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#before they take their 2-weeks worth of holidays
maghnolias · 1 year
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finished work at 1:45 in the night, have to wake up and go to office in the next 4.5 hours, and not an ounce of sleep in my eyes...lord have mercy I beg
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toastsnaffler · 3 months
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damn I rly have another 4 weeks of holiday this year huh. I should start making some plans
#well maybe more like 3 weeks bc I wanna keep some to use for long weekends or day trips#but thats still kind of a lot..#my problem is i dont wanna take time off just to stay at home bc I do that most weekends. but im not sure I rly wanna go anywhere either#I dont mind travelling but its very much just a function for me. even when im travelling for fun + not bc I Have to it feels no different#Im v independent but I just dont rly have the adventurers spirit. plus im disabled so going new places alone is so stressful sometimes#ugh I dont wanna let my parents catch wind of how much holiday i have tho bc theyll be like come stay with us for a week!#i will Kill Myself no thanks#theyll probs already get christmas with me and thats an ordeal enough#its the expense as well idk how much its worth it. even if i can afford it like that money couldve gone into so many other things#ahhh.#my flatmate did suggest we go somewhere together but i feel like shes gone off that idea.. ik she doesnt get as much holiday anyway#id feel bad eating into it just so she has to spend more time with me even tho we already live together. nightmarish ik#there are maybe some landscapes id like to see but not alone bc id wanna hike but i dont rly have any friends into that kinda hiking#like i cant rly just fuck off into the mountains for a week by myself the risk is stupid#i dont knooooow. maybe ill just do myself a cornwall trip v early or late summer when kids are in school that might be nice#bc its just trains to get there. and ive spent a lot of time alone there before like it wouldnt be as stressful as a New Place entirely#i wanna do a music festival in the summer too but rly id only need 2 days holiday for that. and again i cant rly go alone#so i need to find ppl to convince to come w me#god i feel so lame for not rly wanting to go on proper holidays. but its never felt worth it to me sorry 😭#blame the childhood trauma or whatever#ill stew on it and maybe ill think of something we'll see. ive got a while yet before id need to book stuff anyway#gotta do some more cleaning today but the sooner i can get it done the sooner i can play elden ring 🙏🙏🙏🙏#.diaries
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nsharks · 1 year
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merry christmas, lieutenant | simon “ghost” riley
words: 2k
plot: soap runs into his lieutenant off-duty and meets the girl he’s been keeping secret (you).
tags: pregnant reader, fluff, domestic simon, fem!reader
a/n: I was really inspired by the holiday season and this fic by @wttcsms.
part 2 & 3
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Soap has seen you before.
Not in the flesh, but in a photograph. A small little Polaroid that he noticed his lieutenant thumbing in his pocket when they went out to a bar in Prague once with the team.
"Got something worth sharing there, Ghost?" Soap had asked him, mouth humming over the pint he was indulging in.
Ghost had just gave him a lidded look, as if to say "drop it". But later that evening, when Ghost stepped out for a smoke, pulling the little photograph out to look at when no one was around, Soap managed to catch a glimpse. He didn't realize Ghost was outside by himself, thinking he'd run off to the bathroom, so Soap was surprised to see the lieutenant when he'd stepped out for a smoke himself.
Not announcing his presence, Soap saw the little picture of you for just a few seconds. Enough to notice that it was a woman. A pretty woman, at that.
After that, Soap made a few attempts at getting Ghost to tell him about the girl in the Polaroid.
"Taking a little vacation when I get back," Soap had told him once, weeks after the bar in Prague. "Hope I meet a cute bird. What about you, Lt? Got a bird waiting for you back home?"
"Not your business, Sergeant."
It didn't take long for Soap to give up on trying to learn anymore about you. His lieutenant was as secretive as he was admirable out in the field. Soap decided that secrets were secret for a reason; most of the team was quiet about their personal lives, only dropping vague bits and pieces. It made sense that someone like Ghost wouldn't drop any pieces at all.
By the time Soap happens to see you, in the flesh, he's almost forgotten about that little Polaroid of you.
They're on a two month break. It was around Christmas time, the time of year when Soap tried to see as many old faces as possible, so he'd been driving down south to visit some friends before he got holed at home with the family for the holidays.
He knew his skull-faced teammate was from Manchester, which was readily available information given the man's thick accent. But he didn't even consider that he might run into the lieutenant there.
Soap stops by a holiday market on his way to see an old roomie. Hot wine, trinkets, warm food. He's not usually impressed by the Brits, but this market is something out of a movie, he thinks.
He's got a warm cup of Grenache in his gloved hands when he sees a set of familiar broad shoulders, tucked inside a black winter jacket and attached to the familiar skull-covered face. There's no way. No fucking way, he thinks to himself, narrowing his eyes to squint across the crowd of people. But it was most definitely his lieutenant; Soap knew it from the way he walked like a tank, sticking out like a sore thumb among all the civvies.
Soap is smirking the whole time he makes his way over.
He's expecting a look of surprise on Ghost's face. He's expecting the lieutenant to scowl at him before pulling him in for an awkward, half-hug. He's expecting a small chat before they part ways again.
What Soap isn't expecting is to see a young bird next to him.
You're walking next to Ghost, just barely touching his side, and a glowing smile is on your face. You've got on a knitted dress that reaches your ankles and a warm coat, but the layers do nothing to hide the visible baby bump.
Ghost is carrying various shopping bags, assumably all belonging to you, and he keeps looking down at you as if worried you're going to get lost in the crowd or run off to another stall without informing him.
The sight of it causes Soap to stop.
Instead of surprising the lieutenant like he'd planned to, he suddenly feels like he is intruding on a private moment. He's got a girlfriend? Of course he bloody does, Soap thinks, remembering the photograph from all those months ago.
He is ready to backtrack and pretend he never spotted Ghost at a holiday market of all places, when the lieutenant is suddenly looking right at him. Eyes widen at first, but then they narrow considerably. The brief moment that Ghost looks away from you is enough to make you follow his gaze, landing right on Soap about five meters away.
Ghost tries to keep walking, eager to pretend he never saw the Sergeant. But you're already putting two and two together. Soap can see the mental math you are doing, looking between him, then looking at the hulking man beside you.
Your eyes flicker with excitement.
You start waving at Soap.
Christ, I'm sorry, Lt.
He's got no choice but to walk up to the two of you now that he's been spotted.
"Hi!" you chirp, tucking your arm through Simon's so he can't start walking away. He groans to himself- this couldn't be happening. "Gosh, you must be Simon's teammate?"
"Yes, ma'am," Soap gives a nod. The three of you are standing amid the people. Soap's got a better look at you now and he realizes you're not just a girlfriend. The slim band on your finger, the prominent bump under your dress- the lieutenant's got a wife.
"I've never met any of Simon's friends before," you exhale excitedly, and the use of the word friends makes Ghost want to gag. "Simon," you whisper and give his arm a small squeeze. "Why don't you introduce us?"
Soap pities the lieutenant in this moment, but he can't say he doesn't enjoy the way Ghost instantly obeys your request.
"Johnny," he gives Soap a stiff nod. "This is Y/N. Y/N, this is Johnny."
You start chatting with Soap, asking him about what he's doing there and how he's enjoying the wine. Small talk. But all the while, Soap is trying to wrap his head around the bizarrely mundane sight of it all. The fact that Ghost is spending his free time walking around a holiday market, carrying the shopping bags of his pregnant wife. His beautiful wife, at that. Soap never imagined he'd witness something like it.
"Well, I don't want to keep you two," Soap says, but mostly he is referring to Ghost, who has said maybe two words. "Better get going."
"You're not keeping us," you shake your head. "It was so nice to meet you, Johnny. Are you... are you busy this evening?"
Ghost immediately knows what you're thinking. He also knows that once you get an idea in your head, and you get excited about it, it's extremely hard to say no to.
"Well, I-"
"We'd love to have you for dinner," you beam at him, leaning into your husband's side. "Right, Simon? We rarely have guests over."
"Is that such a bad thing?" Ghost clicks his tongue and grumbles under his breath.
The pointed look you give him almost makes Soap laugh out loud.
____
And that was how Ghost ended up agreeing to have his teammate over for dinner. Even more bizarre than the initial encounter is the home you two share, Soap figures. When he arrives later that evening, he brings in a bottle of bourbon and a small wrapped gift. He steps into the warm house, immediately met with an interior that is cozy above all else; dim lights and flickering candles, a small tree already up in the living room, a couch covered in Christmas-themed blankets.
And Soap is surprised to find that his lieutenant is the one in the kitchen, while you're the one greeting him.
"Simon will like this," you say, taking the bourbon.
"And this is for you," Soap rubs his neck, handing you the gift. "Well, both of ya, I suppose."
You don't open the gift until after dinner. Soap learns that Ghost did most of the cooking since it's been hard for you to be on your feet for too long lately. He learns that you're due in 8 weeks, and Ghost has already put the nursery together. (He nearly smashed the crib when he couldn't figure it out for two hours, apparently). You almost offer to show Soap, but decide against it, knowing that your husband was already out of his comfort zone as it was. Some things were best kept just for you two.
And Soap tells you about all the fun times they've had together. The near-death experiences, the times that Ghost almost killed them both whenever he was behind the wheel, all the different cities they've been to.
Simon only speaks up to add comments like, "That's not how I remember it" or "You're a worse driver than me".
Soap notices the lieutenant gradually start to relax, soften up a bit. What he doesn't notice is that it's mostly due to your hand on top of his thigh under the table, rubbing gentle circles.
You open the small present once everyone is done eating.
"It's really not much," Soap says, "Just somethin' I managed to pick up on the way over."
But the contents of the box pull at each string of your heart. You tear off the bow and open it to reveal a small, knitted romper, the color of cream. It's soft to the touch and it invites a moisture to your eyes (because everything made you cry these days).
"Johnny, thank you," you tell him earnestly. You'd only met the man a few hours ago, but already you were fond of him. Trusted him with your husband's life, even.
"Didn't know what the sex is," he explains sheepishly, catching a glimpse of the lieutenant's unreadable gaze. "Thought this would work for either one."
You look at Simon. You wish he'd say thank you, but instead he clears his throat. "Gonna clean up the kitchen," Ghost says gruffly, and stands from the table.
When he's gone, you offer Soap an apologetic smile. "He has a hard time accepting gifts," you explain on your partner's behalf, rubbing the swell of your belly.
"I figured," Soap shrugs. "If I'm honest, I can't believe he's got a family like this... like you. Bit surprising."
"It took him awhile," you hum thoughtfully, recalling the years of patience that your relationship demanded of you. "It took him two years to tell me he loves me. Another three to propose."
"Sounds about right for Ghost."
You nod in agreement and sigh. "I'm grateful he has someone like you. I know he's got a funny way of showing it, but Simon is secretly grateful, too."
_____
Ghost is the one to see Soap to the door. You wave your goodbyes, eyes starting to get heavy. Your husband quietly urges you to "slip into something more comfortable, pet", and you were happy to abide. Soap has noticed how gentle the brooding man is with you. Small touches to your waist, little kisses to your hair, grazing his hand over your belly. It’s a remarkable contrast to the demeanor Soap, and everyone else, knows him for.
As you're changing into your pajamas, Ghost is standing in the middle of the front doorframe, arms crossed.
"Nice place you got here, Ghost," Soap tells him with a cheeky grin. "Reckon I should stop by more often?"
His lieutenant doesn't seem to share his enthusiasm, instead grumbling in annoyance, “Fuckin’ hell. Don’t push your luck, Johnny.”
There is a warning in Ghost’s eyes that Soap knows him well enough to read, loud and clear: don’t tell anyone about what you saw today.
Soap simply lays a hand on his tense shoulder. “Merry Christmas to you, too, Lt.”
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piastri-lover · 9 months
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only her; lando norris
summary: in which you and your boyfriend go on holiday together, but the only pictures he seems to share are of you
pairing: lando norris x reader
authors note: this is my first one of these but i keep seeing other people's so i really wanted to try!! please send in any requests u have and i'll try and do them asap!!
INSTAGRAM
yourusername 📍santorini, greece
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tagged: landonorris liked by pierregasly, landonorris and 1328947 others yourusername honey, honey, how he thrills me x view comments
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user1 im so fucking jealous of her -user2 why shes just an attention seeking whore --user1 bitch who are u to talk
carlossainz55 why does he looks so goofy in the water? -yourusername who taught u the word goofy lol --carlossainz55 lando :))
landonorris prettiest boy ever (and ig shes kinda cute too) -yourusername think hes kinda mid icl
landonorris love u baby x -yourusername ig i love u too --landonorris i take it back ---user3 i want what they have
user4 im sorry but why does she literally have the perfect body liked by landonorris -user4 ahh lando liked
user5 does no one else think they're only together bc she's a golddigger and he likes her body -user6 i do always feel like there's no chemistry --user7 its their relationship why do u care??
~~~
landonorris 📍santorini, greece
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tagged: yourusername liked by pierregasly, carlossainz55 and 5927462 others landonorris her.view comments
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carlossainz55 u were on holiday for 2 weeks and u only have pictures of ur gf -landonorris only ones worth posting
user8 carlos is saying what we're all thinking -user9 can't believe she's manipulated lando like this --user10 bitch u better be joking
yourusername we went to 4 diff islands and they're the only photos u have -landonorris i can post the one of u after that night in mykonos --yourusername nvm these are great
yourusername don't know who that guy is but i LOVE his hands -user11 omg she's so real for that
TWITTER
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INSTAGRAM
landonorris
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tagged: yourusername liked by pierregasly, oscarpiastri and 3183640 others landonorris thanks for 100k likes on twt, i think she looks as pretty as ever xx view comments
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user12 how does she still look so good -user13 fr like i don't even know why she made such a big deal out of it --user14 attention seeking i bet
yourusername i hate u -landonorris love u 2 baby xx
oscarpiastri did u take any other photos in greece -landonorris wdym i've only posted the prettiest views --oscarpiastri smooth
user15 i wish i was her -user16 i wish i was lando so i could just stare at her all day
georgerussell63 lando's giggling at all the comments about how pretty y/n is -landonorris fuck off no i'm not --yourusername i wish u were that's kinda hot ---landonorris i 100% was
~~~
yourusername 📍greece
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liked by landonorris, alexalbon and 793583 others yourusername bc lando refuses to share photos from holiday... view comments
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user17 yk they were staying in the best hotels -user18 joys of dating an f1 driver
user19 ik that lando was just the most romantic on this trip liked by yourusername
landonorris these photos are mid compared to the ones on my page -yourusername ur mid compared to me --user20 facts liked by landonorris
landonorris am i right in saying the third photo is before u fell over and grazed ur knee -yourusername fuck offffff --landonorris love u bitch
user21 i want what they have -user22 witty banter in comment sections?? --user21 no lol good looks
~~~
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landonorris replied to your story:
landonorris look so good baby xx
yourusername thank u my love missing greece so much
landonorris yeah me too
yourusername the food the music the hot weather the views
landonorris looking at u everyday
yourusername oh shut up
landonorris never ;) see u on friday x
yourusername yeah love u ig
landonorris i kinda love u as well
~~~
landonorris 📍santorini, greece
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tagged: yourusername liked by pierregasly, yourusername and 4193759 others landonorris missing her hours x view comments
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user23 okay i do kinda see why he likes her she's stunning -user24 i don't know how lando norris of all people pulled her --user25 she's everything and he's just ken
maxfewtrell @/yourusername pls come get ur man he hasn't shut up about u since he got home -yourusername don't tell him but i do kinda miss him --landonorris i fucking knew it ---yourusername nvm im over it
yourusername ik u took other photos post them bitch -landonorris these the only pretty ones --yourusername idk how someone is so cute and infuriating at the same time
user26 at this point i'm not even convinced lando went on holiday i think he just took photos of y/n liked by landonorris
user27 she's stunning
user28 lando dump y/n and pick me instead -yourusername @/landonorris u heard them --landonorris sorry baby but the people have spoken ---yourusername @/user28 hope ur ready to deal with his snoring lol ----landonorris Y/N FUCK OFF!!
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johannestevans · 5 months
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Where do I find the queer people?
Making friends and finding social & community spaces as an LGBTQ+ adult.
Originally published with Prism & Pen. Also on my Patreon.
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Photo by Brett Sayles via Pexels.
A friend and I recently went to a Queer Open Mic night after I saw it advertised on the same afternoon. While we were on the way back, she asked about how I’d found it.
“I just feel like you always know loads of queer events that are on,” she said, “and I don’t know how to begin to find them.”
I sat down with her a few weeks later and showed her some of the ways I find events, regular or otherwise, and where I look for others — especially given that on social media in the past few days I’ve seen a few people talking about the difficulty of finding and meeting with new queer people when not online.
