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tosrp · 1 year

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It was midnight on a Friday in early May. Everybody was ready for summer break, I just wanted to disappear.

Ever since my birthday and my first kill in Cabo, everyone had been treating me differently. Suddenly I was a grown-up, and not just fifteen years old.

The kill had relinquished my thirst a little but now according to my parents I needed to feed regularly to stay healthy. The only good thing was I didn’t need to kill now.

I opened the window and was practicing my weather manipulation affinity. I concentrated on the crescent moon and with barely a blink it was starting to rain. I was getting better at control. I let out a little laugh and let the sprinkles dampen my face. It felt good on my skin.

The bedroom door swung open and stomped in was my roommate Mordella Graham. Her brown hair was stuck to her face and her slim frame was in full display from the tight-fitting dress she wore. I could smell blood, fresh blood and saw a trickle of it on her lips.

“Is this rain shower you Emberlynn?” she demanded.

I looked back at the night sky through the open window and felt my thirst rise in my throat again. The sight of fresh blood would do that to me. I tried to ignore it.

Mordella sighed and proceeded to slide her dress off and changed into a silk night gown getting ready for bed.

I sighed as well and closed the window. I was already in my pajamas, so I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

When I returned, I went to my white sleigh bed and wrapped up in my pink comforter, laying in bed I tried to relax but Mordella’s loud snores made that impossible.

She was laying in her Maplewood bed frame and black duvet with six pillows. I snuggled up to my stuffed animals and grabbed my phone.

“She is snoring like a freight train again!!!” I texted the familiar number

“You only have two more weeks then summer without her” Hayes texted back immediately

I felt myself smile and then typed “Yea…just have to deal with my parents and Katrina”

“You will have me too, always”

“Thanks Hayes… why are you up?”

“Just got back right before curfew. I’m just relaxing before bed”

“You were out? You were feeding? I sighed instantly.

“You know you can come with… Lynnie… I have been meaning to apologize for Cabo…

“What the hell for? That was me.

“I should have gone out after you. You didn’t have to do your first kill alone. I hate that I wasn’t there.

I looked at the screen, just staring at the words. I never blamed anyone but myself. All this time Hayes had blamed himself

I was about to type out that I never blamed him and we were good when the light turned on nearly blinding me.

“MORDELLA!” I groaned.

“I go to the bathroom, and you are on your phone just grinning. That can only mean you are texting Eldridge like always”

“So…” I said I did not get it at all, but I was very annoyed.

“He was at the club tonight ya know. He seduced that girl on the dance floor then led her to the back, and the way he fed on her was so hot” she said smirking.

“Stop it” I said getting angry

“Made me think the sex would be great”

“Shut up!!!!” I said, getting up from my bed.

“Of course, you wouldn’t know. He doesn’t see you like that. No one does. Little innocent Lynnie with her stuffed animals”

We could both hear the storm outside brewing. The thunder rumbled, she smirked again.

“That is the only thing you are good for.”

I had enough. It was sudden but within a moment I had her pinned against the wall. I growled and bared my fangs.

Mordella was a made vampire. She had the natural abilities of seducing, even the force but no affinities. She couldn’t even go out in the sun. Saint Andrews was magical and a forcefield, no natural sunlight could get in, only artificial. She did have years on me though. She looked like a teenager but was turned in the eighties.

“Oh, very impressive” she growled back She pushed me back hard sending me into my dresser.

“That all you got old lady!” I screamed

Her eyes glowed with anger. I had done it now. She hated being reminded of her true age.

She ran at me and had me by the throat. I kicked her but it did nothing. Her grip got tighter, and my vision was becoming blurred. I vaguely heard the bedroom door open then it all happened at once. Hayes with his strength affinity had lifted Mordella up and away from me. She turned on him, but he was too strong.

“Leave her alone” he growled pushing her against the other wall.

“Lynnie, you’re alright” he said softly Infront of me now.

I nodded “You came, How’d you know?”

“You never responded. I was worried so I snuck out and, on my way, I saw the storm so I knew something was up” He said gently brushing my pink hair out of my face.

I smiled then saw the blood seeping through Hayes’ shirt.

Mordella had taken our exchange to her advantage and gotten the stake she “secretly” kept under her pillows and stabbed Hayes in the back.

It was a perfect shot for a made vampire, not a legacy though. It still hurt him.

I saw red “You tried to stake my best friend you bitch!”

I had her by the throat and saw fear in her eyes. I felt the power in myself. She was grasping at my face, my hair, anything to get me off her but I was a legacy and thirsty. I sank my teeth into her neck draining her life before I knew what I was doing.

“Okay Lynnie she’s drained, let go of her” Hayes said beside me now.

I regained my reality and saw my dead roommate on the fuzzy carpet. “Oh My God”

Hayes was already on the phone” Mr. Easton there’s been an incident. Yea Lynnie is fine… but we need the cleanup team now”

He listened for a moment then nodded and hung up.

“Listen Lynnie we need to go okay. We were out tonight and you couldn’t get to your dorm before curfew so you crashed at mine alright?”

I was frozen I had killed again… I was drenched in my roommate’s blood. “My clothes… “I mumbled.

Hayes was already ten steps ahead. He went to my closet and got me one of my dresses and handed it to me, then turned away so I could change.

I changed and then without a word I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and embraced me into the biggest hug of our lives.

“I’m okay Hayes. Are you kay? She tried to…” I stammered.

“You tried killing you too” He had tears in his eyes then heard a soft knock.

“That’s our signal. We gotta go”

I grabbed my purse and looked back at her then went out as my father’s personal clean up crew did there job. They were going to erase that I or Hayes had been there tonight.

We went to Hayes dorm where his roommate was still out, so that would solidify our alibi when he came in seeing me there, he would think I had been there all night.

Hayes and I silently got in his bed. He was on the right and I on the left as we had been since we were seven.

Neither of us knew what to say. What could we possibly say?

I began to cry, and he wrapped his arms around me. I fell asleep with my head on his chest.

In the morning we made a pact we would never speak about what really happened the night before.

Mordella’s body had disappeared. The school questioned all the students including Hayes and me. They made the curfew 11pm instead of midnight on the remaining weekends of the semester to be safe.

The official word was that Mordella Graham got tired of the teenage rules of the academy and ran off. Only Hayes and I know the truth to this day.s

#Emberlynn Easton

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switchponk · 2 years

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Coffee break with the girls

#animal crossing #ac #acnh #nintendo switch #switch #new horizons #nintendo #acnh update #pink in maplewood #animal crossing new horizons

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thestalkerbunny · 3 years

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Also ALSO (sorry for all these asks) how do you come up with names? They're always very memorable.

Never apologize for feeding into my desire to info dump about my world and realm.

I honestly have no clue sometimes, some characters have full names, some just go by first names, some have no last names, some names are just PUNS that honestly reflect on the character themself-but let’s look at some hot names in Induction for example from not much meaning or thought to IMMENSE THOUGHT.

Ruby Hulme was a name I pulled from a name generator. After a quick google; Hulme translates to ‘Islands in the River’ or ‘Holly.’

