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goldentournesol · 3 years

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Not in That Way

*gif not mine, found on Giphy*

(Spencer Reid x fem!Reader)

The one where Spencer’s TA falls in love with him.

Length: 3.3k

A/N: VAGUE SPOILERS FOR S15 AHEAD! AGE GAP (10 years). Read at your own risk everybody, very angsty. NO PART TWO’S WILL BE WRITTEN. enjoy :)

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It wasn’t hard, really. It wasn’t hard at all to fall in love with Spencer Reid. In fact, it was the easiest thing she’d ever done. It came so easily that it shook her to the core.

Really, what’s not to love? He is a badass FBI agent with a heart of gold, he can literally recite almost any book to her on demand, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that he looks like he’s been sculpted by a coveted artist.

She didn’t know though, she didn’t know how easy it would be to be completely enamored by someone. She didn’t know what kind of life she’d be stepping into when she’d applied to become his Teaching Assistant. She’d heard from her peers that there was a part-time professor who had been looking for a TA. She signed up without a second thought, desperate for any kind of connections that could possibly help her with her PhD in forensic psychology. When she’d learned that he was a certified genius whose other job was to be a real life superhero, she hoped and prayed he’d pick her application.

She was over the moon when she found out that he did indeed pick her out of all the students who had applied. This was an opportunity of a lifetime. She’d seen his university ID photo on the website and thought he was attractive, but seeing him in person was almost magical. The camera definitely could not quite pick up on the subtle gold flecks in his irises or the silky sheen of his hair. And that smile. She was sure she could drown in it forever.

After being chosen and going through a number of interviews, Y/N learned just how meticulous Dr. Reid was in everything he did. She helped him create the syllabus as well as build his lesson plans. Over the semester, she would go over his grading since he had the tendency to give students the answers instead of making helpful comments on the papers to make them think and reflect. She’d also learned about his particular aversion to technology, which meant they had multiple meet-ups when he was in town just so she can walk him through certain systems, like the university’s portal system as well as the email. She also showed him how to pose his answers as questions instead, explaining that sometimes, he shouldn’t answer their incomplete thoughts because it's an undergrad class. Also, with his unpredictable schedule concerning the FBI, she would often step in and teach his class whenever he was away on a case.

They’d become good friends outside of his office and classroom, probably closer than they should have been. He was just too likeable and she was always eager enough to hear what he had to say, thus a bond between them was born and reinforced each time they saw each other. He was so thoughtful, it shocked her. Once he’d heard her mention that she used to love collecting keychains when she was a child, and made sure to get her a new one from each state he’d visit thanks to his trips around the country. Her previous boyfriends were beyond disappointing in comparison to say the least, and they weren’t even dating. He knew her favorite coffee order by heart and often had it ready with a fresh croissant whenever they met at the university’s coffee shop and if they were meeting at his office, he’d take them to go.

It was little things like that that made her fall in love with him. And she knew, it’s not like she didn’t, she just chose to hide it with every cell of her being. Crushing on your professor is pretty common amongst university students, but being a TA and being desperately in love with your professor was a whole different kind of story.

She already admired his intelligence in class immensely, however hearing his stories from his time out in the field made her heart grow three times the size of normal. His stories ranged from being about geographical profiling, to action-packed anecdotes, and even funny moments with the team.

Was she constantly impressed by him? Yes.

Was she constantly worried about him? Also yes.

Which is why she’d practically made him adopt the habit of texting or calling her every time he landed in DC. They’d been chasing this unsub, Lynch, for months on end and he’d informed her that they were finally close to getting him. The last time they talked two days ago, he was feeling confident. But then it was just silence. He hadn’t texted her, he hadn’t called her. She didn’t even know if he was back in DC. Her mind took her places she didn’t want to go. He’d gotten so good with keeping her updated that this silence was turning her blood into ice water.

She’d left 11 missed calls so far. But she didn’t give up, she was determined to hear from him. The next morning she tried again, holding her breath and squeezing her eyes shut in a silent prayer.

“Hello?” Someone finally picked up, a woman.

“Hello? Who is this? I’m trying to reach Spencer Reid.” Y/N said into the phone, voice clearly on the edge of tears.

“Oh you must be Y/N Y/L/N. You’re Spencer’s TA. I’m Penelope Garcia, I work with Spencer.” She said into the phone evenly, calmly.

“Yes, I am. Did something happen to Spencer? He hasn’t contacted me in two days. Why do you have his phone?” Y/N worried into the phone. She could hear every heartbeat, loud and clear.

“Spencer is in the hospital. There was an explosion yesterday and he hit his head really hard. We found him passed out in his apartment this morning.” Penelope answered. Y/N’s eyes widened and she felt the tears slip from her eyes quickly. The panic began to set in.

“C-could you please text me the address?” Y/N managed to whisper into the phone through her tears.

“Of course, sweetie. He’s going to be okay. His mother is here, I’m assuming you know about Diana?” She asked tenderly.

“Yes, yes, I know. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Y/N said, already rushing to put on shoes and looking for her keys.

The drive to the hospital wasn’t long, but Y/N felt like it took ages to get there anyway. Her breathing was uneven and her eyes were already swollen as if she’d been crying for days. There was a bad, bad feeling reverberating around in her chest. She’d somehow floated through the hospital like she was running on autopilot.

She’d found the room and met eyes with a blonde woman adorning two identical blue puffs in her hair. She would have thought they were adorable if she wasn’t panicking her heart out. She spotted Spencer laying on the hospital bed with oxygen tubes hanging around his ears and inserted into his nose. The sight made her stomach lurch. Something about the way his usually pink lips were drained of their color made her want to sob until tomorrow came. Beside the bed on the other side sat Diana Reid, a tall woman with short blonde hair. She’d seen her in photos before. Diana merely stared at her with a hint of a smile.

She stepped in the hospital room, swallowing down the bile in her throat, “H-Hi, I’m Y/N.” She waved tentatively into the room, almost unable to keep with the tensity of the two women’s gazes. She wiped at her eyes and stood at the foot of Spencer’s bed, “Is he going to be okay?” She asked, staring at the steady rise and fall of Spencer’s chest. That way it was reassuring to watch him. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears as she stood.

“The doctors are hopeful.” Penelope replied, assessing the young woman who just entered. She was much younger than she previously thought she was. Although she had no idea what to expect when it came to Spencer’s academic life, he was always surprising her.

Diana sat still and silent in the hospital chair, a pensive expression draped across her features. Penelope sensed a tension in the room and looked towards Diana, “Hey, Diana, would you like to come with me down to the cafeteria to fetch some jello for Spencer to eat when he wakes up?”

Y/N sent Penelope a sidelong glance filled with gratitude. She tuned out the sounds of Diana telling Penelope the story of the first time Spencer had jello as they exited the small room. She immediately pulled up the chair closest to his bed and grasped his hand tightly. She let out a shaky breath at the contact. Cold, his hand was so, so cold.

“Oh, Spencer, you scared the shit out of me.” She whispered, pressing her lips to the back of his hand quickly, “I could have lost you today...and-and I wouldn’t have known what to do with myself if that would have happened. I know you probably can’t hear me, but I still have to say what I’m going to say. I have to. For myself. So here goes,” she pauses, taking a deep breath, “there’s nothing that scares me more than losing you, and that thought alone terrifies me.” She sniffled, wiping away her tears, “What I feel for you terrifies me, Spencer. I didn’t know I was capable of loving someone so deeply until I met you. And...I don’t know what to do with all this love, I want to hand it all to you, let you see yourself the way I see you, but I can’t do that. I can’t.” She held back an incoming sob, whispering, “I can’t ask that of you.”

She bowed her head and rested it along his forearm, her silent tears soaking through the hospital sheets. The fear of grieving for him outweighed the fear of rejection. She’d never forgive herself if he died without knowing how big of a space he occupied in her heart. She didn’t know if she was brave enough to tell him to his face while he was awake, but this was a start. Solidifying her feelings was a start. And man, were they solid.

A few minutes later, her phone began to ring because of an endless stream of emails. There was a class today, and she’d have to teach it. She went back and forth from her phone to Spencer’s face and released a deep, heavy sigh from the pit of her chest. She stood from her seat and hovered her hand over his cheek before allowing it to rest timidly on his skin.

“I have to go, but I’ll see you soon.” She paused, chewing on her lip, “I love you.” She said softly, fresh tears making their way back to the brim of her eyes. She pulled away from him and exited the room swiftly.

Spencer’s bleary eyes opened slightly to just barely catch the sight of her disappearing into the hallway from which she came. Seconds later, Penelope and his mother came marching in, seeing his open eyes.

Penelope set down the cups of jello nearby and Diana made her way to her son quickly. He could barely keep his eyes open for long enough. It was a small achievement but they both held onto it dearly.

Hours later, he blinked his eyes open again as he heard his mother and Penelope conversing about his favorite type of cloud. Diana leaned over her son’s bed and set a comforting hand on his shoulder. He stared at her fondly.

“Am I alive or is this heaven?” He asked, smiling slightly.

“You are very much alive.” Diana smiled broadly at him.

Garcia had since gone back to the office to assist the team in finally closing the Lynch case. Spencer was just waking up from yet another snooze.

Diana looked at him closely, sometimes he felt she was the profiler in the room, “She told you didn’t she?”

Spencer rubbed at his eyes slightly, “Who are you talking about?” He yawned.

“The pretty girl who was in here earlier.” Y/N’s name had slipped her mind the second she said it. Spencer stared at his mother incredulously, shocked at just how clear her mind was at the moment. Diana took his silence as an affirmative and nodded at him.

“You should tell her.” She said definitively. For a moment, he doubted if he understood just what she meant, but he understood.

“How did you know?” Spencer asked curiously.

“I told you, a mother always knows. And I saw the way she looked at you. She deserves to know, Spencer.” Diana said.

She deserves to know.

The thought tumbled around in his head for days after he was discharged from the hospital. He was on medical leave for the moment but as soon as he could see straight, he took the train to her apartment. He’d been there a few times, they’d had a few casual dinners there while grading papers together or coming up with future lesson plans. His hands were on the verge of trembling as he knocked on her apartment door. The numbers nailed on the door mocked him as he stood waiting for her to open.

She frowned at the sound, she wasn’t expecting anybody. She pushed her laptop to the side and stood to straighten her pajamas, making her way to the door. She ripped it open as soon as she saw who it was.

“Spencer! Oh thank goodness you’re okay! I’ve been worried sick about you.” She threw her arms around his middle tightly, making him stagger a bit from the impact, but he enveloped her in his arms anyway. The contact was very welcome.

“Hey.” He smiled into the hug, his heart spilling with gratitude over being worthy enough of her attention. They separated from the embrace and she stared at him with a look resembling wonder.

“What are you doing here? I thought you still had a few more days off until you had to get back to work. Come in, come in.” She moved aside to let him in. She also moved a plethora of blankets and textbooks off the couch to make space for him to sit.

“I know, I’m sorry for kind of coming over unannounced. I didn’t mean to intrude or anything.” He eyed her matching set of cartoon character pajamas as he took a seat, making a mental note that it was the most adorable thing he’s ever seen. She blushed under his gaze but shook her head nonetheless.

“Oh come on, you know you’re always welcome here. Can I get you something to drink? Some water or coffee, maybe?” She asked.

“Water’s fine.” He smiled, leaning back into the couch. She nodded and made her way into the kitchen. Spencer’s shoulders untensed for a moment and he hadn’t realized that he’d been carrying so much of his worries in them around her. She came back with the water and took a seat next to him, angling her body to face him. He muttered a thank you as he sipped from it, unsure how to approach the situation.

“I wanted to thank you. For coming to the hospital to see me. That meant a lot.” He met her eyes and saw a flash of panic dance across her irises. How did he know she was there? Penelope probably told him, right? He couldn’t have heard her.

“Of course, Spencer. It’s the least I could do.” She smiled sweetly. His heart cleaved in his chest as he stared at the sweet girl in front of him.

What did he ever do to deserve her friendship?

He fidgeted with the glass in his hands, a silence beginning to drape over them.

“Is everything okay?” She asked, noticing his fidgeting.

He took a deep breath and set the glass down on the coffee table in front of them. He turned his body to face her and reached for her soft hands. Her breath hitched at the intimate contact, butterflies erupting in the pit of her abdomen.

“You are a remarkable person, Y/N. I’m so lucky to have you in my life. I see the absolute worst that humanity has to offer on a daily basis, but you have made it your mission to make my life easier. And you do, honestly, I wouldn’t know what to do without you.” He said with soft eyes and a half-laugh. She smiled back, she could practically feel the rush from his words directly in her brain.

“And it is an honor to be loved by you,” his voice hesitated to say the word, his eyes darkening with regret as he continued. Realization snapped into place for her as he said, “but I can’t give you what you need.”

He had heard her. He knew.

Her blood ran cold as she tore her hands away from his, as if the skin on his hands had the ability to burn her. He frowned as he watched her frantic eyes search his for any semblance of dishonesty. Her throat closed up over all the words that fought to surface. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came up. Instead, tears sprung to the corners of her eyes.

“What?” She whispered, brokenhearted and momentarily in disbelief.

“I’m sorry, Y/N.” He tried to console her but she was past the point of consolation.

“I-I understand.” She nodded painfully, tears cascading down her face before she even got the chance to wipe them away, “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have said anything, it’s completely unprofessional.” She swallowed an incoming sob as best as she could.

“No, I’m glad you told me, but if I’m being honest, I knew long before it. This isn’t about professionality, I don’t care about that. But I care about you, a lot.” Spencer said softly, staring at the young woman in front of him. She shook her head, utterly devastated and doing her best to shield herself from his gaze. Thoughts escaped her as her heart took a deep-dive to settle in her abdomen.

“And I thought I should let you know how I feel. I love you, Y/N,” he paused, “just not in that way.” The soft voice he used was completely useless against the harshness of the words.

She tried, she tried her absolute hardest to suppress the incoming sob, but those words just about broke the dam. She rubbed at her eyes, nodding. He tried to set a comforting hand on her shoulder but decided against it. She took a deep breath and stood up from the couch.

That was enough humiliation for the day.

“No, no, I completely understand.” She said, voice wobbly and eyes ringed with red. He frowned up at her at the sight of her being so upset.

“Will you be okay?” He asked as he stood up from his seat. She laughed slightly, this man had devastated her, broken her heart with a few simple words and still wondered if she’d be okay. That’s Spencer Reid for you. The question made her heart ache and long for him more. His simplicity and good intentions made her question why the world wasn’t kind enough to let her have him.

“No, I won’t. And I probably won’t be okay for a long time. Because I will keep meeting men and keep comparing them to you so, until I stop doing that, no, I won’t be okay, Spencer.” She answered with a surprisingly stable voice. He frowned and nodded.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered, stepping forward to cup her cheek and gently use his thumb to wipe the remainder of her tears. Her glassy eyes bored right into his, her lips wobbling at the contact. She then closed her eyes and leaned her cheek into his palm, soaking in his warmth one last time before he tore himself away from her completely and showed himself out of the apartment without looking back.

That was when she allowed herself to fall apart. He heard her heart wrenching cries from behind the door and hesitated, but decided to walk away anyway with a chest heavy with regret.

She will never be enough for him, she thought.

He will never be enough for her, he thought.

#im sorry #spencer reid #dr spencer reid #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid fanfiction #Spencer Reid fic #Criminal Minds #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds fic #criminal minds fanfiction #spencer reid angst #spencer reid masterlist #spencer reid oneshot #spencer reid imagine #professor reid #spencer reid fluff #mgg

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crazy-sevens · 3 years

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Writing Snippet #22

Well that was fast

Part one here

***

The villain sat at the restaurant, waiting. They knew the hero well enough by now to know that she usually lost track of time. It was okay. Now the villain had time to figure out how the whole night was going to go.

The restaurant was expensive. Expensive enough to put the hero on edge. They both would talk for a while, the villain learning as much as they could about the hero, and then he would make the big reveal. He felt the detonator at his side. Just a little insurance that the hero wouldn’t cause any trouble.

The villain smiled. He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face. Of course the surprise all hinged on making sure she didn’t recognize him first. He would have to be careful.

It was a decent plan. Which of course meant that it wasn’t going to go like he thought it was. He knew that as soon as the hero walked in.

She looked . . . stunning. Her red dress perfectly accented her figure and highlighted her eyes. And her face. He wouldn’t have thought she would’ve looked that . . .

He didn’t really know how to finish that thought.

And despite what he had previously thought, she looked perfectly comfortable in this setting. She was confident. Of course the villain knew that. She was confident to the point of almost being cocky. But he had assumed that was an act for him.

Obviously not.

The villain realized that his mouth was hanging open. He snapped it shut. He couldn’t get distracted. Not now. He had to make sure she didn’t find out yet. He steeled himself as she walked over to his table.

***

The hero had known it was the villain the second she had seen his picture on the website a week previously. She could hardly believe it. The villain was on a dating website. All of these fights and mind games and one accident had given away his secret identity just like that. Of course it could be a fake name, but she had a face now. She could finally put him away for good. She could’ve just found him and stormed his house, but the plan that had formed in her mind was just too good to pass up. It seemed that some of the villain’s dramatic flair was wearing off on her.

The hero would show the villain the picture pretending to have no idea they were the same person. It was pretty funny watching the villain stare in disbelief. Knowing the villain, he wouldn’t pass up this opportunity either. He would let the hero believe it was someone else, all the while manipulating her to go on a date with him.

Of course the villain could know that she knew it was him, but he always underestimated her. And she could read the villain like a book. He didn’t know that she knew. He believed that he had the upper hand.

She was waiting outside the restaurant watching him. Getting everything in place. He had already escaped from when she had thrown him in jail a couple days ago. And when she had thrown him in jail a couple weeks ago. The police weren't reliable. She had her colleagues from her hero work to help her. She considered letting them just storm the place and taking him, but she wanted to go in herself. She would be giving up her secret identity, but it didn’t matter much. He wouldn’t be bothering her anymore.

She would have to be careful. She didn’t know what kind of plan he had set up yet. But she couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when she told him that she knew.

She walked in.

***

Her eyes wondered for a bit until they fell on the villain. She broke into a wide grin and walked over. She stuck out her hand. “You must be James.”

“You must be Cassy.” Instead of shaking her hand like she probably expected, he pressed it to his lips with a soft kiss. “You look beautiful.”

She raised an eyebrow, a blush coloring her cheeks. “A little old fashioned aren’t we?”

The villain shrugged, smiling. He could tell, despite her comment, that she enjoyed it. He had never seen her like that before. It was nice.

And it proved that his plan was working. She had no idea.

***

She knew exactly what he was doing. But she was at loathe to admit that the gesture had caught her off guard. She had blushed for real.

Damn him.

Always the charmer. She was a sucker for things like that.

“You look nice too,” she said.

Despite knowing immediately it was him from the picture, she still couldn’t quite believe she was looking at the same person. He had an innocent charm about him. His eyes and crooked smile were mischievous and almost boyish. He was . . . handsome.

She wondered if he actually thought she was beautiful.

Focus.

This was all fake. That smile was fake, those entrancing eyes were fake, and that complement was fake. All a part of his mind games.

She watched as he pulled her chair out for her. She laughed, glancing around. “You know this place might be a little too fancy for me.”

“You blend right in.” She took her seat and he took his. He smiled. “Gad I wasn’t catfished.”

“Same here.”

Yup, they had both gotten what they were expecting. Even if it was all teeming with deceit.

“So,” he started. “What do you like to do for fun?”

The hero shrugged, keeping her voice light. “I like to paint, but I have a . . . demanding job.”

And whose fault is that I wonder?

***

The villain resisted the urge to laugh at the irony of that statement, shoving down a pang of guilt he felt in his stomach. “Why is your job so demanding?”

The hero shrugged again. “It’s a complicated job. Everybody seems to need me to help them.”

Her answer was very vague. But he didn’t expect anything less, knowing how dangerous for her it would be if anyone found out who she was.

More irony.

She smiled, continuing on. “What do you like to do for fun?”

“I can play the guitar.” He paused, waiting for her reaction.

She raised a brow, her eyes glittering with her trademark teasing humor. “Is that supposed to impress me.”

“I’ve heard that it impresses girls.”

She laughed. “Well it’s going to take a little bit more to impress me.”

He matched her raised eyebrow. “Like what?”

“I don’t know. Can you juggle?”

“You can’t be serious.”

“No, but your reaction was pretty funny.”

They were interrupted by the waiter asking for their orders. The villain usually ate light so he didn’t order much, the hero, however, was quite the opposite.

As soon as the waiter left, the villain raised his brows at her. “You sure do eat a lot.”

***

The hero held back a laugh. It must have been a while since the villain went out with someone. “You really know how to flatter a girl, don’t you?”

The villain blushed. The hero felt a little surge of victory. Now they were even.

In actuality, the hero didn’t eat that much, but she might as well take a little advantage of her position. Call it payment for the villain always trying to kill her.

Their food came and the villain finished fairly quickly. Then after watching the hero eat all her food with wide, almost impressed, eyes, the villain sat in silence, his gaze thoughtful.

She was surprised she had let it go for this long. What was she waiting for? She felt her phone buzz at her side. It was probably her co-workers asking for the signal to move in.

What was he waiting for?

He probably had this whole speech planned, telling her it had been him all along. Was he just waiting to learn more about her? And why was every time she looked at him so disarming?

“So, besides guitar, what else do you do?” she asked.

“My job takes up most of my time too.” He gave his classic crooked smile. “We have a lot in common.”

The hero gave an uneasy chuckle. “One thing in common.”

The villain raised an incredulous eyebrow, but didn’t say anything more about it. His eyes fell on her arms.

“Where did you get those?”

Her eyes followed his gaze. Her scars.

***

The villain had hidden his. He had to. If the hero had seen that his cover would have been blown. But the hero displayed hers like a badge of honor. She didn’t hide.

But he knew this!

Why was he surprised when she was displaying traits he already knew? Maybe it was because when she was the hero those traits always annoyed him. They were always used against him. But now . . . Now it was different. Now he was starting to like appreciate those traits.

The comment had just sort of slipped out. He knew that it was impolite, but he was curious what kind of story she would make up about them.

“I’m a world renowned knife juggler.”

***

Well, it was better than the truth.

The truth that they both already knew. But if she was going to play the part she would have to lie about where she got them.

And it was the first thing she thought of.

He stared at her for a moment, then he just laughed. She fought back a smile. “What, you don’t believe me?”

His laugh died down. “I’m going to need a little proof.”

“How?”

