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starrystevie · 10 months

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steve's desperate, okay?

he's officially running late for his first date with linda because he couldn't find his car keys and the shirt he wanted to wear just wasn't working so he had to grab something out of his hamper and throw it on blindly which then messed up his hair and he almost forgot to brush his teeth again but remembered as he opened the front door and-

he only realizes he forgot to put on cologne once he makes it halfway to her house and smells himself. the shirt from the hamper smells stale, not bad, just stale. and steve in his normal, non-rushed state wouldn't have noticed because his trusty calvin klein would have covered it up but today is apparently not a day for things to go right.

with a sigh of frustration, steve pulls into the hook's drugstore a little too quickly and it makes his stomach lurch the tiniest bit before sliding into an open parking sport at the front door. he rushes in, pushing the door open with too much force and books it to the fragrance aisle.

"this is so fucking stupid," he mutters to himself, unable to be heard by any surrounding shoppers over the annoyingly loud jingle playing through the speakers.

steve skids to halt in front of the cologne section, crouching down and scanning quickly over the tester bottles for obsession. once he spots the amber bottle, he yanks it towards himself, spraying as much as he can onto his chest given the awkward angle he's at. as he stands back up, steve pulls his shirt collar up towards his nose and the ball of nerves in his stomach loosens at the familiar smell. he may be late but he feels like he's back in the game.

checking his watch, he sees just how late he is and makes a beeline for the door, nearly running into an older lady with far too many rolls of toilet paper in her tiny arms. as he dodges around her and extends his arm to push open the door, he hears a loud voice over the intercom.

"you're not going to buy anything after stealing cologne?"

steve stops, freezes where he is and frantically turns his head around to spot the cashier grinning at him. he has long hair and a bright red hook's drugstore vest over a denim vest which doesn't look very comfortable. he has chains in his jeans and handcuffs holding his belt closed and a smirk that is trying to kill him and oh-

"wait, stealing cologne?" steve shakes himself back into existence as the old lady pushes by him without dropping a single roll on the way back to her car. "you're going to call me putting on a few sprays stealing?"

the cashier's smile just gets bigger, like a cat hunting down a canary. steve's never felt like a canary before but can't deny that it's an exciting feeling.

"well, on a good day i wouldn't. but i'm bored and you didn't buy a single thing so technically, yes. you're stealing, pretty boy."

steve fights the urge to roll his eyes and put his hands on his hips, so instead he crosses them over his chest, cologne wafting up from the movement and reminding him that he doesn't have time for this no matter how cute the cashier may be.

he makes his way over to the counter, grabs a pack of gum and slams it on the counter. without breaking eye contact with eddie, as his nametag suggests, he throws him a salty smile of his own and pulls his wallet out from his back pocket.

eddie's eyes are a deep brown with a glimmer of something behind them and his hands are covered in rings making his fingers look long and strong. the jeans he has on are ripped on one of the the thighs, showing a hint of a tattoo to match the ones crawling up his arms. steve's no stranger to thinking men are attractive but this guy? he's on a new level. his heart thumps painfully in his chest when eddie's grin grows larger as he watches steve give him a once over. it thumps even harder when eddie gives him a once over of his own.

the clock above the register shows that he's officially 20 minutes late to picking up... laura? lisa?

no, linda. damnit.

eddie looks down at the gum and then back up at steve, quirking up an eyebrow. "i hardly think this monetarily equates to a bottle of cologne but-"

"oh come on!" steve huffs. eddie laughs and it's clear and bright, ringing off the cinderblock walls louder than the annoying jingle that's still playing. whatever fight steve may have had left in him drains away at the sound and suddenly he isn't thinking about the clock anymore. he feels his shoulders fall down to a more relaxed state, feels himself shift his weight on his feet to look more natural than ready to run at a moments notice.

"just kidding, man." eddie rings up the gum quickly and hands it back to steve. "sorry, you looked like you were in a rush. i shouldn't have created a scene just because i'm bored."

steve chuckles. "i'm already supremely late for my date so what's another five minutes. especially if it gets me..." he looks at the gum packet to look at what he even picked up in the first place. "... spearmint freshen-up gum."

"well there you go," eddie says, grin smaller than before, "a perfect thing to get for a date. everyone likes their date to be minty fresh for that first kiss."

it strikes somewhere in steve that he isn't expecting. the beemer is still out in the parking lot running so he didn't have to waste time, his watch on his wrist feels heavy, the scent of obsession overpowering. but he can't make himself move. he wants to stay and talk to eddie, wants to learn about what makes him tick.

"can i borrow your phone?" steve asks. eddie's eyebrows furrow but he reaches for the store phone and places the console on top of the counter.

"for what?"

steve look through his wallet, finding the piece of paper with linda's number on it. holding the receiver between his shoulder and ear, he dials in her number and holds his pointer finger up at eddie, signaling that he'll need a second. steve then brings the finger to his lips and shushes with his cheek pulling up in a smirk. eddie's eyes zero in on the motion and it feels like steve's gone from being the canary back to the cat.