Grim Sheeper is a pun on the term ‘Grim Reaper’

Dimitri is the name of the Exorcist in the movie ‘The Exorcist.’ It’s also Russian meaning ‘Follower of Demeter.’

Cen T. Pede......is quite literally a Centipede.

Hackles is the word for the hair that will stand up on the back of the neck of a dog when it’s angry. (which reflects on his personality and temper)

Ledago’s name is interesting-originally when I made him in middleschool when I Was young dumb and naive, I was trying to think of the name ‘Legba’ which is the Hatian Loa of the Crossroads. But my brain couldn’t think of the world and used ‘Ledago’ instead. Ledago can closely be compared to the Portuguese word ‘Legado’ which means ‘Legacy’. Which was oddly unintentional, but I like it.

Skoll’s name means ‘Treachery’ in Norse. It’s also the name of the Norse Wolf that quests to consume the Sun. It’s not his real name, but one he chose and it reflects on his nerdy book lad nature.

Maxim’s name is fun as his full name was intended to be Maximus-which would mean ‘The Greatest’ However due to a flub up, the ‘us’ part was left off, often leading his name to be pronounced as Max M. A tentrill is a part of the plant that is used to climb or bind. (which makes sense his father was a florist)

So this is fun. This actual meaning to me. So let’s start simple. Rosie and Maplewood actually references to what Kelly is-Which is a Rosey Maplewood Moth-noted for it’s vibrant pink and pastel yellow colors. The Kelly part actually references to the mobster George Barnes Kelly-also known as Machine Gun Kelly who came from the Memphis area. At one point, The actual Mobster robbed a bank in a town in Mississippi called Tupelo-The building the bank was housed in was eventually sold and it came into possession of my aunt who turned it into a beauty salon until her retirement. The floor tiles were original and you could see where the bank tellers counters used to be and the place where the safe used to be was used to store christmas decorations. That’s at least what was told to me as a child and the story seems to hold a lot of water.

#TSB ask #Induction #Anonymous

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maddestzoomer · 4 years

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peach and strawberry

request from @soggy-enchilada - Hiya!!! Could I please request a Nancy x female reader, where the reader is an Australian exchange student?? Something fluffy, maybe drunkenly confessing feelings at a party or something?? Smut or no smut, doesn’t bother me at all. Thanks !!

warnings - underage drinking, a tiny sprinkle of angst, ya know, the ushe

word count - 1.8k

a.n. - this is such a cute concept like !! my heart :( i didn't realize what absolute trash i was for nancy until now lmao. thank you for requesting this story!! i had a blast writing it! feel free to give me your thoughts & opinions on it :)

It's not the calendar that marks the passage of time for Nancy- rather, it is the subtle shift in the way the air smells. Now, the air smells clean and floral, telling of spring and chirping birds. It was March now, and the party-goers were just beginning to come out of hibernation

Pressure builds on her shoulders, and so she puts on a pastel pink sweater and tries to remember how the actual hell you talked her into going to a party.

Maybe it had to do with the way her name fell from your lips, coated with that lovely accent of yours. Or- maybe it was the smile you flashed her as she agreed to come with.

It had all begun a couple of months ago. Nancy was assigned to show you around the school- to basically be your bud until the week ended.

But your friendship didn't end once the week did. It continued through the two of you hanging out and studying together, through the two of you making inside jokes and helping one another to pick out outfits. It was through those times together that a seed was planted, one that seemed to be growing rapidly.

Throwing on a pair of flats, Nancy prepared herself to see you, and in turn, go to a party she didn't really think she belonged at. You'd agreed to pick her up for a party she truly didn't want to go to. She stared at herself in the mirror for a moment, tilting her head to the side. She looked okay, she felt (kinda) okay, so maybe tonight would be okay.

Looking at her dainty gold watch on her wrist, she realized it was time for her to go- 9 o'clock, sharp. Taking a deep breath in, she sprayed some perfume on her neck that smelled of peaches and strawberries, then walking from her room.

And sure enough, as soon as she walked downstairs, there you were, waiting in your car. She smiled softly to herself, taking one last deep breath before walking out of the door.

Hurridly, she walked to your car, smiling as she got in.

"Hey there, Nancy! You ready to have some fun?" You gladly greeted, smiling brightly at the brunette sitting next to you. Goodness. That smile... It was enough to make Nancy's stomach fill with butterflies

Nancy smiled softly with a small frown as she looked to her feet, feeling something was there- a box, maybe. "Hi, Y/N- Um, what's down here?" She asked

"I probably should've moved that." You say, beginning to drive. "It's just some beer, they wanted me to bring something to the party. You can have one if you want." You tell her with a smile

Nancy softly bit down on her bottom lip, but eventually reached down and slipped a can from it's case. She didn't really like alcohol (the taste, the smell, the way it made her feel hot)- but she did want to have fun tonight. Plus, it's easier to be around a bunch of drunk teens when you, yourself, are a drunk teen.

Pulling at the tab, the can hissed open, filling the surrounding air with the smell of cheap beer. Nancy brought it to her lips, taking a small sip, then a bigger gulp to help it go down a little easier.

"So uhh, what house is the party again?" Nancy asked

"It's at that David guys place, the house on Maplewood." You glance over to her with a small smile "I may need your help in finding the right street."

Nancy smiled and nodded. David's house was a lot further than she'd expected the two of you would be driving- at least thirty-five minutes one way.

You reach over and change the radio's station, turning on some Tears for Fears song.

Softly, Nancy bit the inside flesh of her bottom lip. She felt like she /needed/ to tell you something- but she just couldn't find the words to do so.

How could she express the fact she loves hanging out with you? How can she express the fact simply thinking of you is enough to make butterflies flutter in her ribcage? How could she explain she wanted to hold your hand and kiss your lips? She couldn't. Not while sober, at least.

The two of you drove in silence for a solid ten minutes- silence that wasn't uncomfortable, just a little... unfamiliar. Usually, the two of you were joking and talking all whilst you hung out.

"You okay, Nancy?" You softly asked, noticing the almost troubled look plastered on her face.

Nancy looked to you with an almost saddened look in her eyes. "I just... I don't know if I really want to go to the party. I know it's du-"

"We don't have to go, especially if you don't want to." You say with a soft smile. "I want you to have fun tonight! If fun for you is just hanging out, watching a movie, and feasting on popcorn, then that's fun for me too."

Nancy smiled softly, going quiet for just a moment. "Maybe... Maybe we could do some star gazing? I know it's a bit chilly, but-" She glanced out her window "it looks so beautiful outside."

You smile softly and nod. You weren't at all surprised Nancy would prefer to watch the stars instead of hanging out with drunk people. Hell- you'd prefer that too.

You pulled the car into a parking lot- one that had a small park and a baseball field surrounded by a thick forest of trees. What you felt when with Nancy was hard to describe. You could taste words on the tip of your tongue (happiness. hope. home. love.)- but they always scared a part of you for reasons you couldn't understand.

