So! I've been working on the My Home(TM) kitchen in Design Home, and I've got it juuuuust about perfect (or as much as it can be within the limited options of design home), but I keep going back and forth on which rug I want. And then I thought, why not ask tumblr? So, behold:
Option 1:
I've always wanted a yellow kitchen, but there was no option to make the walls yellow in design home, so a nice bright yellow rug seems like a good compromise. However, my yellow/multicolor floral accent chair doesn't shine as well against this background.
Option 2:
The blue complements the rest of the kitchen well and gives my table and chairs a solid background to pop against. However, I worry it makes the room too dark and the color palette too cool for my goal of a bright, sunshiney kitchen.
Option 3:
Purple is my favorite color (quelle surprise if you know me at all, lol) and it's a good inbetween tone-wise I think. However, I worry the pattern of this rug is a touch busy.
If you pick the fourth one, you're legally obligated to tell me what rug you're thinking of. Also legal disclaimer that I am not bound by the results of this poll and I'll probably make up my mind on my own eventually, but I'm curious to see how things shake out, and also I lowkey wanted to show off my home designing.
Yeah I'm a gamer (*spends hours playing a home design game on my phone*)
listen ik lance would NOT be the type of guy™ to watch a disney movie but ik for a fact that if someone showed him treasure planet (2002) he would relate to jim hawkins sm that he would basically turn into this lol
"The Essential Guide to Cookware: Choosing the Right Pots and Pans for Your Kitchen"
Introduction: Cookware is the unsung hero of every kitchen, silently contributing to the delicious meals we enjoy daily. Whether you're an amateur home cook or a seasoned chef, having the right cookware can make a world of difference in your culinary adventures. In this blog, we'll explore the various types of cookware, their materials, and how to choose the best pots and pans for your cooking needs.
The Fundamentals of Cookware :Before delving into the specifics, let's cover the basics. Cookware is typically categorized into two main types: pots and pans. Pots are deep vessels with high sides, while pans have flat bottoms and low sides. Each serves its unique purpose, from simmering soups in a pot to searing steaks in a pan.
Cookware is an essential part of any kitchen, serving as the foundation for preparing delicious meals. These kitchen tools come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, each designed for specific cooking methods and recipes. Understanding the fundamentals of cookware is key to becoming a proficient cook.
Materials Matter: The material of your cookware affects how evenly it distributes heat, its durability, and its overall performance. Here are some common materials you'll encounter. Material Matter is a brand known for its innovative and sustainable cookware solutions.
They prioritize using eco-friendly materials and cutting-edge designs to create kitchen tools that enhance cooking experiences while minimizing environmental impact. From non-stick pans to versatile utensils, Material Matter aims to redefine the way we cook and care for our planet.
Stainless Steel: Known for its durability and resistance to staining, stainless steel is versatile and non-reactive. It's ideal for browning, searing, and deglazing. Stainless steel cookware is a popular choice among home chefs and professional cooks alike due to its durability, versatility, and sleek appearance.
Crafted from an alloy of iron, chromium, and other metals, stainless steel cookware is resistant to rust and staining, making it a long-lasting kitchen staple. Its even heat distribution and non-reactive nature with food make it ideal for a wide range of cooking techniques. In this introduction, we'll explore the benefits and versatility of stainless steel cookware, as well as its maintenance and care to ensure it remains a valuable addition to your kitchen.
Cast Iron: Cast iron cookware retains and distributes heat exceptionally well. It's perfect for slow-cooking, frying, and baking. Seasoning your cast iron adds a natural non-stick surface. Cast iron cookware is a versatile and durable kitchen essential that has been used for centuries. It's made from molten iron that's poured into molds, creating pots, pans, and skillets known for their exceptional heat retention and even heating.
