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mangocustard16 · 7 months

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Halloween Playdate🎃✨

| synopsis: Y/N and Seungcheol, a playful and loving couple, infuse their home with spooky delight as they decorate for their first Halloween together, creating a charming tradition filled with laughter and love

| pairing: bf!seungcheol x gn!reader

| genre: fluff

| warnings: none

| notes: established relationship, cheol and reader celebrating their first halloween together

| w.c: 440

As the calendar flipped to October, you and Seungcheol could hardly contain your excitement for Halloween. This year, you had plans to transform your home into a Halloween wonderland, and with your loving boyfriend by your side, it was bound to be a day filled with laughter and playful spookiness.

Seungcheol had arrived at your doorstep, already dressed in a silly, oversized Halloween costume, complete with a comically large witch hat. You laughed at his choice and decided to put on a goofy skeleton costume yourself. The two of you looked ready for a Halloween playdate.

With pumpkins, decorations, and Halloween tunes blaring in the background, you got to work, playfully competing to see who could create the creepiest pumpkin carving or hang the most convincing cobwebs.

You couldn't help but tease him as you approached, wielding a fake spider for dramatic effect. "Seungcheol, maybe we should hire a professional pumpkin carver next year."

He chuckled and playfully tapped you on the nose with a smudge of pumpkin on his finger. "Or maybe I just need some extra encouragement."

You dismissed him, laughing lightly. Seungcheol couldn't resist trying to sneak up on you with a plastic spider as you were absolutely focused on carving a pumpkin.

"Boo!" he exclaimed, placing the spider on your shoulder as you jumped in surprise.

You turned, laughing, "Seungcheol, you're going to give me a heart attack one of these days!"

He grinned mischievously, "Well, where's the fun in Halloween without a good scare?"

You continued carving your pumpkin, and Seungcheol joined in with his own. The two of you playfully tried to outdo each other with the spookiest and most creative designs. Seungcheol's pumpkin had a wicked grin, while yours had intricate patterns etched into it.

As you moved on to decorating the front yard, Seungcheol suggested a trail of fake footprints leading to the door, as if a creature had made its way to your home. You giggled at his enthusiasm and eagerly agreed.

The playful banter continued as you hung ghostly figures from the trees and placed a few tombstone decorations around your yard. Seungcheol couldn't resist pretending to be one of the ghosts and swayed back and forth, arms outstretched, as he groaned in a comically spooky voice. You couldn't help but laugh and join in on the act.

After hours of decorating, you stepped back to admire your haunted masterpiece. The two of you had transformed your home into a spooky wonderland, complete with carved pumpkins, hanging ghosts, and eerie lighting.

Seungcheol wrapped his arms around you and pulled you close, his eyes filled with love. "Y/N, this has been so much fun. Our haunted house is amazing, but being able to spend this time with you is even better."

You smiled and leaned in for a sweet kiss. "Seungcheol, I couldn't agree more. Let's make this an annual tradition for us."

As the night approached, you stood hand in hand, ready to greet trick-or-treaters with candy and a haunted house that would give them a delightful scare.

With your decorated home and the playful bond between you and Seungcheol, this Halloween was destined to be a memory neither of you would ever forget, and the first of many more to come.

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basiatlu · 7 months

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Day 28: Pumpkin 🎃

Hagrid spent every muggy summer tending to the pumpkin patch in preparation for the annual jack-o-lantern display he carved for the students to spectate in October. The bigger the better to see from the castle’s grand stained-glass windows.

#boshhptober2023 #drawtober #rubeus hagrid #hagrid #keeper of keys #harry potter #hp art #jack o lantern #pumpkin #pumpkin carving #autumn #Halloween #art #drawing #sketch #artists on tumblr #doodle #sorry I didn’t draw fang again kind of feel bad #boshdraws

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huffy-the-bicycle-slayer · 7 months

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I (25) am high and texting my coworker (30 something) that I have a Mommy crush on and who may or may not be high and one time she patted the space on the bed between her and her husband and said "wanna watch a movie with us?"

I just had this text exchange with her regarding her annual pumpkin carving party:

How do I respond to this???

#i am a crazed beast this evening

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starsreminisce · 3 months

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Elain and Lucien in the fall is a vibeeeee

Both of them strolling through farmers’ markets, selecting fruits and veggies for Elain’s next bake, sipping on hot cider and pumpkin spice lattes (not a real drink according to Lucien, but Elain’s smile when she takes the first sip is the real treat), stepping on crunchy leaves, engaging in pumpkin carvings and apple pie experiments, enjoying an annual hunting/camping trip.

Elain misses the simplicity of their cottage life, but now she doesn’t have to worry about going hungry or being cold because Lucien always brings home a deer for them to enjoy, and he has fire in his veins to keep her warm.

Fortunately for her, Lucien actually doesn’t mind preparing the deer for dinner and likes having his shirt off while chopping wood.

#elucien #pro elucien #elain x lucien

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denaliwrites · 7 months

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Regale You With A Gourd-geous Tale

Alec Hardy x GN!Reader

Summary: You and Alec partake in the annual Broadchurch Pumpkin Carving Contest, but things go rather sideways.

Soundtrack: Pumpkin Cowboy by Brian David Gilbert

Requests: Open!

Warnings: Alec is not a basic white girl.

You had thought that convincing the Broadchurch DI to enter the annual Pumpkin Carving Contest would be fun, help him integrate into the community better, and meet people in a context that did not involve crime.

You had been wrong.

Sure, the actual contest had gone swimmingly up to a point. You didn't win, but it was fun. Until it wasn't.

First, one of the local pub owners had gotten too drunk and caused a scene. Then, one of the village kids had gone missing (he was found an hour later eating a candy apple as if nothing had happened). Then, someone had injured themselves with the carving tools (how? you were unsure).

