Maya what the hell - Lucas says worried, running to his bathroom to bring her some towels.

- I was thinking about you, and then I notice that, since you punch Zay, Smackle and Farkle are on Houston and Mark is probably with Joshua, you would be all lonely here - she replies with a smile.

- Maya, you're soaked, probably incredible cold and smiling - Lucas says while he does his best to dry her hair - Also, what the thing with the smoothie? - he asks, making her smile.

- Oh, this? - Maya says, faking ignorance - This is for you - she adds with a smile.

- Maya - Lucas calls her while he makes some space between them - Why are you smiling? - he dares to ask.

- Oh Huckleberry, Huckleberry, whatever bad, bad things you did in the past, you're still a Huckleberry - Maya says pouring the smoothie over his head.

- Maya, what the fuck - Lucas says feeling the cold smoothie runs through his back.

- Well, I thought that we should go on a date, and since we're both adults, I skip the date and pour the smoothie over you - Maya explains. Lucas looked at her like she was crazy and she just takes off her jacket and her top, revealing her breast to him.

- Are you serious right now? - Lucas asks looking away from her.

- The way I see it, you need a shower because of the smoothie - Maya says and walks to his bathroom really slow, losing clothes on the way - And I need a shower because of pneumonia, I suggest we share it - she proposes biting her lower lip, making Lucas take a long breath.

When Maya disappear into his bathroom, Lucas had a moment to think. He would be the worst liar if he dares to say that he didn't find Maya attractive and that in more than one time, he pleases himself alone thinking of her best friend, but this was completely different, this was not a fantasy, this was the reality.

Lucas takes off his shirt and cleans his hair from the smoothie Maya just drop over him, he takes off his pants and uses them to clean the rest of his body and the floor. He put his clothes on a basket and walk to his room. In the fastest way possible, he gets dressed, he picks his keys and his phone, and even when this might crush his relationship with Maya, he walks away from his own apartment.

#GMW #Lucaya #Lucaya Fanfic #Broken Lucas #OoC Riley #Lucas x Maya #The One Who Stayed #Spoiler Alert: Joshua Matthews Is Coming

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cchmissions · 5 years

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Israel Day Nine: Tuesday 1/08/19

Waking up Tuesday morning was difficult, for many reasons; knowing we wouldn’t be returning to the hotel; the stress of packing, unpacking, and repacking your suitcase hoping to get everything to fit once again; trying to mentally prepare ourselves for our 36 hour day and all the travels that the day held; and most grim, knowing our time in Israel was running out. Yet we made the best of our situation and left the hotel with high hopes of what our last day might have in store for us. Our hotel was located in the Northeastern part of Israel and our airport, the final destination of the day, was located near the middle of the country on the western side along the coast of the Mediterranean.

Because we did have such a long day of driving, our tour guide planned a stop along the way at Caesarea. In 22 BC, King Herod had a dream that he wanted to build the largest port on the Mediterranean. Twelve years later, his dream came true. Caesarea, named after Augustus Caesar, used to be a very powerful city because of it’s location along the shore and the numerous entertainment options it provided. Before modern-day cruises became popular, ships would only sail shore-to-shore and dock every night so the fisherman or passengers could sleep on land. Caesarea offered its’ inhabitants and guests with plenty of leisure activities: chariot racing, gladiator games, and live theater at the large amphitheater that would have held 6,000 people. Unfortunately, a lot of this materialistic city was destroyed by conquest or overtaken by the waves of the Mediterranean. The amphitheater though is still functioning and used weekly for concerts. Most sites we stopped at had a gift shop, Caesarea being no exception. This shop was special though in that it had Bamba, our new favorite Israeli snack. More than half the group bought a bag to eat on the trip home.

