#the 2nd we missed because he waited until day of (a sunday) to call the box office and they were closed because sunday | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

cycwrites · 3 years

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WIP Things aka Unofficial Fic Tease

In order to remind myself that I’ve left all of you hanging for the rest of my trilogy rewrite, I thought I would post my unbeta’d, unedited, good with the bad chapter 1 for the second movie. I also have hope that it will make me feel guilty for taking so damn long and get back to it. Especially since I’ve basically closed myself off from writing (and the muses) and I’m trying to pry the doors back open because I really do miss sharing my stories with you guys.

I wrote this well over a year ago, along with a 2nd chapter that deals with the Dean’s office, and really just hope you like it.

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About Damn Time

Chapter One: So That Happened

Word Count: 2600 -------- ~B~

At the end of Beca’s junior year, two things of note happened.

First: Chloe, once again, made the decision to stay with Beca and the Bellas and failed Russian Lit for the third time. Beca had tried to talk her out of it, torn between wanting Chloe to move forward in her life beyond Barden and guilt that she was relieved they wouldn’t have to figure out how to work a long distance relationship. She wasn’t ready to try that and couldn’t imagine leading the group without her. But Chloe had insisted this was where she’d wanted to be and she didn’t feel like she was missing out on anything.

Second: The Bellas were asked to perform at President Obama’s 50th birthday celebration at the Kennedy Center on August 8th.

Beca had laughed when the call had come through the never used landline at the Bella house.

“Good afternoon, this is Mack Johnson and I’m calling on behalf of the White House…”

“Yeah right. Nice try, Jesse.” She hung up and pulled out her cell phone as she walked into the kitchen. Pausing by the counter she typed out a quick message to him.

Beca: I’ve gotta give you points for originality though. You almost sounded like an actual adult.

She poured herself a glass of lemonade before he answered.

Jesse: I’m going to take that as a compliment and ignore the wound to my manly pride, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Beca: Whatever you say, ‘Mack.’ If you’d said you were calling from anywhere but the White House I might’ve let you keep talking.

Instead of answering via text, Jesse called her.

“Are you day drinking, Mitchell?” Jesse clucked his tongue. “Without your lesbro? I’m hurt, Becaw.”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Beca lifted her glass and took a sip. “What inspired your call today?”

“Uh, your cryptic and confusing texts to me, of course.” Jesse chuckled. “Want to clue me in?”

Beca sighed. “Man you’re committed to this.”

“To what?”

Beca set her glass on the counter. “Fine – you just called me and –” She jumped as the phone in the living room rang for only the second time in her years at Barden. “Pretended… to be… from the White House.”

“I thought you said you weren’t drinking?” Jesse laughed but it sounded distant as Beca watched Chloe answer the phone.

Her girlfriend’s blue eyes went wide and locked on Beca’s as she said, “I’m sorry, did you say you’re calling from the White House?”

“Jesse?” Beca said absently.

“Yes, Beca?” His voice took on an echo as all the blood drained from her face.

“I gotta go pass out now.” She swallowed dryly. “I’ll call you later.”

“Beca wa-”

Beca had remained frozen in the kitchen while Chloe became more and more animated, frantically scribbling down notes on the notepad sitting beside the phone, though her voice was carefully calm and collected. Then she’d run into the kitchen, screaming and jumping in excitement and talking faster than Beca’s shocked mind could process. Drawn by the commotion like a frat boy to a kegger, the rest of the girls soon joined the chaos while Beca still stood frozen by the counter as they swirled around her.

The school had allowed them to stay on campus through the summer so they could discuss songs and choreography. The time had been a whirlwind of security checks and practice and everything they planned needed to be vetted by the performance organizers. Of course, since they’d come to the Bellas after their third ICCA win in a row, there weren’t any real problems.

Until the night of the performance when one set of tangled silks and a desire for no panty lines wrecked everything.

No pun intended.

~B~ Sunday, August 24th, 2014

Beca lay on their bed and stared at the ceiling, listening to Chloe pace beside her.

“I’ve ruined everything.” Pace to the head of the bed. “Destroyed our reputation.” Pace back to the foot. “Made the Bellas a joke.”

Beca sighed and pushed herself up on her elbows. “Chloe. It’s a capella. It’s already a jo-” She stopped as Chloe spun to face her, outraged. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Beca tried a smile. “I was just trying to lighten the mood.” She let it slip when Chloe just stared at her and Beca dropped back down to gaze at the ceiling. “Won’t make that mistake again.”

“I’m the one who gave Amy the green-light to do ‘Wrecking Ball.’” Chloe resumed pacing.

“Because, despite most of her claims, she actually had done some training on the silks before coming to the states.” Beca countered, as she had for the past three weeks. “She was good on them and never once in our rehearsals did she get tangled up.”

“But-”

“No.” Beca cut her off and sat up, pulling her legs up to sit cross legged and face her. “We all agreed to let her do it. It was a group vote.” She softened her voice and held out her hand. “This isn’t all on you, Chlo.”

With a sigh, Chloe took her hand and let herself be tugged onto the bed. Beca stretched back out and Chloe settled against her side. “It feels like it.”

“That’s because you’re the one who looks out for us.” Beca gently rubbed her back. “No one could’ve predicted this, love.”

“No…” Chloe said grudgingly. “But…”

Beca cut her off again. “There’s no buts.”

“Except Amy’s.” Chloe huffed, tension that had begun to fade making her stiffen up again in Beca’s arms. “All over the news.” She groaned. “Why didn’t I just use the cloth I was freaking holding to cover her up?”

“Same reason I didn’t,” Beca said reasonably, having heard a version of this several times before. “My mind went blank and I couldn’t move. I just… kept waiting to wake up.”

“Same.” Chloe pressed her nose to Beca’s shoulder. “I still am. This is such a nightmare.”

“She feels bad.” Beca offered. “It was her idea to do that press conference.” She winced as Chloe snorted.

“Yeah, where she then tried to show her ‘silk burn’ to the entire world.” Chloe sat up and pushed herself off the bed. “Again.” She resumed pacing and Beca’s mind hunted around for anything she could say to defuse things.

“At least we saved Aubrey’s college legacy from Pukegate?” Even as the words were out of her mouth Beca knew they were stupid and wrong.

“And ruined ours with Muffgate.” Chloe snarled.

“I wish I could find the asshole that came up with that. Bet it was those podcast people and of course everyone else jumped on it.” Beca made a face. “It was an accident and eventually there will be another crisis for them to focus on.” She slid over to the edge of the bed and swung her legs over. “It won’t be forever, Chlo.”

Pace, turn. “But tomorrow we go see the Dean.” Pace, turn. “With those podcast people who are apparently actually part of the Collegiate A Cappella Association.”