Overall, it was just hard to really focus on the activity at hand.

Also, your pumpkins sucked.

You blamed the multiple distractions.

You did get a consolation prize of a free drink ticket, which you used for a pint of Guinness, so at least there was that.

"I'm sorry," Alec said as you walked home. "I know you really wanted me to be normal today."

You sighed. "It's not your fault." He had his arm around your shoulder, making it easy to lightly bump against him as you walked. "I know it's hard for you to shut work off... especially when it just keeps coming at you like that."

"It really did," he groused, rubbing at his eyes with his free hand. "Just one thing after another, all day."

The two of you walked in silence for a stretch after that, until Alec brought you to a halt outside a coffee shop. "Would you like something?" he asked, tossing his head towards the cafe. "Something to make up for today."

"You don't have to do that," you said, smiling. "But, sure. Large pumpkin spice latte, please."

"Y'ken," he said as he parted from you, "I've never had a pumpkin spice latte."

He did not give you the opportunity to respond. He was gone in an instant, stepping inside to order your drinks. You waited outside for him to come back, your stunned expression never leaving you.

He eventually returned, handing you your drink. It took him a minute to notice your shocked look.

"What is it?" he asked, and you could tell he was totally oblivious.

"You've never had a pumpkin spice latte?" you finally asked.

"... No," he answered unsurely, blinking. "Should I've?"

"Well... I mean... probably? Maybe? It's just that, like, everyone's had at least one by now."

"Except me."

"See, that's where you're wrong, because I have a pumpkin spice latte right here, and you're going to try it." You plucked his coffee out of his hand, replacing it with your latte.

He stared dumbfounded at it for a moment.

"You're supposed to drink it," you said in amusement, watching him. "It won't bite, Alec."

Hesitantly, he took a sip. The expression he made afterward was not entirely pleased, but it wasn't completely disgusted. In terms of Alec's reactions, that wasn't a terrible sign.

He handed the latte back to you and took his own coffee back in one swift move, then took a palette-cleansing sip of his drink. "I never want to taste that again," he said, motioning to your latte.

"Oh, come on, it's not that bad!"

"Is this because we lost the pumpkin carving contest? Are you punishing me?" he asked jokingly, turning to look at you. "I did say I was sorry."

"It's not that!" you whined, shoving at his shoulder playfully. You were met with a chuckle. "Do you really not like it?"

"It's... fine," he answered honestly. "I'm not gonna go orderin' it but it's not the worst thing I've ever had, either."

Well, for Alec, that was a win.

"I'll get you," you said jovially with a smirk. "One of these days, you'll like pumpkin spice."

What he couldn't bear to tell you, was that he'd hated it. Could not stand the taste of it. And the idea of having to ever have that terrible flavor anywhere near his mouth ever again terrified him.

But, the idea of "converting" him made you happy, so he played along, hoping for his own sake that he did end up liking the stuff through sheer force of will.

And, he still felt bad about the pumpkin carving contest. While you were still asleep in the early hours of the morning, he snuck out of bed and ran to the shops, picking up two pumpkins and a carving kit for the two of you to enjoy alone at home.

When you woke up and saw his gift, not only were you pleased as punch, but you insisted on carving them right away.

The previous day had had some bad spots, but that day was perfect.

#alec hardy x reader #alec hardy x you #alec hardy fanfic #alec hardy #david tennant #broadchurch #broadchurch fanfic

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joelswritingmistress · 6 months

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Last Halloween: Chapter 20

Summary: After a tragedy involving Joel happened on Halloween one year prior, the town now shuns him while ignoring the details of the now closed case. You are seemingly the only one to offer empathy to a man the town is making out to be a monster.

Pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

You knew it was going to be a challenge, but the plan you had in mind to fight for Joel's integrity and expose the Champagne family was something you had to carry out.

Across from the coffee shop on the quaint little street was the annual Mischief Night Movie Marathon on the town green, drive-in movie style with a giant blow up screen. To discourage kids from throwing eggs and soaping windows the night before Halloween, the town had created an event that seemed to draw in bigger crowds every year. People brought blankets and lawn chairs. Prior to the start of the movie there was a pumpkin carving contest and all of the jack-o-lanterns were lined along a stone wall that bordered the green.

From five to seven o'clock there was a tiny tots hour and the movie Monsters Inc was played for all the young kids. From seven o'clock until eleven, two horror movies played for older crowds that were picked by the townspeople through social media polls in September. The chosen movies for that evening were Trick 'R Treat and Halloween II.

You sent a group text to Jess, Winnie and Chrissy filling them in about what had happened, and they agreed to meet you down in front of the coffee shop.

For the time being you laid low with a beanie hat pulled down over your ears and a hood over that. To your knowledge, Vic and the other assailants had yet to be tracked down; and so you tried your best to go a little incognito.

The carefree nature of the kids' hour across the street made you smile. Moms and dads helped lift giant pumpkins with goofy faces onto the stone wall as kids jumped for joy in their costumes. The gathering was great for the community and you envisioned, just for a second, that one day you might be one of those moms with a little one of your own.

"Hey!" Chrissy was the first to run up to you and made you stumble back with the fierceness of her hug. "Are you okay?"

You knew she'd understand. She had been the only one you hadn't talked to directly about you and Joel.

"Yeah," you half-lied, but you weren't about to say no, "Yeah, I'm okay."

Chrissy pulled back, still holding you by your arms and looked you in the eyes. "I am so sorry I said what I said about Joel that night we all talked. I had no idea.." She shook her head and pulled you back in for a hug. "Is he okay?"

"He's still in the hospital but he's going to be okay," you told her.

"This is so scary." Chrissy still held you firmly in place. "I am so so sorry you had to go through all that."

"It's okay," you assured her.

Your other two roommates joined you by the coffee shop and you all exchanged similar words.