Parking the car, then turning it off, you and Nancy got out. She carried the case of beers with her already opened one still in her hand. You smiled softly over to her, causing her to return a smile with the tiniest blush- one that couldn't be spotted thanks to the dark atmosphere around you both.

"We can sit on the hood if you want." You say, walking and taking a seat on said hood. Nancy did so as well, setting the case of beer down between the two of you. The two of you still sat close- close enough for your shoulders to occasionally brush against one another.

The air outside didn't feel as chilly when the two of you were together. It felt far closer to pleasant- with fresh forest air swirling softly around and stars dancing in the sky above.

You take a beer, opening the can before bringing it to your lips- /drink, drink, drinking/ until your face feels slightly flushed and the tiniest bit numb.

Nancy chuckled softly as she watched you do so "Careful," She said "I don't want you getting sick."

You smile at this- at her instant concern for your wellbeing. She was too sweet- all strawberries and milk tea.

It was slightly hard to comprehend the fantastic human you had beside you, especially the more you two drank.

Within an hour and a half, between the two of you, you were already down six beers. It was a lot easier for Nancy to drink when around you- especially when it was just the two of you. It was more comfortable that way; safer, even.

Nancy went eventually quiet, just staring at the stars with glossed over eyes. She should tell you...

"Y-Y/N?" She softly asked, keeping her glossy gaze on the stars above. There was a small frown building between her brows, one that made her look unsure of what she was about to say.

"Yeah?" You softly ask, steadily gazing at her.

You saw Nancy bring the beer can to her lips again, take a mouth full, and then swallow down harshly. She still had yet to return your gaze.

"I need to tell you something..." She softly murmurs, finally looking over to you. "But- please, promise me you won't like laugh or-or get freaked out." Her voice broke slightly as she spoke, and the heavy look she was giving you told that this- whatever it was- was serious. That emotions were involved- and that it would hurt if you reacted negatively

"You have my word." You say, suddenly becoming aware of how your heart was beginning to race.

Nancy went quiet, dropping her gaze down to the hood the both of you sat on for a moment. She knew she could trust you. She could /feel/ her stomach turning up and around, could feel her heart beating wildly like a caged animal in her chest.

A soft, trembling hand took yours and held it gently, causing your own heart to begin beating harder. God- if she were sober, she'd probably be having a heart attack right about now.

"I like you, Y/N. Like, really like you. And-" She choked softly on her words, biting down on her lip. "I just... I just thought you should know." She says

You continued your wide-eyed, saucer-like gaze at her. Did she just say what you think she said? O-Or are you somehow misinterpreting this? Fuck- you hope there isn't any misinterpretation.

"Say something, Y/N. You're scaring me." Nancy says, forcing a small, uneasy chuckle with an equally small, uneasy smile

Slowly, you reach over, putting a gentle hand on her cheek. She couldn't help from leaning into it slightly, your thumb tracing over her cheekbone.

You leaned in slightly closer, allowing for your lips to connect. As soon as your lips connected, a jolt of pure, unrefined electricity bolted it's way down your spines. Is this what euphoria felt like? To feel as though a small, perfect eternity was passing between your bodies- where the sky and the ocean mixed on the horizon.

Her lips parted against yours, sweetly deepening the kiss. She would've been glad to continue kissing like this until the mountains fell into the sea- but her-and your- lungs thought otherwise. Breaking away, you both smiled brightly, lips buzzing and heads spinning.

You allowed for your forehead to rest comfortably on hers as you both caught your breath, hand still cupping her certainly crimson cheek, reddened lips softly brushing past one another.

"I really like you too, Nancy."

#nancy wheeler x reader #nancy wheeler x you #stranger things #my writing #my concept #nancy wheeler x fem!reader #gays of stranger things #nico writes

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bffsoobin · 4 years

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Windflower

01|02|03|04|05|06

↳ after a heartbreak you find yourself in a small town looking for purpose. you find employment with Choi Soobin and his impressive ancestral home. when you start to fall in love again, there’s no way for you to predict what you find in the depths of the home and Soobin’s mind.

➤ hanahaki au, fluff, angst

Word Count:3,945

Warnings: swearing, mentions of an injury (nothing serious), I didn’t proof read (surprise!)

A/N: here’s the long awaited (by some) part 4 of Windflower! I’m getting really excited about this as we’re reaching somewhat of a turning point. I cannot wait to see your reactions to the twists in the coming chapters hehe. Anyway I hope you enjoy & leave feedback if you want to!

•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:••:•.•

If you had thought the humidity the day you arrived in town was bad, you definitely were not ready for the sweltering heat that permeated the air today. You had awoken surprisingly early and found that the sun was shining in vibrant rays into your room. In your drowsy state you had enjoyed the heat, even curling deeper under your covers as your body surfaced back into reality. If you listened close enough, you could hear birds chirping outside through the closed windows and you briefly wondered if you should spend the whole day cuddled up with your pillow. The silk sheets could only shield you from the radiating heat for so long, though. Soon enough, the gentle heat that had caressed you awake settled into your skin and made you feel suffocated. Flinging your sheets off only gave you a bit of relief as you realized that there was almost no cool air in your room. Upon peeking outside, you noticed no evidence of the gentle summer breeze you had come to love. Every single plant in the yard stood still as the sun beat down on them. Sweat was beading on your forehead and the back of your neck in uncomfortable patches as you headed for the bathroom. Thankfully, the tiles were cold under your feet, and the small relief washed through your entire body.

You started the water for a cold shower, hoping to drive away the heat that the day had already provided as early as 8am. As small droplets of water splashed onto your skin, you couldn’t help but wonder if this was the kind of weather you should come to expect from the tiny town. You decided you’d have to ask Soobin once he got up.

After the shower expelled the sweat off of your skin, you dressed and bounded down the steps toward the kitchen. At this point, you had been living and working with Soobin for several weeks. The two of you had a comfortable routine that included a healthy mix of time spent both together and alone. You rose before him almost every morning and took it upon yourself to make him an omelet after watering all of the houseplants littered around the living spaces. Many times he had insisted that there was no reason for you to make him breakfast; and this morning was no exception. Just as you finished watering an impressively sized aloe plant, Soobin had begun his grumbling.

“Y/N! How many times do I have to tell you that you have no obligation to make me breakfast every day?” His voice was still thick with sleep and upon examining him you noticed he still had some gunk in the corner of his eyes. The corners of your mouth twitched upwards at his helplessly soft nature.

“You can tell me every day, Soobin. I don’t care,” you pulled a bottle of orange juice from the fridge and poured both of you a glass, “it’s the least I can do. Plus, I know you love breakfast but you’d burn it all if you tried to do it yourself.” He grumbled at that through a mouthful of food but didn’t protest as he knew you were right. As Soobin sipped at his drink, he hummed thoughtfully as if he suddenly remembered something.

“I think we need to water the flowers today. We aren’t supposed to get rain for a long time and it’s getting to be really hot. I don’t want any of them to die.” For some reason, the thought of manually caring for Soobin’s beloved garden put fear in your stomach. Of course you had done some work on the garden but nothing more than adding some mulch and chasing away the occasional bunny looking for a place to burrow. But caring for the house and garden was why you were here to begin with, so you nodded in agreement.