I thought it might be useful to put it together here.
It’s quite hard with the pressure on and elimination of many third spaces to go out and easily meet people, and given that most of us use a lot of online socials and dating apps, it can feel difficult to seek out and engage with in-person spaces without knowing exactly what the protocol or format of the event is going to be.
Especially given that many people are still more isolated than they were before the start of the Covid pandemic, and/or struggle with seeking out events for themselves having finished school or university or other more structured environments, there can be a lot of anxiety about attending events or meeting new people. But it’s worth it to remember that pretty much everyone else is in a similar spot, and there’s nothing weird or unusual about wanting to make friends or have social time with others.
I am based in the North of England and generally go between the UK and Ireland. So this guide might be less useful depending on where you are. Obviously, in countries with more repressive legislation on queer identity, community groups will by definition be far more underground. Even in areas where this isn’t the case, some of these suggestions might be more viable than others depending on how densely populated your area is, how accessible different venues and events are, and how active your local queer communities are. So, just take what’s good for you and leave the rest.
Finding Local Queer Community Groups
In your search engine, put in simple search terms — [queer] [group] in [my area].
If you can, narrow your search to websites updated in the last 6 months to 2 or 3 years — you’ll sometimes find a website from six or seven years ago where the events haven’t been running for half that when you were already excited about it.
Search your town, city, or county first, and then widen your search — I normally initially look for Bradford and Leeds respectively, but then might broaden my search to West Yorkshire or even North England depending on the time of year and if I’m more willing to travel for certain events, e.g. looking up summer events around Pride, or specific holiday events if you’re looking at Halloween, Christmas, New Year’s, etc.
Combine:
“Queer”, “LGBT” or “LGBTQ”, “Trans”, “Gay Men’s”, “Lesbian”, “Transgender”, “Transsexual”, “Gay Rights” or similar terms
With:
“Charity”, “Support Group”, “Social Space”, “Community Space”, “Meetup”, “Society”, and similar terms
Swap around the terms and find what language seems to be used in your area — remember that depending on the age group and demographic you’re looking at or for, there might be terms you prefer.
I personally search for a lot of gay men’s groups because the average age tends to be a lot older and focused more on the experiences and social spaces of men who love men rather than general queer spaces, which I find can be a bit too young and fast-paced for my speed.
In general, I find that there’s a loose separation between younger trans and queer social groups, which tend to be a mix of differing identities and ages but with a big emphasis on young adults in the 18–25 area, and then specific gay men’s or lesbians’ groups, which will have a wider swathe of ages and might be a little bit less online.
I understand the fear some people have of these spaces being more transphobic than younger spaces — that’s not personally been my experience, as transphobia and lateral bigotry might happen in any social space, but unfortunately, you just don’t know the specifics of an event or a group until you get there and actually meet and talk to the people.
Some charities or community groups that run a variety of spaces might have specific age or identity guidance on group titles — some might be particularly for younger or older people, be for trans people more than cis people, and some might focus on particular sub-communities, such as BIPOC queer groups or specific religious or ethnic meetups, disabled queer groups, etc.
You also might find meetups that are centred around certain hobbies, professions, or interests — boardgames or Magic the Gathering, Doctor Who or fantasy novels, medical professionals or blacksmiths, etc, depending on how big the area you’re in is and how populous it is.
If you are already a member of an institution or society, whether that’s your school or university, your union, some workplaces, your temple or other religious institution, etc, you might find that there are already events running for you!
Finding Queer Events Online
There are almost certainly queer events on, and they’re probably advertised, but where do you find them?
What’s annoying about the Internet as it exists, corporate online spaces and otherwise, is that most events will be posted in one or two spaces out of hundreds. The good ones will sometimes be hard to find because there’s a bunch of shitty advertising in the way, and because individuals and small charity or community advertisers don’t necessarily know about things like search engine optimisation or how to make a good, searchable post. There will be really cool events that are advertised online, but just aren’t tagged or easy to find.
This means that it’s worth looking often but keeping it casual — glancing through the top page for events that might be coming up or meet some keywords, but if most of what you see is ads, just leave it and move on. Digging through for the good events in busy areas that are also ad-heavy can take ages and might not even turn up much.
If you find socials for local community groups or charities, even if they don’t run events themselves, they might regularly share other local events or cool ones, so it can be worth following them!
Ditto for other queer people in your community — follow local artists, performers, academics, creators, public speakers, craftspeople, or any local community leaders or public figures, and see if they share and boost local events.
They might boost special interest events that are of interest to you if you follow people who share certain communities or interests. If, for example, you have an interest in lolita fashion and follow queer lolita dressers in your area or in areas you can travel to, they might post events that are of interest to them and maybe to you — whether that means specific lolita events, other clothing and fashion events like gothic or steampunk markets and shows, or even anime cons or renaissance faires or whatever.
Obviously searching on social media can help — looking for keywords like “queer event” or “LGBT social” on one site or other can be especially good if it’s a site where you can localise your search results, such as Facebook or Instagram.
With that said, Facebook and Instagram are increasingly difficult sites to use given how much they’re overwhelmed by sponsored and corporate posts as well as spam and bot posts. So, it’s generally worth it more when you focus on either events in smaller and limited areas, such as small towns, or when you’re looking for crossing over of different areas of interest, such as particular queer hobbyist or interest groups. When you start looking for broader spectrum events in a busier or more populous area, you can get inundated by spam and copy-and-paste duplicate ads that have all been promoted. But it’s still worth it to have a glance and see if anything is up at the top!
Sites and apps like Eventbrite or TicketSource, or equivalents in your area, will often let you search for specific events . As with social media, these sites can have the same problem of sponsored events coming up first, and annoyingly you can’t block particular event providers or organisers to make sure they don’t show in your search results if they’re not your thing.
Use every option that comes up and see if you can cross search where you can — pick a particular location or area, click on free or paid events, pick events at certain times, pick a certain kind of event, add in tags like LGBTQ or similar if it’s a site that allows it, etc.
If an event comes up that you like the idea of, note it down, then look the organizer up on social media and see if they run or share other events.
Looking for local tourism sites will let you search for other local events as well — especially if you live in a city or regularly visit one, they’ll often have a What’s On page or a Visit [Blank] website or equivalent, and you can search through that — most of them will have cultural events or a specific LGBTQ section you can glance through.
Here’s the Visit Bristol site, for example:
What’s On in Bristol — VisitBristol.co.uk Click here to find out What’s On in Bristol!…Get the latest information on the latest Events, Festivals, Carnivals…visitbristol.co.uk
For obvious reasons, sites like most of the above will focus on paid events, especially evening and party events. Pub quizzes, drag events, bingo nights, balls, drinks offers, parties, etc.
These events aren’t for everybody — and if they’re not for you, focus on events that take place, if not in cafés and restaurants, then in libraries, universities, museums, and other public buildings.
Queer Events Locally Advertised In-Person
Wait, do people still do that?
Look for poster and notice boards in:
Libraries, museums, community centres, university lobbies
Vintage and alternative clothes stores, music venues, etc
Your temple, church, or other religious institutions
Gay bars, queer cafés, LGBTQ centres, queer bookshops
Doctor’s offices, GUM clinics, and sexual health clinics
Anywhere else you see a noticeboard with events showing!
Also look on flag poles or in windows around your local gay bars or businesses if you have any, generally around the gay village if there’s one to go through.
How do you know the events are good? How do you know they’re legit?
How old does the poster look? Do you see many copies of it around?
Look for dates for the event(s) they’re advertising on the poster, and then look up the venue the events are meant to happen at. Do the dates match? Is it a regular event? Is the event showing on the venue’s website or social media?
Is the event run by a local group, collective, or charity? When you search them, do they have socials or a site of their own? Do they seem active?
If a local queer poster gives you socials, check those socials out — do they have any followers you’re familiar with? Do they post their venues publicly and have defined and public meeting times? Do they seem to have active and engaged commenters? Is there a face or faces behind the social media, or are they anonymous?
If an event is run by anonymous people, or if it seems like they don’t have many followers on social media or very active ones, that might be a bit more suspicious — ditto if an event just gives you a phone number but not any further identifying info.
It’s not inherently suspicious for a queer event to be at an undisclosed location, because of course people do want to ensure some safeguarding and vet people before they come, but if it’s an undisclosed location in combination with anonymous organising, that might be a bit suspicious, and should probably be avoided.
Finding Queer People in Specific Hobby or Other Community Spaces
You don’t have to go to queer-specific events to meet other queer people — any hobby or community you can think of, there’s probably queer people in attendance.
If you’re in a busier or more populous area, say there are 5 events that centre around the same hobby — of those 5, some of them will have more queer people than others, and it might be worth checking them out just to see if you click with anyone there.
My partner and I attend queer-specific board-game evenings that are run out of gay bars or by queer clubs, but pretty much any board-game night is likely to have one or two queer people knocking about, whether they know or would identify themselves as LGBTQ+ off the bat or not.
While there are obviously more open queer people at the queer events, I would say that when we went to a local board-game night run by older straight guys, about a quarter of the attendees were older queer people.
Of my queer friends, pretty much all of them have varied interests and attend different groups or clubs with a lot of other queers knocking about without them being labelled or explicitly queer events — knitting and crocheting, computer coding, electronic music and DJing, fandom, blacksmithing, glassblowing, stand-up comedy, improv, cooking, gardening, board games, cosplay and historical costuming, LEGO, live-action roleplay, tabletop roleplaying games, Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, and other trading card games, poker, burlesque, sports games and clubs, swimming, cycling, fishing, photography, book clubs, bug collecting, birdwatching, weaving, painting, sculpture, pottery, video games, singing, songwriting, poetry…
The list goes on.
Hell, half the people I know seem to go and meet new dates at the local climbing wall, where it seems like all the lesbians and gay guys are crawling all over one another. Another friend of mine attends their local WI, and have met other queer people there.
Other Tips
Remember you can meet people on dating and hook-up apps and that doesn’t necessarily have to be for sex and relationships, whether that’s Grindr, Her, Lex, etc — or you can ask hook-ups and casual dates where they go or if there are local events they think are good or fun. Poly people are particularly useful for this, because they’ll often have a whole network of regular events crossing over and diverging.
If you’re nervous about going to an event alone and you don’t have anybody to go with you, it can be worth checking it out on socials first and see if you have any mutual friends with people that are going — if not, it’s worth heading along anyway, because people might well speak to you before you have to open the conversation with them.
Community groups will often have icebreakers or sessions where people swap names, pronouns, and basic introductions, and that can ease the way into getting used to the space.
If you see somebody else on their own who seems nervous to talk to people, they can be good to approach and say, hey, I also don’t know anyone here, what brings you here? And so on. Remember, other people are pretty much always in the same boat as you.
For me, one of the biggest anxieties about going to new events alone is the fact that I’m disabled and dependent on public transport, and that combo can make it tough on me if I get to a place and it’s inaccessible or just not my speed, and then I have to sort of immediately turn heel and leave, but wait ages for a bus in the meantime. I’ve missed more than one event I was really excited about just because transport didn’t line up for me.
Some considerations to keep in mind when you look for events:
Is the event free or paid? Is this clearly marked? Do you need to buy tickets in advance?
How recent is the posting about the event? Is it posted on a web page or a social media page? Are there recent comments or engagement on the entry? If there is a contact for the event, is it active and responsive?
Is this event regular or recurrent? Is it for a special occasion, and does it have sister events or concurrent events?
Is the event exclusively online, exclusively in-person, or do they change between the two formats? Would you prefer to attend online before you attend in-person?
Do you want to go to a closed and more private group — for example, one that has you message them for the time and location, seems to have capped attendee limits, seems to have a regular community. Or do you want to attend a more casual event in a larger, open space where people might not notice as much as you come and go? Is it going to be very crowded or more spaced out?
Where is the event located, and will you be comfortable in that venue? Is it in a community building such as a charity space, community group, religious institute, school, or university? Is it in a café, restaurant, pub, bar, club, or late-night venue? Is it an explicitly or dedicated queer space? If you are not out to other members of your community, will going into this space reveal that you might be a member of a queer group?
Is the venue age-restricted, and will it require ID? If you must provide ID, will providing your ID in a dead name or in a different gender presentation to your current one be anxiety-inducing or a potential problem for you?
How accessible is the venue to you? Is it walkable, on a regular bus route, or does it have appropriate parking for you? Does it have ramps or elevators? Is it well-ventilated, and does it have a HVAC or other air filtration and purification protocol? Is masking enforced, and/or are masks provided? If you might be watching something together, is there a hearing loop, will there be subtitles on a screening? Is there a first aider at the event? Does the venue serve food or drink, or provide refreshments?
If you are attending alone and have specific needs or requirements, or might need to leave abruptly, is there someone you can let know at the event, such as a first aider or community leader? Are there regular buses, a taxi rank, or online taxi access if you need to quickly head home? Have you let someone else know where you are going, just as a safety concern?
Is the event activity-based, or is it a space where people just sit and talk? Would one or the other of these feel more natural or comfortable to you? Do you have to bring your own activity, such as with a craft or knitting circle, or are supplies provided, such as boardgames or a screening?
Does the group or host for the event(s) have social media? Do they advertise the regular events on socials, or have a newsletter, or some other helpful reminder system?
Most community events will be free, but if it’s an activity group or society, or if it’s a private event, especially one where they buy equipment or supplies, there might be an up-front ticket or access fee, a membership fee or a collection jar or similar — most events will tell you in advance if there is a fee or if they might request a donation.
Most importantly, like… Have fun.
If it sucks, hit the bricks — there’s no obligation to stay anywhere if it’s not fun or doesn’t satisfy you in the way you were hoping.
There’s always other events out there, and you’re very unlikely to truly be the only gay in the village, even if it sometimes feels that way. Good luck!
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Hey everyone - if you live in or are near the US , you're over the age of 12, and it's been +2 months since your last jab you're eligible for a covid booster and Novavax is finally being rolled out! It's not an mRNA vaccine and has been shown to possibly be more effective against new variants than mRNA vaccines. It doesn't have the crappy side effects the day after either! It's the safest vaccine for anyone who has had adverse effects from the covid shot before. Here's a solid compilation of studies and news on it if you want to learn more
https://www.okdoomer.io/a-little-bit-of-good-news/
It'll be more widely available in a few weeks but many CVSs, RiteAids, and Costcos are carrying it nationwide. Costco doesn't require a membership. If you call your local pharmacy and ask them if/when they'll have it that might get them to sooner. Most of these have Novavax availability on their appointment scheduler websites but it's still worth calling to check or checking in person in case they're out of date. You can also search for it on vaccines.gov. Happy to help folks look locally where y'all are if you want. Important to check if the location will take your insurance because boosters are now >$100 out of pocket if you go out of network 🙃 If you don't have insurance there is also the Bridge Access Program. To be clear, the mRNA vaccines are still very good and getting boosted before the holiday season spike is the best thing to do regardless. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/index.html
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drarryspecificrecs · 9 months
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2023.08 ~ Top 10 longest fics posted on AO3
1. Good Intentions by Gloworm13 [E, 382k]
►Harry never expected a conversation over returning Draco's wand. [...] Harry can't cope, especially when his group of peers is sent back to Hogwarts to finish their interrupted Seventh Year. And Draco Malfoy is wholly unprepared for facing the love of his life every fucking day now that he knows.
2. About Everything We Fucked Up and Tried to Fix by @zoooooey0610 [E, 246k]
►The time is the Dark Middle Ages, even with Voldemort defeated, the Wizarding world is still a place where Omegas are seen as properties. Couldn’t sleep, Harry came across ‘The Slytherin Wall of Sluts’ that changed the rest of his life, but the cog wheel of destiny may have started to move long before that. Twelve years later, he was confronted with the presents of destiny, and struggled to deal with the mess. However, every step he took seemed to be another mistake.
3. Cut From the Sky by @mallstars [E, 150k]
►"I'm stuck in a time loop, reliving November 2nd. This is the 111th time I've lived through today." Draco stilled. His moody eyes, the tension in his hands where he gripped onto his umbrella, the careful mask of blankness flickering over his face — everything about him was so difficult and so very dear to Harry. "Ah," said Draco, "and?"
4. After the Rain Falls by @shinigami714 [E, 95k]
►After the events of the war, all Harry wants to do is forget. For everything to return to normal. But things never were normal for him, and the war left many marks on him not so easily forgotten. When he receives a surprising offer to return to Hogwarts in a continuing education program, Harry jumps at the chance, and despite his best efforts to deal with his problems alone, discovers along the way that quite often, two minds are greater than one.
