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sprinkler-ashes · 1 year

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gorgeous // aaron hotchner x reader

gorgeous

pairing: aaron hotchner x fem!reader

in which you’re jack hotchner’s teacher, and you are utterly enamored of his dad. loosely based off of taylor swift’s song “gorgeous.”

words: 2.4k

warnings: everyone thirsting over hotch lmao

a/n: thank you all soooo very much for 600+ notes on my last fic!!! here’s another small taylor-inspired fic. It’s short, sweet, and i left it open for a part 2 in case i want to write it – we’ll see. i really wanted to get more out for you guys, but spring semester started, i fell back into constant work, and now am getting over the flu, which totally sucks, but is giving me a slight break to write. thanks for reading <3

you make me so happy, it turns back to sad

there's nothing i hate more than what i can't have

you are so gorgeous it makes me so mad

On most days, you loved your job. You were a first grade teacher and truly loved all the kids you had as if they were your own.

However, on some days – you really despised your job.

Dealing with the parents was sometimes your least favorite part of your job. It was usually mind-boggling to you at how some of these people had the sweetest and smartest kids, but they, the parents themselves, could be absolutely awful. It wasn’t all of the parents. In fact, there were some you really liked, but there were definitely a couple bad ones.

As much as you didn’t like dealing with some of those bad parents during conferences, you weren’t a fan of days like today – a Saturday bake sale at nine in the morning to raise money for an end-of-the-year field trip coming up at the end of the school year in just a couple months. The PTA was over the bake sale, which meant you had to deal with some of the most insufferable women you had ever met on what was supposed to be a day off.

“I told you, Stef, she’s just with him so she can get that life insurance check when he finally kicks the bucket – you watch and see if I’m not right,” the woman next to you, Kelly, said. “Poor Charlie, I hope he gets away from her before she snatches every penny he’s got.”

You wanted to scream. You weren’t sure how you were going to deal with this for another – you checked your watch – two hours and thirty-eight minutes even though the bake sale was only supposed to be three hours long. How had it only been twenty-two minutes?

Kelly was the resident gossip while Stefanie, Stef, was her best friend and head of the PTA. Kelly’s son wasn’t in your class, but Stef’s twins were both in your class. Even though you didn’t even teach Kelly’s kid, you saw her often because she was always at every single school event.

“Stef, are you listening to me?” You heard Kelly ask.

“Did you know Mr. Hotchner is here?” Stef asked excitedly.

Your head perked up at hearing that. You pretended to fiddle with the homemade brownies wrapped up in front of you while you listened.

“That man is so beautiful. I just want him for myself,” Kelly replied. “I’m glad he made it today, so we have something nice to look at.”

You couldn’t disagree with Kelly there. Aaron Hotchner was the dad of one of the kids in your class, Jack, and a member of the PTA. He was the Unit Chief of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and was often gone on cases. Jack’s mom had died a while ago, close to two years prior, and Jessica, Jack’s aunt, was usually the one who would drop him off and pick him up.

In fact, you had only met Jack’s dad a couple times – three, to be exact. The first time you met Jack and Aaron was at the school’s open house event right before school had started. The second time was the first parent-teacher conference of the year. The last time you had seen him was purely by luck in the grocery store one evening.

Kelly wasn’t wrong – Aaron Hotchner was insanely attractive and every woman in the PTA knew it. It honestly seemed like everyone knew it except for Aaron himself. You watched as he helped Jack give change back to a man who was buying a cookie at the booth he was at. You couldn’t help but smile as you watched him give his son a high-five after the man had left.

Truthfully, you hated him. Not because he had ever done anything to you – actually, it was because he hadn’t done anything to you.

“Do you think he’ll ever remarry?” Kelly asked Stef. “If so, I hope it’s one of us.”

“You, me, and every woman here,” Stef said with a laugh. “Oh my goodness, Kelly, he’s coming over here. Fix your hair! It looks like a bird’s nest.”

You felt your pulse start to race as you glanced up to find that Stef was, indeed, right. Aaron was coming over, his eyes trained on you with his hands in his pockets. He was dressed casually in jeans and a crewneck sweatshirt. It was different from the usual suits you saw him in. Seeing him without a tie felt almost criminal.

“Good morning,” he told you, not paying attention to the other women near you, his eyes trained solely on you. “I’m sorry to bother you, but Jack wants to know if you’ll come join his booth for a moment. It won’t be long.”

You silently it wasn’t obvious that his gaze on you was affecting you the way that it was. His job was literally to profile people – you just hoped he wasn’t profiling you right now. “Yeah, I’d love to. Do you mind taking over this booth while I go over for a bit?”

“Go right ahead, honey,” Kelly told you. She lowered her voice, “I’d go anywhere with him, too.”

You rolled your eyes. “I’m just going to see Jack’s poster.”

Kelly grinned. “Whatever you say.”

You shook your head, avoiding eye contact with Aaron and watching as both the women gave him a smile and little wave while you maneuvered from out behind the table you were standing at. “Lead the way.”

He gave you a small smile as he removed his hands from his pockets and led you over to the table him and Jack were assigned to. “I know you’re miserable, so I thought I’d help you escape.”

You were about to ask how he knew you’d rather have been doing anything else other than Stef and Kelly gossip, but you closed your mouth as soon as you opened it. “Really? You were profiling me? Here?”

That earned you a laugh out of him, which you now claimed as your favorite sound you’ve ever heard. “I don’t think it would’ve taken a profiler to see that you weren’t enjoying yourself.”

“Did you guys not get assigned with anyone else? It was supposed to be three to five people per table,” you mentioned as you two had finally reached the cookie booth that Aaron and Jack were over.

“We did, but they didn’t show,” Aaron replied to you, his hand lightly touching your lower back as he guided you behind the table where Jack was awaiting, causing you to elicit a sharp intake at the contact. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” you said in your best attempt at a nonchalant tone. If he doubted you, he didn’t press further. “Do you want me to ask around and see if I can get someone to come work the cookie booth with you guys?”

Aaron shook his head. “We’re holding up fine. Right, Jack?”

“Miss Y/L/N!” Jack shouted coming towards you as he held out his poster board that was just about as big as he was and filled with hand-drawn pictures of cookies. “Look at my sign! Daddy let me stay up late to make it.”

You crouched down to his level. “It looks awesome, Jack!” you told him excitedly, gaining a smile of your own as you watched his spread wide. “You did a great job!”

“Thanks! Can you put it back in front of the table, please?” He asked you politely. You nodded and took the poster back from him and placed it back in its rightful spot in front. “Daddy, can I go talk to my friends? I’ll be really quick, I pinky-promise.”

“Yes, but don’t be too long. We have cookies to sell,” Aaron told him.

You both watched as Jack’s little legs carried him just right in front of the table you were at. He was only a couple feet away, but you noticed Aaron’s eyes watching him, making sure he got there safely and that the adults working that table saw him.

“He thinks the world of you. I think you’re his favorite person,” Aaron told you.

That made you grin. You weren’t supposed to have favorites as a teacher, especially with kids as young as the ones you taught, but Jack was definitely one of your favorites. He was a sweet kid and was even reading on a fourth grade level. He caused no trouble and was a friend to everyone.

“He’s a great kid. I think the world of him also,” you said, your eyes locking with Aaron’s. Your breath hitched. How was someone this gorgeous? “But I actually think you’re his favorite person. He tells everyone about you and what you do. You’re his hero.”

Aaron grinned, and it was a sight you hadn’t seen before. You’d gotten smiles from him before, but never anything this big. You refrained from quite literally melting onto the floor. To be honest, you weren’t sure how you were going to last another minute standing here with him. He was so attractive you could barely even look at him.