“They’re still weird and he’s an ass.” Beca stood up and stretched as she heard the door open at the bottom of the stairs. “Think you’ll be able to enjoy yourself at dinner tonight?”

Chloe stopped by the small table they inherited from Aubrey and took a deep breath. “Of course. It’s Amy’s birthday. I’m not going to ruin it for her.” She flashed Beca a small grin, the first in an hour. “Why do you think I’m up here instead of downstairs?”

“Speaking of,” a new voice said from the stairs. “There’s maybe… A situation.” Jessica smiled apologetically when they both looked at her as she reached the top.

Beca sighed. “Of course there is.”

“Do I even want to know?” Chloe pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Probably not, but Stacie sent me to get you.”

“Coward,” Beca muttered. “She knows I can’t hit you because you’re too nice.” She took a deep breath. “Okay, quick like ripping off a band-aid.”

“Amy’s sitting on the couch. With a towel on her lap.” Jessica hesitated.

“That’s… Why is that a big deal?” Chloe asked, confused.

“She’s… commando. Because of her silk burn.” The blonde’s shoulders bounced once but she didn’t say anything else.

“I swear to fucking god I’m going to glue underwear on her,” Chloe muttered under her breath.

Beca was struck by a horrible thought. “Is she sitting on another towel?”

“We were afraid she’d show us if we asked.” Jessica looked at Beca. “That’s when Stacie sent me to get you.”

“Why do I have to do it?” Beca knew she was whining but couldn’t help it.

“Because you’re the captain.” Jessica shrugged again. “You can threaten her with cardio if she tries to flash us again.”

“Yeah but Amy doesn’t always listen to me and I don’t want to have flashbacks.” Beca reluctantly headed for the stairs as Jessica started back down.

“Birthday or not…” Chloe muttered as she followed.

“I’m sure Lilly has a hot glue gun you can use,” Beca mused, not surprised to find Ashley hanging out in the hallway when they left the attic.

“Don’t tempt me.” Chloe didn’t say anything else the entire trip down the stairs.

Beca rounded the corner, passing Jessica and Ashley who had stopped in the entry and came to a halt herself, Chloe running into her back.

All she could see was the back of Amy’s head but she appeared to be looking straight at Lilly who sat cross-legged on the ottoman and staring back.

“Do I even want to know?” Beca turned her head toward Jessica but didn’t take her eyes off the scene.

“I didn’t ask that either,” came the whispered reply.

Beca took a bracing breath then walked into the living room. Despite the reassurance that the covering towel existed, Beca didn’t relax until she saw it for herself. It was nothing personal against Amy, but Beca just didn’t want to see any of the Bellas naked, Chloe being the obvious exception. You never knew when the visual would pop back in your head and Amy had already shown up enough in the past few weeks to last a lifetime.

“Amy.” Beca looked up at a sound from the kitchen and saw Stacie leaning in the doorway with Cynthia Rose and Flo sitting at the center island.

“Captain.” Amy didn’t turn her head or avert her gaze.

“Are you guys in a staring contest?” Beca frowned, looking between the two women. “And if so why?”

“I don’t know,” Amy lifted one shoulder. “All I know is she hasn’t blinked since she sat down and why take the risk of losing.”

Beca felt her eyes twitch at the thought. “Jesus, please cut it out before my eyes start watering.” She stepped between them and Amy closed her eyes in relief.

“Thanks, Shawshank. That was starting to burn.” She started to lift one corner of the towel to wipe her eyes and Beca threw out her hand.

“Nope. That stays there.” Chloe said it before Beca could.

“Please tell me you’re sitting on another towel.” Beca sighed and ran her hand through her hair.

“Of course I am!” Amy actually looked indignant. “I’m not a heathen, Beca.” She rolled her eyes. “The pants I want to wear to dinner are tight, so I’m giving my bits time to breathe first.”

“Now that’s in my head.” Cynthia Rose muttered from the kitchen.

“That’s in all our heads,” Ashley said from the doorway behind them.

“You could always wear that blue skirt,” Chloe offered diplomatically. “That way you’re not uncomfortable for your birthday dinner.”

“I do look hot in that.” Amy thought about it while the rest of them made sounds of agreement. “Alright, you’ve swayed me. And as it’s almost that time, guess I’ll go upstairs and change.” She started to stand as Beca moved back then paused. “If you’d all turn around and give me some privacy while I wrap?”

Beca rolled her eyes as she turned to face the front window that, thankfully, had the curtains drawn. “That’s what you get for being half naked in the public areas of the house.”

“I got bored in my room.” Beca heard Amy stand up and the rustle of fabric. “Alright, I’m decent.”

“Hey!”

Beca jumped at the unexpected shout and looked over her shoulder. Stacie had come out of the kitchen and was pointing at the couch.

“That’s my favorite towel!” Outage filled her face. “I was looking for that for over a week!”

“It’s also the softest towel in the house.” Amy said as she picked it up, tucking the other firmly around her waist. “It’s the only thing that doesn’t hurt when I’m sitting.”

A choked sound from behind her brought Beca’s eyes back around to Chloe, who was biting the inside of her cheek and trying not to giggle. “I’m sure she’ll wash it before she gives it back.”

Beca tried to choke back her laugh and ended up sounding like a pug with a cold as she snickered into her hand.

“I think…” Stacie sighed. “Happy Birthday, Amy. It’s all yours.”

“You sure, Stretch?” Amy threw the towel in question over her shoulder. “I don’t think I’ll need it for much longer.”

“Yup.” Stacie nodded emphatically. “I’ll go get another one this weekend.”

“Thanks, Stacie.” Amy smiled at her before her lips twisted slightly. “Sorry I didn’t ask first.”

“’S okay.” Stacie shrugged. “Now go get changed so we can celebrate your day.”

“Are you allowed to give me orders on my birthday?” Amy mused as she headed for the stairs.

“Probably not,” Beca said. “But I’ll probably do it anyway.”

“Bossy.” Chloe whispered behind her and Beca flashed her a grin.

“Alright.” Beca clapped her hands once. “Show’s over, let’s go get our party outfits on and get some grub. We’ve got a Bella to celebrate.”

Stacie walked past her, shaking her head. “Bossy.”

Beca let her head fall back as she stared at the ceiling. “I can’t with you two.”

“What?” Stacie paused in the door to the entry. “Did we do the thing again?”

“Yup.” Chloe pushed Beca toward the stairs. “I called her that thirty seconds ago.” She high fived Stacie over Beca’s shoulder when the tall woman grinned and held out her hand.

“Score one for us.” Stacie laughed and started up the stairs.

“I hate you guys.” Beca said weakly as she followed.

