#in most of middle school and bits of high school these characters were my EVERYTHING

[jessibbb]

💛💙 Sanders sides! 💜❤️

#this series has such a special place in my heart!! #in most of middle school and bits of high school these characters were my EVERYTHING #I have made so many friends because of this silly little show and so I wanted to express how much it means to me even now :) #can lying be good? life changing shit #blew a 14 year old Jess’s mind #sanders sides #roman sanders #logan sanders #patton sanders #virgil sanders #jessi art

[mylittleredgirl]

i know some of you have been pressing your faces to the glass waiting for me to see this one in particular SO i saw "the nurses" the other night and am still thinking about it!!

i love love love it when characters get pushed to a point where you can almost see their childhood selves pop out, like are they even talking about what's happening right now? or are their 12-year-old hearts just screaming?? i love that margaret's outburst is both irrational (the hostile work environment is coming from inside the house; i was yelling at my tv "baby it's your fault!!!") and so so honest.

[this turned into a bit of a character thesis, so not only is there a readmore, there will also be a reblog soon with the rest of the post because i maxed out the image limit] [edit: part ii now in the reblogs!]

this whole time, margaret has treated her subordinates with a heavy hand because she thinks it's the right and fair thing to do. the rules say this is how it works!

she maintains a high standard of excellence in brutal circumstances, but she's also reactive, moody, and unforgiving. she's often shown on the edge of losing control and authority, she inflames situations by overreacting, and the thing she punishes most egregiously is disrespect (toward frank, toward the army, toward herself). she intentionally underlines the distance between herself and the other nurses at every turn.

from season 3 "there's nothing like a nurse": [all IDs in alt]

really, everything she thinks and does comes from a place of "they're not supposed to like me," but the childish part of her that is completely unable to see her own behavior is confused and hurt because "i'm just doing my job so why don’t they like me???"

it's her job to maintain discipline, but especially here in 4077-land, she doesn't have to lead with the whip. henry was beloved because he was an overly permissive clown, which will never be her speed, but colonel potter has all the same training as she does. he's loved and respected as the Good Regular Army Guy because he leads with discernment and mutual respect.

it's easier for him. he's more experienced, he's respected and supported from above and below, and he has a calm temperament — which isn't nothing.

from season 4 "the interview":

whether she's aware of this as a problem or not, we at home can see how margaret's inability to control her emotional reactivity causes her as much grief as her inability to control other people.

if she were capable of laughing off small slights, hawkeye and trapper wouldn't have used her as a chew toy so much, and henry might have taken her real concerns more seriously if they weren't lost in the noise of daily fits, you know? she rarely started it, so i'm not blaming her for the hostile chaos circus of seasons 1-3, but i am saying she would have had a better time if she knew how to take a few deep breaths.

this description from the script, after the near-brawl in the nurses' tent in act one, is basically her character thesis statement:

and here, when she's reacting fully emotionally, the truth comes out! the reason that she won't be flexible and show compassion to the nurses isn't because of the rules, but because they're mean to her!!

that's obviously a very bad place to lead from. she has enormous institutional power over them, including controlling their freedom of movement, but she feels like all the other girls in school are hanging out together and they hate her. because they are! and they do! the fight in act one boils over when they make fun of her hair, and that sent all of them back to middle school.

and in many ways, that's where margaret's emotional maturity is stuck (which is, i think, why i find her so endearing). she can't see herself. she knows they don't like her, trust her, or want her around, but she doesn't understand how she dug this hole herself, or how to get out of it.

to add insult to jealous injury, one of the nurses (mary jo, who gets between margaret and baker to stop the fight and takes care of the others in different ways) is margaret's age, and the others look to her as their chosen leader and personal support.

and i'm sure margaret had NO IDEA this was the messy truth until she heard it come out of her mouth.

and her emotionally breaking on the "one lousy cup of coffee" in particular…

i wonder, how often does some version of that first tent scene happen? does she deliver their assignments every night? she walks in already defensive, they immediately stop laughing, and then... she either finds a reason to scold them or they ice her out until she leaves. (and they probably start laughing again as soon as she does!)

from her perspective, when she arrived for the dreaded sleepover and they turned out the lights the minute she walked in, it's like they cancelled the nightly coffee klatch just to avoid spending one social minute with her.

i also think the nurses are right when they assumed that she wouldn't have accepted an invitation to hang out with them (and might even have snapped at them for being inappropriate for asking). she doesn't cross that emotional line, even when she should — she didn't know gaynor was spiraling after losing so many patients in a row, and didn't respond compassionately when she learned.

has she ever invited them for coffee or a friendly chat? no.

...... but her circumstances have recently changed.

[reblog with the rest of it is here!]

#margaret houlihan #mash #mashblogging #margaret is a holy hot mess and i love her sooooo much

[carcarcraziiv2]

Hello!! Just found your blog recently and your bf scenarios of heartsteel members were endearing to read!! Id like to request a scenario of f reader was a childhood friend of kayn and reader always been tbere for him even if he got kicked out of the band multiple times, reader will always support him because hes number 1 in her heart , there can be angst n fluff or whichever, take your time and thank you!!

Thanks so much for your request! I am WAY excited about getting one haha!

This prompt is simply great. I LOVE the idea of Kayn having a ride or die from childhood! Here it goes!

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TW- Fluff, angst, kissing, suggestive themes kinda???. Enter at your own risk!

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You had always admired Kayn.

Even when he is hot headed, when he lacks in confidence, you were, and always will be, there.

It all started when the two of you were in grade school. Kayn was often getting into little tiffs on the playground, and you made it a personal challenge to engage with him and try to make him a little happier.

"Hey, Kayn, right? It's good to meetcha. I was wondering if you wanted to play tag with me?" You had said, twiddling your thumbs and smiling shyly at him.

The little boy glared at you for a moment. Right as you were about to lose hope and turn away, it appeared something had switched in his brain.

"Sure, but no cheating!"

From that day forward, the two of you were like peas in a pod. Kayn was everchanging, as were you.

Eventually, Kayn developed some kind of alter ego he called Rhaast. You didn't really understand it. All you knew was that when he switched, someone was going to get hurt or something was going to happen.

Kayn was never really a sensitive or open person in a traditional sense. The two of you had off and on flings throughout middle and high school, until Kayn got into the band and party scene. You never gave up on your friendship, though.

There had been a few bands before the most recent. You went to all of their shows, accompanied him when he went to his little (mostly unsuccessful) meet and greets.

He was always so protective of you. If there was ever someone who was coming onto you or making you feel uncomfortable at a show, he would literally get off stage in the middle of a set and teach the person a lesson. You couldn't help but admire the way his dark pink hair brushed across his face as he prowled over to you to face the culprit. It made you blush, thinking of how he handled these situations.

One day, after a busy day at work, you got home to see Kayn sitting on the couch at your apartment looking wholly defeated.

"Oh, I wasn't expecting to see you here," you had said, your brow furrowed as you approached him. "Whatcha up to?"

"I don't want to talk," was all he said as you sat next to him. It was hard to accept that as an answer, so you pushed him just enough to get a reason.

"Well, you're sitting on my couch looking really upset. What happened?"

"I said I don't want to-," he looked at you swiftly, his nostrils flared and eyes angry. You knew Rhaast was close to the surface, but you held strong because you knew Kayn liked it when you stood up for yourself, even to him. He sighed when he saw the determined look in your eye. "Fine, I got kicked out of the band."

"Oh!" You exclaimed, shocked because it seemed like everything had been going really well for him and who you thought were his friends. They had done a couple shows, mostly just hanging out and jamming together. "What happened, Shadow?" He sighed again, a tad bit more dramatically, when you used his nickname. You had called him that ever since middle school when you would find him sulking in dark places like a weirdo.

"Well, apparently the guys don't like pranks. It was out of character for me to pull one, sure, but I didn't think a little 'poop on fire at your door' gag would piss them off so much. Whatever, I don't need them."

You tried and failed to hold back a laugh at his admitted fault. He looked back at you with his mismatched eyes and his lips quirked upward ever so slightly.

"Oh, Kayn, I'm so sorry. I don't mean to laugh but that is honestly really funny! I thought you all were chill; I'm surprised a stupid prank like that got them so riled up." Without realizing it, you reached up to adjust a piece of his hair that had fallen in front of his eyes while you let out another soft chuckle. You quickly snatched your hand away, mouth closing and eyes widening.

Kayn looked at you with a shocked expression for a moment, before he did something that made your heart race just like all the times previously when you two had dated. He leaned in and kissed you gently on the lips.

"Thank you, Y/N, for making me realize how funny I truly am," he smirked, clearly trying to adjust the topic from the kiss that had just happened.

That day, things had been different between the two of you. You weren't sure if it was because it was the first time the two of you had kissed in your adulthood, or if it was because you realized he chose your place to go to when he was feeling down.

It made you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Your usual hangouts had turned into you stumbling over your words, blushing when he did anything remotely attractive, and overall, just a little more awkward.

It didn't take long for Kayn to find a new band, after that. You were excited to meet all of his new bandmates; Ezreal, Sett, Aphelios, Yone, and K'Sante. They were all sweethearts, and you couldn't help but think that this might be the band.

They named their band Heartsteel, and you were awestruck at how popular they became and how quickly. With that, of course, came consequences.

Every show, event, even just strolling through stores together, there were paparazzi and fans jumping all over Kayn. Inevitably, this drove a wedge between the two of you. He became so busy all of the time, and it was hard to find a moment for the two of you to see each other.

Back to present, you are working your usual nine to five office job. It's boring, but it pays the bills. You get to see all the fancy magazine articles and covers that Kayn and his band are in. You get to hear all of the stupid annoying girls at your office giggle and talk about how hot they all are.

You huff when one of them walks by your desk, joking about how she'd "do anything to get into Kayn's bed".

I bet you would. You thought. Unbeknownst to her, you had been in Kayn's bed, more than once in fact. Never daring to say anything about your relation to him in fear of being shut down or gaining too much attention, you just did your best to ignore it all.

The day was finally reaching its end when your phone vibrated in your purse. You opened it to see a text from Yone.

Hey, Y/N. It's Yone.

Oh, hey Yone. What's up?

Kayn is having some sort of... well, he's really upset right now, and he just keeps asking to see you. He doesn't sound like himself. Can I come get you and bring you over here?

You raise a brow at the message on your screen. It had been at least a month since the last time the two of you had spoken, as it was like pulling teeth to get Kayn to answer a text or a phone call in the first place, let alone now.

Don't worry about picking me up, I'll head over there now.

You quickly gathered your belongings and let your boss know you were heading out ten minutes early. Bidding your farewells, you left the building and climbed into your car. You took your heels off, adjusting your skirt so that your ass didn't stick to the leather as you flung your purse into the passenger seat.

A million thoughts raced through your mind, but one thing you were certain of. When you got there, that wasn't going to be Kayn.

It was going to be Rhaast.

The drive was about an hour, and when you pulled through the iron gates after inputting your code, Yone and Aphelios were waiting outside looking at their phones.

You put your car in park, put your shoes back on and quickly got out and speed-walked up to them.

"Hey guys, sorry it took me so lo-."

"No time for small talk, let's go," Yone all but dragged you through the door of the house they shared, leading you down a long hallway to the small practice and recording studio they put in. He didn't release your elbow until the two of you were standing right in front of the door, and he turned to look at you.

"I hate to say it but, be careful. He's acting a little...," Yone trailed off, as if trying to find a way to describe it.

"Manic? Crazy? Off the rails? Yeah, don't worry, I got this," You smiled politely at him, pushing him softly out of the way and opening the door to the room.

Contrary to your feigned confidence, your heart was beating out of your chest. What you saw when you entered had it racing even more.

Kayn was standing against the wall with no shirt, his arms crossed, smoking a cigarette. When he looked up and caught your gaze, his mouth turned up in a devilish grin. You hadn't realized it, but your mouth was dangling open as you ogled him.

His hair was damp from sweat, his muscles rigid as he stared back at you.

"Y/N, finally, you're here!" He greeted you, pushing himself off the wall and walking your direction after pinching the cherry off his smoke. Contrary to what you were thinking was going to happen, he walked past you and shut the door.

You blinked in shock when you heard the click of a lock.

"What's going on, Kayn?" your voice trembled as you asked, but you squared your shoulders and raised your chin none the less.

"Tsk tsk tsk, is that how you greet your best friend?" He murmurs, coming up behind you and wrapping his large arms around you. "I've missed you, Y/N."

You shuddered in his grasp before looking around the room with a sigh. "Is that why you trashed the studio? Because you missed me?"

He nuzzled his face into your neck and breathed in deeply, causing goosebumps to raise all over.

"Yes," he stated plainly. You weren't even surprised in his nonchalance about it. "Everything has been so overwhelming, lately. It doesn't take much for me to snap anymore, but when I see you all of those problems seem to melt away...". You were surprised, however, at how open he was being as soon as you got there. Kayn was never one to open up without a fight first. Perhaps the fight had already happened within himself.

You turned around in his arms to face him, looking up at him with a weak smile.

"I've missed you too, Shadow. I've got to admit, I don't like all the attention you're getting from girls either," you sigh. The vulnerability he approached you with must have been rubbing off. You didn't mind though. It was time for you to tell him how you really feel. "Kayn, I- I want to be-".

"Can you just be mine, already?" He interrupts, his eyes locked to yours. "I want you. I want every part of you. Nothing... Nothing feels right when you're not with me. The girls, the shows, none of it. So can you please please be mine?"

"I always have been, Shadow. And I always will be," leaning up, you place a kiss on his mouth. Retreating, you only get a moment before he slams his lips back onto your own, and you let out a little moan in acceptance.

"Always." He growls against your lips, and you know for once in all the time you've been his number one fan, that this time is forever.

The end :3

I kind of just went with the flow on this one. Hope you enjoyed!

#Heartsteel Kayn x Reader #Heartsteel Kayn #Heartsteel x Reader #League of Legends Fanfic #Kayn x Reader #Kayn Fanfic

[lssugaluv]

The way he asks you to marry him.

Fem reader x various Haikyuu characters.

• Haikyuu Headcanons.

• Small Stories + Headcanons.

• Contains: Fluff, bunch of it. How long you’ve been dating for, romance, sweetness, petnames, high school to adult romance.(most of them.)

• Characters: Ushijima, Kuroo, Sugawara, Atsumu, & Suna.

Sugawara;

You and Suga have been dating for 4 years now. You began dating on your third year of high school.

You were the girl of his dreams. When he had finally gained the courage to ask you to be his girlfriend, after having the biggest crush on you since your first year, he felt like he was about to pass out.

Those nerves came again when he asked you to meet him at your favorite garden in Kokedera, Kyoto. It was just the two of you, he wanted the proposal to be as intimate as can be.

He asked you to come in a cute flowy white dress he bought for you. He wore a loose white dress shirt with kacky pants and white slip on vans.

When he saw you arrive, he swore you were an Angel sent from heaven. Gorgeous as ever. Today you were just extra gorgeous to him.

At first you had no idea why he asked you to come dressed up to the garden but you didn’t question him. Once you arrived and saw him playing with his fingers and slightly flushed from his cheeks, you knew something was up.

He went ahead and grabbed both of your hands and yelled “I LOVE YOU.”

You giggle and tell him you love him as well.

“P..PL..PLEASE BE MY WIFE!”

You open your eyes wide and grow the biggest smile you can possibly have. “Baby, you don’t need to yell.” You say as you giggle. You reach in to kiss his soft lips and place your forehead on his, eyes closed. “I would love to be your wife.” As you both give each other the biggest bear hug.

Ushijima;

You and Ushijima have been dating for 3 years now.

You two met in middle school due to your family moving to Sendai and being neighbors with Ushijima. You guys will unintentionally walk to school together and back home.

In high school, you guys will hardly talk but he had always though you were very pretty. He loved how naturally beautiful you were and how happy you seem to be. He got to know after you two graduated Shiratorizawa. You both went to the same college and pursued your dream careers.

The way he asked to marry you was by taking you to the pathway to Shiratorizawa. Compared to your middle school walk, the high school was a bit further from your homes.

You guys will have to pass through a river path everyday and gorgeous greenery.

You two were walking in silence hand in hand. He always loved how your small hand fit perfectly with his huge hand. He loved how the soft wind will blow your hair and he was able to see your beautiful side view and features. He loved how every step he’ll take, you’ll try to keep up with him.

You two finally arrived to the River pathway and he had asked you to take a seat on the grass with him. You two enjoy the nature and the sounds of the river currents. Despite your now busy lives, he always enjoyed this peace with you. With no one around but just the two of you.

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you Y/N.”

You gently smile and rest your head on his shoulder , rubbing your hand up and down his forearm.

“I do too Toshi.”

He moves in front of you, blocking the view of the river, which you didn’t mind at all. He’s the view you love to see.

“Please marry me.” He says as he opens a small dark blue cube box with a simple silver band in the box.

You couldn’t help but not hold back your tears and nod your head as in yes. You stick your hand out and he places the small engagement band around your small finger. “I love you” you say as you give him the most sweetest kiss.

Suna;

You and Suna have been best friends since elementary.

You two began to actually date on your first year of high school. You have been his high school sweetheart, his biggest supporter, his best friend, his everything since day one. He knew one day he will marry you. And the day to ask the big question has came at last.

Suna has always been one to keep to himself but when it came to the two of you being alone, man was he attached to you. He always shows his true colors when only being with you. He is crazy in love with you.

The way he asks to marry you is by asking you to come over to his apartment and making dinner together.

You came dressed in a nice light pink corset top with light washed jeans and low white heels. You always loved to get dolled up for him even when he said he preferred you in his sweater and sweatpants.

He was dressed casual, a black polo shirt and some jeans, and shoes, well he had slippers on because he was inside his apartment.

You guys decide to go with chicken Alfredo pasta since today’s date night dinner was Italian. You guys always will meet up during your busy weeks, or FaceTime when he was out of the country or town due to tournaments. You will always play “Spin the Wheel” using your phone and typing which country you guys should do date night with.

Since it was Italian night, you guys made homemade pasta, got store bought Gelato, and decided to watch “Letters To Juliet.” He knew how much you love romance movies, so he always let you choose the movies.

Meanwhile you guys were eating, you noticed he was eating slower than usual. Which you grew to worry because the food was very delicious. “Rin Rin, is everything okay?” He picked up that he was overthinking and quickly stuffed pasta in his mouth. “Yes princess. The food is delicious.” He says with a mouthful.

When you cleaned up after eating and served the gelato, you meet him at the couch with the movie ready to play on Netflix. You notice that he was on his phone, which was a rule that when on date night, no phones allowed. You stopped the movie to ask him what was wrong again.

He assures you nothing is wrong and told you to play the movie. You then notice he once again is focused of his phone when you pull the phone away from his hands. He freezes when you gasped after you read what was on the Google search.

“ How to surprise girlfriend with a proposal?”

After you finished reading, you saw he was right in front of you, both knees on the ground and one small white box on your thigh. “I panicked and didn’t know how to surprise you. But I want you to be with me forever more. Sorry you had to find out through Google Y/N.”

You place the white box on the side of the couch and literally jump on him, both of your bodies dropping to the ground. You begin to give him a billions of kisses all over his face, with the biggest smile on your face. “A millions times yes Rintarou.”

Kuroo;

As he’s pacing back and forth in Kenma’s room, he finally got an idea. “I know where! I can propose to Y/N at the beach.” He says as he grabs on to his best friends shoulders, blocking his game.

Kenma moves his head to the side to get a view of his game. “I already told you that idea.”

You and Kuroo have been dating for 2 years. You guys met at work in the office. You guys actually met at the beach. It was frustrating day for him, and he loves to cool off at the beach. You had gone that day because you were supposed to go on a date, just for the guy to stood you up. You knew of one another at work but never actually spoken until that day.

He had saw you walking alone by the waves, barefoot while you were holding your heels. It was freezing that day, which he thought you were insane walking barefoot. He walks toward you when he saw you were wiping your tears and standing in front of the ocean.

“Y/N, are you okay?” You turn to face the tall man and completely ball out crying. He invited you to eat ramen after your cried it out and took you home. He waited in the living room until you showered and had made tea for you. He then had left once he saw you fully asleep, and left a note on your nightstand giving you his number.

You meet him at the beach and you see he is standing right in front of the ocean. You silently walk toward him and stand next to him, taking in the ocean breeze. “Remember two years ago when I met you at this exact spot? You were crying for some asshole meanwhile I was having a work meltdown.” He still hadn’t made any eye contact with you but continued. “I remember thinking how pretty you looked crying and wondered to myself, man, if only a girl can cry for me.”

He takes your hand and placed a small diamond ring on your left ring finger. “Let me be the one to wipe your tears on the altar when we’re getting married. I love you, always and forever. Thank you for being my everything.”

You begin to cry after staring at the tiny rock for a good 5 minutes. He gently picks up your face with his two huge hands, wiping your happy tears with his thumbs. “Yes Tetsu. Yes.”

Atsumu;

You and Atsumu have been dating for 5 years. You began to date during your second year of high school. Everyone who knew you and Atsumu gave you 1 week for you to break up with him. They always knew Atsumu to be the dumb volleyball nerd meanwhile you were a smart straight A student. You both were pretty popular, but people thought you were too much for Atsumu.

Atsumu has always been loud, obnoxious, and sometimes an airhead. But boy did he love you. He knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with you as soon as you had surprised him at one of his volleyball games. “She’s the one.” He said nice and proud to his teammates that day at the locker rooms.

During the nationals, he went out of the country and had invited you with him. It was pretty tough for you to leave due to your university schedule but you had managed to make it. You were wearing his jersey that day, cheering loud and proud for your MSBY superstar.

You hear the bell and call it game and they had won. From there , some people were leaving and you were so excited to see Atsumu to congratulate him and the team. From there, you see yourself on the jumbo screen confused. You look down at Atsumu and look back up at the jumbo screen to see Atsumu on one knee with the screen saying “Marry me baby.” The screen once again goes back to you with tears running down your face and the rest of the crowd cheering loudly.

Bokuto had ran to go get you and grabs your hand and you both run to the court. Once you guys get to the doors of the entrance of the courts, Bokuto stops and leaves you on your own. You charged towards Atsumu, jumping on him and clinging on him. You gave him a huge kiss and said “I would love to marry you Atsumu.” He then pulls your head towards him and gives you three huge kisses, carrying you meanwhile the crowd roars again and all cameras on you both.

After thoughts:

• Hey y’all. Coming back to you with some fluff because why not? And Haikyuuuu head canons are my fav. I just got married through the court. So of course love is in the air and I wanted to write about proposing.

• Not Proofread. :/

• Please enjoy, like, comment & Reblog.