"So, what's the plan?" Jessie asked. "We want to help."

"Thank you, guys." You let out a deep breath. "I'm just waiting on one more crucial piece to the puzzle." You reached into your pocket and removed your phone to check the time.

"What piece?" Winnie asked.

"I had to rely on.. someone else."

They all looked at one another, wondering if anyone knew who or what you were referring to.

"Steve."

"Steve?" Chrissy asked, her eyes bugging. "Like Steve, Steve?"

You nodded. "It was a last resort but he has the in's that nobody else does. And believe it or not, I think he's true to that badge enough to make this happen."

"I thought you said he was a jerk."

"He is.. kind of," you said, "Or maybe that was me just being annoyed by all of his quirks." You shrugged. "We weren't exactly a love match, but I think deep down he's a good person."

I hope, you thought silently, checking the time again.

Monster's Inc. was wrapping up and the line of jack-o-lanterns stretched nearly the entire length of the wall, each with their own faux candle that left a series of orange glows. You needed the video before the start of Trick 'R Treat. Based on the schedule, you knew that left you about twenty minutes.

"What exactly *is* the plan?" Jessie asked.

You took a deep breath, sending a little cloud of smoke into the air. "Steve is getting me the footage from a security camera that shows what really happened last Halloween. It shows the truth, no ifs, ands or buts.. no gossip. Joel was attacked by Johnny when he was attempting to change his flat tire. Johnny choked him out with a chain and in the struggle of Joel fighting for his life, the two of them fell down a little embankment and Johnny broke his neck. The surveillance video shows all of that, and that's why Joel was charged with nothing."

Your three friends stood them staring at you as if they were watching a suspenseful movie unfold.

"There's footage?" Chrissy asked, her mouth hanging open.

"Yes." You nodded. "And tonight, when ninety percent of the town is here, I'm going to show them."

"Holy fuck," Chrissy said. A smile spread across her face. "That's insane."

"How are you going to do that?" Winnie asked.

You glanced over her shoulder toward Steve, who looked nervous as hell, as he wandered toward you, glancing around in all directions.

Relief filtered through your body. He came through. Your plan was going to work - you thought.

The girls followed your gaze and when Steve got wind that you were all staring at him, he puffed his chest a big and pretended to be paying attention to the Halloween gathering across the street.

"Steve." You gave a wave. His hand looked tight and ridged as he waved back. His face matched his posture.

"Hi, Steve." Chrissy gave a small smile and he nodded once at her before staring directly at you.

"They have a computer that's attached to the projection here," Steve informed you. He reached into the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a small, black disc drive. "The department transferred the footage onto multiple drives. This one should work on any computer. It's just an HDMI."

When he placed the disc into your palm you looked at it for a long moment before finally closing your fingertips over the top of it.

You let out a deep breath knowing the magnitude of what was about to happen. "You think you can distract them enough for me to swap this out before they start the next movie?" Your eyes scanned the small team you had standing in front of you.

"We'll do whatever you need," Jessie said with a nod. The girls all nodded and Steve let out a sigh.

"You do know what's on the line for me, right?"

"Yes," you said directly to him. "And I promise you, you won't regret helping an innocent man get the justice he deserves. This town needs to know the truth." You added, "I'll never tell anyone you got me this. No one would believe you would anyway, with our history."

There was a long silence as everyone contemplated what their role could be, before Steve finally said, "I'll distract them at the podium," then added. "And you do what you gotta do."

CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER 21

@untamedheart81 @amyispxnk @grogusmum @ghostwritesthings @strawbunnyx @ayamenimthiriel @noisynightmarepoetry @jiminstinypinky @tuquoquebrute @pedr0swh0r3 @runningmom94 @mellymbee @shayna-d-clown @bbiophiliaa

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hexleyherald · 2 years

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What would you submit to the Primary Pumpkin Carving Contest?

Give us some ideas! Give us some hints! Maybe hit us up on the telepath line!

#pumpkin carving #hexley herald #annual pumpkin carving

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writingismyfortune · 7 months

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haunted by math | alhaitham || genshin impact one shot

published on october 31st, 2023.

pairing: alhaitham x reader (friendship)

genre: fluff, slice of life

word count: 1.7k words.

synopsis: your best friend, alhaitham, surprises you on halloween. he suddenly felt extroverted, so he did something out of the ordinary. that’s the gist of it.

warning: lowercase is intended, alhaitham might be slightly out of character (?).

a/n: happy halloween, folks. i’m finally releasing a genshin fic after so many months :’) enjoy! hopefully this is funny enough for you guys.

“hey alhaitham, are you going to the haunted house on halloween? this organization on campus is hosting one.”

“i don’t see why i should waste my time on something as nonsensical as a haunted house. it’s fake anyway.” alhaitham responds to your question while reading a novel of some sort. he is always reading something, and he can somehow manage a conversation while reading as well. he’s the multitasking expert at this rate.

“even though it’s fake, it fits the october vibe!” you retort back with some excitement. you really want to see how alhaitham will behave in a haunted house. after all, he doesn’t seem like the type to get startled easily. but would he get startled from a sudden jump scare? that’s a sight you want to see.

“we can just carve out some pumpkins like we always do,” alhaitham exclaims once more. flipping a page of the novel he’s reading, he glances at you briefly. “i thought you said you wanted that to be an annual tradition. what’s with the sudden change of ideas, [your name]?”

you didn’t want to directly tell alhaitham that you want to see him startled, so you came up with another reason.

“just thought it would be fun to enter a haunted house. you have never been to one, right?” that’s a nice save, if you say so myself.

“you’re not wrong, but i don’t think i would enjoy something like a haunted house. i mean, i know that everything is fake, so it wouldn’t be too scary, would it?”

“why are you so logical…” you said, your lips forming a small frown.