5. guard dog by chrismare [?, 63k]
►The first thing Draco ever loved was the Manor. Not the house- it was too big, too quiet, too cold- but the grounds that surrounded it. He grew up on stinging soles, running barefoot through his own little world. One of the house elves had cleaned the tiny cuts on his feet once and told him that he'd get used to it, that he'd grow calluses and it would stop hurting. It never really did.
6. Dating Draco Malfoy by @queenofthyme [M, 60k]
►Draco Malfoy is dating his way through Harry Potter’s endless pool of ex-boyfriends. With the help of Harry’s expert dating advice, he just might find exactly who he’s looking for...
7. Snogging Lessons by Revolocard [T, 58k]
►Harry Potter thought the hardest part about being the Chosen One would be preparing to fight Voldemort. He didn't expect it might actually be missing out on all the normal teenaged stuff. Now in sixth year, Harry feels like an outsider, too worried about being the subject of another Witch Weekly article to try to take part. When he and Draco Malfoy land in a semester's worth of detention, Draco is delighted and horrified to discover the Boy Who Lived is not only a virgin, he doesn't even know how to snog. Secret snogging lessons. It's not like it's anything more than just catching Harry up a bit. What could go wrong?
8. That Marriage Contract by Umeko [E, 54k]
►What happens when the forced marriage and male pregnancy trope combine to spring a surprise on the Boy Who Lived and his arch-rival turned unwitting fiancé? And they all have two dearly departed grandfathers to thank for the mess.
9. Terrible People by @wolfpants [E, 52k] --- ART by @getawayfox
►What happens when Harry and Draco end up on the same Muggle gay cruise? They certainly didn't plan for it to happen (but their friends might have). They're stuck with each other for a week, they might as well make the most of it, right? Featuring a holiday-long game of Truth or Dare, a very ill-judged FWB proposition, decades-long pining, lots of gin, and a small pair of green swimming trunks.
10. and i ignite by @pixiedunhoff [M, 51k]
►Draco Malfoy loves attention - and the Muggle world has given it to him in spades. Through a surprising and humbling series of events, Draco has achieved tremendous success in the music industry. He has recouped his fortune, earned legions of adoring fans, and gets loads of attention. Over the years, it has still never been quite enough… Until the subject of his more sizzling songs abruptly barges back into his life, demanding answers.
※ Word count: 1k ~ 10k
※ Word count: 10k ~ 40k
The Best and Worst of Times after the War (aka A Tale of Two Soldiers) by WriterwithaWindow [M, 11k]
breathe in, hold it, breathe out by @autisticnightfury [T, 18k]
chasing embers by ryyss [M, 29k]
Firestarter by Justlikewriting [M, 22k]
For each time I see you, things change a little bit by Writelikethat [M, 10k]
i think i might be gay by @stvrlvghtwrites [T, 10k]
Just Nice Things by wodnica [E, 31k]
No One Likes a Mad Woman by @thomasbrodiesandwich [T, 17k]
only the brave by slytheringoddess945 [T, 10k]
Possibly, perhaps be my boyfriend? by @23ster [G, 16k]
Seek, And Ye Shall Find by @nami-writes [T, 14k]
The Switch by @ashiiblack [M, 11k]
Take Me Back (To The Night We Met) by @onelatenight-longago [T, 12k]
What’s Mine is Yours by @fluxweeed [E, 17k]
Ongoing Fest/Exchange
※ Fics would be listed elsewhere.
HD Wireless 2023 | @hd-wireless
HP Bodice Ripper Fest 2023 | @hp-bodiceripper
HP Law of Attraction Fest | @hp-lawofattraction-fest
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wordsbyrian · 1 year
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Overprotective - Alexia Putellas x Reader
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Summary: Part 2 of Team Dad, in which R is an overprotective father.
A/N: This isn't the fic that I wanted to post today but I was an idiot who made the decision to write a 5th holiday fic the day before I post. So you guys get this one which was supposed to be for next week instead but that means 2 holiday fics next week. Also this is barely proofread so sorry about that.
Ever since it became common knowledge that you are the team dad of the Spanish national team, fans have been making a ton of videos showing off your most protective on-field moments.
To be honest, you find the whole thing to be a little ridiculous because any teammate worth their salt should make a fuss when one of their own gets taken down.
But, in all fairness, you might take it a little too far, especially if the number of yellows your mouth has earned you is anything to go by.
Currently, you find yourself in one of those exact situations as you get in the face of the Norse player who just took Pina off her feet.
You’re so focused on verbally tearing the player a new one that you barely register the combined efforts of Mapi and Patri to push you away from her.
Even when your club teammates, Maria and Vilde, come over you don’t cool it.
It takes the ref coming over and threatening to card you for you to walk away from the young Norsewoman.
“Try doing your job ref,” you tell her before walking to get in position.
Luckily Pina seems to be perfectly fine, more than fine in fact because less than five minutes after coming back on the field, she does what she does best and sends the ball soaring into the back of the net.
“La Estrella Bebe does it again,” you say, joining the group hug and patting her on the head, “Let’s finish strong girls.”
And you do, although when Patri gets taken down by the same Norse player that took down Claudia, you can’t help but run your mouth.
“Ref, you’re eyes, do they work,” you ask the center ref, “I’m seriously asking because I want to know. Usually, when someone puts their studs into an opponent's legs, that’s a card. So I’m just wondering.”
“Watch yourself, Y/L/N,” the ref says.
“What, it’s a serious question that I want an answer to because normally that’d be at least a yellow.”
For a moment, you think that your pleas have worked, watching as the ref begins to pull a yellow card out of her pocket. Those hopes are dashed when it’s shown to you instead of the Norsewoman.
“Wrong person,” you say walking away.
When the game ends, after you’ve apologized to Maria, Vilde, and their teammate, you’re pulled to the side for a discussion with your coach.
With that out of the way, you re-enter the locker room only to be greeted by the sight of your teammates recreating your outbursts.
“Ref, do your eyes work,” Leila mimics to the amusement of everyone else.
“Ok tonto, we get it, you’re funny,” you say taking a seat at your locker.
Your protective streak shows itself again later that week during a team outing to a nightclub.
And by this point, you’re certain that the universe really wants to see you punch someone over one of the younger players.
Why do you say that?
Because for the last 15 minutes, you’ve been standing in the corner watching as a guy blatantly stares at Laia and tries to subtly follow her around the dance floor.
Of course, you do realize that she can take care of herself but it's always better safe than sorry.
What you don’t realize is how hard you’ve been glaring at the guy, trying to get him to leave her alone with the power of your mind.
And you don’t realize it until you find yourself glaring at your girlfriend instead.
“Hi amor,” you say, leaning around her to keep your eyes on the strange man.
“Hola,” Alexia responds leaning into you, “What are you doing standing in the corner by yourself?”
Filling her in on what you're doing, you aren’t surprised when she rolls her eyes at you.
“You’re supposed to be having fun,” she says, pressing her body against yours.
“No, I’m supposed to make sure all of you get home safe, especially you drunky.”
“I’m not drunk.”
“You’re not drunk,” you repeat incredulously, “So it wasn’t you that untucked my shirt so that you could put your hands up it. A ghost did all that?”
It’s a good thing you weren’t expecting a response because the slightly painful way Alexia rakes her nails down your back lets you know you aren’t getting one.
Rolling your eyes, you pull her closer to you and try to relocate the guy who was watching Aleixandri.
And you do find him.
The only problem is that he’s apparently gathered up enough confidence to approach her and it appears he is not taking no for an answer.
Shaking your head, you unwrap Alexia’s arms from around you and begin walking toward them.
As you walk away, you can hear her yell something about not making any dumb decisions but you’re too focused to worry about the consequences of your actions.
When you get close enough, you place your hand on the back of the man’s neck and yank him away from the City player.
“Hey there, buddy,” you say, turning him around to face you, “This is the only warning I’m going to give you, leave her alone. Stop staring at her from across the room and if you value your ability to chew your food, do not approach her again.”
The idiot looks unimpressed and slightly confused.
“What does that even mean?”
“It means that if I see you near her again, I will break your jaw so badly that you’ll be tube fed for the rest of your life,” you tell him, glare firmly planted on your face. “In fact, you might as well go home now because I’ll break your jaw if I see you talking to any woman for the rest of the night.”
He takes a step forward, trying to intimidate you, but the effect is ruined by the way his voice shakes when he says, “You can’t do that.”
“Do you want to test that theory,” you ask him, taking a step towards him in return.
By this point, a lot of attention has been drawn to the pair of you, so you’re not surprised when a few security guards make their way over.
“What seems to be the problem over here,” the taller one asks.
Shrugging your shoulders, you roll your eyes when the idiot begins speaking.
“The problem,” he says turning to the guard, “is that this woman has just threatened to physically harm me.”
“Is that true?”
“Of course not,” you lie, “Ask anyone, I did not say anything to him besides asking him to leave my friend alone.”
The people around you nod in agreement with what you’ve said.
Upon seeing this, the shorter security guard massages his temples and sighs heavily before speaking, “How come every time you come here we have the same problems, Jorge?”
He then grabs the idiot by the shoulder and leads him away. 
“So that guy regularly harasses women and he’s still allowed to come here,” you ask the remaining guard.
“His uncle is the owner,” he explains before walking off.
Taking a deep breath, you look over at Laia and see her laughing at something Patri said.
That doesn’t last very long though because you're approached by Jenni who informs you that it’s time to go.
It isn’t until you’re all walking back to the hotel that you learn that anyone heard what you said.
“Do you like to chew your food,” Claudia asks Aitana, recreating the way you pulled the man to face you.
“What are the two of you on about,” Leila asks.
“That’s what Y/N said to the guy who was bothering Laia,” Pina explains.
“No, it’s not,” Ona says, “It was more like this.”
You all watch as Ona stops in the middle of the sidewalk and puffs out her chest in a hilarious mimicry of you.
“Stop staring at her from across the room and if you value your ability to chew your food, do not approach her again,” she says, trying to make her voice sound like yours. “Then she was like, I’ll break your jaw and you’ll be tube fed for the rest of your life.”
You can’t help but laugh at the display because there’s no doubt that you looked that ridiculous while talking to that man.
“Y/N/N,” Alexia says, letting go of your hand, “Please tell me you did not threaten that guy from the club.”
“Alright, I did not threaten that guy from the club,” you say plainly, “I made him a promise, whether he felt threatened by it was out of my control.”
That gets you some laughs from the team but only earns you a glare from your girlfriend.
“I don’t know why I’m surprised.”
“None of us know why you’re surprised,” Mapi says. “Y/N spent the entire night standing in the corner like the overprotective papa she is.”
“I’m not overprotective.”
Unlike earlier in the club when everyone agreed with you, this time you’re met with various noises of disagreement.
“Alright, fuck you guys. I’ll just let creeps hit on you from now on.”
The response is as instant as it is simultaneous.
“No, you won’t.”
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gloomysoup · 5 months
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when the world stops turning (my heart stops beating) - pt. 3
happy holidays to all who celebrate! as it stands, i'm posting this on christmas eve after a full evening with my dad's mom and his siblings and all my cousins, before i go to bed to deal with even more family all day tomorrow (we have my mom's side in the morning for brunch and then my dad's dad's house in the late afternoon/evening) BUT i did FINALLY get this part figured out and i couldn't wait to share it! i would apologize, but we all know i'm not actually sorry... oops
anyway i hope you all enjoy it!
ao3 pt. 1 pt. 2 pt. 3 pt. 4
cw: mentions and discussions of drug use, addiction, sobriety, relapse, referenced overdose, etc. y'know, the usual
The first time Steve ever got high, he was fourteen. Tommy had scored some weed off one of the older basketball guys, Steve’s parents were gone for a weekend. It was perfect. Steve, Tommy, and Carol laid back on the roof of Steve’s childhood home, overlooking the blue glow of the pool and the line of trees beyond the yard, passing a joint back and forth. It was a warm buzz, making his head go all fuzzy. It was nice. Until it wasn't, at least. He liked the feeling of being high. What he didn't like was what came after.
The comedown from that first high was rough, to say the least. Carol was fine; Steve didn't know why it didn't affect her as badly. Steve and Tommy, however, were not so lucky.
It was a while before he ever smoked weed again. He never did anything more than that, though there were plenty of opportunities. And he never smoked alone. It was always parties, or hang outs with Tommy and Carol. It slowed down when he met Nancy. She wasn't a fan of drugs, and always asked him to stop. He never could, but he definitely cut back. Then Nancy shattered his heart, so he picked it back up again. Started smoking on his own. Anything to chase the free feeling of the high. He spent so many nights trying to escape his nightmares and heavy thoughts. He smoked until his head was floating in the clouds. He kept the high until he ultimately passed out, hard, into a fairly dreamless sleep.
And then Starcourt happened.
That was a different high. Slower. It was loose lips, but firm thought. Tethered, but not quite there. It took longer to hit the peak, to really float. When he finally hit it, it was the best he'd felt in a long time. And then he came crashing down. It was the worst he'd felt in his life, aside from the time Billy bashed his head in with a plate. It sucked. It ruined weed for him, if he was honest. Every time he tried after that, his body panicked. His brain would get fuzzy, he'd start to float, and then he'd seize up. His brain would shock him back into reality. He vowed, with the help of Robin, to never get high again. He would finally quit. It wasn't worth the panic attacks and anxiety and trauma response that came with it anymore. He was successful for a while, at least. He'd been sober for almost a year.
That didn't last long after the final battle with Vecna. He and Eddie were friends. They were starting to grow into a little more than that. Steve’s nightmares were awful again. His body was sore and his scars stretched uncomfortably every time he moved. It was Eddie who initially suggested weed, even though he had stopped smoking himself.
“It's actually a pretty good method for pain management,” he said with a shrug. “You just gotta be careful about it. Stick to the natural stuff.”
Eddie didn't know that Steve was sober. Steve never told him. He'd been itching for a good high again anyway; something to clear his head, take some of the pain away, get a good night’s sleep for once. Eddie had handed him an extra joint, leftover from his own stash that he hadn't touched in weeks. Steve went home that night and lit a joint for the first time in almost a year. His sobriety went down the drain, just like that. The worst part? He didn’t even regret it. Not one bit.
He didn't tell Robin. He couldn't. He knew she'd be disappointed in him. She would go back to watching him like a hawk, following him around, and never leaving him alone long enough to even think about getting high. She'd spend every night with him, just like she did those first few months before. He couldn't let her do that to herself again. Not when she was doing so well with Vickie. He wasn't going to ruin her good thing with his own problems. So Robin never knew he relapsed. And Eddie never knew that he was supposed to be sober. He never told a soul.
Steve carried it with him for years. Every time he lit a joint instead of a cigarette, he thought about Robin. Two puffs in, he wasn’t thinking about her anymore, just how nice it felt. He smoked until his head was empty and floating, and then he smoked some more. He smoked by himself a lot. Then the band got recognized, and they were all smoking again too. Steve would smoke with them any chance he got. He never told anyone the secrets he was hiding. He never told anyone the weed wasn’t quite enough anymore. He was perfectly content with what he had, sure, but some deep part of him itched for more. He got cross-faded more times than he could count, just to feel something more.
His first experience with harder drugs was at a party with the band. Their manager had gotten them an invite for promotional purposes. There were supposed to be some high-end producers and such they wanted to network with, and Steve always went with them to these sorts of things. It was innocent, at first. Steve stepped out on the back deck of whatever big shot artist’s house they were at to light a cigarette while Eddie talked music with some people in the living room.
He took a deep inhale, feeling the nicotine saturate his lungs before he blew out the smoke. What he really wanted was some weed, but Eddie had it all on him and Steve didn't want to bother them. This was good for the band. They needed this. Still, a cigarette couldn't only do so much for the itch under Steve’s skin. He had a beer on the railing in front of him, but that's not what he needed. He took another inhale, holding it, hoping it would keep him satisfied until Eddie brought him a joint. It wasn't really working, but Steve was trying to convince himself otherwise.
“Mind if I join you?”
Steve turned to see a slightly older man standing in the doorway. He vaguely recognized him as another musician, but couldn't place his name. “No, not at all. Honestly, I could probably use the company.”
The man nodded and stepped onto the deck, closing the sliding glass door behind him. He took up a place beside Steve, holding out his hand. “Billy.”
Steve laughed at the irony and took his hand. “Of course you are. I'm Steve.”
Billy gave him a curious look. “Something wrong with my name, Steve?”
He shook his head. “No, not at all. It's just a little funny, I guess. I knew a guy named Billy once. Broke a plate over my head, gave me a nasty concussion, and then he died a few months later in a fire at the mall I used to work at. The universe likes to have a good laugh, apparently.”
“Ah, yeah, I'd probably feel the same way then.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a joint, gesturing toward Steve. “Mind if I light?”
“Only if you share,” Steve replied with a laugh before taking another drag of his cigarette.