• Please do not copy my work. <3

#haikyuu romance #haikyuucharacters #Haikyuu #haikyuu!! #haikyu fanfiction #love #haikyuu fluff #fluff #atsumu fluff #atsumu miya #sugawara x y/n #sugawara koshi x reader #sugawara koushi #suna rintarō #sunarin #haikyuu boys #haikyuu headcanons #kuroo fanfic #kuroo tetsurou #ushijima fluff #haikyuu ushijima #ushijima wakatoshi #ushijima fic #headcanon #haikyū!! #suna fluff #kuroo testuro #kuroo fluff

[samptlay]

Could We Be Highschool Sweethearts? ~ When We Met ♡ ⁠~⁠♪◍⁠•

A/N: New series! This one is just for the Genshin Community since I’ve wanted to start building up a master list, but to do that I need more things to list lol. So this was originally going to be a sweet one shot but then my brain got going on how they could be cute little drabbles and aaaa. So this is just a small introduction, everything else will be drabble though I’d recommend reading them in order. Enjoy!

Modern!AU ♡♪

Taglist: @uhfhfhfhf @xdrin @msun1c0rn @lovingnahida @strrawb3rrysh0rtcak3 @ssecylia @skyl8ver @immahuman @meowmeowraven @01234 @markexplanation @esthelily

Borders By @cafekitsune ♡ ⁠~⁠♪◍⁠•

Just who exactly are you? Walking into the classroom, a bit too bubbly for his 7 in the morning, smiling in a way that he was sure made some other kids cover their eyes. His blue eyes scanned over your figure as you calmly and collectively introduced yourself to the class, it would be clear to anyone that you're easy on the eyes. Your presence has caught everyone off guard, considering it was the middle of the year. Truly, it was the first day of the second semester and you showed up in the middle of the day. That could be the way you do things. Who knows. It probably wasn't your choice anyway.

“I will be joining all of you for the rest of the school year so I hope we'll get along.” Being thrown off of his train of thought by your soothing voice, the ginger makes eye contact with you as you are looking around to most likely get accustomed to the unfamiliar place. Both of your eyes lingered on each other before the teacher directed you to the seat in front of Childe.

“Though height looks like it at times, I promise he doesn't bite.” The teacher informs some students laughing along at a mediocre line a bit too joyfully that makes you consider joining in, but then you notice the blue orbs pouring into yours.

..Childe? So that was his name? The guy who just gave you a cheap wink that left you amused, yet not intrigued in the slightest. If you had to admit it, he has a cute boyish smile but seems sly As you start walking, both of you hold eye contact. You recognize him, you're sure you've seen him on a billboard or two somewhere in the city. But you're not anyone special (in society, you think), so why do you still feel holes burning in the back of your head even after you've sat down?

You could understand it a bit, you were new, showed up out of nowhere and you know you don't exactly give off vibes that push people away, but rather bring them in. However, everyone else has turned back to the lesson yet you glance back and watch him as he starts into your soul, his grin grows larger and you quickly turn back around. It was practically your sixth sense, knowing when you're being watched and whatnot. It still didn't explain his gaze.

The rest of class goes by quickly, and the teacher has pulled you aside to give you a run-through of everything that happened last semester, hoping you could catch on quickly. You could, considering that you could even get into this school.

“I'll send you all the lesson plans through your school email, so make sure to look over those. Happy to have you here.” He was pleasant, you noted. Thankful he wasn't an old grouchy hag who would rather watch their students suffer through exams. It was expected that teachers help new students catch up to the curriculum. It was the same routine you had the rest of that afternoon, & you already knew your way around campus.

However what you were sure was not expected was being jump-scared on your first day, by a certain ginger. You had barely closed the door behind yourself before he almost yelled your name, directly in your ear. “Hey, girly. You’re new in town, right?” Was that not obvious enough? You usually weren’t quick to read someone’s character but his charisma appeared to be high and you didn’t trust the way he was looking at you. You could just tell he was a sly person.

“Mhm.. Do you need something from me?” You could think of any reason for him to personally want to talk to you, and judging by the empty hallways, everyone’s already on their way home so he shouldn’t (he doesn’t) have business with you. Glancing at the window that’s at the end of the hallway, it was sunset. It got dark quickly in Snezhnaya and you had not accommodated to that fact within the two weeks you’ve been here. You had to go through the outskirts of the capital to get to your new home, so it was a dragging 15 minutes from school & back.

“Girly? Girrrrrrllyyyyyy???” You look back at the grinning fox who had been watching your face for the last 30 seconds and it makes your eyebrows scrunch together. Girly?  “Ah, there you are. So you’re probably wondering why I’m bothering you, and I don’t wish to waste your precious time princess, but I know everyone here at the Fatui Academy. So seeing that you’re a new face, I just have to get to know you, hm?” Slowly your gaze travels around his body, head to toe. From his expensive shoes to those deep, empty blue orbs that are staring right back at you. You’d never let your guard down that easily, but your heart isn’t made of stone. Having no friends didn’t help, so if you were to simply walk away it would be foolish.

“Childe, was it?” Your smile didn’t reach your eyes but he could tell you weren’t annoyed by his presence which was the first reaction like that he had gotten in a while. He was relatively good at reading people, so Childe knew your smile wasn’t fake. He decided to stop leaning against the wall and stand upright before stuffing his hands in his pockets. “That’s right. You’ll be seeing a lot more of me from here on out so don’t forget it.” He swiftly comes to your side and wraps one and wraps one arm around your shoulder, which makes you raise an eyebrow, considering this guy was getting a bit too comfortable a bit too fast. Then he proceeds to turn his head to face you and wink.

He winks.

In this generation? Was he trying to be a flirt? Because you don’t think you could ever fall for a guy as goofy as this one. The moment a small chuckle left your lips he pouted. Which led to another chuckle, then a laugh all from your mouth.

“Was that supposed to get me interested? If it was, then I’d say you need to work more on your flirting.” He can’t help but giggle a bit too and his frown turns upside down, noting how your cheeks spread across your face in a way that had his eyes lingering. “Well then excuse me. But if I’m already making the lady laugh, how would you say it’s not?” The sentence makes you roll your eyes, which you haven’t done at all in the past year or so. Why does this freckled man bring out this side of yourself? It was hard to complain because it feels fun, playful & different for a change.

Childe still had a grip on your shoulder as he walked both of you the the front of the school to go home, and you were getting a few questioning gazes from others. Considering he was acting as if he had known you forever with the way he was holding you. Was Childe popular? He just seemed so easy to get along with that you assumed this was how he treated everyone. “Girly, let me take you home.” “Hm? No thank you, I don’t know you that well-” “There are real dangerous people out when it gets dark and I know the routes to avoid them all. I insist.” You didn’t know how he shut you up so quickly. Childe was the first person you had gotten along with so easily in a while, and you realized how disappointed you would be if you were to wake up tomorrow and all of this was a dream.

Having a friend to trust in a new place wouldn’t prove to be so bad. Would it?

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #childe #childe x reader #tartaglia #tartaglia x reader #fem reader #fanfic #ao3 #ao3 fanfic #intro post #fluff #drabble

[vex91]

Son Jiwoo - Late night conversations

Pairing: Son Jiwoo x Female Reader

Fandom: R U Next?

Requested by: Anonymous

Request: could you do something like first kiss with jiwoo???

Summary: You and Jiwoo decided to have a sleepover before your graduation.

A/N: I'm gonna wait for her debut and no one will stop me from that😤 Thanks for requesting❤

3rd's POV

You and Jiwoo were childhood friends. Ever since the faithful day on the playground when Jiwoo helped you build a sandcastle the two of you were inseparable, especially after your parents also became friends. It was normal for you both to literally live at each other's houses since your family came over for dinner to hers a lot and vice-versa. You both also loved having sleepovers, especially at her house.

You both attended the same elementary school then middle school and high school. No matter where you went, Jiwoo was with you. If someone needed something from you then they would always find you with Jiwoo. You had other friends but no matter what, you both stayed glued to each other. Then when the graduation day was coming up, a doubt appeared in your mind.

You wanted to apply to a very prestigious and strict university while Jiwoo wanted to continue being a trainee to hopefully become an idol. You were happy that she was chasing her dreams but it made you doubt if you two manage to stay together despite being so busy with your own future things. You were especially scared because over the years of your friendship you started developing feelings for Jiwoo and you didn't wanted to lose her.

That day you came over to Jiwoo's house for a sleepover that you didn't had in a while. Everything was the same as it always was except a new desk she bought after you both accidentally destroyed her last one. You smiled at the memory "Y/N I already went to the store for snacks earlier, I hope I chose the good ones" Jiwoo said putting all the bags filled with snacks on her bed. You walked over and started looking through them with her. Your smile growing as you noticed that most of them were your favorites "I hope you also bought your favorites too Ji, I wouldn't want you to put me first like that all the time I come over" You chuckled and soon she joined.

"Don't worry, I bought my favorites too but you know that I wouldn't mind just buying all of your favorites. I'm happy when you're happy" She smiled at you and you blushed at the sincerity in her voice, she was always so genuine in her care for you, it always melted your heart. Jiwoo was indeed the best thing that could ever happen to you, you were lucky.

"What are we watching tonight?" You asked as you layed down on her chest, her arms wrapped around you automatically as she search for a movie on the laptop on your lap. You played with the hem of her shirt as you watched her looking through all the movies Netflix had to offer that none of you watched yet. When you found it you both spend the next 2 and half hours just watching, laughing and eating snacks until one particular scene came up. It was a kissing scene between the main characters.

For some reason you got a bit flustered as your mind started racing with different thoughts about Jiwoo. The image of her kissing you appeared in your mind and it was over for you. You lost all your focus on the movie and unfortunately Jiwoo noticed that and questioned you about it "Are you alright N/N?" You got even more flustered and feared that she will notice but fortunately she didn't "Y-Yeah I'm fine... I just crave these jellies" You quickly said before reaching out for your favorite jellies. Jiwoo decided to not question that.

Later that night you found yourself cuddled to Jiwoo in her bed, the lights were all turned off as a soft tune of your favorite song played. It was peaceful and quiet. At some point Jiwoo decided to observe you as you played with her fingers, something you did when you were relaxed "Y/N? Is there anything bothering you lately? You seemed kinda off for the past week" You looked down, letting go of her hand "It's just... the graduation is coming and I've been thinking. Do you think we manage to stay close as we both get busy with our own things?" You looked up at her to see Jiwoo listening to you intently.

She thought about it for a while "You're right, it's a valid worry... but I don't think we need to worry too much about it, I mean I'll never be too busy for you. Will you?" She asked as she held your hand "Of course not" You answered immediately and Jiwoo chuckled "See? Nothing's too worry about" She pulled you closer, hugging you tightly as you rested your head on her chest. You listened to her heartbeat as you continued laying in silence, all your worries fading as her warmth enveloped you.

"I love you" She whispered as she looked down at you. You looked up at her in surprise before smiling "I love you too" She leaned in connecting your lips in a sweet kiss. You hummed against her lips, feeling like you were on a cloud nine. Her lips already becoming your new addiction.

She was right, no matter how busy you both get you will always make time for each other. The connection between you too was too strong to break you two.

#vex writes #r u next? x reader #r u next x reader #r u next? reactions #r u next reactions #son jiwoo x reader #son jiwoo

[unclewaynemunson]

Jeff is one of my favorite characters and I think we should start a post of all our favorite Jeff headcanons. He and Freak get left out in almost every Eddie-centric fic I read, with his "best friend" being either Gareth or Chrissy, and I'm tired of it. Jeff is wonderful. Here's my hc's:

- Jeff and Eddie have been best friends since middle school. They started CC and Hellfire together.

- they went to the Snowball together and rigged the bubble machine to spew bubbles during the slow dance songs. The dance had to end early and Jeff and Eddie never got caught

- Jeff's parents loves Eddie. They used to have sleepovers at each other's place almost every weekend.

- Jeff was the first person Eddie came out to. Jeff tried to be surprised and "that's great, man, thanks for telling me!" But Eddie saw right through that.

- Eddie is afraid of geese and spiders. Jeff thinks this is fucking hilarious.

- post-Vecna, Jeff is the one Eddie reconnects with first. Eddie tells him everything, despite the NDAs and Steve's warnings. Jeff believes him, because he knows there's wacky shit going on in Hawkins, and he's seen Eddie's wounds.

- they have that kind of friendship that nothing can break. Even if they don't see or talk to each other for years, because Life Happens and people lose touch, they'll always have part of themselves carved out for their best friend.

Ok, that's all I got for now, and sorry for the long ask! I just love Jeff so much and he (and Freak, too, because Freak gets ignored because of fatphobia) deserves just as much love and attention as Gareth gets.

What are your Jeff and Eddie headcanons?

I am loving this Jeff love and your headcanons, thank you so much for sending this to me!!! <3

I think with Unnamed Freak things are a bit different bc, yaknow, he doesn't have a name. For me at least that makes me hesitant to write about him so I don't wanna go as far as to say it's all bc he's fat (even though I'm not gonna deny that that probably also plays a part in how popular he is in this fandom urgh). Anyway, yes this fandom certainly does Jeff dirty. I think it's this gross combination of racism and people copying a lot from already existing stories, characterizations and headcanons without much critical thinking of their own (which baffles me, if you're creative enough to write a story please use that creativity for some originality ffs). Anyway, this is gonna turn into a rant again can you tell I'm still annoyed? so let's turn to something more positive now, like my headcanons for our beloved Jeff:

He was the first person in Hawkins (after Wayne obviously) that Eddie got close to. For Jeff it was kinda the same, being a black, nerdy boy in this town had been very isolating for him and Eddie was his first real friend.

Unnamed Freak made their duo into a trio a bit later. All the others in the group (including Gareth) were Eddie's "lost little sheepies" who he sought out to protect. This means that Jeff and Unnamed Freak are the only people who don't borderline worship Eddie but see him (and love him) for who he is including all his flaws. They're also the only ones not afraid to call him out on his bullshit.

Jeff's mom is really cool. Her name is Pauline and she's not like Jeff at all (she was a cheerleader in high school). Despite their differences they love each other a lot. (Jeff's mom is actually heavily featured in one of the fics I wrote so I got her all fleshed out lmao)

He has two little twin sisters. They're friends with Erica, one of them is one of her friends we meet in the mall in s3. He has this typical hate-love relationship with his sisters: they fight a lot, but at the end of the day, he would die for them.

HE'S BISEXUAL

While he can't wait to get out of Hawkins and to a place that'll be more accepting of him, he doesn't want to move too far away from his family.

He's the most loyal friend in the world, 100% a ride-or-die kinda guy

While he does love metal a lot, his guilty pleasure is Tina Turner

Tell me all your Jeff headcanons i wanna hear more about him!

#don't mind me rambling about stranger things #jeff stranger things #corroded coffin #stranger things

[nerdieforpedro]

The Long Road to Together

Tommy Miller x Original plus size female character (Velora)

Fanfiction 18+

Masterlist

Warnings: Angst, Fluff, drug addiction mention, pain management, anxiety, PTSD, mentions of death, possible dub con (maybe), body worship, Tommy Miller's dirty talk, fingering, oral sex (female receiving), P in V (practice safe sex everyone), pregnancy kink, domestic fluff, cheesy jokes

Summary: Velora has been apart of the Miller brothers' lives decades. She's particularly close to Tommy. They've shared countless memories with each other over the years and in a single night everything changes. If only they'd get out of their own way.

Notes: So, I put many subjects and themes I've wanted to write about in here. It should make sense, I had the wonderful @musings-of-a-rose beta it for me and as a fellow Tommy fan, I trust her. I did also add a subplot with Joel because, why not try one out? I really enjoyed this and for Tommy's character. I have a different take on him.

Word count: just under 16K (because Tommy's worth it!)

“You got anything for a bad back?” 

“Nothing that will actually take care of the pain. Best I can promise you is to dull it. You need to go see a specialist, Joel.”

“That sounds like it’s gonna take time I don’t have. You know I gotta…”

“Yeah, I know. Just let me know what appointments they have and I’ll see what my shifts are like old man. You can’t be folding over when Sarah’s just getting into high school. There will be boys there!” 

A slap was heard to Joel’s shoulder and he winced, letting out a curse as he hunched over further at his desk. The stress of running the business by himself was getting to him. Tommy had taken a sabbatical as he called it, the timing had been pretty poor. Thankfully, he had a woman who he considered a little sister to help him out. Her father had been friends with theirs and they always hung out together as children. In middle school, the family moved away for a time, but returned while the Miller brothers were in the middle of high school. Velora had just started high school and looked similar to how she did now, telling dumbass jokes, finding a reason to smack Joel and always being supportive. 

He organized the files that he would need for tomorrow and in particular, permits needed for a job the company would be starting on a ranch outside of Austin. Rebuilding a stable wasn’t too out of their depth, Joel just needed to research more on the permits required which he did, but damn if all the reading was making his head hurt even with his glasses on, add his back pain to that and he was miserable. He missed riding horses, but not so much he was willing to risk not being able to move for a few days. Velora had taken over administrative tasks that Tommy normally did as he was better at it and knew how to navigate the different offices they normally had to deal with the state and city, he was also much better at schmoozing suits and the like than his grumpy self. Velora helped out on her days off in between her shifts at the hospital. She sent Joel off for the evening and put away files that the elder Miller brother had taken out for review. 

“He’s got to learn to put this stuff back. Otherwise he’s never going to find anything.” Velora griped, she wore gray capri leggings because they were easy to move in and matched her white t-shirt. Usually she would dress a bit better for the office in case Joel brought any clients by, but he had been out most of the day, leaving her to get phone calls, further organize items and files. She was also trying to understand Tommy’s organization system which even though he had explained it over the phone twice, she still didn’t understand. “He’s been gone three weeks, like I get it but also I still don’t get what I’m looking at. It’s not even organized by color, number or alphabet, what the fuck is this?” Her brain hurt trying to work out the system. She thought Tommy had mentioned to her that it was by the date they took the client on, but there was no distinction between finished jobs and complete ones as those were mixed in and with different dates. “I feel like he could tell me five more times and I wouldn’t get it.” Shaking her head, she put the files where she thought they went near the front of the file cabinet and locked up the office, heading out to her car and driving home. Once in front of her small two bedroom, one and a half bath house, she sighed, happy to be home. She had a shift again tomorrow, but hopefully Joel would actually look for an appointment. Icy hot, tiger balm and heat packs could only do so much. Velora understood why Joel didn’t want to go to a pain clinic, he’d have to tell them about his past addiction issues with alcohol and it may affect his treatment plan, hell with some doctors, they just keep recommending tylenol and ibuprofen when that clearly hasn’t been working for him. He needed good pain management.

Kicking off her shoes, Velora flopped back on the couch and started at the ceiling. It was 8:30 at night. Too early to go to bed and too late to start any shows or movies.

“Where are you Tommy Miller?”

Elsewhere in the world…

The grass was crisp under his feet, the sun had just set not too long ago as he walked back down to the rock outcrop overlooking the rolls of green grass he had seen earlier that day. He couldn’t sleep again. The younger Miller brother had been worried about his brother Joel. He knew he didn’t deal too well with people even with Velora helping him. But he would text Joel later and maybe give Velora a call. There was more he needed to discuss with her than anyone else.

It had been seven years. They seemed to have passed by in a blink of an eye. Tommy recalled first joining the US Army, doing his patriotic duty and a way to use up the excess aggression he had from not really knowing where he was going next in life. At first it was fine, basic training then he was assigned to a platoon where he got to know other soldiers. It was when he was assigned to the 1st Armored Division that his optimism started to wear thin. His core group consisted of himself and five other members; they actually made it through Operation desert storm. What he saw there, the things he did, he never spoke about them except with the group and one person removed from the war. But the bodies, the smells, the tastes,, the sounds all of it overloaded everyone. Each man had their own way of dealing with it. One of the group was dishonorably discharged for using heroin he found overseas, but the Army never said what they did with the rest of it after removing it from belongings. He wasn’t the only one they confiscated it from, anyone who had it was dishonorably discharged but it was never made public what happened with the drugs. It was also never mentioned in great detail what they did to the country of Iraq. No one ever mentioned completely decimating and crippling a country, nearly burning it down to its foundation only for the same people who supplied the Army’s weapons and gear to switch profit off of a land that they aided in destroying. 

Tommy left the army after seven years of service, thankfully his brother allowed him in the construction company to work so he wouldn’t go completely insane. But his ‘Ironsides’ members weren’t so lucky. One died from an opioid overdose, another from drunk driving and two from suicide by gunshot. None of the funerals were covered fully by the VA, each family only received $1500 toward burial costs, but had full honors with all the pomp and circumstance. The two cousins in their group asked to have their ashes spread to their home which was Ireland, the only reason the veteran came to this place. It was beautiful though he had to admit. He may want to bring Joel and Sarah here, his brother would complain the entire time but he may get a grin out of it and Sarah would enjoy exploring the land. The younger Miller wondered if he should ask Velora to come too, she wasn’t one for the cold, but may like the greenery too. Watching his oldest friend muddle around the hilly terrain would be fun, he could steady her, show her the lakes and watch the sunset with her. Tommy felt he may not have cried as much if his Sweet Pea was here, she could crack a joke or just let him hold her, rock him  slowly as his head was on her shoulder. 

With two urns, one under each arm, Tommy carefully set one down and opened one, pouring the ashes out to scatter across the cool breeze that was blowing. He did the same with the second urn, waiting until another wind could carry the ashes away. Tommy had taken more time then he told Joel and Velora he would be gone, he didn’t mean to stay longer. It was just easier, he could work though his emotions more and not risk breaking down in front of them, though that had failed with Velora the night he told her he was going to spread that ashes per his brothers-in-arms wishes. 

Four weeks ago…

He had mentioned it like he was going to the store. She had asked him to explain and he didn’t. Tommy wasn’t going to until she pulled him into a hug. He didn’t realize it at the time, but tears had been running down his face. He remembered the warmth of her embrace and settled into the couch with her, almost laying on top of her to cuddle. She just ran her fingers through his hair, they didn’t say anything to each other, he tried to make as little noise as possible while sobbing. Her red shirt she had been wearing was soaked with his tears. Velora never mentioned his crying when he followed her to the bedroom and demanded to sleep next to her, promising to only hold her hand. She had smiled and told him it was fine if he needed more from her, to take what he needed. No matter if it had been money, time, food or those three DVDs he never returned, his old friend never complained. Velora would just smile and tell him it was okay. Even when Joel would get pissed with Tommy about the direction the company was going in to missing a game or two of Sarah’s (he really tried not to but sometimes the suits at the city were really long winded and insisted on drinks),  Velora would be there in his stead for his niece and tell him play by play as much as she could of the game when she would stop by in the evening. The veteran recalled that the night had been humid, despite the fan running, moisture stuck to their skin. Velora was in her simple thin nightgown and Tommy just wore his boxer-briefs to bed. 