If you said you didn’t have a teeny, tiny crush on Jack’s dad, you would be lying, but he was off-limits. For one, you were his son’s teacher. You’d really convinced yourself that there was no way he would want someone like you. There was nothing wrong with you, but you two were supposed to have a strictly professional relationship.

“Have you tried one of the cookies?” Aaron asked you, motioning to the cookies that laid on the table in front of the two of you.

“I haven’t,” you replied. “Did you bake all of these?”

“I had some help,” he sheepishly admitted. “Penelope, one of my co-workers, she helped me. As soon as we got back from a case last night, she came over. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to bake this many cookies by myself.”

“You made all of these last night? And after a case?” you asked incredulously. The entire table was covered in cookies of various different flavors. You were seriously impressed.

“Yeah, but it was no big deal,” he brushed it off. “I didn’t want to miss the bake sale. Plus, like I said, I didn’t do all of it.”

Was there anything this man couldn’t do?

You laughed. “I’m sure you’re probably wishing that you did miss the bake sale.” You gestured around the school parking lot that was set up. “I can count on one hand the number of things we’ve sold. I told Stef that a chilly February bake sale wasn’t a good idea, but she doesn’t really listen.”

“No, I’m glad I’m here. I really wanted to be here,” he said, looking directly at you.

This man knew how to take your breath away without even touching you or really even saying anything. You really understand now why all the PTA moms spent so much time gossiping about him.

“We’re glad you could make it,” you said breathlessly, offering a smile. “Really, Mr. Hotchner, I know how busy you are, so all of us are thrilled that you could find the time to help out.”

“Call me Aaron.”

This man was genuinely going to drive you crazy. You were an adult, so why did talking to Aaron Hotchner almost make you drop to the ground?

Before you could say anything else, Jack was back. “Did we get any more customers?”

“Not yet, buddy.”

Jack frowned. “Ah, man. But the cookies are so good!” He turned to you. “Miss Y/L/N, why is no one buying anything?”

“I’m not sure, Jack. Hopefully, we’ll get some more customers later.”

“I hope so,” he said sadly. “I really want to go on the field trip.”

You once again crouched down to his height – something you did often when talking to any of the kids. “We’re working really hard to make the field trip happen, so don’t give up hope, okay?”

Before Jack could reply, you noticed people coming towards your table, so you motioned for Jack to look. “Look! There’s some customers coming. You ready?”

Jack nodded excitedly as he turned around and eagerly started to await the arrival of the people nearing. You smiled at his excitement and took a step back, letting him take control, but you were going to keep watch to make sure he was doing everything correctly.

“I can see why Jack likes you so much.”

You smiled. The greatest compliments you could receive was from parents telling you their kids – the kids you spent more time with than your own family — liked you. Some days were tough, and it would feel like you weren’t in the right profession, but that feeling would go away any time a parent was able to confirm that their child really enjoyed you teaching them.

“Thank you, Mr. Hotchner, but I should probably get back to helping out Stef and Kelly,” you told him as you looked around to see more people filing in. “It seems we’re starting to get a little busy.”

“Yeah, of course, sorry to keep you busy. Jack just wanted you to come over.”

Jack turned around. “Yeah, I did. Daddy wasn’t happy that we didn’t get to work a table with you. He called Miss Stef a-”

Aaron’s eyes went for a split second before he said, “Jack, turn back around and sell your cookies.”

Jack did as he was told and Aaron awkwardly ran a hand through his hair as you replayed what Jack said back in your head. Aaron wanted to talk to you. He wanted to work with you today. It could’ve meant anything, but you were currently feeling like a kid on Christmas morning.

Aaron cleared his throat. “I guess Jack wasn’t the only one that wanted to talk to you.”

You suppressed a grin, gaining the courage to look Aaron in the eyes. “And I guess Jack wasn’t the only one I came over here for.”

#aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner x you #aaron hotchner x y/n #aaron hotchner one shot #hotch x reader #aaron hotchner

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lonelyisamyw-0love · 5 months

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Another Place, Another Time (Pt. 2)

JakeXFem!Reader, StevenXFem!Reader (Marc in headspace)

Summary: So your best friend is back in your life, and is also not one, not two but three people. Reconnecting with Steven isn’t as easy as you thought, and you gain a new perspective on your childhood.

CW: mentions of the boy’s childhood/abuse/ neglect, wendy is her own warning, swearing, threats of violence, swearing, bad Chicagoan accents, almost definitely railroad sentences, poor job at explaining DID Beta’d by @saturn-rings-writes 💖 A/N: It’s weird trying to explain DID without getting into the weeds about it. Weird downside of being a clinician. Anyways, Here’s part 2 I hope you like it! Steven is Orange Marc is green Jake is Red

Word Count: ~3k

The only movement in your apartment is the steady rise and fall of Jake’s chest. Your eyes search over his face, reviewing your attempts at first aid and internally patting yourself on the back. The bandages stuck on, and they don’t seem as red and angry in the daylight. How he manages to look like he’s aware of everything even while sleeping is beyond you. His body looks so stiff, is that from whatever happened last night or is this normal for him? Maybe you shouldn’t be watching him sleep on your couch, you muse, but isn’t it good bedside manner to check on a patient? His brows are still furrowed slightly, the bruise on his cheek casts a shadow over his profile, and his lip is still swollen; but hey, at least he isn’t bleeding anymore. Does this man ever relax? He even sleeps tense, arms crossed over his chest protecting himself like a coiled spring. When is he going to wake up? You have questions, and you’re hungry. You let out a groan louder than you intend startling jake awake. ¡puta madre!” He swears, sitting bolt upright, he grabs your shirt in a vice like grip. The suddenness of his movements, startles you as well, causing you to scream, “Shit! Jake it’s me!” You throw your hands up, palms facing him to try and show him you mean no harm. He glares at you a moment, chest heaving before recognition flashes in his eyes and he lets go. “Y/N…lo siento, I thought, I forgot where we were.” He raises an eyebrow at you, “why are you sitting on the floor?” “oh! I was watching you…sleep. To see if you were okay! Not like in a weird way. You were injured and anyways…breakfast? Breakfast sounds good!” You get to your feet and hurry to your kitchen leaving behind a groggy and confused Jake.

Steven? You need new friends hm? What’s wrong with Y/N? She was watching me sleep She does that. Erm well she used to do that Que lo…what do you mean she does that?? She did that when were were young too, if I slept over, I’d wake up and she’d be there. Said she wanted to make sure I was okay while I slept or somethin’ like that

Huffing softly, Jake slowly makes his way off the couch to see you cooking the breakfast burrito he usually orders at the diner while coffee brews. “I um…sorry, about grabbing you earlier. I’m not used to people watching me sleep, not nice ones anyways.” He jokes “y’know, I want to ask what kind of people are watching you sleep at all, but I don’t think I want to know the answer, and Im sorry for staring at you for an hour” “An hour? Y/N what do you mean an hour?!” You wave your spatula dismissively, “Water under the bridge. Anyways, can we talk more about you being this bogo sale of 3 people, one body?" Jake can’t believe what’s more bizarre, him sleeping over at your house after you found him behind a dumpster and waking to you cooking his order that you apparently memorized, the fact that you are so nonchalant about their disorder, or, that you two were actually childhood friends. You hand him his burrito and coffee, “cream is in the fridge, sugar in the bowl and I don’t have your cotija cheese. Sorry” “We aren’t…Im not.”, Jake rolls his eyes deciding there is no point in arguing semantics with you. “Sure fine, we’re a bargain deal. What questions do you have.” He asks as he makes his coffee before following you back to the living room. “Just start from the top, I guess. Explain more of what dissociating disorder is.”