These qualities make cast iron cookware a favorite among professional chefs and home cooks alike. Whether you're searing, frying, baking, or even grilling, cast iron can handle it all. With proper care, it can last a lifetime and develop a natural non-stick surface known as seasoning. Let me know if you'd like to learn more about how to use and maintain cast iron cookware or have specific questions!
Non-Stick: Non-stick cookware has a coating that prevents food from sticking, making it easy to clean. However, it may require gentle care to avoid scratching the surface. Non-stick cookware has revolutionized the way we cook by making food preparation easier and more convenient. These kitchen essentials are typically coated with a non-stick surface, often made from materials like PTFE (Teflon) or ceramic, which prevents food from sticking to the pan.
This innovation has reduced the need for excessive oil or butter in cooking, making meals healthier and cleanup a breeze. In this conversation, I can provide you with information, tips, and recommendations related to non-stick cookware
Copper: Copper cookware offers rapid, even heating but often requires a lining of stainless steel or tin to prevent reactivity with certain foods. Copper cookware has a rich culinary history dating back centuries. Renowned for its exceptional heat conductivity, copper cookware offers precise temperature control, making it a favorite among professional chefs and cooking enthusiasts alike. In this guide, we'll explore the benefits, care, and versatility of copper cookware, helping you elevate your culinary skills and create delicious meals.
Aluminum: Lightweight and affordable, aluminum cookware heats quickly but may react with acidic foods. Anodized aluminum is a more durable and non-reactive option. Aluminium cookware is a popular choice in kitchens worldwide due to its lightweight, excellent heat conductivity, and affordability. It's commonly used for a wide range of cooking tasks, from sautéing to boiling.
However, it's important to note that uncoated aluminium cookware can react with acidic or alkaline foods, potentially affecting taste and safety. To address this, many aluminium pans have nonstick or anodized coatings. Anodized aluminium is more durable and resistant to corrosion. When choosing aluminium cookware, consider your cooking needs, maintenance preferences, and potential health concerns associated with aluminium exposure.
Choosing the Right Cookware: The cookware you select should align with your cooking style and needs. Here are some considerations. Choosing the right cookware is essential for achieving great results in the kitchen. From pots and pans to utensils and bakeware, selecting the right tools can make cooking more efficient and enjoyable.
In this guide, we'll explore the key factors to consider when choosing cookware, including material, heat conductivity, durability, and maintenance. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a beginner in the kitchen, making informed choices about your cookware will help you elevate your culinary skills and create delicious meals.
Conclusion :Investing in high-quality cookware is an investment in your culinary journey. By understanding the fundamentals of cookware materials and choosing pieces that align with your cooking style, you'll be well-equipped to create delicious meals for years to come. Remember, the right cookware is not just a tool; it's a partner in your culinary adventures. Happy cooking!
Checkout our hot new listing in Riverside south which sits on one of biggest corner lots in the area and backs onto a park making making it the perfect home with kids and a growing family! You don't find lots like this anymore and walking distance to some great schools.