Soobin stood to his full height, stretching his arms above his body to work out all of the aches from his sleep. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t bring yourself to look away from the strip of smooth skin that became exposed in the process. You hoped he hadn’t noticed your staring or the light pink dusting on your cheeks as he passed by you to drop his dishes into the sink. With your mind whirling, you desperately tried to steer your thoughts away from the way they were running with the imagine of Soobin’s exposed stomach.

“I’m going to go,” you coughed awkwardly when Soobin whirled around with his plate still in hand to make eye contact with you, “upstairs to change and then we can go out to work on the garden.” You took his moment of comprehension to haul yourself up the creaking maplewood staircase and into the safety of your room as your palms began to sweat.

----

As soon as the two of you stepped onto the back porch you felt like you had walked into a brick wall. The heat was so oppressive that you felt physical weight on your shoulders as you groaned. Soobin bounded ahead of you as if he hadn’t even registered the unmovable force of heat encasing your whole being. You audibly gagged, earning a snorted laugh from Soobin as he made his way toward the sea of flowers. Their colors seemed to shine even brighter underneath the intense sunlight and you swore you could almost see some of them sparkling with an otherworldly quality. Upon further inspection you noticed just how dry the soil was and felt concern digging at your heart. Soobin seemed similarly worried as he stooped over a section of jasmine plants, cooing over a weed he had found in the ground alongside them. You shook your head at his antics and caught wind of him apologizing to the plant as you retrieved the hose coiled up alongside the house.

For a while the two of you worked in a comfortable harmony. Soobin had put himself in charge of weeding while you were responsible for making sure the soil was thoroughly wet to avoid any damage to the coveted flowers. As far as jobs go, this one wasn’t half bad. Despite the massive area of the garden, the hose reached as far as you ever would need it to. After you finished watering a rather large patch of roses you could no longer resist the urge to stick your entire head underneath the hose. With all of the sun beating down you began to understand how Soobin had achieved his impeccable tan so early into the summer.

“Soobin,” you whined his name to tear his attention away from the pesky weeds that had rooted themselves within his beloved garden.

“Yeah?” his answer was punctuated by a grunt of exertion that you could only assume was his attempt at yanking out the weed. You grimaced at the knowledge that he wasn’t wearing any gardening gloves and worried for the sensitive skin of his palms.

“I’m too hot. It’s disgusting out here,” you pulled the fabric of your shirt away from your stomach before waving it back and forth to prove just how sweaty the combination of heat and manual labor had made you. Soobin said nothing for a second but you could hear the sound of roots ripping out of the ground before he finally replied.

“I forget that you’re not from here,” he laughed as if the oppressive heat was something you should have expected the day you rode in on the winding road with your whole life packed in the back seat. “Why don’t you just go inside for a bit? I’ll be fine dealing with this alone for a while. Plus, I can’t afford to take you to the hospital if you pass out. And imagine how much damage you’d do to the flowers!” He gasped as if absolutely scandalized at the idea of your body crashing into the delicate fauna.

You grumbled under your breath, making sure to turn away so there was no chance he could see the quirking corners of your mouth. “Fine,” you sighed, equally as dramatic as he had just been, “I’ll stay inside and watch you from the living room like a widow.”

Upon entering the house, you knew something was off. Your eyebrows scrunched in confusion as you stood just inside of the closed doorway. Why the fuck was it just as hot inside as it was outside? Heat still crawled over every inch of your body, making strands of hair stick disgustingly to the back of your neck. You wandered through the living room, kitchen and library in the hope that the heat you felt upon entering was just due to your location. Unfortunately, every section of the grand home was equally as steamy as the direct sunshine outside. The dream of taking a break in the wonderful air conditioning was crushed.

Stomping like a toddler, you made your way back down to the garden. Soobin had taken over your watering job and he seemed shocked to see you back so early. His shirt showed small hints of sweat building on his lower back and around the collar, but it was nothing compared to the absolute mess you had become. If it wasn’t for how much you liked him, you would have been annoyed at his tolerance.

“Back already? Did you miss me that much, bub?” Your heart stuttered at the use of your occasional nickname.

“No. You give yourself too much credit. The AC is broken,” the steady stream of water sprouting from the hose ceased as Soobin loosened his grip on the handle.

“The house AC?” He asked dumbly, blinking at you in disbelief. His lips were parted wide as you rolled your eyes.

“No, the AC for the shower. Yes, the house AC!” Knowing you had no easy escape from the heat made your nerves fray even more.

“Oh. Well,” he turns the hose back on, “I can call the mechanic.” You stared at him blankly for a while before he felt your burning gaze.

“What?” Rounded eyes opened even wider than you thought were possible as he stared you down.

“It’s Sunday. What are we going to do until the mechanic gets here tomorrow?” The point makes his eyebrows scrunch together as the hose clicks off again. It hangs loosely in his hand for a few moments before he springs back into action.

“Okay, you’re right. I’ll go into town and see if I can find one of those portable ones? That way we can at least keep one room cooler.” He nodded to himself as if he were speaking to his reflection and handed you the hose. Cold water dripped from his fingertips onto your arm and you shivered at the feeling. You chose to believe the water was the only reason for your reaction. Soobin ran into the house, lean body disappearing for a few seconds before he reemerged with his car keys. He said his goodbyes and left to find a solution for your personal hell.

For a bit, you went back to watering the flowers. And then you turned the hose on yourself and let the frigid water run down your back. Although it was a shock to your system, you knew it was the only way you could keep yourself from actually melting into a gummy pile before Soobin got back. The idea of simply staying outside until he came back bounced around your mind until an even better one cropped up. Maybe you could fix the AC on your own! That way you wouldn’t have to deal with the hassle of waiting for a mechanic. You were sure that you could locate the unit and find a tutorial to fix the thing. Maybe a special switch just needed flipped. With renewed vigor you shuffled back into the house, making a strategic pit stop at the kitchen to fill a metal water bottle with ice cold water. Your clothing dripped loudly against the wooden floors but you ignored it. You figured it was so hot that the water would probably evaporate immediately.

Although you had a clear mission in mind you had to admit that you were totally unsure of where the AC unit would be. Soobin had never pointed it out to you and the stately home boasted so many doors that you weren’t sure you would have remembered if he showed you anyway. You wandered into the laundry room, wondering if you had missed something on the walls. When you had no success there, you moved on to opening almost every dark wooded sleek door you could find. By some kind of miracle, your body had finally adjusted to the pressing heat as you searched. Despite that, you could still feel sweat beading on your forehead as you rooted through a storage room in the hopes of finding something that you assumed would be the AC.

Eventually, you had exhausted the entire first floor. Every heavy door only lead you to disappointment and some mild confusion over why the old home had so many unused rooms. Perhaps the house got much more use in the old days when the large family painted on the canvas just to the left of Soobin’s room was still alive. The thought of the haunting oil painting encouraged you to make the walk up the steps. Your legs felt heavy from the exhaustion that heat and your search had made settle into your bones.