“Dissociative Identity disorder Y/N and it’s…when someone deals with…less than ideal events, sometimes their brains separate it from themselves. It makes “alters” or, like other people to deal with it.” Jake attempts to cobble together an explanation without reliving their past. You nod, trying to follow along, “So something bad happened and now you, Steven and Marc all live like in the same body but aren’t the same person…yes? “Yea, that’s…yea pretty much” “So who gets to do what? Why do you always come to the diner and never either one of them? Can they hear me?” Jake chokes on the coffee he’s been sipping, “woah, Slow down Y/N.” “Sorry, sorry. To be fair I did tell you last night that I had a lot of questions” you laugh “So when you’re, out or talking or…whatever. Are Steven and Marc around?” “The word you’re looking for is ‘fronting’ and only sometimes. We used to keep our lives separate from one another but are trying to work together more like a-like a family.” “So who is who in the family?” Jake chuckles, “to me? Steven is mi hermanito, like a little brother. He can hold his own, but I still worry about him. Marc is the stubborn middle brother who thinks he is right but isn’t. I'm the oldest, the level headed one, the planner. I make sure we’re safe”

Don’t talk about me like that to Y/N! oh now you care what Y/N thinks about you? Shut it Steven, and Jake? The level headed one? Fat chance Mr. Answers-his-problems-with-fists

You look over Jake’s face, mustering up the courage to ask the question that woke up you in the early hours of the morning. “So is Steven is ‘around’ or ‘present’ since your fronting? Is that right? I don’t know how to ask about any of this without sounding like a dick.” Jake chuckles softly, “Si, Steven is here, you can ask if any of us are ‘around’ if that’s easier. Besides, he’s been bothering me since yesterday to speak with you”. “Really?” Jake nods, finishing his coffee “yes really, I can get him for you, if you like.” “I would love that! Could you really get him for me?” You exclaim. However that excitement is diminished as you realize that you asked jake to connect you with Steven like a phone operator. “Wait, that was rude Jake, I don’t want you to think I’m getting rid of you I just-“ “It’s fine Y/N, besides I’ll always be around, you just have to ask” he quips before closing his eyes. You sit and wait for something, anything to happen. “I wish he would’ve told me how this works” you mumble to yourself as Jake’s (Steven’s?) eyes snap open. “Y/N?” Your heart skips a beat. You know that accent, that small upwards lilt at the end of your name having heard it for years in your youth. You study his features, it’s the same face but it’s not. The lifted brows, the light in his eyes, the barely contained energy emanating from him. “S-Steven? Holy…shit is that really you?” You notice, his eyes frantically searching your face as well, as if in disbelief, “Y/N, gods it is you”. He goes to reach out for you which temporarily breaks you from your reverie. “Hold on…Okay if you are StevenI’m going to ask you some questions and we’ll say the answer at the same time? I want to make sure you are who you say you are.” Steven blinks at you a few times before agreeing, “right, yea course Y/N, but it’s been years”, he chuckles nervously, “l-loads of things have happened since we last saw each other”.

What the hell is she doin’? Hush hermano, Steven is being interrogated by Y/N What do you mean interro- Mira

“You’re right, you’re right” you nod in agreement with Steven, who sighs in relief. “Thank you Y/N, I ju-“

“What their secret password was when they were kids?” You fire off, “W-What? Our secret password?” “What did I want to be when I grew up?” “You changed that almost every time I saw you Y/N I don’t-“

“What did my mom always make us for dinner when you came over?” “Y/N I can’t remember those things!“ his voice pinches as his anxiety spikes

Guilt grips you like a vice. If this is Steven, you’ve spent the first 2 minutes grilling him. Sighing, you relent, “I’m sorry, look I just…I need to make sure you’re you y’know? Last question, I swear” You look at him earnestly, “what was the stuffed animal I gave you?” Steven looks up at you, shoulder dropping as his anxiety melts away. Smiling proudly, he answers “Sir Rosser, he was a purple patchwork bunny”

¿qué carajo? that’s …no ..she gave us…

You squint your eyes, “and who knighted Sir Rosser?” “You did, because you were the ‘lady of the land’. Knighted him with a ruler if I remember right.” Steven replies before he is summarily smashed into the couch from you tackling him “it is you! Steven I’ve missed you! I-I can’t believe it.” Steven hugs back tightly. Ignoring the ache in the body, he grabs fistfuls of your shirt as though you were a lifeline. “Y/N! Oh I’ve missed you so much”

“Steven, what the hell happened to you? We…you said we’d keep in touch after high school, and you just…disappeared. I couldn’t ever get in touch with you. No one knew where you were and your phone was always dead.” you ramble, the sting of losing Steven bubbling back to the surface.

“I-I know. I promised a lot of things and feel like a right twit for all of it Y/N, truly. I want to tell you what has happened and where we went, yea. But I think that’s more Marc’s story to tell. S’not that I don’t want to share, just doesn’t feel right”.

“Fine…you’re right. I mean I guess that’s fair. Still feels like bullshit that I thought you were gone this whole time and you were literally under my nose for the last year. Steven chuckles softly, “always was good at hiding, Y/N”. “I won’t ask about details but I gotta know. When we were kids, what the hell was going on? Sometimes I would see you every day for a week and then you’d be gone with no explanation. School sucked without you there and, your dad was always vague about what was going on and then you’d be back at my house like nothing happened.” “I uh…its…Marc’s mum she struggled when we were younger. You have to understand love, she had okay days and bad days…and some really bad days. She kicked Marc out of the house once, left him on the front stoop. Poor lad, had a proper fit and I fronted. I wandered to your house and the rest is history”.

You shake your head, “No, Wendy definitely dropped you off at my house that day Steven. That’s what mom said when she called me downstairs.” Steven shakes his head, “Y/N, I may not remember a lot, but I remember that day. Marc’s mum was having a really bad day. I don’t know what happened, but when I fronted, I was outside and alone. You were the only kid I remember even noticing me, so I went and knocked on your door. We needed somewhere safe to go.” he replies quietly.

Your heart begins to hammer in your chest, sickening gears setting into motion as you realize what your friend experienced “Steven? You…weren’t a clumsy child were you? The forgotten meals and disappearing. Oh god, Steven the yelling. Mom always said your family liked the TV loud but…fuck was that Wendy?” Steven casts his eyes down “I think you already know the answer love”. You sit there, trying to quash the bile rising in your throat, the simmering anger at what he experienced and the profound sadness for your friend. Utterly shell-shocked you speak up, “Steven Im so so sorry. I…can you give me a moment please. To sit with that?” “Course love, it’s a lot I suppose” Steven replies, fidgeting with the end of their shirt. You nod getting off the couch and heading to your room, “yea it’s just…hold that thought and ignore the screams.” Steven looks at you bewildered, “screams? why would you-.” Your bedroom door cuts him off before he hears you shout “FUCK! What the FUCK!” stunning him into silence. He stares at the door hearing a string of angry mumbles, sniffles and swears coming from inside your room.

uh lads…d’you think… you never told me (Y/N) gave us that rabbit! Woah ¡cálmese! That’s what your worried about right now? And it’s because Sir Rosser was MY rabbit first! Oye! Los dos- That rabbit…that rabbit was the only thing that felt safe in that house. I thought that she gave me that rabbit on one of her good days oh Marc..mate. I thought you knew.

The door to your room creaks open, as you emerge red faced. “Im sorry about that. I needed to get that out of my system. What she did to you…to all of youse it…I don’t have the words”. You flop unceremoniously onto the couch and look at your friend who seems deep in thought. “Steven? Steven I really am sorry if what I did was insensitive but to know that you...that that was happening next door just…it infuriates me” Steven looks up and offers you a small smile, “s’alright Y/N, it is a lot innit? Nice being able to spend time with you and your mum though.” After a brief pause, Steven smiles at you. “Oh, when you went to your room to uhh” “I had a tantrum Steven, it’s okay. You can say it” You chuckle softly. “Right. While you had your moment I had a chat with Marc, and I think it would do him some good to pop in and talk with you at some point.