“logic only continues to defy emotion, [your name]. that’s how this world works.”

you have to find a way to convince alhaitham to join you on this haunted house adventure, but alhaitham just isn’t budging.

so you just decided to let it go for now. you’ll bother him on another day.

time skip to halloween evening, which is when the haunted house is taking place. and alhaitham still won’t come with you to the haunted house, so you decided to bring kaveh, his roommate, with you instead. at least kaveh knows how to have fun in this sense.

when you told alhaitham that you will be going to the haunted house with kaveh, alhaitham tells you to bring some headphones with you because kaveh screams pretty freaking loud.

if only you knew that alhaitham was a little worried about you heading to the haunted house with kaveh. perhaps he is a tiny bit jealous for some reason. maybe he is afraid that kaveh will take up his best friend title just because he refuses to go to this haunted house with you. but that would be petty, right?

actually, this is bothering him because you didn’t want to carve pumpkins with him this year. you’re really persistent on attending this haunted house, huh? so be it.

if only you knew why he refused to attend the haunted house with you. guess you will only find out soon enough, would you? you might see it as a form of rejection, but alhaitham sees this as a great opportunity to show that he is the better person to be your best friend.

with kaveh gripping your arm firmly and walking slightly behind you, you both enter the haunted house. kaveh is just as tense as you were, a bit startled by the fake zombies dressed up in suits, as if they are teachers. there is a chalkboard that had shaky handwritings, in which, give off the idea that these zombie teachers wrote on the chalkboard.

there are also blood stains on the floor. it was fake, but the haunted house itself is dark. you only had a flashlight and a scared 6 ft blonde dude with you. there is also spooky music that only intensifies the tension in the haunted house. the theme of this haunted house is an abandoned school, it seems.

walking past the chalkboard, you hear someone pop up behind you and kaveh all of the sudden. this someone lets out a loud scream, startling both you and kaveh. seems to be an actor, who has a “decaying” looking face, like a zombie student, thanks to the help of makeup. this also caused kaveh to let out a shrilly scream. amused by this, you let out a chuckle. hearing you chuckle only causes kaveh to laugh along too, also a bit amused by the scream that he released from the jump scare.

kaveh was now holding onto your arm now in a tight grip, even more tensed up by what will come up next.

“[your name], why did you make me come here…” kaveh says, his voice is a little shaky.

“because i thought it would be fun. it’s scary, but you have to admit that this is entertaining.” you responded.

kaveh only huffs as a response. he does admit that he is having fun, but will he tell you that to your face? no.

“clearly, you’re amused by my screaming. what are you talking about?”

“i screamed too, kaveh. that startled me.”

“did you?” kaveh asks you. you can imagine kaveh’s face expression, where one of his eyebrows are raised up in suspicion. well, you’re imagining because the haunted house is dark.

“yes, i did,” you respond.

“no, you’re totally lying,” kaveh said back.

“you didn’t hear me scream thanks to your loud ass scream, kaveh. i didn’t think that your vocals can go that high. impressive,” you said.

after hearing kaveh huffing to what you said once more, you two continue walking. in the hallways, there is a body bag just leaning against the wall. actually, there are multiple of them, just lying around this section of the haunted house.

there was also bloody footprints on the floor and bloody handprints on the walls. clearly, it’s paint, but it still spooks you and kaveh out.

and then, the both of you walk through a door, a door that has a sign sitting at the right side of it that says ‘room 042’. seems to be a normal classroom of some sort.

all of the sudden you hear some quiet chanting?

feeling a little tense, you reluctantly walk into the classroom, with kaveh gripping onto your arm tightly now. it’s clear he can hear the chanting too, understanding what this actor is saying.

focusing on your hearing, you try to figure out what this actor is saying. you take a glance at the actor’s appearance. they are wearing a suit and a tie, with his face all zombified. seems to be a zombie teacher. for some reason, you can recognize this person, but you can’t put your finger on it.

“the circumference is the diameter multiplied by pi.”

“the pythagorean theorem is a-squared plus b-squared equals c-squared.”

“the integral of sin x is -cos x.”

“velocity is the change in displacement over the change of time.”

“the derivative of log x with a base of 10 is—“

holy shit, that’s pretty fucking horrifying.

immediately, you start screaming in terror. because you are definitely not a math person, these math equations and formulas are making your brain go haywire. actually, you’re screaming louder than kaveh ever did. as a response, you start running out of the classroom, leaving kaveh behind.

kaveh wasn’t that afraid of this because he’s an architect, an occupation where he deals with calculus and trigonometry on a regular basis. it also seems like he knows who is chanting these formulas too.

“you really should apologize to her later. [your name] really wanted to go to this haunted house with you, but who knew that you were an actor here. you finally decided to come out of that shell of yours, huh? i didn’t think you’d be the type to sign up for something like this,” kaveh says to no one in particular. however, he knows who is in this room. he then leaves the room too, his footsteps fading into silence.

kaveh does meet up with you at the end of the haunted house, in which, took a lot of bravery out of him. those actors dress as zombie students chasing him gave him quite an adrenaline rush. these zombie students have their brains exposed, wearing clothes with blood stains on it. clearly it’s fake, but kaveh was startled when they popped out of nowhere and started chasing him.

after the zombie students chase him, kaveh enters the cafeteria section, where there is an actor dressed as a lunch lady chopping up…is that a freaking corpse?! feeling very tensed up and his heart rate racing, kaveh does exit the cafeteria once the lunch lady lets out a creepy laugh. this laugh sounded genuinely evil and maniacal, as if they are enjoying chopping up a corpse like it’s an animal or something (this isn’t entirely wrong in this case, if ykyk).

once kaveh reaches at the end of the haunted house, he sees you waiting for him at a nearby table. kaveh then runs over to you and starts shaking you, wondering why did you just leave him in there by himself.

“well, those math formulas are scary.”