A heavy sigh left your parted lips as you finally rounded the corner of the staircase and were faced with the familiar upper landing. You skipped past yours and Soobin’s room immediately. The AC unit was obviously not residing in your room, and while you had never fully been inside of Soobin’s room, you doubted that the house was designed that oddly. Three more identical doors stood further down the hallway. Weeks ago when you had taken your initial tour of the home, Soobin had glossed right over them in favor of showing off your new home for the summer.

Something about his easy dismissal of the rooms unsettled you. You trusted Soobin, but there was no way to ignore the disparity between the way he had so eagerly toured you through the house against the way he barely even acknowledged these doors. You’re being ridiculous, you thought. What could Soobin possibly be hiding behind these three non descript doors? Shaking off the unsettling knot in your stomach you pushed the door closest to your room open. It creaked loudly from disuse and you cringed as you felt along the wall for a lightswitch. When you finally found one, a light crackled on in the center of the room and shone a brilliant vibrance all around. It was so intense that you had to squint your eyes until they no longer hurt. The room was oddly clean compared to the rooms you scoured downstairs. There was no layer of dust that you would have expected and a faint scent of lemon cleaner permeated the air. Innocuous dressers and bookshelves were pushed up against all of the walls. None of them quite matched but you recalled in the back of your mind that Soobin’s cousin was an interior designer; which would explain the disconnection of styles. This must have been the place he stored old projects and pieces he shuffled through the home.

Feeling a bit more at ease, you continued to look around for any hint of the unit you were hunting for. Circling the round table serving as a centerpiece of the room changed your perspective and you caught a glimpse of something peaking out from behind what seemed to be a bunch of heavy furniture. The edge you could see looked promisingly similar to the AC unit that had been within your home growing up. With renewed vigor you began to push at a small dresser that felt much heavier than it looked. A grunt of exertion slipped from your lips as you finally pushed the furniture over far enough to get to the table located behind it. While it was much easier to move, it was also much louder than the dresser had been. The legs screeched against the floors and you shrieked in concern at the idea of the probably original hardwood being scratched in the midst of your desperation for cool air. As you crouched down to examine the floor, you heard stomping footsteps enter the room behind you.

Reflexively you jumped back at the sound and subsequently bounced your head off of the underside of the table.

“Ouch, fuck!” you clutched at the back of your head as you bit into your tongue to try and manage the throbbing pain. Your vision was blurry but you could vaguely make out Soobin’s figure and his distinct scent as he crouched down beside you. Gentle hands grasped at you, one cupping your head and the other resting firmly on your forearm as he ushered you out from under the table. Your head was still spinning; the combination of heat and pain making you feel sick to your stomach as Soobin guided you all the way out of the room.

“What were you doing?” Soobin’s voice was assertive and laced with a concern you hadn’t quite expected.

“I was-” you cut yourself off with a whine as a flash of pain shot behind your eyes and felt large hands grab at you once again. The next time you opened your eyes was when you felt the silky texture of your bedsheets underneath your knees. While Soobin rushed away from the bed, you fought to open your eyes as you grasped at the flesh of your knees to ground yourself. Although your vision was less shaky, there was no denying the extreme headache that originated from the back of your head.

“Here,” you saw Soobin’s form coming your way before he pushed a cold washcloth onto your forehead. Although that wasn’t the origin of your pain, the cool sensation helped the throbbing in your mind calm down. Soobin shuffled nervously between his feet as he waited for some kind of sign that you were alright. Eventually, you were able to actually focus on the way his eyes were crinkled with concern, lips downturned in a serious frown that you hadn’t even seen him wear when he found he was overwatering his ivy plant. The persistent sunlight of the summer day shone in through your windows and casted him in a glow that made him look as if he had just descended from Heaven to check on you. Golden strips of light casted over his t-shirt in such a way that you were almost envious of the way the rays were able to wrap around his body.

And then you remembered it was the same damn sun that got you into this mess.

“I was trying to find the AC unit,” your voice was gravely and quiet but Soobin still heard you.

“What were you thinking? You can’t just wander around the house like that! You could’ve-” he waved his hands toward where you pressed the washcloth to your forehead, “well you did! You got hurt! There’s a reason I didn’t bother to tell you what was in that room. There’s no reason for you to be poking around like that in a house that isn’t yours!”

The corners of your eyes burned with unshed tears as you registered the raw emotion in his tone. Although some of his words made you feel like a child being berated, you understood where he was coming from. You could easily recognize the genuine concern for your wellbeing.

“I’m sorry, Soobin,” he plopped down on the bed next to you, “you’re right. This isn’t my house. It’s my fault that I got hurt, really. I was just trying to help with the AC issue and I couldn’t find the unit anywhere else so I started looking in rooms I’d never been in before,” you stole a quick glance his way only to see his intense gaze locked onto your form. “Please don’t feel bad about me getting hurt. And I’m sorry about the room, I can help you move all the furniture back!” Something deep inside of you felt the need to do as much as you can to make up for the hurt you seem to have caused Soobin. He grinned at you softly before reaching up and encircling your wrist with his slender fingers. The feeling of his fingertips grazing the soft skin of your wrist made your insides ignite in a nervous fire. Gently, he coaxed your hand away from your forehead and you instinctively dropped the now room temperature washcloth into your lap. It landed with a wet plop but you didn’t have time to pay it any mind as Soobin slowly laced his fingers right between yours.

He gave you all the time in the world to pull away from his touch but instead you just stared dumbly at your hand while he finally latched onto you fully. Your breath hitched violently in your throat at the warm contact and you were sure Soobin had heard it. For a second you worried that he would pull away or make fun of you for your reactions but he simply gave your hand a short squeeze.

“It’s okay, don’t worry about the room,” his voice was so smooth and quiet that you could almost fall asleep right there. An instinct you didn’t know you had caused you to lean closer into his side. “Just don’t go in there again, okay? I mean it. There’s nothing worth looking at in there,” his voice hardened unexpectedly and you couldn’t help but laugh at him a bit.

“Okay, okay! I’ll stay away, but you do know that I just bumped into the table, right? It didn’t hurt me on purpose.” The teasing seemed to lift a small weight from his shoulders as he visibly brightened. There was no way you could miss the firm weight of his hand pressing further into yours as he leaned into your side the same way you were on him. Using his free hand, he tentatively cupped the back of your head where you had originally hurt yourself. The pain had begun to subside, but a new type of anxiety ran through your body as you noticed just how close your faces had become. You could nearly count every single eyelash framing his rich brown eyes.

“Please,” his warm breath fanned over your already clammy skin, “don’t ever go in that room again. I’m already beside myself that you got hurt and it’s not even a bad injury. If you do anything for me, at least do this.”

“Of course, Soobin.” You finally mustered the courage to return one of his reassuring squeezes; causing his dimples pop out from the smooth plains of his cheeks. Your heart stuttered in your chest before a dull, persistent pain permeated through it. You swallowed it down, successfully tricking Soobin into thinking you were fine as he rattled on about the fans and portable AC units he managed to buy at the local hardware store.

