#anyway. you know i always have my Loving Devi glasses on.

[catty-words]

ROMANTIC HERO WE NEED BUT DON’T DESERVE

#fabiola 'aneesa's never had a wrong take a day in her life!!' torres #fabiola 'who's zayn and gigi?' torres #i love her to my core #fabiola x aneesa #nhie spoilers #catty liveblogs nhie s3: rewatch edition #anyway. you know i always have my Loving Devi glasses on. #so my favorite part is when devi thinks on it a beat and then nods enthusiastically. #'yes that is so true bestie'

[gutsfics]

1, 3, 9, 22, and 24 from the OC Interview Questions for Devi please!!!

yaaay thank you!!!! :3 ok im going Devi Mode now >:3

1. Who makes up your family?  How close are you to them?

well there's my mom and dad, and i have an older sibling, Avery, and two older sisters, Kennie and Satomi. im pretty close with all of them, especially my parents! tbh though it kinda feels like the five years i was dead made me miss a lot of my siblings' lives so theres like a sort of.... glass wall? i think? thats five years i cant get back, and they're all enough older than me that i wasnt really raised "with" them so much as i was raised after them, you know?

also Noah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Noah's been such a big part of my (un)life that it would be wrong not to call him family <3 plus also hes my boyfriend :3

3. What is your favorite childhood memory?

so Jane's favorite fruit is-- um... was [he looks kinda sad for a moment, but shakes it off] blackberries, but she was allergic to the brambles so when it was blackberry season, i'd crawl into bushes to get the juciest berries for her

anyway the september before, um.... she got a bit sick in september and i wanted to cheer her up so Noah and i went to the biggest blackberry bush we'd found in the forest and i picked as many blackberries as i could for her while Noah kept me company (cuz he's also allergic so he couldnt join me in the bush). we werent as close back then as we are now, and i dont remember really what we talked about, but i remember that it was one of the last warm days of the year as the season changed, and the forest was so pretty and i felt like nothing could ever go wrong

its, um, kind of a sad memory. bittersweet, i mean. but its important to me

9. Are you a spiritual person? If yes, what do you practice?

now that's a really interesting question. i know that there is a sort of "higher power" that exists in the world, but it's not really God, or A God or anything consious really. its more like.... a membrane woven into the world that makes it what it is. like a membrane holding back some kind of juice? God Juice. and there's that spot in the mountains where the membrane has been punctured so more of God Juice is flooding out of that hole than there should be in the world, and i was part of that god juice, and i think that god juice is now a part of me? or it made me or something? and if i focus, really focus hard, i can kinda hear the way the universe sings? not always though

but um. i dont really know if that counts as spirituality. and i dont "practice" anything it just... kinda is? i try to be nice to people and the world but that doesnt feel like "practicing spirituality"

22. What’s the easiest way to flirt with you?

ummm haha ohh..... i dont really know how to answer that..... growing up i was usually either ignored or bullied so its always so weird whenever someone flirts with me. its always like, are you talking to me?? oh, no thanks. i already got a guy for that

and Noah's not really a flirty guy. he'll walk into the underworld to carry me back home, for sure, but he doesnt really do flirting. unless you count just open and honest statments about how you feel about someone as flirting? i'll flirt with him absolutely, but usually gets too flustered to flirt back. its really cute

24. What would you consider your main love language?

spending years of your life devoted to taking care of someone who's lost everything, through thick and thin, even when things get hard, on days when they dont seem particularly... connected to their humanity. just being a constant in their life, a lighthouse in the middle of a typhoon, grounding them when theyre too lost to find solid ground on their own. walking into the unknown to grasp their soul and bring them back from the brink, even if that means everything changes, even if it means you yourself could get stuck yourself. would you still love me if i was a worm. would you still care for me i had nothing to give you but my company and my love, even if my company doesnt mean my touch or my conversation. would you still love me if i couldn't remember who you were.

um.

sorry. what was the question?

oh right! i think my love language is physical touch and acts of service and quality time. both giving and receiving them.

#it lives in the woods #ilitw mc #<- yeah i really like some of these answers too much not to post em in a main tag #oc: devfield

[horansqueen]

Stuck With You - Epilogue 2

Epilogue 2 : Anyone But You

🡪chapter 1  🡪chapter 2  🡪chapter 3  🡪chapter 4  🡪chapter 5  🡪chapter 6  🡪chapter 7  🡪chapter 8  🡪chapter 9  🡪chapter 10  🡪chapter 11 🡪chapter 12 🡪chapter 13 🡪chapter 14 🡪chapter 15 🡪chapter 16 🡪chapter 17 🡪chapter 18 🡪chapter 19 🡪chapter 20 🡪chapter 21 🡪chapter 22 🡪chapter 23 🡪chapter 24 🡪chapter 25 🡪chapter 26 🡪chapter 27 🡪chapter 28 🡪chapter 29 🡪chapter 30 🡪chapter 31 🡪chapter 32  🡪chapter 33 🡪chapter 34 🡪chapter 35 🡪chapter 36 🡪chapter 37 🡪chapter 38 🡪epilogue 1

College Enemies To Lovers AU

characters // masterlist // instagrams // mood board

I don't change my mind for anybody I won't waste my time on just anybody I won't share my life (with anyone but you)

It's such a long road (with anyone but you) That I couldn't follow (with anyone but you) Never anyone but Never anyone but (anyone but you)

THANK YOU! thank you for reading this story, for commenting this story, for reblogging and liking this story. Thank you to everyone on the update list, everyone who sent me requests and ideas, everyone who followed this story and everyone who was excited for every chapter. Thank you to everyone who messaged me, complimented me, thank you for all the emotions you shared with me through the characters. THANK YOU SO MUCH! i love you all. i can’t explain how much!

This is the final chapter. i hope you enjoy it and that this story reached your expectations. and i hope it makes you want to read my next story!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH THANK YOU TIMES INFINITY!

NIALL

I stared at the painting on the wall as people walked slowly around me. I was proud of my girlfriend for her first exhibition but it was the very first time I was seeing this specific painting and although I knew no one had seen the picture it was based on, I recognized it immediately. She had asked me if she could expose the pictures but I couldn't see them anywhere. Instead, she had painted one of them and I was staring at it. The feelings invading me were the same than when I looked at the actual picture and I realized it was probably the moment that made me feel like that.

I felt her soft touch on my upper arm and detached my eyes from her art, blinking a few times to look at her. She raised her eyebrows slightly and bit her bottom lip nervously.

"You hate it."

"No!" I quickly replied, shaking my head and frowning a bit. "No it's just, so different than what you normally paint."

"I know, I think painting the human body is so complex and it really depends on how you see the person. It gets so much more emotional when you paint someone you love."

Her eyes found the painting and she breathed in before sighing. "Maybe I shouldn't have painted it, maybe I shouldn't have exposed it... I just thought it was a way to expose the pictures without really showing them to anyone."

"It's amazing, Devie." I whispered, making her turn around to look at me again.

Our eyes met and she sent me a shy smile. I turned to her and cupped her face, running my thumbs on her cheeks gently before bending down to kiss her lips.

"Dev!"

My girlfriend broke our kiss when she heard her name and I looked up to see Lewis, Daxia, Louis and Eleanor getting closer. We had been hanging out a lot recently and it was nice to be around people like them. Louis and I were also getting closer, probably because of Devon, and I liked that. I had missed him.

"This painting is beautiful." Daxia let out, making her glass turn in her hands as she stared at it. "I mean they all are, this one is just different."

"I was just telling her that." I smiled, glancing at my girlfriend.

"A lot of emotions thrown on that canvas." Louis pointed out, raising his eyebrows, and I immediately knew that he had guessed.

I thought about the real pictures that we had left at my apartment. Devon had created a mobile with them and we had placed it in a corner of my bedroom. Sometimes, I stared at it, just watching it move to see the lyrics written behind one of the pictures,. It brought so many memories to my mind and I knew It always would, no matter how many years passed.

"Hey, where are we celebrating tonight?" Lewis asked as Louis sent a smirk to Devon.

"Nope, not tonight guys, but we'll plan something soon." I quickly replied, shaking my head. "Tonight I'm just spending the night alone with my main girl."

"Seriously, why do you guys call each other like that?" Louis asked with a grimace. "Does that imply you have side girls and guys?"

Devon chuckled but I shook my head. "It's a secret between us, Tommo." I just replied, hitting his arm gently and making my girlfriend laugh.

I didn't answer his question because I knew he was joking, but it made me wonder if Devon really knew why I called her like that. It took an hour and a half before we finally arrived at my apartment and as soon as we walked in, I pressed her against the wall, pushing the door with one of my feet.

"It's my turn to be proud of you." I whispered, feeling her hands slip under my hoodie. "Your art moves me, Devie. You move me."

She grabbed my bottom lip between hers and sucked on it, making me groan.

"You know why I call you my main girl, right?" I wondered in a whisper, my lips brushing against hers.

"Mmhm, because of that conversation we had, when I said I wanted to be the protagonist." she moved closer to kiss me again and I let her before licking my lips.

"Not only that." I admitted just as low. "Devie, my real story didn't start before I met you. It was just a long prologue before the main thing."

Her lips parted and her eyes watered as I kept staring at her in the darkness of the room. I didn't know how to explain to her what she meant to me but seeing the way she was looking at me at that exact moment made me think she may know anyway.

She brought one of her hands in my hair as she stared at me. I loved feeling her fingers in my hair and I kissed her lips gently again. I thought I knew what love felt before but I really didn't. I knew it sounded cliché but it was true. I was ready to bet on anything that Devon was the love of my life and that what we had would last forever.

"I love you," she whispered, shaking her head slightly. "And we're going to your room right now."

I chuckled at her words and shook my head too. "No, we can't. I have a surprise for you." I admitted, making her frown. "Close your eyes." She stared at me and i smiled. "Do you trust me?"

Instead to answer, she closed her eyes and breathed in before I turned the light on. I put myself behind her, placing my hands on her eyes and leading her slowly to the living room, making her stop next to the couch.

"Okay, keep your eyes closed alright?"

She nodded and slowly, I took my hands off her eyes, making sure she was not cheating, and I took a few steps back. I stared at her for a while, feeling my heart thump against my chest, a bit scared of what she'd say, and when I softly told her to open her eyes. I watched confusion appear on her traits until she saw the little puppy, laying on the floor, asleep. I had tried to put a bow on his head but it was falling down and Devon chuckled, her lips parted.

"Niall!" she let out without sending me a glance before getting on her knees and moving closer to the small dog.

Slowly, she took him in her arms and he woke up, making my lips curl. "It's a miracle he didn't bark before, would have ruined the surprise."

"Niall I... I can't." she shook her head, looking at the puppy with loving but sad eyes. "My parents will never let me bring a dog home, you know it."

"He can stay here." I just shrugged, pushing my hands in my pockets.

She chuckled and rolled her eyes, turning to me with an amused smile. "Ah, you bought yourself a puppy, then."

"No, it's your puppy." I explained after swallowing the lump in my throat. "And he's gonna need you 24/7. And... and I need you 24/7, too."

She frowned and slowly got up, walking to her, the dog still in her arms. "Niall, what are you saying?"

I breathed in and swallowed again, taking a few steps closer to her very slowly. I had no idea why it stressed me so much. Perhaps I was scared that she'd think it's too soon, or that it was a stupid idea, but deep down, I really wanted her to accept.

"Devie, I'm ready to spend forever with you." I confessed in a gentle tone, taking my hands out of my pocket to grab one of hers. I opened her palm and placed a key inside before sighing. "It would be an honor for me if you moved in here, with me. What's mine is yours, and all that."

"That... That would mean we'd go to bed together all the time, and wake up together all the time. And I could watch you get ready for work in the morning, and we'd take showers together, and cuddle in front of the tv, and make food together... Every single day?"

"No." I shook my head with a chuckle. "Sometimes I'd bring take out or we'd order."

She chuckled and rolled her eyes, putting the dog down before he just ran away, making her laugh. She brought her attention back to me and I raised my eyebrows. "So? Is that a yes?"

She got on her tiptoes as her lips curled and slid her arms around my neck, pulling me gently closer. "Yes. It's a yes." she whispered, making me sigh of relief. "Did you doubt it?"

I chuckled nervously and kissed her lips. "Was just nervous." I admitted, raising my nose up. "How are you gonna name your puppy? Something original!"

"No idea yet, but you're right, we need an original name for our main dog."

I laughed and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer. "Thank you, Niall." she whispered, licking her lips. The way she looked at me all lovingly made my heart jump in my chest. There was something about the way her body fitted perfectly with mine that I couldn't stop thinking about.

"What for?"

"For being you. For seeing me. For loving me."

"Easiest thing I ever did, petal." I admitted in a murmur. "I love you."

"I love you more."

#niall horan #niall horan fluff #niall horan smut #niall horan fanfic #niall horan fan fic #niall horan fanfiction #niall horan fan fiction #niall horan story #niall horan writing #niall horan enemies to lovers #niall horan au #niall horan uni au #niall horan college au #my fanfics #swy

[javajunkieao3]

Never Have I Ever: Post-Series Fic

Ben Gross prided himself on being smart.  And falling in love with Devi Vishwakumar?  Well, that was just about the dumbest thing he could do.

           But, it happened anyway.

           He didn’t exactly know when, but somewhere between first grade and watching her dance with that tool, Paxton Hall-Yoshida, she had gone from the person he always wanted to beat to someone he genuinely hoped would win.  Because she deserved that.  After everything she went through with her dad and then everything after, she deserved a win.

           But, did that win have to be him?

           “Of course, it’s him,” Ben said, voice colored with defeat and just a hint of indignation.  He still hated losing.  Even if he technically wasn’t in this game.  Aneesa was waiting for him over by the punch.  “It’s always been him.”  

           Beside him, Eleanor said, “What?  No, it hasn’t.  After you took her to Malibu, she wanted to choose you.”

           Ben listened incredulously as Eleanor explained how she and Fabiana had talked Devi out of choosing him.  It was fucked up, and he was going to tell her as much, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Devi, imagining how different things would have been. It would have been him with her, not that glorified meat puppet.

           “So, just for the record, it hasn’t always been him.”

           Eleanor walked off after dropping her figurative bomb and he stayed rooted in place, not knowing what to do or think next.  He wasn’t used to this level of indecisiveness and he probably would have just stayed there, staring at Devi dance with another guy, if Aneesa hadn’t come over, sliding her hand over his shoulder.

           “Hey, I thought you were meeting me over by the punch,” she said, glancing over at where he had just been staring.  “Oh wow, good for Devi.”

           Aneesa looked up at Ben, noting the tense set of his jaw.  “But…you don’t think that.”

           “What?” he said immediately, finally looking away from the slow train wreck happening across the dance floor.  “I don’t care about them.  I mean, he’s a tool who, based on what I’ve seen, can barely read above an eighth grade level.  But, I don’t care.”

           “Uh, yeah, you do.”

           “Aneesa-“

           “Ben, I saw the way you were looking at them. At her.”

           He went to argue, but then realized he had no defense.  Aneesa ducked her chin to her chest.

           “Okay.  So, I guess I’m going to go now.”  She turned to leave, but then stopped, turning back.  “Don’t mess this up for her?”

           He didn’t know what he hated more, the implication that he would mess things up or the fact that Aneesa was maybe a little right. The song ended and he watched Paxton and Devi kiss before Paxton dipped his mouth to her ear.  Devi nodded at whatever he said, and then Paxton walked away, not letting go of her hand until the distance made it necessary.  Devi’s grin widened and Ben hated Paxton even more.

           Devi stood alone on the dance floor for a moment, seeming blissfully content, and then she caught his gaze.  Ben noticed that her grin dimmed slightly and then she walked over, clasping her hands nervously in front of her.

           “Look, I know what you’re going to say,” she began.

           “No, actually, you don’t.”

           She widened her eyes slightly.  “Okay.  Then, what are you going to say?”

           I know you wanted to choose me.

           “I’m happy for you, Devi.”

           It wasn’t what she expected, and not what he wanted, so they both felt out of sorts.  But then her shoulders slackened, a genuine smile spreading on her face, and Ben knew he did the right thing.  Because she deserved the win.  Even if it wasn’t him.

           “Thanks, Ben.”

           Paxton came over with two glasses of punch and handed Devi one, his now free arm going around her waist.  He gave Ben a lukewarm hello which, given their history, wasn’t entirely unfounded.

           “Anyway, I’ll see you around,” Devi said.

           “See you around, David.”

           Paxton looked at him strangely, but Devi only smiled wider.

-----

           There were only a few weeks left in the school year after the dance, and Ben did his best to keep his distance from Devi.  She hovered a bit after learning about his and Aneesa’s breakup, but then they all got busy with finals and then the schoolyear ended.  Ben was grateful for the time apart.  He didn’t know how long it took to fall out of love with someone, but he figured summer break’s three Devi-free-months should do the trick.

           That summer, he lined up a volunteer program to pad his college applications just like every other summer.  He was supposed to help out with pro bono work at his dad’s firm, but at the last minute his dad hired a law clerk instead so that he could bill out his time at a markup.  So, he was stuck with a retirement home.  Everyone volunteered at retirement homes, which meant it was the last thing Ben wanted to put on his resume.  But, there was nothing else left and it was better than nothing, so he grudgingly accepted a spot at one about fifteen minutes from his house and prepared himself for a summer of moth balls and stories about “the war”.

           Instead, he got Devi.

           “I thought you were working at your dad’s firm this summer,” Devi said.