"linda? hey it's steve."

he watches as eddie mouths steve back at him and then nods to himself when he gets the confirmation that it is indeed his name. steve throws him a wink for good measure.

"i know i'm late and i'm really really sorry to cancel last minute but-. oh. yeah, sure. have a good time. okay bye li-."

on the other end of the line, linda slams down the phone without waiting for steve to finish talking and it makes him wince with how loud it is in his ear. he gives eddie a sheepish smile, all toothy and guilt-ridden, and gently puts the receiver back down.

"what was that?" eddie asks with a disbelieving look on his face. steve shrugs.

"she got tired of waiting so she already had another guy lined up to come pick her up."

eddie sucks in air through his teeth and mimes getting shot in the heart. it has steve laughing as he falls over on the counter, hair covering his face. he turns his head to peer up at steve through the curtain of curls, the one brown eye that's visible twinkling in the harsh overhead light.

"was it true love? are you just absolutely heartbroken?"

steve thinks about it for less than a second. watches how eddie curls back up one vertebrae at a time before placing his elbows on the counter and leaning over. watches how eddie's eyes flit between his own and his lips. watches how he focuses on the latter for a little while too long.

"why would i be heartbroken," steve starts. he's being too forward, too brash, but with eddie looking at him that way, he knows he can be. "when you'll probably be on break soon and can make it up to me? you know, for making me even more late and all."

eddie's grin grows wide again. "oh really?"

steve shrugs once more with a playful look of consideration on his face, resting on his elbows to match eddie on the counter. "yes, really. this is your payback for being bored and taking it out on me."

it's later when eddie's on break and steve hasn't left the drugstore in over an hour and they're sitting in his car with bowie playing through the speakers that eddie looks up at him with a look steve knows well.

"you do smell really good, y'know." his voice is softer than steve's heard it all day.

"so are you glad i came in to steal cologne?" steve leans closer over the center console to get into eddie's personal space. there's a hand curling over his bicep and pulling him even closer, their faces only centimeters apart.

"i guess i'll let it slide this time, thief."

and when they kiss for the first time, it tastes like the freshen-up gum they both had been nonstop chewing ever since steve paid for it.

#did drugstores back then have fragrance aisles let alone samplers? who's to say just go with it #inspired by me looking cute for work today and forgetting to put on my perfume and wondering if i should stop in to target on my way in #steddie #steddie drabble #steddie ficlet #steddie headcanon #steve harrington #eddie munson #my writing #steddie fic #is this realistic? absolutely not but ignore that for the blorbos sake #stranger things #stranger things fic

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koushikrockboy · 2 years

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INFO REVEALED: Amber Laura Heard's Life Series #1

#youtube #INFO REVEALED: Amber Laura Heard's Life Series 1

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the-batgirl · 1 year

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I love and support Amber Heard forever and always, I’m glad she found a great resolution to this emotionally exhausting ordeal. First of all, I absolutely believe her appeal would have been successful (clearly that man’s team did too) since she had plenty of evidence for it, as well as having an appeal team who had never once lost an appeal. But this woman has been to trial twice, winning in the UK. Disappointingly, the American legal system failed her as it has failed so so sooo many victims before and after her.

That type of a physically and emotionally exhausting ordeal…your worst moments in your life mocked because your abuser was a celebrity, I don’t know how she had the courage to survive that. I understand completely why she decided against another trial.

And Amber Laura Heard settled on her own terms, admits NO guilt, doesn’t have to pay a CENT and no gag order. They knew she was gonna win that appeal if she went forward with it. This outcome is amazing.

Even when it looked like she was destroyed , she still came out the other side unbroken and FREE.

I’m so happy she’s seen how the tide is turning, more and more people support her every day, but I’m proud to say I supported from the start. I’m so happy for her and look forward to seeing more of her now that this is over ❤️

#amber heard #i stand with amber heard #Amber…karma is your boyfriend #my post

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olxwxa · 11 months

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ENDLESS LIST OF THINGS THAT MAKE MY BLACK HEART FEEL SOMETHING.

Amber Laura Heard ↳“women from a very young age are taught that life will be easier if you can just turn on the charming smile and say very little and be complacent and docile and sweet… i would love to see women be able to be powerful, complex, smart, opinionated and taken seriously, even if they are beautiful.”

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justiceamberheard · 8 months

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Prosecution action will not be taken against actress Amber Heard over allegations related to her sentencing for the illegal import of two dogs into Australia in 2015. The department collaborated with agencies, both in Australia and overseas, to investigate these claims against Ms Heard. A brief of evidence was referred to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, who has made the decision not to prosecute in this instance having applied the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth.

somewhere far away you can hear Laura Bockov and Adam Waldman crying.