The inside of your mouth went dry. You hoped that you were horribly off base, but you knew that ache. You’d felt it before. A part of you wanted to ignore the obvious and pretend that you were simply overreacting to a pulled muscle. Unfortunately, a larger, more rational part of you knew exactly what the feeling was. You were growing flowers. Again.

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paraclete0407 · 3 years

Text

That my favorite JLC novel was ‘Call for the Dead’ - a reference for the Black Death

Nora Roberts’ ‘Holding the Dream’ - ‘Project 521′

‘[Japanese word for bouquet] super-cruise

‘Afterburner’ - hands on shoulders

‘Disbelief in math’ - you [stole presence of breast]

‘Why am I so dumb’

Drinking boiling tea on empty stomach till fly, leap weightlessly

‘Mariposa 2016′ - why not be ‘wheeled out’

‘Speak while breathing in’

10.

Oxygen from outside not needed; breathing is crutch

11.

Do backflip; test of will

12.

‘Germantown Lake’

13.

Instant respect University School of Milwaukee

14.

‘UW-Milwaukee (once) respected me’

15.

‘The infliction

16.

‘H3B’ - ‘Mutt Riley’ drug-dealer w/ heart of gold (fake stock character) ‘Malaysian Camille,’ fingers intercostal, ‘Liesl,’ point to books w/ furry boot-toes, ‘I want to kick that cat.’ Some kind of gov’t agency. Girl w/ marmalade hair,

17.

‘Gangster Opera’ - ‘__-ya what _ _ _ _’ - ‘penalty life’

18.

‘Flamenco dance-hall poison gas massacre’ - ‘First Love’

19.

‘The Persian Girl’ - NYC container-ship nuclear terrorism

20.

‘Oxygen Girl and Lithium Boy’ - W. Allen ‘Jupiter Symphony’ - Green R-33 - ‘Yeppeo Harkke’ - ‘I’m not Allen; don’t want to know everything; I groom no one; I expect not to live forever; IDC abt ‘sexual awakening’ + doesn’t need to be taught. Unoriginal sinner, un-special sophistication, ‘nubile’ - well f--- you and praise God f---face

21.

Distributing the apple-baskets to the poor

22.

‘Epipen’ hostess-bar; [fake name spoken by munch-crumple-idiot].

23.

‘The Coalminer’s Wife.’ Rutgers is Pyongyang; Mason Gross School of the Arts is Pyongyang; spiral staircase, why am I so dumb. ‘Poetry-writing is like _ _ but novel-writing is like coal-mining.’ The small room, loom / weave. Sleep in uniform apron / visor. Blindness. Hairband. ‘If you wear this shirt on college 1st day will meet fut. husband.’

Sitting in subterranean culvert, bride, pink silver white, orange light. Kneeling in matte white in coal-hill. ‘The village headman’s daughter.’ Candle. Roman Catholicism implied.

24.

Legalistic, fat on health-foods. Friend is skinny always burning self down, love of pizza. ‘Sungjin.’

25.

‘Minister of the Right’ - ‘Scholar Jin and Lady Periwinkle’

26.

‘Eternal Protector YSS his face was white to blacks black to whites spoke breathing in, racist in immutable divine capacity, picking up valuables from ground even if stolen property =/- smashing store-window to steal. Terrible elephant-trumpet, sinking, PCH will burn me w/ cigarette-tip in Eternity.

27.

‘Sospira’ - mandatory euthanasia for piano-teacher after ‘genius student’ graduates

28.

‘Man is woman and woman is b _ _.’ ‘Women are floors.’

29.

The bird says ‘laoshi.’ The rabbit approaches me; my son. Little kids w/ armored lower legs will crush me.

30.

‘So tired from writing strip-club accounts by hand shoulder fatigue the RU Aryan Nation (inc. blonde Jewesses) easily bent her arm to make it look like suicide.’

31.

‘I caused WW3 due to collective hallucination and/or CCP deepfake; casus belli

32.

‘We’ll give you a five-course meal then f--- you up + also plant bomb in stomach

33.

‘I f---ig TOLD YOU

34.

Mom trusted me with absolute trust-ness as we walked; Jew ‘Take your family _____!’ ‘Carlos Park,’ ‘I HATE Jews; they think they’re the only humans.’ ‘At least we can all agree about Obergefell(?!).’

35.

Why Episcopalians sing about Socrates?

36.

Tell parents, ‘Don’t you know how easy it is to generate deepfakes and say anyone did anything?’ They drove away leaving me outside Best Buy.

37.

‘He’s like the Palestinians.’ ‘I really like you.’ Black boy in pom-pom-hat, tooth-smile, tinfoil.’ My Tibetan bracelet, Diamond Gym Maplewood

38.

‘Meta-wolf.’ Painterly resolution of cinema. Die at piano. Stab self in right thigh.

39.

Looking in to the PC screen 2003 I saw the future; at the very end of the _ _ vid the katana right through her mouth and head / brain / skull. Dads to plan Covid ultra-vengeance. YSS, ‘I killed my sons to _ _ _.’

40.

St. Peter in sky

41.

‘Delight of bread; it befits Man’s dignity... Xi Jinping likes _... delight stomach nursing school, orange sherbert, all ight getting beaten

42.

The Black PhD woman wants me to apply lip-gloss(?!), will not expand on educational philosophy of institution - ‘I blah blah blah Harvard, middle class can’t live within means - Shanghai novel ‘What We Were Not Promised’ - ‘

43.

Guidance counselor you f----- it up - incompetent reprobate self-hypermasculinizing crop-hair Jewess man up Derek Chauvin

43.

‘The neural math Yuki Katakura, mirror neurons, decoupling, cannot ride the vestibule, Matt Chai, “Correspondence and Correlation’ Berkeley CA, ‘Catherine Chai’ emerald dress, McDonalds in the days when seats were fixed outside. Michelle WAi funeral; she played guitar; commanded submarine, assassinated by RPG Arab terrorist. G-36. ‘Fantail.’

44.

‘What’s Myeong Hyeongeso up to?’ - I really love my friend Cunningham whose heartrate spikes probably b/c he knows there’s CCP Yakuza assassins somewhere al the time thinking of murdering him

45.

Daejin McDonald’s one night, I start singing ’Star Spangled Banner.’ Kim Jong Un launches missile arcing over cereal grain fields, I start singing ‘Star Spangled Banner.’

46.

Literally 2015, ‘Trinity of Happiness.’ Later ‘finally enter.’ Gold label lite cigarette, ‘I’m gonna have my day!’

47.

I gave the little kid money + he flipped out; he later tried to freeze himself to death as Texas Bill is manning up worried about magazine cliches, contributions to ROKA(?). Kid quit due to voice but he’s still better than me! Fire all these people, CDF, ‘Charles David Framingham,’ nuke Milwaukee, I don’t trust his data. ‘I had so much sex before marriage’ - just die I read your magazine 3,0000 years ago. I can’t believe anyone wants to be you; my grandfather was B-24 co-pilot, main pilot KIA, landed without landing-training, grapefruit morning, infinite wrist-strength. I smashed up his house but he didn’t get mad, just stutter. Dead-eyed f---face shooting every animal in Texas.