4440 WILDMINT SQ, Ottawa K1V 1N6
Listed For Sale at $712,880 MLS#1343303
3 Bed/ 2 Bath/ Fully finished basement/end unit corner
No Rear Neighbors / Park Setting
Welcome Home to 4440 Wildmint Square with this Exquisite 3-bedroom end unit townhome located in the sought-after Riverside South. Situated on a one of the biggest corner lots in the area, this home offers privacy and tranquility with no rear neighbors, except for a beautiful park right behind it. The main floor boasts a open concept living & dining room with gas fireplace with access to backyard deck, a stylish updated white kitchen with plenty of cupboard and counter space, large breakfast bar and a walkin pantry for extra storage. Upstairs, you'll find a luxurious primary bedroom with large closet, along with two more good sized bedrooms and a stunning full bathroom with jacuzzi tub and standup shower. The fully finished lower level provides flexible space that can be used as a home office or a cozy family room . With its convenient location near parks and Walking distance to public, French & two Catholic schools this home is perfect for any size family. Updated and Move in ready
oh christ i didn’t know they were fuckin HUGE… tomura would be furious lmao especially if isaac walked between his legs, wrapping their tail around tomura’s clothes
YES HAHAHA they’re literally massive cats—i promise you tomura didn’t know they were as big as they are, either, entirely unsuspecting that the tiny ball of silver fluff dabi had pulled from his pocket would evolve into a fucking beast, capable of jumping several feet in the air (onto his high countertops, then onto the top of his fridge, tail swishing irritatingly in front of the freezer door), capable of knocking very heavy, very expensive items from tall surfaces (like the base of his vitamix blender, or the chef’s kitchenaid standing mixer, or his favourite milk frother). isaac is otherwise a very well behaved cat—maybe a little spoiled, sure, but definitely not a troublemaker—unless it comes to tomura’s things, which tomura adamantly swears he purposefully destroys, because he ‘has it out for Daddy’ (reader + dabi always burst into giggles whenever tomura goes off with this speech, dabi asserting that isaac is just trying to show tomura that he loves him, that’s all!) <3
omg reader would find it so cute when isaac twines between and around tomura’s legs—he’s claiming you as one of his own, Daddy!—stifling laughter when tomura mutters and grumbles about how he doesn’t want to be a part of isaac’s clan if it means he gets fur all over his trousers, trying to shoo the cat with a gentle nudge of his ankle, isaac purring and nuzzling tomura’s foot in response <3
Another fresh and colorful addition to my Fresh Color Art Series. A beautiful lobster that is perfect for the nature lover, sea friend or beach house. Great for home or office!
GET IT HERE!
Setting up a concept version of a marketing plan for a (hobby cook) home cook business. This is something that has been making me so happy and keepin’ me going in a good mood with good hopes. :))
It might be a little pricy in the beginning (I have to purchase some professional cookware and crockery and all - not to forget I have to build a professional portfolio first of [culinary expensive] dishes and meals, shot in high definition photo quality), but eventually, after my first 3-4 shifts, I can make an awesome extra savings/living off it. (and not earn my money from sitting before a friggin’ draining computer screen all day!!!!)
I can picture myself running a happy business cooking up dinner get-togethers at people’s homes, albeit I stress I am a hobby cook (not an accredited professional chef). I explored + researched the market a little bit, and there is little competition in the field the way I aim to do it. I just have to use some storytelling, branding magic and train my cooking skills for a few months. And hope to go live and run a small gastronomic business around April/May! Who knows what this will bring me :)))
Maybe be clever now and already gain some field experience by working in a kitchen somewhere doing basic tasks.
Resile playing poker at Junie’s house…. Millen and junie appointing themselves to be the ones to stay sober and babysit anyone that isn’t… resile and aurrel coming up with progressively more wild guesses as to how the hell bill is winning so much (she’s legit just getting lucky and is trying SO hard not to laugh at how certain they are that she’s using some trick) and bridge and gedian making obscene food combos (resile was making it worse until he got into aurrel shenanigans) and joulie isn’t being subtle abt flirting with bill (she’s been leaning on bills shoulders half the time and ended up in her lap at some point. Nobody could tell u exactly when tho) and pierce and nya are adding fuel to the theories abt bill bc they think it’s funny and
synopsis: when watching a certain scary movie gives your husband, suguru, the perfect idea on how to ruin you.
c.w: p0rn with plot, fem!reader, reader is referred to as “good girl” “pretty girl”, mask kink (hehe<3), slight fear play, fingering, cunnilingus, dirty talk, suguru talks you through it, praise kink, strength kink if you squint, im obsessed with suguru's arms, clit smack, multiple orgasms.
word count: 2,1k
note: i am BRICKED after writing this. happy halloween hehe.
ghostface suguru! ( @aurelianamu )
In a dimly lit room, at around 10PM—it was a bit cold outside, the perfect weather to snuggle up and watch some movies. Romance movies? No, you did that last week. Action movie? Eh, you were not in the mood for that—oh, Scream. Your thumb presses on the movie before you put the remote control down and walk towards the kitchen to grab some snacks.