Steven, no. whatever you’re trying to do: no. Hermano, best just let Steven have this. He’s trying y’know? Whatever. I haven’t agreed to anything yet.

A few moments pass, and Steven raises his eyebrows at you. Smiling a bit wider, you catch on, “I would love to meet the mysterious man himself. Only when he is good and ready though”. Steven mouths the words ‘Thank You’ to you before addressing you directly. “Great that’s that settled, now! Can we chat bout something else? Its been bloody ages! Hows things?”

“I wish I had something interesting to tell ya Steven, but in all honesty things are pretty boring. I got a degree and graduated second in my class but, then I couldn’t find a career that I could see myself in long term. I can keep a job sure, but it sucks clocking in to somewhere that feels like its stealin’ your friggin’ soul.” You lean your head back on the couch. “So I quit corporate, started working at Hungry Hub while I figure out next move. I’ve been there about 2 years now. Pay is inconsistent and the owner, Bryce sucks but I like it, feels like a little family. Besides, it brought me back to you. I picked up a few hobbies over the years, but nothing’s ever stuck except baking.”

Steven stares at you, happily nodding along as you update him on your life. “You still bake? After all this time?”

You laugh, a warmth settling into your chest being able to share time with Steven again, “Yea, kept it going since we used to bake with mom, but now I bake when I’m anxious or stressed out.”

“I remember baking with you and your mum! We made chocolate chip cookies one evenin’. She got us matching aprons and played this soft music. She was so patient even when I-I …dropped the whole bag of chocolate chips in the bowl”

You interject, “Yea, you panicked so bad I thought you were gunna pass out which…makes sense now all things considered”. Steven smiles sadly, “but your mum was so kind. She said there’s no such thing as too much chocolate and we..just kept baking. It was like it never even happened.” He trails off, seemingly lost in thought. You watch his features drop, tears brimming as he recalls his childhood. You tentatively place your hand on Steven’s knee, “For what it’s worth, mom was right. There is no such thing as too much chocolate and no what has happened or what will happen, Im happy to have you back Steven.”

Your words pull Steven from his thoughts. Blinking back tears, he leans over and hugs you again. Returning the gesture firmly, you rub your hand up and down his back a bit before you chuckle to yourself. Steven leans back, “what…what’s so funny?”. Covering your mouth to stifle a laugh you gesture vaguely to him “I am over the moon to have you back but you reek, er Jake reeks. This…the body…it stinks.” Steven leans further back, sniffing his own armpit “oh bollocks, we haven’t showered or anything. Still in Jakes clothes from last night even”

“I can drive youse guys back to your place to shower, change and do whatever needs to get done y’know. As long as everyone is okay with it.” Steven smiles at your consideration of them. “Im ready to go, I think Jake would be fine with it as well…Not sure about Marc.” “I don’t know how but why don’t you just ask ‘em. Like…how you talked to them before?” She’s quick hermanito I know mate, but you heard her. How’s it sound? Si claro, works for me marc?...Marc c’mon. You can’t avoid her forever hermano Shut it. I know I can’t I’m just…let me adjust will ya? She can take us back to the apartment. I just need time. S’all you had to say Steven’s right. Clear communication Clear communication. I…I’ll talk to her at some point. Just give me some time.

“Steven, everything okay? You’ve been quiet for a long time.” You place a hand on his shoulder. “Hello?” He blinks a few times, turning towards you, “Oh sorry, I was just checking in with Marc and Jake, everything is aces (Y/N) Just…be patient with Marc yea? He needs some time”. You smile warmly as you stand to grab your keys “Well youse guys are stuck with me now, so I’ve got all the time in the world.”

#moon knight #steven grant #marc spector #jake lockley #jake lockley x reader #steven grant x reader #moon knight fluff #moon knight fanfiction #moon knight fic #moon knight x reader #x reader #moon knight series

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sexy-opium-ravioli · 11 months

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Photo Booth

Universe: Resident Evil

wc: 1,791

Pairing: Stepbro!Leon S. Kennedy x Reader

Warnings: Not many, just the fact that Leon is your stepbrother and he is .5 of a little shit. Otherwise, this is a good, old fashioned fluff piece.

a/n: Hihi hello hello :) I've been trying to claw my way out of depression for a while, but here's some cute Leon content in the meantime!

@lipglossanon !! thank you for being such a wonderful writer, honestly reading you has been really inspiring as of late! and your characterization of the Leons you have are among my very favorite.

It not my best work by any means, but I hope anyone reading this enjoys <3

The liminal space of a mall was the place where you could see through a person, like light through glass. You'd get to see what stores they prefer to go to, what mall food they like to eat (or if they can't), what they buy vs what they don't.

Or sometimes, as is the case with you and your weird, pseudo-freudian stepbrother-boyfriend Leon, you just get boba and mess around.

There were other things you'd like to do with him, sure. Sometimes you two would catch a movie- or fuck each other until you're both sensitive and whimpering (as young lovers often do). Really depended on the day.

But it was earlier in the morning and it was a free, clear Saturday, in the haze of a temperate spring. And, the last couple of days were kind of stressful. Keeping up separate social lives, exams, dealing with your shared parents- sometimes just being apart from each other was okay.

You were starting to suspect something in Leon. You didn't know what it was, really. Everything was in a haze with him- truer emotions he always hid behind something snarky and barbed. And since you could never really get an accurate read on him, you could only try to squint in the dark and decipher the signs in front of you.

Still, something foundational was shifting. And there was a strange feeling in your stomach that had been there all morning, and it wasn't bad, per se; but it was constant and unusual. You sipped on your boba and started chewing.

You and Leon were both sitting on public benches. The time was before most of the retail shops started setting up, only the food court was open. You laid your head on Leon's shoulder and closed your eyes while you both soaked in the sun's warmth.

The mall was bright and quiet, not many were there yet. You still felt a bit sleepy, but it didn't seem like Leon minded resting either. There was a difference in the emotions you feel someone going through when you rest your head on their shoulder- and the way Leon's was giving into the weight of your head spelled relaxation. The both of you spent a bit of your morning like this. You lifted your head and glanced at how the sunlight reflected off of Leon's golden hair. How it also cut a shadow at the curve of his jaw.

"You wanna walk around?" You asked with your voice low, not wanting to disrupt the quiet, alive whirring of the building. Leon looked at you, smiled a bit and nodded his head before getting up.

When you caught up to pace with him, you decided to annoy him and cross pinkies. He retaliated by taking hold of your entire hand, and you tried not to make a big deal about it. Your heart was starting to beat really fast, though.

You thought he would let go after a couple of seconds. He didn't.

Exiting the first floor common area to the escalators surrounding it, you both enjoyed the warmth of a second floor perch. Leon hasn't let go of your hand yet, but you were joking around about other people you were seeing at the mall, or the vaguely strange sale ads you'd see posted on windows.

It was light, conversation felt easy for once.

And then Leon saw something, and you watched the way his eyes captured a glint of absolute mischief.

Your eyes followed the laser point focus of his- and oh.

Oh.

A photo booth.

And before you knew it, the distance between you and the box was already halved from Leon practically yanking your arm off. It didn't hurt, so all you could do was laugh.

Walking up to it, Leon already got his wallet out and was feeding the machine bills. You decided to slip in and look around inside. All photo booths look different- this one was pretty new and sparkly.