“Of course, man.” Steve watched Billy pull a lighter from his pocket and light the joint, taking a puff before holding it out toward Steve.
Steve stubbed out his cigarette on the wood railing before taking the joint between his fingers. He took a deep drag, holding it for one, two, three seconds, and then breathing it out slowly. He looked up at the stars as he passed it back. “God, that's exactly what I needed.”
“Tough day?”
Steve shrugged. “More like a tough life. I'd usually be smoking by now anyway, but my, uh, friend has all the weed on him. He's busy talkin’ shop with some other music guys in there, and I didn't wanna bother them. It's important to him.”
“Not your scene then, I take it?”
Steve huffed, taking the joint back between his fingers. “I'm more… emotional support for his band, I guess. Though, I'm not sure they ever needed it. They do just fine on their own.”
“I'm sure they appreciate it anyway.” Billy glanced back at the house as he took the last drag before putting it out. “What do you say we go back in, Steve? I know a guy upstairs with something a little better than weed, if you're interested.”
“Hell, at this point, I might try just about anything. I don't do needles, though. Bad experiences and all.”
Billy laughed and motioned with his head. “Promise, no needles unless you ask.”
“Lead the way, then.”
Steve was floating on the best high of his life. He didn't know how much time had passed, but he didn't really care. He hung out upstairs with Billy and some other industry people for God only knows how long, smoking and laughing and snorting lines of cocaine. Eventually, Steve stumbled his way back downstairs with Billy, laughing the whole way. He bumped into Eddie, physically running into his back where he was scanning the house.
Eddie turned and wrapped his arms around Steve’s waist, holding him up. “There you are. I was wondering where you went.”
“Eddie!” Steve exclaimed, grinning brightly. He turned to Billy, who had his arm around Steve’s shoulders. “Billy, Billy, this is him. This is Eddie.”
“Oh, yeah! So you're Eddie! You've- you've got a good one, man. Steve's such a riot.”
Eddie seemed taken aback at first, looking between the two of them. His eyebrows furrowed as he took in Steve’s slightly disheveled appearance and wide eyes. “Steve, are you high right now?”
Steve giggled, leaning his face into Eddie’s neck. “Soooo high, baby. I feel great.”
“Alright, I think it's time we go home,” Eddie declared. “Come on, let's go find the guys.”
“But I don't wanna leave,” Steve whined with a pout. “I wanna dance, Eddie. Can't we dance? Please?”
“We can dance at home, Steve. Come on. It's time to go.”
“No fun,” he huffed.
“Steve, look, here, I’ll give you my number,” Billy said, still leaning heavily against him. “You call me. We’ll hang out again sometime, yeah?”
“Definitely. Definitely do that.”
It took Eddie fifteen minutes to drag Steve through the house and track down the rest of his friends. When they found the rest of them, Jeff frowned at Steve.
“What's up with him? Is he okay?”
“Apparently the whole time we were talking to that producer, my boyfriend was getting high off his ass with Billy Corgan. I'm sure he’ll be fine once he sleeps it off.”
“Wait, Billy Corgan?” Gareth asked, eyes wide. “Like the Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins?”
“Apparently they're best friends now.”
“Oh, yeah, Billy’s great,” Steve said through another bout of giggles, leaning all his body weight on Eddie. He cupped his hand around his mouth to whisper, but it wasn't really a whisper. “He knows who has all the good shit, guys.”
“Okay, he is really high,” Grant said. “Guess that's our cue to leave?”
“I don't care if you guys want to stay, but I'm taking Steve home. Just didn't wanna leave without letting you know.”
When Steve and Eddie finally got back to the apartment, Steve sloppily kissed Eddie in the entryway. His hand slipped under Eddie’s shirt, but Eddie pulled him back.
“Baby, no, not tonight,” he murmured. He pushed a lock of hair from Steve’s face. “You're too high for that right now. You need sleep.”
“Want you, though,” Steve whispered, ducking down to suck at his jaw and throat.
“Steve, no. I'm serious. You need to sleep this off.”
Steve huffed, a pout on his full lips. Eddie kissed him softly before wrapping his arm around his waist and leading him to the bedroom. Steve slumped back against the bed immediately upon impact. Eddie carefully and gently undressed him before tucking him into bed. He brought a water bottle and some meds for the morning, placed them on the bedside table, and then changed his own clothes. Steve was out like a light, snoring softly. Eddie held him all night, unable to sleep. He'd never seen Steve get that high before. Part of him worried it was more than weed, but he trusted Steve. He'd ask him in the morning, but he wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. He didn't think Steve would do more than that. He didn't think he had to worry.
The next morning, Eddie made sure Steve was safe and okay before bringing it up.
“So, last night,” he said over breakfast, poking around at the scrambled eggs he'd whipped up for them.
“Oh, right! How'd it go with that, what was he, a producer?”
“It was fine, but that's not what I'm talking about, Steve.”
Steve frowned. “What is it then?”
Eddie swallowed, not looking at Steve. “You were really high when I finally found you after you wandered off. I need you to be honest, Steve. What did you take?”
“It was weed, Ed. Strong weed, but just weed.”
“You promise?” He looked up, meeting Steve’s eyes. “You promise it's just weed, Steve? I can’t- You have to understand how dangerous that other shit is. I can't lose you to it.”
Steve smiled so easily, like he wasn't lying right to Eddie’s face. Like he didn't have a baggie of coke in the pocket of his jeans, which were laying on the bedroom floor. “I promise that's all it is.”
And Eddie believed him, like an idiot. He trusted him, because it was so easy to fall for those eyes and that smile. He didn't think Steve would ever do anything like that. He had no reason to believe otherwise. He didn't know that Steve had been sober for almost a year before that spring break from Hell.
Steve lied for years, to everyone. He was good at it. It was easy. He didn't even think twice before the lies tumbled past his lips. The problem was how simple it was to score. How easy. He never had to turn far. He was listed as a personal assistant to the band. He was handing drugs to pass on to them all the time, but Corroded Coffin didn't do any of that stuff. They always turned it down. They knew what it did to people, especially in the industry. It was a dangerous thing. Every time the members ignored the drugs being passed to them, Steve slipped them in his pocket instead. No one ever noticed. The more fame and recognition the band got, the easier it became for Steve to score whatever he wanted. Pills, tabs, cocaine, heroin, the works. He never strayed far from coke and pills, still wary of needles from the Russians, but it was a high he couldn't get with weed alone. It was addicting. He wouldn't have been able to stop on his own even if he wanted to.
He snuck off to do a line or two every chance he got. If the band’s backs were turned for even a few seconds, he was popping a couple of colorful pills. He smoked weed every other night, whenever Eddie wanted to smoke. He smoked on his own occasionally, slowing down his body through the rush of a good high. It was nothing like he’d ever experienced before, and he couldn't get enough of it.
Then he was at the biggest show of Eddie’s career. Sold out at Madison Square Garden. Roaring crowds, electricity flowing through Steve’s veins. He was only going to do a quick line. He just wanted to keep the energy, soothe the itch. One line turned to two, then three, then some pills. Then everything went dark.
The first thought to cross his mind as his vision tunneled and his body began to shut down was that he should have told them the truth. He never should have lied to Eddie, or Robin. He never should have taken that joint from Eddie all those years ago. He should still be sober. But he wasn't, and now he was going to die, and it's his own fault. He fell to his vices. He didn't talk to Robin, like he always promised he would do if the urges came back. Instead, he got into the harder stuff, and now it was going to kill him. The clock had finally run out. The Reaper was knocking on his door.
That would be the end of Steve Harrington.
-----
tag list: @mugloversonly @djohawke @acowardinmordor @hallucinatedjosten @geekyfifi @slowandsteddie @estrellami-1 @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @canmargesimpson
(if you saw this upload twice no you didn't. i definitely didn't forget the tag list)
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heli-writes · 7 months
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Seven summers, part 3.
Pairing: Draco Malfoy x female!reader
Summary: Every summer, Draco and y/n meet. First, by pure coincidence, then intentionally. Unbeknown to Draco, y/n's a muggle who has no clue he's a wizard. With the rise of the dark lord, how long can this go well?
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Series Masterlist
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dearest y/n,
School's incredibly boring. The only fun thing going on is that tournament. I do love seeing Harry Potter struggle. He totally deserves to have to fight that dragon. He's cheated his way into this tournament anyway. Not that I'd like to join. No prize money and fame in the world is worth fighting a real-life dragon for.
Blaise is seeing that girl he went to the Yule Ball with. It's disgusting, really. They're always standing in the hallway making googly eyes at one another. Also, before you say it, I'm not jealous because they get to see each other and we don't. Plus, they're nothing like us. They haven't even kissed. They're probably like your archnemesis, that Becky girl. If they don't see each other over the summer holiday, they probably lose interest and break up before the new school year starts, too. Meanwhile, we rarely see each other and we're together just fine.
Talking about it, would it be possible for you to send me a picture? It's not like I have the desperate wish to look at you every day but the others don't believe me about having a girlfriend. They think I invented you because I don't want to come in second to Blaise. It's really ridiculous but it would probably shut them up.
In all honesty, though, I can't wait until summer comes along. Not seeing you has been a lot harder since Christmas. Summer just can't come fast enough.
Love, Draco
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fifth summer, July.
Y/n can't wait to see Draco again. It's the first week of the summer holidays and the weather is fantastic. A few weeks ago, Draco and she agreed that y/n would come to visit him at his family's home. Y/n was a bit reluctant to agree because she feared that her little muggle secret would be blown if she stayed with a wizard's family. Luckily for her, Draco canceled just before school was over with little explanation why she couldn't come over anymore. Instead, Draco proposed to spend a weekend in Salisbury, a town a bit away from his parent's house. He promised to take care of accommodation since he had to cancel last minute.
Y/n probably should have a bad feeling about this. She lied to her parents and said she is visiting her school friend Olivia whose parents have a vacation home in Wiltshire. Y/n's parents know Olivia and her parents well since the two girls often spend time studying together for big tests, so they don't question the whole thing. All in all, y/n has always been a girl who followed the rules and never gave her parents a reason to mistrust her. Y/n tells herself that it's fine. She trusts Draco and he wouldn't do anything to hurt her or get her into trouble. It seems as if he himself is afraid to get into trouble with his father and therefore is careful about what he does or doesn't do. Plus, if the whole thing turns out to be a disaster, she just takes a train home.
Y/n takes a deep breath while she stands on the platform and waits for the train. There's a heavy feeling in her stomach that she can't shake off the entire way to Salisbury. When she gets off the train, she looks around unsettled. What if he didn't come? What if he had to cancel again last minute? Worried thoughts race through her head and she can barely register what she sees around herself. Suddenly, a hand grips her arm softly. "... y/n? Are you deaf?", a familiar voice says. Y/n is ripped out of her spiral and looks up to where Draco stands. "I've been calling you all the way from over there.", he tells her. Y/n takes a shaky, relieved breath before answering: "Oh, I'm sorry, I really didn't notice you." Draco gives her a soft smile, the kind of smile she's been missing since Christmas. "It's alright. I'm just glad you came. For a moment, I thought you didn't step out of the train.", he says as he pulls her into his arms. Y/n hugs him back and relief overtakes her. "I also thought you maybe didn't come.", she confesses. Draco leans his cheek against her hair. "Why that? I promised you I'd come. Actually, I'm really glad to get away from everything for a while.", he tells her. Y/n breaks the hug apart. "Oh? Did something happen? Is that why you needed to cancel meeting at your place?", she asks him. Draco shifts his weight uncomfortably. "Yeah, haven't you read it in the paper? There was an accident at the tournament.", he replies. "Oh.", is all that y/n manages to say. Somehow, she doesn't like the way he said 'accident'. Y/n shakes it off and gives his arm a pat. "Hey, it's summer! And we have a whole weekend to do whatever we want. Let's not dwell on dark things!", she tries to cheer him up. Draco gives her another smile and nods.
"Right, let's go! I'd say we get you settled first and then we plan our weekend over a good lunch.", he says and takes y/n's luggage. "Yeah, so where are we staying?", y/n asks him. "A family friend has an inn in town. We booked a room.", he tells her. "We? As in your parents and you?", y/n asks surprised. Somehow she finds it hard to believe that Draco's parents would allow him to go on a weekend trip with a girl they barely know. "Yes, though I didn't specify which friend I'm taking. My parents have been so busy the past few weeks, they didn't bother to ask.", he points out with a mischievous grin. Y/n giggles. Seems like Draco is not afraid to get a little bit in trouble. "Are your parents ok with this?", he asks her, and y/n proceeds to tell him about Olivia. "I don't think my parents would approve of me staying alone with a boy at an inn.", she ponders. "Well, we have two separate beds. There was no way I could've found a believable reason why I need a double bed with a friend.", Draco points out. Y/n has to laugh. "Oh, but you thought about it?", she asks him cheekily. Draco's ears turn a bit red.
When they stand in front of the 'inn', y/n asks herself if Draco was joking earlier and if this trip was really a good idea. They're standing in front of a rundown, seemingly deserted, house. "If there are ghosts, I'm not stepping inside of this place.", y/n tells Draco. Draco only nudges her and says: "Have a little faith, it's a great place.". He knocks on the door and loudly says "Clabbert". With an abrupt swing, the door opens and a small, very gloomy-looking old man opens the door. He musters the two of them up and down, seemingly disapproving. Y/n shudders. The man has long, unkempt hair and clothes that look like from three centuries ago. If she met this guy on the train, she'd definitely switch compartments. "Malfoy?", he asks in a grumbling voice. "Yes, my mother sent you an owl a few days ago.", Draco tells him. "Hm. And her? She smells like a muggle.", the man asks and gives y/n a mean glance. Y/n wonders what a muggle smells like, when Draco swiftly answers: "My cousin. We're visiting an aunt in town, but she doesn't have enough space for us.". Y/n's surprised at how effortless Draco can lie. The man grunts and retreats inside, leaving the door open. Draco gives y/n a sign to follow him.
Y/n really expects the worst when she enters the house. Naked walls, rubble, and a freezing breeze. However, when she enters the house, she is met with warm candlelights and old-fashioned but cozy decorations and carpets. The man leads the two of them up an old staircase. Draco tries to lift both his and y/n's luggage, but y/n quickly takes her own suitcase. The man hands Draco a key and points towards a door at the end of the hall. "Last one on the left. Breakfast is at 8:00 am sharp.", he just tells them and stomps down the staircase again. "Charming.", y/n comments dryly. "That's just old Goover. Don't bother with him.", Draco chuckles. "Goover? That's his real name?", y/n asks while they walk towards their room. "Dunno. That's just what my parents call him.", Draco shrugs. At the door, Draco starts fumbling with the key and tries to open the door. "And he's your parents' friend?", y/n asks surprised. Draco's father looked so sophisticated. It's hard for y/n to believe that he's friends with a guy like Goover. Draco manages to open the door and pushes it open. "Yeah... uh they used to be in this club together. Here we are! What do you think?", he quickly tries to change the topic.
Y/n enters the room. The room has the same old-fashioned style as the rest of the house. There's a fire burning in the fireplace, filling the room with a comfortable warmth that immediately makes her drowsy. "I take the bed close to the wall!", she announces and throws herself onto the bed. "Sure.", Draco says and settles onto the other. Y/n starts unpacking some things from her suitcase while Draco watches her.
Y/n rolls over to face Draco and she props her head on her hand and says: "So, what now? Lunch?“. Draco nods. "Yes, I know a good place. C'mon!“, he says and stands up. Y/n pushes herself from the bed and grabs her purse. "Let's go.“, she smiles.
Somehow y/n expected to choose a fancy restaurant with steak or filet. His family does not look like they eat the same way they dress, namely expensive. However, Draco takes her to a fish and chips shop that looks like it's been opened somewhere in the 70s. The smell of fryer oil hits them in the face upon entering. An elderly old, white couple stands behind the counter. "G'day my lady.“, says the man and gives y/n an overexaggerated bow and a toothy grin. "Och, George. Be a little bit more serious around our customers.“, his wife says and nudges him. Y/n takes an instant liking to the couple. They remind her of her grandparents who live in the Yorkshire Dales and have a little cottage in the middle of nowhere. They used to have a farm with sheep there but since they retired they gave away most of the animals. "We'd like some fish and chips, please.“, Draco says as he walks up to the counter. "Then you're at the right place, lad. You want some mashed peas, too?“, the man asks. "No, thank you. Y/n?“, Draco says as he turns to y/n. "Yes, please! And some vinegar, too!“, y/n cheers. They pay for their order and sit down to wait for the food.