“Sugu, I picked a movie!” you announce as you make your way out of the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn and two drinks. Your husband marches down the stairs in a lazy manner, his long strands messily sticking out of his ponytail that he has to stop and tie it up again. He sees what movie you picked and he stands behind you on the couch.
“Scream?” he questions, hands resting on your shoulders.
“First movie, pretty iconic.”
“I don’t think it’s that scary though,” he doesn’t really say that he would rather watch something else, simply joins you on the couch and pulls you towards him with the bowl of popcorn resting on your lap.
The movie is indeed not that scary, you kept quoting some of the lines here and there, which earned you a chuckle from Suguru every time.
“No, please don’t kill me Mr. Ghostface I wanna be in the sequel,” you say in the same voice and attitude and your husband runs a hand through your hair.
“I think you’d easily outsmart him,” your husband is very supportive of you, but instead of making fun of his statement, your heart thrums in your chest when you picture Suguru in the ghostface mask.
“Really?” you look up at him through your eyelashes but Suguru is staring ahead and doesn’t notice the eyes you’re giving him.
“Yeah, they’re all pretty stupid—minus Sidney, I mean the fact that—“ your husband goes on a three minute ramble about the plot, how he appreciates the intelligence of the main character all while saying that the choice of the ghostface killers was nice. Unbeknownst to him, you were thinking of something else. Something far dirtier than intended.
“Baby,” you cut him off from his ramble and he hums in response.
“You’d be pretty hot as ghostface.” Suguru looks down on you when you say that and raises both eyebrows knowingly.
“Are you insinuating something?” To which you shrug your shoulders before staring back at the big screen in your living room, playing innocent.
“Just saying.”
You weren’t just saying, you knew exactly what you were doing. The next day, you’re sat on your bed folding laundry while watching the newest episode to your favorite podcast. You liked keeping your brain stimulated, and it distracted you from the fact that your husband was always gone for long hours during the day. But when you hear the keys rustling and the front door opening, you raise an eyebrow but don’t question it. Today’s mission must’ve been quick, you think to yourself.
“Welcome home!” you call out from your bedroom but don’t bother to get up, you knew he would come to your bedroom immediately so you keep your eyes on your computer and go back to folding the laundry.
A couple of minutes pass and Suguru doesn’t walk inside the bedroom, so you start getting a little suspicious and decide to go check on him.
“Sugu?” you walk out of the bedroom and notice how the lights downstairs are turned off. You remember leaving them on for him, so he must’ve turned them off on his way upstairs—but where was he?
“Baby, are you in the shower?” the lights in the bathroom were on but the door was closed. Suguru never walked to the bathroom first without greeting you—unless something was wrong. You put your hand on the door handle, but before you could twist the knob, a warm and rough hand covers your mouth and your blood runs cold when you’re being pulled into a different room.
You don’t have time to scream or panic, because when you’re being pinned to the wall by a rather familiar set of hands, your eyes almost bulge out of your skull when you notice the ghostface mask. You’re breathing heavily, cheeks flushed but there’s no sign of panic because you know who this is—the dragon tattoo peeking out of his shirt and the wedding band on his ring finger are enough evidence.
“Do you like scary movies?” Suguru’s voice sounds silky smooth, but the flirting connotation to it has your heart leaping out of your chest.
“Sugu—“
“Wrong,” he pins both hands above your head and his body is so close to yours that you feel the heat radiating off of it. “Let’s try again, I know my girl is smart.”
Your breath is caught in your throat, but you play along and nod sheepishly.
“Do you like scary movies?”
“Mhm,”
“What’s your favorite scary movie?” He traces a finger over your cheek, and the arousal slowly starts pooling between your legs.