           “Something came up.  Weren’t you supposed to do Habitat for Humanity?”

           Devi nodded.  “I had an incident with a hammer.  Apparently, you aren’t supposed to bedazzle it.”

           Ben smirked.  “You bedazzled your hammer?”

           “Oh, yeah.  I added feathers, too.  Honestly, it was an upgrade.”

           “I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t want to take you,” he mocked.

           Devi shrugged.  “Probably for the best.  I mean, would you want a house built by me?”

           “You make a fair point.”

           “So, here we are,” Devi said.  “Slumming it at the retirement home.”

           “You may want to say that a little louder.  I don’t think the guy in the back with the hearing aid heard you.”

           “But, you know what, if anyone can make the best out this, it’s you and me, Gross.”

           She flashed him a smile and he felt it all the way down to his toes.  This was going to be a long three months.

----

           It turned out, Ben was surprisingly adept at being around old people, and Devi was an immediate crowd pleaser.

           “Even Marvin likes me,” Devi said.  “And I’m pretty sure he’s a low-key racist.”

           “Not that low key.  He specifically asked me to help him fill out a banking form yesterday because, as he put it, your people are good at that.”

           “Damn.  Remind me to not give him an extra pudding cup.”

           One of the long-time residents, Gladys, rolled by with her walker and said, “Benjamin, don’t forget my granddaughter is visiting this afternoon.  I told her all about you.”

           “I won’t forget, Gladys.”

           “Look at you, Benjamin.”  He rolled his eyes.  “Using the residents to get a date.  Honestly, it’s sort of genius.  If I wasn’t dating Paxton, I would totally use these guys to pimp myself out.”

           “Slow down, David.  Gladys came to me about her granddaughter.  I’m not that desperate.  I have options.”

           “Sure, you do, Ben.”

           “But, um, you and Paxton?  That’s going well?”

           He didn’t know why he asked.  You don’t ask the girl you’re in love with how her relationship is going, but he asked, and now he had no choice but to hear the answer.

           “Yeah, it is,” Devi said.  She tucked her hair behind her ears as she smiled, and Ben wished he could sink directly down into the ground.

           “That’s great.”

           “Yeah.  It is.”

           That afternoon, he asked Gladys’ granddaughter out on a date.

----

           Ben could always tell when Devi and Paxton were fighting by her mood.  She had never been good at hiding her emotions, and while in a relationship, that hadn’t changed.  He noticed it a few weeks in.  She went back into the employees’ area and shoved her bag forcefully into the cubby hole.

           “Did the cubby hole do something to you?” he asked.

           “No,” she said stubbornly.  “The cubby hole is doing nothing.  Which is the problem.  The cubby hole just sits there playing video games all day.  Which, sure, I can play some Mario Kart here and there.  I’m a team player.  But, at a certain point, enough with the stupid video games.  I am not dating freaking Yoshi!”

           Ben was quiet for a moment and then said, “I didn’t know a cubby hole had apposable thumbs to play video games.”

           She shot him a look, but then couldn’t help but laugh.

           “The cubby hole was a metaphor.”

           “Yeah, I caught on to that.”

----

           Ben found it remarkably easy to be around her, even as his feelings stayed rooted to the core, and at a certain point he became resigned to it all.  Maybe Devi was just one of those people he would always have feelings for.  Isn’t that what they said about your first love?  You could move on, but you never really forgot it.  So, he would love her and just move on.

           He dated Gladys’ granddaughter, enjoying himself but never really feeling anything beneath surface level.  But, she was nice enough, and Gladys was delighted by the pairing, even as the volunteer coordinator was not.

           “Just don’t have sex anywhere on property,” she had said in a huff.

           “I, uh, won’t.  Thanks for the clarification.”

           He was dating someone else.  He and Devi were finally sort of back to how they were before.  And then he accidentally ate pecans.

           “Oh my God, Ben, your mouth is getting huge,” Devi said, eyes wide with concern.

           “I am so sorry,” Gladys’ granddaughter said. “I thought the muffin was banana-walnut, not banana-pecan.”

           “Do you have an Epi-Pen or something?”  Devi barked at the terrified looking volunteer coordinator.

           “No, and even if we did, I don’t think we can technically use it on a non-resident.”

           “Are you freaking kidding me right now?  Do you see him?”  She pointed at Ben, whose face was rapidly growing in size.  “You know what, I’ll just handle it myself.”

           Devi dragged him out to her car, which was concerning since he knew she only just got her license the week before, and he also knew based on what she told him that her passing was a total fluke.  

           “I think I’d rather go into anaphylactic shock in there,” he said, already turning back toward the retirement home.

           “Don’t be dumb, Ben,” she said, forcefully pulling him back to the car.  “You are not going into anaphylactic shock.  I’ll take you to my mom’s office and she can give you a shot or something. She’s only a few minutes away.”

           He reluctantly got into the car, and Devi started her car, forgetting to put it into reverse before she pressed on the gas. The car lurched forward, nearly hitting the one parked in front of them, and Ben said, “Please don’t let me die in this car.”

           “No one is dying today, Ben Gross.  So, calm down, okay?  I got this.”

           It was not exactly a smooth ride, but true to her word, five minutes later they pulled into a parking spot in front of Dr. Vishwakumar’s office.  They burst into the office, Ben now leaning a bit on Devi as it became harder to breath.

           “I’m pretty sure I’m going into anaphylactic shock,” he gasped.

           “No, you are not.  You are fine.”  Devi’s words were calm, but her tone was not.

           Nalini Vishwakumar walked out of her office and stopped short when she saw Devi and Ben.

           “What in the world – Benjamin, what happened to your face?”

           “He ate pecans which, turns out, he’s also allergic to,” Devi said quickly.  “Can you give him a shot or something?”

           “Devi, you should have taken him to the emergency room!” Nalini said, rushing over to her daughter and Ben and bringing them back to an examination room.

           “The hospital was farther away.”

           Ben became to gasp for breath and Nalini hissed, “He’s going into anaphylactic shock.”

           Ben could barely breathe, but he managed a, “Told you.”

           “Well, how was I supposed to know!”  Devi said loudly.

           One shot of epinephrine and an IV full of antihistamines and cortisone later, Ben could breathe again, but Nilani made him stay for a while longer so that she could observe him.  She put he and Devi in one of the unused examination rooms, and told them to let her know if he had any more trouble breathing.  Devi sat next to him, her knees pulled tight into her chest.

           “I’m sorry that I almost killed you.”

           “You’re not getting valedictorian that easily.”

           He was joking because, yeah, his throat had almost closed up and she probably should have taken him to the hospital and not her mom’s office, but it was fine now.  Except, when he looked over at Devi, she still looked scared.  After a beat, she launched herself toward him and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.  

           “Hey, it’s okay,” he said, rubbing her back.  “I’m okay.”

           She pulled away and gave his arm a light punch. “You really scared me.”

           “Yeah, well, next time I’ll double check my banana-walnut muffin actually has walnuts.”

           “And I’ll believe you when you say your throat is closing up.”

           Devi’s phone rang and he saw Paxton’s name flash on the screen.  He asked her, “Do you need to get that?”

           He watched her hesitate before sending it to voicemail.

----

           Devi and Paxton broke up a week later.  He found out from one of the retirement home residents, who he overheard telling Devi, “You’re better off, Devi.  Take it from an old woman.  You have the rest of your life to be with one person.  Now is the time to be free.  Sow your wild oats, if you will.”

           “Um, I don’t really know what that last part means, but I feel you.  I mean, I’m too young and hot to be tied down, right?”

           “Exactly.  You know, I have a grandson you might be interested in.  He’s pre-med.”

           “I appreciate the offer, Beatrice.  And offering me your grandson after I just broke up with my boyfriend?  Savage. But, I think I need to take some time by myself.”

           That afternoon during bingo, Ben casually brought up the breakup after calling out B-27.

           “Are you okay?” he asked.

           “Yeah, I’m okay,” she said.  She ran the machine and picked out the next ball.  “B-13!”  She put the ball down and said in a regular volume voice, “We just didn’t have that much in common.”

           “Yeah, I bet,” Ben said automatically.

           “Wow, okay,” Devi said with a laugh that didn’t exactly sound reassuring.

           “I didn’t mean,..” he trailed off, because he kind of did.  “Anyway, I’m glad you’re okay.”  He paused and picked up the next ball.  “N-7!”

           “Bingo!”

----

           Summer was coming to a close, and so was their time at the retirement home.  For some reason, Ben felt an impending sense of dread.  Sure, he would still see Devi, but it would be different.  Everyone else would be added back to the mix, including Paxton.  

           Their last big event at the retirement home was a movie night.  They set up a projector in one of the recreation rooms and made it up like an old theater, complete with velvet ropes and individual little bags of popcorn. They even wore old-timey usher costumes they rented from a local costume shop.

           “Does yours also smell like nachos?”  Devi asked.

           “Yeah.  I’m trying not to think about it.”

           The movie was It Happened One Night, and Devi and Ben sat in the back, watching the movie along with the residents.  It was secretly one of Ben’s favorites.  He and his mom had spent little time together when he was growing up, but she shared with him her love of old movies.

           It was the Jericho scene, where Clark Gable’s character was setting up a sheet between him and Claudette Colbert in their motel room.  He stripped down to just his undershirt, and Devi mused, “Clark Gable was super bangable.”

           “Shh,” Ben said.  “This is my favorite part.”

           Devi looked over at him and grinned.  Feeling her gaze, he glanced over and felt his breath stop when their eyes met.  They were close, and in the darkness her eyes seemed to glow.  He always thought she had pretty eyes.  Even before, when he hated her more times than he liked her. He felt an urge to lean forward. It would be so easy.  Just the slightest lean and his mouth would be against hers.  But, that would just be a kiss in the back of a dark room.  He wanted more.

           “Eleanor told me that you wanted to choose me after Malibu.”

           She blinked rapidly.  “What?”

           “After you scattered your dad’s ashes.  She said you wanted to choose me, but they made you also consider Paxton.”

           “Okay.”

           “Is that true?”

           Devi didn’t answer, so he kept talking.

           “And she said that you started the rumor about Aneesa because you thought that we were dating and you were jealous.  And, you see, I’ve had it in my mind all this time that it was always Paxton.  And that I was, I don’t know, some detour on the way, but-“

           “You were not a detour,” Devi said immediately. “You were…you were perfect.  And I messed us up.”

           “So, Eleanor was telling the truth?”

           Devi nodded.  “Yeah, she was.”

           Ben took a deep breath.  “Devi.  I’m going to kiss you now.”

           She nodded, all business, but he could hear the nerves in her voice when she said, “Okay.  Thank you for the advanced warning.”

           He leaned in and captured her mouth with his.  The kiss was sweet and unhurried, like they had all the time in the world.  And in a way, they did.  There was a noise behind them, and they pulled apart abruptly.  Their supervisor stood over them and said, "Remember what I said about no sex on property?"

"Are you kidding me right now?"  Devi said.  "Who is having sex in these gross costumes?"

"You'd be surprised."

The supervisor walked away, and Devi looked at Ben.  "You don't think she meant..."

"I think she absolutely did."

"I need to take this off immediately."

#never have I ever #ben x devi #devi vishwakumar #ben gross #never have I ever fanfiction #post-series fic

[afoolandathief]

Word find tag catch-up

Catching up on my tag games, so here we go -

I got a few tags and some of these excerpts are pretty long, so I'm putting these below the cut:

TWs for swearing, food and drink, alcohol, blood, needles, vomit, death and violence, mentions of sex, and a slight reference to body image:

Tagged by @thegreatobsesso to find shine, shade, trust, and life:

Shine

“You should try exercising, Caz,” she said, switching to her other arm. “You’re not going to stay young and thin forever.”

“Believe me, Amelia,” he replied from underneath the blanket. “My body is not going to change much for a very long time.”

“Well, it may help that you don’t eat anything.”

He poked his head out from the blanket.

“I eat,” he said.

“I never see you eating, Caz.”

He grinned.

“Well, I guess that’s because, when I’m with you, I’m only hungry for -”

“If you say you’re only hungry for me — or a certain part of my body — I’m going to kick you,” she cut in. “Anyway, I should be back in at most 30 minutes. Hopefully it’ll be sub-20.”

“Enjoy the sunshine,” he said, ducking back under the blanket and falling asleep.

Shade

“Juni,” Caz said weakly. “Didn’t think I’d see you again tonight. Back for more?”

“I’ve had my fill,” the prince said.

“You sure about that?”

“Where is it, you bloodsucker?” Juniper demanded while turning a shade of emerald.

“Um, where is what?”

“Don’t play dumb, it’s not that cute.” The prince gritted his teeth and continued, “Where is the armband?”

Trust

“You’re a vegetarian?” Jade asked.

“Yeah, always a little weird growing up on a farm and not eating meat, I suppose.”

“I don’t know why people would care, but then, I’m used to people with weird diets,” Jade swallowed. “Not that I think your diet is weird!”

Violet laughed her tinkling laugh again. “You’re fine.”

“Is it bad if I still order the chicken panini?”

“Not at all. Though I’m sure all those chickens that died might mind,” Violet stared at Jade.

Jade didn’t say anything for a moment. “Oh shit," she finally said. “You’re messing with me again.”

“Yup," Violet grinned. She handed Jade a sandwich wrapped in wax paper. “You want to try our mango juice with that? Grew the mangoes myself.”

“You’re messing with me again, you can’t grow mangoes here,” Jade said.

“I have a greenhouse.”

“Still, you couldn’t easily grow a mango tree.”

“Trust me, I can grow anything,” Violet said, her eyes flashing the same way they had the other night. She poured a pitcher of the bright orange liquid into a plastic cup and handed it to Jade.

Jade took a sip. “Good as always. Which reminds me, I still owe you for the lemonade.”

“Consider that paid for by keeping me company, if only for a short while. In fact, consider it the same today.”

Life

She turned her keys in the ignition. The engine sputtered, but refused to start.

“With double the pay, you could save up for a truck that’s not a piece of shit,” Caz retorted.

Jade turned the keys again, this time revving the gas until the engine roared to life.

“This is a good truck,” she said. “I just need new spark plugs.”

Tagged by @pertinax--loculos to find travel, needle, depth, weather and save:

Travel

Marie and Caz were huddled around a phonogram.

“I can’t believe you have a recording of Buddy Bolden,” Caz said. “I thought there were none left.”

“I managed to hold onto a few records after I left New Orleans,” Marie said.

“So you were in New Orleans right when jazz was taking off?” Caz asked. “Wow, I should’ve come to America a lot sooner than when I did. I didn’t get to New York until about 20 years after Bolden was around.”

“You were in New York during the heyday of jazz,” Marie said. “Not to mention where a lot of great minds were meeting then. I wish I had been there.”

“I figured you would have traveled there yourself.”

“Well, I stayed in Haiti for a bit after the revolution,” Marie said. “But I went to Florida to help the Seminoles in their fight a little while after, and then New Orleans. I just kept traveling around the south and west after that.”

“I’ve never been to Haiti, actually,” Caz remarked. “The closest was when I went to Cuba a few times for, uh, work reasons.”

“It’s a beautiful island,” Marie said. “I miss it a lot.”

“You grew up there?”

“I did.”

“How old are you exactly, if you mind me asking?”

“Just about 250 years old.”

“Ha! I’ve got you beat by about 350 years,” Caz said. He rubbed his neck, narrowly missing a hanging plant with his elbow. “Um, guess that’s not really something to brag about.”

“Well, you are blessed with being forever young,” Marie smiled softly. “Witches eventually do age, albeit slowly, myself included.”

“True,” Caz sighed.

Needle

“You’ll sleep upstairs with the other girls, but let’s get you outfitted first. I’m interested in trying a sample of you myself.”

Renner tied off her left elbow and began searching her arm for a vein.

Jade felt the sting of the needle and looked down to see it attached to a vial not too different than the one that had been sticking out of Arravich’s arm in the hospital. Renner attached a long winding tube to it, placing the end of it in a wine glass. He pushed down on the vial, sending a dark red stream through the tube into the glass.

“Just a small amount, Renner,” Valfierno said. “I don’t want to overindulge.”

He began to take a sip just as a knock was heard at the door.

“Go ahead, Renner, I’m curious to see who would be at our door at this hour.”

Renner opened the door to reveal a shocked-looking Caz.

Depth

“What was up with you and that one kid, anyway?”

Jade realized Caz was talking to her.

“Who, Matt?” she asked.

“I mean, he was alright to look at, but,” Caz paused to hiccup. “He had the depth of a — what do you call it in English? — ah, right, the depth of a tide pool.”

Jade tried to track Caz in the mirror, but he had leaned down to slurp loudly from Derek’s neck.

“I just figured,” he continued, getting up to lean against Jade’s seat like he was maneuvering on a ship at sea. “That you preferred someone with a little more class and maturity.”

He proceeded to belch almost directly in Jade’s ear.

“‘Scuse me,” he said in a swinging tone. Then, as if realizing the irony, he burst into high-pitched laughter as he fell back into his seat.

“What is wrong with you?” Jade snapped. She wrinkled her nose at the acetone scent on Caz’s breath. “Are you — are you drunk?”

“No, I’m just,” Caz paused long enough to answer Jade’s question. “I’m just a little bit buzzed.”

Weather

In his six-hundred-and-seventeenth year of being on this earth, Casimir Jozef Mraz had come to a realization.

He was absolutely, hopelessly in love.