“Why don’t you show me on our next date?”

***

He couldn’t spill the secret now. He had barely learned anything about her. No, he had to go on a couple more dates.

For leverage purposes.

He watched her eyes, searching for an answer. She hesitated for a moment, but then she broke into a wide grin. “Yeah, why not? Maybe you can play me a song too.”

***

It was probably a trick. Most likely a trick. But while he was tricking her, she would be tricking him.

Trick inception.

She needed more information. She couldn’t give up her best card now. Just a couple more dates.

Then he was going down.

Part three here

#part two #they are both so similar its hilarious #they have no clue #villain x hero #hero x villain #villain and hero #hero and villain #this was a fast one #couldn't resist #not a prompt #creative writing #writing snippet

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lifeexperience · 3 years

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We are vengeance.

It has been almost three month since Lila Rossi came back from her fabulous trip from Achu. And since she arrived again she enjoyed the glamour. Enjoyed how everybody - who was someone, of course, - danced as she moved her strings. Even that Capitano della Moralità, Adrien was doing what she was saying.

Just lonely, little Marinette stood on the other side.

The Italian grinned confidently. If she had some plan like that day, she was going to ruin that little girl.

Anyway she had to take prioritization of her tasks. Firstly it’s time to make a Wikipedia page about herself for future reference. She couldn’t be sloppy from here because she could meet more forceful people than Dupain-Cheng.

Okay, so she would list her accomplishments: modeling with Adrien Agreste , best friend with Shaytan, knowing Jagged Stone… When she finally finished, the sun already went down and it was dark. Lila disinterestedly looked at her door, his mother again worked overtime.

Nevermind, she would eat something then collect links of her publications. Yepp, after some pasta all'Ortolana the work would be so much easier.

However when she went back to gather her online mentions she didn’t find anything. There was nothing about her on the Ladyblog, or on Adrien’s Instagram. Someone deleted them? Who? Maybe it’s just a bug? She would know more if she asks Alya first.

Yeah, don’t need any panic.

“Ciao Alya! I have a question.” she said immediately as that wannabe journalist answered. “Yeah, yeah, così accidentally you didn’t delete my interview from your blog, right?” She nervously patted her laptop as she waited for Alya to look at it. After two minutes there was the answer. She tried to disguise her anger, but she didn’t have the patient at the moment for that stupid girl apologizes.

So somehow her interview was lost. And she didn’t have to call Capitano della Moralità about their model photo, she knew he didn’t have too much control on it.

Lila unconsciously started to chew her nails. It was a bad habit of hers since her childhood.

Who had enough knowledge to hack two different websites to mess with her? Marinette was too morally high for this. And Max, who had the skill, was already under her thumb.

“Argh!”

She had to calm down. She couldn’t become an akume because of this since she planned a bigger performance for the next week.

Breath! In! Out!

Okay.

Maybe tomorrow she could make a new interview with Alya and drop some seemingly accident infos about the new adult heroes. Then at the weekend photoshoots she could force Adrien again.

Yeah. Why was she nervous at all? She could use this to grow her territory.

It has been almost six days since Adrien reluctantly posted a new photo about the two of them. There were fewer likes and more comments then before, but she was happy because she could continue to build her Wikipedia page. It would be her first thing when she got home.

And tomorrow she would start her small shame with poor Marinette again. The little girl already was alone most of the time in the school, but Lila knew it was a matter of time to find new friends outside of their class. And she wanted to prevent every attempt of it.

I am great at ruining others.

She smiled sweetly as she pretended to listen to another rabbling from Rose. That pink fool rarely shut up about her disgusting viewpoint, and Lila sometimes thought she would be a perfect next target after Dupain-Cheng. And if this little pink wannabe would be destroyed, her loser girlfriend would fall with her.

Yepp, she will be an excellent following after the shit show Marinette will go through.

“Lila, it’s not your phone?” Alix poked her. She turned to her in confusion and listened to the ringing.

“No.” she shook her head. “My ringtone is different. I don’t like metal music.”

The skater tilted her head. “You sure?” Lila nodded, starting to be annoyed. “Because it’s coming from your bag.”

“What?”

She hurriedly got her phone out, and indeed it was ringing with that strange growl music. And the number also was foreign, yet she picked up. “Hello?”

“It’s Lila Lucrezia Rossi?” Everybody in the classroom jumped at once.The voice from the other side was much louder than she thought and now every one of her classmates watched her with wide eyes. She fastly tried to turn down the volume as she answered in agreement. “So your appointment was moved to the next with Doctor Lacroix.”

“Wha...What appointment?” Lila asked. She didn’t remember any medical thing. Of course she told a lot of tails about her health problems, but she was completely healthy.

“So for the farting irritation.” The woman said with a monotone tone. And of course, because Lila couldn’t turn off the speaker everybody in the room heard it.

She blinked.

“I… I think you… you called the wrong number.” she muttered as now she tried to end the call. With no success.

“But you're Lila Lucrezia Rossi, age fourteen, Italian, aren’t you?” Lila looked around embarrassingly. How did that woman know that about her? If… If she denies it her little puppets' trust would crack. But if she continues this conversation… She didn’t even want to know.

And as she stood there in panic and listened about her supposed condition she wanted to be killed. Every fucking eye was on her. She even saw that goodie-two-shoe tried to hide her giggle with Adrien grinning next to her. And of course she noticed how her circle slid away from her.

Fuck.

She skipped two weeks of school again after that… THAT phone call. Of fucking course almost every one of her classmates called her almost daily to ask about her health. And she had to answer with a lot of information for Every Fucking QUESTION.

It was irritating.

However she couldn’t stay at home for more days because her mother. It would be too suspicious if there would be some supposed akuma without any TV gossip about it.

So she had to go to school.

Fortunately most of the kids were understanding and didn’t bring up the topic. But there was Kim. Of FUCKING course.

As many times as he saw her he faked a fart with a disgustingly loud moan. She tried to cry about it, though everybody said to bear with it. Kim was just Kim and if she didn’t react he would let it go.

At first Lila didn’t want to believe it then Alya patted her shoulder sympathetically and left her to stand alone. And because of these really annoying events she couldn’t start her plan with Dupain-Cheng who - of fucking couse - got closer to Adrien. To her key to the famous-rich-carefree life.

They were chatting cheerfully in the classroom without any glance at someone other than each. They were in their little world, and every girl in the class blissfully sighed at the sight.

And if that day was not enough of a bother to her somehow her school tablet started streaming porno when she tried to project out her presentation. She was mortified just like everybody in the classroom. And she didn’t even have luck with teachers. Because of - fucking - course that lesson was with Mendeleiev.

It was already December when she finally served her detention time because of that… THAT incident. She couldn’t go any photoshoot with Adrien due to her attendance problem.

She didn’t even see Batman, yeah THAT Batman when he saved Shaytan and Chat Noir. She was at a detention with others. Although she could tell Alya a little story about her knowing the American hero and how he called him to help Paris.

However she only had ten minutes to bask the light because her mamma called her home. Immediately. At first Lila found it strange, but she shook the confusion down. She said goodbye to the wannabe journalist and went home. She blissfully entered the elevator then with a big smile greeted her mother.

“Lila!” her mother nodded sternly. The woman waited as she - not so happily anymore, dropped her things in her room. “Why did you use your emergency money?”

Lila furrowed her eyebrows. “But I didn’t.”

“No?” her mamma asked.

She shook her head. She didn’t use her emergency card because her mother could check it anytime. That’s why she asked her payment in cash from Gabriel.

“Then tell me mia figlia, why your debit card is in the minus?” Her mamma held a tablet with an account statement in front of Lila. She slowly read over the document. And indeed, her debit card which was only for emergencies was in minus. The description list showed a lot purchasing from different sites that she didn’t even know.

“I didn’t do this.” she said franctincly.

“No?” her mother glanced at the numbers. “You know how much money it was? We kept it for your university years.”

“We?” Lila whispered as she became aware of the gravity of the situation.

“Yes. Your father was the one who drew my attention to it.”

At first Lila only just gaped then she felt how her blood started circulating. Of fucking course that bastard was the one who spying after her.

“You are a grounded signorina!” she heard her mother voice through her anger. “After the school ends you have to come home then do your homework. I take your phone and electronics too.”

She didn’t even have time to protest as she saw a dark butterfly. She quietly waited as that insect landed on her phone. “How unfair to blame something on others when she is not at fault.” She heard the well-known tone. “Finanza I’m giving you the power to punish everyone who sinned against you. Your only task to bring to me their Miraculous.”

“Of fucking course.”

She was defeated again. But one day she would destroy the fame of Shaytan. That girl would taste the fall and humiliation.

“LILA!” A loud yell cut her from her plans as she sat at the ground. “Lila!” Someone shook her. She looked up to meet Alya irritating face. “Are you okay?”

She blinked some to win some precious moment to calm down. Then she nodded with a fake whimpering. “What happened? You shouted about some money then forced everyone to admit their sins.”

“Oh… I… I didn’t want to hurt anyone.” she sobbed while she tried to hide her dry eyes.

“It’s okay.” Alya hugged her. “Can you stand up?”

She shakely raised on her foot. They silently walked along the pavement for some time when she finally looked around. They were not far away from the school. And of course it meant they were near to the Dupain-Cheng's bakery.

At first Lila didn’t even notice the bakery, then she heard a shocked gasp from next to her. Alya with wide eyes pointed forward. She also turned the direction and her jaw also dropped. There stood Marinette, little innocent Marinette, embracing a tall, muscular man. After some moments they let go of each other and with a big smile Marinette got in the car with the stranger.

“What… Who was he?”

Next day Lila wasn’t able to forget that stranger with the baker girl. He was gorgeous, but most important, older than them and a little dark. Plus he was clearly an adult. Alya tried to claim he was surely a cousin of Marinette, however Lila wasn’t that certain about it. They didn’t look alike. And if she remembered correctly Alya never told about any relatives of Marinette except her great-uncle chef and grandparents. Nobody else.

“Hm.” If she could twist it somehow then she would be on advantage again. But how? Alya was adamant about the family thing, but what if… Perhaps some well aimed stab about gang members. Perhaps.

Although she needed to conceal her mirth as she eyed her classmates. They all stood at the bottom of the stairs and were themselves like stupid sheeps they are. Lila forced a shy smile on herself and carefully stepped between them to tell a new tale about her time in China. And of fucking course it was not a coincidence, she knew well if she use any rather distinct - nevertheless linked to Marinette, - facts then Dupain-Cheng was much easier to upset.

However that stupid girl didn’t bother to pay any attention to her. She just stood beside Adrien and chatted happily with him.

Lila frowned.

“There is a problem?” someone poked her shoulder. It was Mylene.

“No… No.” her smile was strained. “I just… Why are Marinette and Adrien avoiding us?”

And everybody simultaneously turned their way. The two blissfully laughed at something as they ignored everything else.

“How sweet!” she heard Rose’s murmurs. Yeah, like pineapple on pizza. Bhrr.

She started to open her mouth to say something though she wasn’t able to voice any sound. A darker than black and really long limousine parked in front of them. It was not Adrien’s one, neither Chloé’s.

And the most surprising thing was Marinette jumping up and down for the sight.

All of them including Lila watched as their class president pulled Adrien to the car and after some debate with the driver they got in the car.

What did she just watch?

“Oh!” It was not a shocked ‘Oh!’, it was a ‘I realized what was happening’. And Lila also wanted to know what the fuck happened before her beautifull eyes.

“You know something, Nino?” She really tried to conceal her angry curiosity.

The DJ nodded with a relaxing smile. “Marinette’s family visiting from America.”

“You mean she has relatives in America?” Alya asked, more interested than a few minutes ago when she listened to Lila’s gossip.

“Oh, hell!” Kim shouted. “The brothers, right? I almost forgot about them.”

Alya tilted her head as he turned to the swimmer. “Brothers?”

“Yeah.” Nino talked again. “Dick and Jay, and Timtam… and… Who was the one who pissed Chloé off?”

“Some Da… De… Demon!”

“No. His name was…”

Lila tuned out the conversation. So Marinette had a family in the States. And they most certainly rich drawing that conclusion from the limo. Why didn’t she do better research before she transferred?

In the middle of the week was the career day and Lila was really lucky to talk her mamman down about coming to it. Of course she didn’t want her here. It would be a disaster.

She had a quite good feeling about the day. If she heard correctly only a few parents agreed to participate and after the school for the day would end. And naturally she kinda forgot this particular information when she told her mother about this ‘really awful’ day.

Yep, I am a genius.

She confidently walked through the hallways and winked at some cute boy because not only Adrien was appreciable in this school. Maybe if Monsieur Agreste would appear she could negotiate for a new line just for herself. After all she always paid attention to his handsome boy.

Humming the newest XY’s song Lila happily stepped in the classroom. However her mood dropped exactly that moment when her foot touched the room’s floor. Since there, in the middle of the room stood with her fake innocent Marinette and that gorgeous foreign man. And from closer he was more handsome than she first thought. Even Madam Bustier blushed and she had a husband.

Why has this girl this kind of luck?

Lila forced a charming smile on her face and with a friendly wave she sat down. She would not risk her status in front of that man when Marinette is nearby. She had to calculate carefully so for the time she just waited for the start.

When everybody arrived the teacher began her really boring speech about the importance of work knowledge and connections. Lot of the guests nodded in agreement. There was Rose’s mother who was a florist, Nino’s father was a doctor and Alix’s historian father. And of course Marinette’s mysterious man.

She was really curious about him. He wore a perfectly fitted suit and was fucking handsome, nevertheless he looked young. Maybe twentish. It’s maximum six year age difference between them. It’s not too bad.

She patiently waited as every one of the guardians did their presentation when finally the man stepped forward.

“Before I introduce myself I would like to clear something up.” His voice was a pleasant baritone. Even Adrien didn’t have that kind of sexy voice. Lila already enjoyed the show.

“I would like to ask everyone present to turn off the phones, tablets and any other smart device.”

Lila indifferently watched as everyone reluctantly got their device and turned them off. She didn’t get back hers since her mother grounded her. How lucky, she grimaced.

“In the next step please read through the confidentiality agreement that Marinette hands out. If you don’t want to partake in it or don’t agree to the terms I have to ask you to leave the room.” he continued as the baker girl gave everyone a copy.

As Lila looked around some of her classmates without thinking signed it up. And surprisingly it was Chloé and Adrien who handed back among the first. She also saw how after that some other looked at their paper with more bravery and signed it. She didn’t even bother to read it, just scan the logo at the top and the stamp at the bottom. She didn’t know this company so she also wrote her name on and handed it back.

Nobody left the room.

“Thank you, and I am apologizing for that little inconvenience, but this is necessary in today’s competitive sphere.” he said as he and Marinette counted and rechecked every one of the papers.

After a few minutes they finished. “Since today we also published an article it’s not that big of a harm if I introduce myself.” he smiled a little at Marinette and pulled her next to him. “My name is Damian Wayne and I am one of Marinette’s siblings.”

Lila straightened. She heard it right?

“I work at the Wayne Enterprise as a co-CEO beside my brother Timothy Drake-Wayne.”

It can’t be!

“After our Father decided he would like to spend more time with his family, I took over his position. Some of my...”

How the fucking hell?

Lila kind of lost herself and didn’t hear anything other than the slowly repeating ‘Wayne’ echo. That rascal was a Wayne heir?

And Lila targeted her?

Oh fuck.

It was Friday when Lila finally understood Marinette’s real power. It was never her connection or her skills. Not even her so-called friends.

No.

It was her family.

She of course knew about the Waynes. Who not? They were celebrities, start managers, philanthropists, fucking Gods. And of fucking course every one of the students also knew about them. So for the next couple of days went by like a couple of seconds. One moment she was the center of the attention then suddenly everybody wanted to be friends with Marinette.

Everybody.

Even the fucking street-sweeper.

And of course there was the media attention. The police had to be called because of the sensation. Lila even saw how two journalists quarreled about which one hid in one the bushes in front of the school.

Naturally she wanted to take advantage of the situation, however as the article with her name was published her mother’s phone started ringing. And the caller was Lila's worst nightmare.

On Friday she and her mamman head to the Wayne Enterprise’s Parisian branch. It was a modern building with clear glass windows and a big dark gold W letter. They were hurriedly ushering in an empty meeting room where there were too many chairs for Lila’s liking.

Her mother - of course, - was enraged. She almost learnt everything about Lila’s school life. Just almost. Unfortunately it was enough to lose her trust in her daughter. Lila was grounded kind of permanently. She wouldn’t get back her phone kind of ever. She only could use her mother’s computer and just for homework. She was not expelled from Francois-Dupont, however she had detention for a year and had to repeat this school year.

And now she would learn what the Waynes cooked up for her.

She grimaced.

“Good morning Madam Rossi and Mademoiselle Rossi.” greeted them Damian Wayne himself as he steeped in the room. He was followed by Marinette, her parents - or they were even her parents? Lila wasn’t able to read any article about the family ties. -, a petite Asian woman, then some other more business-like men and women. Surely the lawyers.

“I think you know why you are here.” Damian stated as he sat at the head of the table. Marinette went to his left side with her parents (?) and the petite woman sat down at his right side with the lawyers.

“Yes.” Her mother nodded.

“We would like to sue your daughter, Mademoiselle Lila Lucrezia Rossi, for breaking our confidentiality agreement. Furthermore ask a restraining order to prohibit her from approaching my little sister, Marinette Athanasia Al Ghul Wayne.” This man spoke with a really unconcerned voice that Lila almost thought he was not even interested in his sibling’s life.

“Yes.” Her mamman agreed without any protest.

“However” his voice steeled, “because my sister is a really kind soul she will not sue for the physical violence, a mental and physical harassment and the defaming.” he stared down at her with dark eyes. “Nevertheless we, as from her guardians who are presented” he pointed to the stranger Asian woman and himself, “decided to put on the blacklist Mademoiselle Lila Lucrezia Rossi in every business in which we owned the majority.”

The air got stuck in Lila’s body. Every business? Every? The Waynes owned half of the planet.

“But” spoke the petite woman, “we would ignore this blacklisting if the Mademoiselle successfully participates in various therapies.” She passes toward a paper. “It’s a list of some advised areas to search for good specialists. We don’t want to break a young child's career so we are ready to compromise.”

Lila almost believed her then she glanced at the man. At first she thought this Damian Wayne was gorgeous. And indeed his look was perfect, however she didn’t meet more horrifying people than him. His eyes screamed for murder.

She turned back to her mother who kind of looked relieved. “We… I thank you.” she breathed.

After that were just formalities. Signing up that or this. Lila wanted to run home and curl up. And cry.

She worked for her fame. She worked hard to destroy those lives in her way. She didn’t think she would meet someone who could destroy her with just a flick.

However the paper said otherwise.

Her fucking status said otherwise.

She didn’t remember a lot from the meeting after that. She barely registered when they arrived home. She almost didn’t hear her father's disappointed voice on the phone.

And Lila almost missed the little note on her desk. With a photo about herself as she moves to get an akuma.

We are the night. We are vengeance. We are a family.

#maribat #lila rossi #platonic daminette #bio dad bruce wayne #oneshot #2021

195 notes · View notes

on-stand-bi-help · 4 years

Text

So I this are just a bunch of texts that I sent my cousin and I thought why not post it on Tumblr as well!

Please do not take this seriously this is just some really bad comedy. Hope you enjoy. (Also this does have swear words and I mean a lot of swear words so you have been warned.)

Ok I haven’t edit this at all so sorry for my grammar and sorry if this doesn’t make sense

So a new MLB episode came out and it’s a special? Idk to be honest but here are my thoughts cause I want you to watch it! So there is a fucking new intro! It reminds me of the old Barbie movies intros not gonna lie but I guess it’s kinda cool.

Ok so their flying abilities or powers or whatever look really weird and I don’t like them. Alya showing the camera back and forth gave me a headache.

Ok but Ladybugs knowing about roses and their meanings gives me fanfic vibes not gonna lie. Chat trying his best too whoo Ladybug and respecting their boundaries (which she made by the way) freaking adorable not gonna lie. Chat being flustered fuck I just realized how much I missed him. Ugh Ladybug’s soft look and as soon as she leaves Chat’s soft look fuck they are adorable omg. Ok Chat saying that he needs to give himself some flowers cause he is amazing. 100% agree 10/10 you deserve it. TREAT YO SELF!

Ugh definitely did not miss Marinette’s obsession with Adrien omg. She’s really trying to lie to tikki bro you’re with her all the time. You can’t lie to her plus she’s been alive since the beginning of the universe and you’re telling me you are honestly trying to lie to her. God damnit Marinette you are such a dumbass.

LMAO THE STUDENT FILM OH MY FUCKING GOD!! THAT’S SO FUNNY!

God damn I saw on tumblr people comparing Draco to Chloe and I’m like bro Draco is a meme and a great character. Chloe is a bitch who is so fucking annoying.

OMG THE TEACHER IS PREGNANT ALL SHE HAD TO SAY WAS I HAVE MEDICAL EXAMS AND I KNEW!!! FUCKKKK YESSSS A RED HEADED BABY!!!

Can you imagine there is a whole episode where the class has to take care of the baby (for whatever reason) and all of them freaking out cause this baby is too precious and Alya coming in and saving the day and being like guys calm down. It’s all good. Nino fucking going soft trying to help Alya as best as he can. Marinette and Adrien never doing this before so both of them are super flustered and nervous! God I WOULD LITERALLY KILL FOR THAT EPISODE NOW HOLY SHIT!!!

Ok damn Kim really ain’t holding back like chill dude. He really just told the principal that the science teacher isn’t cool. You tell that to your friends not the fucking principal. You dumbass.

LILA IS HERE FUCK!!! God not only do I have to deal with Chloe’s bullshit but Lila’s too omg. Ok idk if it’s the website that I’m watching it in but their voices sound weird and I hope it’s just the website and not the actual episode.

Marinette shut the fuck up ADRIEN WAS TALKING BITCH!!! YOU INTERRUPTED HIM!!! Lmao nice save Marinette talking about the film to distract everyone from the fact that you like Adrien. GOD DAMNIT ADRIEN’S SOFT LOOK FUCK!!! HE LOVES HER SO MUCH BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW IT YET OMG!!! GOD DAMN!!! Lmao Lila’s face! Yeah fuck you Lila! Bitchass!