“Hm, I don’t know,” you reply in a similar flirtatious tone, nervousness long gone. The realization that you didn’t have to explicitly tell your husband about the ghostface mask and him buying it for your pleasure made all of this very thrilling.
“You have to have a favorite, what comes to mind?”
“Hm, Halloween,” you stick to the same script of the movie, you buck your hips towards him but he pushes a knee between your legs and pins you again to the wall. “Y’know, the one with the guy with the white mask that walks around and stalks baby sitters?”
“Yeah,” Suguru breathes out and takes in how gorgeous you look like this—how he should’ve thought of doing this a long time ago. Your eyes were blown out with lust, chest heaving in excitement all while allowing him to play with you like this. He could feel his pants tighten and his cock was slowly getting hard from knowing exactly what was coming.
“What’s yours?” you bring him out of his thoughts and although you can’t see his face, you know that he was giving you that signature charming smile that always won over your heart.
“Guess.” He purrs out and you subconsciously start grinding against his knee before giving him a reply.
“Nightmare on Elm Street,”
“Wrong,” Suguru goes off script and your lips part for a moment. You’re about to complain, tell him that this wasn’t in the movie—he lets go of your wrists and throws you over his shoulder, delivering a harsh smack to your ass, his rough hand kneads the skin as he makes his way towards your bedroom.
“Better luck next time,” he throws you on the bed and you let out a gasp when your back hits the mattress. You try to sit up, but your husband grabs your ankles and pulls you down towards the end of the bed. “Now let’s see just how fucking filthy you are,”
He parts your legs with his big hands covering the plush skin of your thighs, and you whine out when he removes your shorts to reveal your panties that had an obvious wet patch on them.
“Fuuuck,” he breathes out and lifts up the mask enough for his mouth and nose to be visible. He presses his nose against your panties and takes a whiff of your arousal, the sight is obscene and your face turns red at how pussy drunk he sounds. “Fuck, fuck—should’ve done this sooner baby, you smell so fucking good,” he gives your pussy a kiss through the fabric of your panties before his fingers remove them so messily that you let out a startled noise.
Suguru dives in between your legs and the wet sounds are dirty and make you feel even more turned on. His tongue laps at your clit, fingers pulling the hood back before spitting on it and your eyes roll to the back of your head when he sucks. Two of his thick fingers prod at your entrance, gathering some of the slick that’s pooled there before pushing a single finger inside.
“Thaaaat’s it, good girl,” he breathes out against your clit before giving it a kiss as he pushes the second finger inside. “Yeah, this pussy loves being stuffed by me—fuck, you’re so wet for me. All because of this mask baby girl?” his tone is playful but you’re far too gone to complain and just mindlessly nod.
“So drunk off of me and I haven’t even given you my cock,” he pumps his fingers in and out of you all while curling them to find that one spot inside you. He licks, sucks and spits on your clit with so much passion and when he finds that one spot, you let him know pretty quickly.
“Oh!” you gasp and your thighs shake. “S-Suguru, oh fuck--!” his wrist is burning as he keeps pumping his fingers in and out of you, and the veins in his forearm are bulging out from the sheer strength he is using to finger fuck you until you see white. His free hand comes down and presses against your stomach to apply pressure and keep you pinned down.
You make the mistake of opening your eyes to stare at him. His hand is covered in your arousal, but what truly pushes you over the edge is the fact that his mask had come down and was covering his face entirely. So when he decides to talk you through it, give you that one final push—the ghostface mask seems to intensify the orgasm tenfold.
“I know you’re a good girl, but I’m gonna need you to get dirty for me baby—there it is, theeere it is,” he sounds proud when you finally cum, and you’re loud. You whine and let out soft cries, your hands weakly push at his arm when he keeps fingering you through your orgasm.
“Suguru—too much!” you cry out and gasp when he pulls his fingers out of your soaking pussy to slap your clit.