Of course, Caz fell in love at least once every decade. But this time was different, he thought, as he lay in bed, not used to trying to sleep at night. It had to be; he couldn’t find a damned thing wrong with this girl, even her name.

Amelia.

It was old-fashioned, and he liked that. Speaking it felt warm and familiar on his lips.

Lying next to him, Amelia’s eyelids fluttered for a moment, before going still as her breathing evened out and she fell even deeper into sleep. Caz heard her heartbeat slow to steady rhythm.

He leaned closer, cradling his arm around her, taking care not to catch the gold strands of hair that seemed to change texture with the weather, curling up in wiry spirals.

Caz watched a shadow falling across her ski-jump nose twist and morph as she shifted slightly. She looked almost like porcelain now, blue veins painted on her neck and chest like delft tile. She sighed again in her sleep.

So many people he had been with had wound up dead or forgotten over the years. Caz was determined this time would be different.

Save

Jade had gotten herself lost in a thought, again.

Usually this occurred when she was at her kitchen table, trying to piece together a spell; or when she took apart her laptop so it no longer sounded like a jet engine. It wasn’t supposed to involve Jade charging forward into the next room of a crowded party, ignoring all instincts to run outside and take a deep breath of cool night air.

Maybe it was hearing that someone else could get hurt. But that didn’t make any sense. Don’t try to save the world. Just focus on the next step in surviving. That was what she lived by.

No, she realized. For the first time in a long while, Jade was actually afraid.

Tagged by @diphthongsfordays to find space, scream, soft and scare:

Space

He jumped to his feet and ran towards the space between Jade and the alleyway.

Then he was falling to his knees and dry heaving.

“What the hell?” he gasped. He looked around at a circle of white surrounding him, a series of sigils carved into it by Jade’s knife. “What is this?”

“Table salt,” she said. “Combined with a few wards. Vampires are pretty susceptible to threshold magic, aren’t they?”

Caz choked back some bile and rose unsteadily to his feet.

Scream

“Lila, you seem to have calmed down a bit,” Caz said, stroking an ear larger than his hand.

He held the wolf back by the nape of her neck and leaned towards the other vampire.

“Sai cosa, Giuseppe? Non avevi torto riguardo alla tua supposizione,” he said, a small, wicked smile playing on his lips.

He released his grip on Lila.

“Ma devi capire quanto fosse stupido ferirla se mi sentivo in quel modo.”

Caz walked away from the alley, a strange and familiar feeling of satisfaction growing in the pit of his stomach as he heard Valfierno’s screams behind him increase in pitch and desperation. It was a sensation he hadn’t come across in years, and it felt good. He looked up at the full yellow moon and grinned, his teeth flashing in the light.

Soft

She looked up at Violet.

“Do you think we could each carry one of them?”

“If you can maintain a levitation spell for the whole length of the walk back,” she replied. “But your arm looks pretty bad, Jade.”

“Hmm,” Jade furrowed her brow. “I vote we leave Amelia.”

“No,” Caz whined softly into the stone. “Don’t leave my girlfriend behind.”

“Caz you’re currently bleeding out from where she carved into you. I don’t think she’s your girlfriend anymore.”

Scare

She was getting closer to him. Caz could smell that scrape still bleeding from her wrist. He was already faint from hunger. He needed to get her out of here.

The best method, he decided, was to scare her.

“So what if I am?” he asked, before smiling his widest and sharpest smile. “And if I am, may I remind you you’re currently backed into a corner by someone much stronger and faster than you, Jade?”

Mistake. You made a mistake, you fool.

He knew it as soon as the words left his lips. Don’t ever piss off a witch. His left ankle left the ground first, carried upward by a root looping around it, followed by his right.

Tagging, if you'd like: @drippingmoon, @authortango, @author-a-holmes, @avian-writes & @faelanvance to find calm, lake, ivory & estimate.

#my writing #writeblr #something wicked #tag game #thegreatobsesso #pertinax--loculos #diphthongsfordays #tw: swearing #tw: body image #tw: food #tw: drink #tw: alcohol #tw: blood #tw: needles #tw: vomit

[montygreen]

2020 Fanfiction Round Up

Total Word Count of 2020: 240,175 (though approx 55,000 probably are actually words written by @parkersedith considering that’s about half of the words in our collaborative fics from last year)

Total Hits of 2020: 33361

Other 2020 AO3 Stats: KUDOS: 3129 COMMENTS: 403 BOOKMARKS: 535

Link and Titles to Works of 2020:

[Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist] do you think you will be good enough (to love others and to be loved) - Post season 1 episode 10, Zoey and Max finally have a real conversation and trade some needed apologies (1,811 words)

[Never Have I Ever] i feel like i'm the worst (so i always act like i'm the best) - 5 times Ben Gross wanted to kiss Devi Vishwakumar, and the 1 time she kissed him instead (3,300 words)

[Never Have I Ever] found a life worth living for someone else - after Paxton tells Devi he won't date her until she's been in a relationship with someone else first, she makes the natural decision: pose as Ben Gross' girlfriend (11,664 words)

[Never Have I Ever] my heart just burst like a glass balloon - Devi and Ben, mostly canon compliant Soulmate AU (6,481 words)

[Never Have I Ever] can you teach me how to feel real?  - after Shira predictably bails on him, Ben asks Devi to come to the LA Clippers game with him instead. Diverges from Season 1, Episode 6 (3,725 words)

[Never Have I Ever] my heart is nuclear (love is all that I fear) -  5 times Devi wished she was dating someone (and observed the relationships around her), and 1 time she actually was (7,441 words)

[Never Have I Ever] we've worked so hard (yeah we've come so far) - 3 holidays Devi and Ben celebrate together (11,483 words)

[Never Have I Ever] i got dark only to shine - 5 times people suspect something happened between Devi and Ben, and the 1 time someone catches them (7,530 words)

[Never Have I Ever] smitten kitten - seeking a cure for his loneliness, Ben adopts two cats. Of course, being the overachiever he is, he wants to be the perfect pet parent, but that's not something he can quite tackle on his own. That's where Devi comes in (4,055 words)

[Never Have I Ever] i smile with tears in my eyes - Ben drives Devi home from his party. It all explodes from there. Diverges from 1.08 (8,833 words)

[Never Have I Ever] hit me with your sweet love, steal me with a kiss (written with @parkersedith) - Devi's ok at one-night stands, she likes to think. but when quarantine orders come in, a one-night stand turns into a lot more than just that (11,726 words)

[Never Have I Ever] hard like a rock, cold like stone - The bus is empty and the Model UN alliance works. Devi's just not sure how she went from allies to friends to—something else with Ben so quickly. Diverges from 1.05 (9,501 words)

[Never Have I Ever] i had a marvelous time ruining everything (written with @parkersedith) - Ben and Devi grow up together, as academic rivals, best friends, and maybe, just maybe, something more (38,072 words)

[Never Have I Ever] how would you feel, if i told you i loved you? (written with @parkersedith) - an mri machine has fucked up Devi's life considerably, and the scariest part of it? finding out her long-time nemesis has feelings for her. she's just hoping there's some guidebook on how to handle this (also known as: the zoey's extraordinary playlist fusion no one asked for but we wrote anyways) (25,124 words)

[Never Have I Ever] i'm forever chasing after time - Devi knows the only way to get out of this time loop is if she kisses her soulmate. She's cool with it. She's got a plan. Problem is, she has no idea what to do when that plan doesn't work out (17, 380 words)

[Never Have I Ever] the sky is clear (of fear) - 5 times Devi notices Ben's smile, and the 1 time he notices hers (8,405 words)

[Never Have I Ever] life couldn't get much sweeter - 5 times Ben and Devi try (and fail) to hide the fact they’re dating, and the 1 time they admit it (9,562 words)

[Never Have I Ever] one single thread of gold (tied me to you) (written with @parkersedith) - 5 times after malibu Ben and Devi almost kissed, and the 1 time they did (15,297 words)

[Never Have I Ever] i hate accidents except when we went from friends to this (written with @parkersedith) - Devi asks Ben to be her fake boyfriend. it would be easy, except for the fact that he used to be her best friend, and now he's not (18,785 words)

[Never Have I Ever] the stars collide as the planets turn - Devi and Ben in "Hang The DJ" (11,849 words)

[Never Have I Ever] merry christmas (i wrapped it up and sent it) - tired of Devi and Ben dancing around each other, Eleanor enlists Fabiola with a plan to get her friends together. It goes haywire—more than once (8,196 words)

Favourite Fic: i'm forever chasing after time is like my baby, I worked hard on it, and given it’s like the only fic I’ve written that I’m genuinely proud of, like yeah, it’s my favourite

Hardest Fic: I remember genuinely STRUGGLING with some of the parts of how would you feel, if i told you i loved you? mostly because I was trying to describe heart songs without using any lyrics (since Bhargavi and I decided early on we HATED when fics just dumped lyrics of a song at you.)

Do you plan to take prompts in 2021? I mean, if people are interested in sending me some sure! I’ve never gotten a prompt so LOL

What was the best thing about 2020? Writing wise? Probably the fact that I got back into writing? I hadn’t written any fic since 2015/2016, so it was nice to get back into it!

What was the worst thing about 2020? Uh... I mean... come on, it should be a given. 

Any last thoughts for 2020? Bye, won’t miss you. Really hoping I’ll be able to get vaccinated in 2021 and see my friends in person again cause I miss them very very much.

Goals for 2021: I’m assuming these are writing goals so I’ll keep them at that

Hit 300k, hell if possible hit 400k

Expand my fandoms! Everything spare for one fic that I wrote this year was for Never Have I Ever, but I’d love to try writing something for another show I love like Anne With An E or Brooklyn Nine Nine

Also, keep writing Never Have I Ever and Devi and Ben obviously

Not tagging anyone, but if you see this and want to do it, I encourage you!

[snappedsky]

Fanatics 76

Squee takes a break.

*Links to previous and next chapters in reblog*

--

Spring Breaking

           Squee: Nny and I are gonna stay with Granny Cammie for a while. We’re taking Nugget with us too

           Pepito: starting spring break early! Sounds nice

           Gaz: Yeah who cares about skool anyway

           Dib: Take all the time you need Squee

           Tak: Yeah, you deserve a break.

           Zim: We’ll keep things handled here. Leave it to Zim!

           Squee cracks a weak smile at the messages from his friends. Then he drops his phone into his bag, slips it onto his shoulders, and grabs his suitcase before leaving his room.

           “I’m ready,” he says to Johnny as he enters the living room.

           “Good. Granny’s already in the car,” he replies, “let’s go.”

           They leave the house and get into the car. Cammie’s in the passenger seat and Squee sits in the back with Nugget while Nny drives. And they head out.

           The drive is pretty quiet, with just the radio to break the silence. Squee watches the scenery go by, his head resting against the window. Sometimes he’ll catch himself reaching for his lap, where something- or someone- used to sit and his chest will tighten. So he tries to keep himself distracted by stroking Nugget’s fur.

           They arrive to Cammie’s house in a few hours and park the car in her ridiculously large driveway next to her other vehicles that are never used. After grabbing their luggage, she lets them into the house.

           “Welcome home, Cammie,” Thomas- her caretaker- nods respectfully as they enter.

           “Thanks, Thomas,” she replies as they walk by to the hallway of bedrooms. “Your rooms from the summer you stayed here are still the same,” she says to Nny and Squee. “But they’re pretty plain. Maybe we can go to the city later and pick up some décor for you, Squee. Maybe some posters or uh…lava lamps…um…glow-in-the-dark stickers…I-I don’t know what kids like.”            “Glow-in-the-dark stickers sound nice,” Squee remarks as they reach his room. “But can we go another day?”

           “Sure, hon, we can go whenever you want,” Cammie replies, “you just relax and make yourself comfortable.”

           Squee smiles weakly before going into his room and closing the door behind him.  Cammie and Nny both sigh and continue down the hall.

           “He seems to have gotten a little better these last couple days,” she comments.

           “Yeah, he’s trying really hard to pick up his pieces,” he agrees, “but I’m still worried. I hope he takes a break from everything while we’re here. He really needs it.”

           In his room, Squee drops his bags onto the floor and flops onto the bed. He stares at the ceiling, his mind numb and blank. He could just lie here all day but he won’t let himself do that. So he gets up, grabs a pen and notebook from his bag, and flips open to a blank page.

           Squee presses the pen to the paper and waits. And he waits. And waits. He starts impatiently tapping the page as the minutes tick by and the words refuse to flow. Finally, having lost his patience, he tosses the book to the side and stands up.

           “Whatever,” he grumbles as he leaves his room. “Maybe I’ll get some inspiration from TV.”            The hours tick by lazily as Squee and Nny spend them watching cartoons. Late into the evening, everyone retires to their rooms for the night. But Squee doesn’t try to sleep. He’s been too scared to after what happened when he stayed with the Night Terrors a couple days ago. So he grabs his notebook and tries to take another crack at writing.

           This time is no more successful and twice as frustrating. If it were just normal writer’s block, then Squee could handle it. But this doesn’t feel like a normal blockage. He can clearly see the words he wants to write in his head, but for some reason they can’t pass onto the paper like they used to. Once his pen would flow like a rushing river; now it’s like a clogged toilet.

           His frustration boils into a rage. Rage towards his head for not releasing those words; rage towards his hand for not moving; rage towards his pen for not writing. And suddenly he snaps and throws the pen across the room.

           The rage doesn’t last long though and is quickly replaced with an exhausted guilt. Squee stands up and goes to where his pen landed by the window. Sitting on the floor, he cradles it gently in his hand. It’s the fountain pen Johnny gave him for his thirteenth birthday- the first of his birthdays they spent together. That seems so long ago now.

           Sighing heavily, Squee rests his head against the window and looks outside. The stars are so bright and clear out here, even through the glass. His focus lands on two perpendicular ones peeking out at him over the treeline. They seem bigger than all the others.

           And then they blink.

           Squee leaps up, opens the window, and throws his head out. He looks around frantically but the two…stars?...are gone.

           Confused, Squee leans against the windowsill and stares at the sky. Did he really see that? Was it just a trick of the light? Or something else?

           The next day is just as lazy and quiet. Squee spends it either watching cartoons or chilling on the porch swing, Johnny and Nugget always by his side. It’s so peaceful and relaxing. Or at least it should be.

           Squee loves it out here. But his nerves are shot. He feels like there’s something hiding behind every corner or in every shadow, and he can’t be sure what’s real and what’s his paranoia. They haven’t been attacked by anything yet, so is it safe to assume it’s all his paranoia?    

           Having Nny by his side helps him feel a little safer, but it’s not the same as…well, it’s not the same as before.

           Squee tries writing a couple more times throughout the day, but the outcome remains the same: frustrating, disappointing nothingness.

           That afternoon he’s curled up on the couch, tapping his pen against the paper with annoyance. Nny watches him for a second before asking, “can’t think of what to write?”

           “Not exactly,” Squee sighs, “I know what I want to write. The words just won’t…come, you know?”

           “Not really,” he shrugs, “I don’t know anything about writer’s block.”

           “No, this is…different.”

           Johnny watches as Squee closes his notebook and walks away. He stares after him, curious and a bit concerned.

           Squee spends that night just like the last: mostly staring at the sky. When his eyelids get too heavy, he’ll lie down in bed and let himself sleep for a couple hours, but until then, the stars are a lovely show.

           He’s still thinking about the two stars he saw blink last night. He actually wanted to write a story about them today, but of course that didn’t happen.

           Resting his chin on the window’s ledge, Squee continues to stare at the sky while his eyelids get heavier and heavier.

          Meanwhile in his room, Johnny is also avoiding sleep. He lies on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind deliberating. Finally, he makes up his mind and goes to the living room. He picks up the phone and quickly dials a number before he can change his mind. It’s late, but he’s sure this person is awake.

           “Al’s Assmeats. How may we serve you today?” an obnoxiously loud voice answers.

           “Devi, it’s Nny,” Johnny says.

           “Oh, hey,” she replies in her normal voice. “Something wrong? You never call me.”

           “No-ah, well…no, not really,” he stammers with uncertainty.

           “Then…why are you calling me?”

           “Uh it’s um mmmm.” Pressing his palm into his forehead, Johnny takes a second to collect his thoughts. “Do you remember when the Nightmare tried to control you?”

           “Yeah…?” Devi replies, somewhat uncertain.

           “How did it feel when you tried to paint?”

           “Um…well, I was working that shitty painting job at the time so I didn’t have time to paint for myself. And anything I painted for them was just following the instructions they gave me- which fucking sucked by the way. So…I don’t know. It sure didn’t feel the same as before, when I painted for me. It felt like…nothing. Like a void, you know?”

           “No,” Nny replies as he sits on the floor and leans up against the end table. “I don’t remember much from back when it was happening to me. But I feel like…like whenever I tried to draw…there was a clog.”

           “A clog?” Devi questions.

           “Yeah. Like something was blocking my creativity from leaving my mind.”

           “That’s interesting,” she comments, “I guess because I was doing that job, I wasn’t really using my creativity.”

           “Like it was being clogged from the outside,” he muses.

         “Yeah. I never thought of it that way before,” she remarks, “why are you asking about this?”            “Mmm,” Johnny merely groans in reply.

           “Is it about Squee? Is he okay?”

           “I think so. For now at least,” he replies, “but…he said he’s having trouble writing. Like he’s feeling blocked.”

           “Hmmm,” Devi hums curiously, “well…he’s going through a lot right now. He could just be mentally exhausted. Maybe he just needs a break.”