“okay, fair enough. guess they can be scary when you aren’t a math person.” kaveh said with understanding while laughing, a bit amused by your screams.

“you really can scream louder than me, huh?”

“oh, shush it.”

after that, you and kaveh walk back home together to log out for the evening.

on a random day in november, you are with alhaitham in the library. you were commenting about the haunted house and how scary it was, talking about one of the actors chanting physics and calculus equations. in addition, you also mention how it is a shame that alhaitham didn’t attend the haunted house.

if only you knew that he did attend the haunted house, but not in the way you’re thinking.

alhaitham is silently listening on your commentary, a bit satisfied by your comments about his acting. he is your best friend after all, so seeing you scream out of that room while he was chanting math formulas is amusing to him. but he does admit that he feels bad for spooking you out tremendously. he thinks about what kaveh said to him on that halloween night. he really should apologize to you for refusing to attend the haunted house with you. but for now, he will keep this actor thing a secret from you for now.

after all, he believes that you being haunted by math is entertaining. your logic ironically goes out of the window thanks to something so logical like math. in fact, your emotions take over when something logical like math is involved.

logic will always defy emotion, wouldn’t it?

end of chapter. next chapter: n/a

#alhaitham #al haitham #genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin fanfic #kaveh #genshin alhaitham #genshin kaveh #alhaitham x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin fluff #halloween

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trulybetty · 7 months

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oct' 26 x jack-o-lanterns

Prompt: jack-o-lanterns (something sweet this way comes p.II) Pairing: marcus pike x f!Reader Word Count: 3,305 Warnings: barely beta'd is the name of the game, all mistakes are my own. mentions of baking, a tiny dash of spice, no spoilers here 💕 Summary: maplewood, a small town nestled in northern bc where people flock to see the changing blossom trees and celebrate the fall season. after losing your job you find yourself a part of the community which includes the towns baker who left a less than stellar impression on you. AO3: linked

x. masterlist | something sweet this way comes part I

Something Sweet, This Way Comes Part II | Jack-o-Lanterns

The preparations for the Trick or Treat Parade were well underway, it was an annual celebration in the town’s main square, outside the town hall. Maplewood, while a small community, serviced a great deal of people outside the town. Many of its inhabitants lived rurally, meaning trick-or-treating wasn't feasible for many of the children.

However, before that could happen the mid month tradition of the Jack-O-Lantern Hunt took place. Businesses and landmark buildings alike all decorated or carved their own pumpkins and people would follow the trail visiting each location on their maps. It was a way to encourage business and bolster the festivities after Thanksgiving had passed.

Black Cat Books was no exception, Libby had been putting the final touches to the store's pumpkin when the bell rang above the door signalling a customer.

“Marcus!” she called out, “what do we owe this please?”

You rolled your eyes as the enthused cheeriness of your friend, you were currently engrossed in the latest shipment of fall mystery novels and the scanning of them into the POS system.

“Evening,” he greeted, looking a little out of his element in the quiet bookstore. “Actually, I was looking for a gift.”

“I can help you with that,” Libby remarked standing from her stool, “who is it for?”

“Sarah actually.”

“What’s the occasion? Her birthday isn’t until the summer isn’t it?” Libby asked, making her way around the counter.

You watched Marcus out of the corner of your eye as he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, “Not her birthday no, she broke her arm on the weekend at her soccer match down in Fort Nelson.”

“No!” Libby exclaimed, “poor girl, she lives and breathes soccer.”

“I know, so I thought I’d get her something to cheer her up. She’s always talking about her visits here. I was hoping you’d be able to recommend a book maybe?”

Libby looked thoughtful for a moment, “Hm, I’m not entirely sure.”

Before you could catch yourself you cleared your throat and grabbed a book off of the shelf behind you, “This one,” you said as you tried to be as nonchalant as you could handing it to Marcus, “Sarah was debating on this one the last time she was in here but said she was going to wait until she got paid.”

Marcus accepted the book, a soft smile on his face as he looked at the cover, “Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” you said, your eyes meeting his for a fleeting second before you turned your attention back to your work.

“So how are you managing at the bakery with Sarah out of commission? Isn’t Maria on vacation too?” Libby asked, referring to the bakeries' part-time weekday employee.

Marcus let out a sigh. “It's been a bit chaotic, to be honest. She was going to be right hand for front-of-house operations this week, and with the Jack-O-Lantern Hunt coming up, it's been really hectic trying to juggle everything.”

Libby took the book and got started on wrapping it, “What are you going to do? The hunt is this weekend.”

Marcus sighed, “I honestly don't know. We're already falling behind on orders, and there's so much to prepare for the parade at the end of the month on top of the pumpkin hunt.”

It was at that point that Libby, forever the matchmaker and opportunist, seized the moment. “You know, my friend here is pretty nifty with her customer service skills. Maybe she could lend a hand?" she said nonchalantly as she tied the final knot on the gift ribbon.

You choked on your own breath almost dropping the stack of books in your hands, “What? Me? Bu- but you need me here, Libby.”

Libby waved you off with a grin, “Nonsense. It's been pretty manageable here. And besides,” she gave you a pointed look, “it's a good opportunity for you to get to know the town better.” she finished with a not so discreet nod in the direction of Marcus.

You and Marcus exchanged an awkward glance, the tension palpable but it was vastly different than it has been in the past.

“Think about it,” Libby nudged as Marcus paid and took his wrapped book, thanking her.

He looked at you, a question in his eyes, “Would you consider it? I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t really need the help.”

You really wanted to decline, find some excuse, any excuse. But as Marcus stood there, looking genuinely in need and a bit vulnerable, you felt something shift.

“I'll think about it,” you said, realizing even as you spoke that your curiosity was already tipping the scales. Marcus nodded, a hint of relief crossing his features.

“Thank you, either way,” he said, exiting the bookstore with a small wave to the both of you.