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” he quickly starts to unbuckle his belt and pushes his pants enough to free his cock. The tip nudges at your folds and your husband hovers over you with his lean stature. Big broad shoulders cover your entire frame and you’re fucked out from your previous orgasm.
“I’m going in baby, let me in,” your legs spread instinctively to welcome him inside of you and you groan when you feel the sheer size of him inside you. Your hands grip at the back of his shirt, but Suguru holds himself up on his forearms so that you look at his mask.
“Yeah, that’s right—look at me baby, filthy fucking girl,” his strokes were slow but hard. His hands grab at the back of your thighs and push them before fucking into you harder. “You like it, huh?” you couldn’t even give a proper response, only mindlessly nodding when you could feel him even deeper inside you.
He pushes your knees to your chest before setting a dizzying pace. You feel so full of him, so full of his thick cock and Suguru’s eyes roll to the back of his head behind his mask every time he felt your pussy squeeze around him. His finger rubs at your clit the same way that you’ve shown him you like it, and the tip of his cock repeatedly nudges against that one spot that has you falling apart underneath him with a loud cry.
Your orgasm hits you hard and Suguru can’t hold it in any longer—he fucks into you for another minute, head buried in your neck as he groans out your name. Your pussy milks him dry, and he fills you up to the brim—to the point where you could feel him leak out of you.
You lay there breathing heavily, and you weakly reach for the ghostface mask and remove it off of your husband to reveal his sweaty forehead and flushed cheeks. He looks gorgeous like that, and you lock eyes for the first time since the entire night and you’re immediately pulled in towards one another.
Suguru kisses you with so much passion, dick still buried deep inside you and your legs stay wrapped around him as you two make out heavily under your sheets that stuck to your sweaty bodies. You pull away for a moment to kiss his forehead and Suguru closes his eyes as he melts at your touch.
“Thank you for that,” you say, so love struck that the man can’t help but chuckle at how breathless you sound.
“Let’s do it again, yeah?”
2023: all works belong to @ slttygeto. do not repost my works on any other platofrm.
a/n: I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS CAME FROM BUT HERE YOU GO
also i'm more than happy to continue this if yall want more, just LET ME KNOW
other works
“You want to what?"
"To open our relationship."
You stare at him in disbelief, clutching the soft blanket in your hands. There's a sharp ringing sounding through your eardrums and everything around you slows. He keeps talking, his voice breaking through the barrier of fog that encompasses your senses.
"I want us to remain honest with each other, but this is the only way to keep our relationship healthy."
He steps away from the kitchen counter, wearing the sports jacket you bought him for your sister's wedding.
"I want the both of us to disclose when we start dating someone else. That's the main boundary, we can hammer out all the ground rules later. Right now, I'm going on a date, so uh," he pauses as he checks his reflection in the mirror beside the door one last time, "don't wait up."
You try to focus on his words, but no matter your efforts you weren't able to process anything. His keys jangle in his grip and you faintly recognize the sound of the door slamming closed and his footsteps echoing down the empty corridor of your apartment.
"I still can't believe he said that to you."
The singular ice ball hits against the sides of your glass with each tilt of your wrist. You take a long drag of the dark liquor before laughing sardonically.
"It's been six months of him parading his dates around." Another sip, your work skirt digs into your thighs painfully. You distract yourself by reaching for a peanut from the nearly empty bowl. "And what's worse is that he still expects me to be the doting wife that he comes home to every night!"
The bartender refills your glass while you sneak another peanut. You card your fingers through your hair as you continue to rant. A dull throb radiates in between your brows so your eyes slide closed as you take deep breaths.
"Well, I can't imagine you're doing so bad yourself."
You hum questioningly at the man, focusing your gaze on the dark-haired bartender, his stubble dusting his sharp jaw as the muscles work beneath the skin. His eyes haven't left you since you sat down in front of him.