#anti johnny depp #amber heard #johnny depp #i stand with amber heard

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evanesdust · 4 months

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it only took a minute

written for- @sterekfests prompt: "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" @sterekweekly word: present @sterekbingo Christmas square: family

Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski Characters: Derek Hale, Stiles Stilinski Additional Tags: POV Derek Hale, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alternate Universe - Werewolves Are Known, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Alpha Derek Hale, Omega Stiles Stilinski, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Meet-Cute, Protectiveness, Time Skips, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Mating Bites, Knotting, Mpreg, Christmas, Fluff

Summary:

It was crazy how it only took a minute for Derek’s entire life to change. …or the one where a chance meeting led to the best gift ever.

"C'mon! It'll be fun!" Laura's voice was muffled by the special earplugs designed for werewolves since their hearing was more sensitive. Something Derek was grateful for with the music blasting through the music venue.

Still, he rolled his eyes as he followed his sister closer to the stage. To the…sigh…mosh pit, where the rest of the pack was—in the center, bouncing around and knocking into the others around them. Wide smiles on their faces.

So dumb.

Why they thought being pushed and shoved into other people would be fun was beyond him. It went against all of Derek's alpha instincts to protect his pack.

"I'll stay here," he called out from just along the perimeter, where people formed a sort of barrier between the ones in the pit and those just standing around to watch the concert. He couldn't be held accountable for getting aggressive toward anyone who pushed and pulled his packmates if he got any closer.

Derek wasn't sure if Laura had heard him since it was loud, but she must have because she shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. The way she usually did when she thought he was being ridiculous.

"Suit yourself!" she said before plunging headfirst into the mass of adrenaline and violent movement with an almost terrifying delight.

With his arms crossed over his chest, Derek stood along the edge, watching the music vibrate through the crowd—literally shaking things up—and people surrendering to the primal need to move, to dance, to release the worries of their world. A sensation that was alien to Derek, to say the least.

He scanned the crowd, barely recognizing his pack somewhere lost in the wave of throbbing bass lines and flashing lights. Derek had to admit, though, there was a sort of beauty in it all—the undulation of the crowd, the rhythmic pulsations, everyone seeming to move in unison. It was a unique spectacle of humanity. One he was content to observe, just as he always did.

But his attention was pulled when a guy collided with him.

"Shit. Sorry!" the guy exclaimed, hands gripping Derek's arms as he tried to right himself. "Fuck, that was my b—"

The guy's words died on his tongue, his amber eyes going wide when he looked up at Derek. Derek's probably mirrored them because this guy—a human omega if his senses were correct—was beautiful. He had a cute, upturned nose and mole-speckled skin that appeared to glow under the concert lighting. Arousal coursed through Derek as he trailed his gaze over the omega's lithe body, over the long expanse of his neck that Derek would love to mark up, to his mouth and those sinfully plump, pink lips that Derek had the sudden urge to kiss until they were puffy and raw. Or see stretched around his cock.

Christ! Derek had never had such a visceral reaction to a person before. It definitely didn't help that the omega's big doe eyes made him look like the most delicious, seductive prey.

And his scent…

It was heady and intoxicating, overwhelming Derek's senses and making every fiber of his being scream at him to markmateclaim. His gums tingled, fangs threatening to drop as his eyes flashed crimson.

Holy shit.

What was happening to him? Amid the chaos, with thumping beats vibrating through his chest like a second heartbeat, his instincts were triggered in ways he'd never experienced before. Never mind the mosh pit; this was equivalent to walking into a hunter's den—or, more appropriately, a wolves' den—unknowingly declaring an open invite to the impending dance between want and danger. He found himself captivated, tethered by an invisible string to the enigma before him, radiating an almost luminescent pull.

God, this guy wasn't just any omega. This was Derek's mate.

"Aw, man. You're not mad, are you?" Concern filtered into the omega's voice, who continued to cling onto Derek as if letting go might send him tumbling back into the frenzy.

"No, it's fine," Derek replied as a wave of possessiveness he'd never felt before rushed over him. He flashed the omega, his mate, a small smile, arms going around him to hold him close. To protect him. "I'm Derek, by the way."

"Stiles," the omega—Stiles—responded with a grin that rivaled the brightest star. "It's nice to meet you, Derek. Though, I gotta admit, you don't look like you're having much fun."

I am now, he thought.

Stiles's eyes sparkled mischievously, and for the first time that night, Derek didn't feel like a chaperone.

"I'm…not one for crowds. Or loud noises," Derek admitted, unsure why he was being so candid. Stiles might be his mate, but they were still strangers. Plus, he should be wanting to impress Stiles, not reveal his vulnerabilities.

"Then what are you doing at a concert?" Stiles quipped, his grin only growing wider. He tilted his head to the side, sending a lock of his hair falling onto his forehead. His piercing gaze made Derek feel like he was the only one who mattered in the chaotic setting they were in.

"Well…I'm here with my sisters and a few packmates," Derek confessed, wondering if—when—he should mention he was a werewolf and that he felt a deep, undeniable connection to Stiles. That they were mates.

"Ah, dragged along for the ride! Now it makes sense," Stiles said, chuckling and beaming a radiant smile that melted Derek's roguish exterior.