Tommy may have took that a few steps too far. 

The night began with him holding her hand, that was fine for a time but, then he took her into his arms from behind, drawn to her soft curves that accommodated his taut muscles. The delicate oche tone of her skin glowed within the moonlight. It was when he kissed the back of her neck and his hand went to her breasts that she pulled away from his touch slightly,

“Tommy…don’t play around and go to sleep.” He heard her say, he couldn’t make out the inflection of her voice. His friend’s hips wiggled toward him, his free hand grabbed her hip, pulling it toward him.

“I’m not Sweet Pea. I need to touch you more, just let me, just for tonight.” A growl emerged from his chest, his teeth grazed her shoulder before nipping her lightly. Her gasps encouraged him further, she never said it, but a small smile always came to her lips when Tommy called her that. 

“Alright, but just…ah..” Velora wasn’t given a chance to finish her sentence. Her breast was plopped out of her nightgown as his hips grinded into hers. Tommy kept calling her his sweet pea in her ear and she reached a hand back to try and reach his cock, to feel it. “J-Just put a condom on and stick it in…” An order that Tommy wasn’t willing to follow right now, instead he pulled away from her, quickly slipped his boxers off and turned Vel on her back. “W-What are you doing? Why didn’t you just-” The nightgown she had on was over her head, the veteran hovered over her, he knew she would be angry but he would not fuck her the first time. Maybe the second time but not the first. Tommy had already planned other times he may bend her over. He wanted to make love to her in this moment, subsequent encounters could be messy and quick but the younger Miller brother wanted to savor her body as Velora was now, only for him..

“You told me to take what I needed.” His mouth took her erect nipple and large chocolate areola into his mouth, hearing her scream the first time convinced him that this was right. Her hands ran through his then medium length raven hair, tugging on it, his chest pressed into her stomach, sinking in it. The sensation had him grunt onto her nipple, rolling it with his tongue, his legs wrapped around her calf, his length dragging against her leg. Her body continued to writhe under his, his face soon in between her breasts nuzzling the sensitive skin between. Velora was looking down at him, panting, surprise on her face. She hadn’t expected him to fully undress her nor to try to explore her. “Velora,” Tommy paused and peered up at her, “I need all of you, so I’m going to take it all. Are you alright with that Sweet Pea?” He asked, moving upward and settling himself between her wide thighs. He wasn’t going to enter her yet. However, though she did spread her legs for him, Tommy closed her thighs around his waist so he could feel their soft embrace. 

“Yes, I told you to take what you need. I didn’t quite expect this way though.” Her digits danced along his bellybutton, then his stomach, not as firm as his military days, but still tight enough to display an ab or two. The pads of her fingers circle his nipples, small but at attention, all for her right now. “You don’t have to be gentle either Tommy. I’m here with you, for you. Just let go.”

“Sweet Pea, I want to be careful with you. You deserve that, always you hear?” Descending, he felt her heartbeat against her chest with his, glad to know he wasn’t the only one feeling like it might burst. “Give me your love Vel.” Lips crashed together, he bit her bottom lip, drawing a sliver of blood. He just said he’d be gentle but it was overwhelming, one of his hands took the back of her head and forced it forward, deepening the kiss, Vel mewled into his mouth and pressed her feet into the mattress to help move her hips forward, she felt the throbbing of Tommy’s cock just above her folds, a hand came between her and the velvet skin. Two fingers parted her lower lips and a squeal was heard when he released her head and it fell on the pillow. “Not yet Vel, gonna eat that dripping pussy.” He meant to use sweet words with her, that’s what she should be hearing, his Sweet Pea. Sliding back down, Tommy hoisted her thighs on his shoulders, giving each a small peck and pulling them so she could only see his hair for a small part of his forehead. When he spoke directly into her mound, he heard her say it,

“Fuck Tommy, make me cum. Sop my pussy up with your mouth!”

The younger Miller brother smacked his lips. “I’m going to have to see how dirty I can get you to talk Sweet Pea.” His nose ran up her slit, taking in her strong scent, he caressed her opening with his plush lips before slipping his tongue inside, rotating his the tip of his oral muscle was causing her cunt to quelch already, he then inserted it centimeter by centimeter , reveling in her screaming his name. His length continued to throb but his goal was to have her climax before entering her. The waves of contractions inside of her canal was constricting his tongue, he longed to have his cock inside of her, to have her continue to cry out his name while he could watch her face unravel. The pressure on the sides of his head increased as her large thighs pressed together in an effort to keep him right where he was, not that Tommy had plans to be anywhere else. His nose tickled her clit and provided a particularly strong clamp down from her. So he set his elbows against the mattress and forced his face against her mound, holding his breath as he used his nose and mouth to make her climax. With alternating curses, calling on the Lord and Tommy’s name, Velora reached her peak, the soldier was able to at least draw his face back a little before suckling on her clit, overloading her body, making it jerk. Tommy managed to inhale deeply, satisfied that his face was soaked with her scent and nectar. He ran two fingers through her cunt and brought them to her mouth. “Suck on them with that loud filthy mouth on yours. Turns out I needed this side of you love.” 

Her warm tongue quietly took her own juices from Tommy’s fingers, after they were clean, he got up from the bed and rummaged through his jacket and found a condom. He looked up at Velora who was turned on her side toward him, the easy shine of their affection for one another draped her body. Her curves and stretch marks on full display, ‘she’s mine’ he decided. ‘No one else’s, I’ll make damn sure of it.’ He crouched down next to the bed, meeting her at eye level, “Velora, you’re sure you’re alright with this next part?” He needed to know. They were friends first and foremost and he respected her boundaries, except tonight of course, but he wanted to make sure she was really okay with it. The woman nodded and took his hand in hers. 

“Tommy Miller, get in this bed and make love to me. You said you wanted my love. I’m giving it to you. Come to me.” She got up on her knees and held onto the headboard to keep herself from tipping over back onto the bed. “I told you to let go. Just have me. Please.” It was the look she gave him, so permissive and delicate. His arms wrapped around her once more as he kissed her, not deeply just to touch his lips against hers. Their foreheads touched and he met his nose with hers. 

“Velora, you’re a hellova woman.” Tommy smirked and laid her back, moving her toward the middle of the bed. He was in between her thighs once again as she opened herself before him. As he rolled the condom on his length, he marveled at her body; wide, tender, subdued and hushed for him, she bit down on her lip to quiet herself, presumably because he had mentioned volume and word choice. Tommy didn’t want her to quiet down now. He wanted her to go hoarse from calling his name, from what he did to her. Leaning forward, he pressed his tip into her folds, releasing himself and using both hands to cup her face, his thick fingers massaging her the top of her jaw, just under her ears, “Look at me Sweet Pea. Open your mouth, I want you to use those lungs.” A short nod from her was all it took, his hips eased forward and back easily for the first few pumps, only going in half way, keeping his eyes locked on hers as she cried out, 

“Oh…oh..fuck Tommy, you’re…spreading…me…” Velora whimpered, her thighs began to close again and his hands had to move to keep them open. His rhythm picked up as his elbows made contact with her knees pulling her legs back toward her chest and curling her body for a deeper angle, the pace picked up as he was now diving his cock fully into her flush with her mound and pulling back until only the head of length was inside of her. It was difficult, he could barely speak because her cunt kept sucking back in deeper, the slapping of their skin filled the room. Tommy raised one of her legs and turned his head to bite her calf, then licking it after, tracing his tongue over his teeth marks.

“This pussy is mine Sweet Pea, you won’t fit anyone else Vel. Goddamn you tight as a vice woman…” He murmured into her leg, pounding into her, he felt the pulse of his hardness growing closer to completion. Velora reached for Tommy, her arms stretched outward toward him, he dropped her legs and grabbed her love handles, continuing to roll his hips into hers. His forearms were scratched by her nails, leaving red marks on his olive skin. “Velora, you hear me? This cunt is mine only mine. Say it Sweet Pea.” A command with her pet name. It pushed her over the edge, 

“Shit yes, yes yes yes Tommy, my pussy’s just for you. Tommy Ahh!” Her neck flicked back as her walls closed around his heat, he was able to push into her six or seven more times before he released inside of her. The veteran didn’t pull out yet, dropping himself slowly on top of her plush form and ran his nose over her lips that were slightly parted, there was droop at the corner of her mouth, her eyes had tears dotting them, his large hand cupped her cheek against and tipped her face forward so her neck was no longer bent. “T-Tommy…T-Tommy that was…I…” Her quiet words expressed what he couldn’t. 

What has he done with his best friend? They’ve crossed a major line. He was worried that when they came out of this, she wouldn’t speak of it, like other insecurities and issues that he had told her about over the years. She never shied away from listening to his thoughts, however intrusive and depressive. But he didn’t want to be this vulnerable with anyone else. Even with other women he dated, there was always a barrier that he put up as far as feelings. They always told him he hid behind his humor and sarcasm. Tommy knew he did, but the one person he was always comfortable with was Velora, was he the same for her? He realized he had never asked, not that she didn’t share her own issues with him, but she didn’t talk about men she dated with him so much. Not that he encouraged it, he never wanted to hear about her dating life, no one would be good enough for his Sweet Pea, was he even good enough for her?

“Valora, rest. I’ll be right back.” A peck from his lips to hers before he slid out of her and got out of the bed. He went to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. Looking in the trash can, he scoffed at the loss, ‘should be inside of..’ before he could finish the thought, he cursed himself. Tommy knew he needed to stop, they hadn’t even had a conversation about what they just did, he was thinking about putting his seed inside of her?! “Fuck, I’m insane…” Shaking his head, he grabbed a washcloth out of her bathroom and returned to the bed, Vel had rolled on her side and was attempting to sit at the side of the bed, “Let me clean you up first, take it easy.” he brushed the back of his hand on the copper toned flesh of her hip. He tapped the washcloth on her thigh as she raised her leg and he held it for her, wiping front to back before tossing it on the dresser, knocking over a lotion bottle or two.

“Tommy, why would you throw it?” She asked, chuckling, ‘thank God, she still laughs. That’s good.’ His eyes went from her face to her slit, despite wiping it down it was still glistening, he licked his lips before setting her leg back down and letting her pull on his shoulder to sit up next to him at the bedside. Velora looked forward for a few minutes before speaking again. 

“Did you take all you needed lucky beetle?” She kept turned away from him. “Thanks for cleaning me up Tommy. We should head to…” his hand ran up her spine.

“We’re not doing anything until we talk about this. Vel, I…I want to..” She kissed his cheek and told him words that devastated him.

“This should be between us like always. I won’t ask you for anymore. We’re just- just friends. I hope I was able to help you some. We don’t have to talk about it.” The younger Miller brother remained silent as she wobbled to the bathroom to relieve herself, she closed the door. In his disappointment, he quickly threw his clothes on and dressed, leaving her home and hopping into his truck. A deep wail came from Tommy before he started the engine and drove home, he laid awake and slept through his alarm the following day. Within the week he was off to Ireland to distribute the ashes, he said he would be gone for a week, week and a half tops. He was gone for about three weeks.

Velora’s tears streaked her face in her bathroom. She should have told him that yes, she wanted her cunt to be just his. For him to only be with her and no one else, but she couldn’t. She knew how Tommy gets when he’s sad or frustrated by something he can’t control. That’s when he’d normally find a woman to fuck. She’d used it to her advantage, granted she didn’t think it would happen, it never had before. The woman wore the same nightgown she had before, bland panties, they cuddled like they normally did. He liked to be the big spoon. She knew she shouldn’t have given in, but it was Tommy, her Tommy. She’s known him for more than half her life, tried to date other men but they flat out don’t compare or worse, they actually suck. She couldn’t tell him that it was the first time she had sex fully naked and the lights on, that he asked to see her face and took the time to prep her before entering her. God he used the mouth that she dreamed about on her, just thinking about it now…She should have let him finish. But she was afraid he’d say it first…that it should be another thing between friends. The way she heard him hastily dress and run out of her house told her, she had done to him what men had done to her in the past: dismissed his feelings.

In the time he was gone Sweet Pea tried to go on dates, but she couldn’t stand the touch of another man, even from a side hug she flinched. Whoever said the best way to get over a man is by getting under a new one was wrong. She can’t even be near a new one.

Two days before arriving home…

Joel had spoken to Tommy two days before the latter’s flight home, asking what the hell he did to make V go on so many dates. Tommy was curious how his brother knew the information given that he didn’t think they spoke about subjects like that. Joel said that he heard it from Tess, Joel’s off and on again, whatever she was. That was an entire bag of worms he wasn’t getting into. At least his relationship with Velora wasn’t like that…but it could be. They started out as friends and now those two assholes can’t be in the same room without eye-fucking each other or cursing up a storm. Tommy explained that they had a miscommunication when he last spoke to her and that’s why they were unusually curt with each other on the phone. Joel gave it some thought, sure he was closer to forty-five than forty, but nah, Tommy wouldn’t have right? Not with…

“Tommy you didn’t sleep with V did you? Tell me you didn’t.” Tommy could hear Joel’s head droop. Damn him and using the same disappointing voice he uses when Sarah talks a bit too much trash at soccer and makes one of the girls on the other teams cry. 

“We sleep over each other’s homes fairly often after we hang out. I told you, it’s just..”

“Goddammit Tommy! You can’t do that shit, especially not to her. You know you can’t cut her out of your life like you do other women. I told you this shit would come back to bite you in your ass like a snake in a hole.” His older brother's condemnation of his actions past and present made Tommy suck his teeth.

“This from the guy who keeps holding on to a woman who only uses him for a few good times and disappears for months at a time. Fuck, she’s one who told me we’re not going to talk about it. Still be friends. What the hell else was I supposed to do? I took some extra time, what’s wrong with that?”

“The difference is I know what my relationship with Tess is, you asshole. You slept with a woman who’s been there for you through all your shit. I know you made it about you. It wasn’t about her at all, was it?”

Silence…his brother had him there. At the time, it hadn’t been about her, he even used the fact that she said he could use her however he wanted to do exactly that. Tommy exhaled.

“Then what the hell am I supposed to do now? I’ve already blown everything to shit. She’s doing the same thing I would, getting out there and meeting some guys. Why’d you have to tell me you asshole? I fuckin’ hate it…she’s out with some bastard who won’t even….”

“Eh, I don’t need details of what ya’ll did. And it’s not really going that well. She told Tess that she freaks out when the guys try to touch her, even holding her hand. It’s all for show, guess trying to prove something to herself. Both of ya are a damn pair.” Joel chuckled on the line, the first time during their conversation. Tommy followed suit and a low rumble of laughter. 

“We’re two people who make shitty ass decisions. Just, see if Tess can get her to hold off ‘till I come home. I know her, it’s only making things worse and she’s going to be in head about it. All of it.”

“Yeah, on that same token little brother, get your head out of your ass and talk to the woman. Velora deserves that much at least. You’ll have to get her to listen tho’. I don’t think she’ll be keen on ya right now.”

“Shut up and just pick me up at the airport in a few days. Bring Sarah, I miss my cute niece.”

“Don’t tell me to shut up and then mention my daughter. I shouldn’t bring her just to spite ya. But she wants to ses you too. Loves your stupid ass. I guess you’re a’right at times Tommy. Take care, I gotta go to bed.”

“Lucky you. You can sleep. I’m just awake for no damn reason. You aren’t the worst big brother. See you in a few days.” 

The brothers smiled as they ended their calls. Joel trotted upstairs and kissed Sarah goodnight as she was already in bed. She stirred slightly and a smile formed on her face at her father’s warmth. One of the few times Joel didn’t look like he was completely over everything was whenever he gazed upon his daughter, his only light. 

It was 3:15 am where Tommy was packing up most of clothes, he had brought a backpack and a duffle bag that was significantly lighter now that the two urns weren’t in it, plus he wouldn’t need to check his bags this time so he might get through their airport quicker and get home. He went out into the cold night air with his coat on, hands in his pockets and hair tied back. The puffs of hot hair leaving his nose made him chuckle, he thought of her again, hoping that she hadn’t had too many dates in his absence but some to make her feel better. He didn’t want them to have gone well of course, but if she has the dates that’s fine. Joel wasn’t wrong, he did need to speak to her when he got back, he just had no clue what to say. 

Sorry for fucking you? Sorry for telling you that I don’t want anyone else to see you like this? That I’m especially sorry for not doing this years ago when I first realized that my feelings for you went deeper than that of a friend and maybe sabotaged some of your dates, sent messages from your phone and comforted you when the guys of course stopped communicating with you. Thankfully I only did that a few times before you caught me and told me to just tell you if I thought a guy was trash. I brushed you off because I would tell you they were all trash, but I knew I was garbage too because I was still fucking around, so i couldn’t tell you that. I didn’t have the right. Actually, that might be why you said what you did that night, you knew I didn’t have the right to you. I used you once again and why should I feel like I’m entitled to more? Just because of how you said my name, how you seemed surprised when I wanted to see you and hold you, how good you felt in my arms, how happy I am when I’m in yours…I’ve really screwed the pooch on this one. 

The short walk and the cold air gave Tommy pause as he found himself at the same rocky outcrop that he had spread the ashes over. “Had I asked, you would have come with me. I should have just asked…I have to tell you sorry in person, Sweet Pea.” The stars were hanging in the sky, twinkling at the haunted man. He began slowly back to his cabin and was finally able to sleep, there was no one to hold him when he shed his tears that night.

Velora had tears of a different nature, she was able to finally kiss one of her dates, it was a fair kiss, definitely not like her one with Tommy. She compared him with everyone now that she had a taste of him. Her date suggested that they go back to his place to which she declined, there was no spark, no longing, no anticipation. The man was good looking, could put sentences together, paid for dinner, seemed nice, no real reason to not try him out except he wasn’t Tommy Miller. He didn’t have his dark hair, deep brown eyes, that goofy looking mustache that tickled her tummy, his cinnamon skin or velvet voice. This man was none of those things and it wasn’t his fault. It was hers for agreeing to this date. Vel’s friends were proud of her for getting out there and exploring her options, but she was going through the motions, no matter if it was work, helping out Joel and Sarah or just moping at home, it was all hollow. The man walked her to her car, to which she thanked him for the date and drove home. 

Once home, she hopped in the shower and wash the date away, scrubbing her inner thighs especially as he had tried to finger under the table, but seemed to have difficulty navigating her large thighs, she couldn’t tell if he just hadn’t been with a larger woman or was out of practice in general. Velora got out of the shower, dried off and brushed her teeth, using extra mouthwash, she didn’t want to taste that man at all. 

Sitting on the bed, she looked at herself in the mirror, wrapped in her towel. This was the room she was taken by Tommy or more apt, she offered herself to him. Happily. The circles under her eyes were darker and she chuckled, it’s not the first time she had cried over Tommy Miller, but it was usually because he had done something stupid and not the other way around. It was enough to keep that man in a place that would freeze a witch’s tit an extra week and a half. 

He may have told me that he wanted to be friends with benefits or maybe that he actually had feelings for me, but I didn’t let him talk. These men aren’t Tommy and it’s not their fault. I should have told him years ago but I didn’t want to lose him as a friend. Tommy, Joel and Sarah are family and I just couldn't…I still may lose them anyway. I shouldn’t have told Tess why I was crying and dating. She likely told Joel and…would he know? Is that why Tommy hasn’t come back yet? My head hurts. I feel like shit. Tommy’s the only one that looked at me like that, he touched me from head to toe and told me that I was only his. It was likely just dirty talk but still, it was nice to hear. Pfft, just nice? It was what I’ve always wanted to hear. I just didn’t want to be second anymore…Second to his grief, to his anger, pain and second to whoever the flavor of the month was. I’m tired of being second, I want to be first.

Vel laid across her bed and started at the ceiling, her tears were steady and she gave up trying to wipe them away. She woke up the next morning with a stuffy nose from not covering herself properly before sleeping. 

“Fuck, even my nose is tired of my shit…”

The day Tommy gets home…

Tommy arrived at the airport around seven in the evening, he was almost home. He had called Joel to pick him up, the uncle was excited to see his little niece as his brother said he would bring her. Normally he would call Vel but he couldn’t see her yet. Sarah and Joel greeted him warmly in the drop off area and helped him lay his bags in the truck. The brother chatted about how business had been and Sarah chimed in about soccer and school. The bright young teen did have something important to share.

“So Dad, we’re going to have pizza tonight right? Since Uncle Tommy’s back.”

“Yeah pumpkin I told you we would.” Joel sounded puzzled, unsure why his daughter was confirming plans they had already discussed. Tommy did not like the sound of this, it’s never good if Joel is surprised. He knew his brother stayed prepared. 

“I invited Aunt V to eat pizza with us, you got three pizzas right?” Tommy glared at Joel who kept his eyes on the road. His daughter may be in cahoots with Tess, which surprised him because he didn’t think Sarah liked the woman. He foresaw major issues going forward. 

“I ordered three because I thought it was going to be the four of us. You didn’t mention Vel.” The older Miller brother said slowly, he needed Tommy to know this was not his idea, and frankly he didn’t want the clusterfuck this was going to be, to be in his house.

“Well, Aunt V has been kinda down lately, hasn’t she Uncle Tommy?” Sarah leaned forward in her seat and patted Tommy's shoulder. He couldn’t lie to his only niece, but he also was not going to speak about his love life to a fourteen year old.

“I’ve been away Peanut so I wouldn’t know. Has she now? We should cheer her up.” Tommy bit his lips, and rocked forward, Joel knew those motions were, he was self-soothing. He was so pissed, but couldn’t say anything because he would sooner die then show Sarah anything other than her sweet uncle. Joel knew this was going to be a problem when they were alone. 

“Baby girl, you are so loved.” is all Joel managed to say before cutting on the radio.

Tess was at Joel’s house paying the pizza man and Velora was sitting on the couch. Tess was humming, this woman they all maybe saw three months total out of the year. It was weird, but Joel loved it so Vel figured she would just keep her trap shut. She shouldn’t speak about anyone’s relationship since she had mucked hers up with Tommy. Though a part of her wanted to look nice for him, so she ended up pinning her hair up, exposing her neck and wearing an olive green three-fourth sleeve shirt dress, she also may have left the top button open so she had a bit of cleavage showing but not too much. Sarah was going to be there after all. Vel also made sure to put on her favorite lotion from Bath & Body Works, ‘into the night.’ Maybe she was hoping for something to happen, at the very least, she wanted to be able to talk to him, likely not about the last time they saw each other but at least be civil.