So Marinette is telling everyone that she is over Adrien. Alya isn’t falling for this bullshit! Love that. Marinette, why are you lying just ask them to help you move on. Like I can see the effort but I don’t understand why you are lying about it if you aren’t completely over him. Like bruh. ALEX REALLY SAID “No kidding” to when Marinette said that she was acting crazy. YES ALEX QUEEN! CALL HER OUT! Marinette saying that she just wants to be friends with him and not in love with him. (ARE WE FINALLY GETTING THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THAT WE ALL DESERVE HOLY SHIT IM LIVING!) Nope nvm she’s still on her bullshit. Did Alya just say that if Marinette will be ok with her and Adrien going to New York together because it may be too romantic. Like Bitch YOU GUYS LIVE IN PARIS! I'M SURE SHE WILL BE FINE!

FUCK YOU GABRIEL!! DIDN’T MISS YOU AT ALL YOU FUNKY ASS BITCH!!!

BRUH ANOTHER MIRACULOUS FOR REAL!!!

DAMN! Lmao Marinette trying to look tough that’s so funny to me! Who you trying to scare bitch cause you ain’t fooling anyone. Bruh Gabriel really friendzoned Marinette for Adrien lmao! Omg I love that. Fuck. I hate Gabriel so much.

I DIDN’T KNOW KIGMA WAS GOING TO BE IN THIS EPISODE!! YAY! EW WTF DID SHE JUST KISS HIM! ARE YOU KIDDING! WAIT WHEN DID THEY GET TOGETHER!! WTF! I DON’T REMEMBER THIS!

Marinette you are so annoying. Where’s Ladybug?! SHE’S SO MUCH BETTER! HOLY SHIT IT’S LADYBUG! OK BUT THAT SCENERY LOOKS SO ROMANTIC! Wait yeah both of them are going to New York like who is going to protect the city?! Oh shit nvm I’m a dumbass hawk moth is going too. Lmao! I’m an idiot! Ok BUT THAT WEIRD BUTTON THING IS ADORABLE OMG!!! AWWW! LIKE WTF!! I WANT ONE! BRUH HOW CAN SHE NOT LIKE CHAT NOIR WTF IS WRONG WITH HER!!! GODAMNIT!

Gabriel really said Surprise bitch to Adrien lmao. Damn poor Gorilla. I can’t believe he still doesn’t have a fucking name godamnit. Lmao I love plagg. Ew god damnit fuck you GABRIEL!

OMG LUKAAAAA! Marinette fucking date him already wtf. He is literally biking your stupid ass to catch up to the bus. GOD LUKA DESERVES BETTER! Marinette you always fucking ruin the moment fuck you. Fuck you. AGAIN LUKA DESERVES BETTER! Luka honey no don’t look at her like that you deserve better. Flashback to the perks of being a wallflower quote, “We accept the love we think we deserve” FUCK YOU BRAIN WHY YOU DO ME LIKE THIS!!

ALYA IS A TRUE FRIEND!!! Bro my friends would be laughing their ass off and making funny faces at the window instead of asking the teachers to stop the bus. HE WAS CARRYING HER SUITCASE TOO OMG! BRO LUKA HAS SOME STRONG ASS LEGS LIKE DAMN!!! Luka then says, “You know what’s important Marinette, that this trip gives you some clarity.” PLEASE GOD THAT SHE FALLS FOR CAT NOIR!!! PLEASE THAT SHE STARTS LIKING HIM!!! PLEASE! BITCH WHY KISS HIM ON THE CHEEK OMG WHY?! He likes you and you decide to kiss him on the cheek. Bro you are just making him fall for you more. Goddammit you are an idiot.

Bruh one look at Adrien and she becomes a tomato god damn. Am I being hard on Marinette cause she reminds me of me. NO WTF!!! Shut up! (At least I’m not a stalker or someone who gets obsessed with my crush in obnoxious ways.)

FUCK YOU CHLOE WE DIDNT WANT YOU TO COME YOU STUPID HOEEE!!!

I JUST REALIZED THIS IS A MOVIE!!! 12 minutes in and I just realized this is a movie. I AM AN IDIOT!!! God I’m so dumb lol. Ok this animation not gonna lie is kinda good.

He really yelled at Marinette in front of everybody in a plane huh. That’s so funny. Also he sounded like such a jock like wtf was that. Lmao Alya and Nino just looking at them like yessss our ship!!! (Alya and Nino are such a mood) This movie is literally like a fucking fan fiction. Adrien, “Oh yeah you’re sitting next to me!” Marinette fucking panicking. Omg this is literally a fanfic. I can’t! I love this omg. I LOVE ALYA SO MUCH OMG!!! Did Marinette just call Adrien her husband. YOU’RE LIKE 14 SHUT UP!!! PLEASE!!! How can you confuse husband with friend. Ok this just confirms that Marinette constantly daydreams to herself and tells herself that Adrien is her husband. Girl, GIRL YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW HIM VERY WELL. SHE’S NOT EVEN IN LOVE SHE’S JUST FASCINATED WITH THE IDEA OF HIM. Ugh this is why I don’t like the idea of Marinette and Adrien or Ladybug and Adrien being together. Like she barely knows him and she counts that as love. Jesus. Lmao Gorilla has and will always ship Marinette and Adrien together. You can not change my mind.

Brooo if Marinette had a penis she would definitely have gotten a boner when Adrien fell on her. WHY IS MARINETTE LIKE THIS?! (Ok yes if my crush not that I have one but if I did I would probably do all the shit she is doing but I wouldn’t run away I would fucking just be in shock and freeze. Probably idk. THIS IS GIVING ME TO MUCH SECOND HAND EMBARRASSMENT PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD ACT NORMAL FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE.) Did Alya just say that “New York is the most romantic place in the world!” AGAIN YOU LIVE IN PARIS!!! OH SHIT NVM. I paused it too soon. She continues by saying, “After Paris obviously.” Ok my bad. Ok are we talking about the same New York cause New York isn’t that romantic. Then again what do I know. Marinette FUCK YOU!!! YOU COULD HAVE SAT WITH ADRIEN AND NOW YOU HAVE TO SIT WITH THE FUCKING PRINCIPLE. Lmao this is giving me fucking Spider-Man Far From Home flashbacks. Bro Adrien looks so disappointed. FUCK YOU MARINETTE! Bro gorilla is such a mood. Putting a 10 for both having a fear of flying and for needing relaxation. Wait why doesn’t he have eyebrows? I just realized that. I mean I knew but like I didn’t realize idk if that makes sense.

Dude the principal sleeping on Marinette THAT HAPPENED IN FAR FROM HOME!!! Wait a damn minute in Far From Home Peter lives in New York and goes somewhere in Europe (I forgot where) AND MARINETTE LIVES IN FRANCE AND SHE GOES TO NEW YORK!!! Not only that but these are both superhero movies and they are both in love with someone except here Marinette is trying to get over Adrien while Peter Parker was trying to win over MJ. OK SOMEONE ON THE CREATIVE TEAM LITERALLY WATCHED FAR FROM HOME AND SAID YES LET’S DO THIS BUT THE OPPOSITE. I CAN’T THIS IS SO FUNNY!

AWWWW Alya and Nino sleeping on each other IS EVERYTHING!!! I SHIP THEM SO MUCH!!! IVAN AND MYLENE TOO!!! THEY REALLY WANT TO KILL ME HUH!? WAIT ROSE AND JUELKA FUCK YESSS THE GAYS ARE WINNING!!! MY MULTISHIPPER HEART CAN’T TAKE THIS MUCH POWER ALL IN A MATTER OF SECONDS!!! THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!!!

Dude I literally thought she said shit for a second I WAS LIKE WHAT?! But she said shoot. I really hope that’s not toilet water on her shirt. MARINETTE YOU HAVE A NAPKIN? OR TOILET PAPER ON YOUR HAIR?! GET THAT SHIT OUT OF THERE?!

Awww the sunset is so pretty. And Adrien is going to come in 3 2 1. Right on time. Adrien, “It's beautiful isn’t it?” I’m expecting Marinette to say, “Yeah but so are you.” and immediately regretting afterwards. Nvm she trips on him instead. Should have seen that coming. Ok now they are looking out the window again. This frame would be so cute if she didn’t have that stupid Toilet paper in her hair. Bruh Adrien just stands next to her and doesn’t even mention the Toilet paper on her hair. Adrien be like, “Yup just me and my fashionista friend Marinette looking at the window. Oh she has a piece of toilet paper in her hair. Damn must be a new trend I don’t know about. That’s kinda sus cause I am a model but whatever she knows more about fashion then I do so it’s all good.” (Not an actual quote.) Damn Alya and Nino ship them so much. Ok but what a mood!

Adrien says, “You're always willing to take a chance on something or someone even when no one else is.” Yeah bruh it’s because she is ladybug, I mean come on how do you not realize. Adrien really smirked at her whole shit! Adrien continues by saying, “You got something Marinette.” Marinette asks, “Something?” WAIT HOLD UP ISN’T HE DATING KAGAMI!!! WAIT IS MARINETTE A HOMEWRECKER!!! I’m kidding. Ok not really. Wait is Adrien a cheater like what?! Adrien continues by saying, “Yeah there in your hair.” He grabs the fucking piece of toilet paper. I LITERALLY FORGOT IT WAS THERE AND I BURST OUT LAUGHING!!! GOD I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!

Alya is a mood, “I can’t decide if they are the cutest people I know or the most embarrassing.” Literally me whenever I watch Miraculous ladybug. Also this literally sounds like something fanfic Alya would say. Not canon Alya. But I really love how they let Alya say that. Good call team! Omg Nino continues with, “Yeah I love Adrien but he is like a baby chick that just started cracking out of his egg he has a hard time understanding the signals people send them.” THIS LITERALLY SOUNDS LIKE A FANFIC AND I LOVE IT!!! OMG!!! I LOVE OPERATION NEW YORK OMG!!! YESSSSSSSS!!! ALYA AND NINO ARE LITERALLY OUR SAVIORS!!! GOD DAMN I LOVE THEM!!! ADRIEN HUGGED HER AWWWWW!!! I LOVE HIM!

THERE’S ANOTHER SUPER VILLAIN WTF!!! He really wants to kill the people huh. I mean he must be pure evil cause he literally is tearing the airplane apart. He really said: There's tons of people in this airplane huh. Welp I really need this technology so I guess they have to die!

DUDE WHO THE FUCK IS THIS GIRL? I can’t tell if she is a robot or a superhero! MAYBE BOTH!!! ALYA IS SUCH A SUPERHERO NERD I LOVE HER!!! OK this other girl superhero is literally captain marvel. She’s not Majestia (idk if that’s how you spell it) nah she’s captain marvel. LMAO WHEN CAPTAIN MARVEL MAKES AN APPEARANCE IN THE MLB MOVIE AND DOESN’T HAVE THE AUDACITY TO HELP OUT PETER PARKER IN HIS FIELD TRIP!! DAMN!!! SHE REALLY SAID FUCK YOU PETER! MLB FANDOM NEEDS ME MORE THAT YOU DO!! LIKE GURL PETER IS HAVING AN EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN CAUSE HIS 3rd father figure died!!! Then again she is saving an airplane fool of people but I’m sure you could have made a quick stop to give Peter some advice but whatever.

God I hate the principal.

CAPTAIN MARVEL REALLY SAID I HAVE TO SAVE MY ROBOT WIFE FROM THAT BOMB!! And she fucking blew the bomb away from her face. DUDE THERE IS SO MANY NEW SUPERHEROES HOLY CRAP!!! Ok including the Captain Marvel and the robot there’s 2 more but that’s more than Paris soooooo. WAIT CAPTAIN MARVEL JUST CALLED HER ROBOT DARLING!!! I was joking, I didn’t think they were together. OK I SHIP IT! Captain Marvel, “Are you alright darling?” (Giving me Spinderella and Netasha vibes not gonna lie) STOPPED IT TOO SOON!!! ROBOT JUST CALLED CAPTAIN MARVEL HER MOTHER!!! ABORT ABORT SHIP!!! I regret making all the comments that I just have made. So ignore them. I no longer ship them. Aw they have such a quote MOTHER AND DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP!!! They are hugging each other. Adorable.

Bruh Adrien and Marinette are talking openly to plagg and tikki like could you guys be more obvious. Like shut up.

So apparently there’s a superhero for everything in USA. Um I wish if there was USA wouldn’t be as shitty as it is now.

I love Nino and Alya, that's all I’m going to say.

Also the superheros have a code word for the French students and it’s literally ‘the little croissants’ I LOVE THAT OMG!!! WHO CAME UP WITH THAT CODE CAUSE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!”

Ok turns out Robot girl can actually turn into a regular girl. SO THAT’S COOL!

How is it possible that Adrien and Marinette can’t figure out how the doors work like what?! Ok why the fuck is Adrien constantly catching Marinette every time she falls. Like he isn’t even close to her and he fucking races and catches her. Right he obviously doesn’t like her. Yup I definitely believe that bullshit.

Lmao the robot girl took one look at dumbass Marinette and stupidass Adrien and said, “Those 2 are made for each other.” That’s so funny. Ok robot girl is friends with a girl that has some weird ass earrings (dare I say lesbian). And they both are in school so I’m pretty sure they are the same age. SO I SHIP THEM!!! Grumpy girlfriend and super happy robot girlfriend. ADORABLE!

Lmao they are already going to a party bruh. They just got off of a plane and they almost died. And you’re telling me that they aren’t slightly jet lagged or even a little tired. Bruh come on.

DAMN SABRINA IS GONNA GET A LOVE INTEREST OKKKKKKKK!!! He literally winked at her and she went bright red. DAMN GURL GET IT!!! CHLOE FUCK OFF!!! SABRINA IS GONNA GO FLIRT WITH THE GUY AND NOT BE YOUR STUPID ASSISTANT!!! FUCK YOU!!! GOD DAMNIT CHLOE, SABRINA, MARINETTE AND ALYA ARE ROOMATES BRUHHHHH!!! (And they were roommates- OH MY GOD THEY WERE ROOMMATES NOT NOW BRAIN PLEASE)

Bro the teacher looks at the hallway and nods cause she notices that all the lights are off in the room and no one is talking and she leaves. And immediately all the doors open and everyone is sneaking off to the party. BROOO THIS REMINDS ME OF NHI LOL!!! So the teacher suddenly pops out and asks what’s that noise and they all go into different rooms. The teacher doesn’t notice. And of course Marinette goes into the room with Adrien but on accident, and for a second I thought she was touching his pee pee but no she was just touching his lower stomach lol. They both look at each other and Marinette gets flustered and Adrien smiles softly at her. And she immediately gets away from him and they end up in the same room as ROBOT GIRL AND HER LESBIAN GIRLFRIEND!!! Robot girl is shipping them so hard while her girlfriend is glaring at them.

HER GIRLFRIEND CAN PLAY GUITAR YESSSSS!!!

SABRINA GO TO THE PARTY PLEASE!!! DITCH CHLOE!!! FLIRT WITH THE AMERICAN!!! THE AMERICAN IS FUCKING STANDING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW!!! WAITING FOR HER OMG!!! He takes her hand AND TAKES HER TO THE ROOF PARTY!!! FUCK I SHIP THEM SO HARD!!!

Omg the dialogue in this movie is fucking amazing. Marinette says, “Is it a bird?” Adrien, “Is it a plane?” Sabrina’s soon to be boyfriend, “No IT’S HOT DOG DAN!” Like bitch why is the hot dog cart flying like wtf?! Dude is this how French people see Americans because you know what?! THAT SOUNDS about right. If USA ever gets superhero’s we PROBABLY WOULD HAVE A SUPERHERO WHO SERVES FUCKING HOT DOGS!!! Damn this movie is pretty fucking realistic. The Americans are fucking thirsty for some hot dogs they literally run over Adrien and Marinette like damn ok yes a lot of Americans like hot dogs but we aren’t animals. Turns out the hot dogs are magical. ROSE LITERALLY GOT SUPER STRENGTH AND WAS ABLE TO LIFT UP IVAN!!! QUEEN!!! AW Sabrina got long ass hair like Rapunzel but it’s brown for some reason.

There’s 2 hot dogs left and Nino take initiative and pays for the hot dog and says, “Not a problem. My girl and I can have one and you 2 can have the other.” Damn this really is a fanfic huh. Then again I doubt a fanfic would have them sharing a fucking magical hot dog. Lol! This movie is nuts. They ate the hot dogs (nvm they took a bite of the hotdog and they dropped it on the floor) and they started floating. They grab hands and they are trying not to freak out.

Meanwhile ALYA AND NINO ALL THE FUCKING GET IS THESE HIGH PITCHED VOICES LIKE BRUH. Also Nino ships them so much omg! BRUH HOT DOG DAN EVEN SHIPS THEM! I mean he doesn’t say anything he just looks at them and smiles.

Omg Alya asked Robot’s girlfriend to set the mood with a song! And Robot’s girlfriend is like yeah sure thing. This movie is surreal.

THE SONG IS LITERALLY THE SONG THAT THEY DANCED TOO AT CHLOE’S PARTY OMG!!! I can’t believe I remembered that.

Bruh Adrien literally just repeated what I typed. HE JUST ASKED MARINETTE IF SHE COULD DANCE WITH HIM!!! They are floating and the moon is shining bright on them (Nice job Yue; setting the scene for us I see) and he extends his hand. She starts floating backwards cause she’s freaking out (What a surprise 😒). He grabs her hand and brings her closer to him. WHAT FANFIC AUTHOR WAS ABLE TO GET A FUCKING HIGH BUDGET TO MAKE THIS MOVIE BECAUSE THIS DOESNT FEEL LIKE AN MLB EPISODE!!!

ALSO Marinette is looking at Adrien in a way that makes her look like a Tim burton cartoon character lol. SHE FINALLY GIVES IN AND DANCES WITH HIM IN FRONT OF THE MOON!!! (They aren’t even dancing to be honest they are literally just hugging each other really closely and spinning) BUT ITS ADORABLE SO I FORGIVE THEM!

Lmao they zoom out of the roof party and you just see in the fucking corner Kim and some other dude having a push-up contest. They showed that in the beginning when Alya, Nino, Marinette and Adrien were entering the party. I just wasn’t expecting that in this whole time Kim and the other guy still continued the push-up contest omg. (This is the first 29 minutes and my hand is tired sooo I’m not gonna write anymore)

If anyone wants me to continue I will but I doubt anybody is going to see this post so yeah! Anyway if someone actually read this PROPS TO YOU DUDE!!! HOPE I DIDNT WASTE YOUR TIME!!! HAVE A GOOD YEAR!!!

Edit: I think Robot girl and girl with weird earrings are sisters soooooo I don’t ship them anymore. (I’m honestly really confused are they siblings or not?!)

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mentalpolaroids · 3 years

Text

CH | 9. crush

CH 8

🔸

"Kelly, this is getting ridiculous, you have to tell Camila."

Noah opened his front door and let me in while I took off my jacket and sat down on his couch. In the car, I told Noah what happened right before he arrived and, safe to say, he was pissed. And, honestly, I couldn't blame him, I was freaking out too.

"I'm gonna text Camila and ask if she can hang out tomorrow. It's my day off."

Noah sat beside me and turned on the TV while I texted Camila. I leaned forward to put my phone on the coffee table and then to take off my boots, meanwhile, I felt Noah lay down behind me and hug my waist. It was funny because from one side I could only see his legs and on the other I could only see his head, while his arms held me in a weird way. I caressed his arm and laughed when I looked at him, even though he looked serious.

"Promise you'll tell her? I don't want you feeling uncomfortable walking alone, I mean, the guy is basically stalking you, we don't know if he will do anything else."

"I wouldn't say stalking..."

"Kelly, you have to stop trying to always see the good side in people. Sometimes there isn't one. From the things you described, he is stalking you, and, let's be honest, none of us knows the guy that well and I'm telling you now that I never really trusted him, like, there's something there that makes me not trust him."

"Yeah, I feel the same way. But what if I'm wrong? What if I tell Camila and she confronts Julio and he denies it?"

"Of course he's going to deny it, babe, but then it's Camila's decision to believe one of you, and I don't think she would believe her boyfriend of almost six months over her best friend of more than ten years."

I looked away, mostly to try to hide the blush on my cheeks caused by Noah calling me babe again. And also to think about what he said. He was right, but I still felt unsure of what the situation really was and I didn't want to cause trouble to anyone. Even if I was the one in trouble. Noah reached one of his hands to move my hair out of my face so he could touch my cheek and make me look at him.

"Whatever you decide to do and whatever happens, I'm here for you, ok?"

I smiled and moved my head slightly to the side to kiss his hand and, before I could become burning red from all that lovey dovey moment, I grabbed his hands and pulled him up (with a lot of effort) to a sitting position.

Noah insisted in me staying the night. I didn't want to accept it, only because I wanted to talk to Kevin after our short conversation in the car that morning but, on the other hand, I really needed a distraction from everything crazy happening, so I texted Kevin saying I would stay over at Noah's.

We ordered sushi and were eating on the couch while watching a random documentary on Netflix. Noah and I weren't really paying attention to it due to our conversation.

"So, how was work with your dad? Is he calmer?"

"Not really. I mean, he's pretty much ignoring my presence, only talks to me when he has to and, you know, tries to act as normal as possible in front of clients but I know he's still mad."

"That's so stupid. Why would he be mad about you defending your family?"

"'Cause his pride and ego are bigger than his ability to be understanding and sympathetic. I'm honestly so tired of working with him, I just want to find another job. I'll take anything, I just can't take working with him anymore."

He put down the now empty box of sushi on the coffee table and, seeing that I had finished mine as well, took the box from my hands and put it down next to his. He then pulled me closer to him, his arm around my shoulders, and moved my legs to be on top of his.

One of my favorite characteristics of Noah was that he was this super tall guy with nice built muscles, but then was a complete softie who loves to cuddle and would take any chance he had to give and receive love. I was lucky to have an exclusive kind of love from him. I knew he wasn't this close to anybody else and that was one of the reasons I liked him so much. I felt genuinely loved by someone and I was glad that someone was my best friend, that I secretly had a huge crush on. Even though it felt like way more than a crush.

"So, how was your day? At work, I mean." he asked, after kissing my forehead.

"It was really good, actually. There's this guy, Eric, who I helped yesterday with the website he was working on, and he was so impressed that he offered to help me get an interview with the head director of the web designing department."

"Really? That's amazing! Does that mean you would actually work for the company? Like, no more assistant stuff?"

"Yup!"

"Wow! That's my girl!", he hugged me tight which made me laugh, "I'm so proud of you, seriously!"

"Thank you! I'm really happy too, hopefully I get the job."

"I'm sure you will, you're amazing and they'll see it too."