As the door closed behind him, you looked at Libby, who was practically beaming.

“What are you up to Libby?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you volunteering to help him?”

“I think you might have more in common with him than you think.”

“Well, aren't you the little cupid,” you said, a bit sarcastically but not without warmth.

Libby shrugged, “When the universe gives you a nudge, sometimes you have to nudge back.”

“You really need to let up on those horoscopes.”

Libby gave you a weary eye roll, “Plus is it such a terrible thing? Baked goods and coffee on tap?”

The next morning guilt had you dragging your feet across to the bakery, with a good shove from Libby, to tell Marcus you’d help him with the front of house operations for the remainder of the week while he looked at finding someone else to fill Sarah’s position a little more permanently.

As he’d walked you through the point of sale system he used you realised it was the exact same setup Libby had and soon were able to catch on pretty fast.

“Seems like you're a natural at this,” Marcus said with a grin as you smoothly rang up a customer's order. “If you ever get tired of helping Libby out, you're welcome here anytime.”

As the days progressed it turned out Marcus mostly worked in the back, managing the oven, mixers, and other kitchen duties, which left you mainly responsible for front-of-house operations. This was a relief in some ways, reducing the awkward tension that had started building up between the two of you.

Marcus had said you could read between customers if you wanted to, but the bakery was so busy you barely had a chance to open the book you'd brought along. People were in a constant stream, some coming in to pick up pre-orders, others dropping by for their daily fix of coffee and pastries, and still, others had come out of curiosity, intrigued by the upcoming festivities.

Despite the business, you couldn't help but notice how different each customer interaction was compared to the bookstore. Whereas Black Cat Books was a haven for the introverted, the bakery was a social hub. Children would come in giggling, pulling their parents behind them as they pointed to the cookies and cupcakes in the display case. Old friends would bump into each other in line and strike up conversations as if no time had passed.

And everyone, it seemed, knew Marcus.

As each customer came and went, most had something kind to say about Marcus.

“Tell Marcus that the apple tarts were divine, would you?”

“Marcus helped fix my flat tire last week. Can you make sure he gets this thank you card?”

“Ah, Marcus makes the best chocolate cake. Did I tell you he was a lifesaver during the snowstorm last year? Cleared both my driveway and sidewalk.”

The anecdotes were small, simple moments that seemed to paint a portrait of Marcus you hadn't considered. Your previous reservations, based largely on a whole lot of stubborn pride, started to seem trivial in the face of what you were hearing.

While you had been busy contemplating whether he was too good to be true, he was, in fact, doing good in the community you were both a part of. Your wariness was beginning to wane, being replaced by a blossoming curiosity and a tiny little bit of a newfound respect for the man you'd initially written off.

Around mid-afternoon a couple of days later, Marcus finally emerged from the back, carrying a tray of freshly baked pumpkin bread. The smell wafted through the shop, and you inhaled deeply, feeling a sense of comfort that only a bakery could provide.

“How's it going out here?” he asked, placing the tray on a display counter.

“Busy,” you replied, “I haven't even had a chance to crack open my book.”

Marcus glanced at the book lying beside the cash register, “Well, I hope that's a good thing.”

“It is,” you found yourself smiling, “it's nice to be busy. Keeps the time flying.”

Marcus looked pleased, “I'm glad to hear that. I was worried you might find it overwhelming. Between the start of fall, Thanksgiving, Harvest, the Jack-O-Lantern hunt, then Halloween - it’s almost as busy as the Holidays around here.”

“You know, I’ve never heard of so many celebrations stuffed into one month.”

Marcus laughed softly while he continued to work on the display, “I know how you feel; I felt that way when I first got here. But it's a great way to bring people together and share some happiness. Who doesn't need more of that?”

“Speaking of community, they’ve all got something to say about you it seems Mr. Pike.”

“Oh?” Marcus raised an eyebrow, “Good things I hope?”

You hesitated for a moment, choosing your words carefully, “Let's just say I'm learning that you're very well-liked around here. People appreciate what you do, both in and out of this bakery.”

Marcus looked genuinely surprised, and then his face broke into a warm, appreciative smile. “Well, that's kind of them to say. I just try to do my part, you know? Small town, tight-knit community—it's what makes Maplewood special.”

Friday soon came around and Marcus had let you know that morning that the weekend was taken care of. Maria was back in town and had said she’d work Sarah’s shift that weekend, meaning it was your last day helping out at the bakery.

Despite your reservations at the start of the week, you had felt a little pang of disappointment when he’d made the announcement after you’d arrived that morning.

You were wiping down the counters when Marcus came out from the back again, looking a little flour-dusted but otherwise no worse for wear.

“How'd it go?” he asked, washing his hands in the sink.

“Busy,” you replied, “but good busy. I think I successfully managed to not ruin your business.”

He took the cloth from you, “It’s okay, I’ve got this, you can head out.”

You shook your head and took it back, “It’s okay, Libby has book club tonight, the less time I have to be there for the better.”

Marcus laughed as he crossed the floor to the shop's door, locking it, “In that case, knock yourself out.”

Marcus flipped the sign to close and you paused, realizing Marcus was watching you, “What?” You ask with a grin, unsure why he was giving you such attention.

He laughed to himself and shook his head, “If you’re not wanting to head out any time soon, how do you feel about lending a hand with a bit of baking?”

“You trust me?”

“I think you can handle it, I’ll do the heavy lifting.” he finished with a wink and before you knew it you were following him to the back of the shop.

Once you were both in the back kitchen, Marcus started gathering ingredients from various shelves and corners of the room. “We're making cinnamon rolls, a seasonal special.” he said, placing butter, flour, sugar, and a variety of spices on the counter. You also noticed a small bottle of orange food colouring and a bag of pecans.