Derek's heart pounded fiercely, echoing in his ears, matching the bass that danced around in the backdrop of their shared space. Now was the time for him to say something, but before he could, the shriek of an electric guitar cut through the air, followed by the renewed eruption of the crowd, the atmosphere changing from loud to deafening.

Stiles turned in Derek's arms, and Derek thought he lost his chance—that Stiles would slip out of his embrace and get lost in the crowd, but Stiles stayed where he was, cheering with the crowd. Derek couldn't help but laugh. It was a genuine, free sound that resonated deep within his chest. Stiles glanced over his shoulder at Derek, eyes glinting with excitement that managed to worm its way into Derek's chest.

"This is my favorite song!" Stiles shouted to be heard over the clamor and the reverb. He moved in tandem with the beat—a natural sway in rhythm with the pulsating music. His scent held a sense of wonder and absolute joy that was infectious.

The mass of people in front of them started to push, pull, and shove each other again, and anytime someone got close, Derek threw his arms out, shielding Stiles from the flashing whirlwind of flailing limbs and flying bodies.

Stiles seemed to appreciate Derek's protective instincts and leaned into him, allowing him to pull Stiles closer—close enough that he could feel every tremor and sway of Stiles's body against his as they tried to stay grounded amidst the turbulence.

As far as Derek was concerned, the world beyond Stiles had ceased to exist. He held onto Stiles, protecting him. But all too soon, the concert was over as the band played their last chord—the crowd letting out one last explosive cheer.

Once the stage was empty, the lights came up, the glaringly bright fluorescence chasing away the incandescent glow from before and revealing an ocean of people within the room. The concertgoers began to disperse, chatter and laughter replacing the earlier ruckus of the music.

"It's over," Stiles said, stating the obvious, his grin still in place. He turned around in Derek's embrace, a light blush dusting his cheeks. "Thank you, by the way."

"For what?" Derek asked, still unwilling to let him go.

"For protecting me," Stiles replied, his words sincere and direct. He shrugged, seemingly unaffected by the commotion of their surroundings. He looked up at Derek from under his long eyelashes in a gesture that seemed unassuming but suggestive nonetheless.

Derek's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The moment he revealed they were mates. His gaze trailed over Stiles's face momentarily before adding, "You're important to me. We're—"

"Mates," Stiles finished in a whisper, his steady gaze holding Derek's as a hint of a smile played at his lips. "I'm right, aren't I?"

"How did you…?" Humans didn't have the same instincts as werewolves and, as far as Derek knew, Stiles was human.

"I might not be a werewolf, but there's still a pull. Most humans wouldn't recognize it, but my best friend is a werewolf. I did a lot of research growing up and knew what to look for," Stiles admitted, his words soft but solid in the midst of the dispersing crowd.

A smile tugged at Derek's lips, relief flooding him. "So you knew? When you bumped into me?"

"Not at first, no. I mean...I felt something but couldn't be sure. You kind of just confirmed it, though," Stiles responded, though whatever the answer had been, Derek realized it didn't matter. All that mattered was that Stiles knew they were mates and wasn't scared or pushing him away—he accepted it. Accepted him.

It was quiet for a moment, and anyone observing from the outside might have taken their shared silence as awkward or uncomfortable. For Derek, though, it was like everything had finally fallen into place. He was relaxed and…complete, and looking at Stiles, it seemed as if he felt the same.

Derek reached out, swiping a stray lock of hair away from Stiles's forehead.

"So, what happens now?" he asked, a quiet calmness settling over him. He had prepared himself to have to convince Stiles—ready to slowly reel his mate into his life.

"How about we get outta here?" Stiles responded. The corners of his mouth were upturned, revealing that radiant smile Derek found so endearing. "There's a diner a few blocks away. We can get to know each other a little more."

Derek nodded, faintly remembering his sisters and packmates.

"We should probably find my pack first," he suggested, yet making no move to let go of Stiles.

Stiles laughed, and it was infectious, breaking through Derek's stoic exterior like nothing else. "I bet they're wondering where their alpha disappeared to. And I should probably find my friends too."

Together, they navigated through the sea of people, bound by an unseen thread tying them together, its secure grip an unwavering promise of a future yet to unfold. Derek had found his mate, and the world was suddenly a much brighter place. There was no fear. No hesitation. Only an unwavering certainty and an altogether embracing feeling of belonging somewhere and to someone.

It was crazy how it only took a minute for his entire life to change. _

Since meeting Stiles, everything had moved so fast, a tornado of feelings and events. Derek didn't know how to slow everything down. Or if he even wanted to. Not when one day flowed seamlessly into the next. If Stiles wasn't at his house, then he was at Stiles's. They were rarely apart for more than a few hours at a time. Usually, after spending that much time with anyone—family, pack, or the few friends he had—Derek was over it. He liked having his own space. Some peace and quiet to decompress. But it was different with Stiles.

Stiles was his mate. Which was what led him to this moment.

Derek didn't know where to look.

At Stiles's hole as he fucked back onto Derek's fingers.