Not long after, Leon swept the curtains and stepped in with a mean smirk. You got yourself ready, trying to make yourself look alright while Leon selected to start through the menu.

You always felt a weird sort of anxiety in photo booths. They never gave anybody enough time to actually prepare for a photo, but Leon was already doing someth- "Hey-!"

He quickly stepped behind you, caged you in his arms, gave two hand horns, and made such a twisted face he actually did kind of resemble the devil, because in his heart of hearts, Leon S. Kennedy was a dork.

You decided that if he was going to suffocate you with all the muscle he was trying to show off, you were going to get a picture of biting it.

The bite wasn't too hard, but the quick noise that Leon gave was mostly out of being startled anyways. He quickly retaliated by flicking your arm before posing for the next-

"Let's do a nicer one," you interject, quietly and quickly. You both prepare and in time, you're smiling together while Leon has his arm draped over your shoulders. It all happened so quickly and concisely that the warm feeling you got in your stomach from all the affectionate, silly, friendly contact was delayed.

The countdown started again. Leon almost shoved you in front of him, but instead of putting his arms over your chest and neck and face, (being annoying about it), he placed them gently over your waist. And then when the camera flashed, he was kissing your cheek.

You turned around in his arms, not really caring about the photos anymore. But he was the one that leaned down and kissed you gingerly, and with meaning. His lips were always so soft and smooth against yours-

The camera flashed. You two were together a little longer, and then you both separated. It was a few long seconds where time just stopped, and you could swear that if you opened the curtain and tried to find one of the rare morning pedestrians of the mall, they would be left unmoving.

But all you could do was look at Leon. It didn't help that he was so pretty. But there was this weird flash of emotion in his eyes, that same one you couldn't read and he wasn't looking away-

The camera flash made you both jump a little, and then Leon gave a quiet, nervous laugh to himself that sparked yours. He looked at you again, an upward pull of his lips that didn't seem too mean anymore. "Better get those photos,"

"Yeah," you offer back, already leaving the booth. He followed you, and not long after, the booth started to give out a noise before producing two copies of the same strip. Leon quickly snatched them before you could even hope to grab them, and he held them out of your view after that.

"Leon," He was snickering. That pretty smile he hasn't dropped for 5 minutes now has had its teasing quality reapplied. Irritation quickly bubbles back up in your throat.

"Ugh, Leon, you-" He does that little shit older brother thing where he lets the strip creep just into your reach before yanking it away a couple of times, but he doesn't do it too much. He gives you one of the copies after starting to giggle at you.

You shake your head, ready to be embarrassed at your own face or maybe even his, and- well, the first photo has you laughing. Your head is tilted backward and your eyes are closed, and the laughs pour out of your throat like smooth wine.

"Leon you're such a dork,-"

"Oh ok! And we're not gonna talk about the absolutely feral thing latching itself to my arm-,"

"Noo~, we're not," You interrupt teasingly, and you take a look back at the pictures. The air swiftly changes from playful, easy and teasing to meaningful, endearing- kind of tense in a way. Leon looked beautiful, and you looked nice too, and now you just noticed that Leon is right behind you actively gauging your reaction.

The third photo was almost too sweet and intimate to look at publicly, and you could feel the tips of your ears start to heat up. Leon's face is mostly obscured, sure, but the way you react to why it's obscured is so sweet and genuine it kind of embarrasses you. Your lips try to hide a smile and your eyes are cast downward and away from Leon- low, but not closed. One of your arms rests on the lean coils of muscle wrapped around your center, while the other reaches up for your hand to rest on his head.

The fourth makes you inhale a little sharper, and you can now feel the high part of your cheekbones heat with your ears. Leon's chin is resting on your shoulder now, and you can't even imagine the shit-eating grin he must be wearing on his face. Well, both of your faces can't be seen by the camera, if that's any consolation to your poor, heated skin- you might melt ice at this point.

You don't know why it has you so weirdly dizzy, but maybe it's the way Leon looks so boyish, almost soft kissing you. His head is so slightly tilted, and the way his body curls around yours is just so engaged-

The fifth one is sweet in a different way. It makes your heart instantly crackle and spark for hope, which any sort of tired rationality your dopamine abused brain has left is probably screaming at.

There's that fear in your chest, but there's no denying the fact that there's a light glimmering in Leon's sea glass eyes that you haven't seen from him too many times.

It's a look that makes your entire body feel warm, like your skin is being pricked by needles. At this point, you've stopped looking at the photos altogether and buried your face in your hands. It makes Leon's chin lift off your shoulder, and you hear a chuckle come from him, but nothing sarcastic.

"C'mon, stores are opening soon, weirdo," And when he says that you realize that there's warmth behind his words. You lift your head and look at him, and he's scratching his nose but- is he blushing too? Oh.

Oh.

He is.

Probably not as scorching hot as you, but still. He starts walking, you start walking with him. And then, he takes your hand like that entire thing just didn't happen, and you find that you can't really stop smiling. Even if you reduce it to the smallest pull of your lips, it's still on your face for a while longer.

#leon s. kennedy x reader #leon s. kennedy #resident evil #resident evil x reader #stepbro!leon s. kennedy #stepbro!leon s. kennedy x reader

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ijuststareatstuffhereok89 · 27 days

Text

"Time & the Trickster"

a Loki/Doctor Who crossover

Epilogue: Goddess of Stories

Time goes by...

CHAPTER WARNING (18+): none, other than I cried again

Previous Chapter

MASTERLIST

The Doctor sniffed the air as he stepped out of the smoking TARDIS. He reached into his pocket and felt the Sonic Screwdriver inside. Taking it out, he pressed a button, grinning when it lit up and proved that it was fully-functional again.

The environment smelled deliciously familiar. London. His native timeline. Approximately…2007 AD?

Looking down at the rubbish-covered sidewalk in front of the alley where the TARDIS landed, The Doctor smiled and picked up a dirty, wet flier that simply read ‘Vote Saxon.’

“I’m back!” he said with a grin. He opened his mouth and breathed in to taste the air around him. “And…hmm…what’s that?”

Beyond the alley, a bit further on, a large skyscraper seemingly brand-new to the London horizon stood, a large sign in the front reading ‘Adipose Industries.”

“Adipose, eh? Now, that’s a bit curious, isn’t it? What are they doing here?” he said aloud to himself, the name triggering The Doctor’s immediate interest. He walked across the street for a closer look. Something strange was brewing here, he could feel it, perhaps something dangerous or even deadly.

And he wouldn’t miss it for anything.

“You heading out, Sis?” Joey called out from the sofa, his head leaning back against the cushions.

You were dressed in a lovely black cocktail dress, hair tossed expertly into a messy bun. The high heels you’d gotten proved to be a bit too much, but you knew you had to make the right impression at this dinner meeting.

“Yeah, don’t wait up,” you replied. “If it goes well, they’ll sign me, and we’ll get a round of congratulatory drinks.”

You sucked in your breath, observing yourself one last time in the long mirror mounted in the doorway of your small-but-cozy house in the northern suburb, purchased with the sale of your first book last year. The novel you’d written about a lonely woman saving the world by returning a god to the stars was an underground hit when you’d first independently published it, and after six months and two reprints to meet demand, Random House was on the verge of signing a three-book deal with you, estimated to be worth at least a million once you chose and signed with the agent you were meeting tonight.

It was your birthday, three years to the night that you’d rescued Loki from a holding cell downtown. The date for this life-changing moment seemed almost preordained.

“You got this,” called Joey half-heartedly. You knew he meant it, but he was already four beers into his night off, and he could only muster so much emotion without exhausting himself. His new bartending job was on a college campus, and he was still adjusting to the busy weekends of ungrateful 20-year-olds demanding to be served.