“Liar,” Chloe laughed and ran her hand down Beca’s back.

“Maybe.” Beca let Chloe go before her.

“Definitely.”

“Yeah yeah,” Beca waved her up the stairs, unable to help admiring the way Chloe’s muscles flexed as she moved. “But seriously, my stomach just woke up and if I don’t feed it soon it’s going to take over the world.”

“Aye aye, Captain.” Stacie saluted as she stepped into her room.

“Smartass,” Beca threw back.

“And you love it.” Stacie closed the door with a laugh.

“Stop flirting with Stacie and let’s go change before you get hangry.” Chloe took her hand and tugged on it.

“She wishes,” Beca muttered but followed Chloe up to their room, ignoring the ‘Often’ that came from Stacie’s room behind them.

‘She’s got bat hearing, I swear.’ Beca thought to herself as she went to the closet to get her outfit for the night.

Tomorrow was still looming over them, but Beca pushed it all away, determined to think about Amy and the Bellas for the rest of the night.

It was one mistake and they’d just won three years in a row. Surely they weren’t in that much trouble.

Right?

#bechloe #beca mitchell #chloe beale #all the other bellas #rise 1 #cyc fic tease #cyc motivational seeker

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desdealgunlugardelsur · 3 years

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Harrison Ford: 2020 summary

A year like no other, as you must have heard countless times. The pandemic changed almost everybody´s life on this planet and Harrison wasn´t an exception. Our lil´ bean is strong and healthy but also has to be safe at home, so this year didn´t deliver many news about Harrison. Still, we had a new Harrison movie, The Call of the Wild, released in February, and a few other events before the lockdown. 2020 was also marked by the death of 3 former Harrison´s costars: Chadwick Boseman, Sean Connery and David Prowse. May all of them rest on peace on Heaven.

A new year begins, and we all wish Harrison (and everyone by the way) a productive, happy and healthy 2021. Stay safe!

JANUARY

Early January: Harrison Ford enjoying his holidays in the caribbean island of Bonaire

25th: Harrison Ford with singer Carole Bayer Sager in a dinner in support of US Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg

28th: The Call of the Wild “Adventure Companions” Featurette. Harrison Ford talks about dogs and companionship in The Call of the Wild’s “Adventure Companions” featurette.

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28th: not sure where these pics were taken. Probably in Wyoming? (pics from Rich Elali)

FEBRUARY

3rd: Verizon Super Bowl Ad Features Harrison Ford And New Pearl Jam Song

Kathleen Kennedy Says Harrison Ford Is Still On For ‘Indiana Jones 5’

Early-mid February: the national and international promotion of The Call of the Wild begins

5th: In Mexico City:

Harrison Ford: America Has Lost Its Moral Leadership And Credibility: The “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” star calls out U.S. policy on immigration and climate.

11th: On the Jimmy Kimmel Show:

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More here

13th: Harrison Ford, actor and watch designer. Newly adapted from Jack London’s literary classic, “The Call of the Wild” transports us to the snowy expanses of Alaska in the 1890s, with Harrison Ford as prospector John Thornton. The actor talks about climate activism, technology and why mechanical watches beat smartwatches every time.

14th: Indiana Jones 5 Starts Shooting In Two Months Says Harrison Ford : The long delayed fifth Indiana Jones film is finally about to get underway, as Harrison Ford reveals that he will begin shooting in two months. (that was what they were planning before COVID-19 hit the world...)

14th: Harrison Ford: Indiana Jones 5 Will “See Part of His History Resolved”

17th: “A Force ghost? I don’t know what a Force ghost is…I have no idea what a Force ghost is. And I don’t care!“. Legend.

21st: The Call of the Wild is released in cinemas

At the movie premiere in Los Angeles:

BRING ON THE PUPPIES:

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More videos:

Call of the Wild Survival Tips!

SNACK??? (Kudos to that girl)

Find epic stories at your library!

More news:

Of Course Harrison Ford Did His Own Call Of The Wild Stunts And 'Wore Out' The Stunt Team

Harrison Ford's shirtless chest is that buff (at 77) for his 'Call of the Wild' swim scene

26th: Steven Spielberg Won’t Direct ‘Indiana Jones 5,’ James Mangold in Talks to Replace

27th: Harrison Ford Breaks Down His Career, from 'Star Wars' to 'Indiana Jones' (Vanity Fair)

Late February: Harrison Ford visits Google´s offices in San Francisco to test the company´s self-driving car. [x] [x] [x] [x]

MARCH

14th: Harrison spotted in South Hadley, Massachusetts [x]. Apparently Harrison and Calista went to Massachusetts to pick up their son Liam after college shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

MARCH

...

APRIL

3rd: Disney delay multiple release dates including Jungle Cruise, The French Dispatch, and Indiana Jones 5

(…) Another big reveal is that Indiana Jones 5 – which will reportedly be directed by James Mangold – is being pushed back a year, from July 9, 2021 to July 29, 2022.

29th: Harrison Ford under FAA investigation after making a mistake while operating an airplane on the runway

According to the audio obtained by TMZ, Ford, 77, did not follow the direction of a tower operator to “keep short” on the runway because of “traffic”. It seems that the actor did not hear the direction. He nevertheless started to cross the runway, which prompted the operator to reprimand him for not following his instructions.

“Cross this trail now!” I told you to keep it short! You have to listen, “said the operator.

“Excuse me, sir, I thought exactly the opposite. I’m really sorry, ”said Ford immediately.

TMZ said there was no risk of an accident. The other aircraft was allegedly 3600 feet from Ford’s aircraft.

MAY

6th: Lucasfilm Reportedly Wants Harrison Ford To Return For Han And Chewie Star Wars Spinoff (Note: this hasn´t been officially confirmed by Lucasfilm)

15th: No news but I think this is cute:

From twitter.com/siikasele

21st: The Empire Strikes Back 40th anniversary. 40 years ago, TESB was released on theaters the 21st of May of 1980.

27th: James Mangold Confirmed To Direct Indiana Jones 5. Producer Frank Marshall confirms James Mangold is directing Indiana Jones 5 and says he's only just begun to work on his own script for the movie.

28th: James Mangold plans to take Indiana Jones franchise 'someplace new'.

Indiana Jones Writer on How Pandemic Will Affect Film's Script

JUNE

Nothing happens but look at this

You are welcome.

JULY

13th: Happy birthday king!

AUGUST

23rd: Harrison Ford dropping off his son Liam at College with wife Calista Flockhart via private plane (from tinyrebelstuff)

28th: Chadwick Boseman dies of cancer at the age of 43

Harrison Ford Calls Chadwick Boseman "As Much a Hero as Any He Played"

“Chadwick Boseman was as compelling, powerful and truthful as the characters he chose to play,” Ford said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “His intelligence, personal dignity and deep commitment inspired his colleagues and elevated the stories he told. He is as much a hero as any he played. He is loved and will be deeply missed.”