“Cinnamon rolls? Not sure what's so seasonal about them,” you said, intrigued by the setup.

Marcus chuckled, “Ah, but these aren't just any cinnamon rolls. They're pumpkin spice rolls with pecans and an orange-coloured spiced glaze. Trust me; these are special.”

“Wow, sounds delicious,” you replied, starting to feel excited about the baking adventure.

Marcus handed you an apron, and you couldn't help but notice how his eyes lingered on you as you tied it around your waist. “You look good in that,” he remarked as he passed by to pull down a mixing bowl.

“Thanks,” you replied, unable to keep a smile from spreading across your face.

Marcus began weighing flour and pouring it into a large mixing bowl and explained the steps as he went along. “First, we make the dough, then we let it rise. After that, we roll it out, sprinkle the filling, roll it up, and then cut it into pieces. Easy as pie, or in this case, rolls.”

After you'd mixed the dough ingredients, Marcus instructed you on the proper way to knead it. To your surprise, he positioned himself behind you, placed his hands over yours, and began guiding your movements on the dough.

“Use the heel of your hand to push and fold the dough back on itself,” he said, his voice soft and close to your ear. “It's all in the wrist.”

You felt a wave of heat rise to your cheeks, your heart racing as Marcus's hands continued to guide yours in perfect harmony. You had been so wary of him just a few days ago, but now, the intimacy of this simple act was breaking down any remaining barriers. You were becoming acutely aware of the magnetic pull towards him you’d been trying so hard to ignore.

Finally, Marcus pulled away, and you took a moment to catch your breath.

“You're a quick learner,” Marcus finally said, pulling a baking sheet from one of the cabinets.

“Good teacher,” you mumbled, unable to meet his eye, feeling your face grow hot.

After rolling the dough, sprinkling the filling, and neatly lining the rolls on the baking sheet, Marcus popped them into the oven. While they baked, he mixed the orange-coloured spiced glaze, occasionally stealing glances at you and smiling.

“Want to try a taste?” he asked, offering out a spoon he’d practically made appear out of nowhere, or you’d been that focused on his hands as he stirred the ingredients.

Nodding, you leaned in to taste the glaze from the spoon Marcus was holding. As you did, a drop of the orange-coloured icing escaped, landing on your lower lip. Marcus looked at you, his gaze dropping to your lips. Time seemed to slow down.

“Hold on, you’ve got a little…” His voice trailed off as he gently reached up and brushed away the drop of glaze with his thumb.

Your heart pounded in your chest as Marcus took a step closer to you as he licked off the icing from his thumb. His eyes met yours, asking for permission, before flicking down to your lips. You felt the air grow thick with tension, a magnetic pull drawing you closer together.

“Is this okay?” he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Before you could answer, a sudden knock on the front door of the bakery shattered the moment. You both jumped, startled out of the intimate bubble you’d been in.

Marcus looked as confused as you felt, but then you took it as an opportunity to try and shake some sense into yourself. “I should go,” you said, quickly removing your apron and folding it on the counter.

Before Marcus could respond, another impatient knock echoed from the front. “Hold on!” he called out towards the door, his eyes meeting yours one more time as if to say 'don't go.'

But you were already moving, grabbing your purse and jacket. The spell was broken, but the lingering feelings remained as you felt the ghost of Marcus’ touch on your lips.

As pulled on your jacket you heard Marcus greet the knocker. “Bill, you know it’s past closing, right?”

“It’s an emergency, Marcus, I swear! I need a pie, I saw the lights on out the back and you’re the only one in town who can save me.”

You heard Marcus laugh, his attention now fully on Bill, who was from the art store down the street. Feeling like an intruder on the scene, you took your chance to slip out of the bakery with a quick wave to the two men, the bell jingling softly as you opened and then closed the door behind you.

You didn’t look back as you pulled your jacket tighter against the cold wind that swept down the highstreet, if you had you would have seen Marcus watching you as you looked both ways before you scurried across the street to the bookshop.

Once inside, you took a moment to catch your breath, leaning against the door. What was that all about? You had a swirl of emotions rushing through your head, none of which made any sense when applied to Marcus. You were still pondering it as you locked up the shop and made your way upstairs to the apartment you shared with Libby.

When you walked in, you found Libby sitting on the sofa, flipping through a magazine with a cup of tea by her side. “You're late,” she noted, her eyes still fixed on the glossy pages before her. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, just lost track of time helping Marcus close,” you said, trying to keep your voice casual as you hung your jacket and kicked off your shoes.

“What were you doing, making out with Marcus in the back of the bakery?" Libby quipped, laughing to herself as she flipped another page.

You nearly jumped out of your skin at the suggestion, but managed to roll your eyes and offer a sarcastic laugh. “Please, I still don't see the appeal.”

“That's funny,” Libby said, raising an eyebrow as she set her magazine aside. “Because I haven't heard you say one bad thing about Marcus since you started helping out at the bakery.”

Caught off guard, you felt a quiet panic settle in your chest. You were usually so transparent to Libby, it made you uncomfortable how easily she could read you. “Well, I've been busy. No time for chit-chat when you're up to your elbows in doughnuts and the gossip of the neighbourhood watch.”

Libby eyed you suspiciously but said nothing more. “If you say so.”

“I do say so,” you affirmed, perhaps a bit too quickly. “Anyway, I'm going to take a shower.”

As you stepped into the warm stream of water, you let it wash over you, hoping it would also rinse away the tangled web of emotions that had sprung up so unexpectedly. Your mind replayed the almost-kiss, Marcus' eyes looking into yours, the touch of his hands over yours as you kneaded dough, and you felt a pang of something you couldn't quite place. Was it regret? Longing? It was too confusing to sort out, so you shut off the water, wrapping yourself in a towel in hope of pushing it all out of your mind.