Neither of you seemed to want to rush into relationships. Joey had never been the type for long-term entanglements of any sort, and the fallout of your whirlwind romance with the God of Stories had left most other prospects lacking. You’d dated in the years since that adventurous summer, but no one stuck in your heart the way Loki had.

You hoped he hadn’t ruined you. Only time would tell.

Your taxi was late, but seeing as it was a beautiful, rain-free spring evening, it was a pleasure to wait under the setting sun for it. It didn’t hurt that you didn’t live in the city anymore. The air smelled better, the ambience was less-frantic, and best of all: you could see the sky at night, which was what you’d told Joey was the most important factor when you decided to continue cohabitation and look for a new place. You could still see the city from your front yard, especially at night when it was all aglow, but the light pollution didn’t extend far enough to obscure the stars.

Almost every night that wasn’t overcast, you spent hours sitting on the low roof over the front door, watching for any sign that what you’d been through, the things you’d seen, and the feelings you’d experienced had all been real. Joey had always been able to assure you that your journey across the sea to restore Loki to his terrible throne had been real.

To keep those feelings close to your memories, you wrote them down and gave them to your brother to read.

“Damn,” he had said after reading your first draft, “you should get these in print…maybe change the names a bit so Disney doesn’t bean you with a lawsuit…”

Taking his suggestion to mind, you adjusted a few factors: turning Loki and The Doctor specifically into original characters who just HAPPENED to share a lot in common with their counterparts. After two furious rewrites, you had a worthy tale that caught a lot of attention. Several books about “The Great Greening” (which scientists had explained away as a climate change phenomenon) had preceded yours, but none read as intimately as what you had to offer. Admittedly, you’d played up the romance and added a bit of wishful thinking (having included an alternate ending to the book where Loki came back for you and Sylvie was tied to the throne forever). It was the sincere passion behind your words that attracted fans.

The final signing was taking place over dinner at the Blue Palm downtown, the only place in Syracuse fancy enough to serve escargot.

You closed your eyes as you stood in your driveway, waiting for your cab (perhaps a car would be your next extravagant purchase). You gently whispered one word into the night:

Loki.

Opening your eyes, you were just in time to see a green streak line the sky before disappearing over the tree line. You went warm inside. Someone was thinking of you and loving you tonight.

“I love you too,” you sighed with a smile. “Forever.”

You knew you would never see him again, yet every time you felt the anxiety rise in your blood, you told yourself one thing: you were in Loki’s caring hands, even if from ‘somewhere out there.’ As long as you could see that green flash in the night, you knew he was real, and that he was watching.

Conscious of a large yellow cab pulling up around the corner, you took in one more brave breath, and rode off toward your future.

Always watching. For eternity. A Time Lord of his own ordination.

All Loki could do was remain tethered to the golden throne, all of time between his fingers, the most powerful creature to ever exist, and also the most powerless. His only consolation was the ability to see within them, like a spectator watching you move on without him.

He could see Mobius play with his sons. He could see The Doctor jetting around history with his ginger-haired best friend. He could see Joey finally become manager at his job. He could see you on your book tour, smiling for cameras and earning enough money to guarantee your security. It seemed you were becoming quite a goddess of stories.

All of you were getting on with your lives in various ways, as it should have been.

Now, he was watching with quiet pride as you accepted the proposal of the good-looking, warm-hearted man you’d met the night you’d signed your first book deal, who'd started off as your agent before you both found your feelings for one another morphing into something more. Loki sent out a green falling star to celebrate your engagement, and to give his blessing to your match.

A tear pricked the corner of his eye. You made all of it worthwhile. It was an honor keeping you alive.

“For you,” he repeated one final time, “For all of us."

Thank you for going on this journey with me. I hope it was worth the trip! ~. Lena

@crashingwavesofeuphoria @kkdvkyya @red-shirt-mania @misschris1412 @salvinaa @marygoddessofmischief @spiderstyles04 @fireflymoonwitch @mochie85 @loz-3 @lcolumbia1988 @lokilurker @eleniblue @gruftiela @starkzdaughter @mrsbarnes-avenger @thedistractedagglomeration @km-ffluv @lokisgoodgirl @holdmytesseract @itsthattimedarling @wolfsmom1 @scully2u @shinisenko @mischief2sarawr @ririsutty73 @lulubelle814 @meg81589 @gloriuspurposeposts @theonetruepotato87 @linllewellyn @wistfulclueless @etherealkistar @tinydancer40 @hardtravelerwizard-blog @fangirlofmanysstuff @krabog @soulpiercing @archivelaurarps @banjo-bastard

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mafaldaknows · 8 months

Note

Kylie and timothe are allegedly getting married next year. Now tell me how is thios PR and how he's still getting his cherry popped by Armie Haammer. And I want a logical explaination, not some cult guru shit about believing in love and all that nonsense.

Hello, Anon:

Let’s stop for a moment and consider what the word “allegedly” means.

It seems to me that an unfortunate by-product of our social media culture is that people conflate allegations with facts, to the point that all anyone has to do these days to make something true in many people’s minds is simply to say it somewhere on the internet. It doesn’t even have to be “official”.

Allegations are not facts. Speculation is not confirmation. Hypotheses are theoretical. None of these things assumes itself as the truth, but merely introduces a starting point for further discussion or investigation in order to discover the truth about something.

So why bother to come to my inbox to ask me what I think about something that you already seem to think is true? It seems to me that you don’t need my validation. And don’t worry, Anon. I’ll spare you the cult guru shit about love.

Because what’s love got to do with it?

It takes at least two years for people to stop being on their best behavior around their romantic partners, so making a lifelong commitment to love, honor, and cherish someone in less time than that is a serious gamble, and seems highly unlikely in this case, assuming that at least one of them still has functional critical thinking skills, and isn’t in the habit of setting their life on fire without first contemplating the consequences, as most reasonable grown adults do, especially when making such a major, life-altering decision like getting married to someone they barely know.

What’s ironic to me, Anon, is that if you wanted me to agree with you, this would be a good spot to give you some cult guru shit about love. Because I believe that there are some people who know right away that they’ll love someone for the rest of their lives. But they tend not to need a team of managers and publicists, and constant, chronic, random no-one-asked-for-it-but-here-it-is-anyway press attention to prove it to everyone on the internet, in order to seal the deal. Lovers just love, no press required.

They only just allegedly met this spring. One year’s time is most likely not enough time for them to know if they’re suitable life partners for each other, if they intend to stay married, especially if they’re not even “official in private” and only “casual” at this moment in time, depending on how their insider source is feeling that day, depending on which way the wind blows, even when no one asked. It might be helpful for someone on their PR teams to keep track of what their insider source is telling the media on an hourly basis on an excel spreadsheet or something so they’re at least all on the same sheet of bullshit.

If it happens, then mazel tov to the happy couple, and let’s hope there’s a prenup, to keep things simple when if it falls apart.

As for popping a cherry, that’s a one-shot deal. Once in a lifetime. You might want to brush up on your idioms, Anon. 💥🍒💥

However T & A chose to define their connection to each other is no one’s business but their own. I’ve said this time and again. And who T sleeps with is also none of my business.

How T chooses to share his business that’s nobody’s business like nobody’s business is the larger issue, imho. The fact that T&K’s presence together has become ubiquitous in the media has now made it my business, like it or not.

Selling their relationship seems to be the point, and that’s the part I struggle with. It’s difficult to see the truth of their alleged love story when it’s so deeply embedded within such an obvious PR sales pitch. Even if they’re madly in love, that doesn’t change the fact that they’re also using each other as a means to an end. Famous people marry each other all the time without ever having to ask one to commodify themselves for the sake of elevating the other’s image.