The door opened and Sarah burst in, hugging Vel and snuggling into her, commenting on how good she smelled, Joel carried a bag of Tommy’s and hugged Tess, giving her a kiss on the cheek. That’s when Vel lost her breath, Tommy Miller strode through the doorway and set his backpack on the floor, nodding toward Tess. His eyes met Vel’s and he went to speak as she did , but nothing came from either of them. It looked like Sarah was going to say something but Joel suggested that they eat before the pizza gets cold. Everyone ate and listened to Tommy’s trip and embellished stories, Vel soaked up his laughter and smile, wondering how she would feel if he were to tell her he didn’t want to speak to her again, as he did other women. She was going through the motions again as Joel carted Sarah off to bed before long, she had fallen asleep across Velora’s lap. A place Tommy wanted to be. She looked beautiful, the earth tone dress looked gorgeous on her. It was then that he was surprised, Tess offered Vel a ride home. Apparently, a car ran a stop sign and rear ended her. She hadn’t been injured but her car was in the shop for repairs. Joel and Tess had been giving her rides from home to work. Tommy saw an opportunity. He had left his truck at Joel’s so he could drive home once he made it to their house after the airport. 

“I can drive you home Sweet Pea.” He stated quietly, setting a hand on her shoulder, he stepped in between Tess and where Vel was sitting. Tess was about to interject but Joel shook his head, signaling to let them be. Velora nodded. 

“Sure, thanks Tommy.” With that, she stood and thanked Tess for the offer giving her and Joel hugs before slipping her flip flops on and heading out with Tommy. He opened the truck door for her and she climbed in, he took special care to take a gander at her legs which the moonlight was reflecting off their well moisturized sheen. Tommy then got in the truck and started driving. 

“Tommy…I-I’m sor…”

“Leave it for when we get to your place. We need to sit and talk face to face.” The grave tone he used worried her, was this really happening? Was she going to lose her best friend over the best sex she had?

Once at her home, she opened the door and Tommy locked it after they got in, Velora set to opening a bottle of whiskey and pouring them both glasses with one cube of ice each. She sat next to Tommy on the couch and slowly sipped on her drink, clicking her nails on the glass. Tommy took a large swig and set his on the coffee table, taking hers and placing that on the table as well.

“Velora, I need you to listen to me. Don’t say anything yet.” 

“T-Tommy, just you’re not going to leave right? Just forget it. Just don’t tell me to go away.” His eyes widened, that wasn’t what he expected. He placed a hand on her thigh and squeezed to try and calm her, but that only made her jump. “I know I shouldn’t have, honestly you’d never taken me up on it before. I wanted to see how far you were going to go, I didn’t expect…not that i didn’t enjoy it, but if it means we can’t be friends then, I’ll forget about it.” Her speech was pressured and rapid, eyes wild and darting around, when she did focus on Tommy’s face, he saw that she was frightened. 

“Sweet Pea…Just give me a…” Tommy tried to cut her off to explain but she kept going.

“You can’t call me that anymore. You can’t say it like that. Sweet Pea, it makes me wet each time and I can’t, I can’t Tommy Miller! We’re friends, you can’t call me that, not after…” The tears that she had been avoiding since she saw him walk though Joel’s doorway broke through, it was Tommy’s turn to hold her and to console. It was then he realized he wasn’t the only one that had been having feelings over the years. How long had she been in love with him? How long had he been hurting her? How long had they been hurting each other?

“Velora I don’t want to be just your friend. I feel the same way. Honey please…” Tommy whispered as he brought her close, her tears were wetting his shirt, but it was fine by him. He just needed to make her understand that he didn’t want to share her. But he also thought maybe he shouldn’t undress her this time.

After some time, she stopped just embracing her, small hands wrapped around his back, pressing on his shoulder blades. They were quiet except for a few sniffles. Vel leaned back and kissed Tommy’s cheek, her face puffy from her waterworks,

“I’m sorry I didn't let you talk, well this time and especially the last time. I just wanted to avoid talking about it. I couldn’t handle you telling me it didn’t mean anything.”

“Velora. That’s not anything I would ever say to you. And it wasn’t what I was going to say the other night either. I planned to tell you that I don’t speak like that to anyone, even during sex and that I didn’t want you seeing anyone else. I don’t want to see anyone else. Vel…I…” Tommy was cut off by her lips, not forceful but clearly to quiet him again, he cupped her face and leaned into the kiss, letting out a small moan. He did let her go after he licked her bottom lip and she didn’t allow him in. Not that type of kiss he figured.

“Just a little at a time Lucky Beetle. Please a little at a time. You just told me something major, I can’t have you say that I love you right now too. I know you like to get things all out in the open but just let me sit in it a bit.” The explanation made sense to him, in his haste to share his feelings, he forgot that she needs things in pieces, slowly. It’s why he loved talking to her because she could help him see things part by part, but that was clearly different in a relationship aspect. Her hands raised to play with his hair, then ran along his cheeks and poked his mustache. “It’s not that I don’t want to hear it, but I just need time. It won’t be too much. I promise.” He nodded, accepting her proposal.

“Should we get you cleaned up? Your face looks a mess Sweet Pea. Er, not that…” The woman let out a bellowing laugh, it was a sound that he was elated to hear. He hadn’t heard it for weeks and the last time he did, was one of his highest and  lowest points.

“Yeah, I know I look a mess.” She stood up and patted his shoulder for him to follow her to the bedroom. “Tommy, I should tell you, or rather I don't know if you already heard from Joel, I have been on dates since you were away. A few…” A drawer opened and she got out a pair of boxer briefs and a t-shirt for him. Tommy had his own drawer at her house and she did at his, they had for years. “Like four dates,” She turned to face him, but kept her eyes to the ground, still she felt she needed to be honest. “None of them panned out. They weren’t you, I compared them all to you. Even the last one…” Her arms crossed over to stomach as she held her elbows, Tommy could fill in the gaps but he still needed to know.

“How far did you go with him?” He asked flatly. He readied himself for the potential answer that she may have slept with someone, it’s not like he hadn’t done the same thing in the past, though while he was away he didn’t think to. The vet hadn’t expected Velora to take a page from his playbook as far as fucking away feelings.

“Kissing and he tried to…well not that he could find what he was trying to finger. It’s not like mine’s in a different place than a smaller woman’s, you just have to go a little deeper.” Her eyes rolled as she complained and Tommy chuckled, it was entertaining  hearing her mock another man and gave him a sense of pride. 

“Sounds like you had a tough go of it hun.” He placed his hands on his hips, his mustache continued to dance above his upper lip as she continued to chuckle. Velora shook her head and threw the clothes at him, which he caught. “Thanks for telling me though, you're honest to a fault.”

“Shut up Miller. I’m going to shower first.” A small smirk greeted her lips as she grabbed her own nightshirt and panties before heading into the bathroom. Tommy set his clothes on the bed and went back into the living room to finish his whiskey. They felt more normal, like themselves. It was good, but he didn’t want it to stay like this. How else was it supposed to feel?

Velora took a quick shower and brushed her teeth, remembering the glass of whiskey she had and that mint likely wouldn’t taste good with it. She tossed her worn clothes in the hamper and found Tommy sitting on the couch, looking at his empty glass. “Did you want mine too? It doesn’t go well with colgate.” Tommy shook his head and downed her glass as well before heading into the bedroom and stripping, then into the shower. When he came back out, he put his clothes in a small pile in the corner of the room out of the way. The pair sat on the bed next to each other.

“So…”

“So…what do we do now?”

“We should sleep, talk more about things with fresh minds.”

“Did you want to go get breakfast tomorrow?”

“Sure, though I should probably check in with Joel to see if he needs help at the office.”

“It can wait until the next day, he’s actually doing better. Tess convinced him to go to a pain clinic.”

“Really? He left that part out when he was updating me. Old man with a sore back.”

Velora climbed up in the bed and slid under the covers, Tommy watched her and wondered if he could really sleep in the same bed as her without touching her. He should be able to, he has self-control. He followed suit and slipped under the covers as well, turning on his side away from her. If he faced her, he would feel tempted to touch her and after they had a positive conversation the last thing he needed to do was compromise that again.

Turned out it was not up to Tommy Miller whether things were going to happen or not.

Velora became the big spoon to Tommy’s little spoon and that was fine until the sun started to shine through the curtains of her bedroom window. Tommy rolled over on his back and Vel’s leg wrapped around his slim waist. That would be fine, if his hips hadn’t shifted up slightly and a familiar bulge touched her inner thigh. Exhaling, she opened her eyes to see if he was awake, he was not, his breathing still steady and his face in a neutral position. Her finger started to circle his dark nipple, she sank her body weight on top of his abdomen and rested her forehead on his chest, her soft digits inched along both sides of his clavicle. “Fucking delicious menance Tommy.” Vel hummed into his chest, sturdy hands took hold of her hips.

“Am I now? Right back at ya Sweet Pea. I thought I was having a damn good dream. Looks like wakin’ up is even better. Didn’t know you were such a vixen.” A low hum emerged from Tommy’s lips and he sat up, holding her over his hips. “Don’t move, you’re ridin’ me this mornin’ Sweet Pea.” His eyes had a soft glow to them, placing his lips over hers before she could protest, he knew what she’d say, to lay her back down because she was too heavy, but he didn’t want to, He wanted to watch as she bounced on top. Her hands moved from his chest to his shoulders, grasping tight, unsure how much pressure to put on him. Tommy, released her hips to slide his boxers down, unleashing his swollen member from the cloth confines. He then slid her thin wet panties aside to touch her puffy lower lips, a long moan was released from Vel as the mixture of cool air and warm callused fingers entering her, made her squirm. “Sweet Pea, you’re ready for me this morning aren’t ya? Fuck Vel, we wasted too much time. I could have had a ring on your finger and Sarah could have a cousin or two.” Her eyes shot open, did he just…? She pulled back, making her ass press against his thick cock, a gasp escaped from his mouth.

“Tommy, d-did you just…what?”

“I don’t say things I don’t mean Velora. You don’t want me to say three words fine. I know many a way to tell you the same damn thing woman.”

“Well you wanna try this morning?” Her suggestion made him kiss her neck, licking it as his fingers pumped inside of her slowly. “T-Tommy, give me your…”

“My what Sweet Pea? I’ll have to be careful where I call you Sweet Pea. I can’t have you gettin’ this wet at a cookout.” He smiled into her neck, before biting it. One of Vel’s hands grasped the back of his head, tugging it toward her neck.

“Fuck Tommy. Your cock. I want your cock. I’ll make a baby with you. Give it to me.” She yelped as his fingers started to move faster, her nectar dripping down his palm.

“Not yet, I have to show you who can find your pussy with these fingers.” His mouth left her neck and found her lips again, biting her lower lip as she moaned his name. He could watch her like this for the next hour, maybe hours. 

“Don’t be an ass about it Tommy.” Her hips were moving faster, her hands came back to his shoulders as she began moving up and down instead of in a circle.

“Look at you, quick study like always Sweet Pea. Be my angel and soak my fingers.” Tommy commanded, curing his head to nipple at the top of her breast. He felt her squeezing his fingers, then the flood of her slick down his wrist as he slowed down his fingers to match her body’s release and subsequent decrescendo. She sat panting on his lap, her eyes heavy as she met his dark brown orbs again. “Velora, you’re sure I can cum inside you? We still have a shit ton to talk about.” He saw her nod but needed her to speak to him so he didn’t move.

“Tommy, I’ve dreamt of you getting me pregnant and raising a family with you. We’ll work out the details later. It may not even happen this go around. We’ll have plenty of other times to practice. I love you Tommy Miller. I want to make a home with you and a family.” Velora kissed Tommy’s forehead and reached behind her ass, taking his hot member in her hand, teasing his head, “I too am not going to let anyone else have this cock if I have anything to say about it.”

Tommy wondered why he hadn’t seen it, how he could have been so blind, but that moment passed, “Did you have me not tell you I love you so you could say it first?” Vel chuckled as her small hand stroked his cock, “You’re my petty ass vixen angel and I love you. Take off that gown. We don’t fuck clothes in this house.” A beamng chuckle was shared between them as she removed her gown and tossed it on the floor and Tommy assisted her in lifting up to remove her panties, he then shimmied his boxers off and he sat her right back in his lap. “Ready Velora? I’ll ease you in slow.” 

Velora’s hand guided Tommy’s cock to her soaked folds, slipping inside of her easier than she thought, though she didn’t expect her hips to slam flush with his. She let out a loud whimper from the expansion inside of her, the pulsing heat, the grimace disappearing from his face once he was inside of her, she remained still to adjust and was unsure if she should move, it felt as if he was piercing her womb and stomach. It felt like they were finally in the right place and the right time with each other. But she wanted more, she would take from him until he had nothing left to offer her, He hadn’t said a word until she pulled on his shoulders and pressed her feet into the bed to move up, only making it where half of his cock was still inside of her. “Tommy, I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this too long, damn…did you get bigger while in Ireland?”

Tommy still didn’t answer, he was focusing on not shooting his load into her after she sat her full weight on him. Velora was able to take all of him in one stroke, a feat that hadn’t been performed by any other woman he had been with. Now with her moving, he was twitching even more and it felt as if the wrong move or loss of concentration would have him prematurely released. However, when she commented about his size, his eyes open to see the woman that he loved struggling to ride him, it was breathtakingly slow, the perfect pace to make him last longer. “Sweet Pea, I’m gonna be rough for a few, you’re doing the Lord’s work up there. Need to know how it feels to fill you to the brim with my seed Velora.” Bewildered, Vel’s mouth formed an ‘o’ as he began, taking ownership of her hips and forcing his upward into her, she truly started to spring off his member, leaving only his bulbous head inside of her before bringing her back down so his balls smacked her ass.

“Goddamit Tommy! I’m gonna break, Ah…Tom-Tommy..” Her voice cracked as she screamed, one hand dug into his shoulder, her nails drawing blood from his skin as her other hand cemented itself at the base of his skull. Her back was already arching, she was trying to stop her walls from sputtering, to draw this sensation out, him making her and her cunt cry for him. Miller’s grunts increased with his pace, his goal was to stuff her with his cum and he would succeed this morning. His mouth found her round shoulder, her light stretch marks broke though the rest of her brown skin, he started licking them, but felt his teeth start to dig into the soft flesh. “Ah..chew baby, Bite me Tommy..!” She continued to call his name, it was a ballad leading to their mutual end. Velora came first, her nails, raking across his back and head as her cunt attempted to milk his cock of its contents. Tommy was able to get in a few more pumps before he felt it, finally, thick ropes coated her walls as he moaned her name into her shoulder, tasting something metallic on his lips. They remained still, regaining air in their lungs, Tommy fell on his back with Vel on top of him, her breasts landing on either side of his head as her chest fell on his face.. He tilted his chin up and landed a string of kisses in between and on the tops of her breasts. She hummed as she stroked his hair, feeling him soften and start to slip out of her stretched pussy. Thankfully, only halfway.

“Velora, you alright honey? Didn’t break I see. You’re too strong of a woman for that.” His familiar glow returned to his face as she looked down at him and nodded. 

“I’m better than I thought I would be. You might be the death of me yet Tommy. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to just relax again.” Her bubbly sounds had Tommy trace his hands along her love handles and back. 

“If anything, I’ll go first. You started it this morning, remember?” He reminded her as she raised up off his flaccid cock and plopped beside him and he pulled the covers over the both of them. His hands returned to her waist as she nuzzled in the crook of his neck. “We’ll have to check our injuries later, let’s get some sleep. I love you Velora.”

“I love you too Tommy.” The two found sleep in each other's arms for the time being.

The next morning…

A series of loud knocks was at Velora’s front door.

Sarah had been adamant about seeing her uncle Tommy. Joel and Tess tried to assure her that he’s fine, he’s resting up from his long flight, which might be true though Joel doubted it. The fact remind that he did leave his bags at his place from when he drove Velora home last night. Sarah was worried that Tommy may not be happy with Aunt V going out on dates and he could have argued with her and might be moping around his house. It was plausible and Tess found it convenient to need to drive into town for a meeting or two, which she did not have to do before this conversation started.

“You shoulda never told a child about grown folks business.. Tess.”

“Sarah’s a teen, not an idiot. She knows things have been weird with them. Plus she overheard Vel and I talking, I didn’t tell her anything.”

“And now you have to go? After you start some shit?”

“They were meetings I thought were pushed back and now the parties want to meet. It’s annoying and horrible timing but -”

“Seems like good timing for you.”

“Joel, don’t start that shit again. You always do this get mad at me and then-”

“And then you leave and stay gone, not talking to me for weeks or months at a time. Would it kill you to be consistent Tess? Lord knows I am.”

Tess held up her hands, done with the conversation for now. She headed for the door. “Joel, I’ll be back later tonight. Take that time to calm down so we can talk like two adults.”

Joel crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling. He felt small arms wrap around him. “Dad, why don’t you just talk to her instead of picking a fight?” The older Miller brother kissed his daughter’s forehead and smiled. 

“Your old man’s stubborn as a mule baby girl. I gotta be right, even if it kills me.”

“We’re going to take uncle Tommy’s stuff by his house right? I want to show him my new trophy. I fell asleep before I could show him last night. Joel couldn’t say no even though he was fairly certain his brother wouldn’t be home. Gathering Tommy’s junk, he threw it in his truck and drove over to the house. His brother’s truck was absent from the driveway so since he had a key he dropped off the bags inside. Sarah still insisted on seeing him so he drove to Velora’s where now he was knocking on the door. 

When there was no answer, he turned to his daughter who shocked him once again,

“You think they’re going to be friends with benefits or actually date? But they know each other pretty well so maybe not for long. I’m going to be a bridesmaid or the maid of honor.”

“Sarah honey, that’s putting the cart before the horse baby girl.”

“Dad. I’m fourteen. I know these things.”

“Where did my sweet girl go? I don’t want you to know these things.”

Tommy climbed out of bed first, he heard chatter outside the door so he figured he had some time. He relieved himself in the bathroom and grabbed a warm rag for Vel, cleaning between her legs. He couldn’t help but use two fingers to push some of his cum that had leaked out back in, that made her flinch and wake up. “Good morning Sweet Pea, better late than never. Fell asleep before I could clean ya. Someone’s at the door. Goin’ to tell them to kick rocks.” She nodded and rolled over toward the nightstand to check the time, two in the afternoon? It was pretty late.

Tommy popped his jeans on and didn’t worry about boxers. The cold floor felt good under his bare feet as he walked to the door, now on the other side, he heard two voices that he didn’t want to see right this minute. “Welp, it was going to happen sooner or later.” He unlocked the door and swing it open, 

“Afternoon brother, little Peanut.” Joel noted Tommy’s messy hair that was sticking all over the place and that he seemed to have some bruises on his abdomen. Dammit, really? My daughter has to see you like this…

“Hey little brother. We took your crap to your house. You good? Your hair is a little…” Joel studdered, first Tess and now Tommy, why were the adults he knew so damn bothersome and exposing his sweet daughter to things she shouldn’t know until she’s his age, scratch that, he needs to be cold in the ground before Sarah even thinks about, such things.

“Uncle Tommy, is Aunt V alright? If you look like that, what does she look like? Did you put a hurt on her?” The youngest Miller asked with a head tilt. Both men remained silent. Joel was the one now with his arms crossed and rocking between his heels and the balls of his feet. 

“She’s taking a bit of a nap right now, Peanut. I can stop by the house later-” 

“I'm alright, You should maybe go get freshened up though Tommy.” Velora walked up behind Tommy in a loose gray t-shirt and black leggings and tugged on the waist of his jeans to signal he should head back inside. Vel stood in the doorway and gave a stern look to Sarah before bursting into laughter. “You’re a firecracker young lady. You’re going to give both your father and uncle heart attacks. Please let your father hold onto his dream that you’re still his baby girl.”

Sarah stepped forward and gave her aunt a hug, patting her back and niggling into her. She whispered, “Aunt V, you look a lot happier. Both Dad and Uncle Tommy can be kinda dumb so don’t be too mad at him.” Vel chuckled and patted the teen’s head,

“I won’t. I promise. All adults are dumb at times, Peanut. It’s our claim to fame. I love you, you little scamp.” She kissed her forehead and let her go, Joel nodded and he headed back to the truck and left with Sarah. Asking her questions about what she knew about ‘putting a hurt on someone’ and where she had heard it. He didn’t really want to know, he just needed to identify whose knees he needed to break for telling his daughter this information.

Tommy was in the shower, using Velora’s green tea and jasmine body wash. It smelled nice on her, he wasn’t much for smelling like a flower, but he did need to be clean. He was lathering his chest when his Sweet Pea entered the shower naked and put her hand over his, helping him to lather himself. He chuckled at her eagerness to touch him, he was planning on initiating later but he wasn’t opposed to having a bit of slippery fun. He reached beyond the shower curtain and grabbed a second washcloth, the basket they had been neatly folded in fell over, but that could be tidied later. Tommy was quick to wet it and turned around, nearly falling back against the shower wall at Vel’s hair in her hot pink shower cap. Her lips pinched together as she pushed slightly on his chest to signal she was not amused. 

“Sweet Pea, you can’t tell me that’s not funny though. It had to be that neon, bright ass pink?” He cackled in between her soft hits with the soapy washcloth.

“Dammit Tommy, you know I can’t get my hair wet unless I plan to wash it and do that whole process. Stop laughing..ha, ha.” The woman started giggling along with him, the pair of them laughing until they wheezed. 

Tommy took his washcloth and ran it over Velora’s shoulders and took special care under her arms. He rung the washcloth out over her breasts and added more of the body wash to make the lather thicker before circling around each breast, carefully lifting them from their lowered position. Velora continued to drag her washcloth across his chest, then around to his back until she lowered it just before reaching his butt. She then brought it back to the front and wiped up and down on his abdomen eliciting a few more chuckles from the mustached man. Tommy started in the middle of her stomach and branched out with larger strokes before starting on her back. He then paused,

“So how do you want to take care of below the waist?” 

“I think we should each do our own, I don’t trust you not to start fingering me and I don’t want soap in my pussy.” 

“You know me so well Sweet Pea.” He answered with a smirk and made sure to clean his cock and balls well and ended with his ass as Vel did the same. They rinsed off and Vel stepped out of the shower first to set a few towels on the floor to soak up the water she was dripping and to grab two towels, one for each of them. After drying off, Vel put on the same t-shirt and black capris she had on before, they had been fresh out of the drawer so she didn’t mind putting the back on. Tommy slipped on a pair of gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt from his drawer in Velora’s bedroom. Tommy headed to the kitchen to start some coffee and make some brunch. He found eggs, onions, peppers, cheese and toasted some bread with some apple butter. Velora was finishing up the bathroom when she smelled his cooking, her mother told her not to trust a man who can cook when she was younger, but Vel found it to be one of the many sexy qualities Tommy had, among others that she could put her hands on now.