As you looked at your reflection in the steamed-up bathroom mirror, you felt a mixture of relief and disappointment. Whatever it was that had happened at the bakery, it was over now. Tomorrow was a new day, and you would go back to your normal routine, back to your safe, familiar life you’d made for yourself in Maplewood.

But as you crawled into bed that night, the nagging feeling refused to leave you and you resolved to resume your long discarded search for job vacancies in Toronto in the morning.

Maplewood suddenly felt stiflingly small.

#october x 500 #autumnal offerings #something sweet this way comes #marcus pike #marcus pike fanfic #marcus pike fanfiction #marcus pike x you #marcus pike x reader #marcus pike x f!reader

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harlowcomehome · 7 months

Text

Pumpkin carving contest:

October fics!

Requested by @jackmans-poison

Jack yanked your arm, guiding you through the crowded street as four security guards surrounded you both.

“Jackman, slow down!” You stressed, trying to keep up with his pace.

“Sorry babe” he slowed down, smiling at you as he softly positioned you in front of him.

“Guide me instead” he kept his hands on your hips as you walked through the crowded Louisville street.

The security guard in front of you led you to a building where you met Neelam and Urban.

“What took you guys so long?” Neelam was always in a state of stress but you really couldn’t fault her for that, Jack loved to push her buttons.

“I’m here now” Jack smirked, greeting Urban with their handshake and Urban greeting you with a hug.

Andy Beshear, the governor of Kentucky was there. He quickly said hello to Jack and the rest of you before instructing you, Neelam, and Urban where to sit for the pumpkin carving contest.

Jack went with Andy to the podium to introduce himself and officially announce the start of the contest.

“This is really serious stuff” You leaned into Urban whispering so nobody else would overhear.

“Yeah, and you know Jack, he doesn’t like to lose” he warned you, but you already had a clear understanding of that.

Jack stood at the podium, clearing his throat before speaking, he was always nervous public speaking it just felt very different than performing.

“As many of you know this is the 35th annual Pumpkin carving contest!” The crowd cheered and Jack paused for them to finish.

“When I was a young kid I remember coming here with my parents and I was so excited when we would take home a win. Now I’m not saying I’m going to win again this year, but I’m letting everyone in this building know to watch out” Jack chuckled as the crowd did too.

He hurried down the stairs and back to the table where you sat with Neelam and Urban. There were pumpkins and all the tools necessary for carving set down in front of you.

Jack wasted no time, picking a pumpkin quickly and starting to make a design on the outside with a marker.

He used his phone to compare the design he was drawing to what he was looking at.

“You’re going to take this extremely serious, aren’t you?” You teased, leaning over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before he was fully distracted by what he was doing.

“Oh, absolutely” he blushed as your lips softly touched his cheek.

Urban pointed to the timer sitting at the front near the podium, you had two hours to carve a pumpkin worthy of a ribbon.

You started mimicking what Jack was doing, outlining the eyes and mouth of your pumpkin in marker.

It took you a while to get the hang of it, but you eventually had a clear idea of what you wanted to do.

Jack was carving a Louisville Cardinals pumpkin, which didn’t surprise you in the slightest.

Neelam was attempting to carve a cat and Urban was carving a spooky pumpkin face.

When the buzzer went off, everyone was instructed to step away from their pumpkins.

Jack had already been done for the last twenty minutes but was still making final adjustments.

Staff came by and picked up the four pumpkins from your tables, assigning you each a number as the pumpkins were to remain anonymous.

“That was fun!” Neelam nudged you and you nodded, enjoying it more than you originally thought you would.

“What now?” You smiled, grabbing Jack's hand.

“Now we walk around and enjoy the festival until they announce the winners” he squeezed your hand as he waited for Neelam and Urban, as well as the security that had stayed close by.

You weren’t able to walk but three steps before a group of girls came giggling by wanting Jack's autograph and to take pictures.

You stood back, talking to Urban and Neelam before security helped get you all out of the building.

Jack found you quickly, grabbing your hips as he did earlier.

“Did you have a good time?” He whispered, against your ear.

“I’ll have a better time when I win” you teased him knowing he would chuckle at that.

You walked around the festival for an hour, eating and stopping every so often before heading back to the building for the results.

Jack stood with Andy, and you stayed back with Neelam and Urban.

You weren’t paying much attention until second place was called, it was your pumpkin. You had never won anything in your life, let alone a pumpkin carving contest.

The look of pure shock on your face made Jack laugh with his entire body. You walked over to him, getting the ribbon and mouthing to him “What the heck?”

He laughed as he gave you the ribbon, asking you to wait there with him. He gave you a kiss that was quickly captured by the many phones in the room, making your face grow warm.

Jack was sure he was going to win first place, and when he did the room cheered. He of course made a show of it, making you giggle as you watched him jump up and down.

He got his ribbon and the two of you took a photo with the third-place winner for the newspaper.

When you were both walking back to the car, you couldn’t help but giggle as Jack continued to brag about his win.

“Be honest, did you pay them to win?” Urban shouted from behind you.

“I thought the same thing!” You turned to Urban and laughed out loud.

“That cardinal was looking a little crazy!” Neelam chimed in as everyone got into the car.

“You guys are just sore losers” Jack rolled his eyes as he opened the car door for you.

When he got in the car, you were trying your best not to laugh anymore but you were looking at his expression, and he was smiling to himself.

“Baby- how much?”

“I didn’t pay them!” Jack let out a boisterous laugh, but you still weren’t too sure.

“Did you pay for me to win?” You started to question your ribbon.

“Paying to win a pumpkin contest? Does that sound like me?” He clicked his tongue as he put the car in drive.

“Yes!” You, Neelam and Urban said in unison, as the entire car filled with laughter.

#Jack Harlow #jack harlow x reader #jack harlow concepts #jack harlow imagines #jack harlow blurb #Jack Harlow fic #fic requests

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