Noah kissed my forehead again while still hugging me tight, and, with my mouth forming a smile and my cheeks warming up with a light blush, we stayed like that watching the rest of the documentary until we decided to go to sleep.

The next morning, after a very nice breakfast with my best friend and lots of joking around with each other, Noah left for the workshop and I stayed at his until it was time to meet up with Camila. We hadn't had a girl date in a very long time and, even though I hated the reason I decided to meet up with her, I was still excited to spend time with my feamle best friend. Noah wasn't fond of the idea of me taking the bus alone but I assured him I would be careful and would call him in case something happened.

Arriving at the theatre where Camila and I agreed to go watch the movie, she was already at the front door waiting for me with our tickets. We greeted each other with a hug and a very unnecessary squeal that us girls do for no reason when we are excited. We didn't talk about anything important in particular, I was still deciding if I should tell her about Julio or not, even though I promised Noah I would. It just didn't feel right to tell her with no actual proof. We went to a cafe to grab something to eat before heading home and to talk more about random stuff. Everytime Camila talked I would debate with myself about telling her or not and before she could notice that I wasn't really focusing on the conversation, I decided that I would not tell her, I would just make small conversation about Julio and ask her about him.

"So, how are things going with Julio?", I tried my best to disguise my discomfort mentioning his name.

"Things are great! I mean, I wish we could spend more time together, he works at a bank almost outside of New York but he tries his best to spend time with me."

Well, that was a surprise. I didn't know he worked so far away. How the hell did he find time to come all the way downtown to grab lunch at Norma? Or what would he be doing outside of the company when I left last night if he didn't even work close by?

"When was the last time you guys did something together? Like, a date or something."

"I... don't know, actually. He's always really busy, even when he's not working he has other things to take care of. It's frustrating sometimes, you know? But we try our best to make it work, because when we're are together is really worth it, if you know what I mean.", she winked.

I wondered what other things he had to take care of. Or other people. She noticed my concern so she continued.

"But we love each other besides the complications. He's always texting me 'I love you's' and sending treats to my house. My mom is always teasing me about it.", she laughed.

"I'm glad to hear that. I just want to see you happy. And you know I'm here if anything happens, right?", I wasn't really sure what I meant with that or why I said it. I hope I wasn't implying that something bad would happen and their relationship would be over. Camila looked at me with confusion in her eyes but she smiled and thanked me, saying she was there for me too.

"So, talking about love...", she sang the last word and did a weird dance with her shoulders and I could see what was coming from that, "How is Noah?", she wiggled her eyebrows and I couldn't help but laugh.

"I don't know what Noah has to do with 'love' but he's good. I mean, some family problems but, he's holding up."

"So, when are you going to tell him? Or, better yet, show him?"

"Tell him what?"

"Don't act clueless with me, Kelly Winter, I know you are obsessed with that guy."

"Am not!"

"Yes you are! I know you like him! Everybody knows, even my mom asks about you two!"

"What?!"

I didn't know if I should be shocked or embarrassed or laugh at the whole situation. So what? Everybody knew I liked my best friend except him?

"Ok, fine, yes I like him?", panic washed over me for a second, "You don't think he knows, do you?"

"I don't think so, unfortunately. I mean, if he did, he would have acted on it by now."

I stared at her, questionably.

"Kelly, c'mon, he likes you too, it's so fucking obvious."

"Shut up."

"Never! It's true! The way he looks at you sometimes? I don't know if I should clap out of happiness or divert my eyes by how intimate it feels."

"Camila..."

She interrupted me.

"Kelly, that guy is crazy about you. Seriously, you two were really made for each other, you're both so stupid for not seeing what is right in front of you. Pendejos.", she whispered the last word.

"Always a pleasure to be insulted by you."

"You already know it, girl, I'm always brutally honest with my friends."

We stayed for another hour talking about everything and anything, with Camila randomly throwing some shade in the conversation about Noah and I's 'unbearable sexual tension', as she put it, and I couldn't contain my blush anymore, which made her tease me even more.

It was nearly 7pm when I got home. I went to take a shower and, after getting in my pajamas (more like, the shorts and a random sweater), I called Dustin through facetime to talk to him for a bit. We've all been busy lately so we haven't hung out with him since that day at his grandma's house. Tierra didn't let Dustin do much, let alone leave the house, worried that his rib would break again. I didn't even notice the time passing. I checked the time on the screen of my phone and told Dustin I should go and eat something before going to bed since it was later than I thought. I made a sandwich and ate on the couch while watching TV. Not long after I finished eating, Noah called me and asked my about my day with Camila,

"I didn't really tell her..."

"Why not, Kelly? You promised you would tell her."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. It just didn't feel like the right time to do it. I did find something though."

"What? Anything that proves why he's stalking you?", I rolled my eyes at the stalking part.

"Maybe. Apparently he works kind of far away. Camila said they don't spend that much time together and that sometimes he's busy even outside of work. I mean, if he works so far away why would he travel across the ciry to have lunch at the restaurant near my company? And what was he doing outside the company last night?"

"It is weird for sure. That bastard. I still think you should tell Camila though, that information won't do much if he keeps harassing you.", I agreed with him.

I asked about his day too, he said it was the same, his dad was still barely talking to him and he was really tired of working there with him. We talked for a little while until, once again, I checked the time and decided to say goodbye to my best friend and go to sleep.

I wasn't sure what time it was but I knew I hadn't been sleeping for that long. The front door unlocking woke me up and, knowing it could only be Kevin, I got out of bed and went to the living room to see if he was ok, since he was arriving home late. To my dismay, he wasn't ok. He was leaning against the kitchenette counter, trying to hold himself up. He was drunk. Again.

🔸

CH 10

#cold hands #story #original story #angst #romance #oc #mentalpolaroids #noah centineo

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stanbillyhargrove · 4 years

Text

Ghosts chp 20

Ally's Story

T/W: sexual assault, eating disorder

Ally's story is NOT nice, it's based off Cat's story from Demons but without the support system that Cat had

Katrina's POV

Ally was perched on the end of my bed, watching as I changed the bandages on my stomach. I taped sterile white gauze to my skin and eased myself back onto the bed with a groan.

"You've been hanging around a lot," I mumbled.

"Do you not want me here? I can leave."

"No! Wait, stay. Please, I like the company. I just mean, I hadn't seen you in a long time."

"When he's around we can't get close to you," she explained, "he keeps us away. But he's weak right now."

She sat back against the wall with a sigh, eyeing me after catching me staring at her, "what?"

"What's your story, Ally? What happened to you?"

She held her arms up so I could see the two long cuts that ran down her forearms, "isn't it obvious?"

"That's not your story, not all of it."

She dropped her arms into her lap, "you don't have to pretend to care. I'm already dead."

I stretched my hand across the bed, reaching for her, "I do care."

Her eyes were teary when she met my gaze, her jaw tight, but she still moved closer to take my hand.

"Mommy, Daddy's home," I announced.

She shook her head, "no, sweetie, he's not off work for a couple hours."

But then, a few minutes later, he walked through the door. Sent home early because of the blizzard sweeping through town. My mother brushed it off, saying I must have seen his car even though I was playing nowhere near the windows at the time.

That feeling, that sense of knowing, it never went away. As I got older, I realized it wasn't normal to know when someone was getting close. It wasn't normal to turn around and yell out your friends names when they were trying to sneak up on you. I started losing friends fast, nobody wanted to be associated with the outcast. The chubby cheeked weirdo that gave everyone the heebie jeebies.

I was twelve when the bullying shifted from my weirdness to my weight. The rest of my classmates had shed their baby fat and were lean where I still had a layer of pudge. That's when everything started to turn for the worst. Boys who knew I was crushing on them would sneer and laugh to their friends when I passed them. They'd pretend to like me outside of school just to turn around and shun me once in a group of classmates. Girls looked down on me, snickered when they saw me eating lunch.

Comments started coming from my family through the years too. Things like, 'haven't you eaten enough?' 'You know, everything you put on has to come off.' 'A moment on the lips, forever on the hips.' And, 'do you think you need seconds?'

My mom too, liked to tell me how little she weighed as a teenager. Joked about how her and her friends would compare thigh gaps like it was no big deal. She complained about how much she weighed now that she'd had me even though she still looked like she could be whisked away by a strong breeze. She thought she was helping by telling me maybe I'd have more friends, maybe boys would like me if I lost some weight.

At fifteen I found a website filled with pages and pages of wispy girls who's bones stuck through their skin. Girls who bragged that they had to wear children's clothes because nothing else fit, bragged about the amount of exercise they'd done that day. They shared tips and tricks to curb your hunger, told you if you followed all the rules you too could be beautiful, weightless, like them.

By sixteen, I was one of them. Comparing each days food and exercise with a group of people like me. I finally found my people, my sisters, the ethereal Wintergirls. I fed exclusively off people's compliments and they loved to tell me how much better I looked now. My mom praised my hard work, indulged my diet coke addiction. She was proud to have created a Wintergirl in her image.

Nobody in those groups liked to talk about the negatives. They didn't warn me that becoming one of them wouldn't be glamorous. That it meant constantly freezing, that your body starts growing more hair to keep you warm, that the hair on your head will get thin and lifeless, your nails turn blue and even a light brush will leave bruises on your skin. They didn't tell me that no matter what goals you hit, there would always be another. I wasn't prepared for my life to become consumed by numbers. How many sit ups, how many inches, tracking weight down in a notebook and sobbing if was more than last time. They didn't mention that I'd still hate myself no matter what.

I started swallowing handfuls of pills, secretly hoping that this time it would be enough to poison my liver. I want to go to sleep and not wake up, but I don't know that I want to die. I want to be normal, to eat and not hate myself, but that's not who I am anymore.

I kept waking up, forced to struggle through another day. Started drowning myself in alcohol every night and on the weekends, trying to find something to make me feel again. Some of the more popular girls started talking to me, asking for the secret on how to look as good as I do now, inviting me to parties hoping to get me to spill. I went to the parties but not to spill my secrets. I went for the free alcohol and eventually the drugs that the boys brought.

I had found my usual party group, the people who carried baggies of various things in their pockets. Accepted a baggie from a baby faced jock who smiled when he passed it to me.

"It'll be fun," he whispered in my ear, "trust me."

I looked at the pills for a moment before tossing them into my mouth and taking a swig of my drink to swallow them down.

"Good girl," he praised.

He didn't leave my side, didn't let me leave his sight. He was always there with an arm around me even though I didn't know him. Tempting me with tinted eyes.

This doesn't feel right.

I should have known better.

After a while, I started to feel weird. My limbs felt too heavy to move and I thought I was going to pass out. I leaned heavy into the boys side, not trusting my legs to keep me up anymore.

"It just hit you, didn't it?" He asked, holding me up.

My tongue felt too thick to move, to protest, when he picked me up. Threw me over his broad shoulder and took me back to his house.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of you," he soothed.

I struggled to cry out, to push his hands away but he was so much bigger than me, had layers of muscle where I had only bone. His hands were too rough when he grabbed, when he held my wrists in one hand and undressed me with the other.

I tried again to move my legs, to fight him, but nothing worked.

"Relax," he murmured, "I'll make you feel good."

The room faded in and out through eyes blurry with tears. I could feel him. Everywhere. Every inch of me consumed by his warmth. The moments where I could almost grasp clarity were filled with pain.

He wiped a tear from my cheek, his touch tender now when he whispered, "I know you're into it...God, you feel so good."

I didn't wake up again until sometime in the morning. The sun had barely kissed the sky, just enough that the room I was in wasn't pitch black anymore. Just enough light to see that the sheets I was wrapped in were blue, not white. Just enough light to know I didn't know where I was. It took me a moment to realize there was someone else in the bed with me, a large arm wrapped loose around my waist. Tanned skin tight around broad shoulders that I might have felt safe in before. I screwed my eyes shut tight, hoping this was a horrible nightmare. But, when I opened them I was still here. The dark bruises in the shape of his fingers still stuck on my skin, the pain was still there.

I slid out of the bed, biting the inside of my cheek and praying that I could get out of here without him waking up. Apparently the universe thought I deserved this small favor because I was able to find my stuff, get dressed and slip out of his house without anyone seeing me.

Outside, I pulled my phone from my pocket to figure out where I was. I was an hour's walk away from home. By the time I got home...I'd have to get ready for school right away. I sent out a quick text to my group for someone to bring me something strong to get me through the day and started my long walk of shame.

I did the best I could to hide all the bruises under my clothes before going to school. Long sleeves pulled down into my fists, dark leggings, I even layered on a shirt with the tallest neckline I could find. Hid the red circles around my eyes under dark makeup and called it good enough.

I disappeared into the crowd at school, slinking from shadow to shadow like I was hiding from a spotlight. Thankfully, someone answered my text and slipped a baggy into my pocket during a quick hug. I wasted no time swallowing the pills, didn't even question it. I just needed everything to stop.

I only got through my first class without seeing him.

I was at my locker when suddenly I was picked up and spun around. I was too shocked to do anything more than shriek. Hit the ground and spun around to find myself face to face with that same boy. The star of the football team, he was all broad shoulders and a soft, innocent face. He came from money and everybody loved him because of it. But, of course, they didn't know what really lied behind that sweet face.

"Hey babe," he cooed, "missed you this morning. You could have stayed, I would have driven you home."

The breath rushed from my lungs and I was reliving flashes of memories from the night before. Once again trying and failing to fight back. Hearing his voice in my ear.

"Hey, Bryce!" Another jock clapped him on the shoulder, "introduce us to your girlfriend!"

"I..your...what?" I stammered.

"Guys, Ally...Ally, guys," he beamed, pulling me into his side.

The group of them said their hellos, and then quickly disappeared to their own lockers. I shoved him as hard as I could, but I barely moved him an inch. He still had a smile on his face even though his eyebrows had knit with confusion.

"Your girlfriend?" I hissed.

"Well, yeah? I assumed, after last night, y'know?"

"You assumed!"

He lifted his hands defensively, "take it easy, don't need to shout."

I spun and stalked away from him, to a quieter, more secluded corner of the school to try and calm my nerves.

He followed me, practically purring, "trying to find somewhere private for us?"

I stopped, dumbfounded, giving him time to come up behind me and plant a kiss to my neck.

I recoiled, shoving Bryce away and shouting, "get off me!"

"What the fuck is your problem? You gave it up so easy last night and now you're gunna act like a prude?"

"I...I didn't give anything! You took! You drugged me, carried me home when I couldn't walk and had sex with me when I couldn't say no! You raped me!"

"Babe," he started, "come on-"

"No! Don't fucking call me babe, I don't even know you! I'm not your girlfriend! I'm your victim!"

He got in my face, close enough I could feel the heat from his skin, and growled, "fuck you. We could have been something, y'know? I could have given you everything. You asked for the drugs, remember? You're just a fucking whore, using men to get what you want and then dropping them. You wait, I will fucking destroy you."

By the afternoon, everybody had seen the pictures he took of me unconscious and were calling me a whore. Calling me a skeleton, ugly, a tease, a user. Nobody could believe I didn't want it. 'Look at him,' they'd say, 'he's gorgeous. How could you not want him?' Or, 'I'd give anything to have him even look at me and you're complaining?'

It only took a couple days before someone approached me outside of my class. Asked if I'd sleep with him if he gave me something.

"Are you serious? You think I'm a prostitute or something? Try being a gentleman and asking a girl on a date, you'd have a better chance."

His eyebrows raised, "you wanna go on a date with me?"

"Not now I don't, shitdick," I scoffed, pushing my way into class.

Later that day, people were saying I'd slept with him anyway.

This went on for months. People would approach me asking for sex and when I turned them down, they made up a story and spread it around.

There was one boy...I thought he was different. He said all he wanted was to take me on a date, for me to give him a chance. So I did. I let him take me out for a coffee since I didn't eat in front of anyone. We actually had a good time, he made me laugh for the first time in a long time. For a minute, I felt like maybe I could see a way out of the dark.

Then, our way out of the cafe, I thought I saw a glimpse of Bryce but when I looked again, I didn't see him.

He drove us away from the city, to a secluded area where it was just the two of us. We sat in the back of his car, talking for a while until he brought me close and kissed me. Fingers started to tug at clothing, pulling a noise of protest from my throat.

"I took you out," he murmured, "now be a good girl for me."

I let my mind go blank, let him take what he wanted. Saw Bryce in his place and let a few tears fall silently.

I realized that no matter how good I thought things could be, no matter what I do, Bryce would still be on top of me and I still wouldn't be able to breathe. He'd always be there, sneering that he'd destroy me.

Eating was hard. Breathing was hard. Living was the hardest.

I felt like I had started dying the night Bryce took me home. Like everything since then had to have been a fever dream caused by cells deteriorating. Last night had nailed that feeling home. That I was already dead, just stuck in hell.

I showed up at school to see a snickering crowd in front of my locker. 'Whore' was painted across the door along with 'Liar' and 'Dirty Slut'.

Standing at the front of the crowd with a wicked grin on his face was Bryce and the rest of the football team.

He invaded my space, my senses, the heat radiating from his skin threatening to burn me up. The heady cologne he wore, a toxic gas that stole oxygen from my lungs and replaced it with poison.

His voice, low and husky in my ear when he sneered, "nobody believes you. Nobody cares about you. I bet nobody would even care if you were gone," he pulled away just enough to look into my eye, "I win."

I was holding back tears as I tried to retreat from the school, walking as fast as I could to escape the laughter when my arm was caught in someone's hand. I looked up at the girl who grabbed me and recognized her from some of my classes. We weren't really friends but we were close enough to know each other.

"You okay?"

I faked a smile, tried to ignore my voice cracking, "awesome...I'm awesome."

"Hey, screw those assholes, Ally."

I knew she was trying to help, that she thought her words would be enough to break through months of abuse hurled my way.

They weren't.

My shoulders slumped, "haven't you heard? I already did."

I slipped between her fingers and didn't look back.

"Whatever happened to chivalry?" Ally sighed, leaning against the wall next to me, "romance? I always wanted a relationship like in those cheesy old movies. You know, where the love interest makes some grand gesture to say they love you? That's what I dreamed of."

I wiped the tears from my face, "Ally.."

She smiled sadly at me, "I always thought I'd find the one when I became perfect. That if I could just be good enough...but that never happened, perfect never came."

@alias-b @charmed-asylum @champagnesugamama

#billy hargrove fic #billy hargrove fanfiction #stranger things fanfic #fanfic #stranger things fic #stranger things #tw rape #tw ed content

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joesbbqandfootmassage · 5 years

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Jane and Carlos in D3:

A Thanksgiving Feast

So I have already made my obligatory Janelos defense post that every blog on this website owes them, and I will link that here.

But I kind of barely touched on just how good they are in D3. Like, insanely good.

Devie and Janelos are the God tier Descendants ships and somebody had to say it.

It figures that Disney would choose to focus on the basic dynamic that is Bal even though they have two amazing VK/AK pairings to work with.

I ain’t saying they needed to kick Ben and Mal from the series because I do still think they’re cute, I’m just saying that Devie and Janelos also deserved their own Enchanted Lake First Date Scene.

Now in D2 both ships were given roughly three major scenes to work with and then of course all of their background dance scenes in You and Me.

Both Janelos and Devie doing different variations of the hug and spin number. (Holy fluff the Devie one was fantastic)

And they both had pretty good character arcs as well.

While Bal pretty much have the same character arc every movie, Janelos and Devie approach one thing at a time. In D2 that was Evie reaffirming to Doug that she wants him, not a stereotypical prince. Strengthening their relationship.

Meanwhile Janelos was giving both Carlos and Jane the chance to step out of their bubbles and explore this new sensation called love.

And you can really believe the time that has passed between these relationships when D3 finally rolls around.

Naturally Jane and Carlos are a touchy-feely kind of couple, linking arms and wrapping arms around shoulders and a lot of background hugs that were cut from the film.

Normally this would probably annoy me, but in this case it makes sense for Carlos and Jane because of his touch starvation.

Jane is able to hold onto him like it's just something normal for her to do with him, unlike any person on the Isle ever.

So in D3 you can see how comfortable they are with one another and just with affection in general.

But that's not all D3 has to offer for them, oh no.

Because D3 is also the movie where Carlos' evolution to Hero of the Isle is the most evident.

It's something you can finally see in every little action.

I'm gonna be honest, D3 should have been Evie's movie.

My sister and I pointed this out as we read all of the VK's posters and saw that Mal's had her’s as, "The Liberator."

To which we both went, "That is a bunch of fluffing BS."

Because everybody knows that it was EVIE'S idea to start transferring kids over to the Isle.

I can't even imagine how many meetings she had to attend, presentations she had to give and trouble she had to deal with from the higher ups.

Because D3 is when they are finally able to bring Dizzy over to Auradon and they've already graduated high school at this point.

And yet, Mal gets the praise.

Mal gets the credit.

And when they encounter their first bump in the road, it's Mal who shuts down the program. Destroying all of Evie's hard work.

While it’s not an official term used, I’ve been calling Carlos, Evie and Uma all “Heroes of the Isle.” Mainly because most, if not all, of their most prominent actions in the films (when actually given any) have been for the sake of the Isle and the children they wish to protect and save.

And it can switch from Heroes of the Isle to Heroes from the Isle, mostly depending on what stance my argument has.

This stance being tilted toward Janelos, though I will probably post another rant talking about how Evie should have been the main character of D3.

Now this is the first time we see Carlos actively having someone to protect since Dude in D1, the second he returns to Auradon from the Isle he calls Jane several times. He then spends a good deal of the movie before Jane comes back being mopey. Which is something you notice if you watch a movie three times in a row and those two other times all you do is look at Carlos.

It’s an interesting thought to have in your head, Carlos - A Protector.

While interesting, it never surprised me.

You can see a lot of his protectiveness in D2 when they return to the Isle, with him usually being the first one to charge.

And it only took me so long to notice that because I’ve had an image of Carlos built in my head.

Nothing can ruin your outlook of a character faster than the fandom’s perception of them.

If you listened to all the people going on and on about how Shaggy from Scooby-Doo is clearly coded to be a stoner, you might miss that he was a star gymnast and a pro-golfer. How many of y’all knew that Daphne was a straight A student?

The Descendants’ fandom has usually painted Carlos as the obligatory, “Smol bean, too precious for this world. Must protecc.”

Which is fine, if the character is clearly supposed to be interpreted as those things.

Carlos, while definitely too good for both the Isle and Auradon, is not a weak and helpless character. Sure he’s soft spoken and really really nice, like omg there is no way him and Cruella share the same DNA, but he also did really well in tourney and fencing.