SEPTEMBER

24th: Harrison Ford Cleared by FAA in Runway Investigation. "The FAA has closed the case involving the pilot who crossed a Hawthorne Municipal Airport runway without authorization on April 24, 2020. The FAA required the pilot to take a remedial runway incursion training course. When the pilot successfully completed the course, the FAA closed the case with no additional action," the FAA said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

OCTOBER

19th: Harrison Ford & Ed Helms To Star In STX Seafaring Comedy ‘Adventures Of Burt Squire’

22nd: Actor and Pilot Harrison Ford Becomes Airlink Spokesperson. Video here

31st: Sean Connery dies at 90.

Sean Connery: Harrison Ford pays tribute to his Indiana Jones father and 'dear friend'

"He was my father... not in life... but in Indy 3," he said.

"You don't know pleasure until someone pays you to take Sean Connery for a ride in the sidecar of a Russian motorcycle bouncing along a bumpy, twisty mountain trail and getting to watch him squirm.

"God, we had fun - if he's in heaven, I hope they have golf courses.

"Rest in peace, dear friend."

NOVEMBER

2nd: Harrison Ford And Lincoln Project Back Anthony Fauci, Advocate Firing Donald Trump

In the waning hours of the 2020 presidential election, the Lincoln Project has enlisted Harrison Ford to narrate a new ad that plays up President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he will fire Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The spot features a scene from a Trump rally on Sunday in which supporters began chanting “Fire Fauci! Fire Fauci!” and the president responded, “Don’t tell anybody, but let me wait til a little bit after the election.”

Ford then says, “Tomorrow, you can fire only one of them. The choice is yours.”

3rd: Harrison Ford and Bloomberg on Biden 2020

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7th: Destiel becomes canon. Harrison doesn´t give a single fuck.

Also Joe Biden wins the US elections. Trump is defeated. Harrison, we know you hate Donald Trump. Congratulations.

21st: Harrison Ford back in Boston, Massachusetts, to pick up his son Liam for Thanksgiving Day.

28th: David Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original trilogy, dies at the age of 85. Sorry, I didn´t find any words from Harrison on his memory... it seems they weren´t so close. Also, Jeremy Bulloch, the original Boba Fett, dies at 75 the 17th of december.

DECEMBER

10th: Indiana Jones: James Mangold, Harrison Ford Team to Close Out the Character

Harrison Ford and James Mangold's Indiana Jones 5 will serve as the final chapter for the iconic character.

Disney changed the Indiana Jones logotype. I have a bad feeling about this.

15th: Rare, behind-the-scenes look at 'The Empire Strikes Back'

Including this jewel:

Gif from the @theorganasolo

31st: And just at the very last day of this weird and strange year...

Disney Reportedly Wants Harrison Ford For Indiana Jones Streaming Show

Thankfully, then, it seems that the fifth (Indiana Jones) outing may not be the last we see of the actor in the role, as insider Daniel Richtman claims that Disney wants Ford to appear in a series that’s being developed for their streaming service. Further details are unclear and the tipster doesn’t say if it’s an all-new show or a reboot of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, but as one of the Mouse House’s most valuable assets, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they wanted to continue mining the property once Indiana Jones 5 wraps up the big screen stories for good.

Thanks everyone! Hopefully in 2021 the pandemic will fade and the world will return to normalcy. Luckily the production of Indiana Jones V will start this spring, as well as other Harrison projects such the tv show The Staircase and the movie starring with Ed Elms. Fingers crossed for a year full of (good) news about Harrison. Have a happy and safe 2021.

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jamielea81 · 4 years

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Conversations

Chapter 10

Description: You accompany your friends on a day trip to Animal Kingdom Theme Park where you meet Scott Evans by chance. This one afternoon leads to a year long friendship with both Chris and Scott over text messages and phone calls.

Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader

Warning: Fluff and Angst, I’m sorry. Probably a swear or two.

Word Count: 6,157 (I know!)

A/N: I know nothing about the lives of the Evans family and mean no harm. This is purely fiction and for fun. Reblogs and comments are much appreciated! The tag list is now closed. Each chapter tends to get reblogged from me a few times, so if you’re following me, you can’t miss it. See additional note at the end.

*Italics are internal thoughts

Catch up with Chapter 9

A simple “I’m home” was texted to Chris when your feet hit your bedroom floor. You were slightly concerned you may have been too clingy about the “not seeing him again soon enough” comments you shared. What you really wanted to say was “I’m home and missing you already”, but you refrained. He replied with “glad you made it home safe, sweetheart”.

This was strange for you and you didn’t quite know what was going on with your emotions. With Ethan, it was all too much too soon. The spending nearly every day together was entirely too much. In the end, that relationship really made you lose sight of yourself. With Chris, your time together wasn’t nearly enough. And you couldn’t forget that fact that your relationship was undefined. It was new and not exclusive. You didn’t plan on seeing anyone else while you were seeing Chris, but did he feel the same way? You just needed to have the patience to see where it would go.

Before heading into work, you were stopping by Jana’s office to fill her in on your trip. She’d been busy as of late, more so than usual, so the two of you hadn’t seen much of each other. Up until today, you had successfully avoided Ethan on your two other trips to her office. Once by luck, and the second by careful planning. You hadn’t seen or talked to him since you ended it in your favorite coffee shop a couple of months back. It was still your favorite coffee shop, you just didn’t visit there on Sundays anymore. Jana had given you the heads up that she had already seen him that morning, so there was a chance of running into him as well. It was bound to happen sooner or later, might as well face the music now.

Grabbing two “I Love NY” coffee mugs from the shopping bag you picked up from the airport, you checked your reflection in the mirror once more before going to your car. In all honesty, you weren’t trying to look good for Ethan, not at all. But it didn’t hurt to look good in front of your ex. Besides, you really did have that new relationship and you just had sex glow going on.

“Could you be more cliché?” Jana asked, picking up one of the mugs.

“Most people would say thank you for the gift, Jana.”

“Thank you,” she says sarcastically, but offers you a smile.

You successfully made it from the lobby to her office without an Ethan sighting. Although, you kind of wanted to get the first run-in over with. You didn’t plan on ending your friendship with Jana despite her less than thrilled response to the souvenir you brought back, so you were bound to see him. Wasn’t like he was leaving the firm anytime soon now that he was partner.

“I don’t have Fifth Avenue money, woman. Besides, wasn’t like we did a lot of shopping. Figured that it was a classic New York souvenir,” you said, shrugging your shoulders.