She walked out to her small kitchen and got some plates and glasses down to get the table. It could fit four people comfortably though it was on the smaller side, with just the two of them, it was just the right size. Tommy dished up the food, he made three pieces of toast for each of them, after he set the frying pan in the sink and ran some water in it, they sat down to eat, in silence for the first few bites. 

“So…should we talk about things or…?”

“I mean we can. I guess we should start with whose house we’re gonna live in. Yours is on the smaller side Vel. makes sense since it’s just you living here, but…”

“No I mean, about before. We moved things pretty fast and you never told me about how your trip went with, well what you were going to do, though we weren’t really speaking at the time.” Velora moved a piece of her omelet around on her plate as she bit into her toast.

Sitting back in his chair, Tommy crossed his arms and sighed, “Do we really need to talk about it? I went, took care of my guys’ ashes and came back. Yeah I was gone longer, but I needed time to think. I couldn’t do that…”

“While you were here. While you may have to face me, is that it?” She asked, looking up from her plate. He rolled his eyes and scoffed.

“What about you? While I was gone, you’re out here setting up dates left and right. I know that was your one friend who doesn't think I’m shit who told you to do that and you did it! I had to hear it from Joel of all people. That was weird as shit.” he shook his head, recalling the conversation, it had been unnerving. 

Velora took a deep breath, “I told you about it when you came back and we finally talked before and we…I was honest about it. I didn’t need to hide, I came to fucking Joel’s house with all that damn pizza and listening to tess talking about meetings and travel! I didn’t want to go, seeing you…it, I was happy to know that you were okay, but I felt guilty and hurt Tommy.” Her eyes never parted from his, the intensity of them caused him to look away, but the veteran was drawn right back.

“I know. I was in shock when Sarah mentioned on the drive home that you were going to be there. I honestly didn’t think you would want to see me, given how I reacted when you said what you said after we made love. You can say it, you know Velora. We’ve made love twice now.” Tommy grinned, trying to lighten things up a bit, but to no avail.

“I know I told you that I needed time.” Velora paused to try and figure out her phrasing. Tommy titled his head, trying to anticipate what she may say, he hoped it wasn’t that they should see how things go. He was serious about moving their relationship forward. “I’d rather we talked about things and made some future plans. We skipped ahead on the babymaking front. I didn’t think I’d…well I knew I wanted to but…” Her cheeks were becoming hot once again, having a child with her best friend and crush Tommy Miller had been a fantasy. Now she may have actually done it without dating, marriage, deciding where they’re going to live, none of that. It made her giddy that he wanted to see her pregnant and have a child with her, but what would come with it? Was she prepared for that?

“Velora, well I won’t say relax because we’re needing to make some major decisions.” Tommy rose from his chair and stood behind Vel, placing one hand on each shoulder and kissed her temple. She took a few sips of water for her throat that was painfully dry now.  “One step at a time honey. It’s alright we don’t know right now. We just started this together. Plus we gotta move you into my house, this kitchen’s too damn small and I got room in my master bath to expand the shower.” Vel coughed on the water, setting an elbow on the table before cradling her forehead in it. 

“Lord above you really are trying to kill me Miller.” Their expressions of joy echoed through the small kitchen as they continued their meal and bikered about whose house should be sold, which mattress should be in the master bedroom and who has the better office.

Six months later…

Velora plops another rose near the mailbox. She already had brought three over from the back of Tommy’s truck. She had borrowed it to drive to the florist to pick up her order that she had placed last week. Set on adding more color to the front yard, she had added yellow tulips near the large front window that was off of the living room. Red was what she wanted on the corner around the mailbox. She took to gardening well, finding it was calming in addition to decorating her new home. She and Tommy had closed on her small home last month and were able to make a sizable profit from it. Due to the time constraints though, she sold much of her furniture except what was left to stage the house. Tommy, Joel and Sarah had helped moved her items into Tommy’s larger house. Velora had fussed about it, but she knew it was the right choice, moving into his house. It was her first house though, she remembered when Tommy had helped her move in.

Standing up from her leaning over position, she felt light-headed and had to lean on the mailbox, thankfully it was sturdy and she was quickly able to regain her balance. Her head swam for a minute but then calmed. It was happening more frequently and it worried her. Tommy had asked her to cut back on her hours at work, go to part time at the hospital. She was stubborn and refused, stating that it happened from time to time, she was fine, it would pass. It’s been two months of symptoms off and on again. What really worried her was her tender breasts and back pain. They didn’t seem connected and both had been happening since she hit puberty decades ago. She didn’t mention it to Tommy though, didn't want to worry him. Heading back inside the house, she called and made a doctor’s appointment, relenting that she may need to have things checked out, though whenever she had scans before they were always benign and she was advised to lose weight. “They’ll just tell me the same damn thing.”

Tommy was thriving, sure he had way too many pillows on his couch now, but he was able to convince Sweet Pea to keep some on the bed and in the guest bedrooms, at least break them up some. The little touches as far as plants, new colors of green, reds and yellows, nothing overbearing but more accents to his neutral home. In the pillows, but also in the towels, rugs, blankets for when they would watch movies on said couch and even a few shirts in his closet. He only wore those colors for her, no one else though. Tommy brought up the topic of marriage first saying that before a baby came, he wanted to have a ring on her finger and a certificate in his hand. Velora shook her head at him as usual and asked him how he planned to do that. She was washing dishes, wearing just one of her oversized t-shirts and panties. 

“Well, like this Sweet Pea. You thought you were gonna be stuck with me before. Now we’re going to make it official.”

“Miller, we moved in together three months ago, don’t you think it’s a little soon to-” His arms wrapped around her waist as he kissed her cheek.

“No it’s not. I told you we’d do one step at a time. This is the next step. We can make it big or small. Besides, I got this ring on sale.” He chuckled in her ear and reached in his back pocket, pulling out a small box. Vel dried her hands and turned around.

“Tommy I’m not taking some mood ring you got on…that’s a box. An actual box.”

“Yes. Wait, you thought I was gonna fake you out with a mood ring? What kind of man do you take me for?” Tommy exaggerated his fake outrage, crossing his hand over his chest and stumbling back. “You wound me…Vel how could you?” 

Velora shook head again, her face in her hands, not believing what she was seeing. The punk did get her a ring. She hadn’t asked for one, she honestly thought it would be next year before she got one, they hadn’t even made wedding plans yet. “You keep surprising me every day Tommy. I find you as annoying as much as I adore you.”

“I’ll take that as a yes honey. Put this on so I can see it on the pretty hand of yours.” He removed the gold ring from the box and slid it on her finger. He held her hand as he moved it around, it appeared to be a little loose. “I was sure I got the size right. Vel, did you lose some weight?” His eyes squinted at her hand, they didn’t look much different so he released her hand and grabbed her hips making her gasp.

“Tommy! I haven’t lost any weight. We just have to get it re-sized. I’m still going to wear it anyway until we do. It’s beautiful.” She admired it, a 6 mm band with 1 carat diamond in an oval setting. “Wait, how much was this?”

Tommy ignored the question, his hands were roaming her hips and love handles, she felt a little less, though she didn’t look it. He would know, the man felt her up daily, several times a day. “Sweet Pea, when’s your appointment? I’m going to come with you.” Vel kissed his cheek before placing her left hand on it.

“You don’t need to, I’m fine. They’re just going to tell me I need to rest or drink more water or lose weight like they always do. It’s why I usually just go for my physical yearly and not much else.” She explained. Tommy knew not to press her too hard on it, they were both stubborn so he would just worry instead. A distraction was in order they had gotten a new dining room table, Vel had called his old table “musty” for the mismatched driftwood it had been made of. The dark cherrywood suited the otherwise light room perfectly, drawing your attention to it. 

Tommy used his hands on his fiancé’s hips to guide her back toward the table, he reached and lifted her ass onto the table. “What’s gotten into you now? Don’t be picking me up like that. You’ll end up with a back like your brother.” He tugged on her panties pulling them down to her knees and then off. Squating, he used his forearms to part her thighs before nibbling her sensitive skin. 

“If I get a bad back from lifting you Sweet Pea, I’m gonna make sure it’s well earned. Let me taste my fiance. I wonder if now you’ll be more savory or honeyed.” He felt her put her legs over his shoulders and place her calves against his back, by now, she was aware of the position he wanted her in for his meals.

“How does that make any sense? Shit…don’t just use one love. I always need more.” Her hips bucked at the insertion of his finger, he was teasing her, leaning toward her mound and inhaling deeply, filling his lungs with her scent, intoxicating as he found it.

“My greedy girl. I aim to please ya always.” A second digit followed, pumping into her down to the knuckle, usually he worked his fingers in slower but her juices were dribbling onto the wood table, making it glisten. “May have to use your nectar to polish the table later, Sweet Pea.” Tommy ran his other hand up her shirt, pulling it to reach her cushy belly. He placed a kiss on it before placing his hand on the small of her back and scooting her hips forward to start to curl his fingers inside of her, a small spongy depression he discovered inside her months ago that had her babble in between obscenities. Peering upward, his head was hung forward toward her chest, hands firmly on the table, arms taunt, forcing her pelvis to meet his hand. “Almost there Vel, a little more…” His thumb plucked the small bundle of red flesh hidden at the top of her slit. A feral growl left his love as his fingers were taken from her, thighs pulled his upper body forward. 

“Tommy…Either put your fingers back in or use your mouth. You will not leave me like this on our dining room table. Didn’t you just say you ‘aim to please’?” His snickers echoes against her drenched mound, his breath, rolling over her sweltering skin.

“I do, but you know I like my pleasantries. I’m a Southern gentleman.” Velora couldn’t see his face, but she could picture his lips curving upward, forever teasing her. She guessed she knew what it was about, she was able to keep her balance with one hand as the other twirled in his soft onyx waves.

“A gentleman now huh? Who leaves a lady wanting? Not sure I want a gentleman then. I want the same man who told me he was starving and I had to make sure he had a warm meal.” Her voice raspy from her screams, cracking when she spoke. Tommy flicked his tongue on her clit, then blew on it.

“Not my exact words, but I’d hate to make such a beautiful woman wait.” He felt Vel release his hair as he plunged into her moist cunt, lapping at entrance, grunting with the roll of her hips toward his face. His mustache tickled her clit each time he pulled back to take a small gasp of air. Her body went rigid as her peak was reached and Tommy shot up to wrap his arms around her waist easing her down on the table. “Easy Sweet Pea, easy Velora…” He kissed her chin, her hands reached for his face and licked his lips, 

“I think I’m more savory than Sweet love. May need to change my nickname.” The veteran’s head dropped into her chest, matching her laughter. He now knew how sturdy the new table was. It could stay.

One week later…

Joel pulled up to the florist’s shop. He needed to send flowers for the condolences of one of their frequent customers who would use them for construction contracts. The man’s mother had died and the elder Miller brother in his effort to be more sociable, was following more social cues. He also was doing what his daughter had suggested and ‘ghosting’ Tess. He didn’t feel great about it, but Sarah had advised to ignore her calls and texts since they couldn’t agree to which direction their relationship should go. Joel wanted a partner, someone who he would be comfortable having in his life with his daughter. Tess got along with Sarah just fine, because they didn’t spend much time together outside of a few weeks or a month. His sometimes partner was just fine with that arrangement, thus their disagreement. The man was currently distracted though so he wouldn’t be answering any calls, he was placing his order with the same florist who V had been getting her flowers from. On the glowing recommendation, he ventured into the shop and was met with a woman who had a silver streak in her otherwise strawberry blonde hair. She gave him a warm smile, wiped her hands off on her apron before reaching out for a handshake, it was firm and she had callaouses as well from the different plants she had worked with, a small pink mark was on her neck. Joel wondered what it was from, he did eventually place his order, but they ended up comparing handshakes, whose accent was stronger, discussing children, trucks and work boots. A warmth that Joel hadn’t felt since his wife passed spread in his chest, her name Andy, she had told him like the sheriff from ‘The Andy Griffith Show.” The two laughed over the reference and that their children had no idea who the man was. 

Velora sat next to Tommy on the plane. He had asked her to set aside three particular weeks in September. Vel agreed as long as he didn’t have a flash mob or a minister to marry them at an airport. He defended himself by telling her she may be the one to take them to a drive through wedding chapel if she can find one, just to save some time and money. Her head found Tommy’s shoulder, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. She felt safe and terrified. She hadn’t had a chance to speak with him before leaving the country, well maybe she did, but she got cold feet, she was also nervous. It was happy news, but more than anything, she didn’t want to stop working. She knew Tommy would insist on her not working or at the very least, going on light duty, a compromise. Not a bad one if she was being honest. The flight was nearly thirteen hours, Tommy had done this by himself? There were points when they did move around and chat about what their actual wedding plans would be. Something small at the courthouse with immediate family and a reception at their house in the backyard, unsure of where they were going for their honeymoon, it was decided they could figure that one out later. Holding Tommy’s hand as the plane finally started its descent, Velora resolved to tell him one way or another. 

The emerald grass crunched under their boots as they walked gingerly in the forest behind the cabin they were staying in. It was cozy and Tommy smiled to himself that Vel was indeed holding onto his arm for any warmth she could gather. He surprised her with the destination of Ireland, but he wanted to show her it’s beauty that he had seen on a much more somber trip. His fiance had been the first person he thought to bring here besides his brother and niece. They were on their way back from the same rocky outcrop that he spread the ashes over some months ago. Velora held his hand as he teared at the memory, glad that she was here with him this time and for every journey the pair would take after. Velora stopped and Tommy did as well, wondering why she had stopped walking.

“We’re almost there Sweet Pea. We can warm up and drink hot chocolate. Might even go out and try some brennivin. One glass though, it will knock you on your ass, almost got me.” He was trying to lighten the mood after this visit to the site. Vel shook her head and it made him confused, she looked nervous.

“I-I have something to tell you. Honestly, I had to think about it and wrap my head around it, because normally it's never anything.” A strong gust blew through the trees whipping the leaves loudly to where the puzzled man saw her mouth move but didn’t hear. He made out, ‘we’re…’ What? All of her body language changed, like she was about to burst, whatever it was it was happy, so was it what he thought?

“Say again Vel, I can’t hear you.” He pointed to his ears but she lunged toward him and cupped his face, giving his lips a peck. The wind had started to calm but was tossing her ponytail in every direction. “Tell me what earned me that.” He grinned.

“We’re pregnant! You’re going to be a father Tommy!” Snot was starting to run down her nose and her eyes were squinted due to the air currents, a mess, but to Tommy it was the face of the mother of his child. The only face he needed to see until the baby was born. His outcry of joy was matched by the enthusiasm in which he picked up Velora and spun her around. She screamed for him to put her down, her laughter spurring him on, eventually he did and tugged her along to their cabin where they lit the fireplace. 

Tommy insisted that they shower and she spread out on the bed so he can put his head to her belly. She assured her fiance that it was too early for that but no was not an option. As her nails lightly scratched his scalp, Tommy rubbed his head on his other half’s stomach, knowing that a new life was growing inside of her.

“Thank you Velora. You’ve given me so much over the years. Now you’re giving me a little Miller and a future too. I love you Sweet Pea.” Closing his eyes, he listened to Velora breathe, her hand was still in his hair but she had fallen asleep. With a light huff, his fingers ran up her arm and traced her jaw, ending on her soft lips. “I’ll tell you again when you wake up, Velora. Rest up honey, we’ve a long road ahead together.”

Moots who might like it: @maggiemayhemnj @laurfilijames @rhoorl @fhatbhabie @angelofsmalldeath-codeine @trulybetty @goodwithcheese @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @yorksgirl @guelyury @perotovar @saturn-rings-writes @megamindsecretlair @morallyinept @legendary-pink-dot @undercoverpena @beabliss @grogusmum @sp00kymulderr @magpiepillsjunior @for-a-longlongtime @pamasaur @linzels-blog @mysterious-moonstruck-musings

#tommy miller x plus size reader #tommy miller #tommy miller x reader #tommy miller fanfiction #tommy miller smut #Tommy miller angst #tommy miller fluff #fanfiction #I needed more Tommy Miller so I wrote this

[havecourage-darling]

hey i have a request for eddie munson x reader where the reader is dustin's cousin and comes from a very rich family and her father is a lawyer. She has always been friends with Steve and was just as mean and arrogant as her and never liked Eddie because he kept picking on her (because he was in love with her since middle school) and she nicknamed him Eddie "The freak" Munson and just like Steve knows about demogorgons etc and while in Upside down Eddie saved the reader from the demobat that attacked her and then the reader and Eddie walk side by side in silence until the reader apologizes to Eddie for how she was towards him and they finally reconcile

A/N: This was very quickly written, not proofread, and did not have as much romance as I thought it would lmao I twisted this request around a bit – I’m not the best at writing bully romances or any type of bully main characters lol but I tried my best to adhere to the request! Hope you enjoy it anyway anon! and also, Eddie always lives in all my fics so yes, in this world they make it all alive kicking and screaming bcos denial is the town I live in and I’m the mayor.

wc: 5K

DISINGENUITY, you decided, was the most unattractive trait the human race had.

“We’d be so happy to see you next summer!” The blonde in front of you said, smile an easily spotted ruse.

A sharp elbow to your ribs spurred your own fake smile. “Of course, fingers crossed!” You beamed, discretely bringing your other hand up to your side to help the sharp pain. As you slowly slid away from the conversation, eyes on the refreshments table, you smiled at the few gazes you caught. Your own fakeness disgusted you. Glancing up at your parents, you watched their own smiles – ones that hadn’t seen a side of sincerity in decades.

Your cousin’s voice echoed throughout your mind, bouncing around the walls. You either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain. As you reached for a stupidly ornate glass of lemonade, you sipped at it and mentally cheered yourself. Love live the evil queen, you thought, smiling into your glass. Maybe Steve had been right. Maybe the struggle of your lifetimes wouldn’t be the Upside Down but to fight against the fact that you could both easily turn out to be your parents.

Eyes slipping towards them, you saw your mother draped over your father’s arm. He squeezed her hand, eyes on the couple in front of them. Despite being out of earshot you knew what he was saying, the same thing he’d been saying all night. Expression smug, as if he’d gotten the acceptance letter himself, you could see his lips form the words.

Harvard.

Our little princess got into Harvard. We’ll have a new lawyer to take over Henderson & Harrington Law within a few years.

The other acceptance letters had fallen away once he’d seen that maroon logo. It didn’t matter what you wanted. The echoes of a paintbrush in your hand and the scent of acrylics swirled around you. What you wanted was never part of the deciding factor. Not when you begged to go to Hawkins High with your friends, public school? Absolutely not, and definitely not now.

Pride, was the second most infuriating trait one could possess, you thought to yourself. Dropping the half empty glass back down onto the table. You glanced around the room and suddenly couldn’t stand it any longer. The laughter, the peacocking, even the feeling of the stupid dress around your body. You hated it. Everything.

Willing to deal with the fallout later, you hurried over to the coat check and thanked the bored teenager for your things. Hands gripping your car keys, you were glad you’d insisted on driving.

The sound of your engine turning was enough to ease some of the tension in your shoulders. Hands clenched at the wheel, you drove without much thought and tried to ease the knot in your chest. Despite the drive, you weren’t shocked to find yourself at the end of a familiar driveway. The sight of the one-story home carved out enough space in your lungs to exhale. The tension of the night going with it, dissipating into the night air.

Your heels clacked against the brick pathway, your hand pressing the doorbell once before a short-curly haired head appeared as the door was yanked open.

Dustin didn’t even look confused at your appearance, you hadn’t planned on visiting tonight, his smile bright and wide. “Hey! We’re watching He-Man, my mom’s out with her friends or something, want some popcorn?” He asked, already walking back into his living room.

Lucas and Mike waved, both also unsurprised, and you nodded. “Sure, thanks.”

As he disappeared through the kitchen, he shouted, “Your stuff is in the duffel where you left it in my closet!” The sweatshirt and pair of sweatpants you kept here sounded heavenly. The expensive pink monstrosity on your body could burn for all you cared.

With a smile, you ducked your head and kicked off your painful shoes. Wiggling your toes against the shag carpet, you let them adjust to being free for a moment. Numbness waning, you glanced around at the wood paneling and it felt like more like home than anything ever did.

//////

You stopped being afraid of wandering back into Hawkins a few weeks into the new semester. Robin had all but blackmailed you into visiting more often – despite the fact that you reminded her every time you could, that you lived literally one town over – and was trying to convince you to apply for a job at Family Video.

“Aren’t you bored?” She asked, pleading her case. “Most of your friends are off at school, right?”

Steve cleared his throat, a pathetic attempt at covering up his laughter, “Maybe bringing up the fact that she took a year off from college and none of her friends are around, isn’t the best way to convince her?”

Robin’s cheeks went pink. “That’s not what I meant! She graduated like first in her class!” She spun around to you, almost toppling a precarious tape tower in the process. “You know that right? I’m just saying, we’re your friends! Sure, the Byers up and left but most of us are still here!”

“How’s your dad taking it?” Steve asked, pulling himself up on the counter. You scrunched your nose, twirling in the chair by the computer. “Still unamused?”

A year off? Deferring Harvard? For what? What could you possibly need time for? You useless child!

Used to ignoring the echoes of your parents, you waved away the memory that followed you everywhere now. “How’s your dad taking this new job?” You countered and smiled when he snorted.

“Touché,” he muttered, “all I ever hear about is how Henderson managed to get his daughter into Harvard. It’s starting to get old.”

“How do you think I feel?” You muttered. “I don’t even know if I want to go yet.”

Robin whistled. “Have you mentioned that to them?”

Steve laughed outright this time. “If she did, she’d really need a job here because her dad would have an aneurysm.” You nodded, taking another bite out of the red vines, the tidal wave of anxiety lapping at your feet.

“So, what? You’re just going to go through life according to your parents’ plan?” Robin asked, hands going to her hips.

You exchanged glances with Steve and the both of you nodded. “Yeah, pretty much,” you said, voice sounding morose even to you. “That’s what Harrington would’ve done if he used the brains he had instead of chasing after Wheeler.”

“Hey!”

This time, Robin snickered. “You guys are weird,” she muttered, going back to shelving tapes. Steve, however, dropped a hand over yours and squeezed. Smiling gratefully up at him, you knew he understood. You and Steve had been roped together from before either of you could walk. Collateral damage of having parents that shared a law practice together. Steve and you had gotten lost there for a few years but it had been hard, at least it had been for you.

There were only so many times people could put you up on a pedestal, awing at you, before you started believing you deserved it. It wasn’t until Dustin kicked it out from under you that you humbled yourself. Steve got there eventually – and despite their criticism of him, you understood. There were too many nights that saw one of you at the other’s empty big house, stares blank and hands desperate for an escape from reality.