He’s perceptive and quick to adapt.

And on top of all of that, he’s hurt.

So many years of being a doormat on the Isle, not only for his mother but every other person that looked down on him.

Despite all of that, he still cares about people.

He still has so much love to give to people he knows need it.

And in D3, Carlos seems to finally know who he is when separated from the VK or AK title.

He wants to help VKs transfer onto Auradon.

He wants a place to house lost boys and girls who were like him, no safe place to go.

He wants to be a vet.

And he wants to love Jane.

When he reunites with Jane in the second act of the movie, you can see that it’s not just Carlos that feels this way.

Once again, just like in D2, Jane fully reciprocates all of his feelings maybe even more so with the way she always renders his breathless every time.

Jane and Carlos give and receive love with no counter or limit in sight, they snuggle and hug and just... touch.

They make promises to stay safe, to keep each other safe, to stay together.

Always surprising the other with the reminder that they do indeed love each other.

Because they were two lonely kids that needed to love and be loved.

And the trilogy ends giving both of them exactly that.

And this is all just whatever I can glean from the movies.

When Amazon finally decides to send me all of the books it’s over for you hoes.

#Believe it of not #i still have plenty of things to say about carlos and janelos #but i just really needed to cover the importance of them in d3 because it was keeping me up at night #i also have a lot to say about evie because i adore her almost as much as i adore jane and carlos #so hopefully i get around to writing an evie post #descendants #descendant 3 #carlos de vil #jane daughter of fairy godmother #janelos #jane x carlos

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tentwars-spring · 5 years

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Dafflia fanfic

(disclaimer: none of the actions portrayed in this work of fiction must have been taken by the participating parties @ daffolis *cough cough*

It was 2:36 a.m. and yet their phone had the AUDACITY to ring. At this hour of the night! Although they would have much rather let it ring, Dahlia turned around in their bed and felt around on their nightstand to pick up the phone. When they finally found it (and almost knocked it off the nightstand in the process) they grabbed it and held it up to their face in annoyance. Then they saw the number on the screen. Everyone in their business knew that number. Actually, generally everyone should know this number. It was the police.

All of the sudden, they weren’t tired anymore and immediately picked up. “Good morning, how can I help you?”, they said into the phone. “We’re sorry to interrupt your sleep with a call, ma'am, but you are the one of the emergency contacts of a person who would need to be picked up from the police station. You were the person living closest by.” Oh no. Who had got themselves in trouble this time? Dahlia thought about the other people in their graffiti group. Which one of them would have been stupid enough to get themselves caught?

“I will be there in a minute. Thank you for calling, good-bye.” They hung up and heaved their feet off the bed. Dahlia walked over to the chair where their evening wear was still lying and put it on again. They slipped their phone into their back-pocket and grabbed their keys from the bowl they were in. They practically ran down the stairs and rammed the door open to get to the parking lot. Once they reached their car they jumped in and started the engine. They couldn’t reach the police station fast enough. Since their graffiti squad was just on the edge of being a gang with them as a part of the leading circle, they were not ready to lose even one of the people in the squad.

After finally arriving, they threw the doors to the police station open and walked in. Their face said murder, their stride said it, too. The police man sitting at the desk beside the door looked about ready to bolt. They walked up to him and pasted a smile on her face: “I’m here to pick somebody up.” He said with as much confidence as he could muster: “Name?” That stopped them in their tracks. They hadn’t been on the phone for long enough to know who they were here to pick up. So they just said: “I bet you know exactly who.” And it just so happened that he did.

When the door opened and they saw who walked out, their face almost fell. Almost. “Great. Now where are the papers I need to sign?” The police man hurried back behind his desk and picked up a pile of papers to hand to them. “There you go ma'am.” Not even caring that there really wasn’t a good way to formally address someone whose pronouns were they/them, they signed all the paperwork without really looking at it. As soon as they were done, they threw it all in the police man’s face and said: “We’re leaving. Without the search. Have a good day!” They held the door for the other person and then walked out.

Then they found themselves standing in an otherwise empty parking lot. With THEM. “WHY am I one of your emergency contacts?”, Dahlia asked quietly and in a confused tone. “Probably forgot to delete it back then”, they answered. Dahlia hummed. After a momentary silence they said: “So, you got all your stuff?”

“Yeah, I think. They took my spray cans again but I guess I had that one coming for getting caught.”

“About that, what DID you spray that got you caught?”

“Drive me to my place and I’ll show you.”

Although Dahlia knew she should be trying to get some sleep and that this person always meant trouble and they weren’t even in their squad, they agreed.

It was a silent car ride at first. Dahlia didn’t need to be told where to go, they remembered well enough. It had only been a few months after all. However, suddenly words started flowing from the passenger seat, helping them both to recall things that should rest well in the past. “I reckon you don’t even remember but back when we first got into graffiti you used to call me a coward because my squad was making alliances with everybody. Ha. That one made me real angry.” “I do remember.” “And remember when someone impersonated you and sent me hate messages on our website?” “Of course I do. I also remember all the times I tried to mend things between us but you misunderstood my messages and got even angrier and how sad and fed up I felt.” A silence settled over the car.

Finally Dahlia whispered: “But do you still remember how supportive everyone was even before we got together? How Sunny wouldn’t even reply to you asking them out at first? All to get us together? And then that anonymous graffiti squad that was spraying threatening messages about everyone being dead all around our blocks? How scared I was because you didn’t respond to my messages? I really realized just how much I cared about you back then. All the laughs we shared when we got together in the end? And all the nights we stayed up late with popcorn on the bed and watched our favourite films?”

“I remember babe”, they answered.

Dahlia sighed. Then they shot up in their seat. “Wait, BABE?!?” “Oh god, sorry, force of habit!” “FORCE OF HABIT?! You got together with someone new and didn’t even tell me? And you didn’t think to stop me when I went off reminiscing on our relationship?” “Shut up for a second and look out of the window on your side. That’s the graffiti I got caught spraying.” When they looked to their right they saw a big beautifully sprayed piece of graffiti which said: “Daffodils have the best playlist!”

“That’s SO stupid!” “Yeah, I know. Anyway, pull over, I’ll get out here.” Dahlia looked at the person in their shotgun seat confusedly: “But you live like four blocks away.” “It’s fine, I don’t want to make you put off sleep any longer. Thanks for the ride.” And then they were grabbing the door handle and trying to get out. When they were already about to shut the car door Dahlai spoke up. “Wait, Daff.” Daffodil was so surprised to hear their name out of their ex’s mouth that they stopped dead in their tracks. “Are you really with someone else now?” “No. I just always remembered you as "babe”. I guess I couldn’t get myself to call you “my ex” in my head.“ As they saw Daffodil standing there, in the cold of a night with clear sky and in the dark with all the shadows they remembered from spending their nights together, Dahlia couldn’t help themsleves. They fell for them all over again.

They guessed it had been meant to be from the start and so Dahlia said: "Daff?”, seeing that they looked at them expectantly, they went on. “Do you want to try this again? Do you want to come back to my place to catch up and maybe watch a movie like the old times, when we were okay? And… together.”

DAFFODILS HAVE THE BEST PLAYLIST AF;LDKSJFSDKFSJLF thank u author very cool (that’s not my opinion i just think it’s funny) also whats with all the crime aus? i really need to read back lmao

-brook

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sweet-xoxo-thatcares · 3 years

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Pretty Pink Diapers

I just found this website where they sell pretty adult diapers in pink. Like my favorite color and its sponsored for Age Regression Play too. I've only just started wearing diapers after Grandma passed and I wanted to try one on since Hospice sent a whole bunch that we ordered right before, on the day of her passing in her hospital bed at the house. I remember changing her diapers every time she called me around 2 or 3 am in the mornings and I would stay with her, sleeping on the couch we placed next to her bed all the way til Dad woke up before heading to work at 10 to help out. I love Grandma dearly and I even thought to keep and wash her nightgowns, but I never wore them out of respect of Dad's feelings because I know it would be weird for him to see me wearing her leftover diapers and wearing the same nightgowns she had slept in before during her time being nursed by us for her liver/pancreas cancer.

I did leave one in the trash by accident, and I got scared he would know I'd been wearing them. I put them on only during my periods (cycles) cause that's when I feel the most vulnerable, be the most sensitive and in pain to go anywhere or too lazy to keep changing my pads that leak everywhere at night.

I secretly think low-key it does make me Ageplay more, but I don't really do it like on command. Sometimes it just happens and I get all soft and I just wanna lay down, watch cartoons and either sing, draw, color, or do math homework, play games, or puzzles. I think maybe the 1st time I wore it though, it was because the pull-ups looked so easy to put on and off for Grandma, then I had watched Floribama Shore when that one crazy girl wore them around the house as a prank and I got even more curious.

I do judge myself a little bit too hard when its not my period anymore and I still get this rush, almost like a craving to wear a diaper while I'm at the house or about to go in my room....probably because I've been having more arousal and sensitive moments this year since dealing with that bad breakup. But I miss the first time I ever noticed I did ever show my soft side and it was to this specific person over the phone while we were falling to sleep together on the phone.

They told me later on why do you sound so different on the phone vs in person and I didn't understand. I thought I was just being myself. But then they said that I started like baby talk, but it was like where my voice got all light towards the time I was about to fall asleep and I would ask them to come closer to the phone so I could hear them breathing. It helped me relax and I felt safe like I could trust them with my sad, happy, and emotional states.

I never really got comfortable with me being angry, because that doesn't sound like me. But now that I've had to face it more, I'm more accepting of all my emotional states and the ages they remind me of when I get to all 3 in one happy, sad, emotional premise.

And that was seeing Grandma die. I had no idea she was already unconscious that morning, right before I called Hospice and I had to try to figure out if I had to give her more medicine or not so her head would stop shaking and her chest would stop having irregular breaths. She kept groaning and sounded like she was in pain, but needed something. Something for me to do, but because she couldn't talk and tell me, I had no idea.

At one point, I never told anyone but I thought maybe I was the reason for Grandma not making it till Monday. I thought if I had just given her some more morphine like the nurse said, instead of thinking it made it worse because she would go numb so deep that her eyes would roll, it was scary for my own mother to see when she saw her that morning and I was just sitting there, waiting for the Hospice nurse to come. I had no idea what to feel, because there was nothing I could do. I remember crying as if I was the doctor that couldn't save his own patient.

I remember thinking, I can't give up on Grandma, because she wouldn't do that to me if it was me, she deserved more than that. It was the best that I could do, so I went back up there again, no feelings in view and I gave her the recommended dose of morphine and found a way to get some water in her mouth, since her mouth kept shaking too and she suddenly wasn't able to swallow stuff anymore that morning.

By the time the nurse came, I was so damn numb even when she said she probably wouldn't expect her to live past Monday. Grandma was dying and I knew something wasn't right, but at the same time I was released from nurse duty and was exhausted. I wanted to do my best, no complaints, when taking care of Grandma. Cause I owed her. She took me in after that fight with momma for about a month, till we got into it too about something stupid.

I cried not until after I had left everybody in the room and went downstairs to try and watch one of her favorite movies she liked called "Big Fish" I never finished it because I cried that goddamn hard and I didn't know that her reaching out for me and momma's hands the day before or so it was like her turning back into a child herself. Scared, but strong. I've never heard a nurse say "she was trying to stay strong without the pain medication" but I forgot Grandma absolutely hated prescriptions and she hated needles or going to see any doctors. So that could have been why.

I always liked giving her a nice warm towel bath too, she appreciated the small things like ginger ale, butter pecan ice cream, the last of my little sister's birthday cake the week before she passed.

It was two weeks, but to me it felt like a month. I guess maybe I was hurt so bad and scared because I didn't want to keep having flashbacks of Grandma's face when she was unconscious and I didn't know what to do.

I even avoided sleeping in my room or going in her room. Because I would scream whenever I would open the door and walk past, expecting to see her there in my bed just straight looking at me, asking for a diaper change, to go potty, or for me to help her drink some water. Anything she needed and I helped, because I wanted to help her and especially my father who was already busy, tired, and stressed out about work.

So much had changed after that, and yea I felt alone about grieving her cause nobody really wanted to talk about "why did God decide that cancer was the best way for her to go?" I never had my religion shut right down from under me, because I never felt so confused and so untrusting of God than that very moment.

And the diapers were the only thing that made me connect to her and feel safe or sleep better after that. I would sneak to wear them like one would to eat candy bars. Cause I was depressed already and kept eating junk food and sugary sweets, cereal, and gummies till my stomach started hurting and I had to take breaks.

So yea.....thats how my secret diaper wearing quest started. But I still like the idea to wear them at night when I go to sleep or at least lay down in my room. Thats when I would watch Curious George, Clifford, Arthur, and all my other kid shows from childhood, cause it felt the safest to be happy then. Was when I was a kid. I used to even record christmas shows, Charlie Brown episodes, Disney TV on Saturday Mornings (cause we didn't have cable yet), CW Kids, Fox Network shows on my empty videotapes mom and dad saved me just so I could replay them as I watched and fell asleep to them right before I went to bed.

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wineanddinosaur · 4 years

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VinePair Podcast: Is the Gin Boom Finally Here?

Despite gin’s historic popularity in the United Kingdom, and surging popularity in much of Europe, the United States has long lagged behind in botanical clear spirit appreciation. That hasn’t stopped bold prognosticators from predicting an incipient “gin boom” in the U.S., but there was never much proof of a gin-loving American public — until now.

Gin has seen a spike in both sales and general consumer interest in 2020; that we know, but the question of “why” remains. Is it due largely to the gin and tonic, that summer staple that’s been even easier to make at home in the Covid-19 era? Is it because of the slew of gin-based cocktails that great bars have popularized over the past decade?

That’s what to tune in for on this week’s episode of the VinePair Podcast, when VinePair’s Adam Teeter, Erica Duecy, and Zach Geballe discuss why this time, the “gin boom” might just be the real thing — along with what’s driving it and how we’re tracking where it’s going.

Listen Online

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Or check out our conversation here

Adam Teeter: From Brooklyn, New York, I’m Adam Teeter.

Erica Duecy: From Connecticut, I’m Erica Duecy.

Zach Geballe: And in Seattle, Washington, I’m Zach Geballe.

A: And this is the VinePair Podcast. And before we launch into today’s topic, a word from this week’s sponsor. This podcast is sponsored by Gosling’s Rum. The newest addition to the Seal family, Gosling’s presents the incredibly drinkable Gold Seal Rum. Take that Black Seal. An initial sweetness leads to complex caramel flavors and layers of spice and the finish is dry and smooth — that sounds really good. Aged in new American oak, the rum attains a color of rich burnished gold with a brilliant glow. A blend of continuous and double pot distilled rums, Gosling’s Gold Seal Rum is uncommonly versatile and may be enjoyed straight up, on the rocks, or as a mixture that will enhance any rum cocktail mix. Mix it with Gosling’s stormy ginger beer for a Bermuda Mule. For a limited time, use code VinePair at checkout on reservebar.com for free shipping on your Gosling’s Rum order.

Z: All I’ve got to say is, Andrew Holmes, Gosling’s brand ambassador and former guest on this podcast, where is my bottle of Gold Seal Rum?

A: Seriously, I never got a bottle, either, come on guys!

Z: I’m not going anywhere, I need some rum

A: So, how’s everybody doing? I’m going on vacation so you guys are going to do the podcast without me next week. But how are you guys doing?

E: Good. I’m ready for a rum cocktail. It has been hot, hot, hot.

A: It’s gross, right? You know it’s really funny, I had a conversation with someone today that was like, “Adam, love the podcast. Just one comment, you guys talk about the weather a lot at the beginning of the show.”

Z: That’s because we’re f***ing old. What do you guys want?

A: That’s really funny and then without telling you that happened, Erica talked about the weather.

Z: I will tell you it says it is sunny and 70 degrees in Seattle today so New York can kiss my a**.

E: It is muggy and disgusting here, just yuck.

Z: Adam, does your entire neighborhood smell like garbage? I remember that not so fondly.

A: No, because I’m in Brooklyn. Well, have you guys drank anything really delicious recently?

E: I’ve been sticking to my Ranch Waters. That’s what I’ve been drinking. That and some rosés, that’s pretty much been my landscape for the last week.

A: Zach?

Z: I actually, I’m going to say something that close listeners of the podcast are going to be shocked by, I actually have been drinking some Pinot Noir rosé, which has been really delicious — a couple of Oregon producers. This gives me the perfect opportunity to shamelessly plug my upcoming free Pinot Noir class on Tuesday. Tuesday, Aug. 18, it’s about a 45-minute class all about Pinot Noir. You can find more information at my website disgorgedwine.com. I will now stop plugging myself and we can talk more about anything else.

A: I drank some good stuff last weekend. I had a bottle of Cos that was amazing. I love that producer so much — from Sicily. I had their Frappato and it was sick. I got it at this wine bar I love — we had them on the podcast a while ago. I wanted to go and see how they were doing. They and a few other restaurants on their street petitioned to fully shut down Vanderbilt which is the main thoroughfare of Prospect Heights, the neighborhood in Brooklyn, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. It’s really cool because while I know some people that live in New York and listen to the podcast may be used to seeing the dining in one parking spot —the parking spot in front of your restaurant you’re allowed to build a little platform and put as many chairs and tables that are socially distanced acceptable on that platform in that one spot, but now on Vanderbilt, they’re allowed to spread out throughout the entire thoroughfare. It’s really awesome. You walk down the middle of the street and there’s just tons of tables and restaurants. Dave, one of the owners of Lalou, was saying it could really help save a lot of these restaurants because a lot of them, due to this, are now able to be at or even over the capacity they normally would be if they were just indoor dining. And even though it’s just three days, it’s three days of the week that people go out and spend the most money. So some restaurants are able to use this to help fuel them now that the question “what happens as it starts to get cold?” as we’ve talked about before and we’ll talk about more as the fall continues — but I thought it was super cool and I got to take this amazing bottle of wine home and drink it with Naomi. It was absolutely delicious.

E: Nice.

Z: And it seems like the kind of thing where once we’ve started doing it societally you go like, “Wow, this is a lot nicer than just cars going by.”

A: it is.

Z: It’s a lot better for the quality of life in the neighborhood.

A: He was saying a lot of people in the neighborhood who have cars were really pissed because they’re like, “It’s so much harder to get my car to my street.” But wouldn’t you rather have a place where the entire neighborhood can congregate and be outside? There were kids in the street playing together and throwing the football as their parents all sat around drinking great cocktails because Weather Up is also an amazing cocktail bar that is on that block. It was just super cool to watch and there’s not really other places that this can happen because once you’ve decided that you’re sitting at this restaurant in this parking space that’s where you are. And this felt much more like a community coming together to support the businesses on this thoroughfare and really have a place that everyone could be whether you are eating or drinking at the spot or not. Obviously, kids were not drinking cocktails. It was super cool. So let’s get into today’s topic which I think is really interesting and that is something we’ve talked about a little bit on the show before. I have some theories, I’m sure you guys do as well, and that is there ever going to be or are we already beginning to see a gin boom in the U.S.? People have been predicting this gin boom for years and that is based on the fact that there’s been a massive gin boom in Europe. Apart from Spain that’s been in love with gin for well over a decade, you’re now seeing gin being wholly embraced in France, Italy, Greece, you’re also seeing gin continuing to be this massive spirit in Great Britain, where it’s always been very popular. But it never had as massive a following in the U.S. as I think a lot of people thought it could be. I’m going to start our conversation with a very bold statement and that is, I think it’s more likely now than ever and I think the reason for that is thanks to Covid-19. And what I mean by that is I think a lot of the reason that a lot of people really never truly embraced gin is because they never understood how delicious a truly well-made gin and tonic could be. And that’s because so many people around the country have been drinking gin and tonics in which the tonic water has been coming off the gun at a bar. And most of that tonic water is usually pretty garbage. Now that people are home and they’re buying their own tonic water and they’re making gin and tonics they’re realizing how delicious that drink is and that’s making them explore lots of other gins and lots of other gin cocktails. that’s my take. What do you guys think?

E: Nice. I think that that is a good assertion. It’s also an easy cocktail to make, so as you are thinking of what you’re going to be sipping, it’s so easy. This winter I was drinking a lot of Martinis, I was exploring different Martini recipes, and playing with variations and then that just spilled over into the gin and tonics of summer. I’ve tried all sorts of different tonic waters, all sorts of different gins. Some of them are savory, some of the tonic waters have a Mediterranean influence, I think there’s so much variety. But I think that we as journalists have been saying for years, gin is a thing, gin is happening, it’ s finally happening, nope this year it’s happening, nope next year it’s happening. But I think, finally, we actually are starting to see that traction. If you look at Nielsen data over a couple-year period you do see this upward trajectory just in the last 12 weeks the sales have been up 37 percent. To put that in context that’s a little bit lower than tequila, which has been on a massive tear, but it’s higher than bourbon or Irish whiskey, or rum or vodka. So in gin I think we’re finally starting to see that it really is moving up in people’s mind and that people are probably using them most often in a gin and tonic. I’m glad to see that it seems like it’s actually happening.

Z: I think that one of the interesting pieces of this is that pre-Covid in the landscape where gin was maybe on the come but no one really knew who that was going to happen, the problem was there was a real divergence between the gin cocktail as a gin and tonic, or even a Martini, where the gin in and of itself is really the centerpiece and where the thing that could hold it back as a drink is crappy tonic water, sh*tty vermouth, someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. That is on one side of the gin equation. The other side is a whole host of really delicious, interesting cocktails: Negronis, Last Words, all this stuff that rely on gin but not really designed to showcase gin as much as integrate it into a much more complex whole. And in that area, gin has made great strides in cocktail programs around the world and the United States and other places. But weirdly, in both my professional experience and experience as a consumer, the gin that’s used in a lot of these drinks, as long as it’s of decent quality, it’s almost better the less intrusive it is. So you had this weird split where you had a cocktail in form — a gin and tonic or the Martini — where an expressive, distinctive, interesting gin really shines but one that maybe was not being enjoyed by a lot of people, and then you have this other format where an unintrusive less distinctive gin is more appreciated so that the vermouth and liqueur can shine through. And I think, despite what we’ve talked about before on this podcast, you’re seeing a lot more people making gin and tonics than making Negronis at home. So I think, yes, it’s given an opportunity for gin, as the spirit itself really takes the center stage here. And I think that is really exciting and I don’t expect that to walk backward, but what I wonder is, are you going to see those other gin-based cocktails kick up in popularity for home bartenders as people just get more comfortable working with gin as a spirit?