“I really do appreciate it. It’s cute,” she said sincerely. “Besides, you know how much Brooks loves collecting coffee mugs.”

“Hence why I got you each one,” you said matter-of-factly.

“Suppose you didn’t leave the room much anyway.” Her eyebrows raising and lips forming a smug smile.

You leaned over her desk, smacking her arm lightly. Wasn’t like you were Instagramming all weekend. She apparently could read your mind.

“No comment,” you replied, leaning back in your seat, your arms crossing over your chest.

“You do know that no comment is admitting guilt?” she asked.

“Who says I feel guilty?” you replied.

“Good for you. Really, Y/N. I’m happy for you.”

You nodded and smiled slightly.

“It was a nice getaway. He makes me happy,” you said honestly. “I just feel so comfortable around him, you know? I mean of course, I was nervous. You know that. But when we’re together, it’s just nice.”

“It’s probably because you guys were friends first. You already had that existing comfortability.” She leans back in her chair with a soft smile. “That’s really great. When do you think you’ll see him again?”

That was the million dollar question.

You licked your lips and then chewed on the inside of your cheek. “Um. That’s a really good question and I’m still trying to work that out.”

“Well, hopefully soon.”

“I don’t disagree,” you replied.

You made it to the elevator with no Etahn sightings. Grabbing your phone out of your purse, you saw you had a text from Chris.

Chris: I like me better when I'm with you I knew from the first time, I'd stay for a long time 'cause I like me better when I like me better when I'm with you

“How does he even know that song?” you asked to yourself.

Y/N: You know that song?

Y/N: And I like me better when I’m with you too. 😘

Chris: It was on your phone. Played it a couple of times when I was at your house.

He’s got quite the memory.

Pressing the call button for the elevator, you wait patiently for it to arrive. There was one problem though, you couldn’t get out of your own head. It was going to become more difficult the more time passes without seeing Ethan. You didn’t want to be nervous every time you came to visit Jana. It was silly really; you had known Ethan over a year before you started to date. Taking a deep breath, you turned around and walked to his office.

He didn’t notice you at first. His eyes glued to his computer monitor while his pointer finger scrolls endlessly on the mouse. His door is open but you definitely feel like you’re intruding.

Just knock already! Say something!

“Knock. Knock,” you said while literally knocking on his door.

I’m such a dork.

“Y/N!” he blurts out. His face is one of surprise but he quickly straightens it and gives you a polite smile. “Please come in.”

“I’m not interrupting anything?”

“Just the usual.”

Surprisingly it isn’t as awkward as you thought it would be. Of course, Ethan is a lawyer and can keep a straight face when he needs to, so if he’s nervous, he isn’t showing it.

“I just haven’t seen you, so I wanted to say hi. Was just visiting Jana and on my way out,” you said in a rush.

Okay, so maybe this is awkward.

“What have you been up to?” he asks tentatively.

You’re still standing slightly in the doorway which is adding to your unease. Gesturing with your hand to one of the two chairs in front of his desk, he quickly nods. You sit down and you feel slightly better even though you are much closer to him now.

“I’ve been good. I’m doing more stories for the online edition of the paper lately and a few have been picked up nationally which is great.”

“That’s really great, Y/N,” he replied.

It’s sincere and you’re happy he’s lost that cocky demeanor he used give you before you were together. One fear of yours was that he’d put on the show again. Despite being together for only a couple of months, he really opened up to you during that time.

“How about you?” you asked.

“Good. Great actually. Works been busy but we’ve brought on quite a few clients. Busy is good.”

“I’m really glad,” you said. “So..”

“So, are you seeing anyone?” he asked.

Back to awkward then. You hesitated for a moment.

“Do you really want to talk about that?”

“Sorry. We don’t have to,” he replied. “Seen any good movies lately?”

You chuckled and then told him about the nature series you’d been watching on Disney+.

Were the two of you going to be best friends? No, but you never were and that was fine. At least now you felt that if you ran into Ethan, pleasantries could be given without running the other way.

For years, your boss has encouraged you to attend a writing conference. Every year you find an excuse not to go. Well, you went once, maybe six years ago, but you just hadn’t gone back. They were paid for by the paper except for food and spending money. That wasn’t the problem. Attending a conference took time away from your job. They were usually held in a ballroom at a hotel that had you holed up for hours, never allowing you to see the sun. And since they ran up until the time for you to fly home, it didn’t make much sense for you to travel to another city to attend one and never actually see the city. That is until you thought about seeing Chris. You could easily enough have your ticket extended to allow an additional night or two in order to spend time with Chris if you could get your schedules line up.

There were three upcoming conferences you could attend; Cincinnati, Los Angeles, and St. Paul.

You grabbed your phone and fired off a text to Chris figuring you’d bring it up to him before suggesting it to your boss.

Y/N: Any chance you’ll be in LA the week of August 2nd?

The conference was being held August fifth through the seventh which was a Friday. Staying until Sunday evening would make it a short weekend, but time together was still time together.

Chris: The short answer is yes. Taking a quick look at my calendar I have nothing scheduled, so I could be in LA then. What’s going on?

Y/N: I have to talk to my boss, but possible work conference. I’d be free the weekend though.

Chris: More time with you? I’m sold.

“I’m falling fast,” you whispered to yourself.

The truth was, you had already fallen and it scared you to death. If this were any other guy, it wouldn’t be as scary. You’d been in love once before but it ended on bad terms and you’d been afraid to give your heart away ever since. You were never in love with Ethan, but the relationship was rushed and you fell into it easily. But this was Chris. The two of you would never have a normal relationship and that’s what made you hesitant. If you were having a bad day, you couldn’t call him to come over. You couldn’t crawl into bed with him after working on a story late into the night. He couldn’t stop by to watch a movie with you. This was long distance to the extreme.

Chris: I still feel bad last weekend fell through.

Chris planned on flying into Orlando to spend a few days at your place, but something came up and he had to cancel. Sure, it was a little bit of a letdown, but his life was busy and he was in demand, you couldn’t fault him for that. You had seen him a couple of weeks prior so it hadn’t even been that long.

Y/N: Baby, it’s fine. Honestly. Hoping August works out. I should know soon.

While you and Chris still hadn’t discussed the status of your relationship, it had kicked into high gear. He was texting you more often, usually with sweet words and telling you that he missed you. Some of the texts had reached into that R rated category which made you blush, especially if you were out with friends or at work. There were no nudes exchanged or anything like that; neither of you trusted the security of your phones completely. But there were a few occasions that you needed to call him right after receiving one of those messages.

You fired off an e-mail to your boss explaining that you wanted to go to a conference next month. You gave him the dates and asked for approval. Now you just needed to wait.