“I’ve got a year and hey, at least Harvard is far away enough from them,” you said, fingers trying to brush against the bright side that always seemed just out of reach.

“Yeah,” Steve snorted, his own sarcasm bleeding through, “because them being not around is such a problem.”

And what a pair you two made. The abandoned trophy children of parents who couldn’t care less despite how much either of you tried.

Eyes dancing across the wall, you almost choked on your mouthful of candy. “Shit, is that the time?” You asked, hopping off the stool and almost snapping your ankle in the process.

“What, got a hot date with a senator’s son this cold Friday afternoon?” Steve asked, snickering as he dodged the red vine you chucked at him. Hurrying towards the doors you shot him a glare that would have any normal human cowering. In your tenure, you’d gotten good at those. People avoided you in your town, and that’s the way you liked it.

“We promised never to speak of that again,” you hissed, almost baring your teeth of the reminder of that disastrous blind date. “I promised Dustin I’d start picking him up from school Fridays. He’s got some club this year? I don’t know but I don’t want him riding a bike in the dark.”

Steve nodded, understanding, and you waved goodbye to Robin. All of you knew how deep Hawkins’ underbelly went and the things that hid in it. You didn’t want to take any chances, not with Dustin.

Hawkins High’s parking lot was mostly deserted by the time you pulled in, the winter grey sky forcing you to turn your heating up. You glanced around the mostly empty school and frowned. You were ten minutes late and he wouldn’t have left for a least a good chunk of time. If anyone worried more about you than Steve, it was Dustin.

Right as you were contemplating hopping out the car and into the school, the side door at the far left slammed open. The loud, chattering voices cut through the looming darkness and you smiled when you heard Dustin’s voice.

You stepped out the car, leaning against your door, and almost laughed when one of the guys that looked closer to your age glanced at you. “Uh, guys, no one freak out but there’s some hot girl staring at us right now.”

A few pairs of eyes darted over to you and you saw Dustin gag. “That’s my cousin, asshole!”

“She’s also way out of your league,” Mike said, loud enough for you to laugh. The other guy looked both insulted and embarrassed.

Grinning, you lifted your hand up, already stepping towards a scowling Dustin when a seventh person joined them. Freezing in your tracks, you felt like you’d swallowed your tongue.

“What the hell are you guys laughing at?” Eddie asked, shoving his arms through his leather jacket.

The world, for a brief moment, stopped spinning.

“Gareth’s drooling over Dustin’s cousin,” Lucas joked, dodging the hand that came out to swipe at him.

Brown eyes darted up and landed on you. His lips parted and the surprised puff of air that escaped was visible in the cold. Both of you blinked at each other, the others muttering around him.

“Come on Four Eyes,” Eddie teased, malice dripping from his voice, “walk a little faster, will you?” His shoulder smacked into yours, tipping you into the lockers and you lost the grip of your books. Eddie disappeared around the corner but you were on your knees – scrambling to grab all your things from the floor.

“Move it Four Eyes!” A voice to your left said, foot knocking into your side. You wheezed, scrambling faster, but another foot slammed down onto your fingers. Tears blurred in your eyes as you stood, aching fingers pulled to your chest. “Even Munson hates her,” another voice said, “what a loser.”

“What?” You said, blinking away the memories from middle school. Realizing Dustin had walked up to you, you smiled faintly down at him. “Hey kid.” You shoved the memories back into their cave, bending their will to your own. That girl didn’t exist anymore, you told yourself, trying not to panic. She was gone.

Brows furrowed and mouth twisted into his infamous suspicious expression, he brought a hand up to your arm. “What’s wrong?” He asked quietly, eyes on you.

“Nothing,” you said, glancing over his shoulder and towards the group that was walking over.

He’d grown his hair out, you realized. Clearly leaning into the look, you weren’t surprised to see the Dio denim vest over the jacket. “Well, I’ll be damned, I didn’t realize that the Henderson I went to school with was this Henderson’s cousin.”

You hummed, clenching your hand and grounding yourself as your nails dug into your palm. “Why would you know? I didn’t think you even knew my name,” you said, tone bored. Dustin’s eyes darted between you two. Eddie’s eyes widened a little, startled, at the hostile undertone of your voice.

Lucas smothered his laughter poorly and Mike elbowed him. “You two know each other?” Dustin asked, crossing his arms.

“No,” you answered before Eddie could, “not really.”

Hurt flashed across his face and you don’t know why. You didn’t know him. All he’d ever done was make all of middle school a nightmare for you. He didn’t know you then and he certainly didn’t know you now.

“Well, considering I owe my moniker to your cousin, I’d say we know each other a little bit,” Eddie said, a pink flush crawling up his neck when everyone’s eyes snapped to his.

“What?” Mike and Lucas said in unison but Eddie’s eyes were steady on you.

Guilt crept up your spine.

“Hey, Henderson!” You whirled around, eyes widening a little as someone stumbled into your line of vision.

Two of your friends giggled, their laughter pulling a smile from you. Carefully manicured nails reached out to steady the gangly stranger. “Sorry, do I know you?” You asked, voice dying when a pair of familiar eyes glanced up at you as he straightened. “Oh. Eddie.”

Panic clawed at your chest, anxiety ricocheting inside you like a firework. Painfully aware of where your new friends were waiting a few steps away, their gazes on you. You’d only just clawed your way back up from the bottom, you couldn’t afford to make a mistake. Gianna’s dad, her stare heaviest, was your dad’s biggest client. Sweat prickling at the small of your back, you crossed your arms.

“I haven’t seen you since you moved away,” he said, eyes lighting up like he was excited to see you. Which you didn’t doubt – there were a good amount of people around to humiliate you. He always did like a crowd.

“Right, can I help you with anything?” You snapped, your gum popping. Claire, next to Gianna snorted, her own cruel streak a mile long. Eddie’s expression faltered and you quirked your brow. “Hello? Jesus, can you even speak?”

“I-uh…”

Rolling your eyes, you tried not to freeze when Claire stepped up to your side. “Everything okay here?” She asked, one perfectly plucked eyebrow rose. Her arm slipped through yours and you hated yourself for how relieved you were. “Oh my God, look at what he’s wearing,” she whispered loudly and you hated the flush of pink you saw on his neck. “What a freak.”

Without giving you another moment, Claire’s nails dug into your skin and yanked you back towards the group. “Come on, let’s go get something to eat.”

Payback felt a lot like a heavy rock in your gut but you ignored it.

Wanting to leave this entire scene behind, you turned to Dustin. “Ready?” You asked, knowing that he could read the anxiety in your voice. His eyes darted between you two and nodded slowly.

“We’re still going for burgers, right?” He asked and you grinned at him. If anyone could compartmentalize, it was Dustin.

“Yeah, dude, of course,” you said, ruffling his hair and smiling when he glared at you. “Wanna tag along?” You asked Mike and Lucas, who were already following behind you like lost ducks.

With a bit of distance between the two of you, your lungs finally sputtered back to life. Turning around, you glanced at Eddie. “I’d say it was nice to see you but…” you shrugged, hoping the remark hit any mark.

Eddie, however, grinned and you hated yourself for wanting to smile back. “You can’t ignore me forever sweetheart!” He shouted, clearly unselfconscious. He waved, turning towards the far end of the parking lot and you watched him.

Jealousy swirled in your chest. He was so carefree, his eccentricity something he clearly didn’t care about anymore. We want that, your heart murmured, we want to be free too.

“Ready?” Dustin called out from the passenger seat. You shook off the small voice inside you.

We don’t get to have that, you told it, beating it back into submission. Cambridge, Massachusetts awaited, nothing else. The faster you accepted it, the easier it’d become.

“Yeah,” you said, hating how your voice wavered, “let’s go.”

////

You watched Eddie chug Yoohoo and tossed him some cereal. He shot you a smile but you ignored it and opted to rub your temples. It’d been a day since Dustin had called you, voice high-pitched and scared, and you still hadn’t managed to wrap your mind around it all.

How the hell was this happening? Again? You fought the pressure behind your eyes and pinched the soft skin at your inner elbow. Breathe, just breathe. You glanced at Eddie as he sat in the raised boat, listening intently to the others as they spoke. Max’s hand came up to squeeze yours and you smiled at her.

If you could’ve kept anyone out of this, she would’ve been your choice. You knew she wasn’t dealing with the aftermath of Starcourt well, none of you deserve to go through this again. Eyes drifting over to Eddie again, you fought the panic in your gut. If what Max said about Chrissy’s body was true…he would’ve had front row tickets to that show and you couldn’t blame him for running. You had the first time you saw that thing in Byers’ house.

“Hunt the freak right?” Eddie said, voice twisting around the words, and your eyes slipped closed. You knew how relentless this town could get; you were proof of that. Eddie wasn’t a saint but he didn’t deserve this. None of you did.

Especially since, like the idiot you were, you’d started to grow a soft spot for him. It was bound to happen, you tried to rationalize, you’d been picking Dustin up from school after Hellfire, every Friday for three months. It took weeks for you to actually respond with full sentences, Dustin’s hovering protective glare not helping. But Eddie was anything if not determined.

He’d actually surprised you last week, he’d gotten you your own figurine. A sorceress with a pet dragon. “In case you want to actually join us one day,” he said, stupidly endearing smile on his face.

A choking sound brought you back to the moment. “Listen, there’s nothing to worry about,” Dustin said, voice too high-pitched for him to sound even remotely believable.

Steve walked over to you as the three of them bickered. “Hey, are you okay?” He asked, pulling the knuckle rubbing your eye away from your face.

“My contacts are killing me,” you admitted, not having changed them in the last day since after you’d found Eddie – you, Steve, and Robin had all crashed in his bed – a mess of tangled limbs. You’d woken up to a mouthful of Robin’s hair and with Steve’s knee in the middle of your spine.

“Do you want to stop by your house to get more?” He asked quietly – but clearly not quietly enough.

Eddie’s voice pierced through the conversation. “I always thought you looked better with your glasses,” Eddie said, eyes bouncing around your face, “before you moved away.”

“Move it four eyes!” The taunt bounced around your head before landing at your feet and rolling off into the lake water.

Flinching like he’d struck you across the face, you felt your walls slam back down into place. Was he mocking you? Now of all times? Jesus fucking Christ, how many times was it going to take before you learned that lesson? How many times would you stand there and let people hurt you?

The eerie silence felt like a tornado around you. Sneering, you knew your face was twisting into your most comfortable facade.

“Right, like we’d ever be a thing – freak,” you snapped, turning around so quickly your hair whipped through the air. “I’ll be in the car.”

Chest heaving, you waited a moment outside the door and felt your chest crumble as your heart raced.

“What the hell just happened?” Eddie said.

“Dude, are you serious?” Dustin asked, tone defensive.

“What? Me? She’s the one who’s always coming after me!”

“You started it! What did you expect?”

“What?”

“How do you not know? You’re…you’re the reason she hates her glasses,” Dustin said quietly and you let your eyes slip closed.

Fuck.

“What?” Eddie’s voice was barely audible.

Steve’s voice was serious, the tone protective even from out here. “Yeah, man. That stupid song you used to sing? About her being a four-eyes? That followed her to her new school. Her dad had to pull major strings because she punched some dude who followed her around for weeks messing with her. I’m pretty sure she snapped her glasses in two after that.”

“She won’t even wear her glasses around me,” Dustin said, tone defensive, “and I’ve never made fun of her for it.”

“I wasn’t – that wasn’t-”

“She might be a mean girl to a lot of people,” Dustin said, “but you don’t know what it’s like, her life. She’s…it’s a lot to deal with. I know her, I really know her, and she’s never been mean to around me.”

Steve’s sigh was audible from where you stood. “This…just got a little more complicated.”

As if knowing that he needed the emphasis, you threw yourself onto the floor as a line of police cars shot past the road up ahead of you. What the hell?

///

For the first time, in a long time, you eyed Steve Harrington. He eyed you back with equal fervor.

“Keep glaring, we were both potty trained at the same time. You don’t scare me, Henderson,” Steve said, crossing his arms.

You bared your teeth at him and he flinched a little.

“That didn’t count. You used to be a biter, that was a natural reaction!”

Deciding to go with kindness, you placed your hands on his forearms. “I’m the better swimmer. Steve, I taught you how to swim.”

“I was a lifeguard!”

“I taught you how to swim. I turned down a swimming scholarship to Princeton.”

Nancy sighed, hand coming to her temple. “Just let her do it Steve, she’s the better swimmer. Trust her.” You shot her a grateful look.

“I mean, if we’re voting here – I vote Harrington,” Eddie piped up and you almost snapped your snipe at the speed of which you whirled around to glare at him. He threw his hands up and smiled sheepishly at you.

Steve, however, threw his hand out. “You see!”

“Yeah, we all know it’s because he’d rather lose you than Henderson, don’t flatter yourself,” Robin snorted. Ignoring that quip, you decided to use the sudden bickering to your advantage.

Slipping your jacket from your shoulders, you dropped it into Robin’s lap. You yanked your shoes off and considered taking your jeans off but stopped yourself. The lake couldn’t be too deep.

“Here,” Robin said, handing you the flashlight, keeping a tight grip on Steve’s arm. “You get a minute before I unleash the hounds and he goes looking for you.”

“Three minutes.”

“Two.”

“Deal.”

Eddie peeked over the edge of the boat and winced. “Are we sure this is a good idea?”

“Oh, shut up,” you snapped, executing a perfect dive into the water. Without much effort, you found the glowing red gate and stared at it for a moment. Fuck. It really was back. As if in a trance, you watched your finger reach out for it when a large shadow startled you. Shaking your head, you pushed off the floor and surfaced with a loud inhale.

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ, how long does it take to check for a glowing red gate?” Steve snapped, hands scrambling for you.

Shaking him off, you sputtered, anchoring yourself to the edge of the boat. “It’s there, guys – it’s at the bottom. It’s more of a small sized gate than the ones we’re used to but…” you stopped, feeling sudden pressure at your calf. Your eyes caught Eddie’s and you brought your hand out to his arm instinctually. Water shot up your nose painfully and you struggled against what was pulling you under. Eyes stinging, you tried to orient yourself but could only focus on the burn in your lungs. You hadn’t taken a proper inhale before you went under and you were almost out of air.

Suddenly the world around you went right side up and you gasped, lungs trying to expel the water that had lodged in your chest. The ragged ground cut you, the pain barely noticeable as you dug your nails into the vine around your leg. It stopped dragging you once you managed to pierce through half of it, your nail beds destroyed. Adrenaline rushed through you as you scrambled to stand, blood trailing down your sides.

Loud screaming had you searching the dark sky above you. What the hell? Were you…shit. Glancing around for a weapon, you grabbed a discarded and rotting oar before you lifted it in the air. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” You shouted, swinging it so hard that your bones rattled. The sound of wings had your heart jump into your throat. Shit, you were outnumbered.

The first sharp cut into your arm had you dropping the oar, pain radiating down your limb. You tried to swat at it with your other hand, the feeling of flesh slapping against it. The bat screeched at you, its stupid claws scraping against your face. The third’s tail reached for your neck and you ducked, only narrowly avoiding it.

“Get the fuck away from her!” A voice screamed, echoing in the empty – wherever you were. Eddie launched himself at the third one, splitting in two easily.

“Eddie,” you gasped, arm still hanging limply. The world around you spun but you forced your eyes to focus. You couldn’t fall apart, not now.

A warm hand wrapped around your wrist and he shoved you behind him. “Don’t worry,” he said, teeth gritting, “I’ve got you.”

Both of you swat at the remaining bats, desperate, and Eddie only narrowly avoided another when Steve came running full speed. Nancy and Robin, drenched, followed.

You all stared at the baby gate, your body leaning entirely too much against Eddie’s. “We gotta go,” Nancy said, “come on, into the forest!”

Steve walked along your other side, shouldering your weight so that you could walk faster. You could feel Eddie’s eyes on you, his palm searing against your waist. “This is Lover’s Lake, come on – we can hide under Skull Rock!”

Eddie tucked you under the rock first, his hands careful as you panted – trying to catch your breath. God, your shoulder really hurt. Eddie’s face was twisted into worry as he peered at the gashes, his fingers coated in your blood. “I think it stopped bleeding. I’m going to wrap something around it to help keep it covered from…whatever the fuck this is in the air.” He ripped the bottom of his shirt and winced as he started wrapping it around your arm.

“I can’t believe you jumped in after me,” you said, watching Steve, Robin, and Nancy argue over what to do next.

Robin quipped up. “He dove in faster than Harrington.”

Eddie glared at her, not at all intimidating, and you blinked. “Why?”

The vein, lavender under his skin, throbbed and that seemed to be the breaking point for him. You watched, fascinated, as he stood up and paced in front of you. “Because I’ve been in love with you since like, middle school!”

Everyone quieted and you could feel Steve and Robin’s eyes on you.

“Right,” you said flatly, struggling to stand and put distance between you two.

His arm jutted out like he was going to pull you back but seemed to remember your arm at the last minute. “No, wait, please let me explain!” He pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t…I was just teasing you…I didn’t think it was – that you thought-”

“This is painful,” Robin whispered loudly to Nancy and you watched Eddie flush bright red.

“I didn’t know how to properly express my emotions, obviously, and I thought you knew. I thought that’s why you were always so…”

“Mean?” You finished for him, shocked. “I didn’t know! Eddie what, - why would you - what.”

He ducked his head, hand coming up to the back of his neck, and sighed. “I don’t know, okay? I thought it’d get your attention.”

“By being an asshole?”

“Hey, you weren’t a ray of sunshine yourself.”

Anger flashing through you, Steve stepped between you two and put up his hands. “Everyone calm down. You’re both children. You,” he turned to Eddie, “learn how to communicate effectively and how not to be a bully.”

“-but-”

“And you,” Steve said, turning to you, “I know sometimes it feels like only we understand each other but, you’ve got to learn to let other people in. You did with Robin and look.”

Eyes darting over to Robin’s, she grinned and wiggled her fingers into the air. Biting back your laughter, you turned back to Steve and nodded. “Yeah, alright, whatever.”

“That’s as good as you’re going to get,” Steve told Eddie, turning back to Nancy. “Okay, now let’s get walking.”

Groaning as you stood, Eddie’s hand shot out tentatively and you nodded at him. “Thanks,” you said, using his arm to help steady you. “I need shoes.”

“Oh shit,” Eddie said, glancing down at your feet. Without hesitating, he pulled his off and bent down to help you into them. “They smell like dirty lake water but, you won’t cut yourself.”

“Wait, no, it’s okay-” you said, struggling for your balance as Eddie forcibly picked up one of your feet. Your hand shot out to his shoulder before you toppled into him and let him tie the white Reebok’s onto your foot. “Eddie, you’re going to cut your feet now.”

He shrugged, eyes looking up at you from the ground. “I’m pretty sure you’re missing chunks out of your shoulder, Henderson. And your feet are already bleeding. I can take the hit, you can’t.”

“I can do it,” you started, initial stubbornness bursting out the gate. It quickly dwindled after he shot you a look and you groaned. “Alright, thank you.”

Eddie continued tightening the laces and his hair brushed against your hand. You couldn’t help but reach out and trail a finger over the frizz. Had he really liked you for so long? Even after…after – everything? Not one to easily forget a grudge, the knot in your stomach tightened. He’d caused – no matter how inadvertently – a lot of shit for you. But…he’d apologized. And middle school had been years ago now.

“I’m sorry,” you said quietly, “I know I didn’t necessarily start the – the nickname but I didn’t stop it either.”

His eyes darted up, still half kneeling in front of you, fingers frozen at the last loop. “Oh.”

“I don’t think you’re a freak,” you started to ramble, anxiety suddenly bubbling up, “I shouldn’t have spread it around. I was just so hurt by how mean to me you always seemed to be and I’ve always thought you were kinda cool because you didn’t seem to give a shit what anyone thought of you. Besides, Dustin worships the ground you walk on and as much as it kills me, he’s a good judge of character.”

The silence after was painful and you winced.

“Thanks for diving in after me,” you added after a beat, “you didn’t have to.”

A slow, steady, smile grew on Eddie’s face as he stood up. “I did, have to,” he said, his hand brushing against yours. “You may not have liked me but my heart has always stubborn. It’s always been you.”

You ducked your head, flustered. Why did it feel like something within you had yawned awake?

“I’m sorry for being a dick,” he said, “these past few months, I…I’ve really looked forward to seeing you every Friday. I always thought we’d be good friends.”

Steve’s voice echoed through the decrepit trees. “What the hell are you two doing? Keep up!” His hands went to his hips and you flipped him off, smiling when he huffed audibly. You started walking towards him, feet feeling a million times better, and you inhaled.

You were never the brave one. Not with the Upside Down, or the demogorgons, or when Billy had tried to kidnap you. You’d never, not once, spoke up to your parents. You wore the dresses they wanted, went to the parties they needed you to, made friends with the right people, and did everything you were supposed to.

A dream, one that not even Steve or Dustin knew, swirled within your ribcage – a secret you’d kept only to yourself. You wanted to rip the Harvard letter to shreds and never step foot in Cambridge. The letter you’d hidden under your mattress, the one that called your name every time you laid down to sleep, that was your secret.

Dear Ms. Henderson,

On behalf of the Rhode Island School of Design, we are pleased to offer you admission for the fall semester of 1986. 

Fingers twitching, like you could feel the paintbrush in your hand, you exhaled. You wanted to stop feeling like you couldn’t breathe every second of every day because it felt like you had an elephant sitting on your chest.

Eyes turning to Eddie, who was walking carefully over the slithering vines, you realized you wanted to be brave. For once.

“I think we’d make good friends too,” you told Eddie, pretending to introduce yourself – like he was a stranger…and maybe he was. “Do you often find yourself in an alternate dimension with your friends?”

The blinding smile that he shot your way felt a little bit like healing.

“I’m Eddie Munson,” he played along, shaking your hand, “and yeah, a normal Sunday for me, you know? Some people go the beach for spring break, me? Livin’ on the wild side.”

A laugh escaped you and you shook your head at him but Eddie’s dopey smile had you surging forward to press a kiss to his smudged cheek. Skin tingling, you almost laughed again at his dazed look. “Not that I’m complaining, but do you go around kissing all your friends? Because if I would’ve known that I would have made a better effort.”

Flustered, you looked down at the vines and shook your head. “No, only the ones who dive into a lake and climb through a gate into another world to try and save me.”

“That seems incredibly specific,” he joked, offering his hand to help you climb over a pile of vines. You intertwined your fingers, his small smile igniting something in your chest.