Unlike some other relationships, however, T &A do not make it their business to make it our business to know their business, every damn day, for months on end. So I have no idea about the status of their relationship; romantic, platonic, doesn’t matter to me, Anon. But I can still be hopeful and watch for signs, with both my feet firmly rooted in reality.

Only time or Tim will tell.

Thanks for your question. ❤️🧿☺️🍒👀

#hello anon #it’s business baby #cult guru love shit #what’s love got to do with it #commit and commodify #a means to an end #isn’t it PRomantic #always be closing #can’t knock the hustle

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hanakogames · 2 months

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Spring Sale 2024

It's that time again! Everything that's currently on sale, as best as I can figure it:

Over on itch.io where titles are available DRM-free (plus Steam keys if the title is on Steam) sales are running until March 21st

The "Cute" sim/RPGs are each 50% off, or 60% off if you buy all three.

Cute Knight (not on Steam)

Cute Knight Kingdom (not on Steam)

Cute Bite

The other three yuri-only games (since Cute Bite is too but it has its own group) are 50% off, or 66% off if you buy all three

A Little Lily Princess

Black Closet

Night Cascades

The Magical Diary games are each 60% off with a tiny bonus if you get them together.

Magical Diary: Horse Hall

Magical Diary: Wolf Hall

And what's leftover is 65% off with a tiny bonus if you get them all

Long Live The Queen

Science Girls

Date Warp

England Exchange

The Confines of the Crown

Sword Daughter

On the Steam side of things, sales are also running until March 21st.

Most games are 65% off. If you buy absolutely everything ever in one giant lump, it's 73% off (but most people don't do that).

The Magical Diary games are 65% off but up to 72% if you get both together

Magical Diary: Horse Hall

Magical Diary: Wolf Hall

The yuri games are 66% off if you get all four together, otherwise:

A Little Lily Princess (65% off)

Black Closet (65% off)

Cute Bite (50% off)

Night Cascades (40% off)

And the rest of the library:

Long Live The Queen (65% off)

England Exchange (65% off)

The Confines of the Crown (65% off)

Sword Daughter (75% off)

Science Girls (75% off)

Date Warp (85% off)

As always, the best bargain for you may depend on your currency and what games you already own, so shop around for the best deal. Happy Spring!

#it takes an alarmingly long time to assemble all these links lol #sale #hanako games

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seat-safety-switch · 1 year

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What is the best part of a thrift store, other than the deals? It’s gotta be picking over the detritus of other people’s lives. If you go to a store very frequently, you’ll know when there’s been a big “get” by the administration. Suddenly, matched sets of furniture will appear. The store’s pervasive odour will take on a threatening new tang. An estate sale has happened, and not a successful one.

When a life together has ended, and a house is cleared out, there’s gonna be some tools left over. Whether it’s an uncaring professional salesman, or a technically-disinclined disappointment of a grandson, something will always pass through the cracks. And that’s what starts the real detective work.

Of course, it’s not polite to speak of this sort of ghastly hoovering-up of the departed’s assets. In this country at least. In other, more evolved, countries, taking Not-Your-Grandpa’s old timing light and using it to adjust the distributor cap just so on a 1980 Trans Am Turbo is basically the equivalent of giving his spirit closure.

His soul will be released as soon as you dog it on the highway and get those nice little pap-paps as the wastegate spring bounces. And once Ghostpa has gone to the Great Hereafter with a smile on his ethereal lips, you get to throw the timing light back into your own hoard, which will eventually return to that very same Value Village when the social workers finally shovel out your corpse.

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msgeekstyle · 3 months

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Music Tag Game

it's all @beauty-of-nyx fault

Rules: Put your playlist on shuffle. For each of the 10 interview questions, select a lyric from the random song that comes up. (Skip if there aren’t any lyrics and make sure to drop the name of the song in your interview answer!) <3

1. First off, how would you describe yourself in one sentence?

Hey! What do you want me to say?

Soul 4 Sale - Simon Curtis

2. What kind of [Sign] are you?

Stop calling, stop calling, I don't wanna talk anymore

Telephone - Lady Gaga

3. You’re visiting your favourite spot. What are you thinking about?

Sometimes, I wonder if I should be medicated

Free - Florence + the Machine

4. If your life was a movie, what do you think the first review would say about it?

Give me two damn minutes and I'll be fine

Two Minutes - The Amazing Devil

5. Say you get a book deal. What are you titling the memoir?

I know I can't fight the sad days and bad nights

Cure For Me - AURORA

6. What would you say about your best friends?

No words can explain the way I'm missing you

Lay Me Down - Sam Smith the cover by Hozier

7. Think back to when you had everything all figured out in highschool. What was your life motto as a teenager?

Sometimes before it gets better the darkness gets bigger

Miss Missing You - Fall Out Boy

8. Describe your aesthetic now

I see the tunnel full of light again

Demons and Angels - LOWBORN

9. What’s a lyric that they’ll quote in your eulogy?

The memory hurts but does me no harm

Abstract (Psychopomp) - Hozier

10. And for our final question, say you believe in soulmates. What do you think their first impression of meeting you would be?

God made all men in his image, honey, I'm no man

Pray - The Amazing Devil

no pressure tags: @thranduilland @my-brain-needs-a-spring-cleaning @alexandra-scribbles @electrageira @i-am-darth-feanor

#tag game

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sweetreadsict · 2 years

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Catalogue Updates and Store News

It's been an exciting time at the store this last month! Between dramatically expanding our catalog, publishing our first in-house book, and going to pop up events, there's been a lot going on!

Publishing Emptied Spaces

We received and shipped nearly three hundred copies of the Emptied Spaces anthology this weekend! I'm really proud of it turned out, and am really looking forward to folks posting about receiving it later in the week. Hopefully it's just the start of future small-print runs from the shop ^^

Confluence Pre-Orders

Confluence is coming up on its release date! From one of our favorite authors, Dr. Bakkalian has done an amazing job of bringing one of her older story ideas to the printed page. It can best be summed up as sword trans lesbians in alt-present Japan fighting against mega-corporations. We're also offering a limited number of signed copies during the pre-order period!

New Titles Round-Up

We've more than doubled our catalogue over the last three weeks, going from twenty ish titles to nearly sixty, including adding several additions to our youth collection! Below are two picks from each of our major book categories to check out ^^

Manga and Comic Titles

A fantastic start to a series of books exploring sapphic sexuality and all the joys and troubles that can come with it. > The Bride Was a Boy: A very cute book about a trans woman's experience with marriage.

BIPOC Titles

A comprehensive look both at the history and present day Indigenous two-spirit culture. > Love After the End: An anthology of Indigenous queer and 2S stories, primarily focused on science-fiction stories.

Fantasy

A recent release from one of our favorite publishers, Inflicted is a mini cross-genre anthology dealing with trauma and healing. > So This is Ever After: An Arthurian-inspired tale about two boys slowly falling for each other while they try to fulfill a magical curse.

Science Fiction

A very esoteric story about the collapse of capitalism and dealing with it as a trans woman in the post-cyberpunk future. > Otherside Picnic 1: The store had previously carried the omnibus volumes of Otherside Picnic, but we've now begun carrying the manga as well! Two lesbians shoot weird inter-dimensional demons and bond in very pretty environments.

Youth Fiction & Nonfiction

A book geared towards a middle-school audience, following the story of a trans girl trying to figure out how to come out at school. > The Young Activist's Dictionary of Social Justice: A book geared towards late elementary schoolers and up, it provides easy to understand and illustrated definitions to social justice concepts that may otherwise be difficult to explain to a younger audience.

So What's This About?