It was quarter to midnight and you were in bed reading Circe. Looking to expand your reading beyond the latest Disney news as well as the articles published in your employer’s paper, you joined a book club a friend from college started. You were determined to finish the thing on time for once, even if it cut into your normal viewing of the late-night talk shows.

Just as you were getting into a flow with the chapter, your phone rang. Scott had impeccable timing. You had already had your almost nightly phone call with Chris, and no one else besides Scott dared to call you so late.

“Good evening Grumpy. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“You seem to be in a fine mood. What’s got you so cheery?” he asked.

“Let me guess. You’ve talked to your brother?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Unfortunately, I know you both too well at this point. Might as well end the friendship now since there’s nothing new to learn,” you sassed.

“You’re such a brat!” Scott groaned. “Yes, I talked to my brother. It’s how we do.”

“Ahuh. I know you can’t see me, but I’m sticking my tongue out at you.” And you did.

“So, tell me about the trip,” Scott said in a cheery voice.

God, you loved Scott. You could give him shit and he could give it right back but at the end of the day, you both loved each other.

“Well, nothing’s official. I still need to wait for my boss to approve the trip and for the admin to confirm my travel. But if all goes well, I’ll be able to see Chris for a few days. So, hopefully.”

“I’m sure it will all work out,” Scott replied.

“Any chance you’ll be in town that weekend?”

“Maybe. I’ll have to check with Zach,” he said.

“Ooooh! Do I maybe get to meet the famous Zach?”

“Maybeee. If you’re good,” he replied.

“Hey! I’m always good.”

“Ahuh. Moving on,” he said dismissing you.

“You realize, if this all works out, this will be the first time the three of us will be hanging out.”

“That’s not entirely true. The day we met, Chris was there,” Scott reminded you.

“Yeah, but barely. I think he said hi to me and that’s about it,” you chuckled.

“My how the times have changed,” he laughed out.

Much to your delight, you had an e-mail from your boss approving the conference by the time you made it to the office. You quickly typed out an e-mail to your boss’ admin Patty, asking that she extend your flight until Sunday, but advised you wouldn’t need a hotel for those additional days.

Y/N: Guess who’s coming to LA in a couple of weeks?!

You spun around in your chair much to enjoyment of your co-workers.

“Sorry, just got some good news,” you said, smile on full display to Allie and Erin who looked on.

Your phone buzzed in your hand with a text from Chris.

Chris: Baby, that’s great!

In about two weeks, you’d be seeing Chris again. You couldn’t wipe the smile off your face even if you tried. Granted you had to attend three days of lectures and small group discussions, but you get to see Chris! You made a promise to yourself to try to enjoy the conference and learn something from it. By doing so, you would award yourself by being in the company of a man you really liked. It was well worth the reward.

Chris: We are so going to Disneyland.

You smiled at his response. The two of you really belonged together, at least you felt that way.

Y/N: Anything you want. Just excited to spend time with you.

Chris: I feel the same way. I’ll call you later.

Always the last-minute packer, you stood in your closet two nights before your flight to California starring at the clothes you no longer deemed good enough for such a trip. It was silly really, you wore business casual daily, even owned a couple of suits. Then your weekend with Chris, besides the trip to Disneyland, you probably wouldn’t be wearing much clothes. You smirked at that thought. It was a nice one to have and you hoped it played out that way.

Y/N: What should I pack for a writer’s conference?

Jana traveled a lot for work and her style was always impeccable. If you were going to trust anyone to help you pack, you’d trust her.

Jana: You’re not packed yet?

Y/N: Have you met me? Best friend of seven years.

Jana: I’m coming over, but we’re drinking after.

You could handle that so you quickly agreed to her deal. Who were you to argue with a high-powered attorney?

Jana’s idea of drinking was not from the bottle of vodka you kept in your freezer. No, she made you put on actually pants and leave the house. The sweats you were wearing were name brand, you did not see the problem. The central air in your house was set to ice cube, so you often lounged in sweat pants even in the dead of summer. Neither of you wanted to drive far for a drink, so you settled on a nearby chain restaurant with a bar. You were always down for chips and salsa with your margarita.

With chips stuffed to capacity in your mouth, Jana chooses that moment to ask your relationship status. As if she doesn’t already know.

“There’s no status, at least not yet,” you said, hand covering your mouth to avoid any crumbs from escaping.

“Do you think you guys will discuss it?” she asked, popping an overflowing salsa covered chip in her mouth.

You shrugged your shoulders. “I would like to talk about us, at least come up with a definition. Are we just having fun? Is this friend’s with benefits and I just don’t know it? Are we dating? Is he seeing other women?”

“And you have the right to ask that. What do you want it to be?”

“That’s a really good question,” you answered honestly. “I’m realistic about this whole thing, at least I’m trying to be.” Taking a sip from the frozen concoction in the oversized glass, you really thought about what you wanted. It wasn’t hard to figure out. “If we can make it work, I’d like to say that we’re together exclusively. I just don’t know if it’s too soon or if he’s not on the same page. I know he cares about me. He’s said it.”

Jana nodded along to your reasoning, stealing a few sips from her own glass. She set her glass down, placing her chilled hand over yours. “Be honest with him.”

You gave her a small smile and nodded in agreement.

The flight to Los Angeles was longer than you expected. Summer storms didn’t help with the time or the comfort of the flight. Patty was nice enough to get you a window seat since you hated having to let the others in your row out ever time they wanted to get up. But since it rained through the first half of the flight, you kept the window shade lowered.

Patty booked you at the Hilton Los Angeles in Glendale where the conference was being held. At least this way you didn’t have to pay for transportation to and from the conference each day, but once again it proved your point that you would never see the city. Hopefully Chris would be up for a drive this weekend so you could see some of the sights. You’d been to California twice. Once on a family vacation to San Diego when you were a kid and a trip to Disneyland with your dad shortly after your parents got divorced.

After settling into your room and doing a quick Google search for a place to grab dinner, you sent Chris a text to let him know you were in. The two of you discussed him joining you, your first night, but he wouldn’t be in town until late and the conference started bright and early the next morning. You wouldn’t have much time to see him in the evenings after each session, so you needed to deal with waiting until Friday like originally planned.

Y/N: I’m here. Lots of storms on the way out, so my nerves are pretty shot. Text me when you get settled at home.

Dinner was quick at Italian deli a few blocks away. You picked up a couple of snack sized bags of chips and freshly made rice krispie treats to bring back to the room. You almost let the guy at the counter talk you into a giant pickle, but you’d figure somehow the packaging would open and you have a mess in your room. Smelling like a pickle wasn’t the impression you wanted to make tomorrow morning.