A: That’s what I’m curious about. And I’m deferring to Erica here, our cocktail book author. What other cocktails are out there that you think that if you’ve now embraced the gin and tonic, could be the next big gin cocktail that really does showcase how delicious gin is? I think Zach is right that people will probably make more Negronis and things like that, and maybe now with better gin, but what are some of the other really classic gin cocktails that should be on people’s radars?

E: There are so many ways to use gin. One that’s my favorite is the bee’s knees, a gin sour that uses lemon and honey and that is kind of a back-to-classics. It was made classically around Prohibition, and the lemon and honey were used to mask the hard smell of bathtub gin. That’s kind of a fun version. There’s a variety of different ways to use it. The Last Word I would say is one of my favorites that hasn’t gotten enough traction. That’s equal parts of gin, chartreuse, Maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime. That one was actually a cocktail out of Detroit during Prohibition, and it has lineage back to the Detroit Athletic Club where all these well-heeled imbibers who were the titans of the car industry in Detroit would be at their gala events … and they’d slip outside to this speakeasy out back where the Last Word was being made. That’s one of my favorite variations and one of my favorite cocktails that I think is super underutilized. You can also play with various different Gimlets with some mint, cucumber, and blackberries, these summery Highball cocktails. There are so many ways to use gin, it’s really versatile and I would say that that’s one of the things that I think is driving interest in gin right now. For a long time, you had these traditional London dry gins that have that profile of coriander and angelica root and citrus and licorice and the juniper, of course, but then you moved into a phase where there is so much innovation happening in the spirits space but with gin in particular. The botanicals that people are using, the regions that are producing it, the different consumers that are being targeted, it’s really dynamic. You’ve got pink gin, you’ve got savory gin, you’ve got gin spiced with all these different botanicals. And this New Western style of gin, that we’ve written about a lot at VinePair, I think has really taken off. What that means is that the New Western style of gin is less focused on juniper and more focused on other things. For example, I know that there’s a gin out of Texas that is focused on lavender, grapefruit, and even has pecans in it. There’s one out of Japan, Suntory’s Roku, that is a yuzu-driven gin. It has flowers and herbs and botanicals, even tea in it, and a little bit of Sancho pepper that is a really incredible flavor expression that you would have never found with gin before. With this explosion of innovation, that’s one of the key things that’s driving this category forward.

Z: I want to add a couple of cocktails to Erica’s recommendations.

A: Please. I’m sure you’re adding the Aviation.

Z: No, I’m actually not, although that is another cocktail that I actually do love. I was going to offer a couple that I think are maybe easier stepping stones for people who are moving away from a gin and tonic. I think one great option for people is the French 75 — that’s a gin-based cocktail that also usually includes lemon juice and sparkling wine of some sort, some people will also add a sweetener like simple syrup. But again that, to me, is a nice option for someone who wants the lightness and brightness of a gin and tonic, the summery freshness, but is going to get more of a citrus note. Depending on how much lime you add to your gin and tonic, that could be equivalent. And then a Gin Fizz, another really classic cocktail — it is traditionally made with an egg white, but you can skip out if your don’t want it or if that’s too daunting for you — but again, a cocktail that marries gin and citrus but showcases the flavors of the gin you’re working with quite nicely. And then, to Erica’s point of these Western-style gins, I want to mention St. George Spirits in California, because to me they were one of the first producers that I came across that was really focused on, “we’re going to make a gin that is really reflective of where we are,” and their Terroir Gin is based on only local botanicals in the North Bay Area, and it’s really cool. It’s an awesome example of what gin can be, which is this platform to showcase a lot of different flavors, as Erica mentioned.

A: Do you both think then that part of gin’s appeal — besides the fact that the gin and tonic is so easy to make and now that people are finally making it with good tonic they’re realizing it’s delicious — is this local aspect of it that it really can reflect where it’s made in a way that a lot of other products can’t and that’s what makes it so interesting to so many people?

E: From my perspective, it’s really these small distillers who have been significant in the growth of gin. The smartest thing they’ve done is really focus on providence, they’ve focused on these authentic brand stories. There are of course the big Tanquerays and so forth out there, but when I think about the gin category, and even when you walk into a store, there are so many craft producers — and they all are telling a different story they’re trying to reach different types of consumers, they’re leveraging those different flavor profiles. So, I think that this trend is really timed perfectly with consumers’ growing interest in authentic brand stories, and in experimentation in a pretty simple and easy way. And to add to what we were saying about simple cocktail variations, with all of these new ones like the Japanese yuzu-driven gins and these other ones that feel very terroir-oriented, I think one thing to note is that you don’t necessarily want to be [using] it in a Negroni because that’s not a London Dry gin, that’s not what that cocktail was created for. The place to showcase all of these different flavors and different expressions of gin is in something simple: either in a gin and tonic, or I like the idea of a French 75; I also really like the idea of a Collins. A Collins is super simple, it’s just gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and then you can add an additional flavoring. If you want a little bit of berry, add a little bit of elderflower cordial —which needs to make a comeback — and then just top it off with soda. It’s a long drink, it’s a highball. But these simpler expressions are going to be the best place to highlight those very diverse gins.

A: It sounds like you both think a gin boom is going to come.

Z: I might be marginally more skeptical.

A: Why?

Z: Here are the two reasons. One, is that maybe the gin boom as defined in like “the gin-and-tonic boom” I can buy in. I’m still a little skeptical that the average consumer is going to move too far away from that. Again, as we started this conversation, it’s such a simple drink yet yields such great results if you use good gin and good tonic that I think a lot of people are happy to stay there. And that’s fine. And for a lot of these gins that we’re talking about, that’s great. As Erica said, that’s a great way to showcase these more terroir or pronounced driven gins, it’s frankly delicious — gin and tonic is one of my absolute favorite cocktails — and that’s totally fine. When I think of the gin boom I think of the idea that the average person who is reasonably serious about drinking at home has four, five, six, seven different gins on hand. And I kind of think that gin is still going to largely exist in the space that vodka has existed in that, for most people who consume at home, they have a brand that they turn to or at least one bottle at home at a time than when they drink that they go buy another. Not like how they might look at whiskey or tequila or something like that where they are like, I have to have a few different bottles on hand because I want different versions of this. Now I would be happy to be wrong. Gin is delicious and I would love for there to be more money going into the gin producer direction and less in some other spirits. But I think that I’m skeptical that people are going to see the need for three, four, five, six different gins on their bar shelf at home, even in this world where that is the only place you’re getting a cocktail for most people.

E: If you do want some gins that are more versatile, we have a massive resource of what the best gins are. It’s called “The 30 Best Gins for Every Budget 2020,” we update this every year. We tasted through over 100 different gins this year. I helped, it was on my Instagram and it was so much gin, it was shocking. But we have “the best gins under $25,” the best gins under $45, etc. That is a great place to go and read the reviews, they all have the tasting notes, and figure out what is the best gin for you. Because I do think it is a great idea to have maybe one or two bottles. Right now, I’ve got two bottles in my house and that’s enough. One is more savory, one has more of a floral botanical profile, and that’s enough for any type of cocktails that I want to make.

A: Yeah, I agree. Zach, I do agree with you that I think it’s going to be connected to the gin and tonic, but hey, I think that’s all it needs. The tequila boom is really being fueled by the Margarita. If you look at the explosion of the Margarita as a cocktail it’s very aligned with the explosion of tequila in general. That’s mostly how people are consuming tequila. Now some people are branching off and having Ranch Water like Erica or Palomas but it’s pretty much the Margarita. If it’s the gin and tonic that continues to fuel the boom, that’s great. I think the thing that’s really crazy about the gin and tonic that we’ll definitely see within the next few months is probably a lot of canned gin and tonics. There’s got to be some of these gin brands that already have them in development. There’s no way that gin and tonics aren’t coming out in cans very soon. Again, because of how delicious the cocktail is, to most people how simple it is, and how easy that probably is to put a high-quality tonic in a can with good gin.

E: I know that Greenhook Ginsmiths has one. We do have an article about some of the best canned gin and tonics, I know Cutwater has one. They’re coming out more and more. And I think whereas they weren’t so good in years past, they’ve really started to nail what we like to call “the citrus problem.” That’s the biggest problem with these canned products, is nailing the citrus notes. It’s so difficult and we’ve done multiple articles looking at how you fix flavorings, how you get these natural flavorings, how you incorporate them, how they’re shelf-stabilized, all of the technology that goes into creating a really good lime experience in a canned cocktail is significant. When we did our tasting we said that Greenhook Ginsmith’s gin and tonic was the best one on the market, and this was last fall. So if people have other gin and tonics that they are excited about, let us know.

A: Seriously, let us know, [email protected]. And if you have some samples send them our way, I’d love to taste a canned gin and tonic. I know Zach would but he wants his Gosling’s rum first.

Z: I can drink both of them at the same time, let’s be clear. I have a question for you two about gin and the gin and tonic: Am I weird for sometimes preferring just a gin and soda?

E: No. That’s partway to a Collins, add a little bit of lemon juice and simple syrup. No, I think gin and soda is nice.

A: Yes.

E: You think that’s weird?

A: I do.

Z: Yeah, Adam clearly does. That’s fair. What I would say is, I’m not really sure what I’m going for in that cocktail other than just a longer drink. I love Martinis, although I can’t drink them in the summer, weirdly, despite it being a gin-based drink, it’s too intense for me.

A: I agree.

E: Yeah [me too].

Z: I want my Martinis in the fall and winter. But I do like just gin sometimes. Sometimes I’ll just do gin on the rocks but I like to lighten it just a touch. I don’t do that with other spirits too much but with gin, I think just a little bit of soda water or tonic certainly, but sometimes the sweetness in tonic is a little much for me, especially with these more delicate, aromatic floral styles of gin, I want them to be dry. A gin and soda is maybe a borderline “do-I-have-a-problem? drink” because it’s very pleasurable, there’s not a lot of things that generally get us excited about drinking [in it]. But on the other hand, I really enjoy it.

A: Hey man, you have to do you.

E: I think it’s the perfect way to showcase a gin if you really want to appreciate a gin, and all the botanicals it’s bringing to the table. For the yuzu gin from Suntory, that’s the perfect way. You want to showcase all the different things that are in it, the tea and florals, and a little bit of pepper, and anything else is probably going to cover it up a little bit, so I would go soda.

A: See, Zach, Erica came to your rescue. You’re not a weirdo.

Z: I’m not sure the person who wrote a cocktail book, she’s the authority, but she was inclined to be on my side, anyhow.

A: Guys, it’s been a really interesting conversation as always. I hope you have a really fun one next week without me. It probably won’t be as good. But I know you’ll get through it. What are you guys going to talk about? Seattle?

E: No idea. Probably Seattle.

Z: We’ll just talk about the weather in Seattle.

A: Tune in next week when Erica and Zach dissect the weather in Seattle.

E: It’s going to be riveting.

Z: We’re going two hours, folks.

A: For everyone else, they’ll see you back here next week, I will see everyone in two weeks.

Z: Have a nice vacation.

E: Take care.

A: Before we go, a word from our sponsor, Goslings Rum. The newest addition to the Seal family, Goslings presents the incredibly drinkable Gold Seal Rum. An initial sweetness leads to complex caramel flavors and layers of spice and the finish is dry and smooth. Aged in new American oak, the rum attains the color of rich burnished gold with a brilliant glow. A blend of continuous and double pot distilled rums, Goslings Gold Seal rum is uncommonly versatile and may be enjoyed straight up, on the rocks, or as a mixture that will enhance any rum cocktail mix. Mix it with Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer for a Bermuda Mule. For a limited time use code “VinePair” at checkout on reservebar.com for free shipping on all of your Goslings Rum purchases.

Thanks so much for listening to the VinePair Podcast. If you enjoy listening to us every week, please leave us a review or rating on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever it is that you get your podcasts. It really helps everyone else discover the show. Now, for the credits: VinePair is produced and hosted by Zach Geballe, Erica Duecy and me: Adam Teeter. Our engineer is Nick Patri and Keith Beavers. I’d also like to give a special shout out to my VinePair co-founder Josh Malin and the rest of the VinePair team for their support. Thanks so much for listening and we’ll see you again right here next week.

Ed. note: This episode has been edited for length and clarity.

The article VinePair Podcast: Is the Gin Boom Finally Here? appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/is-gin-boom-finally-here/

0 notes

johnboothus · 4 years

Text

VinePair Podcast: Is the Gin Boom Finally Here?

Listen Online

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Or check out our conversation here

Adam Teeter: From Brooklyn, New York, I’m Adam Teeter.

Erica Duecy: From Connecticut, I’m Erica Duecy.

Zach Geballe: And in Seattle, Washington, I’m Zach Geballe.

Z: All I’ve got to say is, Andrew Holmes, Gosling’s brand ambassador and former guest on this podcast, where is my bottle of Gold Seal Rum?

A: Seriously, I never got a bottle, either, come on guys!

Z: I’m not going anywhere, I need some rum

A: So, how’s everybody doing? I’m going on vacation so you guys are going to do the podcast without me next week. But how are you guys doing?

E: Good. I’m ready for a rum cocktail. It has been hot, hot, hot.

Z: That’s because we’re f***ing old. What do you guys want?

A: That’s really funny and then without telling you that happened, Erica talked about the weather.

Z: I will tell you it says it is sunny and 70 degrees in Seattle today so New York can kiss my a**.

E: It is muggy and disgusting here, just yuck.

Z: Adam, does your entire neighborhood smell like garbage? I remember that not so fondly.

A: No, because I’m in Brooklyn. Well, have you guys drank anything really delicious recently?

E: I’ve been sticking to my Ranch Waters. That’s what I’ve been drinking. That and some rosés, that’s pretty much been my landscape for the last week.

A: Zach?

E: Nice.

Z: And it seems like the kind of thing where once we’ve started doing it societally you go like, “Wow, this is a lot nicer than just cars going by.”

A: it is.

Z: It’s a lot better for the quality of life in the neighborhood.

Z: I want to add a couple of cocktails to Erica’s recommendations.

A: Please. I’m sure you’re adding the Aviation.

A: It sounds like you both think a gin boom is going to come.

Z: I might be marginally more skeptical.

A: Why?

A: Seriously, let us know, [email protected]. And if you have some samples send them our way, I’d love to taste a canned gin and tonic. I know Zach would but he wants his Gosling’s rum first.

Z: I can drink both of them at the same time, let’s be clear. I have a question for you two about gin and the gin and tonic: Am I weird for sometimes preferring just a gin and soda?

E: No. That’s partway to a Collins, add a little bit of lemon juice and simple syrup. No, I think gin and soda is nice.

A: Yes.

E: You think that’s weird?

A: I do.

A: I agree.

E: Yeah [me too].

A: Hey man, you have to do you.

A: See, Zach, Erica came to your rescue. You’re not a weirdo.

Z: I’m not sure the person who wrote a cocktail book, she’s the authority, but she was inclined to be on my side, anyhow.

E: No idea. Probably Seattle.

Z: We’ll just talk about the weather in Seattle.

A: Tune in next week when Erica and Zach dissect the weather in Seattle.

E: It’s going to be riveting.

Z: We’re going two hours, folks.

A: For everyone else, they’ll see you back here next week, I will see everyone in two weeks.

Z: Have a nice vacation.

E: Take care.

Ed. note: This episode has been edited for length and clarity.

The article VinePair Podcast: Is the Gin Boom Finally Here? appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/is-gin-boom-finally-here/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/vinepair-podcast-is-the-gin-boom-finally-here

0 notes

isaiahrippinus · 4 years

Text

VinePair Podcast: Is the Gin Boom Finally Here?

Listen Online

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Or check out our conversation here

Adam Teeter: From Brooklyn, New York, I’m Adam Teeter.

Erica Duecy: From Connecticut, I’m Erica Duecy.

Zach Geballe: And in Seattle, Washington, I’m Zach Geballe.

Z: All I’ve got to say is, Andrew Holmes, Gosling’s brand ambassador and former guest on this podcast, where is my bottle of Gold Seal Rum?

A: Seriously, I never got a bottle, either, come on guys!

Z: I’m not going anywhere, I need some rum

A: So, how’s everybody doing? I’m going on vacation so you guys are going to do the podcast without me next week. But how are you guys doing?

E: Good. I’m ready for a rum cocktail. It has been hot, hot, hot.

Z: That’s because we’re f***ing old. What do you guys want?

A: That’s really funny and then without telling you that happened, Erica talked about the weather.

Z: I will tell you it says it is sunny and 70 degrees in Seattle today so New York can kiss my a**.

E: It is muggy and disgusting here, just yuck.

Z: Adam, does your entire neighborhood smell like garbage? I remember that not so fondly.

A: No, because I’m in Brooklyn. Well, have you guys drank anything really delicious recently?

E: I’ve been sticking to my Ranch Waters. That’s what I’ve been drinking. That and some rosés, that’s pretty much been my landscape for the last week.

A: Zach?

E: Nice.

Z: And it seems like the kind of thing where once we’ve started doing it societally you go like, “Wow, this is a lot nicer than just cars going by.”

A: it is.

Z: It’s a lot better for the quality of life in the neighborhood.

Z: I want to add a couple of cocktails to Erica’s recommendations.

A: Please. I’m sure you’re adding the Aviation.

A: It sounds like you both think a gin boom is going to come.

Z: I might be marginally more skeptical.

A: Why?

A: Seriously, let us know, [email protected]. And if you have some samples send them our way, I’d love to taste a canned gin and tonic. I know Zach would but he wants his Gosling’s rum first.

Z: I can drink both of them at the same time, let’s be clear. I have a question for you two about gin and the gin and tonic: Am I weird for sometimes preferring just a gin and soda?

E: No. That’s partway to a Collins, add a little bit of lemon juice and simple syrup. No, I think gin and soda is nice.

A: Yes.

E: You think that’s weird?

A: I do.

A: I agree.

E: Yeah [me too].

A: Hey man, you have to do you.

A: See, Zach, Erica came to your rescue. You’re not a weirdo.

Z: I’m not sure the person who wrote a cocktail book, she’s the authority, but she was inclined to be on my side, anyhow.

E: No idea. Probably Seattle.

Z: We’ll just talk about the weather in Seattle.

A: Tune in next week when Erica and Zach dissect the weather in Seattle.

E: It’s going to be riveting.

Z: We’re going two hours, folks.

A: For everyone else, they’ll see you back here next week, I will see everyone in two weeks.

Z: Have a nice vacation.

E: Take care.

Ed. note: This episode has been edited for length and clarity.

The article VinePair Podcast: Is the Gin Boom Finally Here? appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/is-gin-boom-finally-here/ source https://vinology1.tumblr.com/post/626795145479798784

0 notes

lonelypond · 7 years

Text

Casual Lunacy, Chapter 19

Love Live, NicoMaki, 4K, 19/?

Full Moon, Full Impact, not so casual. Why yes, I did name this chapter after the playlist I wrote it to. Rain currently only a metaphor.

Werewolf In The Rain (I)

Maki woke up, strange smells, musk, magic, vanilla, peach, lavender…Nico smells…she was…Maki sat up, a sheet falling from her torso, blinking…Nico’s bedroom…why was she in Nico’s bedroom? The last thing she remembered was getting sleepy watching a movie. Maki had been worried about Nico canceling their coffee date at the last minute, the thought that Nico was not as eager to see her as she was to see Nico kept looping. And anyplace she went on campus, if Nico was anywhere, Maki was too aware of who she was with and often, what she was saying. All of Maki’s senses had locked on Nico. Werewolf dating…or mating, to be more accurate, Maki realized as she dropped back onto Nico’s bed, clutching a pillow. But that wasn’t human dating. Human dating was slower. Rin and Hanayo had gone slower because they’d met so much younger. Pre puberty. Maki ran a hand over the curve of her hip, imagining Nico’s fingers there instead, inhaling the heady mix of Nico smells that seemed to go right to her core. Definitely post puberty.

Maki rolled over to check the time, no clock, but there was a note taped to the speaker where Nico recharged her phone, “Hey, Pretty Girl, don’t panic. Nico will have to leave for class in the morning so if I’m not here, I’ll be back soon.

We didn’t sleep together, Nico stayed on the couch. You didn’t hurt anyone. I texted your mother so she doesn’t think you’ve gone missing.

See you soon. Nico will bring clothes.

Nico.

P.S. Nico left you a sandwich ; ) ”

A sandwich? Nico taking care of things. “You didn’t hurt anyone.” Had she tried? “We didn’t sleep together.” Did Nico want to? “See you soon.” Nico sounding so reasonable. Maki growled. At herself. Again. She was not a problem to be handled by other people. She didn’t know exactly what happened last night, or how she had ended up in Nico’s bed but it had been a long time since she’d been so out of control as to have no memory of her actions. Not a good thing at all that it was starting again now, with Nico. Not acceptable.

Maki knew where she had to go.

Two and half hours later, Maki pulled the car up to the Nishikino’s Wisconsin lakeside cabin. She was starting to feel the effects of the full moon, tingling under her skin, urging her to just change and run until she got what or where she wanted. Grabbing the duffle from the backseat, she hurried inside, locking all three of the bolts and quickly checking the windows and the back door. Secure. She was safe here. Her great-grandfather had built it to keep her grandmother safe and her father had updated the locks when Maki had begun her transformations. In her normal werewolf form, Maki could figure out some doors or switch back to human long enough to work a handle. In her moon buzzed werewolf state, Maki would just get increasingly frustrated and tear through everything in the cabin until she wore herself out and slept. That would be tonight. She’d left a note for her parents explaining, but she’d only left a brief response to Nico’s note. Time to text.

M: Hi Nico. I’m sorry I left so abruptly. Thank you for taking care of me last night.

N: Where are you? I sent you so many texts. Nico was worried ಠ_ಠ

M: Nico has to worry too much about me. It’s not good ●.◉ I’m in Wisconsin.

N: Why the heck are you there?

M: My family has a werewolf proof cabin.

N: oh

28 Hours Ago

Maki’s phone buzzed as she was leaving class. Nico. Her heart skipped and her smile was wide when she answered, “Hi Nico!”

“Hi, Maki! You sound good.” Nico chirped. “Sorry I fell asleep last night. Nico was exhausted.”

“You had a long day.” Maki paused, ruffling her fingers through the hair at the back of her head, “And I made it longer. Sorry.”

“It’s ok, Nico’s always glad to see you. Nico would just like,” Maki heard Nico take in a long breath and her voice dropped to a seductive purr, “to kiss Maki without chewing on fur.”