At his hand as he fisted his cock.

Or at his face as he panted from the pleasure.

"So beautiful," Derek whispered before bending down and kissing his pouty lips. His cock had never been harder in his life, but he couldn't bear to rush this. He wanted to savor every moment, every small expression on Stiles's face. The way his brows furrowed in concentration. The way his eyes fluttered shut when Derek hit just the right spot. The soft moans spilling from those perfect lips were all for him, and that alone was enough to send an overwhelming warmth coursing through his veins.

Stiles was so beautifully unguarded in these moments, completely handing himself over to Derek. It was breathtaking. Intoxicating. Soul-clenchingly intimate. The way Stiles bore himself open, coming apart under Derek's touch, was pure, sublime surrender.

"Need…more," Stiles whined before pushing Derek back with a surprising amount of strength. He shifted forward, rising to his knees and straddling Derek's waist. And Derek wasn't one to deny Stiles anything. He loved the raw desire in Stiles's voice and the primal need in his eyes as he took Derek's cock, lining it up with his hole.

A guttural sound ripped through him at the sensation of Stiles lowering himself, taking Derek inside him inch by tantalizing inch. The tight heat engulfing his cock was mind-numbing, all-encompassing.

"Okay?" Derek gasped, shifting slightly, and his breath caught in his throat as his thigh muscles trembled with the need to thrust up into Stiles. The only reason he didn't was because Stiles clearly wanted control.

Stiles bit his bottom lip and nodded. "Oh God, yes."

And then he started to move. It was slow but steady, riding Derek as if he had all the time in the world.

Derek kept his eyes on Stiles as the tension built and built and built. Stiles was beautiful with his head thrown back, lips parted as he panted. He was so fucking sexy Derek could come just from watching him take his own pleasure.

Opening his eyes, Stiles met Derek's gaze and whispered, "Take me."

Finally.

Derek needed no other encouragement. Surging up, he wrapped his arms around Stiles and flipped them, pressing Stiles into the mattress. Derek's heart was pounding in his chest—his breathing heavy and ragged. Sweat dripped from his brow as he plunged into Stiles, drowning in him. Pure, naked desire coursed through his veins.

The headboard slammed into the wall from the force of their bodies coming together.

Stiles moaned beneath him. "Yes…yes…oh God, Derek."

His fingers dug into Derek's back, clutching at him like he was drowning and Derek was his lifeline.

"Yes, harder!" he yelled, arching against Derek, and the world fell away into a medley of sensations and sounds, thrusting and panting and needing until Derek couldn't bear it for a second longer.

Derek growled and shoved his face into the crook of Stiles's neck as his knot started to swell. It took everything in him not to bite down, to mark Stiles as his. But then Stiles whined, tilting his head to the side.

"Do it. Bite me," he begged, voice rough with desire and need. "Make me yours."

His plea hit Derek like a live wire, igniting an animalistic need within him that he found impossible to resist. He sank his teeth into Stiles's neck, and the world exploded, his senses going into overdrive, wave after wave of pleasure washing over him as his knot swelled fully and he poured himself into Stiles, marking him from the inside and out. His roar, muffled by the skin beneath his lips, was as primitive as the act itself.

When Derek could think again, he was sprawled over Stiles, crushing him into the bed.

"Sorry," he muttered, easing them to their sides, still breathing hard.

Stiles made a pleased sound, snuggling further into the crook of Derek's neck. Derek felt a hum of satisfaction as Stiles's body twitched with languid aftershocks, his warmth enveloping Derek in a way that felt like home.

"Believe me…you don't need…to apologize…for anything," Stiles panted, a grin spreading across his flushed face as he traced aimless patterns on Derek's chest.

Derek chuckled, wrapping an arm around Stiles and pulling him closer, inhaling his scent. It was intoxicating—a blend of sweat, sex, and a salty sweetness that was uniquely Stiles. It was a scent Derek had already memorized, already knew as intimately as the mole-speckled body beneath him.

"You're mine, Stiles," Derek whispered against the shell of Stiles's ear. He traced his fingers over Stiles's bitten neck, feeling the raised skin where his teeth had marked his claim. "You always will be."

Stiles shivered at his words, pressing closer still as if he could melt into Derek, become a part of him. "And you're mine."

Derek nodded because it was true. They belonged to each other. So utterly and completely. It was a primal thing—a bond transcending mere words and earthly bodies. They were mates. Mated. Bound and connected in a way that was extraordinary and overwhelming. Beautiful.

"I'm yours," Derek confirmed aloud. Stiles's heart beat against his as the contented silence embraced them. His fingers twined through Stiles's hair, drawing him closer and drinking in his unique scent, his unique essence.

In the quiet aftermath, under the soft glow of the moonlight pouring in through the window, Stiles finally said, "Derek…I-I love you. I know it might be too soon, but considering—"

"I love you, too." Derek hooked a finger under Stiles's chin, tipping his head up. When Stiles met his gaze, Derek was unflinching in his sincerity as he reiterated his words, "I love you. You're my mate."