If you made it to the end of this and this was a blazed post for you, congrats and thanks! We're a queer bookstore in Wichita KS that does primarily online and popup-event sales at the moment. If any of these books peaked your interest, or if you're interested in checking out the rest of our catalogue, we've begun running a promotion for free shipping on orders over $50 through the end of the year ^^

#bookstore #queer books #sapphic books #so many gay books #sword lesbians

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jeffhirsch · 2 months

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Super Boom Spring Break Easter Sale!

Few at Dow 10,000 believed me in May 2010 when I forecasted a 500+% market rise that would put DJIA at 38,820 by the year 2025 in my Almanac Investor Newsletter. My 2011 book Super Boom took a deeper dive into the history and analysis of this groundbreaking forecast and the iconic market cycle and pattern that it’s based on. Now that Dow 38,820 has come true, what’s next? AI is clearly the culturally enabling, paradigm-shifting technology I predicted would drive the next phase of this generational Super Boom. Come find out what I expect to happen next. Get my latest outlook on how and why the AI Super Boom will drive the economy full steam ahead and the market higher and higher.

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MoneyShow Easter Sale

Come down to Miami for spring break and join me in person at MoneyShow’s Investment Masters Symposium – The Big Money Pivot – East. April 10-12, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Miami. They have a special Easter Sale this weekend! Join us for 3 days filled with market education from the nation’s top experts on stocks, bonds, real estate, precious metals, cryptocurrencies, technology, energy, & more. Use $99 Standard Pass Coupon Code HOP99

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Rally Respite After Big Best Six Months Gains

Monday is the beginning of the last month of the “Best Six Months (BSM)” (November-April) for the Dow and S&P 500 – and what a banner one it’s been so far. From our Seasonal MACD Buy Signal on October 9, 2023, through the close on March 28, 2024, DJIA is up 18.46% and S&P 500 is up 21.19% – more than double the historical average BSM gains. Our Best Six Months Seasonal MACD Sell Signal can trigger anytime on or after the first trading day of April, which is Monday April 1st this year. NASDAQ’s Best 8 Months end in June, which is up 21.47% since our buy signal, not quite double the average but give it time.

The big rewards we have reaped this Best Six Months and year-to-date so far have not left much on the table until later this year. Risks are more elevated now. Sentiment continues to run high. Valuations are extended. Geopolitical tensions have not eased. And persistent inflation pressures have the Fed in no rush to cut rates. As the election campaign rhetoric heats up and the Best Six Months comes to a close be prepared to shift to a more cautious stance when we issue our Best Six Months Seasonal MACD Sell Signal. We do not expect a bear market or major correction. We do not Sell in May and go away. We sell some things, tighten stops and consider defensive positions if warranted.

So sign up today to receive my Best Six Months Seasonal MACD Sell Signal as soon as it triggers!

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menandunderwear · 2 months

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Spring Sale! Up to 70% off all swimwear and select underwear! The best deals of the season are here! https://menandunderwear.com/shop/sales

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wanderfulescapes · 9 months

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Tips to find the lowest airline tickets 💻🌅How to avoid mistakes when booking cheap tickets 🎫 🛫

Planning a trip is always exhilarating, but the excitement can quickly give way to stress when it comes time to book flights and transportation. With varying ticket prices, seemingly endless fees, and complex booking platforms, sorting through travel ticket options can be overwhelming. Where do you even begin to find an affordable fare without spending hours searching every airline website? When is the best time to purchase airfare or train tickets for the lowest possible price? What factors into pricing and availability? In this guide, I'll walk through the key considerations for booking both domestic and international travel tickets. You'll learn insider tips on finding deals, dodging extra fees, timing your purchase, and maximizing flexibility. With strategic planning and research, you can master travel ticketing and lock in the best value seats for your next big journey or quick getaway. Let's explore how to take control of travel booking and make ticketing a breeze, not a burden.

Here are some tips on when plane tickets tend to be cheapest:

- Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are generally when airlines release sales and cheaper seats. Set fare alerts for midweek mornings.

- Tickets are usually cheapest 1-3 months in advance of travel dates, when airlines are trying to fill seats. Avoid buying last-minute.

- Flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays tends to be cheaper than high-demand days like Friday and Sunday. Flexibility helps.

- Traveling during shoulder seasons when weather is transitioning (spring/fall) is cheaper than summer and winter peak times.

- Red eye and early morning flights are often cheaper than midday and evening. An inconvenience for savings!

- Holiday periods like Christmas, New Years and Thanksgiving lead to price spikes. Avoid traveling a few days before/after major holidays.

-If you're open to it, check if there are alternate airports near your destination. Sometimes flying into a nearby city and then taking a short train or bus ride to your final destination can save you money.

Protip: consider looking for tickets in incognito mood to see the real prices of tickets. Otherwise, the price will go up everytime you visit the same site.

Being flexible on dates, willing to take red eyes, flying midweek, and searching extensively can lead to great flight deals. Signing up for price alerts and newsletters from airlines can help find the cheapest tickets.

#travel tips #travelling #travel #tourism #tickets #airplane #booking #hotels #tourist #tourism news #destination #travel photography

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literaticat · 4 months

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Hi Jennifer. How typical is it for an author to find out their pub date from a sales listing, like seeing their book on Amazon, rather than being told by their publisher? I understand publishing likes to justify doing things differently than any other industry, but it seems disrespectful to find out your pub date from the internet rather than your own team of collaborators.

"Disrespectful" feels a little dramatic. I really don't think it's personal or should be taken as a slight or anything like that.

Short answer: Your editor is your main liaison with the publisher, and they aren't the ones who create the publication schedule. If they haven't told you your pub date, it's either because they don't know it yet, or because they thought they DID tell you and didn't realize they hadn't, but at no point is this SECRET information or anything, and they'd be happy to tell you or find out for you if/when that info is available. So, as with most things, if you want to know something you don't know, the best thing to do is ASK.

Long answer: Here's the deal: Waaaaaay before your book is even a product yet, probably when you get the offer, you'll know the pub season they are shooting for. That is like, say, "Spring 2026", which could be anywhere from maybe late Feb - early May (all publishers might be a LITTLE different here) -- but basically, the general months that they intend for this to be published. Now that COULD change for any number of reasons -- it's two years from now! Who knows what will happen between now and then! -- But you know the approximate time, and if it DOES get pushed a season, you'll know well ahead of time, because the deadline will change.

A year passes. Maybe more. At some point, taking into account the dozens (or even hundreds) of other books also scheduled for Spring 2026, the publisher will narrow down what books are going to come out which month / week. This isn't your editor deciding this, btw, and your editor may or may not be aware when this schedule is being decided, and whether they are or not, it's still not set in stone. At this stage the publisher may have just decided "OK this is a May 2026 book" but not know the exact date. (A lot of times, if you look up a book quite early, it will say "May 1, 2026" but then closer to the pub date it will say "May 16th" or whatever -- because they chose the general month, and then the specific day later.)

MEANWHILE, you are going back and forth with your editor about copyedits, the jacket, blurbs, whatever -- there might be a ton of information going back and forth. At some point your editor might have said, "this is a May book" but they didn't mention "May 1st" or "May 16th" because, well, they didn't know or realize that this had been decided, or because it hasn't been. So you look it up and see "May 16th" -- that doesn't mean that they were hiding that info from you, or anything LIKE that -- that info is just not the first most-pressing thing in the midst of all the other things your editor has to communicate with you, and again, they might not even realize was decided, or up online, or what's online might be a placeholder or something.

It doesn't become super important for you to know the exact date until, like, a few months before pub, when you are scheduling things like a launch party or whatever -- At which point, you will have been told, or they'll THINK you have been told, because you've been told a lot of things, but if you HAVEN'T been told, you can always ASK! And if you see something online, you can (and should) ask for confirmation that the info is correct.

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