Maki snorted. Leave it to Nico to mix provocation and complaint in an irresistible and irreproducible concoction. So very U-Nico.

“Maki?”

“Just thinking how u-nico you are.” Maki decided to tweak her GIRLFRIEND.

“Ha.” Maki could picture the half sneer on Nico’s face, “Leave the puns to the professional. Nico will handle it.”

‘Nico can handle anything.” Maki shifted her bag, preparing to head outside, to her next class.

“Sometimes Nico makes a mistake.” Nico sounded guilty.

“What happened?” Maki stopped, unaware of how she was half blocking the Harris Hall doorway until someone pushed into her. He cursed, she growled.

“Something wrong, Maki?” Nico, concern in her voice again.

Maki bounded down the stairs, feeling like a howl. One more class and she could see Nico, “Just a traffic jam. Everybody’s rushing to their next class. Are you?”

“No. Nico is preparing for an important meeting with her adviser that she forgot about until she looked at her schedule this morning. It starts at,” Nico hesitated, “2:45”

“Oh.”

24 Hours Ago

Time to work on her Cognitive Psychology Paper should be a good thing, Maki knew. She was starting to get far enough behind in her reading that she’d have to devote some extra time to schoolwork. She rolled restlessly across the spare bed in Hanayo and Rin’s room, ignoring her open textbook, while Hanayo watched curiously over her glasses, distracted from her laptop.

“Something wrong, Maki?” Hanayo half closed her laptop.

Maki jumped up to a seated position, “Restless. Nico was supposed to meet me, but she forgot an appointment.”

“Do you have a date tonight?” Hanayo wondered.

“No. Nico’s too busy. She has rehearsal or work all week.” Maki was now actually standing on the bed, reaching up to the ceiling, then hopping a little to see if she could palm it.

“Is this the first full moon since you started dating?” Hanayo frowned, debating whether asking Maki to watch her actions would trigger a mood change.

“Yeah, why?” Maki stopped bouncing to stare at her friend.

Hanayo considered how to phrase her next statement, “Rin gets very active sometimes.” Hanayo glanced at her phone, “But track practice should tire her out. Maybe you should take a run.”

Maki jumped, the bed creaking, pulling her knees up like a cannonball dive and landing hard on the floor, “I’m fine. I need the energy to study. I can pull an all nighter. I’m behind in all my reading anyway.”

Hanayo glanced at the book Maki had forgotten on the bed, then back to her friend, “Reading isn’t much fun sometimes.”

Maki laughed. Hanayo thought it sounded frenetic. “After Rin and celebrity websites, books are your favorite things.”

“But…” Hanayo leaned forward.

Maki shook her head, “I’m heading home. Tell Rin I’m sorry I missed her.”

“Ok.” Hanayo’s eyes dimmed as her internal argument continued, then she stood, “Maki…” Maki turned, head tilted, lavender eyes flashing and Hanayo got a vivid flash of her wolf form, “Be careful.”

Maki smiled at her friend, “Keep an eye on Rin. I’ll be fine.”

The door shut and Hanayo had to force herself to stop staring anxiously at the Cognitive Psychology text Maki had left behind her. Maki had more control over her changes than Rin, surely everything would be fine.

23 Hours Ago

Nothing was fine. Nothing felt fine. It had never been like this before, Maki realized, the restlessness, the needles under her skin, the urge to change, to run, to howl, to…Maki didn’t even have words for what she felt, something inside was using hammers of adrenaline to persuade her that only in wolf form could she be fully articulate, throat open, fangs gleaming, eyes emerald daggers, voice a roaring demand…and then she would pick up Nico’s voice or scent and her heart would add another hammer, pounding in her chest, blood pounding in her ears, saliva gathering in her mouth, tongue constantly flicking out, ears straining for any syllable from Nico, muscles tensed…maybe a shower would put up a barrier, driving out other sensations, outside sounds, leaving Maki with just the pounding of water…she sprinted upstairs, throwing off clothes, turning on the shower, chill or burn, which would help, both, back and forth, panting, it had never felt like this, the moon, alive, calling…oh gods, was that what Nico saw, the moon alive, crawling, underneath, hairs twisting out, Nico, no, don’t think about Nico now, Maki dug her fingers into her thighs for the distraction of the pain, doubling over, water pounding off her back as claws drew blood and her body hit the bottom of the tub, and there was only time for a breath and a whimper before she was thrashing, too wet to find footing on slippery porcelain, desperate to get away from the water and the pounding…

Kashima was waiting for Nico. Since their session Sunday, Kashima had been filling Nico in on all her hopes, dreams, aspirations and ongoing flirtations and Nico was starting to realize how Maki felt about Kashima’s cologne. The cloying essence extended through Kashima’s conversation and clung. And yet, on stage, a switch flipped and she was Dracula. Nico aspired to that level of concentration, the charisma to pull the world into any performance with her. Some nights, Nico could feel it, but she never really got a full charge without an audience presence. Kashima only needed a bare stage. Nico was impressed. Kashima seemed to have no self awareness when she walked out into the lights, somehow, there was only the script. And the character. Nico vowed to memorize faster. Kashima was already off book and her hands and gestures were becoming an integral part of the character she had developed.

“Nico is impressed by how fast you got off book.” Nico zipped up her parka and pulled her mittens out of her pockets, Kashima held the door open, a black scarf with a thin green stripe wrapped around her throat and tucked into her camel hair coat.

Kashima nodded, “Always do. Now I can spend that time reading up on illusionists and how they misdirect people with their hands. Hori, the set grad assistant, suggested it for Dracula.”

Nico chuckled, breathing in a last bit of warm air before she stepped through the door, “You’re going to learn card tricks?”

Kashima leaned over, she was even taller than Maki, and with a sparkle in her green eyes, ran her fingers through Nico’s hair and around her ear, pulling out a quarter, “Coin tricks.”

“Clever.” Nico winked, “Distracts from the biting.”

“Exactly.” Suddenly Kashima’s hands were grasping Nico’s shoulders and Nico felt herself being forced forward as Kashima tilted her head, voice dropping, “but the audience will see all the tricks the fair maidens don’t.”

Nico felt the shiver and snapped, “Kashima!” Kashima’s hands fell and Nico stepped away, “We talked about this. Only onstage and only in character.”

“Method acting is fascinating, don’t you think.” Kashima raised a hand to her chin, looking the very picture of brooding romantic thought.

“No.” Nico raised both hands, flicking them out, exasperated once again by what had started out to be a perfectly normal conversation with Kashima, “Just no.”

Kashima shrugged and whistled the theme from Jaws. Nico sighed. A howl suddenly sounded, angry. Nico recognized a few of the notes as it carried.

“Kashima, I have to go back inside. Go home by yourself. Now. Really fast.” Nico turned around, facing in the direction of the howl.

“Nico?” Kashima touched Nico’s shoulder, Nico pivoted and pushed the taller woman away, “Just go. Please. Now. Turn into a cloud of bats or something.”

Kashima’s teeth gleamed in the moonlight and she swept her coat out around her, swooping away, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mina.”

“Flee, o fiend of darkness!” And Nico turned back, bracing for impact. It came sooner than expected, a cold, Maki weight, soggy???, whining, growling werewolf sniffling all around Nico, tracing Kashima’s trail. No greeting, which confused Nico. It looked like Maki, although the color was off because of the wet. She must be freezing. What had happened, had she fallen into the Lake? Maki seemed tensed to spring and she was pointed in the direction Kashima had gone. Nico stepped closer and Maki whirled.

“Maki?” Nico’s voice was soft, a question. Maki snapped back. She was trembling, probably from cold. So Nico’s reply was sharper, not louder, but demanding attention. “Maki.” The werewolf tilted her head, sniffing Nico, growling at Nico’s left ear where Kashima’s touch had lingered with the coin, eyes completely luminous green and narrowed, no recognition. Nico calmed her breathing, telling herself not to panic, took a mitten off slowly and reached out a hand, Maki skipped to the side, wary.

“Nico is back to being the most frightening thing on campus. “ She grumbled, glancing up, glaring at the bright moon, “Nico blames you.”

“Princess.” No response. Nico couldn’t leave Maki like this and there was no guarantee that this Maki would follow her anywhere. “Hey, Pretty Girl,” Nico hummed “I Get No Kick” and Maki’s ears perked up, “can you follow Nico into the theatre where it’s warm? Nico thinks you might be freezing.” Nico kept humming, Maki’s eyes were now tracking her every movement, Nico hoped Maki would follow her. Nico took a tentative step backward and Maki shadowed the movement. “Nico should start carrying jerky around. Come on, pretty girl.” Nico would have to remember compliments got Maki’s attention, even in this state. Nico continued with the “Anything Goes” soundtrack and opened the door. Maki began to sniff more rapidly, drawn to the warmth. Nico hoped Tsubasa wasn’t around; Maki was likely to have a visceral reaction to her as well. “Come on, pretty girl, Nico needs your help.” Nico urged, sotto voce, Maki looked at her and Nico almost saw a glimmer of reaction. Nico reached out her hand again and Maki skittered to the left. Nico pushed the door as open as she could and stood in front of it, willing Maki forward. Maki sniffed the ground, finding a scent she liked, and barrelled into the building, Nico in pursuit.

“Maki!” Surprise at Maki’s speed prompted a shout from Nico, struggling with a parka not designed for rapid movement. Maki slid to a stop outside the costume shop, howling.

“Quiet down, Maki.” Nico was trying very hard to keep both panic and irritation out of her voice. This was frighteningly different from her previous interactions with Maki in wolf form, no eye contact, no acknowledgement of Nico’s statements, only the barest, most intermittent flicker of any awareness at all. Why the costume shop? Nico wondered as Maki kept throwing herself at the door, until Nico reached for the handle, which caused Maki to shy back. Nico opened the door a little, Kotori was still working. Kotori? Nico frowned. Had she left that big of an impression on Maki at the party? Nico drew the line at Kotori poaching her girlfriend for further polyamorous fun. But Maki ignored Kotori and headed straight for the tote bag laying on a table so Nico recalculated.

“Nico?” Kotori stepped off the pedal of her sewing machine, sounding curious, staring at the intruder in her space.

“What do you have….” And suddenly it clicked for Nico, “Umi gave you a sandwich, didn’t she?”

Kotori nodded. Maki had grabbed for the bag but it slipped to the floor. Nico grabbed it and ran for the door, turning the corner, seeing a room, opening the door to check that no one was inside and pulling out the sandwich and tossing it into the room, Maki leaping after. Nico slammed the door, sitting in front of it, taking a moment to breathe. Well, at least Maki was more attracted to Nico’s cooking than she was to Kotori. That was something. Nico snorted, but such a small something right now. Unzipping her parka with one hand, Nico took her phone out of its sleeve tech pocket with the other. Multitasking and the werewolf girlfriend. Maki was whining behind the door. Probably freezing, but Nico wasn’t opening the door until…

Kotori had also followed Nico, but not at werewolf speed. Her eyes were suspicious, “Nico?”

“Give Nico a minute.” Nico dialed Umi’s number, “Umi, it’s an emergency and I need a favor….bring my car to the Wirtz Center and any of those sandwiches that are left and grab my longest scarf or a rope of something…oh, wait, Kotori can probably find me something….yes, Kotori’s here…yes, you can bring Honoka…..yes, it’s about her.”

Nico glanced up at Kotori, “I can never thank you enough for introducing me to Umi. Also, she says she’ll see you soon.”

Kotori pursed her lips, “'About her’?”

“My…” Now Nico was on the spot. How hard not to slip into a lie, how easy to stumble without any answer that sounded right. So she skipped to the next item on the list. “Right now, I need to get Princess calmed down.” Nico stood, determined, “that’s the first thing. Can you find something I can use as a collar and not ask questions, Kotori? Please?”

“Sure, Nico.” Kotori’s voice was breathy and soft. Maki’s howls got louder and sadder. At least she wasn’t sounding angry, that encouraged Nico.

“It’s all right, pretty girl,” Nico whispered in a pause, knowing Maki would hear her, “Nico will take care of this. Umi’s bringing food and we’re going to take you home and dry you off.”

Nico waited for a response, a howl, a whimper, a whine, but there was none, just the sudden sound of a body knocking through seats. Nico felt lonely. Would a howl reach Maki, the Maki inside there somewhere? Nico leaned against the door, forehead pressed against the metal. Were there tears? Of course not, Nico would insist. Nico can handle this easy. A future star of stage and screen surmounts all obstacles with style and panache. A full moon crazed werewolf girlfriend? That’s nothing compared to an empty Sunday matinee theatre.

“NICO!” Honoka’s shout echoed, giving Nico time to whirl and wipe a quick hand across her eyes. Umi was running alongside Honoka, her pace even, but the mechanics of her stride restrained.

“Here are the sandwiches.” Umi handed Nico a lunch cooler. Nico opened it: half a dozen left, that should be enough.

Kotori returned with a long piece of braid, which Nico knotted a loop in as Honoka rushed to embrace the fawn haired woman.

Nico took Umi aside as Honoka and Kotori chatted. Nico kept her voice quiet, “She’s not like she was, Umi. She doesn’t respond to me when I talk. I’m not even sure she reco….”

Umi made a sympathetic rumble, then stayed right on topic with a question, “Which is why the sandwiches and the car. So how do we do this?”

Nico had been planning so her answer was quick. The sooner they all got out of the building the better. “I’ll open the door. Honoka can hold out a sandwich and I’ll slip this around her…” Nico held up the braid, wincing at the thought of calling it a leash or a collar, “Then we lead her out to the car, where you are with a couple of sandwiches…”

Maki howled, interrupting, she sounded impatient. Nico knew more delay would be counterproductive, “So we get her into the car, carefully, take her home, stash her in my bedroom, dry her off and call her parents.”

Umi frowned, “Can’t we take her to her house?”

“Nico is not leaving her unsupervised tonight. Nobody seems to care.” Nico felt her own anger rise. Who doesn’t have a plan for a werewolf daughter? Not irresponsible dog ownership, irresponsible parenting. Maki could get hurt. Or sick, Nico thought, remembering how drenched her fur looked.

Umi nodded, aware of how much concern Nico was still hiding. “Give me 5 minutes to put the car outside the nearest door. I’ll text you.”

Nico handed Umi 2 sandwiches, “Thanks, Umi.”

“You’re welcome, Nico.” Umi hustled off, with a calm certainty Nico appreciated.

A group of random students wandered by and Nico waved. Honoka jumped out to hug a friend, but Kotori pulled her back, shushing her. Nico walked over to them, handing Honoka a sandwich, “We’re going to walk Princess back to the car, Honoka. Give her the first sandwich and then lead her out to the car with the others.”

Kotori kissed Honoka on the cheek. “Be careful, sweetie.”

“Don’t worry, Kotori. Umi and I can do this. See you later.” Honoka gleamed, unwrapping the sandwich as Nico prepared to open the door. Nico turned the handle, pushed the door with her foot and there was a rush as a dark red head popped out of the door, nose eagerly searching for its target. Nico slipped the braid over Maki’s neck in one quick motion, holding her breath as the werewolf snapped in irritation but then Honoka shoved the sandwich into Maki’s mouth and took off down the hall, waving another one, pieces of ham falling to the floor and being slurped up by what was an apparently starving werewolf. Nico was keeping up with Maki’s pace, not willing to get involved in a tug of war. Honoka turned the corner and then, there she was, opening the door to the outside, Maki picked up her pace, now half dragging Nico, but then there was Umi, who had braced herself between the car and the now open door and used what looked like a karate throw to shunt Maki into the back seat of the car, diving in after her. Nico let the braid go and followed Honoka into the front seat, Umi used her arms and torso to create a moving barricade to prevent Maki from leaping over the front seat. Honoka put the car in drive.

They had wrestled and coaxed Maki into Nico’s bedroom, although once she realized where Nico was trying to make her go, Maki had become more cooperative, jumping onto Nico’s bed and even standing still for half a minute while Nico tried to towel her off. But still no affection or playfulness, just watchfulness as Nico tried to look as harmless as possible and ignore the fact that all of her things were getting damp, grimy werewolf all over them. Nico had taken a moment to crouch down in front of Maki and try to capture her head again, to make eye contact, but Maki had raised her snout, pulling back her ears with a squint, tail slightly curled from the middle, looking ready to bolt again so Nico backed away. Finally, after circling the room several times, stopping once or twice to sniff curiously in Nico’s direction, Maki curled up in front of Nico’s closet, on Nico’s best outfit for winter cuteness. Maki so needed to spring for a “Take Nico shopping date” after tonight. Nico stood in the door for a minute, considering the picture as still entirely green eyes stared into hers for a brief moment, before the werewolf tucked her head into her side.

“Get some rest, pretty girl.” Nico slumped and shut the door, realizing how tensed she’d been keeping her muscles.

Umi was on the couch, Honoka sprawled across her. Both exhausted. Nico imagined she looked battered. Umi pointed to the table. A mug, full of hot chocolate, and some leftover banana bread had been put out for her, “You probably need the calories, Nico. Is” Umi glanced down at Honoka, “Princess all right?”

Nico nodded as she drank the warm liquid. She’d gotten so cold. And wet. Steaming shower was the next step. But first, forgetting she had an audience, Nico dropped her chin down, hands wrapped around her torso to stop the shaking, cinching her eyes closed so no tears could start, first Nico would feel just a little sorry for herself that at no point had Maki let Nico reach out and hug her, at no point had there been that connection Nico had always felt, even before Maki had revealed the truth. That lack left Nico with such an empty feeling in her chest. If Nico were a werewolf right now, howling, the sad would bounce in that hollow, desolate space, bruising her heart as the notes made their way out of her throat. And, as if cued, the actual werewolf howled from Nico’s bedroom, the lost sound a forlorn echo of Nico’s ache.

A/N: Howdy. Things get a little out of control this chapter. Apologies if you get thrown by the slight time skip from the last chapter, but I think the disconnect adds to the mood this bit needs.

I keep promising you a fave fic list so I’m just going to list titles here until I do a proper list, if you need links, let me know. These are long term memory mostly, not more recent examples – and I probably missed a few: anything arcanine, 24 Visits, Doctor’s Orders, nikoxnii Tumblr shorts, Restless Sleep (more NozoEli, but the NicoMaki is fun), You’ve Got To Be Kidding, How To Handle a Nico, Interview With An Idol, Buy Your Love, and The Number 54’s Harry Potter AU

Here’s the playlist, I’ve just been putting it on shuffle starting at the end so there’s no rhyme or reason in the order. What’s your favorite stormy mood song?

#nicomaki #Casual Lunacy #werewolf #really really werewolf #nishikino maki #yazawa nico #love live #fanfic #coffeeshop #college #theatre #kashima makes an appearance #full moon #etc

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wildermindfic · 7 years

Text

Wilder Mind: One

I had just gotten back from lunch in the break room to discover a stack of papers larger than the ones I left. I sighed and sat down in my chair ready to tackle the rest of the work I would have to do.

I had been working in the same design firm since I graduated from college as a computer science major. Luckily I had found a job fresh out of school, seeing as most of my friends were not so lucky, but I was slowly making my name here.

I watched as my boss, Elliot Rhodes, strolled out of his office on the way to the break room going through the maze of cubicles.

"Horan, Styles, we've got a meeting in a half hour, I expect you both to make it this time yeah?" Mr. Rhodes said.

"Yes sir you'll see us if we can get cracking on these papers." I commented.

"Alright looking forward to it boys." he said and continued on.

I looked up from the stack to see my mate Harry sighing as he looked at his pile.

"God that guy is really starting to get on my nerves, just because he's the boss doesn't mean he doesn't have any work to do, he shouldn't just be strolling around the office with his fly down watching us all work our asses off." Harry ranted.

"Well it is quite enjoyable watching him make an ass of himself everyday, it at least gives everyone something to talk about." I laughed at him.

"Where'd these stacks come from?" he groaned.

"Well you're supposed to be proofreading them so that I can code them in." I commented. "Just more work for me to do."

Harry was a good guy, we got hired at the same time five years ago and took a great liking to each other from sitting in cubes across from each other. Now he was one of my best mates and I'm glad we got stuck in this company together.

I looked down at the first sheet and logged back into my computer. I was mainly involved in writing code to send off to our clients to use for their websites which is a long and tedious process. I had to relearn how to code in HTML and CSS once I got the job. Luckily most in the stack were just fixing a few fonts here and there but I had two complete template changes to work on as well due in by the end of the night.

"Wanna get a drink after work? Today has been completely taxing." Harry asked.

"Yeah I'm in, as long as this gets done." I sighed.

The two of us kept typing away and passing each other papers up until our meeting. The whole office started standing up and rolling their chairs off to the conference room while I was finishing up some code.

"Come on Ni, don't want to walk in late." Harry said while standing and pushing back his hair.

"Alright give me one more second I don't want this to crash." I commented.

I put the closing brace on the code and saved it to look it over after the meeting. I stood and straightened my tie and followed Harry into the room, sneaking in the back so we could make a quick escape when the time came. Rhodes gave us a glance as I shut the door behind me. We were always the last ones in the room and attempted to be the first ones out.

"Alright ladies and gentlemen, just a brief meeting today." Rhodes said clearing his throat. "We've had new employees training over the last couple weeks and they'll be joining us all tomorrow so welcome them and help them out."

"Just what we need, more employees whose work we'll just have to redo." Harry muttered to me under his breath.

"I'll be calling many of you into my office throughout the rest of the day to talk a few things through with you but don't worry there's no layoffs this quarter." Rhodes continued.

You could hear the entire room exhale, myself included, at this comment. Apparently we were doing alright business, this is the first quarter since I got here they haven't fired or laid anyone off. We've been pretty lucky.

"This Friday is bar night at McKinley's, I won't be there I'll be out of town but it all still goes on our tab. You're welcome." he joked gaining a laugh from the room.

He took another ten minutes of our time talking about the new clients who we will be working on and showing us some finalized long term projects. It was refreshing to see some of my collaborative work up on the screen. I have been in this company long enough and it was exciting to finally get recognized for all that I do. Nobody seems to understand how hard it is to do what I do.

"Alright everybody, you can go on back to work. I'll meet with some of you later." Rhodes said closing his binder.

As promised Harry and I were the first two out the door making a quick escape. We rolled back to our desks and sat back down to our work.

"The last thing I want to do is sit down with that man alone, I have so much shit I have to get done." I sighed.

"He acts like he's all high and mighty over us but he's just facilitating, I doubt he can even start his computer." Harry chuckled.