And it didn't matter if their relationship didn't follow social norms or if they leapt over a few steps to get there. Stiles was his mate, and their relationship made perfect, absolute sense to him. Their connection was beyond rules and boundaries dictated by the world. It was spiritual and eternal.

Derek hugged Stiles tightly, whispering a soft, "I want everything with you."

"I want that, too," Stiles murmured into Derek's chest, pressing a warm kiss over his heart. His touch held a depth of tenderness—a promise of forever in his words.

Derek tightened his grip, looking down at the man he had claimed as his own. Stiles looked back up at him, eyes shimmering with unshed tears of happiness and love. It was the most beautiful sight Derek had ever seen.

In the stillness of the night, they lay entwined in each other's arms, basking in the shared warmth and love, lost in the peace that only they could offer to one another. _

Derek placed his hands on Stiles's belly, feeling Eli kick as they rocked from side to side, dancing to the Christmas music playing through his parent's old stereo. Stiles laughed giddily, his eyes twinkling like the colorful lights on the Christmas tree.

"Who would have ever thought that Derek was a romantic?" Cora said from her spot on the couch. "Ow!"

Laura was the closest to her, so Derek could imagine that she'd elbowed or pinched Cora, probably in an attempt to silence her. But Derek just shook his head, a fond smile on his face as he pulled Stiles even closer.

"Guess I'm full of surprises," Derek grinned, whispering into Stiles's ear. The tickle of his breath caused Stiles to laugh again, his body trembling with mirth against Derek's.

Cora rolled her eyes, but the complacent twitch of her lips betrayed her teasing demeanor.

"So when do we get to open presents?" she asked, flopping dramatically against Laura.

Laura gave her a mock-stern look. "You're like a five-year-old."

"You're like a five-year-old," Cora retorted, sticking her tongue out at her sister. Laura responded with a faux gasp, pretending to be offended.

In the middle of their playful banter, Stiles's laughter filled the room again. He swayed slowly, eyes closed, as if soaking in the happy moments.

Derek took the opportunity, bending down to place a soft kiss on Stiles's round belly. "It doesn't matter when everyone opens their presents. We already have our little gift."

Stiles placed a hand on Derek's cheek, pulling him up until they were face to face.

"The best Christmas present," Stiles confirmed before leaning in to share a tender kiss with him.

The room seemed to hush a moment, Laura and Cora's banter petering out before Cora made a face and pretended to retch. His mom walked into the room at that moment, followed by his dad, and gave her a scathing look.

"Behave yourself, Cora," she admonished. "It's Christmas. And we're so happy for Derek and Stiles."

Derek gave a nod of thanks toward his mom, wrapping an arm around Stiles and pulling him to his side. His heart was filled to the brim with affection, not just for Stiles but for his family as well.

"I'm just saying, if I wanted to watch a romance movie, I would have turned one on," Cora replied, her voice traced with amusement.

"Enough with the commentary," his dad chimed in, but there was clear amusement in his voice, too.

A jovial mood spread through the room, and Derek couldn't help but be touched. It was Stiles's first Christmas with them, and he had already become a vital part of their celebrations. There was no pretense of formality, no uncomfortably polite exchanges, just heartwarming laughter and random bickering that already felt familiar.

A few moments later, his mother walked over with a large box wrapped in shiny paper. Handing it to Stiles, she looked at Derek knowingly. "Something I made for Eli."

Stiles unwrapped it carefully, revealing a knitted baby blanket with a small wolf embroidered in one corner. The moment sent warmth coursing through Derek, witnessing Stiles's eyes light up at the sight of the blanket.

Derek wasn't a man of many words. He simply watched as Stiles's hands traced over the intricate patterns of the blanket and cherished the heartwarming scene, as well as the mix of surprise, delight, and gratitude softening his mate's features. Placing his hand on Stiles's pregnant belly, he knew this would be a memory he'd forever cherish. Their first shared Christmas and their baby, who was soon to arrive.

He could almost hear the gentle yet promising rustlings of new traditions being woven, just like the delicate threads of grandma's love woven into the baby blanket.

"It's beautiful. Thank you." Stiles's words were barely a whisper, his surprise palpable as he gazed at the handmade blanket in his hands. "You made this?"

Derek's mom nodded, smiling brightly. "Yes, I did. I thought it would be something special for the new baby, a gift from the heart. I know it's not much, but it's made with love and care."

Stiles held the blanket up against the soft light filtering in from the frosted window, the intricate stitching in the blanket catching the light. "I love it. And I know Eli will love it, too."

Almost as if he knew they were talking about him, Eli kicked against Derek's palm. Stiles and Derek exchanged a knowing glance, the promise of sharing many more such Christmases in their future written in their eyes.

Soon, the room buzzed with excitement as everyone started opening gifts. The wrapping paper was tossed carelessly around with laughter filling their cozy home. And amid the cheerfulness, Derek and Stiles stood in their own little world, eyes only for each other and the little life they'd created together.