“It is,” you said, smiling back at him, an understanding settling between you two. Maybe you’d be brave again, after you’d made it out on the other side of all this. Once you’d learned more about him, after some time, maybe…maybe you could be brave together.

#eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson

[rubykgrant]

Because of REASONS, I remembered my Scooby-Doo character designs from a few years ago. I decided to touch-up the picture a bit and fix a few things. So, here they are again! If I were to totally make my own “dream version” of Scooby-Doo, this isn’t exactly the “style” I’d prefer them in (something a little closer to the classic), this is just a cute and simple style I use when I want to get an idea for basic body-types, hair, and outfits. As for the story, I’d toss together all my favorite things from every previous version, but the basic plot would go like this; the kids all originally met when they were very little, trick-or-treating on Halloween, and solving the mystery of some mean older kids who were stealing candy. During middle school, they wound up moving away from each other for various reasons... but all reunited in high school! They had a fairly normal time, solving mundane mysteries and such. After graduation, they decide to take a road trip together, and THAT is when they truly become Mystery Inc. A mixture of the old-school plots, some new adventures, and yes- sometimes the spooky things ARE real! I’d honestly aim for it to be PG-13, it doesn’t need to be turbo-edgey and grim-dark, but they can say swears. There would one F-bomb in the whole show, and Freddy gets to say it~

(some character notes below)

I drew Velma first because I’ve always wanted to update her outfit as sort of a sleeveless sweater-dress kind of thing. I gave her red shorts instead of a skirt, and I think it somehow made her look more sporty but still cute. Some orange high-tops sort of bring it together. I wanted her hair to have something like a flapper-girl style, and I kept classic style square glasses because she works them (and still can’t see without them). Velma is easily the most adorable. She’s still the “smart one”, but she doesn’t know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING; history, science and chemistry, literature, and math are what she excels at. She also has a near photographic memory, and although she understands a lot about technology (in terms of software/programming/coding), she isn’t too great with machines. Some background for her; Velma is mixed Japanese/Mexican and Jewish. She’s also trans and a lesbian~

I knew I wanted Daphne to look really fashionable, but also in something simple and comfortable. I gave her a purple halter top/skirt with a leg-cut on one side, and loose lavender jeans. She almost never has pants in her main outfit, but I think it gives her a fun nostalgic look of the 60s and 70s. I moved her green scarf up to her hair, and gave her matching green earrings. I like the idea that because she’s a little clumsy (Danger-Prone-Daphne) she’s taken lots of athletic lessons to try and make up for it; she’s done ballet, gymnastics, Karate, boxing, archery, played different sports like soccer/basketball/baseball/tennis, swimming lessons, and equestrian classes. Basically, when she’s in “alert-mode”, she could probably handle just about anything… but when she’s not paying attention she tends to trip (though, she’s kinda of backwards-lucky by stumbling into clues this way). Daphne can speak several languages fluently, she’s got perfect pitch, is super sensitive to textures so she can recognize any material, and has a gift for being very charming and intuitive. Some background for her; her dad is Iranian, and her mom is Scottish. She’s also bi~

I always wanted to give Fred a blue jacket. I just think it suits him. He’s also got light-blue jeans, and a white long-sleeve shirt (with a red collar to replace the ascot haha). He’s got a little bit of a farm-boy vibe (hence the belt and work boots). He’s all about cars and other machines, a real  Mr. Fix-It, and he loves taking stuff apart to see how it works. As a result he’s pretty good at his other hobby besides mechanics… TRAPS. Fred also practices being an escape artist, so if he ever gets caught he’ll be able to get out of almost anything. Although he’s certainly not “stupid”, he has a tendency to be a bit oblivious and a little too headstrong. He’s got a heart if gold though, and everybody who knows him would agree that he’s endlessly kind. Some background for him; Fred’s parents went missing around when he younger, and so he’s had a few different foster families. He doesn’t get reunited with his folks until much later (learning more about his family, he finds out he’s mixed Italian/Norwegian). He’s also bi~

Shaggy doesn’t need much changing (if I altered too much, he just wouldn’t look like Shaggy anymore). I have him a white long-sleeved shirt under his classic green one, changed his brown pants into cargoes (all loose fitting, Shaggy likes it baggy), and gave him some black sneakers. He’s naturally still got long hair and a scruffy chin (plus some sideburns). Even though he’s a well known scardey-cat, Shaggy has a deep love for horror movies and fictional spooky stuff doesn’t seem to bother him. His various fears and phobias have actually made him a safety expert; not only does he usually carry a back-pack with a fully stocked first aid kit, he knows how rescue somebody who is drowning, all the safety procedures for different vehicles/aircraft, CPR, and survival tactics (he actually knows more medical facts than Velma). Despite being so thin and lanky, he is almost always eating, sometimes thinking with his stomach rather than his head. He’s always happy to share though, and he even cooks great meals for his friends (mindful of allergies and what-not). Some background for him; he’s Canadian First Nations and Jewish on his mother’s side. He’s also trans, bi and ace~

Scooby was maybe the most difficult to draw… he’s so iconic, and I wasn’t sure how to draw him in this style but still make him look like Scooby. I’m not sure if I succeeded, but I think the result isn’t too bad. Shaggy found Scoob as a pup, and they have been best friends ever since. Like Shaggy, Scooby loves to eat and hates to be afraid, but he’s only a coward when something threatens him; if a monster or villain is going to hurt one of his friends, Scooby always comes to their defense. People forget that he’s actually a very big strong dog because he’s usually so gentle and silly. Scoob knows all sorts of trick from the typical “sit/roll-over/shake” to more impressive stunts. Although he loves attention and praise, the best way to get him to do anything is to bribe him with a Scooby Snack! He’s a very smart animal, and the fact that he can communicate when he smells or hears something suspicious that people might miss is a real asset for solving mysteries. Like any good dog, Scooby is loyal and lovable~

#scooby-doo

[nanowrimo]

Black Joy Is Revolutionary or Why Writing Black Doesn't Equal Trauma or Pain

It’s important to talk about what kind of stories get represented in mainstream media. NaNo Participant Kymberlyn Reed tells us why stories centered around Black joy are necessary. As a little Black girl who loved reading, it always saddened me that there was never a Babysitter's Club or Sweet Valley High series in which Black kids were centered (not sidekicks or best friends lacking a backstory) just having fun, going through typical teenage stuff and hanging out with cool friends. The fantasy genre, as much as I loved it, also seemed to have no place for Black people to had amazing adventures in far away worlds.

That's why — as a middle aged Blerd — I have been on an absolute roll with so many wonderful stories about Black people just existing and I think there needs to be MORE of them. There is room for Black joy in a society that devalues Blackness as a whole (while co-opting and/or misappropriating the aspects it finds marketable).

This isn't to say there's no need for stories centered around the very real issues of social justice. There's a reason Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give resonated with so many readers of all races (and why so many school districts are trying to ban it). However, not everything about Blackness is about pain and suffering.

And that's the problem. The idea of a single black experience — mainly centered around our suffering —has far too long dictated what people want to write and/or read about us. If there had been more books about Black mermaids in the past (despite the fact that many African cultures have myths about mermaids), people probably wouldn't be losing their minds over Halle Bailey right now.

Not every book about Black people needs to be a "teachable moment" for non-Black readers. Black people should not have to exist or expend unpaid emotional labor just to "teach." Our historical and current traumas should not be the only way to create "empathy.”

Black joy seems to upset people or has some of them believing it's not "authentic Blackness." One of my all time favorite romance authors — Beverly Jenkins — once received a letter from a white reader who was SHOCKED that Black people actually fell in love and had committed relationships! She long believed that Black people just had indiscriminate sex and children out of wedlock.

It took a historical romance featuring a Black hero and heroine to open this woman's mind.

Reading and writing about Black people doing the mundane (as we do everyday) in made up worlds shows us just being, that our skin in all of its glorious hues, is just a part of who we are. We have many intersecting identities, and limiting us to the "poor downtrodden Black person in need of saving" deprives us of our individuality.

Black LGBTQ have coming-out stories and meet-cutes.

Black girls can be princesses.

Black men can be cowboys (and in fact were some of the original cowboys).

Most importantly, Black people exist in every walk of life, even in places and spaces where the media at large ignores our presence. For example, there are Black surfers who teach free courses at The Inkwell, a historic stretch of beach located in Santa Monica, California.

When you read or write about Black people living fully, you are changing the narrative and in a lot of ways, changing minds. Not only that, but writing Black joy is fun too. It's inclusive and it's telling Black readers our stories matter.

All of them.

Kymberlyn Reed is an author who's been published in two countries--Germany and the U.S.  No, she doesn't speak a bit of German, but her writing "sister" does. 

She's been doing the NaNoWriMo thing for a long time now and will always be a pantser because her characters refuse to behave otherwise. She owns more books than clothes. She's also a lifelong Blerd, fountain pen and Japanese stationery aficionado, lipstick junkie, and an unapologetic metalhead who can do a pretty good death metal growl with enough absinthe in her system. Photo by Junior REIS on Unsplash  

#nanowrimo #writing #amwriting #black joy #black stories #by nano guest #kymberlyn reed #Black Writers

[forbidding-souda]

Mod monomi~ how about a headcanon with Mahiru where she has a boyfriend that likes it when she gets stern. Like he'll get giggly and blushy when she gets stern with them

Mahiru Koizumi x Giggly!Male!Reader

Mahiru reminds me of this girl I knew in middle school who would tell me I wasn’t playing the saxophone right (I wasn’t) When she had literally never picked up a saxophone or any other brass instrument lmfaoooo. I was so annoyed at this girl but we were in art club together so we kinda became frienemies and I lent her my sword art online manga and she returned it six months later with the spine halfway ripped. But I mean I can’t get too mad at her because she unknowingly rescued me from the SAO fandom.

-Mod Monomi

♡ Mahiru has high expectations for her boyfriend… Or at least she thinks she does.

♡ She’s the type who always crows at you to keep your dorm clean, get your work done, and take good care of yourself.

♡ Regardless of this, she doesn’t mind dropping everything to help you do them (Or do them for you), giving you a “Jeez, you’re so hopeless.” or a “What would you boys do without us girls?” Even if you were fully willing and capable to do it on your own.

♡ Mahiru would never admit it but she loved taking care of you. Usually, she treats you nicer than most, scolding you in a more teasing way, but she could still crack down on you like you like an annoyed mother. 

♡ She noticed that you seemed to find it funny when she spoke like this. At first, she found it a bit annoying. After a while though she was genuinely upset about it. 

♡ Were you not taking her feelings seriously? Did you not appreciate all she did for you? Did you even care about her? These were all things Mahiru wondered about during this period. She just didn’t know how to communicate that to you. 

♡ Until one day she just kind of… Blew up…

♡ “Hey Y/N! How did you do on your test today?” 

♡ “Oh um… Honestly not too well… I have to make it up…”

♡ “Ugh, what am I gonna do with you?”

♡ “Heheheh! Sorry, Mahiru!” You chuckled, your bad mood disappearing suddenly. Mahiru scoffed. 

♡ “God, you men… You’ll just laugh at anything won’t you!?” You laughed and blushed, pulling her closer to your side. Mahiru grunted again and pushed you away. She shouted at you “Do you even appreciate anything I do at all?! I try so hard for you and you think it’s funny?!” She looked angrier than you had ever seen, unlike all of the other times she ever scolded you. 

♡ After that, you finally had the dreaded conversation. You explained that it wasn’t that you didn’t appreciate everything she did, you just thought she was so cute when she got all strict with you. At first, she was stunned and even happy on the inside. And then her reaction was, well, certainly in character.

♡ “You mean… You like it when I talk to you like that…?” Mahiru didn’t know what to say… Just what to think. “Is that like… Some perverted boy thing?” She asked, scrunching her nose.

♡ After this is explained to her, she doesn’t mind you doing it anymore, since deep down, she’d do anything to see your smile! <3

♡ Love you darlings!!

#danganronpa #x reader #danganronpa x reader #mod monomi #mahiru koizumi x kaede akamatsu #mahiru koizumi x reader #mahiru koizumi

[writer-in-theory]

Aftershocks — steddie.

Summary: After the Russian interrogation takes a greater toll on Steve than expected, he tries to hide the seizures from Eddie. Everything is fine until the Upside Down comes back. Prompt: A2 - “I am not a role model” Pairing: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson Rating: Teen Word Count: 3.6k Content Warnings: Descriptions of seizures, Mild language Also Read On AO3: Here A/N: Am I back with another completely self-indulgent fic where I put my own problems on a comfort character? Maybe. Regardless, this is another fill for @harringroveson-bingo ! A huge huge thanks to @serenity-lattes because once again, this wouldn't have gotten done without them. Between headcanoning, encouring me to write it, helping to write a bit of it, and beta-ing? Yeah, basically a co-writer over here. Also a huge thanks to @lcvingprentjss for encouraging this to be written and beta-ing, and as always, for putting up with the incessant screaming while this was a work in progress. Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy!

The first time it happened, Steve wasn’t sure what to think.

Five nights after the battle at Starcourt, when the bruises were beginning to fade and the cuts were scabbed over, Steve woke up in the middle of the night. It felt like his body was fighting an invisible enemy—his limbs moving against his own accord and his back arching then relaxing in such a stilted way he struggled to catch his breath. It only lasted a few seconds, not even half a minute, but Steve was sure it had been hours. 

He didn’t get back to sleep that night, preferring instead to sit awake on the couch with a book in his lap he’d never read. He sat guard against whatever it was that made his body move that way, keeping every light in the living room on to warn against some Upside Down force that was capable of taking over him the way it had taken over Will and Billy. 

The next morning when Robin slipped into the Beemer and asked why he looked so tired, Steve almost told her. The words got caught though, sticking to the roof of his mouth like caramel as he fought to let her in. Everyone always thought there was something wrong with his head because of failing school so badly, why prove them right?

So even when it happened again a week and a half later, then again two weeks after that, Steve didn’t say a word. He got better at managing it—learning to sleep with several pillows around him so he stopped smacking his arm against the wall so harshly it bruised, always disappearing to his own room when the Party, Nancy, Jon, and Robin would sleep piled up in the living room lest they all get scared by it. Even when Eddie would come over to help them both get some sleep, Steve would disappear into the bathroom when he could feel the warning signs, dragging as many pillows and blankets as he could out of the closet without waking up the other man.

Steve did what he always did: he managed on his own. 

There didn’t seem to be any one obvious trigger. Sometimes he woke up in the middle of one, other times, a sound would hit the right pitch for just enough time to send him straight to the ground. Though, the ones that terrified him the most, came out of nowhere, with little warning. 

It had been one of those that almost spoiled his secret for him, during one of his and Robin’s shifts at the Family Video. It had been a good day, for all intents and purposes. Tuesdays were never particularly busy, but there was a big enough rush when the high school let out that kept them both from total boredom. 

Except as Steve leaned against the main counter, he could feel a pressure building in the back of his head. It was an odd tugging sensation, one that gave him a sense of what stars must feel like when they curl in on themselves and become a black hole. Almost immediately his heart rate picked up, eyes scanning for a good enough escape. Running out the front door would be too obvious, and would inherently produce a handful of worried phone calls after Robin told all of their friends, and worse, his boyfriend. The only other spot for any sort of privacy was the backroom where they took their breaks, consisting of only an old table and a barely functioning TV. There was no padding there, nothing to protect himself from whatever his body did while he lost control, but it was his only option if he didn’t want Robin to find out.

“I’m taking a break,” Steve choked out, wincing at the way his voice shook involuntarily. 

“What? Hey, dingus, I don’t know if you forgot but you took your break twe—Fine! You owe me!” Robin shouted after him, not sounding particularly angry but annoyed enough that Steve was sure he’d hear it later.

It was the closest call he’d had in a while. Nearly the second Steve turned the lock on the door, his knees were crumpling under the weight of him. He had just enough sense to grab haphazardly at the edge of the table, slowing his fall just enough so he wouldn’t hit his head again. 

There were varying degrees of these episodes. Sometimes Steve wouldn’t fully jerk around oddly but would lose time without much warning. Others, he’d clench up and jerk so badly his joints would ache for days afterward, sometimes straining his muscles like he’d gotten injured playing sports. This was one of those other times, as nearly every muscle locked up painfully the second he hit the ground. Steve was never sure how long they lasted, but by the time he could pick himself up and swipe the tears off of his face, Robin was making a joke about how only Steve Harrington could get lost in the backroom.

Eventually, Steve began to figure out how to handle it. He knew that when the lights on the TV began flashing too much to close his eyes tight and knew all of the excuses for the bruises and scrapes that would work on the others. And though Steve knew he’d never quite be as okay as he was before the Russians, he found a system that worked well enough. It wasn’t perfect—there were still moments in time when it grew tough to hide how much he was hurting, how scared he was when a string of episodes happened too close to one another. These were the moments that threatened to destroy all the work he’d put in to seem okay because with one look Robin seemed to see right through him on those days. 

She knew something was wrong. After everything they’d gone through together, after all of the painful days post-Starcourt they’d spent reassuring each other that they were fine, that no one was coming after them, it was impossible for her to not see the fear lingering in his eyes. Robin always asked him, sometimes with a look far more effective than any words could have been, but Steve would shrug it off, distracting her with another joke or topic change. 

It worked on Eddie too. He hated making him worry, especially after Eddie had spent so much time helping him recover from the “mall fire” Steve had been caught in. After so many late nights Eddie spent holding onto Steve, promising that whatever it was that had happened in the mall was over, Eddie recognized the signs of hurt. Steve was struggling again, his hair more unkempt and those dark circles reappearing under his eyes as he feared sleep again, scared to wake up without control again. He hated it, hated that even after surviving everything it still wasn’t over for him, but he would hate bringing Eddie into this even more than he already had. Eddie got to be free from the Upside Down and all of its horrors, and like hell would Steve ever be the one to ruin that for him.

Except, sometimes there really never was a choice, it seemed. Because months later, when Steve had begun to get into a rhythm with his episodes, everything turned on its head. Suddenly he was getting a phone call in the middle of the night from Wayne Munson, saying that there was a dead body in the trailer and Eddie was missing, that the cops thought he did it no matter how many times Wayne said that their Eddie couldn’t have.

How many times would they defeat the Upside Down only to have it return again? They keep sacrificing everything, only for it to come back even stronger a year later. There was nothing worse than seeing that haunted look on Eddie’s face: the one Steve was sure he’d given once, when he was sure the demodogs would have taken him out in the tunnels what felt like decades ago. But there was no real time to explain everything, only giving bits and pieces of the years they’d spent at war with this thing so Eddie would know what they were facing. 

Steve supposed, after everything, it only made sense for the Upside Down to take this from him too, this secret he’d kept carefully wrapped up now exposed for his friends to see.

It happened after he’d been pulled through the bottom of Lover’s Lake into the Upside Down. After struggling for breath in the water, and then having to fight his way out of the hold of dozens of weird demobats with sharp claws and even sharper teeth, Steve wasn’t surprised when he felt that familiar tugging at the base of his skull.

“Oh, shit,” he hissed after spitting out the gluey blood from one of the bats. 

The second Steve was on the ground, the others’ attention was pulled away from the strange world around them to focus on him. The convulsing wasn’t as bad as it had been in the past, though Steve could feel his muscles locked up so tightly he was sure something would tear if his body moved wrong. What made this one the worst, though, was that he had three of the most important people in his life standing over him now.

“Steve?” Nancy asked, face contorting into pure concern.

Robin laughed at first, even nudging his hip a little with the tip of her shoe. “C’mon, dingus, very funny. Rabies doesn’t even do that until 24 hours aft—Shit, Steve, Steve are you okay?” The amusement quickly morphed into panic as Steve didn’t get back up off the ground. “What’s happening?”

“He’s seizing,” Nancy spoke up, instantly taking the lead once she recognized what was happening. “Quick, we have to get him on his side so he doesn’t hurt himself.”

Steve could feel hands on him, Nancy’s smaller ones pushing his legs while Eddie’s moved his torso into the right position, holding onto him as tightly as he dared to keep his body from moving back to the supine position. 

“Stevie, baby, it’s gonna be okay,” Eddie choked out, not even bothering to hide the tears building and falling from his eyes. The past few days had been like his own personal preview of Hell, but this? Seeing the love of his life suffering without being able to do anything but hold onto him? Eddie was sure nothing else could ever be as terrible. “You’re gonna be okay.”

Eddie repeated it for the full episode, using his free hand to brush through Steve’s hair as his body began to relax under Eddie’s hands. “What was that, baby?” Eddie dared to ask after Steve had time to catch his breath, instinctively turning further on his side to hide his face from Eddie. 

It wasn’t that he was ashamed, but the idea of Eddie, Robin, and Nancy having to see him like that made his chest hurt worse than the lack of oxygen. It made him hiccup, his chest stuttering harshly as he fought off the tears he so badly wanted to let out.

“No, ‘s fine. I’m fine,” Steve answered as he began to force his breathing into something that resembled normal, sitting up and pointedly staring at the ground between him and Eddie. “It’s just a thing that happens sometimes, it’s not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal? What the hell, Harrington!” It was Robin who lashed out first, standing a few steps away from where the other three were huddled together on the ground. Her hands were pulling on her hair harshly, tears streaking down her face, and the kind of fear that Steve hadn’t seen since they were being interrogated in the mall basement was written clearly in her eyes. “That is the opposite of not a big deal. You collapsed. I thought you were dying.”

Steve picked at the cuff of one of his pant legs, mourning the way he’d have to ditch his favorite pair of jeans when all of this was over. It was better than seeing the distress on all of his friends' faces, seeing everything he’d fought so hard to avoid.

“How long has this been happening, Steve?” Nancy asked, her voice gentle like she was scared anything more than a whisper would spook him. Steve shrugged, working his jaw as if he might eventually answer even when he had no intention to. “You could’ve told us. We could’ve helped.”

“Didn’t want you to,” Steve murmured, suddenly shaking his head and climbing to his feet. He brushed off the three pairs of worried hands that immediately reached for him, taking a large step back so they couldn’t stop him. “Don’t. Let’s just get moving, okay? We have to find a way outta here.”

“Stevie, we have to ta—” Eddie began, and Steve would hate himself for it later but he couldn’t help but turn on him, cheeks burning with all of the frustration, fear, and humiliation he was feeling after making his friends witness that.

“Just drop it, Eddie. I’m not talking about it, not when we have better things to do,” Steve snapped, picking a direction and immediately starting off toward the horizon, not bothering to check if anyone else was following.

No one said anything for a long time. It wasn’t until Robin and Nancy walked ahead of them in the weird forest that Eddie spoke again. They were walking so close that Eddie’s shoulder brushed Steve’s, still exposed to the chill despite the vest that Eddie had wrapped him up in moments before. It wasn’t the first time Steve had worn something of Eddie’s, but it was the first time Eddie ever let anyone but himself touch his battle vest. 