48.

Very much fear of P2 holiness but holiness-shyness even worse than love-shyness even more blasphemous, I sincerely hope he strangles me very soon

49.

The evillest thing I ever thought, the ‘death of deaths,’ Kim Jong Il, what was he thinking? I used to toy with TW-1, say word ‘zombie’ ‘How could you do that?!’ I didn’t liquefy girls’ skeletons or sth; it’s like Schindler’s List soundtrack; I just don’t know words for it. ‘Final Gesture’ - Jesus to Judas ‘friend?’

50.

Iraq War Day trail-running, later cognizance of Noam Chomsky Hiroshima Day. Wanted to say Op. Olympic noble but in retrospect ‘Bells of Nagasaki’ + ‘swamp of Japan.’ My grandfather’s funeral, dad is, ‘We have all drunk from wells we did not dig.’ Chinese chicken eat, nap, I can run all the way up of the hill w/ African chat. I like YooA ‘Bon Voyage,’ check CNS high reps, atrial fibrillation.

51.

SHINEE fangirl ‘Stella(?)’ - noli me tangerine I know that stuff is ‘little stars.’ Awed at my gait ‘If only they had stayed in hot pursuit.’ I wanna believe in all that stuff as well; I am also a dead-ender or last-chancer or last-caller; I admire Mari Iijima, ‘’Uncompromising Innocence.’ ‘Little Heaven’ but that’s Kim Jongilism or I’m worse than Kim Jong Il for thinking about ‘Agents Running in the Field.’ Timothy Keller, ‘I don’t like broccoli.’ I felt it was an innuendo and it made me think of HJ that gave me her number but I didn’t call b/c I’m against prostitution and I felt it’s fake number b/c everything is the Shadowplay. I made stupid lewd stuff for years despite ‘Anointment’ and ‘When To Care’ - ‘toucan, macaw, demi-bra.’ Everyone thinks I’m a rapist but I’m not pressing my case; I don’t mouth-breath; I don’t spit. I read ‘Sentimental Education’ and pre-targeted; I gave up; I wish Gen. McChrystal could be President or GWB 3rd term, conscience of Moon Jaein, ‘Weary Head.’ Thought I was ‘all hard’ for reading Natsume Soseki’s ‘Meian’ with ex-girlfriend’s smile at the end but he as dying then I started seeing kisses + wife-smiles and stuff; what’s Francis Chan up to?, does Mike Pompeo know I am real? I liked 2nd Inuyasha movie, that song was about Mochida Kaori’s unborn niece or nephew, Kinokuniya Edgewater Mitsuwa. The ‘Many Pieces’ live version ended with bass-note - ‘cantus firmus’ - instead of fadeout and wail. Stone Lake NK Mountain morning. Fav. Bible book 2 Timothy - ‘grievous wolves.’ & I used to listen to ‘Arirang’ and hear the Latin, ‘Respondemus’ - my favorite person said that Latin’s ‘quaint’ but it’s the lingua franca of the Roman Empire and that’s the final empire of this world that never went away; but this is a specific era, the great wave Delta and it’s not even the last iteration If I know anything about biological war or Satan. Unironically fall on your face; ten billion jewel-souls tonight and this terrible fire rolling over. I just simply pray for mercy on Milwaukee + somebody suspend their infinity-war-dueling over all the ills of yesterday back to Original Sin nd the Fall of Lucifer. I’m unhappy that I know all this pop-culture; ‘worlds are swaying / someone is praying / please let us come home to stay’ or Kahi’s ‘One Love’ where at the end it uses the word for ‘I’ in the subjective case which is ‘arm confirmed identity’

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trulybetty · 5 months

Text

dec' 08 x sweets

Prompt: sweets Pairing: marcus pike x f!Reader Word Count: 3,196 Warnings: barely beta’d, all mistakes my own, this is au and way off the plot of anything to do with The Mentalist, mentions of baked goods and fluff and I apologize for the tough of angst 🍰 Summary: Maplewood, a small town nestled in northern BC where people flock to see the festive decorations of main street and enjoy the festive traditions. It's been a couple months since you arrived in Maplewood and your relationship with Marcus has blossomed, but could there be a road bump ahead that might cloud the festive season? AO3: Linked

x. masterlist

Something Festive This Way Comes Part I

Much like all the businesses and homes in Maplewood, Black Cat Books was fully decked out for the holidays. Between the shelves crammed with books and tables piled high with paperbacks every available space was full of tinsel, baubles and fairy lights. Libby had been absolutely giddy when you’d agreed to help decorate the place.

You still didn’t know how she managed to store so many seasonal decorations in her storeroom, let alone how she managed to fit decorations into every nook and cranny of the store. Everywhere you looked there was something, all leading to the crowning glory at the front of the store. The bright pink tree she’d decorated with miniature handmade books for the Merry Tree Trek.

However, since taking your new job your days in the bookstore had been greatly reduced so you jumped at any chance to be in there to find yourself lost in the endless sea of stories and whimsy that both Black Cat Books and Libby offered.

“Stop trying to get me to walk under the mistletoe,” You complained when Marcus steered you away once again from the string of lights you were fussing with.

“I have no clue what you’re referring to,” he shrugged nonchalantly as he crossed his arms at his chest, “Just wanted to show you a potential place for more light.”

You looked up pointedly at the mistletoe you were now standing under and raised an eyebrow as you looked back at Marcus, the grin on his face no longer concealable.

“Well, since we’re here, they say it’s bad luck if you don’t…” he trailed off, his lips hovering tantalizingly close to yours. Your breath hitched, your heart fluttered and you closed your eyes, eagerly awaiting the soft press of his lips against yours, the promise of mistletoe magic hanging in the air.

But a kiss didn’t come.

Frowning, you opened your eyes to find Marcus’s attention taken by something outside the frost-kissed window of the bookstore.

“Are you okay, Marcus?” you asked, a note of concern hanging off your words as you followed his line of sight across the street to the warmly lit bakery, its windows foggy from the heat within.

Sarah and Maria were holding down the fort allowing you and Marcus the afternoon together and the place appeared to be still standing in one piece. You squinted to try and see what it was that had caught his attention. The only thing that stood out was the lone figure standing in front of the bakery window.

Taking his hand in yours you gave it a gentle squeeze, “Marcus?” you asked again, and you frowned, his face was pale - it looked like he’d seen a ghost.

You hadn’t seen Marcus in two days.

Two days since you were both in the bookstore.

It wasn’t as if he’d disappeared altogether, he was currently at the bakery and you had tried the day before to go see him but Frank had turned up and hadn’t taken the hint. So you’d taken your pastry and made your way back to work.

Speaking of work, your new job at the Maplewood Tourism Board was proving to be a lot more than you had expected for a seemingly sleepy town.

The Winter Christmas Eve Ball was the crown jewel of Maplewood's holiday season, and as a fresh face on the Tourism Board, you were thrown into the merry deep end. Every day was a whirlwind of phone calls, schedules, and coordination with local businesses. The festive season was a community effort, and everyone wanted to make this year's events more magical than the last.