Chris didn’t text until close to three in the morning. You’d kept the volume on your phone up when you started to fall asleep around eleven. You really wanted to make sure you received that goodnight text from him. The thought of it coming in at three in the morning and him being drunk off his ass didn’t cross your mind.

Chris: Baby!

Chris: You in my 2nd state home

Chris: 2nd home state

Chris: So drunk

Chris: Miss you

While you were glad he texted, you were a little pissed that he waited until the early hours of the morning to do so. A quick goodnight would have been great before he got drunk. Deciding that arguing with a drunk person didn’t get you anywhere, you put your phone on silent and went back to sleep.

On your lunch break, you sent Chris a text, but kept it simple. You almost called him before your eight AM welcome breakfast, but you knew he’d still be sleeping at that time.

Y/N: Hope you’ve slept off that hangover.

The morning sessions hadn’t been as bad as you imagined they would be. You met a couple of great people during your first breakout session and already agreed to drinks in the hotel bar later. Brooks had sent you a message that one of the senior writers from his new employer was there as well. He had given her your name and you promised to keep an eye out for her name tag since he hadn’t scheduled a meet up between the two of you.

You were already wrapping for the day before you were able to check your phone again. Chris had sent a text around two in the afternoon.

Chris: I’m so sorry about that. A buddy picked me up from the airport and we went out.

Chris: Hope your first day is going well.

Scott had also sent a text to check in with you. A week after the two of you discussed all being together in California, he let you know your schedules wouldn’t line up as he would be in New York that week. You were bummed but you knew you’d make it work eventually.

After a quick elevator ride to your room, you called Chris before changing into comfy clothes for drinks with your new friends.

“Hey,” Chris drawled out.

“Hey yourself. Just got done for the day.”

“How was it?” he asked.

“It was a lot better than I figured. A couple of really great journalists are presenting each afternoon, so I’m learning a thing or two. Most of it is pretty inspirational.”

“Good. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” he said.

“Me too. I’m actually meeting a couple of ladies I met today for drinks in the hotel bar before I crash tonight.”

“Speaking of drinks,” he said, clearing his throat. “I’m really sorry about last night.”

“You mean this morning,” you corrected.

You heard him let out a sigh. “Yeah, this morning. I apologize for texting to so late and for being a drunken idiot.”

You laughed lightly at his response. “It’s fine babe, just maybe text me before you start drinking next time.”

“Absolutely,” he chuckled. “Do I need to worry about late night drunken texts from you tonight?”

“Nope. Technically I’m working, so two and I’m done. Besides, don’t need to embarrass myself in front of people in my industry. There may be a lot of people employed in this field, but word travels fast. Before you can blink, I’ll be known as the drunko from Orlando.”

“The drunko from Orlando. I like it.”

“You would,” you chided. “But listen, I need to get ready.”

“Have fun, but not too much. I’ll be sure to keep a look out for drunko from Orlando trending on Twitter.”

“You’re such a brat. Lucky, I like you,” you replied.

“I could say the same sweetheart.”

“Two more days,” you muttered. “Two more days until I can kiss those lips to get you to be quiet.”

“That all you’re gonna do?”

“While I would love to delve into this conversation further, I need to get going,” you sighed out.

“Alright beautiful. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Chris said.

“Night handsome.”

You were on your second vodka sour, heavy on the lime, of course, when a woman had stopped at your table of three and smiled brightly at you.

“Are you Y/N? Y/N Y/L/N?”

You laughed nervously, might have been the drinks. “Yes,” you drawled out.

“I’m Asia Williams. I work with Brooks,” she said, offering you her hand.

“Oh my gosh, hi!” you replied, standing up to firmly shake her hand.

“Brooks had sent me a picture of you. Don’t worry, it was flattering,” she said with a smile.

“It’s nice to meet you. Would you like to join us?”

She looked down at your companions and then back to you. “I won’t be imposing?”

The other two ladies shook their heads.

“No, not at all. We all just meet today so we’re just getting to know each other,” you replied.

After introductions, Asia ordered a glass of white wine and chatted with the other women.

It was about nine when the other two ladies said goodnight. You all had ordered appetizers to munch on in place of dinner and you found yourself still picking at the humus and carrots, trying your best not to speak with your mouth full.

“I looked you up. Occupational habit,” Asia said, ducking her head slightly. “I really loved your piece on education in the climate change era.”

“You read that?” you asked, slightly embarrassed. It was one of those pieces that was really outside your norm, but you felt compelled to write after watching a nature documentary that you tended to get wrapped up in. “I know it got picked up by a few outlets, but I never hear feedback on my non entertainment pieces.”

“It was great. You actually have quite a few great stories in your portfolio. Ever think about writing that fulltime?”

The truth was, you had. You loved writing entertainment, it was fun and it barely felt like work most days. You however longed to be taken seriously outside your immediate area. The challenge of writing outside your comfort zone was thrilling and you often longed for that feeling again weeks after a story was published.

“Uh, yes, actually. It is something I’ve been thinking about. But I’m also hesitant because I’ve been writing entertainment for years. Even before I started working at the Sentinel, I worked the local beat for smaller papers. It’s a little intimidating. Kind of scary to go from being kind of a big fish to a small fish,” you answered honestly.

“Listen. Brooks is a big fan of yours and after reading quite a few of your stories, I am too. I’m going to leave you with my card. When you’re ready, give me a call. I’d like to bring you on.”

You’re sure you looked like a cartoon character at that moment because your eyes couldn’t possibly be any larger than they were. She stood up and you followed suit.

“Thank you. Are you based in Orlando?” you asked.

“No, I’m in New York. We have writers all over the country. If Orlando isn’t for you, you don’t have to stay there. We don’t offer a moving budget, but do offer a large signing bonus that many have taken advantage of. No pressure. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you.”

“Likewise. I’ll be in touch. And I’m sure I’ll see you at the conference,” you said with a smile.

Lots to think about. But that would need to wait.

Thursday kept you busy with non-stop breakout sessions. You had to switch tables at least three times and ended up with a table full of sports writers at the end of the day. You were never one to follow sports outside of school, so you mostly just nodded and pretended to understand what they were discussing.

Rather than going back to your room to change, you decided to walk to the deli for dinner first. You picked out a small table against the window and dug out your phone while you waited for your sandwich to be finished.

Y/N: I’m so excited!

Y/N: See you soon!

Chris would be picking you up promptly at three tomorrow afternoon. The hotel would hold your luggage after you checked out that morning to attend the final day of the conference. The last session was scheduled to end at two thirty, so you’d have a half hour to grab your luggage to change and freshen up.

Rather than text back, Chris was calling you instead.

“Hey you,” you answered.