"So, tell me about the accident at school. What happened?“, y/n asks Draco as they wait. Draco looks down at his hands and solemnly says: "A student died in the tournament.“. Y/n wished she'd be surprised but everything she heard about the school screamed deathtrap to her. Basiliks, soul-sucking creatures, dragons. Nothing of that screams 'safe' to her. The only thing she's surprised about is that this didn't happen earlier. "Oh, I'm sorry. Was he a friend?“, she says compassionately. Draco shakes his head. "No, I barely knew him. Was in a different house and all.“, he tells her. Y/n crooks her head in thought. Considering the fact that he didn't know the guy, the whole thing left Draco pretty shaken, y/n thinks. She also notices how he doesn't really want to talk about it, so she quickly changes the topic. "How were your finals? I feel like I could've done better.“, she tells him. Draco gladly accepts the topic change and starts talking about his own exams. "The finals were terrible! I mean the results were fine but I just hate the exam days.“, he complains. Y/n nods in agreement, happy that they found a common topic. "Yes, they're just so stressful. It's like how am I supposed to write three exams in one day? My head is already smoking after the first one!“, she adds. "True. Which subject did you find the worst this year?“, Draco asks her. Y/n hesitates for a moment. She knows that they have completely different subjects at Draco's school. Witchy subjects. Does she lie now yet again or does she tell him the truth? She decides on the latter. "Algebra. It's my worst result. I was truly desperate when I saw the exam.“, she tells him truthfully. Draco frowns and gives her a confused look. "My school teaches muggle subjects.“, y/n tries to explain. "Why would they do that?“, he asks. Y/n has to think about that for a moment. "Well, muggle subjects are about real-world stuff, so it makes sense to learn about that too, you know?“, she tries to argue. "Real-world stuff? You consider the muggle world real but the wizarding world not?“, Draco asks her confused. Y/n shifts in her seat uncomfortably. Yes, it's exactly like that. She lives in the muggle world, her reality, and the wizarding world may be real but it is just some far-away fairytale world for her. However, that's not something she can tell Draco. Suddenly, she feels very hot and she can feel some sweat rolling down her neck. "I just mean the muggle world is as real as the wizarding world. So, we should learn something about both worlds since we can't just ignore the existence of the other.“, she explains. Draco ponders on this for a second and y/n is proud that she gave a clever answer. It's something she truly believes in. Muggles should learn about wizards and the other way around. Right now, muggles and wizards just live next to each other and y/n wonders what might happen when they start living together, in one society.
Before Draco has the chance to reply, the man behind the counter interrupts them and brings over their plates. "Bon appetit, my lovebirds!“, he says and winks at them while he puts their plates down. Somewhere in the back, y/n can hear the woman groan "Och, George! Leave them alone!“ which makes her chuckle. In the end, he's not wrong, she thinks. Y/n and Draco thank them and pull their plates towards them. "Enjoy!“ she tells Draco and he gives her a smile. For a few minutes, they eat in silence. Y/n hasn't had some real fatty, unhealthy fish and chips in a while and she truly enjoys it. With a mouthful of fish she groans: "Man, this is so good!“. Draco gives her a grin and swallows. "It is, isn't it? It's the best fish and chips in the whole of England!“, he tells her. Y/n nods in agreement. "You know, my parents used to take me to Cornwall every summer holiday. On the last day, we always had fish and chips in this crappy old shop at the coast. This reminds me a lot of it.“, she narrates. "Why are they not taking you anymore?“, Draco asks her. Y/n shrugs. "I don't know. They're both busy with work, I guess.“, she answers. Draco pushes some food around on his plate. "You have a good relationship with your parents?“, he continues to ask. Y/n thinks about this for a second. "I guess. I mean we don't argue a lot, unlike other kids in my class. It's mostly because I bring home good grades and don't act rebellious, I think. But it's not like we spent that much time with each other, just around the house for meals and stuff. And you and your parents?“, y/n replies. Draco continues to push his food around and takes some time before he answers. "It's similar but my parents are also very strict, especially my dad. Even when I'm not acting up, sometimes I just say something he doesn't approve of and he gets pissed off.“, he mumbles. Y/n already thought that's what their relationship was like.
She is ready to move on from the topic when Draco suddenly asks: "Do you sometimes feel like your parents do stuff you'd never do?“. "I mean, yes. My mom always wipes off the soles of her shoes after entering the house. I'd never do that. I just take them off. I only wear them outside anyways, why bother wiping them all the time?“, she says. Draco shakes his head and frowns. "No, not like that. I mean like... I don't know... bad things.“, he tries to specify. Y/n crooks her head. "Depends. You mean like tax evasion bad or murder bad?“, she asks. Draco shrugs. "Something in between?“, he offers.Y/n leans back in her chair and looks up to the ceiling. She is trying to remember if her parents or any family members ever did something that falls into that category. "Well... my uncle supports the alt-right movement, at least in spirit. He doesn't do much besides having a big mouth.“, she tells him. Draco looks a bit confused. "You know the type of people who'd like to oppress people of color and women? Like, he told me that abortions and illegal immigration should be punished with the death penalty at a family dinner.“, she explains. Draco nods relieved, then looks at his plate again. "Are your parents like that sometimes?“, y/n asks him softly. "Hm, yeah.“, Draco tells her almost embarassedly. Y/n reaches over the table and takes his hand. "Don't worry about it. Important is that you don't get involved with stuff like that.“, she says and squeezes his hand.
Suddenly, having lost all appetite, y/n proposes: "Hey, why don't we get out of here? Let's have a look around town and discuss what we want to do for the rest of the day“. Draco agrees and they both get up. They bid the nice couple goodbye. Y/n feels relieved when the fresh, warm summer air hits her face. "I'm probably going to smell like a deep fryer for the whole next week.“, she says while sniffing her clothes. Draco snickers and casually takes her hand. Y/n has to blush a bit and doesn't look at him. She also doesn't let go, though. Together, they stroll through the narrow streets of the medieval town. They decide that they take a walk along the Avons and check out the Market Walk. Y/n stops at a bridge and yells: "Draco, look!“. A family of ducks are merrily paddling along the shore. Draco walks up behind her and places a hand on her lower back. He stands so closely behind her that y/n can feel his chest slightly pressed against her side. Carefully, she leans back into him and Draco puts his arms around her, pulling her close. He leans his head against hers. "They're so cute.“, y/n whispers. Her heart suddenly beats up into her throat. "You're cute.“, Draco whispers back and strokes over her hair with his lips. Y/n twists in his arms so that she can look up to him with wide, almost expecting eyes. Draco softly presses a kiss to her forehead. When y/n doesn't pull back after it, his gaze flickers towards her lips. Y/n leans a bit closer to him and Draco lowers his lips so he can properly kiss her. Draco's lips are soft on hers. His hands find their way into her hair and he pulls her head closer, deepening the kiss. Y/n feels as if she is pudding in his arms. For a moment, she forgets that they are standing on a busy street. Draco pulls back and looks at her for a moment. "I've been waiting to do this since you stepped out of the train.“, he tells her and y/n has to giggle. "Well, you have a whole weekend to do this a couple of times more.“, she teases him. Draco raises an eyebrow and asks: "Is that an invitation?“. Y/n gives him a peck and answers: "Yes, it definitely is“.
They let go of each other and walk to the market hall hand in hand. Y/n feels like she could fly and all worries from this morning are long forgotten. The couple strolls through the market hall. Y/n stops at some shops and picks up some trinkets and books. Draco sneers at her affection for romance novels and y/n makes fun of him for being forced to read the great classics by his parents. Eventually, they have tea in a small tea room. They sit crammed in a little nook, holding hands under the table. The women serving in the café watch the two giggling and putting their heads together with soft smiles. It remembers them of a time long ago when they were first in love. On their way back, they stop at a Tesco and get some sandwiches. They have their dinner at the shore of the river and watch the sunset together. When y/n grows cold, Draco pulls her into his lap as an excuse to warm her up. However, all he does is steal some kisses. Something that y/n doesn't mind he does. When the streetlamps light up, Draco helps y/n up and they make their way back to the inn. They stop holding hands a block before the inn and create some distance between them. Obviously, Goover is not supposed to think that some cousins are romantically involved with each other.
Back at their room, y/n takes her toilet bag and disappears into the bathroom to have a long nice shower. She wants the smell of fish and chips out of her hair. Returning dressed in her pajamas, Draco also retreats to the bathroom. She uses the time to text her parents that she arrived safely and how she spent her day. She quickly puts the device away when she hears Draco opening the door again. A towel lays over his shoulders and water drips from his hair. Y/n thinks he looks marvelous. Draco plumps onto his bed and dries his hair. "So, what do you want to do before going to bed?“, he asks her. "I brought some card games if you wanna play.“, y/n proposes. She ends up teaching him Skip-Bo and UNO. Being a terrible loser, Draco demands compensation after she hits him with a 4+ for the fifth time. They end up making up on the floor between their beds. Firstly, their kisses are sweet and careful, still testing each other's boundaries. With time, their kisses grow more heated and longing. Draco pulls her into his lap again and his hands start roaming her body. He slides his hand under her shirt, stroking against the soft skin of her lower back. Y/n's hand messes up his hair. At some point, Draco's leg falls asleep. In an attempt to shift their position, his long legs hit the nightstand and the vase on it tips over with a loud 'clonk'. They let go for a moment, looking bewilderedly at the source of the sound. When the vase doesn't fall onto the floor, they are just about to continue when there is a loud knock on the door. "What are you children doing in there? You pay for what you break!“, Goover's agitated voice rings through the door. The two quickly dart apart, scared the man will open the door and see them in a compromising position. Draco clears his throat and quickly yells: "Sorry, I walked against the nightstand. Nothing's broken“. There is shuffling in front of his door, then silence. Draco and y/n look at each other with wide eyes, and then they both have to laugh. Y/n quickly brushes through her hair with her hands in hopes of looking more presentable. Draco shakes his head and chuckles. "Maybe that was our cue. Probably best to leave it at that for the night.“, he says. Y/n nods. She's a bit glad that they got interrupted. Kissing Draco like that felt good but she also had no idea where they were going with this and if she really wanted to go there, wherever that was.
After brushing their teeth, they settle into their retrospective beds and turn the lights off. After the conversation dies down, y/n lies wide awake in her bed. She turns over to Draco and listens to his breath. She stares into the darkness, hoping to make our Draco's shape. Eventually, Draco turns towards her and she notices that he's still awake. "You know“, Draco suddenly whispers into the dark, "I kinda really wish we had that double bed right now“. Y/n giggles at that. "I could come over“, she whispers back. "You could.“, Draco agrees. Y/n bites her lip in contemplation. "But no funny business?“, she carefully asks. "No funny business.“, Draco agrees again. Y/n slips out of her bed. The floor is cold beneath her naked feet and she hurries to get under Draco's blanket. He puts the blanket up and y/n cuddles herself into his chest. Draco pulls the blanket and his arms over her. Y/n can hear his beating heart. Draco puts his hand into her hair, softly messaging her scalp. The warmth and Draco's hand against her head start to make y/n dizzy with sleep. She nuzzles into his neck and slowly lets sleep take over.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
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em-dash-press · 6 months
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6 NaNoWriMo Strategies Every Creative Writer Could Use
Are you joining the National Novel Writing Month competition this year? You’ll have a better experience if you start November with a plan in place. Use these NaNoWriMo strategies to understand what you want from your upcoming month of writing.
1. Set Your Word Count Early
We’ve all been there. We sit down to write and no matter how much we get done, it doesn’t feel like enough. It’s a shared frustration in the creative writing community and it can really hold you back from your NaNoWriMo potential.
Decide on your word count before the month begins. You’ll know what goal to aim for while you’re writing and when you can feel good about your progress. (All progress is good progress, but the 50,000-word NaNoWriMo goal is more manageable with small goal posts.)
These are examples of some word counts you might enjoy. You can always reset them as November continues if you feel like they’re unsustainable or less than you can accomplish:
To reach 50,000 words by November 30: 12,500 words per week or 1,667 per day
To reach 25,000 words by November 30: 6,250 words per week or 834 per day
To reach 10,000 words by November 30: 2,500 words per week or 334 per day
Tip: Find your word count with these formulas: [Total Word Count] divided by [# of weeks or # of days in November] Optional formulas: [Total Word Count] divided by [# of days you’ll have time to write] [Total Word Count] divided by [# of hours you’ll have time to write]
2. Outline Your Month With Writing Goals
Imagine that you need to buy a car. The car of your dreams is worth $30,000, but your desire to buy it won’t make $30,000 appear in your bank account. You have to work and set aside portions of your paycheck each time you get them.
Incremental progress leads to big goals, as long as you stick with them.
They’re also easier to accomplish if they’re specific.
Take some inspiration from SMART goals. They’re Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. You can make one of your own for NaNoWriMo to make it easier.
Here’s an example:
Not a SMART Goal: I’m going to write a novel in November.
A SMART Goal: I’m going to write 50,000 words by the end of November by writing 1,667 words each day.
A SMARTer Goal:  I’m going to write 50,000 words by the end of November by writing 1,667 words each day. To do that, I’ll write for at least 2 hours every evening from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
A specific goal outlines exactly when you’ll write, how much you’ll write, and when you know you’re done writing. It paves the way to your success, especially under a short time frame like NaNoWriMo.
3. Schedule Your Writing Time
Take control of your time this November by scheduling your writing time. Get a calendar if you don’t already use one and write down everything you need to do that month that isn’t about creative writing. Your calendar will probably look like this:
Class periods
Work hours
Extracurricular commitments
Time saved for friends
Time spent sleeping
Time reserved for holiday plans (if you have any)
When your calendar has everything that would happen during November without NaNoWriMo, see what time slots are left for your creative writing.
It may seem a bit over-the-top to schedule a creative session down to the minute, but it’s more helpful than winging your progress. You’ll know exactly what’s the best time to write each day, which likely won’t be the same for all 30 days in November.
Your calendar will also make it easier to make plans. If you know you’re free from 6-7:30 p.m. on a Saturday and your writing time starts at 8:00 p.m., you can feel free to make plans with friends during that time. You won’t spend NaNoWriMo feeling like you have to push your regular life away just to participate in the novel writing event.
4. Save Time for Self-Care
Even the most well-planned and scheduled writing goals will zap your mental energy. You’ll keep up with your goals more easily if self-care habits restore your body and mind.
Consider activities like these make you feel relaxed and refreshed:
Walking
Baking
Coloring
Reading
Knitting
Journaling
The best activity will be something that’s low-energy, within your budget, easy within your available time frame, and aligned with your individual interests. If you don’t have any self-care ideas in mind, explore a few before November starts. A new hobby or even sitting in a warm bath may help boost your mental health so you’re ready to get back to writing the next day.
5. Give Yourself Grace
When you feel ready to go with NaNoWriMo tips and a schedule, take a deep breath. If you meet your goals, great! If not, that’s great too.
NaNoWriMo isn’t about finishing a novel. It’s about learning how you write best and boosting your confidence.
Sometimes, we learn about ourselves through failure. You might not meet your writing goal every day. You may not even finish your overall goal. If that happens, reflect on what kept you from reaching that finish line.
You might spot a tendency to procrastinate that you can work on. Maybe you set an overly ambitious goal and need to practice setting realistic goals for yourself.
The things you learn from your upcoming NaNoWriMo experience will help your creative life and your personal life, but only if you give yourself the grace to learn from them.
Try being flexible if you don’t hit your word counts. The day you aren’t able to write 500 words could come the day or week before you write 1,000.
Never forget to reflect on why something happened. Introspective work is challenging, but it’s the best way to grow. Let yourself flourish next month as a person and a writer.
6. Celebrate Your Wins
Every win is worth celebrating. Maybe you want to write 10,000 words in November and only write 1,000. That’s 1,000 words you thought about, felt, and put on paper. Incredible!
If you don’t meet a single goal, you still got to practice setting them! And you’re going to learn from your mistakes, which is one of the best life skills to have.
Daydream about what celebrating means to you and plan a few ideas throughout the month. Don’t wait until November 30 to pat yourself on the back. Celebrate by doing whatever makes you happy, like:
Going out for an ice cream cone
Getting a new incense stick for your next writing session
Picking up a new book from the library
Sleeping in an extra half hour on Saturday
Walking through a home goods store just to marvel at things
Singing your favorite song at the top of your lungs in the shower
-----
Keep these NanoWriMo tips in mind while you prepare to join the competition this year. You’ll have a much better time when you understand how to use each hour to your advantage while caring for your mental health.
If you like what you see, please consider using the tip feature on my posts! I run this site for free, but will always appreciate the financial support. 💙
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norrisreads · 1 year
Text
set fire to the rain, part one #PG10
PAIRING: pierre gasly x reader! , Charles LecLerc x reader!platonic
SUMMARY: your first love is hard to forget because it leaves an 'imprint' on the sensory areas of your brain
WARNINGS: angst, will continue a part 2 soon! Listen to the song as a background music to get the feels of it!