Steve didn’t have the brain power to consider the implications of that.

“Are you really okay?” Eddie asked when it was just the two of them, watching where he was walking but stealing glances at Steve every second he could like if he didn’t then Steve would collapse again.

“I’d be better if everyone stopped asking me that,” Steve huffed, looking up at the red-tinged sky like it might hold the answers he was looking for. The annoyance felt odd on his tongue, barbed and misfitting as he lobbed it harshly at Eddie. The man was just worried, Steve knew that, but already he could see how everyone was treating him differently. Eddie, as close as possible, like he could catch Steve if he collapsed again, and Nancy, who glanced back at him every so often to make sure he was still upright. Even Robin, not once making fun of him since it happened despite having had plenty of opportunities to do so.

“Stevie,” Eddie pressed, finally stopping completely so he could focus his attention on Steve. “We’re worried, that’s it.”

“I know, I know that,” Steve groaned, “I just...”

“What?”

“I don’t know, okay? I don’t know,” Steve let out, running a hand roughly through his hair. “If there’s something wrong with me, if everyone knows I could do that at any second...You don’t get it, Eds, you can’t.”

“Try me, big boy,” Eddie continued, no judgment in his eyes at all, “Before today, I wouldn’t have believed a lot of things. But evil wizards and portal dimensions kinda changed that.” Steve knew he could trust Eddie, and knew that he had been there for him in ways no one else had before. Still, he could feel panic clawing in his throat as he tried to get the words out. 

“In all this shit...I don’t know, protecting the kids? That’s always been my job, the one thing I was good at. If I can’t be trusted to do that then...what the hell am I here for?” Steve tried to get out, pointedly not looking at Eddie as he spoke.

“Hey, hey, who said anything about not trusting you?” Eddie instantly spoke, moving around so he could stand in front of Steve. He pressed in close, making it impossible for Steve to avoid looking at him. “Stevie.”

He couldn’t help the little smile that pulled on his lips, just having Eddie this close to him. So Steve looked up, his vision swallowed up by expressive brown eyes. 

“Stevie, you’re the damn kids’ hero. They won’t stop talking about you. It was almost getting annoying how much I had to hear about how great you are. I think you’re Dustin’s role model for life,” Eddie spoke.

“I’m not a role model,” Steve answered automatically, cheeks heating up at the thought that he’d really made such a good impression on them. He wanted to be a good support source for them, to help them get through all of these awful experiences they’d all had together. If he could make Dustin’s high school life a little better, if he could be the big brother he’d always wanted to be and the one Dustin had once said he’d dreamed of for years, then everything would be worth it.

“Please, you’d think Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington turned into the goddamn Mother Theresa,” Eddie teased, fingers brushing over the makeshift bandage wrapped around Steve’s middle. “This won’t change how anyone sees you. If anything, seeing you fight through this shit will make them look up to you more, they’ll be insufferable. We just want to help, Stevie, you shouldn’t be doing this all alone.”

And that, well.

“Whatever, Eds,” Steve scoffed, a soft smile clear on his lips as he pulled from Eddie’s grasp and started walking. “C’mon, the girls are getting ahead of us.”

“What, not even a thank you kiss?” Eddie called after him, pulling a startled laugh from Steve.

“Ask me after we’re back in the Rightside Up.”

Steve had almost forgotten about it, after.

After nearly losing Eddie—“What happened to not pulling any hero moves?”—and narrowly saving Max from Vecna, all Steve wanted to do was to sleep for about a week. The entire group gathered at his house, all feeling similarly that it would be much worse to spend this first night alone.

The first night was always the worst, after. When the shadows were still fresh, when he could still hear all the nightmarish sounds and feel the lingering fear of imminent death, the idea of being alone made Steve want to curl up and cry.

That was how he ended up on the floor of his living room piled on top of pillows and blankets while the Party and teens all spread out around the space. He ended up between Eddie and Robin, with his back pressed to Eddie’s front while one of his hands reached out to hold onto Robin’s arm in front of him like he was making sure she wouldn’t disappear in the middle of the night.

It was easy to fall asleep. It was much harder waking up.

It wasn’t a bad one by any means, as it seemed even his body was too exhausted to fully go through the motions. And yet Steve was still startled away by his body tensing, hands curled up painfully toward his chest as his legs twitched and kicked out at Eddie.

This time, though, he didn’t wake up alone. Instead, he came to on his side, with Eddie pressed up close to his back and nose pressed into Steve’s neck, whispering gentle words into his skin. Robin was holding him too, arms wrapped around him from the front and telling him that everything was going to be fine. They were quiet about it, voices barely over a whisper so they didn’t wake the entire group and prompt an explanation Steve was too tired to give.

But God, they were there. 

His heart ached in a way it hadn’t ever done before, the feeling swelling in his chest as he let himself be held by the love of his life and his best friend in the entire world. All at once, the past several months of pain rushed up on him, forcing a choked-out sob from Steve’s lips. The tears kept coming once one had been allowed, one hand curling tightly into Robin’s shirt while the other reached out to hold tightly to Eddie’s hand. So Steve cried, allowing himself to take comfort where he never had before. 

Steve wasn’t sure how long he cried, just that by the time the sounds eased into something resembling a whimper, he felt more exhausted than he had in ages. It was bone deep, running right through him like all of the tears had caused an outpouring of the last energy reserves Steve had been holding onto. Like, one hug from Eddie and Robin shocked him out of the adrenaline state he’d been living in since the first seizure.

“Thank you,” Steve whispered, voice watery with tears he didn’t have the energy to feel embarrassed about, “thank you.”

“That’s what we’re here for, dingus,” Robin answered, her own cheeks wet with tears.

“Go back to sleep, Stevie, we have you,” Eddie promised, pressing a kiss to Steve’s jaw as his hand started rubbing comforting circles into his hip. “You don’t have to deal with this alone anymore. We’re here.”

Maybe it wasn’t perfect. There would be more episodes, and more tears, and more tough conversations Steve wouldn’t always be ready for. But through it all, he’ll know he had this—people who cared about him, people who loved him.

That knowledge alone made everything feel like it would be okay again for the first time in months.

TAGLIST: @alessiamargaux @minispice-1 @shadetea @emily19990 @alexxavicry @raven2008 @whoringrove @strangerleaves @blackpanzy @goodproofingwater @greetings-and-salutations @lesbianpinkhairedjughead @kerlypride @singmeyoursimpsong @im-sam-fucking-winchester @angel_wings_and_tattoos

wanna join the taglist?

#steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #steve x eddie #stranger things #steddie fanfiction #hurt/comfort #disabled!steve harrington #harringroveson bingo

[books]

Writer Spotlight: Claire Ahn

Claire Ahn grew up in Seoul, Korea, which she still considers home. She moved to New York to attend university and now lives in Long Island City with her husband, newborn daughter, and their dog, Dante. Claire writes about transcultural experiences and the traditions, values, and legacies that shape who we are. I GUESS I LIVE HERE NOW is her debut novel. Click through to read about mouth-watering food and homesickness remedies, and for some really good writing advice.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you came to write I GUESS I LIVE HERE NOW?

I think most debut authors would probably divulge this, but the first novel is always a bit of a circuitous path. You can never really pinpoint the beginning of the first because it’s just this blurry idea you had years ago that somehow—through repetitive classes and workshopping and rejections—becomes a novel. I suppose this idea was conceived back in 2016, but it’s gone through many transitions, from a children’s book to a middle-grade book, then a young adult novel, and within it, about four to five full revisions. 

I started writing to release stress from a grueling job in public relations, where writing felt so formulaic and not at all creative. I’ve always loved storytelling, and was told PR is the world of storytelling as a profession, but it wasn’t enough to fill the creative well in me. So I took up course writing at Gotham Writers Workshop, which is how this all began for me. Plus, I got free wine every week. How could I have stopped attending? 

You’ve written your own experience in reverse, going from New York to Seoul, and made it YA. What were some challenges you faced in doing so? 

From a craft perspective, it was hard to write Seoul as if it was the first time. Everything there feels second nature to me, from the street foods to the lavish grocery stores and intensely beautiful cafe culture. It’s never a shock when I go back home, so having to write it fresh was hard. Hopefully, I somewhat successfully captured the newness of it from Melody’s eyes. From a personal experience perspective, my constant fear is that someone in my life will be convinced a flawed character was inspired by them! Woof. If you’re reading this, close friend or family member, this is not the case! 

Melody and her friends are all navigating parental expectations while trying to make their way in the world. What do you hope readers take away from seeing these character dynamics represented?

 Am I the only one feeling like I sometimes live my life intensely trying to please my parents? Oh God, I hope not. I hope readers feel seen and less alone in having dreams that may defy the wishes of parents or guardians or even of peers and the capitalistic society in which we live. I hope readers feel reminded that they can simply be. They can have lofty dreams like Melody, or they can want to dream of being comfortable and accepted in their skin, like Kimbeom, or they can just want to live in their present, and that is all okay and good. Let’s change the narrative of having to stamp influential footprints in this world. 

Seoul is your home, but you live in Long Island City. How do you approach writing about being in between two cultures, and what’s your favored remedy for homesickness?

I think I operate on a default state of longing and clinging. I’m always longing to visit Seoul any chance I get, and I live in a state of clinging onto my culture tighter than my high school banquet dress. I release myself from those states of being by writing stories where I get to pretend like I’m in Seoul again or where I imagine my life as a teen in New York, fresh from Korea. My favored remedy for homesickness is buying a plane ticket to Seoul and immediately texting my friends back home that I’ll be there soon. Then, every day until I’m on that plane, I dream of being surrounded by faces like mine, speaking in my native tongue, and stuffing my face with high-quality rice cakes (dduk). Does that sound sad? I swear I love my life in New York, too. 

The descriptions of food in IGILHN are incredible. What’s your favorite Korean dish, and can you make our mouths water describing it?

Thank you! You know, I didn’t know food was a theme in the book until people pointed it out. Food is such a deeply ingrained part of Korean culture that it wasn’t an intentional ploy, but as it turns out, it is impossible to write a book set in Seoul without a proper description of the bounty of food on offer. My favorite dish has got to be my mom’s homemade galbi jjim, braised short ribs. I can’t even eat ones from a restaurant because it tastes horrible compared to her concoction. It’s a common holiday dish for New Year’s or Chuseok, but for me, it was the dish my mom made every time I landed in Seoul from New York. An expression of love poured into a dish that takes hours to make. I always imagined her making it in the kitchen the night before I arrived, eagerly waiting for her younger daughter to come back home. It’s a thoughtful dish because it’s not something you can whip up at a moment’s notice, and if you try to, you will never mimic a galbi jjim that has been simmering for hours. It’s both a deliciously sweet and intensely aromatic and savory dish. When done right, the meat falls off the bones at the softest pull with chopsticks, and it’s generously coated with a sauce made from Korean radishes, jujubes, pears, chestnuts, and garlic. As my husband says, it’s a ‘flavor explosion.’ 

What made you want to be a writer? What advice can you give to budding writers working on transcultural narratives?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but growing up in an Asian household, I wasn’t made aware that writing was a chosen profession. I was sort of led to believe it was something you did on the side of your ‘real’ job, which just meant making a stable income with the goal of homeownership. As a daughter of immigrants, stability was highly valued in our household, so writing wasn’t really a ‘serious’ option. But I wrote my first play when I was in the second grade, a whopping eleven pages of some friends living on Mars, spying on Earth people.

My advice would be to find a writing community and celebrate small milestones. I couldn’t have gotten here without my group of writers that I met through Gotham Writers; equally, I might have given up if I wasn’t so damn good at celebrating even the stupidest things: Submitted a manuscript? Buy myself a typewriter! Read a book during a desolate book lull? Eat my favorite ice cream! The journey to finding an agent, revising, then selling your book, then revising again (and again and again and again), then finally seeing it hit shelves (which I haven’t yet) is LONG! So, unless you’re a total Grinch and happy to be one, celebrate; because you can’t go years without that celebratory joy to keep you motivated. 

What does Melody’s Tumblr look like? Obviously, she’s got some interior design in there, but what else does she post? What’s the vibe like?

The vibe is definitely a modern cafe look with a splash of pop, which is also her fashion style. Isn’t our Tumblr vibe just a digital reflection of our fashion? Mine definitely was. Mel’s Tumblr is probably like Comme des Garcons meets Alexander Wang. 

IGILHN is your debut novel—what’s next for you?

I’m working on my second book now, and it’s not set in Seoul! It’s set right here, in my second favorite city, New York. Everyone says book two is the worst. Surprisingly, I don’t want to rip my eyes out, and I’m thoroughly enjoying exploring my new fictional friends and their immigrant families and New York’s Asian food culture. Soup dumplings have already made their way into my pages multiple times. I can’t share too much yet, but I hope it stays as fun as it’s been so far and that it finds its people. 

Thanks so much for answering our questions, Claire! I GUESS I LIVE HERE NOW will be hitting shelves on May 24. That’s today in a week! 

#writer spotlight #claire ahn #I guess I live here now #aapi month #ya fiction #pre-release #seoul #korea #aapi fiction #booklr #aapi lit

[twyam-if]

trigger warnings: 17+ for depictions of violence, gore, strong language, mild sexual themes, death, and mature themes. Viewer discretion is advised.

in the world of Romaen, it was prophesied that four, otherworldly warriors shall descend upon the world to combat against the forces of evil.

one will possess the disposition of a true monarch.

one will possess the strength of the true matriarch of Romaen.

one will possess the memories of a traitorous god.

one will possess the heart of a mourning world.

you are NOT one of these warriors.

As a regular college student, you are fully aware of how everything works in the world...somewhat. You have student loans to repay, research papers to turn in before midnight, classes that aren't significant to your actual degree, and professors to speak with regarding your future careers. It's stressful, but luckily, your best friends are there to help you ride out the college experience.

That is, until you were dragged through some wormhole, and found yourself face-to-face with a cat-eared man who jovially exclaims, "Welcome to Romaen, brave heroes!"

You were most definitely surprised to be dragged in a different universe, but hey! This means that you'll finally be able to take a break from your schoolwork, homework--whatever! There's even the chance that you'll be able to save everyone, wield a powerful weapon, and--uh. Or not.

According to the cat-eared man, you are NOT one of the chosen heroes. Your friends are.

And the only way to even leave this world is to help your friends destroy said forces of evil...as their impromptu bodyguard.

You're pretty sure the universe as chosen you as their residential punching bag and you don't like it.

To Which You're a Martyr is an in-progress interactive fictional novel that will be made in Twine about close friendships, evolution, and the desire for a happy ending. To Which You're a Martyr will be a tentative trilogy.

To Which You're a Martyr includes:

-Play not as one of the chosen heroes of prophecy, but as their defender instead!

-Pursue a romance with not only your best friends, but with more additions! However, if you wish to pursue/continue with a platonic relationship, that option is also there as well!

-Have a wide, range of options to choose from for your character creation!

-Interchangeable POV’s between characters!

-Your actions will have consequences. Be prepared for the decisions that you will make!

These are the main ROs that can be revealed now without spoilers, but there will be more to come soon! This will be updated accordingly once newer additions arrive. But for now, please enjoy these characters!

MasterList of All Characters (Including New Ones) // Character Images

"Babe, I love you so much! You're the one I've been batting for this entire time! Get it? Batting? Cause I play baseball? W-Wait, why do you look so done? Babe? Babe?! Babe, come baaaack!"

Lana "Lemon" Corchat (she/her, 22); One of the romantic options/deurtagonists, she carries the entire package: beauty, brawn, and smarts. Her rambunctious, jocky personality, mixed with a scowl that accentuates her beauty whenever she's approached for a 'date' from someone else, is what gave her the nickname, "Lemon" from others. She's known you since Middle School.

Her personality changes whenever she's with you, and whenever she's with the group, she becomes a bit flighty, but a very, very physically strong, young lady with clumsy tendencies.

Appearance: Long, locks of blonde hair tied into a high ponytail by a red ribbon, bright red-colored eyes that shines like rubies. She wears red, hoop earrings and often wears a sleeveless, white-collared shirt with a collar and a red tie. She wears a red, plaid skirt with black, tight shorts underneath with red and black tennis shoes. She also wears a set of black, fingerless gloves. She has tanned in some areas, but otherwise has ivory skin. She is 5′6′‘.

"What on earth are you talking about? You were already by my side this entire time. For what use is there to say it out-loud, when you can see it as clear as day in my eyes? Are we not childhood friends for nothing!? Apologize for your incompetence!"

William "King" Pillars (he/him, 23): One of the romantic options/deurtagonists, he's arrogant, egotistical, a complete jackass, and believes the world is 'his' to control. This is not that far off, as he had already captured the hearts of the staff members, professors, university board members, and even the Headmaster of Dormira University--no doubt, thanks to his status, influence, wealth, and endless charisma.

He is a childhood friend of yours, and he often brings (read: drags) you around in his usual antics. Underneath that arrogant behavior lies a wise man who truly believes that the world has 'stagnated', and wishes to revolutionize it.

Appearance: Long, teal hair that ends at his shoulder blades, some of it is tied up into a ponytail that reaches his neck. His eyes have a magenta-pink hue, and he wears a red ribbon around his neck. He typically wears a white dress-shirt over a dark green shirt, black business slacks with black dress shoes. On his ears, he has some small, helix piercings on his ear. He has porcelain skin. He is 6′1′‘.

"I love you. I'll say it as many times as I want because it's you. I love you so much that it hurts."

Rin "Sun" Flanhen (they/them, 24); One of the romantic options/deurtagonists, their aloof nature and mysterious aura makes them both approachable and un-approachable. Despite how passive they can be whenever they're swept in your group's shenanigans, they usually act as the mediator...or they'll add more fuel to the fire. You sometimes wonder if they do this on purpose, but it's hard to really decipher what they're really like at times.

Despite being a newer member of your friend group, you feel as if you knew them longer than that.

Appearance: Short, black hair that nearly covers their red eyes, they will always wears sunglasses over them. They have two, red diamond-shaped accessories in thier hair. They will often wear a black, skin-tight turtleneck with a grey coat over them, with a pair of black pants and black, tennis shoes. There are some splotches of paint on their coat, with a brush or two in their pockets. They have warm, golden skin. They are 5′9′‘.

“You sure you want to be with an old man like me?”

Hanami “Red” Hex (he/him, ???); A laid back warrior who fights like a 'wolf', in accordance to his legend. He often makes jokes and calls himself an 'old man' when compared to the other kids, and he often gives you and the college students some candy as a reward.

Despite how he is, he's the legendary warrior that shook the gods and goddesses by storm, and was their champion until his dying breath. He was known as The Witch's Wolf.

Appearance: Bright, red hair pulled back into long, red waves that reaches his lower back. Deep, blue eyes with black slits. A scar on the right side of his cheek, diagonally placed along his chin. Large, red wolf ears and a large, red fluffy tail on his lower backside. He bears a strong physique and wears a tight, sleeveless turtleneck shirt with a white coat. He has on a silver gauntlet that reaches his elbow with red and silver decorations, and on his other arm is a vambrace that’s fully red with red, patches of fur surrounding it. He wears a pair of dark pants with belts around his thighs, and wears a pair of black shoes. He has ivory skin. He is 6′6′‘.

Demo: TBA

#interactive fiction #twine game #cyoa #indie game #interactive novel #twine #twyam #twyam if #dev log #if game #if wip #twine wip #twine if

[the-duchess-of-domination]

TW for ED/ARFID talk

I'm severely emetophobic (to the point of ARFID) yet I love tummies so much? The noises, the smooth skin, how it changes shape depending on how full it is, the fact that we need them to keep us alive! Everything! But only online. I'm such a sucker for upset tummy fluff yet if someone said their stomach hurt in real life I would probably cry on spot and hold my breath around them forever. I think part of the love for tummies (or I guess you could say kink but it's not that sexual for me) is because I wish I could do it IRL. I wish I could comfort people and rub their tummies when they don't feel well. So instead I go to tumblr where I can do it no problem. I know this is rambling, but I hope someone relates

-lurker anon

TW: OCD, Emetophobia

hi anon!! thank you for sharing!! im sure a lot of us (including me!!) can relate!

i’ll share a little bit about myself! everything with me started as a child, and there are a lot of overlapping layers. i knew from an early age (literally by 5 years old) that it was exciting to me when cute boys had stomach aches (usually from being fed too much, throwing up wasn’t really on my radar quite yet but it makes sense because it comes with the territory). most of the pieces of media i can remember leaving an impact on me usually cut away or just insinuated that a male character was nauseous or too full by showing their face turn green or having them duck off screen. nothing was ever particularly graphic. this also led to a fixation on stomachs in general, especially the stomachs of bigger guys.

though i never admitted this fascination to anyone (and nobody ever shamed me), i felt weird because i knew other people didn’t share this fixation, so i kept it to myself and tried to enjoy it in private (this usually took the form of writing stories or seeking out media that possibly had sick boys in it. i was a real sleuth). i was a bit obsessive with it, but overall most of the harm was internal rather than external because i was convinced that to enjoy watching men’s pain and discomfort must have meant i was evil or that something was seriously with me.

the thing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is that when you explain your compulsions and thoughts out loud they sound silly because you know they aren’t true, but you can’t help but think them. as a child my thoughts told me that to become sick was an admittance of weakness (which, obviously is SO not true lmao) and that expressing vulnerability was a man’s job. i developed crippling emetophobia that has persisted into my adulthood. the idea with vomiting and its lack of control was absolutely horrifying to me.

a man being sick? there is nothing sexier.

but me?

i began to have panic attacks through middle and high school. this later led to contamination OCD, always being terrified of being sick, and again, worrying and having thoughts about why i found it so attractive when boys admitted they were nauseous (that i must be corrupt, a bad person, crazy, etc).

sometimes i think our brains help us cope with trauma and fear by throwing us a bone every now and again. my fear of losing control manifests in fantasies where i hold all the power. i use my fetishes to strengthen the relationship i have with myself: that im not evil, or wrong, or corrupt, or out of control, or crazy. im just a girl who does things a little differently, and control in my fetish life helps me feel more comfortable dealing with my emetophobia in real life.

anyway, that was a long tangent, but i hope this resonates with the people!! 😭 we just love tummies man. i too love the little sounds they make and what those little sounds mean, the look of them, the way they sit on people’s hips, the fact that they can bloat bigger or get smaller, that we anthropomorphize them by saying they get “upset,” the chest and nipples right above them—i could write a manifesto i SWEAR.

-the duchess 👑🦢

#the duchess speaks #emetophilia #emeto kink #tummy ache #belly ache #that was so long but the people need to know