"I see you in here." You begin to pick at the skin around your nails and he nudges a bowl of peanuts in your direction. "Men come up to you all the time. You've been on dates too, right?"
You reach for a peanut and crack open the grainy shell, biting the inside of your cheek. Your bartender laughs incredulously and then presses his hands into his side of the counter to lean over toward you. The cloth he tosses over his shoulder must be damp because the fabric of his white button-up is darkened there.
"Focus on me, Peanut."
Your eyes snap to his, unable to keep the overflow of expression from brimming beneath the surface. Your heart cracks further as he visibly softens, crumpling against the counter to cover your hand with his. A tense silence stretches between the two of you, charging the air with unwelcome emotions.
Your bartender’s spare hand cups your jaw and swipes away the glistening tears fleeing down your cheeks. Sniffling loudly while straightening in your seat, you pull away from his touch—effectively stopping yourself from melting into him.
You’ve worked so hard to make this shitty dive bar your safe place, you’ll be damned if you ruin it with a fling.
“I don’t even know why I’m wasting tears on this whole thing.” You take three deep breaths—whiskey and apples invade your senses. The man in front of you tilts his head to the side while drying a few crystal glasses.
“You’re avoiding my question, Peanut.” He turns briefly and you try to figure a way out as the cups clink softly. “You have been dating too, right?”
Your teeth trap your bottom lip, peeling off the thin layers of skin. You purposely avoid his eyes, doing less than nothing to hide your answer.
“Jesus, Peanut. What’s stopping you?”
You huff, focusing your attention on the patrons around you. There’s noticeably less than there were when you first arrived. The bar guests go about their business, underlying emotions kept close to their chest and out of sight to everyone else. You wish you could be that way, instead of sewing your heart to your sleeve for anyone to rip pieces from.
“I--" You hesitate, twirling your glass, watching as the ice fights to keep up with the sudden movements you force on its surroundings.
"Some small part of me still loves him. No matter how much he hurts me with this whole open relationship bullshit. I'm still thinking that one day he'll wake up and remember that I've been his loving wife and partner for the past six years. This can't be my new reality. It just can't. He's meant to be my partner for life, not my partner who has really good friends. Not my partner with a girlfriend or some fuck buddy across town."
This is the can of worms that you'd hoped to keep locked away from the Commando's dive bar. What you've held close to your chest every night you slink past the blonde bouncer, Steve. The information you never let slip to the six-foot-five bartender with the metal arm. And now, you can't seem to stop the words from leaving your mouth.
"He's supposed to be my husband. Why isn't he my husband? Is it me? He said that we would talk about what the reason was, but I can't get him to sit down with me. I can't even get him to reply to a text, much less answer questions about our relationship."
You spit the last word before downing the rest of your drink in one go. Bucky stands patiently as you let loose every emotion that you've bottled up for the past six years. Further in the bar, someone shouts for the last call.
"Why don't I date? Because I love him. Because outside of him, I don't know who I am. I don't date because I've been with the same man for almost a decade and I wouldn't even know where to begin. I can't see past where I'm at right now. There is no future for me outside of the hell that I find myself in now. I can't date because I want to be there for when my husband remembers that I exist. I want to be there for him like he wasn't for me because I know the novelty of his flings will wear off soon enough. And maybe that makes me worse than him, but I don't know if I have the energy to care anymore."
There's now a heavy silence covering you and your whole body slumps because of it. Despite feeling the biggest breath of relief of getting those emotions out in the open, you now have to deal with what they mean. You were always taught that saying your emotions out loud would only lead to more issues, but here you fucking are. Sometimes these things are unavoidable.
"I call bullshit."
Your jaw drops as your bartender rocks away from the counter. You flounder as he starts performing closing duties. You stare at Bucky's back, slightly distracted by the muscles working underneath the tight material.
"Did you just bullshit my feelings?"
Bucky turns halfway, eyebrows raised, "Yep."