           “That is why we came out here,” Nny replies, “but I think he’s trying too hard to, like, beat his depression.”            “Fuck, I know how that feels,” she sighs.

           “Yeah.”

           They both sigh heavily.

           “Well,” Johnny grunts, scratching his head. “I’m sure he’ll get through this. He’s tougher than he thinks he is.”            “He really is,” Devi agrees, “oh, hey! I finally got my business cards done!”

           “Oh, yeah?” he replies with half-interest.

           “Yeah, Dib helped me design them. They’re pretty fucking sick. I’m gonna go around tomorrow and hand them out. I’m gonna start with small businesses first- you know, spread the indie love. But if I have to, I’ll try bigger businesses.”

           Johnny rubs his forehead as Devi continues to babble on. He doesn’t really care, but he can’t just hang up on her. He’s the one who called her in the middle of the night, so this is the price he has to pay.

           Back in his room, Squee is slowly starting to pass out in his window. His eyelids are drooping but he can’t be bothered to pick himself up and go to bed. So he keeps blinking heavily as he stares at the sky.

           Between each blink, everything appears the same. The silhouettes of the trees and all the stars remain stagnant.

           And then two more stars appear.

          Squee’s eyes fly open and he leans out the window. This time, the new stars don’t disappear. They stay poking over the treeline, seemingly staring back at him.

           With his eyes used to the darkness, he can barely make out the outline of what appears to be a head surrounding the new stars.

           Squee cocks his head curiously. The other head cocks back.

           Squee blinks with surprise before leaping out the window. His bare feet land on the soft, chilly grass surrounding the house but he doesn’t want to get his shoes. What if the new stars disappear again?

           He quickly loses sight of them as he goes into the trees but he keeps moving forward. He trips and stumbles on roots and branches but he doesn’t stop. Not until he reaches a small clearing.

           It’s so sudden he almost runs into it, but he stops just in time. Just in front of him is a giant foot, the big toe alone almost taller than Squee. Swallowing hard, he looks up in awe at the rest of the creature towering over him and the surrounding trees.

           Their body is humanoid and androgynous, but their skin almost looks like tree bark. They’re so tall, Squee can’t make out their face; just their two eyes, glowing like stars in the darkness.

           The giant stares at him before slowing kneeling down just enough to rest one of their hands at Squee’s feet. Squee glances at it with uncertainty before climbing aboard.

           “Whoa!” he exclaims as the giant lifts him at the same velocity as a speeding car, all the way up to their face.

           This close Squee can see the giant’s eyes really are just two glowing white orbs. They have no nose or ears, just nostrils, and a massive mouth filled with browned, chipped teeth. While the creature doesn’t have eyebrows, Squee can still tell their expression is quizzical.

           “Why have you sought me out, little one?” they ask, their voice booming but somehow still gentle, like a wise, old man.

           “I-I wanted to see if you were real,” Squee replies, wonderstruck.

           “You are the first of your kind to notice me in thousands of years,” they muse, “I admit, I wasn’t sure you were real either last night. Rather spooked me.”            He cracks an amused smile at that. “I scared you?”

           “At first. Why? Do I frighten you?”

           “Lots of things do, some more than others. But I’m not afraid of you now.”            “Yet you were before. And you still came for me.”            “Like I said, I needed to be sure you were real,” Squee says, “I…I’m worried I might start losing the ability to tell the difference.”

           “Hmm,” the giant hums in response. “You are young, even for your species. But I see ages of stress on your face. Care to join me on a nightly walk? I find they always help me clear my head.”

           “Uh, well, I…” Squee stammers with uncertainty as he looks back towards the house. Then he realizes just how high he really is.

           Not only can he see the house, the few lights on glimmering in the darkness, but the highway as well and the surrounding trees and fields, stretching on and on endlessly towards the darkened horizon where it all connects with the sky, its countless stars and the moon shining overhead.

           “Sure,” Squee sighs, “why not.”

           “Wonderful,” the giant comments and carefully moves their hand to their shoulder. Squee climbs on and sits in the crook of their neck.

           “Uh, my name’s Squee, by the way,” he says.

           “My kind do not use names,” they reply.

           “Oh. Um can I give you a nickname?”            “You may.”

           “I’m gonna call you…Celestial, cause your eyes remind me of the stars,” Squee says.

           “Hm, I like that,” Celestial comments.

           They walk in silence for a couple minutes. Celestial moves quickly, one step covering several feet. The chilly, night air breezes through Squee’s hair as he watches the world pass by.  

           “This is nice,” he comments blissfully, “it reminds me of when I was in space. Like right now, nothing matters.”

           “Yes, your kind spend so much time scurrying around,” Celestial says, “but your lives are short. You do not have much time to do the things you want to do, so it’s understandable. But you must remember to take a break once in a while.”

           “Yeah, that’s why I came out here,” he agrees, “to take a break. But…I can’t write. That was always my escape. And now something’s stopping me, keeping me from it. It’s so…frustrating.”

           All of Squee’s anger erupts to the surface in a sudden blow. It would surprise him if he wasn’t so aggravated.

           “Writing is important to you,” Celestial observes.

           “I…I lost something not long ago,” Squee explains, “a big part of myself. I can’t lose writing too.”            He glares angrily at his hands when Celestial suddenly stops. Squee looks up and quickly rises to his feet in awe.

           In the distance they can see Los Angeles, its countless lights glowing bright enough to blot out the stars. Even this far away, the city’s noises can be heard; vehicles, muffled voices, and miscellaneous clamoring.

           “Look at your people,” Celestial says, “even this late at night, they don’t stop. Always moving, working for something, even if they don’t know what it is.”

           “You say you came here to take a break, but perhaps it is not just a break from your everyday life you require,” they suggest, “perhaps it is a break from yourself.”

           “My…self?” Squee questions.

           “Take a break from writing, from your worries. Try something new. Or do nothing at all.”

           “But I’m trying to do the exact opposite,” he insists, “I don’t want to lose myself.”            “You are fighting a tremendous battle that no one could possibly understand,” Celestial points out, “taking a break from it does not mean you have lost.”

           Squee stares at them, his eyes welling up. He swallows a sob as he sits back down.

           “I will take you back home,” Celestial says as they turn around.

           The walk back is quiet. Tears drip down Squee’s cheeks the entire way, suddenly overwhelmed by his emotions. When they make it back, he wipes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

           “Thank you, Celestial,” he says as he stands up. “This was really nice.”

           “Indeed,” they agree as they hold up their hand for Squee to step on. “It has been many decades since I’ve had a conversation with someone. Perhaps someday I will see you again.”

           “I would like that,” Squee smiles.

           Celestial carefully lowers Squee to ground in front of Cammie’s house. They wave goodbye to each other before turning away and Squee goes in through the front door.

           “Hey.” Squee looks over to the living room, where Johnny is sitting on the floor holding the phone receiver, Nugget curled up in his lap. “Where did you go?” he asks.

           “I…had a very enlightening conversation with a giant,” Squee replies.

           “Huh. Cool.”            “Who are you talking to?” Squee asks.

           “Devi,” Nny replies and covers the receiver. “She gets really talkative when she’s overtired. Wanna talk?”

           He smiles gently. “Yeah.”

           Squee sits next to him and takes the phone. “Devi?”

           “Squee!” she exclaims excitedly. “It’s good to hear you. You uh…you doing okay?”            A lump forms in Squee’s throat but he quickly swallows it and takes a deep breath. “No. Not really. But I’ll get there.”            Johnny smiles warmly and drapes his arm across Squee’s shoulders. He smiles back as they lean against each other. Nugget mews and moves over into Squee’s lap.

           “So uh how are you doing?” Squee asks.

           “Pretty good,” Devi replies, “I finally got my business cards and they’re pretty fucking awesome. I’ve been thinking about getting a haircut; it’s been a while and my hair’s getting too long. But I’m not sure what to do with it. I need it to be different, you know. Maybe I should get some like hairstyle magazines, look for inspiration.”

           Squee smiles wearily as he covers the receiver and whispers to Nny, “she really does get talkative.”            “I know,” he whispers back.

           They both smile and lean back, relaxed as they listen to Devi’s babbling.

#invader zim #invader zim fanfiction #johnny the homicidal maniac #johnny the homicidal maniac fanfiction #iz jthm crossover #myart #myocs

[the-witchy]

The Blessed Pratibimb: Chapter-1

Adhrit was worried about his brother. Last time he asked him to go and have fun, the talk of the wife went away along with Gurudev. Now he didn't have enough courage to ask his brother again that they should visit the kingdom before going there officially.

He went to Arihant's room and found him sitting on a chair lost in an empty corner. He just sighed looking at his brother. He knew his brother has always been the most emotion child among them. He would even get sentimental over an emotional poem so this thing was far more painful to him than anyone can imagine.

He suddenly struck with an idea. He went straight to his brother and said, "Come on get up!"

Arihant was too lost to give him any attention so this time he literally pulled him down his chair. As Arihant's butt touched the ground he came to reality. With his angry tone, he asked, "What?"

Smiling, that his brother at least came back to reality he said excitedly, "Get ready!" Dusting his clothes and getting up he asked, "For what?"

His smile just increased as he said, "We are going to have a survey in the kingdom before there officially."

But Arihant had something else in his mind as he said, "I don't want to visit a place which is cursed. Last time you took its name Gurudev left me."

Adhrit said in an irritated voice, "Really? That is your kingdom brother and you are their king. How can you disrespect your very own kingdom? This is not something Gurudev has taught us."

Mention of his Guru, Arihant was a little taken back and looking down he said, "I am nothing without him."

Adhrit, completely understanding his brother's pain said, "You are. He has made you this strong person you are today. In the battlefield, only your name is enough to make enemy leave the ground. Your dignity is like sun, its spread in all directions. Every kingdom knows our bravery and our power. It is all because of him. He has spent years making it that far. Now you want to break it in just a second. It would be a waste of all his efforts. Don't do this brother. Be his best student again."

Till the end Arihant's eyes were filled with tears and he was completely struck by an elephant. He sighed and said, "I guess you're right. I should prove to him that I am his best student anyway."

Adhrit smiled and said, "We'll be changing into saints. Here I have brought them."

Handing Arihant the bag of his clothing he continued, "Change into them and you will look exactly like Rishi Durvasa."

Arihant's lips found a smile as he asked, "Really?"

In a straight and boring voice Adhrit said, "No."

Flaring his nostrils Arihant mumbled a "Whatever."

As they both got ready, they went out to the stable and found out their horses, Megh and Bali there. As Arihant went with his Megh and Adhrit with his Bali, they looked back at their camp and said Adhrit, "Don't worry I have already talked to Maa."

Arihant smiled and said, "You really seem excited about this."

Adhrit just looked at the starry sky and replied, "I have a feeling something great is to be done there. I don't know about anything else."

Arihant just nodded and they started with their horses on full speed towards their kingdom.

------------------------------------------

It was bright sunny day and the whole Kaushik Kingdom was ready for their big day. It was Basant Agaman today and everyone was super excited for it. Like every year this year their was special arrangements for the festival and main pooja, but this year was a special one, after all their king was returning back to the kingdom after 12 years.

Soon two fake Rishis emerged near the kingdom on the horses and they both stopped seeing the main entrance to the city. They hide their horses in the bushes bear a tree as they knew soon the whole army would reach here and they will collect them on their own. As Adhrit has already talked to his mother of taking the army back as the war's over.

Arihant looked at the gate really lost in the thoughts and Adhrit just smiled and said, "It's our own kingdom brother let's go in."

He nodded and they both started to the gate and no one stopped them as it was the festival today and everyone was welcomed in the kingdom, only after checking though. As they were carrying nothing they were sent in.

The scenery of inside was so pleasurable that they both were star struck and just stood there admiring city's beauty. The walls of shops and houses were loaded with flowers and were painted new. They were confused as to what was the occasion today. As they went to a shop and Adhrit asked, "Hello dan, can you tell us what is the occasion today? Why is it so decorated here?"

The shopkeeper just smiled and said, "Looks like you are new around here." They both nodded and he continued, "It is the Basant Agaman today. Like every year the whole kingdom is eager to celebrate it, but this year it is something different."

Being curious one Arihant asked, "What different?"

Smiling ear to ear shopkeeper replied, "Our king is returning back to the kingdom that's why everyone is more than usual excited for this year's Basant Agaman. Even the temple has done special arrangements for king's arrival. I have also heard that the king would be here by the noon and he would be doing the Basant Pooja."

Adhrit started to fake cough to hide his laugh which Arihant was completely aware of. He just rolled his eyes at his little brother's antiques. Looking him cough shopkeeper offered him a glass of milk, saying, "Are you alright Rishiwar?"

Taking the milk with a smile Adhrit said, "Was not, but would be now." As he gestured towards the milk. Arihant said, "Thank you for telling us, we should keep going."

Shopkeeper nodded and said his pranam to both as they started to god knows where.

Roaming and roaming, it was the afternoon today. Both of the boys were hungry by now. Adhrit said, "Brother let's eat something." To which Arihant nodded and they reached by a shop of sweet. They asked the shopkeeper, "We are hungry can you feed us."

Judging by their look shopkeeper knew they wouldn't be serving him with any money, but refusing to a Rishi could cost a curse which he sure was not ready. So very politely he said, "Rishi Lord I would love to serve you with my sweets, but my sweets aren't delicious enough for your taste."

Adhrit asked, "What do you mean?"

He said, "As you can see there is Basant Agaman today and there is a special Bhoj in the temple today. The more special thing about that Bhoj is that the high priest's daughter herself have made it. It is said that she is a God Child and all of us have seen her making miracles. Only at the age of 16 she had mastered all kind of yudhkala, ayurveda, astrology, Vedas and what not. It is also said that she has been gifted with magic hands as the medicine made by her hands never fails and have the capacity to even make a dead alive. She is also said to possess all the qualities of devi Annapurna, as many Rishis like you have said that themselves. I would recommend you going there My Lord."

Hearing so much about the magical girl Adhrit's impatience for food just increased as he said, "Brother he is right we should head to the temple then."

But on the other hand, Arihant had something different in his mind. He said, "I guess you're right. We should head towards the temple...and test the girl..."

He said the last part real slow, almost to himself as he was really curious about this girl. So both boys started to the temple.

--------------------------------

Both boys reached the temple as per the shopkeeper advised and for sure the décor was a thing to be noticed. The gate welcomed them with flowers and even the feet were placed on the petals. There was no one in there as they entered, but they saw a beautifully dress Adishakti's pind. They both bowed to her and suddenly Adhrit's nose was hit by a sweet fragrance. He looked in the direction and saw Prasada there. Now his the tiny patience bridge just broke and he without saying anything just went to it.

But before he could dig in, he stopped and thought for a moment. He then took the kheer and the spoon and took out a full spoon of kheer out. But rather than eating himself he went to his brother and said, "Here..."

Arihant gave him a confused look so he said, "I have drank that full glass of milk but you haven't. You didn't even had your dinner last night, so you're the first one taking this."

Arihant accepted the offer smilingly. As he took the first spoon his eyes went wide and his mind went numb. He have never tasted such a delicious kheer ever before in his life. Looking at his reaction Adhrit asked, "How's this?" Getting out of his trance, Arihant smiled and said, "Such a delicious dish I have never tasted before."

Listening to his reply Adhrit's eyes started to shimmer with hunger and he asked, "Really?"

Arihant nodded smirking and said, "Why not try it on your own."

Being said that he couldn't control himself anymore he just dig in the pot and started to eat like there's no tomorrow.

As he was about to take his last bite they heard, "Stop!"

He stopped abruptly and looked in the direction of voice. There stood an aged guy with his long braid along with white Dhoti.

His look made him high priest and it confirmed when his disciples came from behind and one of them said, "What have you done? It was supposed to be for the king on his first visit."

Adhrit asked, "What's so special about this?"

One disciple said, "This specially moon's charged kheer was made for our king's first visit as to make him more emotionally stable and more inclined to his kingdom as he have been staying away for so long."

Arihant frowned but before he could say anything high priest said, "This act of ignorance should be punished fair well."

"Soldiers!" He called and there came four soldiers and they bowed as high priest said, "Capture these imposters and kill them."

Both were shocked from this decision and Adhrit blood started to boil. 'How dare they say something like that to his brother and nevertheless their very own king.' he thought.

But before anyone could say or do anything everyone heard, "Wait!"

The voice was so beautiful that it felt as a melody to Arihant's ears. 'If voice is so sweet how would the owner be?' he thought to himself. As the disciples started to move out of the way of the voice, a clear figure started to come out. In complete white along with a lily on one side of her head came a girl more beautiful then the devi herself. Her hair were braided down along with pearls to her waist. Where her golden waistband just showed her slim figure. The gold earrings along with armlet and then the bangles just added shimmer to her velvet skin. Her eyes were holding authority as bold as her Kajal. Lips pink and the jingles of her anklets made Arihant just admire the beauty of world in front of his eyes. He was so mesmerized by her beauty that she just wanted to bow down and confess his feelings to her. But as she spoke his attention went to the matter, "Pranam Rishiwar."

Both of them nodded to her and she moved to the high priest and said, "Father, I have made that kheer specially for our king and have charged it with moon. Surely the kheer was made for a high purpose. But I assume it was for these Rishis than our king. He is our king father, he is surrounded by so many people around him who would surely take care of his diet. But as for these Rishis I assume they were hungry otherwise no such saint would eat anything without any asking."

Priest asked, "What are you trying say?"