"I just don't know what he even has to talk to anyone about in private." I said while typing along.

Rhodes continued to call people in and out of his office throughout the afternoon. Most of the people walking out looked incredibly distressed with a stack full of papers. Maybe it was a good thing we were getting some new employees in. One of our mates Nate walked out and rolled his eyes as he carried a large binder.

"Harry, do you have any extra time to look over this for me? It just got vetoed by him for a third time. I don't know what I'm missing in it." Nate asked while leaning on our cube.

He was a proofreader, like Harry, who got hired last year sometime. He was a young guy fresh out of college but fit in with us immediately. Rhodes liked to give him a hell constantly.

"Yeah, I'll look at it. What did he say about it this time?" Harry asked.

"A direct quote would be 'Nathan these margins look like shit and the font size is obviously very far off. This is some of the worst workmanship I've seen from you yet.' But he's not gonna discipline Eliza who was the designer on it who made it look like shit because he's been fucking her. This is fucking bullshit." Nate groaned.

"He's been fucking her? Of all people?" I whispered to them. "I mean neither of them are dime pieces by far but she could do a hell of a lot better."

"How do you even know all of this?" Harry asked flipping through the binder.

"Josie knows absolutely everything in this office, talk to her sometime." he said. "I better go back to my desk, he'll come out and snap on me otherwise."

I leaned back in my chair and looked over the other sheets of paper in my stack. I was halfway through the other template change when Rhodes walked out of the office to get his next subject.

"Styles, Horan, both of you in here please." he said looking in our direction.

I groaned and cracked my back before standing up. Harry closed the binder and we walked across the sea of cubes to his office.

"Why do you think he wants both of us?" Harry asked me.

"Maybe because he knows we can't stand him when we're left alone with him." I shrugged.

We walked through the door into the glass walls and I shut the door behind me. Harry took a seat closer to the wall leaving me to be directly in front of Rhodes.

"Boys, I'm sorry I've been dumping all this extra work on you lately, you guys are really the only two I can rely on to get it done." he explained. "I'd actually like to promote both of you and give you raises, how does that sound?"

Harry's eyebrows went up and my mouth opened slightly. We looked over at each other and he scooted his chair closer to Rhodes's desk. He was being awfully nice to us. This was completely unlike him.

"That sounds more than alright." I answered for both of us.

"I thought you might say that. But you're going to get a few more responsibilities around here. I'm gonna have you supervise a few of the new hires and the freelancers who we'll have coming in over the next few months." he continued on.

"How many people will we have to manage?" Harry asked.

"Well I've decided to put you two and a couple of the new hires on a team together. One is a print designer and the other is a web designer. You'll teach them the ropes a little more and they'll slowly become more independent. They have great promise. Niall, you'll work more closely with the web designer and hopefully teach him a little code yeah?"

"That is very manageable." I replied.

"And we plan on using that long bar on the windowsill to be for the freelancers who will be in and out. Throw some computers along the edge and it can be a very modern place for them to work. I have a few that are coming in starting tomorrow, but they'll work in the old room. There's four other new employees that Josie and Nathan are going to look after, and then I hired another secretary named Kaine because poor Helen has been swamped for the past month out there. So I told Kaine to report to you guys too." he continued on. "I think that's about all, any questions boys?"

"I don't think so." Harry said looking at me with inquisitive eyes.

"You think Nate can handle people working under him already?" I questioned.

"You know, I like to give him a really hard time just because he's still new here but he's a hard worker and does some good stuff. I think he can do it." Rhodes said. "Anything else?"

"Nope, was just interested." I answered.

"Alright, so thanks for your hard work, you deserve the raise. Don't make me regret giving them to you. There's plenty of other people who deserve it, so don't screw up." he said.

Ah yes, there was the old Rhodes we knew and hated. Harry and I got on our feet and shook his hand before walking out the door.

"What the hell was that?" Harry laughed as we knocked shoulders in celebration.

"I think we have to go get drinks now, on me." I smiled.

We walked back to out desks and sat down to finish our work for the day. As soon as the clock hit five we shut down the computers and grabbed our belongings. I put a couple of files in the leather knapsack I brought with me everyday to look over at home and grabbed my keys off my desk.

"Meet you at the Pony?" I asked.

"Yeah sounds good, I was hoping you'd suggest that." Harry nodded as we walked out of the building. "Hey Nate, come with us for a drink?"

"Yeah where are you headed?" Nate said catching up with us.

"The Pony, it's on 10th." I said.

We got to the pub and sat at the bar with the rest of the people just getting out of work.

"Hey how's things going with Kira?" Nate asked me.

"Eh they're alright. You'd think we've been together long enough that she wouldn't constantly try to pick fights with me, but you never know. Especially when she comes to mine after work she gets pretty testy." I admitted.

"You still have the ring?" Harry questioned.

"Yeah but lately I haven't wanted to marry her with how she's been, if things get better I might propose, but it's not looking too good right now." I sighed.

"I mean, you're 27, you've been looking to settle down by now haven't you?" Nate asked taking swig of his beer.

"Yeah, I'm just gonna feel it out. I don't wanna force it you know?" I explained myself.

"Don't ask her if you don't want, you're still young Ni, all the ladies will swarm you." Harry joked.

"Thanks buddy." I smiled.

We finished up and paid for our drinks. I said goodbye to the lads and drove off to my flat.

I still had some work to finish off. I grabbed the leftovers out of the fridge then went to sit down by the TV and pulled out my papers. After I finished my last papers up I stood up to go into the kitchen.

I cleaned some dishes and took my pills before I headed off to my room and laid in bed.

Tomorrow was another new start.

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ithoughtyouweredifferent · 7 years

Text

Chapter 9 Dinner “Party”

Fact: Dry erase markers take off permanent markers as explained in the story.

Disclaimer: Y’all, I don’t have any idea what is going on in Lin’s mind for the future I made up so much BS for this it’s not even funny. But I think it’s a decent idea, not one that could actually become anything but something me, an amateur little writer thinks might be a cool story. Also, entrance from Lin best friend Chris because we all need best friends

Word Count: about 4,000

part 8

Table of Contents

Chapter 10 (link also at bottom)

Dinner. With Lin. You hadn’t seen him in so long, you didn’t know if you should pick up where you left off, be friends, thank him for getting you your dream job and go your separate ways, honestly all you could do was be thankful that there were going to be other people with you not just the two of you like it would have been if you could’ve gotten away for lunch earlier.

Unknown Number:

We are all meeting at a soup and sandwich place about three blocks from your office. It’s supposed to be good do you know it?

and there was an address at the bottom of it, you had hardly finished reading it when there was another

Unknown Number:

Sorry this is Lin, Probably should’ve told you that before

Well that’s reassuring, how he had gotten your number was a mystery but you went ahead and entered it as a contact you had barely tapped save when it buzzed again

Lin

I found this number on the museum website, I am texting the right person right? If not this is really awkward

you laughed at him and saved him some minor stress

Y/N

Yeah, Lin, it’s Y/N. That place has fantastic Broccoli soup. Who else is gonna be there with us?

Lin

Mostly people from the broadway world, a few people who got me there, old roomate, etc. Family was last week so there shouldn’t be any of them. Meet you there at 8?

Y/N

Sounds like a plan, can’t wait

And you couldn’t. You thought about Tanya’s warning, sure you weren’t exactly a “smiley face and sunshine” person when you had met her, but she had made it out to be as if you had been a sniveling little heartbroken lost child in a world of gray. But this was Lin, someone you hadn’t seen in years. The person who had helped you get this job that brought you as close to the “sunshine and smiley face” person as you had ever been in your life. It wasn’t like you were going out on a one-on-one date tonight, you were probably not even going to actually have more than two words with him tonight. What was the point of haveing a big reunion thing if you, the one who has been gone, won’t even really be able to see but five or so people?

You were not glancing constantly at the clock trying to decide when was the right time to leave. Most certainly not looking at your watch, Or your phone. Or the mantle clock. Or the clock on the kitchen wall. You hadn’t once looked at the clock in your bedroom. Your house was a clock free zone, yeah. No. More like you couldn’t stop checking the time. By the time 7:45 came around you were forcing yourself to walk at a normal New Yorker pace so you wouldn’t get there too early and frankly be attracting crazy attention to yourself by running down the sidewalk in a skirt.

You got to the corner the restaurant was on at almost precisely 8 but you had to be in the wrong place. You checked the address and the time that he had sent you and you were where you were supposed to be, but the place was almost empty. After a few seconds of thought, you went inside the restaurant to see if anyone looked familiar. You were about to make a fool of yourself craning your neck when a hostess appeared

“Hi, I was wondering if there was a large party here tonight? Ideally, he was smart enough to warn you ahead of time, maybe using the name-”

“Y/N!” Lin called waving at you and you smiled up at him,

“Never mind thank you,” you smiled at the woman and walked over to him and found yourself once again engulfed in a hug, “Where is everybody?” You asked, “I was expecting to get in two sentences with you tops because you would have so many,”

“Well, they canceled,” he said bouncing room foot to foot until he pulled a chair out for you,

“You’re kidding right?” you laughed as he sat down in front of you,

“Nope,” he popped the P, “It was so weird I thought this place was going to be packed and then poof everybody got sick or had other plans or an emergency come up, do I stink or something? You and Chris are the only two that didn’t have a sudden reason not to show and he should have been here at least ten minutes ago,” he stretched to see if his old friend had arrived but so far nobody but you, “Until he gets here, and kills you with questions, I wanna know, how’ve you been? It seemed like you were happier today than I think I’d ever seen you,”

“You have no idea, I love it. The people I work with are amazing. They understand me and we all think the same way and we all are just kind of missing something and a little lost and we’ve honestly made a family there. It’s insane and wonderful. And the items that go through our collection you would die if you had seen some of the documents and objects and relics and mementos that I’ve been able to see and touch. I’ve got a life here Lin. It’s amazing. The city is overwhelming at times, a little scary every now and again but I’ve been here for three years and I still keep falling more in love with it every day,” you raved on and on and he sat there his chin resting on his hand as he smiled at you as if he could listen to you talking all day. No, not you talking, listen to someone talking about this. You quickly corrected yourself. “Happy, for such a simple word it has so much meaning to it, so many layers of-”

“Hey miss Happy life rainbows and unicorns, who are you and what have you done to my Socrates?”

“Shut up,” you poked his arm, “I’m working on being less negative and avoiding people who try to bring me down, you’re bringing me down,”

“Oh did I mention I have confetti and glitter to go with your rainbows and unicorns?” he asked with an adorable grin on his face, and you knew you had a small smile on your face as well, at least one thing hadn’t changed–you always smiled with him around,

“Material symbols of happiness mean nothing to me,”

“There’s the Socrates I know and Love,” he grinned, “Gotta make sure there is some part of you that’s in there, I‘m not sure what I’d do if everything about you had changed,” you tried not to think about that too much, “I mean somehow in three years you got more beautiful, I don’t know how but you did, you’re enjoying your day to day life, you have people that you talk to that will listen to you like you deserve, I don’t know how I’m supposed to keep up,” friendly compliments. He is complimenting you, not flattering you. You do not want him to be doing anything other than complimenting you,

“I only got here because you wouldn’t mind your own business,”

“I swear I never said a word to them about you,” he raised his hands in defense, “You got the job because of you, just like you wanted just like I knew you would,” he dropped his hands and you gave him a small smile,

“Hey-oh,” Lin all but jumped out if his chair at Chris’s sudden entrance, “Chris Jackson,” he stuck out his hands and narrowed his eyes at you, “you’re Y/N, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I am,” you tilted your head at Lin after you shook Chris’s hand, “Why would you assume that?” he chuckled,

“Chris knew everyone who was coming and you’re one of the only people I that he wouldn’t recognize, deductive reasoning skills,” Lin said quickly and Chris snorted sitting down beside his friend,

“And you might’ve been mentioned once or twice a while back,” Chris added much to Lins obvious chagrin

“Oh? In a good way, I hope?” You tried to laugh to cover up how incredibly unsure you what was going on and exactly how much you needed to get home and for what reason.

“How about that weather?” Lin suddenly piped up when neither of them answered, “I mean sunnier than London, colder than Florida was, but warmer than Greenland which is good I guess, I mean if it wasn’t that’d be not so good,” Lin rambled bouncing in his seat, and you raised an eyebrow at him,

“You never did tell me where you’ve been since the toothpaste commercials, don’t get me wrong you were great but other than, ‘researching and writing’…” you questioned,

“I mean, I’m not done, nowhere near it. But I think that this one has some great potential. get this,” he leaned in over the table and you couldn’t help but do the same even though Chris reclined back in his chair clearly having already heard this, “So focusing on how intermingled everyone’s lives are, it has several main settings and of course, it stretches reality in some places but that’s a given,”

“Obviously,” you said sarcastically but he ignored you and kept going

“and there are going to be lots of dual roles from the ensemble and supporting leads I’ve spent ages working on wordplay so that it works for multiple roles at once, like how the opening number of Ham. did,” he clarified to make sure you were still with him, "mostly songs but two or three scenes that aren’t necessary to the flow and storyline for people who can only get the OBC soundtrack but some quote un quote ‘normal’ scenes. All of the main characters have completely different backgrounds-cultures, ethnicities, native language, religions, professions, family life, the whole nine yards. I’m taking stereotypes to the theatrical extreme for effect but I think it will still be realistic. But anyway, the characters are all so different there is no way they could possibly have anything to do with those people, being the other characters, but they keep crossing paths and they have common ties that on the surface seem impossible but it’s relatable to people because we all have these people in our lives that from a distance don’ belong. I’ve listened to so many stories and talked to so many people of all ages so I’ve got so many different ideas to pull from and there are always more, I think I have a few people in mind for some of the parts but there is so much to write still so,” he leaned back abruptly, “I’ve got a good solid plan for the whole thing and a fair portion written and a good amount well plotted, it’ll be neat seeing where it ends up,”he shrugged

“Well I’m calling dibs on tickets now,” you tried to sound serious but you couldn’t, ��I want to see at least one of your masterpieces before I die,” and he raised his eyebrows,

“Deal,”

“Who am I in this one?” Chris asked, “Do I get to be the bad guy?”

“Since when do I have ‘bad guys’?” Chris just looked at him, “What makes you think you’re a part of this?”

“I distinctly remember you promising me on multiple occasions that I’ve got a job as long as you do,”

“He’s right,” you added and Cris high-fived you across the table,

“Yeah listen to your woman, If she can call dibs on tickets I’m calling dibs on the antagonist, no more of this friend showing you the right way mess,”

“You’d make a nice stagehand,” you cackled at his wounded expression, “watch it Socrates or I’ll force you to be a swing. A Super Swing at that, maybe just a lead,” he threatened and your laugh only got worse, he knew that you would die before you got on stage especially to star in the show

“I promise, you do not want me on your stage,” Chris nodded far too enthusiastically in agreement, “You’ve never even heard me sing,” you exclaimed at his reaction

“Neither has he and he’s giving you my spot!” He protested, “and you laughed at my expense,” it was insane how easy it was to talk to these two people one of which was an absolute stranger you were more than mildly star struck by and the other someone that you were very starstruck by and your friend and your ex that you hadn’t seen or heard from in years

“Whatever you say, are we planning on actually ordering food tonight or are we just taking up table space?” you asked

“I dunno, you said the soup here is good?”

“Broccoli soup is my favorite but I’ve had a mean roast beef sandwich and they’ve got an insane Shepard’s pie,” you suggested, both of the men looked over the menu, upon seeing you actually get serious about the food a waiter came over,

“What can I get you this evening?”

“Diet coke, and stuffed mushrooms for me,” Chris put his menu back on the end of the table,”

“I’ll have broccoli soup and Sprite thank you,” you smiled at him as he scribbled it down.

“I guess I’ll have a diet coke and Swedish meatballs thanks”

“I’ve never had that here,” you told him when the waiter walked away

“Neither have,” you gave him a no duh look, “You can try some of mine,” he offered and you could swear that your eyes popped out of your head, “on the condition I get to try this broccoli soup you speak so highly of,” you tried not to react other than nodding your head,

“Sure thing,” ignoring Chris’s guffaw

“Smooth,” you thought you heard him murmur to his friend, after that you didn’t know what to talk about,

“So you’ll never believe what Taylor did to a vase about 3,000-year-old yesterday,” you blurted, they wouldn’t care about this but you couldn’t stand the silence, Lin looked somewhat interested but Chris coughed,

“nerds,”

“Please tell me he didn’t break it,”

“Oh no worse,” Lin looked surprised

“What can you do to an ancient vase that is worse than breaking it?”

“He dropped it and a modern replica that is obviously a fake - as in it was probably made in a middle school art class out of red clay and the creator probably didn’t even realize what it looked like, and so, Taylor, dear Taylor broke this replica almost the same when he dropped it - but of course not exactly so it didn’t fit right at all but he thought that he did and he used a tube of Gorilla Glue, very messily, to glue the modern piece to where the original was missing a shard,

“No” he gasped,

“Oh yes, I mean, breaking it could have happened to anyone I suppose - although it shouldn’t at that got the whole place in serious trouble because it was 100% irreplaceable - but it was the method of repairing the problem that iced the cake,”

“What are you going to do?” He asked

“Wish I knew, we don’t want to break it further, but how else are we going to remove the gorilla glue from this incredibly fragile piece?”

“You know that that glue is activated by water right?” Chris asked, “Just lightly mist it or wipe it with a wet cloth,” He shrugged and you looked at him like his ears were on backward,

“water and gorilla glue?” you wondered

“Yeah,”

“I never knew,” Lin commented in amazement, “that explains so much, I have this old pair of flip flops that I have kazy glued the left shoe back together a hundred times and they’ll be fine until I wear them to the beach or something..I’d always thought it was something about the minerals and stuff in the salt water corroding them again or something,”

“For people so incredibly intelligent…you know that if you color over the permanent marker with a dry erase or washable and wipe the dry erase off the permanent marker will come off too, right?” he asked,

“Very funny Jackson,” Lin rolled his eyes,

“Seriously, hand me a sharpie,” he told Lin holding out his hand,

“Why would I have a sharpie on me?”

“Lin,”

“fine,” he turned to go through his coat pockets on the back of his chair while Chris pulled a compact mirror and looked to you,

“You have an expo or something?”

“Why would I-oh whatever,” you pulled three from your purse, “Green, blue, or black?” you laid them on the table and Chris took the green one and the sharpie Lin had retrieved. He signed his name on the mirror and gave it a few seconds to prove it was dry before he opened your expo and covered it completely mostly in a circular loop-de-loop pattern. He then took a napkin and wiped the mirror clean,

“woah,” you and Lin looked at the clean compact in fascination, “Just on mirrors or does it work on normal glass too?” You asked

“If it’s something you would normally be able to wipe dry erase markers off of then this works,” he promised

“Woah,” you repeated with Lin

“Nerds,” Chris scoffed right as the food arrived, As soon as the server had walked away with a promise to be back if you needed anything Lin jumped right in grabbing a spoon taking some of your soup,

“ha-ha-hot!’ Lin exclaimed waving his hands around his head and you couldn’t help but laugh,

“Glad it’s not cold,” you snickered, “that’s what you get for taking my food,” and you swiped one of his meatballs while he took large gulps of his drink “you didn’t even taste it did you?”

“no,” he said and he actually looked sad about it, “what if in two minutes I take another spoonful of it and you can have half of another meatball,”

“Why do I feel like a third wheel even though I’m the best friend who didn’t think anyone else but coworkers and crap was going to be here? Oh right, because you’re acting like you’re on a date and I’m the best friend that joined the party late,” Chris complained but snickered when both yours and Lins faces turned eight hues darker “What happened to all of the other people who you said were coming?”

You carefully took a spoonful of your soup as you waited for an answer other than the ‘everyone canceled’ excuse you had gotten earlier,

“I don’t know, I sent everyone pretty much the same invite and a couple wanted to know who was going to be here and when I told them they all canceled-except you and then their closest associates canceled and then down the chain it went,” he explained seeming genuinely confused and you felt sorry, all of his friends that he had been hoping to meet up with again had bailed on him probably because of some stupid issue between each other

“Yep. Definitely, the best friend third wheel that missed the memo,” Chris sighed, “These mushrooms are gross, why did you let me order them?” He accused staring at you,

“How was I supposed to know you wouldn’t like them?” you defended, “Lin if you want some soup to take it now, or it’ll be gone,” he shook his head, “Chris?” That felt awkward but it would be rude to just ignore him but you and lin had switched food around like an old married couple countless times so it was normal for you both buy you didn’t know Chris like you had known Lin and you were a little grateful when he declined,

“Nah, I’ll pass,” from there it was relative silence. Chris talked about a gig he had been looking at and was probably going to take, Lin talked about Germany for a bit but for the most part, it was quiet, you hated the quiet but you weren’t going to be the one to break it again. By the time you had all paid and were ready to leave it felt like you had a heavy tension suffocating you,

“How long are you going to be here?” You asked Lin as you all three walked out the door,

“A while I think, I think it’s time to stay in one piece and try to get it all on paper and to live a little, make amends with some friends it seems,” you nodded and were about to all three go your sperate ways when Chris grabbed your arm,

“I am not really sure what is going on between you two, but he is my best friend and he can be a bit flighty and scatterbrained and very very happy to see the best in people and ignore flaws. But you need to keep in mind it has been three years, no matter how often you would come up since then between me and him, he has a lot out there for him and he doesn’t deserve to be as tore up as he was when you two broke it off. You two had a nice thing for a few months, but it’s been three years and you can’t try and pull him backward. He’s a good man and he doesn’t need you or anyone to mess up his mind or his gentle heart, okay?” He wasn’t using a threatening tone but he was warning you and he was serious and worried for his friend and maybe a little uncomfortable,

“Don’t worry. I just like seeing him happy okay, I had a nice time tonight but the ceremony Thursday will probably be the last I see of him. I’m not going to hurt him, what kind of sick person do you think I am that would want to hurt him?”

“Just be careful,” Chris warned and then he hailed down his own cab leaving you to walk to your place. He was probably reading way more into it than there actually was. Sure you and Lin had been good together once, but that was a long time ago. He had much better people out there for him and while you knew you knew it was unlikely that you would ever find someone better for you that could make you as happy and lift your spirits like he did, there was someone else for you out there. Besides, it’s not like you still had feelings for him or that they could be so easily unearthed? Hopefully, but probably not. It’s hard not to fall for a guy like him and some impressions are going to last.

Chapter 10

#lmm #lin manuel miranda #lin x reader #chapter 9 #i thought you were different

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