With the soft glow of the tree lights bouncing off Stiles's excited features and the sweet hum of 'Silent Night' in the background, Derek still couldn't believe how it only took a minute for his entire life to change.

#sterek #sterekfests #sterekfestswinter2023 #sterekfestschristmas #sterekweekly #sterekweeklypresent #sterekbingo #holy shit i wrote something

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readingbibooks · 2 months

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“Consider Amber Heard’s treatment in the tabloids. A story that should’ve been as simple as ‘Johnny Depp abused his wife’ swiftly became ‘it was her fault because she was bi’ and ‘well, she was warned that coming out would end her career’. Bisexuality, it seems, is still something wheeled out to shock, displayed as a defect, and so feeds our shame and guilt.”

- Laura Clay, The Bi-ble: an anthology of personal essays and narratives about bisexuality

#Laura clay #the bi ble

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mariacallous · 1 year

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Disappointing news today for those who blame feminism for the problems facing young men: research shows that challenging gender stereotypes and misogyny helps boys too.

A narrative has emerged over the last decade in popular culture and politics that portrays men and boys (particularly white, heterosexual ones) as in “crisis”, victimised by feminism and social justice movements, and now “left behind” or suffering so-called “reverse discrimination”. From the misogynistic memes that swirled around the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial, to the male MPs attempting to debunk the “bad press” men have been getting, to the description of #MeToo as a “witch-hunt” on flagship radio programmes, this argument has been steadily building up steam.

However, The State of UK Boys report released today by the Global Boyhood Initiative shows that, instead of being victimised by feminism, boys are facing an entirely different crisis. Violence and being “tough” is normalised as a natural part of being a man, which encourages boys to see violence (particularly male-on-male violence) as an inevitable part of growing up. The study, which comprised a literature review alongside interviews with experts, also found that these kinds of stereotypes are present from birth, with families, schools and peer groups all playing their part.

Of course the impact of this is immense, and reading about the boys in the report who justified male violence through notions of men’s possession and ownership of women goes some way to explain the shockingly high levels of sexual assault in schools. But these stereotypes also harm boys – look, for instance, at the under-reporting of violence and abuse against boys and men.

Instead of reinforcing these stereotypes, the report’s authors suggest, all children would benefit from a feminist approach to learning (something that will come as no surprise to many feminists, who have been arguing for this for decades). For example, boys would benefit from learning about the problems with gender stereotypes, and also from a destigmatisation of close friendships between boys, which are often discouraged by homophobic ideals of masculinity. Encouraging male friendships, the study finds, would provide opportunities for boys to learn reciprocity, empathy and intimacy.

The idea that white, working-class boys are neglected and “failing” is “both manufactured and actively misleading”, the report states. White boys are in fact less likely than Black Caribbean, Black African and Bangladeshi students to claim free school meals, and less likely to be excluded from school than Black Caribbean boys. White boys who do not receive free school meals get higher grades than some minoritised groups, too. With this in mind, it’s worth asking who benefits from peddling these misleading claims, and why? Perhaps it’s those who want to keep the status quo as it is.

For too long, we have been encouraged to view the challenges facing boys and men as entirely distinct from the needs of women and girls – and the heat on this argument has almost reached boiling point. Just a few months go, Harper’s Bazaar magazine ran an article headlined How Feminism Is Stifling Our Sons, and a book by academic Nina Power argued that men are under attack. This fear-mongering lie has been fuelled by the kind of online propaganda that’s spread by the likes of Andrew Tate, who has capitalised on the idea of male victimhood and racked up billions of views on TikTok, to “men’s rights activist” YouTube channels and Reddit forums. With half of 15- and 16-year-old boys estimating that they spend more than six hours a day on the internet, seeing this content can have a major impact on their lives and wellbeing.

Instead of feminism harming boys, the report has found that the opposite is true: challenging male violence and misogyny, encouraging different types of masculinity and seeing women as allies, all contribute to better mental health and educational attainment among boys. As GaryBarker, one of the authors of the report, and the CEO of Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice puts it: “Boys need feminism and feminism needs boys on board.”

The old “boys don’t cry” narratives that say men shouldn’t be vulnerable about their feelings are part of the same system that portrays girls as “hormonal”, “hysterical” and unsuited to particular career paths. It may sound old-fashioned, but with Tate and his ilk saying that women should “shut the f**k up, have kids, sit at home, be quiet and make coffee”, it is terrifyingly present again. Recognising this does not mean undermining or ignoring boys’ needs, but finding ways to meet them. Our boys deserve better than to be used as a shield for anti-feminist provocateurs with more interest in stoking “culture wars” than actually helping them.