She said, "I simply mean the Kheer they ate was meant for them rather than our king. Kheer was made to fill the eater with compassion and love and indeed King has no such luck to have this. Feeding our king is our duty as Brahmin but feeding any poor is our responsibility as a human being. No religion is greater than the religion of being a human."

Priest thought for a moment and smiled at his girl saying, "You always make me proud my girl."

She smiled and asked, "So can we feed them properly?"

As priest nodded he moved towards the Rishis and said, "I am sorry Rishiwar." He bowed and continued, "As my daughter said, feeding poor is our responsibility and instead of welcoming you to the Maha Pooja I disrespected you. I am sorry for that."

Adhrit smiled and nodded. But Arihant, he was lost in the beauty in front of him so he remained silent. Priest said, "I would love to invite you to our Maha Bhoj at the occasion of Basant Agaman."

Adhrit nodded and elbowed to his brother bringing him back to reality as he nodded too. But again started to look at her. She said, "Come along with me Rishiwar." They nodded and started to follow her.

As they were going through large halls Adhrit asked, "Devi, do all the temples looks like palace?"

She frowned getting a bit confuse as to why Rishis don't know how temple looks like, but then she thought, 'Maybe they have been away from humanity for the start and never get a chance to visit humans or something like that'. She replied, "No Rishiwar, only this temple is made with such an excellency. Our late king made it himself as he was blessed by Devi Shakti. He made this temple in order to show respect to her. He nodded and asked, "What do you know about Royal family?"

She replied, "I don't know much about them, but I have heard that the our present king is one of the greatest warriors of the time. He is not only best at Yudhkala but also the stagiaires are the best made by him. I have also heard that he have received his education directly from Guru Yajana. He also have a younger brother. That is all I have heard about our king."

Getting a bit upset Adhrit asked, "Haven't you heard about the Prince Adhrit?"

She shook her head in no and said, "I actually didn't know anything about Royal family but since they are coming today I asked one of my friends and she told me a bit about our king that is all."

Adhrit replied with 'Oh'.

But Arihant had something else in his mind as he said in a fake low voice which was clearly audible, "He is fool..."

But the girl didn't reply so Arihant elbowed Adhrit gesturing him to say more and he said, "The king of yours is very..."

He just wandered to think of something but Arihant continued, "...is very cruel. How can a king leave his kingdom forever. This kind of brutality with his very own kingdom. What a shameful act by a king. How can he live like that, he should rather d-"

"Enough!" Burst the girl as she said, "Apology for my rudeness Rishi Lord but I request you not to disrespect our king anymore. He has been away from our kingdom for like twelve years now. But he was not enjoying that time either. He was fighting for us. For our people. He learnt in the battlefield and stayed there so that we can stay here happily. He was just a child when he left the kingdom to the battlefield. His whole childhood was spent on the battlefield. This kind of act can be done only by a true king and he is the best king our kingdom can get. This is my own point of view on one told me this.

You are Rishis, bigger than me in anyway rather it age or knowledge. But I would appreciate it if you would keep your views to only yourself. I would apologize again if you find me in any rudeness."

Both of them were just out of words now. They were left to say nothing. Arihant was really impressed by girl's wisdom and sense of patriotism and devotion towards her king. Adhrit said, "Devi, we apology if our words hurt your feeling we didn't meant to do that."

She nodded and smiled saying, "Please come with me so that I can serve you food."

They nodded and they went to the backyard of the temple which was quite big. There she arranged special sitting arrangements for them and served them food.

The food was just too much delicious that even Arihant had to have a bit extra. After they were done Arihant was really impressed by her so he said, "Devi you have really impressed me, I want to give you a boon." She nodded and said, "I would take my boon on time Rishiwar, right now I have nothing to ask for. He nodded and Adhrit said, "We should get going now."

Arihant nodded and the girl thanked them again for visiting temple. Both the boys got out of kingdom and joined the army which had reached almost the gate. They changed back into normal clothing of theirs and entered the Kingdom like real King.

-------------------------------

Rishi Durvasa: A great sage of that time.

Basant: Spring.

Agaman: Coming.

Rishis: Sages.

Pooja: Worshiping of Indian style.

Rishiwar: A noun for Rishi in ancient India.

Bhoj: Offering of food on any special occasion.

Yudhkala: Wararts or different kind of war skills like, swordsmanship and others.

Devi Annapurna: Indian Goddess of Food.

Adishakti's Pind: Adishakti is an Indian Goddess of eternal power. Her body's parts are called pind.

Prasada: The offering to the God/Goddess which were once offered to them, then distributed to various people. Or can say Holy offering.

Dhoti: An Indian lower wear mostly for males.

Devi Shakti: Another name for Goddess Adishakti in from of Parvati, Mahadev's/Shiva's wife.

#wattpad #story #lovestory #wattpadder #writer #mythology #ancient #fantasy #romance #twinflames #soulmate

[the-real-rg]

19

Thanks for asking! (And for waiting) Loving the idea for a more lighthearted piece so I hope you enjoy this blurb featuring Devi and Ahava.

19. “According to this survey, most people agree you are, in fact, a gigantic asshole.” - Prompt list (send one in!)

Word count: 749

Devi sat in the clinic’s med bay, nursing a cheap beer dragged over from the Blind Owl, Ahava’s sat on the counter, dark glass glinting in the moonlight. It was strange to not be the one getting patched up but Devi had the night off and Ahava was always up late, consistent as the moon. So when Devi couldn’t sleep - adrenaline burning in lungs, expecting a fight, twitchy as an insect - Ahava’s seemed the logical place to go. The night was softer there.

Some idiot punk, fresh from a bar fight sat in the chair as Ahava ground together some herbs, gold eyes flashing with irritation. Two other casualties from the same fight sat outside in the main room. Their soft bickering fluttered against Devi’s ears.

“This is going to sting like a mother fucker,” Ahava announced, idly, “but it will stop the burns from getting any worse if you’re consistent with it.”

The patient - Adeinn? - didn’t seem too enthusiastic about that, his shadowy silhouette hunching in the tiny chair as he made a face.

Devi, out of the loop and curious for a story, leaned forward in her chair. “Burns?”

Adeinn squirmed sheepishly.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” Ahava shot, before turning to Devi. “Play nice, adjya, can’t have you harassing my paycheck.”

“Oh, like you’re not curious.”

“Never said I wasn’t.”

“I don’t mind telling the story,” Devi could see the glint of a smug smile spreading across Adeinn’s face, “especially not for two lovely ladies such as yourselves.”

“Another comment like that and I’ll hit you,” was Ahava’s only response.

His smile faltered. “Jeez, sorry…”

“The story!” Devi pressed as Ahava huffed.

“Okay okay, so I’m sitting in the bar, minding my own business.”

“That’s how all bar fights start,” Ahava grumbled under her breath.

Adeinn scrunched his nose at her, before rolling his eyes. “Anyway, I’m minding my own business, and Jasper comes in - big blond bloke - and his brother Jacob - bigger blonde bloke - they’re twins.”

“Is Jacob the evil twin?”

“Devi!”

Adeinn laughed at Devi’s comment despite Ahava’s chiding. “He is the evil one; a fucking patcher!”

Devi felt her mouth go dry. Patcher was a disgusting word for magician and Ahava, a non-practicing magician herself, tensed in Devi’s peripheral. Devi’s shoulders stiffened as Ahava just stared dead-eyed down at the mix, her gentle stirring grinding to a halt. God, she hated these anti-magic pricks.

The patient, oblivious to the sudden tone shift, continued on undeterred. “So we’ve been rough ever since I found out Jasper’s brother was, well, like that and he actually had the nerve to be like ‘you’re a giant prick’ and ‘what’s your fucking problem’ like he doesn’t know what my problem is. So obviously I told him to go fuck himself which only made him more pissed. And, well, next thing I know a goddamn lantern’s being smashed in my face.”

He stretched in the chair, staring up at the ceiling as he groaned. “What an asshole.”

“I hope you don’t mind my saying,” Devi hissed lowly, “but I think you’re the ‘asshole’ here.”

“Hey, you can’t say that I’m a paying customer!”

Ahava shifted as if to turn to him, but stopped, staying fixed at the counter instead. “Devi can say whatever she wants - she doesn’t work here.”

“Then what’s she doing in the med bay?!”

“Moral support,” Devi said, taking a sip from the previously forgotten bottle of beer she was holding. It was lukewarm at this point but she drank anyway. She had badass appearances to keep up, damn it, couldn’t blink in the face of the enemy.

“She translates my anger,” Ahava elaborated, finally allowing herself to turn around and lean against the countertop. “For example, I too think you are an asshole.”

Devi hummed in solidarity, nodding. 

Adeinn blubbered for a bit. “Oh fuck you guys too. No better than the jackasses out there. I’m not an- an asshole!”

 “Oh, Really?” Devi mused. “Because according to this survey,” she gestured between herself and Ahava jerkily, “most people agree you are, in fact, a gigantic asshole.” She took a swig.

He blinked at Devi, before jerking to face Ahava. “And you’re going to let her say that to me?”

Ahava shrugged. “Yeah.”

“Bitch. I should have taken my money somewhere else.”

The doctor’s stare was cold as ice. “Yeah, you probably should have. Now get the fuck out of my clinic.”

wip ;     R U N says the D E V I L

#writeblr #amwriting #spilled ink #original writing #creative writing #fantasy #writers of tumblr #writing #writers #writeblr community #rstd #ask #phahbiyah #rstd:ahava #rstd:devi #rstd:snip

[phati-sari]

Arshi FF: Charade - Chapter 30

Chapter 29 // Read on FFnet // Read on Wattpad

Chapter 30: Closer

Khushi

The next evening, Khushi sighed as she leaned back into the pillows scattered on the sitting room sofa. Di looked up from her knitting.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh yes, just uhh ... tired."

Having spent the day cooking, delivering, cleaning and shopping for her dabba service, Khushi had returned home to find the ladies of the household engaged in solitary pursuits. Di was knitting. Jiji and Nani-ji were choosing a blanket for Di's Rajkumari. Mami-ji was eating a salad while flipping through a magazine.

"Didn't Chhote let you sleep last night?" Di leaned over to whisper.

"Di!" Khushi gasped as he cheeks instantly heated, "What are you ... I'm tired because I worked all morning."

And because Arnav-ji woke me up early to kiss me again.

But Di didn't need to know that.

Nor did she need to know about the kiss he'd bestowed at the front door, his fingers roaming across her body and a groan on his lips as he reluctantly pulled away.

"My mistake," Di's smirk was uncannily like her brother's, but she was diverted by Jiji before she could continue her teasing.

"We've chosen this one for your Rajkumari," Jiji handed over a sky blue blanket, "and I'll embroider it for her."

"Oh, Payal-ji, this is wonderful. She'll love it! I'll wrap her in it when we bring her home."

Khushi leaned forward eagerly, "Jiji is the best at embroidery! People used to especially ask for her saris when she was helping with Bua-ji's business."

"We are lucky to have such talented bahus," Nani-ji nodded.

"But I wish I could do that," Khushi indicated to Di's knitting.

"Would you like to learn?" Di laughed.

"Yes, please!"

Mami-ji sniffed her disapproval, "When will she have time to learn? Busy as she is with her bijjiness."

"I'm only gone from the house in the morning," Khushi smiled in reply, "I'll learn in the afternoons and evenings. Thank you for offering to teach me, Di."

"It will come in handy when you and Chhote have your own children."

Blushing, Khushi stretched for a magazine and hid behind it while the others giggled and tittered. She only emerged when her sister addressed her.

"Oh, Khushi, I just remembered. Amma called this morning while you were out and she sends her love."

"Is Babu-ji alright?!" her pulse quickened in fear.

"Yes, yes, he's fine. She said they're taking him to the specialist tomorrow for a regular checkup."

"Oh."

Further conversation was prevented by the ring of the doorbell. Khushi's pulse skittered as an awareness crept over her.

"Must be Chhote and Aakash," Di craned her neck as Hari Prakash-ji opened the door.

Sure enough, the men entered the sitting area shortly, both looking as tired as Khushi felt.

"Aakash-bitwa," Mami-ji slid her plate and magazine away, "you look unwell!"

Aakash-ji flopped onto a vacant seat, "No, Maa, just exhausted."

"Khoon-Bh ... I mean, Payal-bitiya, make him some chai, will you?"

"Yes, Maa-ji. Arnav-ji, do you want anything?"

"HP is already making my coffee," he responded with a tired smile, "and he'll prepare the tea as well."

"Lucky bahus indeed," Mami-ji muttered, "Never have to lift a finger!"

"You're a bahu of this household too," Nani-ji retorted coldly, "and I am yet to see you lifting a finger."

There was a beat of uncomfortable silence, into which Arnav-ji spoke softly.

"Khushi?"

He indicated for her to approach with a tilt of his head, and whispered to her when she was close enough.

"HP is bringing me some fruit and my headache pills. My sugar is a little low but I don't want to worry Di."

"Oh," she peered at her husband in concern.

"I'm fine. Just sit with me."

"What's all this whispering?" Di had noticed, "What are you saying that can't be heard by us?"

"That he needs a head-massage!" Khushi said brightly.

"What the—?!"

"Just sit here," she guided him to the sofa, "and let me handle the rest!"

"No!"

"Yes!" she said firmly.

In a few short minutes, Om Prakash-ji had delivered some oil and she was positioned behind the sofa.

"Khushi, stop it!" he swatted her hand away.

"Just eat your fruit," she popped a piece into his mouth, silencing his protest.

He quieted as she worked. The general murmur of conversation swept over them but Khushi paid it no mind, her thoughts focused on the man slowly falling asleep in front of her.

That is, until Nani-ji directed a question to Jiji.

"Payal-bitiya, those specialists you mentioned. Do they think your Babu-ji will recover soon?"

"Yes," Jiji answered, "They're happy with his progress."

"How can your Amma and Bua-ji afford to see them?" Mami-ji asked snidely, "Surely her sari bijjiness is not doing that well?"

Khushi cleared her throat, "The hospital said it's covered as part of their treatment, Mami-ji. There's nothing more to pay."

"That sounds ..." Di frowned, "I don't understand."

Arnav-ji stood without warning, disappearing upstairs without even glancing towards her. Khushi's heart sank.

Oh Devi Maiyya, I was only trying to make his headache better.

"Oh," Di muttered, "Now I understand."

And slowly, Khushi understood as well.

She found him standing at the poolside, hands in his pockets as he contemplated the water.

"Arnav-ji?"

She took a deep breath and stepped forward when he didn't respond.

"Will you answer a question?"

"Don't do this, Khushi," he turned away. "Not right now."

She took a few small steps forward. "Are you ... are you paying Babu-ji's bills?"

"I don't want to talk about this."

"But I want to talk about it."

They stood at an impasse for several moments.

"Babu-ji took me in when I was eight years old," her voice wavered, "I was scared, I didn't know what was happening. He would take me to his shop and let me sit by him as he made all sorts of sweets. When I was ten, he let me make jalebi for the shop for the first time. They sold before half the day was done."

She reached for Arnav-ji's hand as he turned.

"I left him. How could I leave him? He would never leave me."

"Khushi ... that's ..." he tugged her closer. "You know that's not what happened."

"He used to say that he wouldn't look for a groom when the time came, that he always wanted me by his side. I said ..." she gave a watery giggle, "I said I didn't want to get married anyway."

He folded her gently against his chest, "Ssshhh."

"I wish," her words were muffled against his clothes, "I wish he could've given me away. What we did ... he didn't get to give me away."

Arnav-ji inhaled deeply, "I'm paying for his treatment and medicine, yes. I asked them not to tell you. I just wanted you to have one less thing to worry about."

"Why?"

He stood in silence, though his arms tightened around her.

"Why?" she asked more forcefully.

"Let me do this. It's my duty as his damaad."

Be careful, don't push him away.

And yet, she ignored the warning of her heart.

"But you weren't. Not then."

Abruptly, Arnav-ji released her to walk to the other side of the poolside. They stood in the darkness with only the light of the stars to illuminate them. Khushi waited ... and waited ... and started to retreat inside with a sigh.

"What do you want me to say?" he asked when her hand was on the glass door.

She froze as he continued, moving towards her.

"What do you want to hear, Khushi? That I wanted ... That there was a moment when I saw your family accept Aakash, that I thought ... I wished ..."

He was standing behind her when he finished, his hands a cage as they came to rest on the glass.

Arnav-ji met her eyes in the reflection, "What do you need to hear?"

That you want me. That you want a future with me.

That you love me.

But she found that the memory of his words the night before — "You're in my every breath, Khushi." — were enough.

"Nothing," she said softly, "There are just so many things I still don't know about you."

She turned and burrowed into his chest to breathe him in, "Thank you, for Babu-ji."

He held her, humming contentedly for a moment before speaking, "No. Thank me properly."

Khushi peered up, "What?"

"I don't need your thanks," he murmured, "but if you want to thank me then you should do so as a wife."

Frowning, she began to ask exactly what he meant when he pressed the pad of his thumb to her bottom lip.

"As a wife," his voice was low as he stroked his thumb across her flesh.

She nodded slowly, her heart pounding, and waited until he'd removed his thumb to lean up and press her lips to his. He seemed to shudder before returning her kiss, his fingers tightening where they gripped her as he groaned. He leaned into her, so close that she felt his body swell brazenly against her stomach. His kisses trailed from her mouth to her jaw and neck as his hands moved to her chest. Feeling brave, she unbuttoned his waistcoat and smoothed her hands over his shirt. Arnav-ji helped by loosening his tie and unbuttoning the shirt. His gaze was hungry. Warmth pooled between her legs.