Tapping your pen against the desk you decided to call it a day. Your head was spinning with festivities and a list of events for the town for the month to organize and there was a promise of a drink over a pizza with Marcus. His offer of an apology to make up for his absence. Work had ramped up with an influx of tourists for the holiday season. Apparently, your short tenure with the tourism board had yielded quick results.

Stepping out of the bustling office, you made your way through the snow-dusted streets of Maplewood, the festive decorations twinkling in the early evening light. As you approached Maple Delights, you could see through the steamed-up windows that the bakery was in full swing, with Sarah cheerfully serving a steady stream of customers.

Pushing the door open, you were greeted by the familiar, comforting aroma of freshly baked goods. The warmth of the bakery enveloped you, a stark contrast to the chill outside. You scanned the shop for Marcus but there was no sight of him.

“Is he around?” you asked from the back of the queue as you caught Sarah’s eye.

Sarah closed the lid on a bright pink cake box, stamped with the bakery logo before she pulled a string of twine to secure it, she nodded to the back, “You’re in luck, he just got back from the coffee shop.”

You nodded your thanks and headed to the back of the shop and to the kitchen.

Marcus was pulling out a large bowl of what smelled like gingerbread dough when you stepped into the kitchen.

“Hey, Marcus,” you called out softly, not wanting to startle him.

He looked up, his expression shifting from concentration to surprise, then a warm smile as he recognized you. “Hey! What brings you by? Shouldn't you be neck-deep in Winter Ball plans?”

You walked over, leaning against the counter. “I am, but I needed a break so I left early. I wanted to see how you're doing.”

Marcus wiped his hands on his apron, his smile lingering. “I’m doing alright, just a bit swamped with the holiday rush. Always the same this time of year,” he said, a hint of weariness in his voice.

You nodded, noticing the flour dusting his hair and the tired lines around his eyes. “I can see that. The bakery looks busier than ever,” you paused as you watched him roll out the dough, the scent of ginger and cinnamon filling the kitchen. “…the other day, in the bookstore. You seemed really distracted before we left, you sure everything is okay?”

He hesitated for a moment, then let out a sigh. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just long hours.” Marcus quickly changed the subject, “So, pizza night? I hope you’re ready for my world-famous ‘after-hours bakery pizza’ – it’s a special treat,” he finished with a wink.

Marcus' switch of topics didn't go unnoticed, but you decided not to push any further.

“Your world-famous pizza, huh? I'm intrigued,” you said with a playful smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Marcus's face lit up at the chance to shift the focus to something more positive, “Just you wait, it's something else.”

The sight of the joy on his face was infectious, “Big promises Pike,” you chided with a smile.

As the bakery doors closed for the evening, the atmosphere inside shifted. The bustling energy of the day gave way to a more intimate, relaxed setting. It was just you and Marcus, alone with the warmth of the ovens and the soft glow of the kitchen lights.

Your eyes followed his movements as he peeled off his plaid shirt, revealing only a plain black t-shirt that was already dusted with a light layer of flour. You couldn't help but admire him in this simple moment, a man at ease in his own skin.

He began to walk you through his pizza-making process, his hands skillfully kneading the dough. There was something mesmerizing about watching him work, the way his hands moved with such confidence and care.

“Come here,” he said, guiding you to take his spot as he stood behind you, his hands running the length of your arms until they covered yours and guided them in the same motions he'd just demonstrated to knead the dough on the flour dusted table.

As you continued to work on the dough, Marcus's body behind yours felt warm and comforting. His breath tickled your ear as he whispered instructions and encouragement.

“See how the dough starts to come together?” he said, his voice low and soothing.

You nodded, enjoying the closeness between you two. Marcus's hands moved with yours, guiding you through the process until the dough was perfectly kneaded.

“Great job,” he said, stepping back to admire your handiwork. “I think we make a great team.”

You couldn't help but smile at his words, feeling a flutter in your stomach at his compliment.

After topping the pizza with fresh ingredients Marcus had pulled from the walk in fridge. Ingredients he'd picked up from the local market the day before in preparation for your date. Marcus placed the pizza in the oven with a satisfied grin. “Now we just have to wait for it to bake,” he said, as you jumped up onto the table.

The air between you two crackled with unspoken words and shared smiles. He moved closer, his hands leaving traces of flour on your knees as he stood between your legs.

“I'm glad you're here,” he whispered, his breath warm against your skin.

You up at him, feeling a rush of warmth in your chest. “Me too,” you replied sincerely. There was something about him that always made you feel at ease and happy.

Your heart raced as he leaned in, his lips meeting yours in a soft and gentle kiss. Your fingers found their way into his hair, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened.

Marcus's hands traced up your thighs, sending shivers down your spine. You parted your lips, inviting him to deepen the kiss, as his hands moved to your hips. The warmth between you two was palpable, and every touch made your heart race faster.

As you pulled back from the kiss to catch your breath, Marcus's hands slid up to your hips, causing you to shiver at his touch. You moved your hands to his chest, feeling the solidness of his muscles beneath your fingers.

Suddenly, the timer on the oven beeped, and Marcus reluctantly pulled away. “I guess that's our signal,” he said with a chuckle.

You hopped down from the table as he took the pizza out of the oven. The aroma was mouthwatering, and you couldn't wait to dig in.

The snow crunched under your boots as you left True North Brews, the warmth of the coffee cups in your hands contrasting sharply with the chilly air. Maplewood was a hive of activity, with residents bustling about, embracing the festive season's joy.

As you turned the corner, you nearly bumped into a woman standing in the middle of the sidewalk. She was staring intently at the bakery down the street.

“Oh, I'm so sorry!” you exclaimed, instinctively stepping back.

The woman turned, offering a small, somewhat forced smile. “No harm done. I should have been watching where I was standing.”

You noticed the lost look on her face, “You're not from around here are you?”

She laughed, “That obvious hey?”

You smiled, “Only because I was stood where you are with the exact same look a couple months ago. What brings you to Maplewood?”

“I'm here to catch up with someone,” she paused before she carried on, "You don't happen to know Marcus Pike by chance?”

The name 'Marcus' caught you off guard, causing you to fumble one of the coffee cups, barely catching it before it spilled.

“Marcus, from Maple Delights?” you asked, trying to mask the surprise in your voice.

“Yes! That Marcus,” she confirmed, her eyes briefly flitting back to the bakery. “I stopped by but he's not there today they said. I know it's a small town, but any chance do you know where I could find him?”

You swallowed down a lump in your throat, you knew exactly where Marcus was. He was in your bed in your apartment above the bookshop after your pizza date at the bakery last night, waiting for you to come back with the coffees in your hands.

Before you could open your mouth to respond, the woman shook her head as she laughed, “Jeeze, look at me asking questions and I haven't even introduced myself, my name is Theresa,” she said, offering her hand to you.

#december x 500 #something festive this way comes #maplewood au #marcus pike #marcus pike x you #marcus pike x reader #marcus pike x f!reader #marcus pike x female reader #marcus pike fanfiction #jmarcus pike fanfic #pedro pascal character fanfiction

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