Our next stop was Tel Aviv, or the New York of Israel. It is Israel’s second largest city and most populous city, oddly enough it is also one of the newest cities in Israel. Founded in 1909, Tel Aviv became a place where Jewish refugees would flood throughout the 20th century. Today it is a major tourist attraction, known for its’ nightlife, shopping, and fashion industry. It was very fitting that we spent the majority of our time in Tel Aviv at the Caramel Market, the largest market in Tel Aviv. Two city streets, parallel to each other, were full of vendors selling handmade crafts, produce, off-brand clothing, spices, sweets, electronics, wall décor, and so much more. The narrow streets were packed with other market goers all trying to get a look at the goods being offered; it really did feel like New York.

While at Caesarea, our guide Efrat received an exciting phone call saying that we would be able to tour Independence Hall, the building where Israel declared it was a nation, while in Tel Aviv. The Hall was supposed to be closed for visitors for the next few years, so our visit was truly an unexpected treat. Beginning as a house, then an art museum, and now a historical site the Independence Hall has had about as many changes as Israel has. During our tour, we sat where guests sat in 1948 during the meeting that would eventually declare Israel a nation. There is nothing particularly special about the house, which makes it a rather odd place to have such an important meeting. But because Israel was still not at peace, the founders needed somewhere safe where they could meet. The then art museum seemed like the perfect disguise, and the shelter walls and high windows of the basement didn’t hurt either.

After being educated about the creation of Israel as a nation, we got on the bus and took a short ride to Joffa/Joppa. This ancient port has many biblical stories attached to it: Solomon transported cedars here to build the First Temple (2 Chronicles 2:5-6), Jonah the prophet fled from God (Jonah 1:3), and where Peter brought Tabitha back to life and stayed with Simon the Tanner (Acts 9:36-43). Our first stop was an outlook of the shoreline and St. Peter’s church, built to commemorate the visit and miracles of Peter while in Joffa. Efrat shared that most churches face east, in Israel however, because sunlight and Jesus will eventually come from the east. St. Peter’s church is no exception, but because it faces east towards the Mediterranean Sea, it is meant to represent that the church is open to all people even those across the sea—even Gentiles. We then walked to the believed site of Simon the Tanner’s home, and Lance retold the story of Peter healing Tabitha Dorcus. Back on the bus it was time to go to the Closing Dinner.

The entire trip, Passages had provided five-star accommodations, but the Closing Dinner was the most luxurious of all. The conference hall where we ate was two stories tall, with one wall being glass windows from the ceiling to the floor. Before being served, our group along with Efrat and Michael, our body guard, met in a separate lounge to hold a debrief of the trip. Everyone shared their favorite part of the trip and something they learned/want to take back with them. It was interesting hearing the 38 different perspectives of the trip, and how some people’s highlights were others deleted scenes. It was very bittersweet, sitting all together one last time, knowing we wouldn’t ever be able to recreate this trip.

Since my return, many people have asked me “Would you want to go back?”. And the easy answer is yes, yes I would. But honestly, I feel that it would be a disservice if I went back outside of Passages. Having started only three years ago, it was amazing how developed, professional, and pristine Passages and the entire trip was. They provided us with so much extra information, viewpoints, and insights that made the trip all the more meaningful. The immense amount of detail and effort that is poured into our schedule really showcases Passages desire for the students to learn and be more than just mindless tourists. I also couldn’t imagine coming back and not having Efrat as my personal guide. Her knowledge of the bible, land, Jewish culture, and Israeli history was absolutely inspiring. She said that she started giving tours after college just trying to make some money before something better came along, 29 years later she has mastered the art of tour-giving and could probably do it in her sleep. I would say without any doubts, that every single person on our bus was positively affected by her presence and inspired to learn more about our own faith because of her.

For our last supper, pun 100% intended, we were served our choice of veal, chicken, or fish. A significant amount of sides and pita was also consumed. While dessert was being served, we acknowledged each of the 8 buses, the faculty, tour guides, and body guards that were represented in the room. Once we were done eating, we had to rush to the airport to have enough time to make it through customs before our flight departed. Many hugs were given to Efrat and Michael, before we finally had to go our separate ways. Both of our flights went smoothly without any issues. The one thing on most people’s minds after landing was when they could get fast food. It seemed that a week without a hamburger or pizza was more difficult than expected. Honestly though, does anything say America more than a McDonalds?