FC: roses_are_rosie
sometimes i wake up by the door, that heart you caught, must be waiting for you
There’s a saying that goes, “your first love is hard to forget because it leaves an 'imprint' on the sensory areas of your brain” and you’ve never believed it until you’ve experienced it.
you dated a man, that would do anything for you, that would suprise you breakfast in bed, made you feel like you’ve strike a lottery every single day, made you feel like your next could never beat this man.
But, the world is cruel because a few years later you’ve lost this man to someone who’s much worth than you are.
Even now, when we’re already over, i can’t help myself from looking for you
You’ve met through a mutual friend, some one who’s still close to you.
“I promise you y/n, you’ll like him! who knows you’re gonna finally fall in love and be in a long term relationship?” Charles was convincing you to date one of the drivers from the grid.
He was literally following every footsteps you’ve taken, usually you don’t mind his existence but here you are trying to focus on the notes placed in-front of you.
“Charles, if i wanted a relationship i would have been on hundreds and thousands of blind dates, i wouldn’t even be here right now! but im here, studying this” you sounded pissed while pointing to ur thick notes that was placed on top of the cafe table.
“Look, take a breath of fresh air, make yourself look pretty on date nights, do things you’ve never done before y/n! Live your life!” Charles was literally giving you the puppy eyes.
“Charles leclerc, i’m 4 years younger than you and i’ve an important examination that determine my career, but if doing this makes you shut the hell up, fine. Once and if this guy icks me, i’m not listening to you anymore!” You rolled your eyes jokingly, and heard charles pumping the air with a whispered ‘yes’
He snatched your mobile phone that you were holding on, and key-ed in number and letters and showed you the screen.
There on the screen was the name of your first love, pierre gasly.
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Pierre Gasly, was a french man who took your breath away upon the first meeting. French wasn’t really the language you’re an expert in, even when your own best friend is monegasque. You’ve learn couple of words from charles but that’s it as both of you tend to mainly converse in english.
The whole date was not awkward at all, which comes to a surprise to you knowingly you’re a huge HUGE introvert with no social skills and from one date, to once in a few weeks dates to weekly dates and to finally being together.
In the first year of being together with pierre, nothing changed, everything was the same feeling as when you’ve met the first time. He would bring you around France whenever you’re on holidays, introducing you to his family and friends. What hits the spots is when he would bring you to places that he treasured the most.
The second year was when you’ve started to notice small changes, it started from him missing your weekly dates, not answering your calls with the excuse of him being too busy. You didn’t mind it at all, knowing you’re working while studying, your time for him wasn’t that much too, your routine while he was on season would be campus, work and sleep.
Whenever its off season, you’ll have routines where pierre and you would have picnics by the beach, pottery dates and more, but as days pass by you’ve realised how less time he has for you.
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You knew something was wrong, but for someone who’s too in love, you refused to say anything until Charles spoke to you.
It was just a normal weekend, you’ve not plotted yourself a shift to your part time job, so you’ve decided to settle your school works at your own comfort of home until you heard a bell. You knew it wasn’t pierre and at this point, you had no faith in both you and pierre’s relationship.
“Hey, it’s been long” charles came in the house and hugged you.
“Yeah, sorry man, i’ve just been too busy, i’ve got to keep getting good grades for you to finally see me on the grid being a reporter” you smiled and led him to your kitchen, where most of your notes, laptop, books were.
“Sorry for the mess, was kinda in the zone” charles laughed, not minding one bit knowing how focused you are once you’ve start on your work.
“Pierre’s not homed?” Charles ask confusingly
“Pierre’s moved out, it’s only me charles” you refused to talk about pierre even-though you’re still in a relationship with him.
“When did it happened, why hasn’t pierre told me? What happened between you and him, y/n?”
“We lost the spark charles, i know he has his eyes on someone else charles” you knew, you knew how he looked at her whenever she was invited to the driver gatherings, you knew but you refused to believe even-though you knew how much prettier she was than you
“y/n, i’m so sorry. I didn’t know anything, i’ve never expected pierre to have done this, mon cherie. I’ve feel fault knowing I’ve introduced both of you to each other” charles stood in-front of you and engulfed you in a hug which led you to have a breakdown.
“It’s never your fault charles, this is why i’ve told you countless times i’m not interested in the dating zone. I’d rather stay home at weekends facing my bed and tv”
you laughed, but charles knew deep down his best friend was suffering silently, and this was what charles was scared off, losing two of his best-friends and having to choose a side.
“Charles, i know you’re thinking of choosing a side but you don’t have to, pierre and you were friends way before i’ve met you. We can still be friends charles, i do not mind at the fact you’re best mates with my ex charles. If anything, i’m happy that you’re willing to be friends with me, so don’t think too much charles, you’re just gonna overthink your small brain”
both of you laughed, but you were different, for some reason the tears couldn’t stop coming down.
“Did pierre asked for it?” Charles asked, not believing his best mate had just broken the heart of his other best friend.
You shook your head and pointed at yourself, “ i did. I think he had a grasp of the situation and didn’t fight back, but it’s alright. It’s an experience for my first love” you’ve shrugged, while cleaning the mess you’ve made
Both of you have decided to not talk about pierre anymore and continue on both of your days together, with charles making sure you’re going to sleep with peace.
Months passed by, you’ve finally scored your first reporter job on the grid and it was the Monaco GP.
You had Lissie mentoring you and guiding you through everything, you knew Lissie through Lando and you’re glad for this because with out this opportunity you’ve wouldn’t be here as a reporter.
“We’re going to scuderia alphatauri team, y/n do you want me to take over?” Lissie asked you for the second time.
You gave her a smile and shook your head “Lissie it’s fine, i will be okay, i promise you.”
Lissie knew your past with the certain team member of scuderia alphatauri team and safe to say she wasn’t really happy with the personality of his but you’ve assured her that he wasn’t really a bad guy, maybe just a right person wrong timing?
What you didn’t notice was charles and pierre conversing and pierre eyes mainly focusing on you.
“Charles, you’ve never told me y/n would be here?”
carlos came and joined the conversation asking charles about your presence on the grid.
Charles was confused, why would you be here? You had decline the paddock passes he gave to you and so he followed carlos directions and saw you there right in-front of the camera interviewing George Russell and charles heart has never felt so full seeing your dream had been accomplished
Charles ignored the conversation with pierre and carlos and walked straight to you and waited for the interview to end to hug you.
“Surprise charles, i’m here, this time being paid!” You hugged back and stepped back
“I am so so proud of you, thanks Lissie for giving her this opportunity!” Charles smiled and thanked Lissie knowing how much the opportunity meant to y/n.
Lissie laughed it off and mumbled a no worries to him.
“Will you be interviewing us? Carlos and I? When will that be?”
“She’s not going to Charles, i’m sorry you’ll be seeing my face instead” Lissie broke off the news to him and laughed
Charles rolled his eyes jokingly, “for once, i thought i could get away from you, Lissie”
While Lissie, Charles and you were conversing, pierre, yuki and carlos made their way to the three of you.
“Hey y/n, long time no see” yuki greeted you
“Oh please, we met last sunday at the japanese restaurant, stop lying yuki!”
You knew the air was intense with charles and Lissie being protective of you around pierre and carlos with yuki having zero ideas of the backstory of both you and pierre parting.
“Hello Pierre, Hello Carlos! Fancy seeing both of you here too” you smiled.
“Well i fancy seeing you here, seeing you with radios and scripts attached to you is something i need to get used to looking at” Carlos touched the radio that was attached to your hip
“I’m proud of you, y/n” the sentence that would’ve broken down y/n if she wasn’t right in-front of her friends
“ oh shut up carlos, watch out for me more often in the future gps, don’t fall for me! and thank you pierre, couldn’t have done it without Lissie’s help of course!” Refusing to have the conversation mainly focusing on you, you shifted it to Lissie
After all of the catching up session, you’ve interviewed scuderia alphatauri and you’re thankful that it wasn’t as awkward as you’ve thought it’ll be. Once it was wrapped up, you excused yourself and pack things that were needed to be packed with Lissie.
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Things were going smoothly for you for the weekend, avoiding pierre and focusing yourself on the task that was given. Interviews with you was widely loved by fans knowing that you’ve already formed a relationship with 20 of the drivers way before.
Soon after, Lissie and you were separated, you’ll be in charge of games and Lissie does most of the talking interviews. You were being sent to different gps than Lissie, though it bugs you off not being with Lissie, you still couldn’t be more thankful.
You’re finally at the Miami GP, this time with Lissie. God really wasn’t on your side today because, if anyone could have been stucked in a lift with you it has to be kika.
The woman that pierre had his eyes on while being in a relationship with you.
Kika knew of your existence but it takes two hands to clap so you did not really put the 100% blame on her because at the end of the day, pierre’s to be blamed too.
“Love the grey dress on you, y/n! you look really good in it” this shocked you, because this was your ever first conversation with kika herself.
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you coughed and thanked her while complementing her outfit too, not really your style but for the sake of being kind, why not…? right?
“I didn’t know about you and pierre” she continued, you were really pissed off at the fact why has no one come to rescue me and her.
you really did not want to have this conversation especially after it took you almost 7 months to fully moved on.
“No worries, old story. Pierre’s much happier with you,yes?” You told her off while taking a seat on the lift floor.
she sat beside you.
“He’s not over it yet y/n, at night when i can’t find him next to the bed with me, he’s in the kitchen scrolling through pictures of you both, i’ve caught him listening to the playlist both of you’ve made too. I don’t blame him y/n, i’m sorry for telling you.”
“Kika….” you were stunned, in the 7 months it took you multiple shifts, late night studying to get rid of pierre on your mind only for it to come back right here right now
“I know you’re much more happier now y/n, but pierre was much happy with you than with me. I’ve noticed during the interview you did with him and yuki, I think that was a sign, you know? He doesn’t call me cherie, because it reminded him of you”
“kika, this is too much for me, let’s just be silent yeah?”
All you ever wanna do right now, is to get back to your hotel room and cry your lungs out
5 mins later, you hear the elevator door open and ding, and there stood in-front of you was the man of honour himself.
“Hey love, you okay?” You thought he went to kika and that was what confirmed it for you until you realised he was in-front of you.
“Pierre….? Kika’s there” you sound confused and pointed to kika
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a/n : that’s all!!!!!! i hope you like part one, will post part 2 ASAP! pictures are there too let yall imagine the outfits etc!
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vidavalor · 5 months
Note
Hello! I trully love your metas ♥️
And I want to believe… but how do you match the fact that they have kissed (even fucked) for so many time with the only kiss we have seen which is so clumsly, so fist-time-type, and so turbovirgin?
Thank you!
Hi @margotmignard-blog Thank you and nice to meet you. :) Ok, this is for you and the few Anons who have sent me more or less the same Ask in the last 2 weeks or so as some of my posts have circulated a bit more so yeah, alright, I'll take it on. All of you please help yourself to hot chocolate and holiday M&Ms, even if you are making me think about Every again to write this lol.
Why do I think Crowley & Aziraphale are long-time lovers when Every is an awkward kiss? Because you know what looks just like clumsy, first-time kisses?
Old-married argument kisses of desperation when all other communication is failing that then wind up failing, too, that's what.
Two people kissing in distress is clumsy and messy no matter what stage of their relationship they're in and if they're upset and think the other is about to walk out the door and conflicted about opening up to the kiss because of the argument then all of that makes for a truly gut-wrenchingly awkward kiss. It didn't read as a first time kiss to me at all but I can understand how it might to someone.
I actually think that's the insanely evil genius of it lol. This show is such a bastard worth knowing, I tell ya. :) Right now, they have everyone being all "they need to have a better second kiss!" and just well... if you were them, wouldn't you want that? Would seem a good way to bury the surprise of an older kiss, wouldn't it? Would be a good way to sleight of hand some doubt into *checks notes* apparently everybody but me and a handful of others lol and so help to have everyone flailing again but for a better reason when they throw in an older, better kiss.
It's also a bolder move, both story-wise and performance-wise. Sadly, it's still a big deal that they've even kissed at all and it shouldn't be but, thankfully, it's becoming more common. In a way, though, that makes the fact that they made the first kiss you saw less than ideal a better choice and a better story.
Some more thoughts on this under the cut below that is beneath some gifs of these two who haven't apparently ever kissed before moments away from sex in the wall slam scene in S1... which is Every's parallel scene. By design. To illustrate a contrast. The first kiss we saw is a mirror of oh, just the start of some casual public sex that got interrupted by SatanicNun!Nina. Haven't we all had that relationship where we let someone throw us against a wall before we ever kissed? I mean...
Look at Aziraphale and his little 'getting up to some sexy trouble' smile here... does he not look like he knows *exactly* what he's asking for here and does Crowley not know what the request is and give it to him in a way that screams that this is not the first time? The tone here is a bit... You know, Crowley, I've always said I wanted to fuck in an empty broom closet in a former satanic nunnery and luck of the devil, you just kicked in a door and found one so you are sooooo nice throw me against the wall baby let's go... oh terrific of course this is exactly when the damn nun shows up oh well at least I can enjoy you slurring your S's in sexual frustration for now...
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Good Omens throws something down and then gives you context for it later on that causes you to revisit what you thought when you initially watched it, right? They do this all the time. The scenes themselves always work fine on first viewing but they change and morph into a different scene when viewed with the added context the show gives you later. If you're writing a show in that way, you absolutely would make Every the first kiss you showed the audience... *especially* if it was in a cliffhanger-y season finale. Your Ask is exactly the reason why. You and I and a bonkers number of others are engaging with one another on the topic and we're engaging with the show as a result. Some of us are apparently willing to fight to the death insisting that Every is their first kiss. Some of us are like how you appear to be from your Ask, where you're willing to keep an open mind but you're leaning towards it was the first kiss. Some of us are like me and are feeling that, when all is said and done, they are building a relationship that is millennia old and that the show will wind up illustrating an entire history of it by its end and the idea that we have scenes out there already like Rome and The Globe Theatre and 1941 and Tadfield Manor but people think that they just kissed for the first time in 2023 is kind of head-scratching to me.
I've had people ask me how an ancient times vavoom would advance the story and I've answered in other meta how I think it would but I have an ask back for you all: how, honestly, would 2.06 being their first kiss advance the story? They've written characters who have had a relationship of some form with one another since before the Garden of Eden and have shown us that story throughout different points in time. S3 is going to be, at best, set a couple of years out from S2 and is probably set a lot sooner than that, so we're going to end their story sometime before 2026 on their timeline, probably... and the first kiss was in 2023? When you have the opportunity to write an entire millennia-old romantic relationship with all of its highs and lows and show it in the flashbacks and how they inform the relationship in the present? Because that story is already there. That's the story I see watching this and have since the first time I watched it. I'm frankly kinda floored by the number of people who insist that it's their first kiss, especially two seasons into the show. The same show that gave you this before it gave you The Blitz, Part 2?
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I got accidentally spoiled for Every like a lot of people and when I saw Crowley's glasses on, I had the feeling that it was probably going to be a terrible kiss. I was hoping that it wasn't the only kiss in the season but when 2.05 finished without it showing up yet, it became obvious that it was going to be a big thing in the finale (hahaha oh God, remember when we didn't know? simpler times lol) and that meant that it was likely the only kiss in the season and while it ripped my heart out like it did everyone else, I never saw it as a first kiss for a second.
If you've been with somebody for a long time and, like everyone else, you have your disagreements and your things to work through but you tend to be the kind of couple where you can always or almost always rely on a baseline of physical communication that helps you express what you feel for one another-- which is a wordy way of saying 'when you've been with someone forever and the sex is amazing' lol-- maybe the worst thing that can happen between you is if that feels like it's falling apart, too. That's what I see in that kiss and, in particular, Aziraphale's reaction to it.
It's not 'turbo-virgin', in an unfamiliar with kissing way, imo-- it's a situation causing conflict for Aziraphale over whether or not he wants to give into the kiss. We've all seen it from every damn angle by now lol. We see him unable to not give in, just a little. He kisses Crowley back a bit. He touches his shoulder and his side. He doesn't pull away because he just can't, really, because he never really wants to not be kissing Crowley, but he also can't just give in because that's the situation that Crowley's set up by kissing him the way he did. Crowley wants him to run away with him and that's not a solution to any of this, either, and everything is a total mess and if Aziraphale just gives in and opens up more and really kisses Crowley, he's saying yes to just running off with him and they can't. There's really nowhere to go.