He guided her mouth back to his, his kiss both demanding and reassuring in a way she hadn't thought possible. The heat of his body contrasted with the cool glass at her back as he pressed her further into the door. She explored the hard planes and muscle of his body, nails scratching his skin and making him groan. He returned to her neck, sucking gently at her skin, and she arched as his hand found her breast. She muffled a moan against his shoulder.

"Ah," he said softly, "I see."

She became heavy and achy as he focussed on her breasts, seeming to know exactly what she needed. His mouth worked lower, tracing her mangalsutra before teasing the neckline of her dress. He noticed when her legs trembled, threatening to give out, and slid his knee between hers to prop her up. Her nails dug into his skin as her hands curled inwards. The exquisite heat built, and her thoughts froze on a shocking, outrageous thought.

That he should touch her there, where she ached and throbbed the most.

As if he'd heard, Arnav slid a hand to the small of her back and pushed her closer, the angle such that his body pressed against hers with agonising deliciousness. It was only when his fingers traced the zipper on her kameez that Khushi regained the ability to think. She gently pulled away.

"Babe?" he buried his face against her neck, breathing hard.

"We're outside," Khushi whispered, "and someone will come looking for us for dinner."

Chuckling, Arnav-ji grazed his teeth on her earlobe before speaking against her cheek.

"Let's go inside then," he lowered his tone suggestively. "It will be more comfortable."

She tried to hide as heat rose to her cheeks. He relented.

"Okay," he pressed a kiss to her temple. "But you go downstairs first. I have a situation I need to deal with."

She gave a small nod and turned in his embrace, pushing open the sliding door before stepping inside. Her body protested the loss of his warmth.

"Khushi."

Turning, she saw that he'd followed her inside.

"You said there are still many things you don't know about me. You only need to ask. I'll tell you everything."

He traced a finger across her cheek before lifting her mouth to his. The kiss was gentle and sweet.

"Go," he said against her lips. "Or I won't let you leave all night."

Her body sang as she left their bedroom.

#ipkknd #iss pyaar ko kya naam doon #arshi #ipkknd ff #arshi ff #iwrotethis #mine #ff: charade

[withoutbounds-fr]

**Note: mild panic attack occurs within work

In the morning - like every morning - consciousness reared its ugly head far too late into the day to be normal. A storm crouched outside shuttered windows and trickled through the leaky roof. 

Rain pelted down and puddled on the floor, a crumbling backdrop of noise. Sometime in the night, a deep set cold leaked into the room. The Guardian had never hated anything more than this shack. At least the rain made the usually dusty air fresh again. Al must’ve brought her back to the misty-eyed building after she passed out. A shame, really. Devi wanted to talk to him about the memory. Stuttering to her feet, she lurched off the bed - more of a cot, really - and managed to stabilize herself before she hit the ground. The walls shuddered. Wood creaked. Lightning boomed. Devi wobbled. Lumbering forward on achy legs, she moved towards the kitchen, careful to avoid the clothes strewn across the wood in haphazard piles. Drowning out the smell of wet earth was the stench of rotting food coming from the sink. She couldn't remember the last time she cleaned but brushed the thought to the side. Right now, she needed something to fix the ache in her stomach, not the lingering pain in her bones. Sustenance was found in the form of an unopened, if slightly crumpled, bag of dried fruits. They were unopened for a reason. Sitting in the only empty nook of the house, she allowed her mind to wander to the mess around her. To the pots on the counter, to the clothes on the floor, to the rafters covered with dust, to the cracks in the windows. Maybe that was why she hated this place. It was a visual representation of her lack of control, showing just how far her life had spiralled out of her hands. She wanted to laugh and cry and shake and drink and burn this place to the ground. She couldn't clean it. Devi couldn't clean it. The Guardian settled on a drink. At least that'd get her out of this hell hole. The walk to the bar was a brisk one; she hated being out in the daylight. Too many dragons in the street - and even more of them flying above her head. Just another item on the list of hated things. At least she could put a why to this one; seeing the others hanging in the sky so easily made her oldest wounds feel fresh and red again. They were another reminder of how trapped she was without her wing, of the patheticness of her vulnerability. She stopped looking at them. Salem should’ve left her for dead, but the beast was too smart for that. Why slaughter Devi alongside BloodMagic when she was the perfect poster child for what happened if you tried to fight back? In the daylight, the alleys only seemed narrower. They skimmed her wing where she held it high, and wisped against the other, held close to her side. Turning the corner, she slipped into the crowd, surrounded by rolling noise and the general din of the market. Ahava’s clinic was along this stretch of road and sat there comfortably as an anomaly. But sitting opposite from The Blind Owl, not one dragon would ever argue against having the two facilities so close together. They were placed that way for a reason, after all. The number of dragons who enjoyed the pleasurable company of liquor and ended up injured was too great for the walk to be any farther. A drunken Quereven was still a Quereven - full of teeth and rage and spite. The tavern served all manner of customers, from street rats like herself to members of the High Court. Ethereal, the Head of the Royal Guard and Salem’s personal henchman was a notable frequent, probably because one of her adoptive children was the barkeep. Devi knew four people who wanted her dead and twelve who were angling for her position, but unless the offending party was inside, idle gossip about a government official had no place muddling her thinly-stretched mind. She pushed through the swamp of dragons to the door, enjoying the soft creak of hinges older than her. The bar was always a strange place to be. It seemed to exist outside of time itself, dark and dank and damp even while lightning lit the sky. No noise came through the roof, not the patter of rain or the roar of thunder. But as disconcerting as that was, it wasn’t wet, either. Chatter shifted through the air, as the patrons hummed like mayflies. Not one met her gaze. Clips of conversation fluttered against the Guardian's ears as the ancient floorboards fell soft under her feet. She moved towards the counter and a nostalgic sense of familiarity washed over Devi. Hoard, the bartender, blinked with a start and turned to watch her approach, scanning her over. They’d always been too perceptive for their own good, but it meant they knew what to do when she got in a state. Back facing Devi, they began to fuss over the bottles on the wall, trying to find her usual gin, and began to make light conversation, “Got into another fight?” they turned to her briefly, a somewhat mocking look lighting their features. “You care?” the jibe was probably unwarranted, but so was a judgy bartender. She didn’t have time for them. “Perhaps not. But you’re limping - more than’s usual for you, and,” they shot her a dirty look, “You’re in a mood,” A sneer crawled over their face, “Can’t have you starting anything, Bronze.” Bronze was an ugly word to be throwing around and another reminder of the class system in place. Tiered from bronze up to platinum, every hierarchical level had a specific prefix, each lovingly created by Salem. Bronze was the lowest, it marked her as a criminal and a delinquent. And god if she’d had a choice she’d still be up in the coliseum duking it out alongside Barachiel and BloodMagic. The ignorance in those days had been bliss. In short, it did nothing to better her mood. “Give me the booze, barkeep, before I get tired of waiting,” the Skydancer turned back to their work, huffing, but knowing better than to risk losing a customer. Devi had no such boundaries and sense of proper manned. “And to think I’ve heard you’re supposed to be fast.” That got their attention. The glass came down against with a hard thunk against the countertop, and she was almost proud of the deep-set glare on the barkeeper's face. She would’ve said they were fiery, but they were glacial and cold in a deep-set glare. “And may I ask,” they paused, for dramatic effect, tilting their head so it was illuminated by the fireplace, “Who exactly said that?” The kid had flare, she’d give them that, and the shift in tone told her they knew what kind of gossip they were speaking with. It was her turn to be a drama queen, and tilting her head, she responded, “I’m guessing someone doesn’t want one of the exes tattling to mommy? A real shame, this one had quite the mouth,” She took some time to smile at them, knowing she was holding all the cards. It was their fault, really, they shouldn’t have gone after her like that, “Why don’t you make it worth my while?” The Guardian loved it when she could play this part. They reached beneath the bar, muttering several unsavoury things under their breath before producing a good sized bottle of champagne - High Court level stuff. Now they were talking. Voice hushed, she told her story, “Undertow was by the Cognac last… Tuesday, was it? Late at the night, mind you -” “I take it you were heading home to lick your wounds, hmm?” This kid had been raised too high-class to know an ounce of respect. But no time for that, she had a tale and a bottle of booze on the line. Priorities must be set. Devi compromised and snarled rather than ripping their tongue out. “He was with Beachcomber and Sythys. Talk to them.” She beamed at Hoard, and they released her prize, setting it down on the table. Gathering it up she whipped around, moving to leave before someone of authority caught her with something beyond her ranking. The weather outside had turned pleasant, and she was just as pleased with that as she was to have something go right today. One last thing. She shot a glance over her shoulder, “And if you feel like dumping him in the river,” she laughed, “Be discrete with it, kid. I don’t want it pinned on me!” Hoard grimaced at that, “Well you know all dead bodies anyway!” They hollered at her retreating back.

5/?

What Did You Think?

FR Thread

The Lore That Inspired This

Devi | Hoard

#TNOTG #fr #fr lore #FR lore dragons #flightrising #flightrising lore #flightrising world building #FR Worldbuilding #flight rising #flight rising lore #dragontag10 #dragontag art #dragontag #fr clan #fr clan lore

[kristie-rp]

“Do I know you?”

Prompts: 3. “Do I know you?” / “It’s three in the morning.”

“Do I know you?” The pen clamped between Matt’s lips muffles his question. He has a sturdy canvas bag slung over his shoulder, loaded down with books and paperwork. A file is clasped in his hands, open and being flicked through. The clock over the door reads 8:15. His watch, synced up to his phone through the wonders of modern technology, says 9:37. Apparently the clock needs new batteries, which he makes a note of as he grimaces. Adria’s not gonna be happy, he thinks, which is a delightful way to phrase his expectation that his girlfriend of three years is probably going to end things, or at least threaten to in one of her theatrical fits. It won’t be the first time for the latter. He’s been waiting for the former for too long.

The woman standing in his doorway has sunglasses on, despite the late hour. She’s short and petite, and if anyone has ever been deserving of the adjective description small boned, it’s her. She’s of a height to match someone with dwarfism, but her build is much more delicate; there is nothing stocky about her. He thinks of her as small boned, and when she raises a hand, he notes that two of her fingers are fused, or she is missing one. She pushes the glasses back to rest on top of straw blonde hair, and Matt finds himself staring at glowing green eyes. They are as bright as the lamp on his desk. “No, Devi sent me,” she says, in a voice that sounds the way fresh air feels. There’s a ring of uncertainty. “Are you Matthew?”

Matt sets down his paperwork and removes his pen from his mouth. “Matt Cabot, attorney at law,” he introduces himself. “You are?”

“Desperate,” she says, then grimaces. “You may call me Audra. I – Devi said you would be able to advise me.”

“That depends on the matter, but yes, that’s generally what I do.”

“Excellent,” she says, and steps into the room. She closes the door behind herself. “Someone is – I am in danger of losing my ancestral land.”

He blinks. “Loss of property? I’m not specifically suited to that.”

“It’s possible I don’t legally own the grounds, at least according to city rule,” she explains, her voice wavering. “And I have been told  my case is weak at best. I need to fix that. I – I can’t lose my home over this. I can’t.”

Matt was getting ready to leave, planning on being home on time, or close to it for once. But he sits back down at his desk and gestures for Audra to take the plush seat across from him. “Then let’s see what we can come up with, hm?”

The relief that lights her face are enough to make this worth it.

He crawls into bed hours later. Somewhere in the world, the sun is rising. Not in Port Lyndon. Rain traces a soft trail down the window, and he smiles faintly at it before he switches out the light and rolls over to get the three hours of sleep he should have time for.

“Matty?”

His smile grows, however guiltily. “Yeah, Re’. Sorry I’m so late.”

“Ugh. We are talking. Today.”

Apparently not right now, though, and she rolls so she no longer faces him. Matt shrugs. This isn’t going to be anything he doesn’t expect. Regardless, it’s been a long time coming – and every moment of reprieve is a relief.

They meet for lunch at a restaurant not far from his office, one that has taken on a vaguely surreal theme. Matt would rather be at the Black Cat, a cafe across the street, but Reagan made the reservation in her name, so it’s her who makes the choice of where to meet.

“I just don’t feel like this relationship is what either of us needs right now,” she is saying.

Reagan is, objectively, quite pretty. She’s got soft brown hair and kind eyes, even ringed in the kohl she gets away with as a lawyer who deals mostly with divas and fashionistas who care about accenting appearances that really don’t need it. She’s a lovely person with a bright future, and not too many months ago, Matt had glanced at engagement rings, entertaining the idea of her being his future. But it didn’t feel right, and anyway, that was after the start of each of them pulling away from one another.

She’s got a list of issues she has with Matt, which she has taken the time to write out for him. It’s less kind than she generally is, but it’s a very matter of fact work. ‘Works too late’ is written and underlined three times with a red paint marker at the top of the page, which he accepts, though winces over. He loves his job more than he loves her, that’s her problem, and it permeates the rest of the list: hogs the covers. Always leaves the airconditioning on when he’s not home. Forgets to pay rent. Won’t discuss his day with her. She feels like he’s hiding something from her. She’s worried he doesn’t see their home as the place he belongs.

Yeah, Matt knows this has been a long time coming, and she’s very civil about it. Methodical, almost. He’s known her for long enough that he is fully aware this is a coping strategy, that she’s rehearsed this speech nineteen times in the mirror while clutching the cross pendant that hangs around her neck.

“Hey,” he says gently, and reaches over to tap her hand. He did this before they started dating, to get her to look at him. It still works. “I’m not mad. I’m sad it’s over, but it’s for the best if you think it is, Re’. And there’s no rules saying we can’t still be friends, are there?”

She swallows and shakes her head, but he sees the hesitation. She thinks this is going to be painful; that they are better off having a clean break. He expects they’ll maintain a steady stream of voiceless contact for a while before they lose focus, trail off, give in to the pressure of reality.

“It’s fine,” he says aloud. He feels numb, honestly. That’s the only reason his voice doesn’t shake with the lie.

#kristie's writing #kristie writes #kwrites #kwriting #ft. matt #matt

[evileye-network-blog]

CHOCOLATE.

Tara was fat. Her husband made it clear that it didn’t do his image any good to have her waddling around, jiggling rolls of flesh.

“I don’t waddle,” she said, hurt.

“You do,” said Abhay and that was the end of the matter. So far as words were concerned it was an established pattern that he had the last one.

Later she cried. She wiped away the tears that rolled down her soft, slightly flabby cheeks with a handkerchief clutched in a smooth, plump hand. She would like to be slim and svelte, a credit to her husband, but it was no use. Life without food, especially chocolate, was not worth living.

Her husband couldn’t be too serious about her losing weight, after all, he was her main supplier. She thought of his latest offering from Europe. Twenty bars of Swiss chocolate, seductively wrapped in green, orange, blue, and red, gleaming with pictures of fruit, nuts, and glasses of wine, rolls of marzipan, with the grainy paste of almonds covered with chocolate so smooth, it dissolved on the tip of her tongue, and the piece de resistance, two big boxes of cherries in liqueur set in cups of dark chocolate. Even when she wasn’t eating them, she could feel in her mouth the sharpness of the liqueur, the bitter sweetness of the liquefying chocolate, the tanginess and gentle crunch of the cherry.

He was always assiduous in catering to her tastes. As he handed the chocolate to her he would tell her how busy he had been and how much he wished it were possible for her to accompany him. Then he would lightly rub the roll of fat around her belly to prove his love. At times the rub would get a little hard, but marks of physical affection between them were rare, and she took what she got.

When did it happen that Tara first got to know about her husband’s affair? Something that the readers of this text will find obvious to the point of banality? A man who is stuffing his wife with chocolate in such quantities has to have an ulterior motive.

A short history of her life will place her stupidity in perspective.

School: Ages 3-17. Convent, all girls. Strict emphasis on studies and nothing else. Tara’s free time is taken with going to dance and music classes. Her mother says these things are important. Give grace to a girl.

College: Ages 17- 20. An all-girls college. Her parents don’t think it wise to send Tara anywhere else. She chooses English Honours, considered a soft option. She isn’t very clear what to do with her life, and English seems a good, no-purpose subject. Besides she has always been fond of reading.

English Honours turns out to be not such a soft option after all. She had never thought reading could be so strenuous. Literature didn’t seem to be about stories. All the emphasis was on ideas, history, context, Marxist-feminist interpretations, and a pursuit of meaning that went beyond the obvious into the totally obscure.

Tara spends her time in college going to films with her friends, bunking classes. She complains to her mother about how hard her teachers expect her to work. Her mother consoles her. She has to somehow graduate, then she will get married.

The wedding preparations coincide with the prep leave for the exams.

What to do, beti?” her mother says when Tara protests. “I know it is a bad time for you but then these are the auspicious dates.

“But Amma, how will I study?” complains Tara.

“Well, the boy is good. And the family is very keen. Some things cannot be put off.“

By the time Tara’s results are out, she has come back from her honeymoon. She has got a third division, and is mildly surprised that she has passed at all.

Her husband thinks she is upset.

“Never mind, darling,” he says clutching her in his strong, manly arms, “You have me.”

Tara’s heart beats fast, as she feels herself squeezed in that marital embrace.

“Yes, it’s true,” she whispers. “I have you.”

The family then waits for the children to come. In time it becomes evident that if they came at all it would have to be through divine or medical intervention.