Laura Bates is the founder of the Everyday Sexism Project and author of Men Who Hate Women

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lauralot89 · 2 years

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Watching Syrup free on Vudu, no idea what it is but it’s got Amber Heard

#Laura watches Syrup #I Stand with Amber Heard

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falsemortal · 1 year

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Pond 🎣

// written by the lovely @abbochan , art by me

Travis let the evening get away from him as he fished alone at the old pond on the Hackett property. It was a well hidden spot far into the woods and over the last few years, it had mostly been reclaimed by nature. Travis had only been coming back in recent months, re-marking old footpaths and clearing away most of the overgrown plant life. The large pond was tucked away in a pocket of the forest where it was rarely ever disturbed and Travis held it very close to his heart, sometimes feeling as though it was his last bastion of peace during those six years of his family’s curse. So often would he escape into these woods much like a wolf himself, feeling like the only man on earth, tarnished from his own war and yet hellbent on winning it.

The sun was nearly about to fall behind the horizon and Travis sighed deeply, his hands tightening around the handle of his fishing rod before they slid up to reel in his line, deftly working as his gaze flicked over the ripples in the water, the amber light refracting on it like tiny, shimmering crystals. He heard a few footsteps in the trees behind him and only turned to see his company when he heard the thump of shoes on the old wooden dock.

“I knew I should have checked here first.” Laura says with a small smile. The escaping glow of the sun catches her face just right, her blue eyes dancing like the tip of a flame and Travis swallows thickly when she sits down beside him, leaving little room for argument. “I went to the lake first and then the orchard,” She says, gesturing with either hand. “But I know this is where you’ve been coming to be alone, alone so I guess I’m sorry for kinda crashing.” She says with an apologetic look.

Travis shakes his head and the corner of his mouth turns up just a bit. “It’s okay,” He says. “I should've left you a note ‘cause I didn’t bring my phone down with me, sorry ‘bout that.”

“Yeah, I know.” Laura says, poking him in the shoulder. “I saw it on the counter and rolled my eyes so far into the back of my head, I could see my damn brain.”

Travis laughs and apologizes again before sending his line back into the water, even more content now that Laura had joined him.

“Snag anything exciting?” She asks, looking up at him with one eye squinted from the last minutes of the sun.

Travis feels his face warm and he clears his throat, suddenly feeling like he had a bird in his guts, flipping and fluttering around. “Just the usual suspects.” He responds. “A few bass and a couple of catfish.” He looks down at her and reels in the line before putting the rod between the two of them. “Wanna go for a round?”

Laura beams up at him and takes it from his grasp, repositioning herself so she was more comfortable. “First cast.” She says with a grin. “I’ll hit.”

Travis feigns skepticism and jokingly rolls his eyes, his tongue striking the roof of his mouth. “Always so damn cocky.” He says while shaking his head.

“Hey, don't get mad when the student surpasses the mentor.” Laura shrugs with a smile before whipping the line out onto the pond.

True to her word, Laura nailed a bass within two minutes and a friendly competition formed between them as they began to pass the rod back and forth. The light had faded and fireflies began to hover over the water, the glare of the moon reflecting against it like a dark mirror and Travis knew it was almost time to call it a night. He looked over to Laura who was gazing up at the stars and he watched her shiver while running her hands up and down her bare arms. He deftly placed the rod on the dock and shrugged off his flannel, passing it to her without a word.

Laura smiles sweetly when she notices his gesture and turns a bit to the side so Travis can drape it over her shoulders.

“Has anyone ever told you how sweet you are, Travis?” She asks, her cheeks becoming rosy from the cold.

He pretends to think for a moment before smiling softly. “Yeah, I’ve heard that once or twice from a girl I know.”

“Well she sounds pretty cool.” Laura says, her impossibly blue eyes pin him to his spot, her smile strikes him down like it's merely a sin to behold her and Travis swallows the stone in his throat.

“She’s ‘bout the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.” He says softly. “And I don’t ever wanna take her for granted…” Travis’ mouth works into a frown and he sighs lightly. “I already made that mistake once and she forgave me.”

Laura reaches up and her hand finds his jaw, stroking his stubble with her thumb and Travis leans into her touch. “Well…” She says before leaning up and placing a chaste kiss on his cheek. “She also knows that you’re a good man and that you deserve grace.”

His eyes slide closed as Laura continues to comfort him: “And she also knows that even good men like you, Travis, can make mistakes.” He feels her lean into his shoulder, her cheek nuzzling into the sleeve of his shirt. “But I don’t know a single man that would spend his every waking hour trying to right his wrongs. I don’t know a single man with a will as strong as yours, Travis.”

“And I got nothin’ to show for it…” He mutters. Travis opens his eyes and looks over the water, the reflection of the moon dancing upon the ripples and he feels Laura lift her head and could feel her eyes on him.

“You got your freedom.” She says plainly, like it was the most obvious thing on the planet. “And now we get to make up for all that time you lost.” Laura smiles at him and Travis can’t help but smile back but he knows there’s a sadness laced within it.

“I don’t really remember the man I was before the curse.” Travis admits.

Laura’s eyes snare him again as they soften, the moonlight hovering above her like a halo of light. “Well,” She says softly. “I can’t wait to get to know him.”

#travis x laura #hackearney ficlets #hackearney #travis hackett x laura kearney

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