Even with all of that, he still can't resist kissing Crowley a bit and touching him because Crowley and because what he really wants is for them to be literally anywhere else, somewhere safe away from all of it, without having to worry about Heaven & Hell, but they aren't and he can't pretend that they are. That'd be even crueler, really, to really kiss Crowley and then still go to Heaven, right?
It's not a first kiss and at a bad time panic-- it's oh God, I think we broke it. It's the heartbreak of suddenly being in this place together where they aren't communicating well on any level and that going past having a verbal disagreement and into the pain of having an absolutely brutally bad kiss with someone with whom you've had countless passionate ones and the terror that it might be the last one and you're never going to feel any of that again.
That's happened to them before.
It's the brutal 1862 scene. Aziraphale in 1862's comment about The Agreement is the most embittered you won't touch me anymore thing ever. They've gone from The Arrangement in their looser, flirtier Globe Theatre era to now what Aziraphale calls The Agreement in 1862. The difference between an arrangement and an agreement is basically where the future is concerned. An agreement is, well, an agreement lol but it tends to be more formal, more restrained, while an arrangement is an agreement that contains more of a view to the future. It's a plan. You agree to meet up but you arrange how, basically. They don't have The Arrangement in 1862 anymore, they have The Agreement and it sounds like the exact fucking opposite of The Arrangement. The Agreement is "stay out of each other's way. Lend a hand, as needed," according to Aziraphale.
Read that again: "Stay out of each other's way. Lend a hand, as needed." See a problem here? If we're just talking about helping each other out with work assignments then this literally just doesn't make any sense at all as how can you both stay out of each other's way but lend a hand as needed? It's one or the other. It can't be both. It's "stay out of each other's way" when it comes to work assignments. It's "lend a hand, as needed" in their love life and Aziraphale is bitter as all holy fuck about it. They're barely having sex anymore.
That scene in 1862 actually also parallels part of the scene that contains Every. Funny how alike "we have a lot in common, you and me" sounds to what Crowley says in 2.06, isn't it? Dude has got to stop asking for holy water or to run away when they're both a mess-- it not working lol.
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The point is that they've been together a long time and they've also both experienced a lot of trauma. They've have times where miscommunications snowballed and it felt broken beyond repair but it's not and it's not because they love each other and they eventually figure it out. That's part of the pain of Every, though, because what happened after Crowley came back from Hell in 1827 was bad and it took a long time to get to a better place with it but they did and better than before and then this kiss that they think could wind up being their last is a complete disaster straight out of the mid-1800s on top of the fact that they're in what feels like in the moment irreversible disagreement.
It's a painful kiss. It hurts to watch. It's supposed to. Not because they've never kissed before but because they've kissed a trillion times and this is by far the worst of the lot.
And these bastards decided it was the first one we should see lol. It's okay, though. These are coming soon, in the past and present:
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pearldog30 · 8 months
Text
Let's just hope no one heard us....
Soooo.... (We're not going to talk about the fact I was going for a while.... i might have or might have not gotten my heart broken) but anyways we're back! Sooo here's that soap smut I promised!
Johnny Mactavish x f reader
18+
Other works 👉 Master list
Warnings| smut, sex, biting, kissing, p&v sex, cursing, praising/very very light degrading!, fingering, hair pulling.
It was 2 weeks before Christmas you were at your boyfriend, Johnny family's house for the holidays. waiting his arrival, Johnny's entire family sitting in the living room anticipating, staring out the window knowing he's going to be home any second. everybody waiting to run out the door to tackle him. Because well..... It's been a long 8 months since he got signed on to a mission, so of course! everybody's missed him like hell. but! nobody's missed him like you have. Hell you even miss all the annoying little shit he would do. from leaving the toilet seat up, to his little good morning tickle attacks.
You knew getting into a relationship with him he'd be gone for long periods of time. but every time he came home it was worth all the wait, but not worth the constant worries and anxiety knowing you could get a call or knock on your door at any moment, that was the thing that always scared you. No not scared you.... terrified you. But the love and desperation he had for you, to come home to YOU! always outweigh all the worries.
You were bouncing on your heels getting nervous as the minutes on the clock tick closer to the time Jonny was supposed to be home. Looking around, you notice Johnny's mum was practically doing the same. staring out the window like a watchdog, while his father and 2 brothers were having a conversation about God knows what. As the time got closer you felt the urge to pee. this happened every single time when you got excited and nervous you had to pee. cursing to yourself wondering why now out of all times, when you knew he was about to be home. "Hey! Mum I'll be right back I have to use the restroom" you said to Johnny's mum. you always called her mum because that's what she was. a second mother to you. hell even some of the guys from his unit called her mamma Mactavish. "Getting nervous again?" She lightly chuckled, trying to lighten the mood as she knew your anxiety. Because well... she shared it the same as you. she understood best, the emotions you were feeling out of everybody.
You gave her a light laugh in returned, as you excuse yourself to the bathroom. When you walked in there the memories of you and Johnny being in that bathroom flooded into your mind. From the light-hearted memories to the oh, oh so... not PG memories. You stood in the reflection of the mirror, looking over yourself one last time, making sure you look nice for your boyfriend. even though he couldn't give a shit less about what you look like, it always matter to you. not seeing him for long/short periods of time, you always wanted to look nice for him no matter what. You knew you could be wearing a garbage and he still love the shit out of you. but taking the time and effort to look nice for him, is what made him fall even more for you.
You were finishing up in the bathroom washing your hands. when you heard everybody stomping out the door, they're Yorkshire terrier jacks. barking going crazy, and you knew he was home. You quickly run out of the bathroom forgetting to dry your hands. you practically stumble out the front door of the house. seeing Johnny's Brothers tackled him to the ground, while his mother cried tears of joy, happy that her baby was home safe and sound again.
As you walked up behind his brothers you could hear him about to ask his father where you were "pops wer-.." that's when he saw you and ran and scooped you up. lifting you off the ground with ease. You quickly wrap your arms and legs around him. Cherishing this moment of being in each other's arms again. "Fuckk.... Bonnie I've... Miss you oh so much" he mumbles into your neck, as he begins to smother you with kisses. "I- I've... Missed yo..I t- to" you say through kissing his soft lips, while also trying not to cry, holding back tears of joy.
in the middle of y'all's moment, you hear his brothers making gagging sounds. "AY! Away n' bile yer heid..." Johnny quickly makes a remark to his brothers, glaring daggers at them. he gives you one last kiss before lightly putting you down. When you 2 pull away from each other he can see your face and the tears falling down it. he places his hand on your cheek, wiping them away ever so gently with his thumb. you could have thought you were some fragile material, that with a single ounce of pressure you can break. "ay Come on boys... Let's get inside" Johnny's dad Mr, Mactavish speaks up and everybody follows. Johnny has his arm tightly wrapped around you, so you can't go anywhere even if you tried. When you walk back into the house the warm feeling of the air, and the smells of fresh Christmas cookies hitting your nose. you look up to Jonny and you already know his mouth is watering, from the way his eyes widen at the smell. The smell of comfort, love, and caringness. A smell that he has missed so badly.
Everybody gathers into the kitchen as that was the place where a lot of family gatherings were spent. this being one of those. A few hours seem to go by, listening to the sounds of Johnny bickering with his brothers and Dad. as his mom and you were getting dinner prepared for everybody. "Alright... Alright I'ma go get cleaned up" Johnny says, as he stands up from one of the chairs in the kitchen. "Good you stink" one of his brother's joked. Johnny rolling his eyes. As he walked past you, you hear "ay you wanna join love?" He chuckles in your ear, as he lightly smacks your butt. making your face go red. You quickly slap his hand telling him to knock it off. As much as you would love to, you were at his parents house for god's sake. But of course! that would never stop our horny Johnny boy. "It gets a lil lonely in ther' " he says, with that cheeky fucking smile of his. Which made your face go a brighter red from embarrassment, as his brother's yelled gross.
After about 30 minutes go by. everybody hears Johnny yelling from the bathroom "AYYY" curious you go off to see what he wants. And when you open the bathroom door you see his head around the shower curtain looking at you. his eyes brighten that it was you that answered his calls. "Ay uhh... Bonnie can you get me a towel?" He asked sweetly and of course you couldn't say no. You go off to get him a towel which just so happened to be a fresh one out of the dryer. When you come back into the bathroom to hand him his towel, he lightly grabs your wrist pulling you towards him. giving you a dangerously hungry kiss. And that's where it went downhill from there.
Taking the towel from you, he pulls the curtains back. And as if his muscular, wet, body wasn't enough. you noticed his cock begin to harden. You immediately feel your cunt begin to get soak from just the sight along "Babeee" you say, lightly feeling your cheeks go a light red. Now yes, you 2 may have seen each other naked get thousands of times. but this didn't stop your cheeks from getting heated and your core getting wet when he would do stuff like this. "Please darling!" He begged as he took the towel wrapping it around himself, almost forgetting that the bathroom door was still cracked open. and he didn't want people to know what was clearly on his mind if someone were to come in.
The begging and pleading in his voice is what made you snap. how could you even say no to that. Let alone not seeing him for months. As he steps out of the shower walking towards you, not caring about practically getting everything else around him wet. (Haha get it ok I'll stop now...) You're back hitting the bathroom door closing it, you both hear the clicking sound. looking at each other the lust and fiery desperation in his eyes, He was like a predator waiting to feast on his prey. Suddenly, he picks you up and places you on the bathroom counter, your clothes getting slightly damped from his wet body. your mouths pressed against each other hungry.
you don't realize how much you've missed his taste. Pushing his tongue down your throat casing you to moan into him. He pulls away with a smile and FUCK THE SIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. Resting his hands on either side of you on the counter, you're trapped nowhere to go but to look at him. His all wet messy hair, his dark blue eyes begging for you, his wet body, towel barely hanging on by a threat around his muscular torso. God it was all too much to handle.
He leans back in towards you, kissing your jawline. slowly going up to your ear. He whispers in your ear "please... Bonnie I- I need you so fuckin' bad..." He says, as he continuous to nipple on your jaw. You can't help but nod giving him permission. because the truth was you needed him as much as he needed you. You quickly try to wrap your legs around his torso put his big strong hands stop you. "Na... You needa watch me fuck you..." He grumbles. giving you one final kiss, biting your lip causing you to let out a small yelp. as he picks you up off the counter turning you around roughly, so now you're both facing the mirror in front of you. He puts his hand on your back pushing you onto the counter with no hesitation. he was so fucking needy at this point he's forgetting how strong he really is. You knew there was going to be invisible handprints on You by the time he was done, but you didn't care.
He pulls down your pants so fast almost ripping them off. "jonnyyy!!' you gasp, not being used to this sort of roughness in a while. "Shh... Shh Bonnie..... You don't want my family to hear you now... Do you?" he chuckles, so sadistically in your ear. and you knew you were in for it.
He takes his hand down to your wet cunt fingering your arousal around. scratching you out with just his fingers. and yet moans were already leaving your mouth, you almost forgot how good and quick he was with his fingers when it came to you. "Fuck Bonnie..." He moans as he takes his fingers out of you, causing a dissatisfied whimper to leave your lips. He leans forward giving you a kiss on the shoulder before he backs away. And then you feel the oh so bittersweet sensation of the tip of his cock teasing your interest "ahh.. shitt fuck" you moan out from the sudden stretch. The burning sensation quickly washing over your body, with your boyfriend being gone for months at a time you forget your body needs a little warm up time to get used to his size. because he was definitely not small by any means.
"bon...nie... Steamin' Jesus.... Your so' tight...." he grunts, as he loses focus of going gentle, Yes his intended thoughts was supposed to go slow for your sake, but God..... the feeling of your cunt wrapped around him perfectly. he just couldn't help but pound into you so roughly. Causing you to cry out from the fast, hard, pace he was taking. his hands are digging into either sides of your hips, the flesh of his knuckles slowly turning white from how hard his grip was. surely to leave a bruise in a couple hours. You couldn't control the sound leaving your body with the grip and pace he had going.
At this point you couldn't tell if you were moaning from pleasure or pain but if we're being honest here did you really care? The feeling of your boyfriend fucking you, the feeling you yearned so long for. Did that little bit of pain and a lot of roughness roughness all really matter?
Your nails scratching into the counter, you struggle to find something to grab onto. as you try to gain your senses. Suddenly you feel a rough hand in your hair pulling your head back. The sight of your boyfriend pounding into you like there's no tomorrow. chasing his high like it was his last 1 he'd ever have "god... Look at you.. take ma' fuckin' cock like a good slut" he grunts, as he feels you tighten around him from his words. Causing him to tilt his head back in pleasure. "Y-ess baby..." You moan, as he continues to pound into you, pulling your hair back even harder so now your back is against his chest. causing a small cry to leave your mouth.
From how rough he was going, the only sound echoing in the tile bathroom was skin clapping and the moans leaving your lips. Honestly, Johnny would be lucky if no one heard you guys.
He untangles his hand from your hair moving it to your throat (the perfect necklace if you ask me) moving his head next to yours, you can feel his hot breath on your ear. "How bad do you wanna cum for me?" He moans into your ear, as he starts biting and sucking the sensitive flesh on your upper neck. "So' so bad... Pls. Jonny" you beg him, how could he say no... Especially when he had you like this, begging for him, you had no idea what you were doing to the man. He nods his head in return quickly. taking his left hand that was on your hip, he places behind your left leg forcing you to move your leg on top of the counter. So now the only thing keeping you balanced was learning against him as you try your best balance on your right leg. He cheekily move his left hand down to your clit. so now every time he pound into you, you'd be grinding against his hand. Not knowing that was the extra thing you needed to get you closer to your high.
with this new position you didn't realize until now how much pre-cum he had released inside of you, now all of it dripping out of your sensitive, pussy. you felt it beginning to run down your legs. Hell even the bathroom counter was starting to get stickly wet from this position.
He continued to pound into your sensitive cunt. But his thrust were getting sloppy and his hand around your neck began to tighten and you knew he was close, but so were you. "I- I... Jo..nny I so, so close" you barely breathe out, from the tight grip he had around your neck, to the pounding he's giving you. Sometimes he forgets you need to breathe your head is so lost up in the clouds you begin to feel so lightheaded. "I.... Kno.. da-darling... Fuck m' too" he grunts out, his hand starts rubbing circles into your clit, making you to cry out once again. Jonny really knew what he was doing to you, and he was okay with it. because he loves seeing that fucked-out pleasure look on your face. "FU-CKKK PLE-ASEEEE!!" You unknowingly screamed out. it was your body's natural reaction to it all.
being so overstimulated out of nowhere, after a long time of not having it. of course your body was going to react in some way. Which just ended up earning you a quick, hard, slap to the ass. as he goes back to choking you, so you shut up. "SHHH... I told you'd to be fuckin' quiet Lass.." he grumbled aggressively in your ear. "'i- I sorryyy" you softly whipper out. "You gonna be quiet, like a good girl?" He asked, and that's what pushed you over the edge.
He knew being called a good girl was your weakness. You without any hesitation eagerly nodded your head. And that's when he moaned in your ear "good girl...." He painted heavily, as he couldn't hold back anymore. feeling your cunt squeeze around him again, from his words. both of you coming undone at the same time. "Fuckkkk..... Bo-bonnie take m' cum like a... good girl" he breathe out, as he frantically fucked into you. Like a bitch in heat, biting down on your shoulder hard enough to almost make you bleed. His hand tightening on your throat. As he continued to rub your clit. "AhhHhHHY-yessss I- I'm cumin..." you moaned out, your hips bucking into his hand. "M' too god da-damn... You f-feel to.. to good" he moaned into your shoulder. You feel his cock beginning to twitch inside of you. Soon being followed by the warm, Hot, seed of him fill you up. He had cumed so much you could feel it running down your legs, without him even pulling out. "Shitt" he grumbled. Pulling out of you slowly so you don't get too overstimulated. He gently lifted your leg off the counter. And that's when you really noticed it must have been a long time since he got to cum.
Hes such a messy fuckin boy because it was EVERYWHERE!!!
Breathing heavily, he quickly he raps you around in his arms, not giving you the chance to clean up. pulling you close to his chest, as he rests against the wall behind you guys. admiring both you and him in the mirror. "Fuck, Bonnie. you had no idea how much I needed that" he breathe out, resting his head on your shoulder. causing you turn your head to look at him. "I think we both needed it my love.." you said softly, staring into your lover's eyes. "Haha... Yeah" he lightly laughed kissing your cheek.
"Now let's just hope no one heard us" he said, with that cheeky fucking smile of his. making you go red you had completely forgot your surroundings, forgetting your at his family's house for the holidays. you looked down ashamed, covering your face with your hands embarrassed. "Ayyy! Com' on now! Bonnie don't be too ashamed. If my brother's heard at least they know they'll never be able to fuck a girl as good as me... Or let me rephrase that... a pretty girl! as good as me." he said, trying to lighten the mood which just made you shake your head. You gave each other a quick kiss, before you guys got cleaned up, hoping nobody would notice. (Spoiler everybody noticed. you nasty fucks!)