Your bartender plucks the glass in front of you and drops it in the sink on his way to the cash register. If you were in a whole state, you'd smack back with a witty comment, but you're tired.
"You can't bullshit my feelings."
He holds a stack of twenties in one hand and he pins you with the same expression as before.
"Uh, yeah I can."
He continues to count the register and tosses a goodbye to the other bartender. A long lull stretches between you. Now it's just the two of you in the bar, and that must have been what he was waiting on because it's only now that he really talks.
"Peanut, how long have you been coming here?"
You furrow your brow at the question, not sure where he's taking his line of questioning.
"I don't know, four months?"
“Four months, twenty days."
Bucky's retort is quick and final. A fact. Something he's committed to memory. You're taken aback by the heavy tone he layers between the syllables.
"And for those four months and twenty days, I've stood behind this counter and watched you wallow. I've watched you turn down proposition after proposition. I've had Steve throw out dozens of men for how they speak about you. I've sat back and tried to be the listening ear that you need because you're clearly going through a really difficult time. I've never been in the position that you're in and I'm not going to pretend that I understand the half of it."
He slams the drawer closed and rounds the countertop. His boots thud against the floor violently, stopping beside the barstool next to you. Your bartender leans down and swings your stool to face his before taking a seat.
"I've stood behind that bar and was able to listen to quite a bit. But what I can't have is you thinking that you're the issue."
His hand slips into yours, his thumb tracing the knuckles of your fingers. Tears begin to brim at your waterline again, but you refuse to let them fall.
"Peanut, you're the most loyal person I've met in recent years. You love fiercely and you hurt even harder. Hell, you've been with this guy for almost ten years and he's been fucking you over for the past six months and you're sitting in this bar defending him to a relative stranger!"
"But he--"
"You're husband took the decision away from you and then framed it in a way that made you out to be the bad guy. He put you in a nearly impossible situation because he knew you were too loyal to him to do anything about it."
"He didn--"
"Yes, he did."
Having it laid out like that by the one person you wanted to be kept away from all of it was eye-opening. Your shoulders crumple and a new wave of tears threatens to escape.
"Now, this isn't the best time, but I feel like in a situation like yours there's never going to be a 'right' time."
Bucky sits up straighter and sticks his metal hand out to you.
"Hi. I'm Bucky Barnes. I'm a retired Army Sergeant and I now work in the Howling Commandos bar. I've been your bartender for the past four months and twenty days. Over that time, I've grown to care for you, more than a bartender should. Because of that fact, I want to take you out on a date."
You suck in a breath sharply, immediately going to deny him, only for Bucky to cut you off.
"You don't have to give me an answer right now, Peanut. Just think about it and whenever you're ready, I hope I'm your first call."
You chew on the inside of your cheek, gnawing on the idea. You have grown fond of Bucky. He's become a sort of safety net for you these past few months. Going home has proven to be more and more of a chore so you spend hours on end in the Howling Commandos.
What if you and Bucky go on a date and you hate it? What if you date and you have a huge falling out? What if you--
"I can see the wheels turning, Peanut." He taps your temple with a cold metal finger. "What are you thinking?"
"What if we end up not working out?"
"What if we do?"
The question hangs. The implication is clear. You could spend hours going through the what-if scenarios, both positive and negative. You'll never truly know until you take a leap of faith.
"What would your boss think of you dating one of your new regulars though?"
You're grasping at straws, but you're really trying to convince yourself that taking that leap with Bucky would be the worst thing in the world.
"Peanut, I'll sell the damn bar before someone other than you tells me that I can't date you."
Your eyes meet his and all you can see is the adoration and sincerity in them. His thumb is still working over your knuckles, but it's also expanded to tracing aimless circles into the back of your hand. The cool metal is the only way you've grounded yourself to reality.
A slow smile spreads across your features, the first of its kind tonight and you both know what it means.