Tara started with the medical intervention front first.

“Maybe we should go and see a doctor?” she suggested to her husband.

“You go if you want to,” replied Abhay. “There is nothing wrong with me”.

After the doctor had examined Tara she said there was nothing wrong with her and maybe a look at the husband was in order.

“But he doesn’t think so,” said Tara mournfully.

“What rubbish!” exclaimed the doctor, who was sick and tired of encountering such attitudes in her practice. “You tell him it is not only the woman who is responsible for bearing a child. The sperm has to be healthy. It may be that he is infertile, it may be that his sperm count is low, it may be that he has been drinking too much, or that he has some kind of latent infection. It may be any number of things.”

Tara blushed. How was she supposed to convey all this to her husband?

Abhay agreed to see the doctor after a somewhat acrimonious discussion, in which he pointed out to Tara how completely wrong she was.

“Shouldn’t I come too?” asked Tara, as Abhay was going.

“No,” he said briefly. “I’ll deal with it on my own.”

So Tara never knew what happened at the doctor’s. Abhay came home tight-lipped and cross, and refused to comment.

“But what happened? What did she say?” she asked several times.

“She’s a fool. Huh! No point in your going to her either.”

Medical consultations were not possible after this.

On the divine intervention front, Tara was told she should take a trip to Vaishno Devi, crawling on her hands and knees.

After she had crawled up Vaishno Devi on her hands and knees, she decided to do the hands and knees stuff at other shrines. She had thought she would feel embarrassed, but she didn’t. This was routine at these places.

Her husband thought all this was a great idea. So did her mother-in-law.

“Poor Tara!” she heard her say once. “She is trying so hard,” and then in a lowered voice, “but she is unhealthy from the inside.”

When there were no signs of conception after all this, Tara took to wearing certain stones around her neck and fingers, and her husband took to feeding her chocolates.

It was chocolate that drew her attention to a certain lack of something on the part of Abhay. He became casual in getting her what she wanted.

After an excess of peppermint she hinted that she would look forward to more variety. He had complained.

“I don’t get the time,” he said. “All I can do is pick up these things from the airport, and peppermint is what airports happen to have.”

“But so much?“

She turned the green and white boxes over in her hands. Edwardian Mints, Crème de Menthe Mints, Bitter Chocolate Mints, Wafer Mints, After Eight Mints, After Dinner Mints, Mints in White Chocolate.

She felt sick at the idea of this much mint. But her craving for chocolate was so strong that she ate them all anyway.

And then he did it again.

“Didn’t you remember?” she asked.

“What?” He looked preoccupied.

“What I said last time. About the mints.”

“Last time? Oh, oh, yes, of course. But you see the airports…”

She looked at all that revolting peppermint.

“But before you managed…”

“Well you know these airports. Not very imaginative.

That’s not what Tara would have thought as she remembered the brochures that Abhay frequently got, advertising this airline, that airport. They seemed to contain virtually everything under the sun.

After Abhay left, Tara remained lost in thought. It was odd that he had forgotten her request – her reasonable request – about the mint chocolate. Abhay had a good memory. But then he was always so preoccupied. And hardly ever at home.

And in between these two thoughts, sequences in a chain, suspicion pounced and bent the links in another direction.

Within a matter of seconds, Tara was convinced she had found the clue to much of Abhay’s behavior. Could it be, could it be that what she had read about in her college days, could it be that the Other Woman had appeared in her life as well. She made up her mind to spy on him. The results were predictable.

After she had gone through the gamut of emotions ranging from shock, confusion, despair, anger and resentment, she toyed with the idea of knocking her brains out. To help reach a conclusion she automatically went to the fridge to take out her chocolates. She needed consolation. Absent-mindedly she bit into one. It tasted like sawdust. She bit into it again and gagged. This was the only pleasure she had in her life. What was happening to it?

She felt a burning sensation at the back of her throat, and the sour ugly taste of bile. She quickly put the chocolate back into the fridge and closed the door. Nausea overcame her, and she barely made it to the bathroom.

She never ate another piece of chocolate again. Every time she looked at the dark shining pieces glistening invitingly at her, she saw Abhay’s eyes sunk in them, tempting her to bite into a piece and get fat.

She lost weight. The feeling of nausea she had about chocolate helped put her off eating. She grew thinner, thinner than she had been in years. She took the rings off her fingers. There seemed little point in wearing them now. From saris she moved to salwar-kameez. She looked younger. She felt more alert and alive than she had for a long time. She began to think about strategies.

She must win him back, she thought. She decided to join cooking classes. The way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Abhay hardly ate at home. But now… She must cook. She would be the source of all things delectable.

Tara joined Mrs. Singhal’s Cooking Classes, which guaranteed mastery of Cordon Bleu, Continental, Chinese and Indian cuisines in just a year. Tara discovered in herself a light hand, and a flair for improvisation. Her teacher praised her too, and that helped. No one had ever praised her learning anything in her life — academics was out of the question, and even her dancing and singing teachers had felt that she needed to apply herself more.

For Mrs. Singhal a meal was not just eating. It was an Aesthetic Experience. The table, the colours, the setting, the flowers, everything had to be perfect.

Tara dived into Experience like a duck into water. Cooking was endlessly creative, she discovered. The taste which she had exhibited in doing up her home, had scope that was infinitely various on the site of the dining table. She experienced the joys of putting before a husband – however errant – things he could not resist. He became quite greedy and demanding, entertaining small numbers of friends more often at home.

Imperceptibly Abhay began to put on weight. Tara could see for herself the fruit of her labours, and her sense of power grew. New thoughts began to enter her head. She increased the cream in her desserts and began putting more cheese in the Italian dishes. Abhay’s clothes did not fit him anymore. He began to talk seriously of dieting.

At this point Tara looked him over speculatively. In her mind’s eye she saw him as she herself had once been. “You waddle,” he had said at the beginning of the story, and she predictably female, had replied in pain, “I do not.” Now she wanted him to waddle, though her position might not allow her to rub his nose in the fact as he had done hers.

When Abhay’s affair broke up, a certain moroseness tinged and deepened the yellow of his already saturnine complexion. For consolation he turned to serious eating. He listened to music, he drank, and he demanded hot and spicy tit-bits from Tara’s ever fertile kitchen.

When he began to waddle, she, trained to find her husband beautiful in all his manifold aspects, started to find him ugly.

Given the circumstances of her revenge, she needed an affair to give it a finished ending. She chose a friend of his, the most convenient male to hand. The friend had dropped certain hints, Tara decided to pick them up. She indulged herself with him without taking precautions. She had long given up the possibility of conceiving, and when she found herself pregnant, she was exhilarated. The first thing to do was to get rid of the friend.

“Abhay suspects,” she told him.

Then she told her husband. “I think perhaps it has been your improved health,” she said. “You look so much better now. Before you were too thin. That is why I have been blessed with this baby.”

A puzzled look crossed Abhay’s face as he took in the air of quiet triumph in his wife’s manner. He started spying on her, but her affair had been so brief and circumspect that he found no traces of it.

When Tara’s daughter was born, she crooned her lullabies of brave women warriors, and made sure that all her education was oriented towards a career that would make her independent.

[horansqueen]

Stuck With You - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: I Really Like You

🡪chapter 1  🡪chapter 2  🡪chapter 3  🡪chapter 4  🡪chapter 5  🡪chapter 6   🡪chapter 7  🡪chapter 8  🡪chapter 9  🡪chapter 10  🡪chapter 11 🡪chapter 12 🡪chapter 13

College Enemies To Lovers AU

characters // masterlist // instagrams // mood board

I really wanna stop, but I just got the taste for it I feel like I could fly with the boy on the moon So, honey, hold my hand, you like making me wait for it I feel like I could die walking up to the room, oh yeah

It's way too soon, I know this isn't love

I really, really, really, really, really, really like you And I want you, do you want me, do you want me, too? I really, really, really, really, really, really like you And I want you, do you want me, do you want me, too?

It's like everything you say is a sweet revelation All I wanna do is get into your head Yeah, we could stay alone, you and me in this temptation Sipping on your lips, hanging on by thread, baby

Who gave you eyes like that? Said you could keep them I don't know how to act Or if I should be leaving I'm running out of time Going out of my mind I need to tell you something 

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                                              The text message I got of Niall telling me to join him to his car made something stir in my stomach. I rushed to the bathroom to look at myself one last time in the mirror, getting on my tiptoe and pulling on my shirt slightly before quickly running out of the building. I heard the honk of a car and it made my heart jump so high in my chest that I thought I was about to throw it up. It's only when I got closer that I noticed he was not alone. There was a guy in the backseat, and the girl sitting nesxt to Niall was the same girl I found laying beneath him the other day. My smile faltered and I suddenly felt nervous but Niall moved his upper body closer to the wheel to look at me by the window.

"Hey Devie, you ready?"

I glanced at Mandy before looking back at him, sending him a shy smile. I hadn't expected to be stuck in Niall's car with two strangers but I was new to this school and if I wanted to get to know people, I knew I had to make efforts.

"Mmhm." I replied, taking a seat next to the guy who sent me a short nod.

"Okay, so. Devon, this is Mandy and her brother, Noah."

Mandy quickly turned around to take a look at me and sent me a smile. "We've met." she pointed out with a chuckle. "Sorry for the other day, I was a bit embarrassed to be caught naked."

My lips parted slightly and my breath caught in my throat. I sort of expected her to be an ass with me but the sincere smile she was sending me made me feel slightly guilty for thinking wrong of her just because she slept with Niall.

"No, it's cool, I should have knocked."

She laughed again, turning to look at Niall. "No, it's your room too." she corrected me. "It's Niall's fault, he should have told you."

"Sure, go ahead, pin it on me, i've got broad shoulders." he chuckled, glancing at her and making my heart drop in my chest.

Did he ever look at me like that? Was that feelings I saw in his eyes? And why did it even matter if he had feelings for her? I looked down and licked my lips, coming to the realization that it mattered because I liked Niall. I really really really liked Niall. Fuck.

"Everyone makes mistakes, Niall." Mandy joked, tapping his thigh gently. "You're forgiven, right Dev?"

I looked up and blinked a few times when she said my name and pressed my lips together. She was sending me an amused smile and I tried to smile back at her.

"O-Of course."

I felt something stir in my stomach and my eyes met Niall's in his rearview mirror. His gaze changed slowly into a fond look and my lips curled slightly more until he blinked a few times and glanced down. I looked down too only to see Mandy's hand gripping his thigh a bit harder. She moved one of her legs up, putting her foot on the bench before leaning her head against the bench, still looking at him.

She was pretty. She was much prettier than I always would be and I was well aware of that, and I just closed my eyes, trying to think about something else.

"So Devon. " I heard, making my eyes flutter open again. "What are you studying in?"

I turned to look at Noah and sent him a small smile. "Oh, art." I replied in a low tone. "Mostly painting and drawing."

"So, you want to be a painter? That's bold." Noah replied, running his hand in his blonde hair. "I'm all for following your dreams but do you have a plan B?"

"Yea, I'd like to work in a museum, maybe. Restoring historical works of art seems... very amazing." I explain, a bigger smile appearing on my lips.

"Devon doesn't need a plan B." Niall quickly replied, glancing again in his mirror. "She's super talented, she'll be a famous painter someday."

I felt my heart jump again in my chest and pressed my lips together as I tried not to smile too much. It was a bit funny since I was pretty sure Niall had never seen anything I had painted before, but I still appreciated the comment for a reason I ignored. Perhaps because it showed that he was not totally indifferent to me and knowing that he was ready to defend me on something like that made me feel special.

Of course, I knew that concretely, Noah was right : I would probably not end up being a famous painter and certainly wouldn't be able to live a decent life with the money of a few (if even) paintings sold, but it was okay, because I didn't want my biggest passion to turn into a job. I wanted it to remain a passion and a hobby, something I could do to let out all my feelings, something that would make me feel better after a long day or after a heartbreak. I needed painting like I needed to breathe and I didn't want to end up hating it. Obviously, sometimes it was frustrating when I wanted to pain something and it didn't turn out exactly how I had imagined, but It was different than making a job out of it and disliking it to the point of not wanting to do it anymore. If I lost my passion for painting, I knew I would lose a part of me.

It only took a minute of two before Niall parked his car and we quickly got out. I followed them to the entrance and we hopped in an elevator to reach the fourth floor. We could hear the music from the hall and I started feeling so nervous I had to wipe my hands on the back of my jeans. When I looked up, I met Niall's gaze who frowned as he mouthed 'are you okay?' and I just nodded, sending him a small smile.

I was not really okay but at the same time, i didn't want him to feel like he had to take care of me, scared that he'd never invite me again. The only thing that made me feel better was to notice that Mandy and Niall were not holding hands, or even remotely close to each other. I sort of had expected it but realizing I was wrong made me feel less stupid for accepting to go to this party.

The door opened and a whiff of cigarette and weed smell reached us. I was too busy staring at the guy in front of us, a large smile on his lips, as he greeted us with open arms.

"Niall!"

"Hey, Lewis."

They hugged and when Niall pulled away, Lewis turned to me. I didn't know why but I sent him a smile as his lips curled slightly into a smirk. "Devon, it's nice to meet you."

I frowned, a bit surprised that he knew my name, but kept a smile on my lips. Niall probably had talked about me before and since I was most likely the only one he didn't know, he probably guessed it was me, but it was still a bit intriguing.

"Oh, uhm, you too."

I was about to hold out my hand but he took a step closer and pulled me into a hug. His hoodie smelled nice and I chuckled, hugging him back.

"Okay, free drinks in the kitchen." Lewis let out when he pulled away. "You smoke your own shit though I don't pay for that."

Niall walked past him, putting his hand on Lewis' cheek and tapping it gently. "How nice of you mate."

I followed Niall to the kitchen and realized Noah and Mandy had left. I stood behind him as he searched for something specific (or it seemed) and when he turned around to me again, his gaze met mine immediately.

"No best way to get drunk than with vodka."

I chuckled and frowned, finding some space on the counter and pushing myself up to sit on it. Niall's smile faltered a bit and his eyes roamed on me before turning around to grab glasses and filled them. He walked closer to me and I looked slightly down at him, taking the cup he was handing me. He clinked his glass against mine, the plastic of his barely making any sound as it hit mine, and took a long sip. I watched him and did the same, grimacing as the liquor left a burning sensation down my throat.

"So. uhm, are you moving out?" he asked casually before drinking more from his glass.

"I tried but I'm on a waiting list, sorry."

"No, no I think you should stay."

I waited until his eyes met mine and quickly, he shrugged and looked away. "I mean, we can just text each other when we have someone over. I'm sure it can work."

I felt my heart ache suddenly and lost my smile, looking down in my glass and shrugging a shoulder. What did I expect? Niall was clearly not going to admit he was in love with me and then tell me he'd never have sex with any other girl because he loved me too much! Then why did this scenario made my heart thump in my chest?

"Maybe. I don't know."

We remained silent for a few seconds and I felt him move closer to me, his lower stomach brushing slightly against my knees as a wave of warmth invaded me.

"Come on, I'll present you some people if you want."

"Mmhm."

He moved away and I jumped off the counter as an idea popped into my head. It was stupid and probably impossible but It was worth a try.

"Niall?" I asked, making him turn around and raise his eyebrows. "Maybe... your friend Lewis would need a roommate?"

His facial expression changed from confused to surprised but when his lips opened again, I couldn't really tell how he felt about my idea. It was probably a bad one anyway. I didn't know Lewis much and I was not even sure I could afford half of the rent, but if Niall wanted to get rid of me, maybe he could help me see if it was even remotely possible.

"Y-You want to live here? With Lewis?"

I shrugged as he took a step closer to me and I tilted my head. "I mean, maybe? It would be a solution. Just until they find a room for me in the girls' building. That way you can get your room back."

"But I don't-" he replied quickly, cutting himself and letting out a sigh as he closed his eyes. "I think it's a bad idea, Dev."

It took a few seconds but he opened his eyes back. They met mine and I sent him a sad smile, shrugging a shoulder. "Alright."

It was true, I didn't know much about his friend, but he gave me a good first impression and I thought Niall would jump on the occasion to get his room back if only to be able to invite Mandy (or any other girl) whenever he wanted to.

I followed him to the living room as someone handed me a beer and everyone started talking. After a while, I got up and left to go to the bathroom and when I got out, I walked past Lewis, sending him a small smile.

"Thanks for inviting me, by the way." I let out politely as I kept walking.

"Hey Devon!"

I turned around and he sent me a bigger smile. "You having fun?" he asked, his accent thicker than I expected.

"Oh, yes." I let out with a smile. "I'm surprised Niall invited me."

This time, Lewis laughed a bit. "I'm not."

I frowned for half a second and finally licked my lips, walking back slowly to him and shaking my head. "Look, this is going to sound so weird and, don't feel bad to say no but, wouldn't you be looking for a roommate?"

His smile fell slightly and his eyes roamed on my face, and it made me realize that he was quite pretty and I was not sure how I felt about it. He seemed a bit speechless though and I realized that I probably made him uncomfortable.

"Forget it," I added, shaking my head, taking a step back. "It was just something that crossed my mind."

"No, Devon, it's just..." he replied with a sigh as I was leaving. "Let's just say if I said yes, Niall would kill me."

I chuckled and rolled my eyes, shaking my head a bit. "I highly doubt that."

"Dev, trust me. I know what I'm talking about."