And I think that's where I'm going to end this monstrosity (we're not going to talk about the fact it's September and I'm writing Christmas stuff I don't want to hear it!) I really hope you all enjoyed!! I know it wasn't the best but I'm trying to get back into writing and I think soap smart was a great way to come back! Anyways I hope you're having a good day/night wherever you are! reblogs, comments are always appreciated 🖤
Tags| @macravishedbymactavish, @walker33961, @alexkellersleg. if you would like to be added to the tag list just sent me a message!
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runawayolives · 2 years
Text
I didn't know there would be so many
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Pairing: Peter Ballard x reader
Summary: Peter and Y/N let Eleven invite her friends for lunch, but didn't expect so many kids of so many different ages. I'll probably write a part 2 to this.
Warnings: mentions of food, 80's misogyny. Angstiest of this series yet, but not that bad.
Stranger Things masterlist | Masterlist
Since the summer holidays had started, you had made sure to take both of your kids to the pool at least twice a week, just so that they could cool down and have some fun with their friends. This summer Peter and you had decided to give El more independence, letting her go with Max and the rest of her friends on her own. Jason, having just turned two, would go with you before lunch, and you two would spend around an hour and a half splashing around in the water. 
Being Hawkins’ only female lawyer was hard. Being the only female lawyer in a small town in the community pool was even harder. You could feel the other mother’s glaring looks, even heard a: “How can we take her seriously if she wears that.” That being a completely appropriate swimsuit to have at the pool while taking care of your son. But the worse ones were the men, not necessarily dads, just men. You knew you were attractive. Maybe not necessarily according to beauty standards, but nonetheless, you caught the eye of people. Now and then, while playing with your son, with a glistening marriage ring on, some men would approach you and want to start a conversation. It was fine that they wanted to talk, it was not fine when they got flirty, nor when they demanded your full attention. 
Today, while you were trying to apply sunscreen on a squirming toddler, it was the one and only Billy Hargrove. You weren’t fully sure if he knew who you were married to, considering Peter had hired him once or twice to mow your lawn. It wasn’t because your husband wasn’t capable of it, but because Susan had asked if Billy could get a job during the school year so that he could have some spending money. Peter, hating mowing the lawn, decided to give the teenager that job, deciding it was an “investment on his mental health”. It would be weird for the young man not to know you were married to Peter Ballard, considering you were the scandalous couple in the small town. Having a husband with no job and a wife that was the “Breadwinner” was enough to send the town into a gossip frenzy for the first weeks of living in Hawkins. So, yes, it was nearly impossible for Billy Hargrove not to know who you were, but there was a minuscule chance. And you gave the teenager the benefit of the doubt.
At the moment, you were trying to reason with two-year-old Jason, who was refusing to stay still and put on sunscreen.
“Mommy, no!” Small feet were stomping on the ground, trying to get the chubby legs to direct him to the very tempting mass of water. 
“Baby, you have to put sunscreen on.”  More refusal fell off his lips, and after a deep breath, you decided to take another route. “Honey, I’ve never told you this, but it’s really important. It’s top secret.” This caught your son’s attention, and his brown furrowed, unsure if this secret was worth his time.  
“Vhat?”
“Jay, sunscreen is a magic shield.” Because you were whispering to make it seem more epic, Jason got closer to you, forgetting the pool for a few moments. “Sometimes, the sun sends warriors that get confused, and instead of helping us, they hurt us.” The boy decided to sit beside you and have his small feet touching the pool’s water. 
“Otay.” Once you finished covering the little devil in the protective cream, you let him get in the water, while you sat on the edge, legs in the pool. You were throwing a ball back and forth with Jason until he made a friend and decided to pass the ball with her. While you were watching both kids, a shadow covered the sun that was glaring at your back. You didn’t bother looking, guessing it was the little girl’s parents, but you were wrong.
“Are you here babysitting?” You turned around to see Max’s older brother, Billy Hargrove. 
“Not really babysitting when you’re the parent.” The boy seemed confused at your comment and looked at Jason. 
“You’re a really young mom then.” The boy decided to flex his arms and make himself seem taller, probably feeling like it was more of a challenge. 
“No, not really.” You could see Karen Wheeler and her friends gutting you in their imagination. You knew they found the lifeguard attractive. You never noticed Billy in that way, for two main reasons, the first one was that he was freshly 18, and even if he enjoyed the older women’s attention, you were not comfortable with that. The second one was simple, Peter was more than enough for you, and you didn’t need another man to cover any department. 
But, because your husband was “incapable” of providing for you, the male population in Hawkins’ made sure to let you know that they could easily fill whatever gap Mr. Ballard was supposed to not be filling. This went from the brave Billy Hargrove to Mr. Harrington, one of the partners in the firm. 
“You look younger then.” 
“Billy, I do not see anything coming out of this conversation. If you want anything out of any, you should maybe try the west side of the pool. I can assure you won’t find satisfaction out of Mrs. Ballard.” The boy pulled his sunglasses down to get a clear look at you. 
“You are married to Mr. Ballard?” You nodded, still not taking your eyes off of your son. 
“I didn’t know, I apologize.” 
“Don’t worry about it.” 
When Peter would tell you about Mrs. Wheeler, you would both find amusement out of it, usually over a glass of wine. Your story was not that much of a success. 
“What do you mean he flirted with you?” If your husband was a cartoon, he would have probably had smoke coming out of his ears.
“It wasn’t like full-out flirting, I stopped it.” You took a sip out of your glass, not enjoying how the conversation was going. The day at the firm had been long, very long. You had a meeting with the partners of the firm, and they only interrupted you, questioned your qualifications, or stared too intensely, far from office appropriate. 
“In front of my son, Billy Hargrove decided to hit on my wife?” You rolled your eyes at him and finished your glass, not wanting to listen to his overreaction. 
“He was not so direct, I stopped him.” 
“Unbelievable.” 
“Why can’t you find it funny?” You could sear you saw his eye twitch, just a little bit, but you saw it.
“You expect me to find humor in a boy deciding to flirt with my wife in front of my son?” 
“Pete, Karen Wheeler does the exact same, and I laugh. It’s the same exact situation.” Peter groaned and left his glass in the sink.
“No, it’s not. Karen Wheeler stands no chance. Billy Hargrove is a young man, attractive enough for you to decide he’s better for you.” You furrowed your brows, not believing he had just said those words to your face. 
“If you have so little faith in me, I don’t think you know who you’ve married.” 
There was tension between you and Peter for the rest of the week. You had avoided showing it too much in front of the kids, but considering that her parents weren’t giggly and kissy around each other, Eleven could tell something was up. Because of this same reason, the young girl hadn’t tried to remind her parents that all of her friends were invited to have lunch on Saturday. 
You can imagine Peter’s surprised face once he opened the door to find 9 kids waiting on the front porch. 
“Hello, Mr. Ballard. Good morning.” Nancy Wheeler had befriended you quickly after you moved in, so she was used to finding Peter Ballard with messy hair and reading glasses on Saturdays. Peter, quickly smiled, letting all of the teens in. 
Eleven quickly ran down the stairs, an excited look on her face. “I have the whole day planned.” Peter had no time to ask anything before he was given several glass containers with food in them. 
You left your home office after hearing an unusual commotion in the living room. You took your glasses off, just to make sure that you were seeing correctly. 
“Mrs. Ballard, I’ve heard so many great things from you.” A tall blond girl was quick to shake your hand. “I’m Robin, a huge fan.” Since you graduated and started working as a lawyer, no one had said they were your fans, so your confusion for those few seconds was completely justified. 
“Thank you for inviting us to your home, Y/N.” You looked at the other blond girl in the room, Nancy Wheeler. 
“Of course Nance. There’s a big table in the back yard, I’m sure you’ll all be more comfortable outside.”
The teenagers all left, leaving two older boys and Peter in the same room. “Steve, Steve Harrington. I don’t know if you remember me. I was at the hospital when they found Will, and I went into one of those weird Demogorgon pits, you had to take me out of it.” You shook the boy’s hand, a grateful smile on your lips. 
“I do remember you, Steve. Please, make yourself at home.” Steve shook Peter’s hand and went through the back door, like the rest of the kids. 
“I’m Eddie Munson, I’m the founder of the Hellfire Club.” Eddie didn’t shake your hand, just gave you an awkward wave. 
“Yes, El speaks very highly of you.” This time Peter was the one that spoke. It seemed that he had gotten out of his brain freeze and remembered all of the social cues.
“Hm. She told me you have a wide rock vinyl collection.” You nodded and pointed towards the general direction of your office. 
“Yes, I can show it to you whenever you want.” You walked towards the kitchen. “The back door is over there, that’ll take you to the backyard, everyone is there, probably getting the sprinkler ready.” 
Once Eddie went out, you turned around to look at Peter. “Do you remember us giving El permission to invite half of the continent?” Your husband laughed lightly.
“We allowed her on Sunday, but, erm, we forgot.” 
“Oh.” “Yeah. I didn’t know there would be so many.” You walked towards him, looking up to be able to see him comfortably.
“You can say that again.” You then wrapped your arm’s around Peter’s waist, placing your head on his chest.
“I’m sorry about Thursday, I overreacted.” He kissed the crown of your head and stroked your hair.
“It’s fine. I see where you were coming from. But I was also disappointed you thought I would do whatever it is that you thought.” You kissed along his jaw, and his hands squished your waist affectionately. 
“We can talk about this later, once everyone is gone. Right now, we have to figure out how to feed nine teenagers, and how to avoid Jason going crazy once he sees so many people.”
AN: I'm not the proudest of this part. I know I'm going to write a part 2, because I wanted to mention so many other things in this story. I was also kind of stuck, but wanted to upload something. Tomorrow i'll have something better.
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Could you do a moon knight imagine where you leave them because you think that they had more in common with layla and still want her, and you find out you’re pregnant (twins) but don’t tell them and one day (maybe the twins could be like 2 years old) steven sees you with your little boy that looks like you but somebody says goodbye and the little boy yells out lators gators! and you try to deny he’s their child but then your little girl (marceline) comes out and she looks EXACTLY like them and maybe marc comes out and is like “i have been looking everywhere for you, but it’s worth the wait because you gave me 2 whole new reasons to love you’ and maybe jake looks at the kids and he’s like “i’m in love, let’s have more” i know it’s all over the place but i think it’s such a nice little fic where it goes from angsty to loved up
Not my best work but definitely did my best! Hope you like
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Marc appreciated how realistic you are, how grounded you can be, and how once a decision is made you follow it through. That is who you are: a doer and realist, which is often good but in this case it has turned against you.
The boys, two of three, blamed themselves for not driving out those thoughts of doubt… They could not risk you being put in danger, they would never forgive themselves if you had gotten hurt because of them.
It was a mistake to keep at arm's length when it came to his extracurricular activities. Worst is how bad it must have looked for him (Steven too) to be talking with Layla for long hours. They are friends nothing more, but you saw only two exes getting close… Rightfully.
Late hours coming home. Jake once came home smelling like another woman's perfume.
You did not shout nor cry. Marc would have preferred a reaction rather than a smile and wishing him good luck with his marriage before leaving the flat. It was horrible! Steven was fronting trying to get you to listen to an outlandish but true story and how Lalya is just a friend.
"It's okay. Take care of her." You meant it too.
That was probably two to three years ago.
One of the worst three years of his life. You disconnect yourself from his life completely, you probably thought it was for the best so Marc and Steven could focus on Layla rather than an ex.
It hurt.
It hurt you a lot more when you found out you were pregnant two weeks after the breakup. God, you practiced over and over what to say and how to approach him but… You never did it. You took yourself by bootstraps and moved on, priorities shifted, you are going to be mom and make it fucking work!
And you did.
It was a learning process, a few stumbles, and a lot of humility; but you did it.
Two healthy kids. Twins, a boy and a girl.
You cannot believe the boys and you made such beautiful little humans.
Yeah, it was rough dealing with the heartbreak especially with how wacky hormones are during and after pregnancy. Still, you knew better not to wallow for now these little humans need every ounce of your attention and love.
The boy is named David, meaning beloved in Hebrew. He is a happy boy, quiet and prefers to watch others before attempting to interact. Reminds you of how you met Jake, he watched you and tried to learn about you interacting.
The girl is named by Marceline, meaning young warrior because of its relation to Marcellus, a Roman name. She is a ball of energy! Always trying to get into things she is not supposed to (like the tin of cookies your mother brings during the holidays), to asking a thousand questions to every answer to try to give. She likes to watch history documentaries (you used them to try to get them to sleep but she watches intensely).
Her brother is always close to her, she is always close to her brother; neither from the other. Nor ever far from you.
Today you took them to the park on a warm spring day. Soon it will be their fourth birthday and since your parents are planning the party (you know they are going all out on this as usual) you have time with them to enjoy some quality time.
You forgot this park is where Steven once took you for a picnic, the very thing you are doing right now. Watching your children play with the other children in this open part.
David comes over holding a flower he found, "For mama!" Proud of himself as you thank him and place a kiss on his sweaty forehead. "Later gators!" He has been obsessed with saying that after seeing it once on a kids' show. Steven used to say that.
"(Name)?"
You jump when you hear a familiar voice.
"Huh?" Standing up then turning to see… "Steven?"
"Stewn" Your son had not left to go back to playing when Steven showed up.
Steven looks over to see a shy boy hiding behind your leg, your son waves when you whisper he can say hi to him, Steven returns the wave while in shock.
"You… Congratulations!" You cringe for him on how pitched up that sounds, "He looks cute, just like his mother."
You both laugh awkwardly.
"Yeah, um."
"Who's the father?" The American accent causes you to look at the man in front of you again, you had not realized you were looking away.
"Marc." You take a deep breath before looking at your son, "Go play, mama has to talk to an old friend, kay?"
"Okay. Later gators!" Running off to play.
"He…" Marc is staring at your son, "Looks like you."
"I hope so, I put a lot of work in for nine months." You smile small, "How are you, Marc?"
"Can you tell me his name?"
You tense up. You do not want to tell him because you named your son David with Marc in mind.
"Sorry." He apologizes when he sees you doing your little tell when you get nervous.
"Mama! I'm Godzilla, rawr!" Bumping her small head against the back of her calves. "Rawr!"
"Hah, sorry, kids." When you turn and kneel down to speak with Marceline. It was like looking in a mirror, sort of, she has his baby face but your eyes. The boy had his eyes but your face.
"Bye mister! I'll eat your house later."
"Marcy, be nice. Haha, kids I'm I right–"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Shit. You sigh heavily. Marceline looked so much like Marc, that is undeniable.
"... You have Layla, Marc. I didn't… Want you to feel obligated to stay with me."
"Layla is my- our friend, nothing more." He looks hurt.
Bitter and jealous of Marc's wife though you know you really should not be, "You always were with her. Miss dates and coming home late." The list goes on and Marc, Steven, and Jake know it looked bad. "Listen, there's no hard feelings so–"
"I love you."
You flinch at those words, "Marc…"
"We love you."
You swear you will not cry. Not here nor around your kids.
"When you left… God, we wanted to explain everything, but you left! I've been looking all over for you—"
You give him a worried look.
"Not like that."
You chuckle at how embarrassed he looks, "Go on."
He does, for a long while talking and explaining everything that happened. Sitting down listening to them while keeping an eye on the kids, they never see this side of you nor did they ever think about it. With the trauma of his childhood… He fears messing up.
"Wow." Is all you can say. It sounds crazy, unbelievable level crazy; the only reason you can believe it is because there is often wild shit on the news about superheroes and crazy phenomenons. "So, you both really are friends… Damn, I really fucked up."
All those birthdays you thought about calling Marc or Steven, or maybe Jake to include them in the children's lives. The number of times you stopped yourself not wanting to be a house wrecker.
"Love," Steven holds your hand as your lip trembles, "Don't blame yourself." You lean towards his hand that cradles your face, sighing at warmth you missed for four years.
Yes, four whole long years, Steven and you kept a better track of time.
"I missed you so so much." Confessing, "I'm sorry. Truly sorry."
"Shh," You hug him, squeeze him close as you cry softly into his shoulder. "Hey, the brightside: we made those!" Steven is ecstatic about kids!
"A piece of you," Pulling back to pretend to grab a piece of you, "And a piece of us." Then gestures to himself, "Amazing."
You laugh, "Yeah, though I did the heavy work." Teasing.
"Let's make more," You jump when Jake kisses your neck, "Carñio."
"Not in front of the kids!" Playfully hitting Jake's chest.
God, you miss them all.
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