I frowned and it only made his lips curl as he raised his eyebrows before turning around and locking himself in the bathroom. I remained there, motionless and lost in my thoughts for a few seconds, and finally breathed in deeply and walked back to the living room. This time, I stopped completely breathing when I noticed Mandy was sitting next to Niall, her legs placed on his lap and one of her arms wrapped around one of his.

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me but swallowed hard. I knew it was only jealousy but it was enough to make me want to leave immediately. I licked my lips and took big breath, trying to get back to my senses. I couldn't just rush out and leave without an explanation and I couldn't tell Niall I left because the girl he has sex with was all over him. Just thinking about it sounded ridiculous and I walked back to them, taking a seat on the floor, in front of the coffee table. Niall glanced at me and his lips curled slightly on the left. Could he tell it was bothering me?

Everyone started playing beer pong but with vodka and I watched them swallow the content of their glasses with a smile. I was not very good with drinking and could easily get drunk but I still enjoyed looking at them. Lewis came back after a while and handed me a beer. I thanked him as he sat next to me and when I turned back to Niall, he was looking at his friend with a frown. My eyes dropped to Mandy's legs still placed on his lap and I just pressed my lips together, trying to ignore it.

About half an hour later, I was leaning on the table, trying not to let my thoughts wonder too much. I looked at Niall who was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes and watching him being so drunk reminded me of one of the first days we met. He was drunk and had tried to show me his cock. Now, I was a bit scared he was going to show it to someone else. The thought of his half-hard dick pressed against me as he kissed me made my inner thighs throb again and I held my breath. I would never get over that.

"Mandy, you're definitely cheating!" Noah let out a bit too loud, moving his chin in his sister's direction. "That's fucking water, innit?"

"You're just pissed because I can hold my drink better than you!"

"Don't even try, you've cheated before!" Noah insisted.

I stared at the scene with my eyebrows raised, noticing that I was myself getting a bit too tipsy but it was clearly nothing compared to them.

"Want a proof that this isn't water?" Mandy asked, getting a bit mad.

"Yes!"

I didn't expect it at all when she turned around quickly and crashed her mouth against Niall's, quickly deepening the kiss as she held the back of his head to make sure he wouldn't move. I felt my heart shatter in my chest as an image of them having sex on his bed crawled back in my thoughts.

Everyone started yelling and laughing except me. I was not tipsy. I was drunk off my ass. How many drinks did I have? I couldn't count, but I knew it was partially why my eyes were filling up with tears at that exact moment. I was not dating Niall and I was well aware that he and Mandy were fuck buddies, so why did I become so emotional from them kissing? I was pissed but most of all, I was pissed at myself for letting something like that get to me again.

I had admitted to myself that I liked Niall and even if I knew it was unrequited, I was clearly not okay with watching him kiss someone else. Where did my resolution to do anything I could to hate him go? What the fuck was I doing?

I held my breath as they kissed, not able to let air fill my lungs, but it seemed like that kiss would never end and after a while, I put my beer on the table and got up. It was only when I reached for the elevator that I allowed tears to fall down my cheeks.

"Fuck off." I whispered to no one as the doors opened and I walked in, turning around to lean against the wall.

And I saw him. I saw Niall, getting out of the apartment and looking around himself until he saw me, and my lips parted.

"DEVON!"

The doors started closing just as he started running but I remained motionless, wondering if the doors would close before he could reach the elevator.

"Devon wait!" he let out, sliding his arm between the doors and making them open again. "Devie."

I let my eyes roam up and down on him, my mouth still half opened. He finally stepped foot in the elevator but remained standing up in front of me as the doors finally closed behind him. We started going down and he shook his head slightly.

"Devie, why are you leaving?"

I frowned, ready to throw at him everything that was actually wrong with him and not even feeling bad about it because of how intoxicated I was but I didn't have time: the power seemed to go off, the lights flickered and the elevator stopped.

#niall horan #niall horan fluff #niall horan smut #niall horan fanfic #niall horan fan fic #niall horan fanfiction #niall horan fan fiction #niall horan au #niall horan enemies to lovers #niall horan college au #niall horan uni au #my fanfics #swy

[bubblywimp-blog]

16 April

I woke up on 7:30 today,can you guys imagine it!! i mean 7:30 on a sunday!! now the question is  why did i wake up so early? you see our family was going to see the FAST AND FURIOUS 8 today wait did i introduce my family? no? okay then you have it now! i have a sweet little family consisting of 4 people? yeah 4 atleast thats how i see it though i have brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles who really love me but still i like to keep the intros short so lets start from my mum My mum..um i dont know how to describe her i mean mum's mum right?..anyway i will try to make it as simple as possible without ranting and blabbering the hell outta myself..okay so- mommy is one of the best things that happened to me! i mean literally though she does not confess and nor do i ,that much now-a-days i know she loves me! she is the one that takes care of the house i mean if she is gone ,  work cant happen here..whenever we have to go on journey shes the one who shouts  her mouth off so that we can get ready and reach the place faster, mainly its our homeland which is 12 hrs away from our place so its mainly dark by the time we reach there..though once or twice or thrice of whatever they say with 4's..wait..am i ranting?..ugh!! okay so she is really sweet and cooks awesome food..she cares for me like every other mommy and always takes the path of justice(its my dad thats unfair) well her side of family that is my maternal family is fun too! i mean i like every second i spend there(exaggeration lol!) everyone loves me..i am the oldest child there btw.

is it enough?honestly  guys i just have to tell you mom is mom so yeah moving on to dad(not like i am leaving  mum,she will always be there)(there=my heart)(not trying to sound cheesy) so dad- dad is good,not that bad i suppose..well he's intelligent(not like my mums not intelligent she awesome actually..just not shows it[not like my dad brags about it okay? hes good]) he just takes side of my younger sister Devi ,the one to go to the bathroom after me..remember?..yeah that stupid brat! anyway we will discuss her later now about daddy so he is good..he likes music and has a great taste of films! he is the one who should be given the credit for my madness for films! I love them, well provided the music is good(if there is any), the story i.e the plot should be good and the acting should be nice yeah that's it! well my dad usually takes my sister ,devi's side all because she is just in 5th grade and is really small and i am in 9th grade and i am really big(sarcasm to be noted please) i mean dude! she is 10 years old! i was a big girl when i was 10 years old! anyway overall he's good

now my one and only sister- FLASHBACK 3rd person POV "hey Lara! what do you reckon  it is going to be a boy or a girl?" a woman with curly hair,pale complexion and a baby bump asked a 4 year old girl "i want a girl! i dont want a boy! he wont play with me then! i want somebody to talk  to!"said the little girl who by her words seemed lonely "okay! okay! as you wish!"said the woman "you know mommy! my katerina is going to come! my littlle baby sister is going to look just like the baby catepillar! " exclaimed the child "katerina from oswald you say?"asked the woman "yeah! and i will take care of her just like madame butterfly does!" the child said FLASHBACK END

you know whats funny?..i ended up having a sister who wants to play with  me,heck she even looks like a catterpillar when she is crying! i mean i am not a hard-core believer of god but yeah sometime things happen exactly the way you want them to and then you dont have to ask 'if god is real or not' yeah so um my sister she is dense maybe? well she is really good if you try to understand her but usually she acts as if she does not give a damn and she cares about herself and only herself(yes she does care about herself over all others but she does not care ONLY about  herself,that i know) shes good! heck now you would be like 'hey! evryone in your family is 'good' man!' but yeah they are not just GOOD..its just that i dunno how to talk about them 14 years of my life and time with this people still i dunno how to describe them..yeah now you will be like-'girl,then what did you do when in 2nd grade they used t ask you how your family was?eh?' girl the truth is we all (well mostly everyone) write total shitty lies in there..that whole passage the way you are feeling at that time about your family.Your mom scold you before going to school..you write that she always scolds you,your dad didnt buy ice-cream last night?...you'll write he doesnt give you anything!.. thats how childhood was babe!..nobody wrote 100% truth on those Describe your -- questions. Anyway  my sister is really good at heart it just takes the right person to see it you know when i went for a 6 day trip with school?..before going i had written a thought-a quote on her blackboard..she did not erase it until the day not even the day,until the evening i was returning,she ofcourse being the gracious person she is didn't tell me , mom told me that.. my sister's sarcastic , fun, she  criticises a bit too much but still she's my sister right! i have to get on with her!..well earlier when i used to beat her up(for a reason-dont think i am a bully or something) she used to beat me and i wont fell hurt that much now shes grown stronger man! it hurts!

any way moving on with the intros

so we were as usual late for the movie..we went for the 10:00 am show and that's the reason we are hurrying up. now it was 10 mins to 10 and we missed the turn, we had to go all the way round to get in the right track anyways we reached in time and the movie was AWESOME! it was just wow! did i mention it was 3-D so in mid-interval i lost my 3-D glasses,so me and mum took turns wearing hers..sometimes i feel sorry for her i mean all those things she does out of love!  we had lots of nachos and popcorn and samosas and i dont know um..pepsi? yeah pepsi So when we reached home KAABIL(a bollywood film) was going on so we were entertained by that. Hey! did i mention that we will be travelling this summer?..not whole summer but some of it!..to our hometown, to a religious place,to my maternal hometown..yeah so we needed to pack, the rest of the day practically went like that..packing and all..(in which mum had to call my name many times cause i always went to do stuff on the computer lol!)..hey and did i mention i ate a watermelon!..i love fruits,i hate veggies but fruits are my life! especially in summer!it helps to prevent de-hydration!!and thanks to my dad we ordered a pizza for dinner! j'aime la pizza(i love pizza)! so yeah thats it! my day was not-so-happening btw..well i did have loads of fun!

hey just a quick thought-it does not take a roller coaster ride or a whole million dollar world tour trip to make a person happy ,it totally depends on the person..you wanna have fun ,you can find it in the simplest of places!!and that's practically what i discovered today! LaraAngel

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Internet erupts in outrage after couple posts insulting tipping 'trick

Waiters paintings difficult for his or her money, in particular considering they’re almost absolutely depending on tips to make up a full(ish) paycheck. Wait group of workers already gets underpaid, so it now not marvels that a pair’s tip “trick” has sent the internet up in palms because or it’s insulting and demeaning nature.

ARE YOU TIPPING Enough? Here’s how to no longer be *that man*

A screenshot of an unknown individual’s Facebook defined in exceptional element a way to guarantee “the pleasant provider of your existence” through setting “5 singles out at the start of dinner…if they reduce to rubble take a dollar away.” At the quiet of dinner, something is left is their tip. Twitter users at once jumped to the defense of waiters everywhere pronouncing things like “this person sucks. While is $5 Enough tip for a dinner for 2 anyway,” and “nothing says ‘I am a bit of garbage’ like this Fb put up though…lost faith in humanity.”

Every other person stated, “if you need the wait staff to spit on your food, you

Could always simply ask.” All matters considered, the “trick” was at the very least insulting. If nothing else, consider the truth that it’s the holiday season and all and sundry could use a little extra money. Take a look through the gallery above to look a number of the basic guidelines of tipping all people must know.

The Role of Internet in Business

The net performs a major position in everything of our current lifestyles. net technology plays a major function in business. As a commercial enterprise proprietor, knowing the position of the internet in business will assist you’re taking advantage of the powerful possibilities it gives to grow your enterprise and make operations more effective.

Here is one of the kind ways in which the net has contributed to the success and increase of companies.

Communication: The internet makes Conversation speedy and fee green. companies use internet technology including Skype internet and video calls, electronic mail and video conferencing to make Communique without a doubt on the spot.

increase: The internet performs a big role in the boom of organizations. It gives corporations a possibility to reach a much wider worldwide audience. Promoting thru the net is also a manner to increase income and attain the desired boom stage. commercial enterprise can also expand through having a web department.

Advertising and marketing: One of the roles of the net in commercial enterprise entails Advertising and advertising and marketing. Most companies are taking advantage of the net to marketplace their services and products to an international target audience. The Most terrific internet technology Right here encompass search engines inclusive of Google.

Networking and Recruiting: Social networking websites play a role in

Commercial enterprise networking by means of connecting like-minded professionals. thru the internet, humans have found commercial enterprise partners and super employees.

Outsourcing offerings: The net has helped reduce prices by way of outsourcing services to nations in which it’s far inexpensive to offer these offerings. Other than the fee reduction thru the outsourcing role of the net in the commercial enterprise, outsourcing enables corporations to concentrate on their center offerings and come to be extra green.

Online Buying position: One role of the internet in business is the start of e-commerce websites and Online charge answers that allow human beings to store Online from the consolation in their very own homes.

New opportunities

The net has unfolded new business possibilities and giving rise to a group of a success Online enterprise proprietors. That is an effective role as all people can now start an online business.

The function of the net in enterprise can’t be overstated. New groups are taking gain of the powerful function the net performs in commercial enterprise to grow and be successful at a quicker price than became formerly feasible. Conventional organizations are also now not being left on the back of as they are growing Online divisions. An enterprise proprietor can handiest ignore the position the net plays in business on the peril of his or her business.

An Expected Feminist Outrage!

William Wordsworth quotes: Three years, she grew in sun and shower, then nature said, “A lovelier flower on this planet, turned into by no means shown, This infant, I to myself will take, She shall be mine,

And I’m able to make – A girl of my very own”.

What is an Indian woman? A symbol of self-sacrifice, a forgiving angel, a silent victim, a source of everlasting love and affection limited to her conventional position as a daughter, sister, mom and a housewife.

The women today, undergo no resemblance to the girls of yester years. Instances have modified and so has she. She needs better education, emotional and monetary independence and an identical share of opportunities on this guy’s international.

While traveling a pal recently in Kolkata, I finished by using my old school mate’s house, whose mother heads the advertising division of a large multinational business enterprise. As we swapped stories I intrigued to be aware, that her mother was leading an existence full of adventure, for it turned into clean that her lifestyle from her dressmaker jeans to the nation of artwork appliances in her kitchen illustrated that India and its girls have taken their proud and rightful location inside the globalized international. Consequently proving ‘The hand that rocks the cradle guidelines the arena’.

Indian ladies have wakened from their past shut eye.

They’re now not the slaves of fellows, nor are they depending on guys now. now not are ladies regarded as breeding machines or a family maid. They’re no longer painted pictures on the partitions of the residence. Intercourse subjugation is a tale that belongs to the past.

I have met, some of younger and center elderly women who are CEO’S of companies, placing examples for generations to return. I have also heard the achievements of IT expert and examine the works of Medha Patekar and Vandana Shiva.

lady is the builder and molder of nations future. Even though sensitive and smooth she has a coronary heart more potent and boulder than guys. She is the very best proposal in the guy’s onward march and an embodiment of affection, pity, and compassion.

India is not much less than an achieved due to the fact Indian girls are achievers

India has the sector’s largest quantity of professionally certified ladies. Feminism appears to be tracing its step back and likely it is an excellent purpose. back in the years, wherein a female changed into arrested at her home at night time, authorities furnished her home with a record signing her arrest. The subsequent morning the villagers discover her bullet- ridden. The tale counts lower back to the yr 2004 while Thangjam Manorama Devi, a 32-year-vintage resident of India’s Manipur state became allegedly raped after which shot lifeless. A rebellious action changed into then observed.

“To be or no longer to be Nude. An outrage the ladies placed up”! ladies who had completely misplaced religion inside the country that claimed to be their personal however its actions were of an occupying pressure have been part of this protest. The maximum coronary heart-wrenching rise up changed into observed when the ladies of Manipur, individuals of the Meira Pai bi (“torch bearers”) protested bare before the Assam Rifles camp in the kingdom capital, Imphal, roamed around in a banner that said, “Indian Army Rape Us.” This became just one display of their bravery and of letting men down.

The Power of Insulting Customers: Confessions of a Vacuum Cleaner Sales Rep

My reference to marketing legend David Ogilvy is that, early in our careers, we both offered customer home equipment door-to-door. Long earlier than he based Ogilvy & Mather in 1949, and following a short-lived career as a chef in Paris, David Ogilvy bought AGA cooking stoves to housewives in Scotland. Lengthy before I founded Highlander Consulting, as a college student searching for cash for fuel and beer, I bought Fairfax vacuum cleaners to housewives in Connecticut.

Ogilvy claimed his door-to-door sales enjoy furnished insights into the mind of the client that earned him acclaim as an advertising wizard. I credit my door-to-door enjoy with an appreciation for the electricity of insulting people as a sales tactic.

Created Lengthy before Famous person Wars,

Fairfax vacuums seemed like R2-D2, had been priced at several hundred dollars and prepared with a motor so powerful it can nearly – to borrow a phrase – suck the chrome off a trailer hitch. Despite the fact that my recollection of ways I first became related to the Fairfax Business enterprise remains fuzzy, I can keep in mind every detail of my first home demonstration, given to an unsuspecting housewife through my income teacher, a pro vacuum cleaner salesman directly from Glengarry Glen Ross.

Here is a replay of our income visit:

Sales teacher: Thank you for permitting us to illustrate the electricity of the Fairfax vacuum. before I do this, would kindly display me the vacuum cleaner you are presently the usage of to clean your stunning house? [Housewife brings her vacuum out of the closet. The Sales Trainer plugs it in and then pulls out a glass jar full of dirt, hair, dust balls and other unpleasant items.]

Mrs. Jones: Oh, my!

income trainer: Now I don’t need you to be upset, Maam, I assure you that no permanent damage might be completed to your rug.

Mrs. Jones: Well, I am now not positive that… [The Trainer opens the top of the glass jar, and dumps the entire mess onto a portion of the rug.]