“Hey sweetheart. Are you all done for the day?”

“Yep, just grabbing dinner from a deli down the street. I’ll probably watch a movie on my iPad and pack when I get back. I’m so excited to see you tomorrow.”

You heard him let out a big sigh.

“Somethings come up. I’ve a, I’ve got a meeting with a director tomorrow night. My agent set it up. It’s for a huge movie that they’re considering me for which is why it’s important I take the meeting.”

“So, so, I’ll just hangout at your place while you’re at the meeting? Do you need me to Uber to your place?”

“Sweetheart,” he breathed out. “Listen baby, the meeting is in New York, so I actually have to fly back out East tomorrow morning. It’s not going to work out this trip.”

Your heart hit your stomach.

I will not cry in public. I will not cry in public.

“Oh,” you said, it was the best you could muster.

“Sweetheart I’m so sorry. If I could move it I would.” When you didn’t respond, he continued. “I’ll a, I’ll set you up in any hotel you’d like. Have a car bring you there until your flight on Sunday.”

Oh right, my flight’s not until Sunday.

“Um.” You had to think for a moment. “No, no,” you said softly. “I’ll just change my flight to tomorrow night or early Saturday.”

“Y/N, I don’t want you to have to scramble to change your travel plans. Do you want to go to Disneyland still? I’m sure I could get you a room at the Disneyland Hotel. You could make a story out of it, comparing the two parks.”

He was trying, you had to give him that. It sounded like a good story idea, but your head wasn’t in it. You were just so disappointed at the moment that all you wanted to do was go home and get into your bed.

“That’s really sweet, but um, I think I rather just go home. My foods here so I’m gonna eat and then head back to the room. I’ll a, I’ll call you later.”

He groaned slightly. “Please call me when you get back to the room. I want to talk about this more.”

“Okay, yeah. I’ll call you. Bye Chris.”

“Bye.”

You numbly picked at your sandwich while you checked the airlines app regarding change fees. You didn’t want to stay in Los Angeles, not alone anyway. There goes your plan about defining your relationship. The reasonable part of your brain tried to reason that this was his job and sometimes you have to make sacrifices for work, but the part of you that was falling more and more for Chris each day wanted to be selfish.

Chris had texted you at some point during your walk back to the hotel. You fished your phone out of your purse once you kicked off your shoes and laid down on the bed.

Chris: I’m so sorry

Y/N: It’s fine

Chris: Don’t do that.

You could see that he was typing something out, but you clicked out of the text and back to the airline’s application. There was a flight out at six tomorrow night, you figured you could leave the session a little early and request an Uber to the airport. Before you could change your mind, you changed the flight, accepting the one-hundred-dollar change fee.

Rather than looking at the text, you called Chris back since you promised you would.

The phone rang only once before he was answering.

“Are you mad? I feel like your mad.”

“Hi to you too,” you replied. “I’m not mad. I’m disappointed.”

“I know. I am too. Trust me,” he insisted.

“What time’s your flight tomorrow?”

“Early, around seven I think.”

You let out a frustrated sigh. “This is twice Chris. Work is important and I’m not going to be one of those girls that wants to be put as a priority, but I don’t have the capacity to just take off and come meet you whenever. I can’t go to another conference for a year. This just sucks.”

“I know. I know!” he growled. “I’m coming over.”

“You’re what?” You started to do the math in your head. With traffic, he wouldn’t make it to your hotel for at least an hour, maybe two. It was already late. Then he’d have to turn around and go back to his place to get some sleep before going to the airport before dawn. “Babe, don’t. There just isn’t time. When would you sleep?”

“You’re right. You’re right. Please let me set you up somewhere nice. We’ll book a couple of spa treatments. It could be a mini vacation for you,” he offered.

“I’ve already changed my flight. I just don’t feel like being here alone. But I appreciate it. Just promise me you’ll make time and come stay with me. I’ll have to work, but at least we’d have the mornings and the evenings.”

“We’ll do that and I’ll stay until you get tired of me. I’ll be your pool boy while you’re working.”

“God, you’re such a dork. How’d Scott put up with you all those years?”

“Ma’am, watch your lip. It was I that had to put up with him.”

“You can be my pool boy as long as that means you’re shirtless while I’m home,” you said.

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Walking into your house at midnight, you barely had enough energy to change into your pajamas. Settling for a t-shirt, you slipped under the covers and sent Chris a goodnight text.

Y/N: Back in Florida. Hope your meeting went well. Call me tomorrow sometime.

Waking up to a three text messages from your brother on a Saturday was pretty out of the norm. Granted it was almost noon.

Heath: Are you guys not together?

Heath: Call me when you wake up.

The third text was a direct link to TMZ. Clicking on the link brought you to an article titled Boozing It Up. Your phone screen was filled with pictures of Chris surrounded by bottles of beer and alcohol. He looked heavily intoxicated from what you could tell. A few pictures had who you assumed were friends holding him up. In one picture, a woman had herself draped across his lap with her arms around his neck. One of his hands was resting on her lower back, close to her butt while the other held a bottle of beer.

That talk defining your relationship was apparently not needed. Now you knew. You were just a girl he was seeing. You definitely were not exclusive. Didn’t mean it was any easier to swallow. You were in your thirties and really thought you’d left casual dating behind in your twenties.

Your phone started to ring in your hand.

Chris.

You hit the decline button. Wanting to take a chance to breathe and center yourself. You weren’t exclusive. You shouldn’t even be upset. Neither of you talked about what you were to each other. He said he cared about you and you cared about him, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not allowed to care about someone else. Or more than one someone.

Chris: Please call me before you read anything today.

Chris: Some photos came out, but I want to explain myself.

A/N: I’m sorry! Just know I am a happy endings girl.

Chapter 11

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goldenraeofsun · 4 years

Text

‘cause right now you're mine

set in this verse

THURSDAY, APRIL 2nd

Dean 12:01 You didn’t tell me you led Carver Prep’s quiz bowl team???

Castiel 12:15 It’s in the middle of the school day and you’re texting. What kind of example are you setting for your students?

Castiel 12:16 I didn’t tell you because it wasn’t relevant.

Dean 12:17 Haha smartass I’m having lunch in my office Youre texting me back so i see right through you And of course it’s freaking relevant

Castiel 12:20 How?

Dean 12:21 Because I got tapped to coach Edlund High's quiz bowl team this morning!

Castiel 12:21 Oh no.

Dean 12:30 Oh no is right buddy

Castiel 12:37 I thought you coached the softball team.

Dean 12:37 I can do both You’re dating a very talented man

Castiel 12:49 I know that. I just didn’t know it extended to quiz bowls and softball in addition to blow jobs and breaking and entering places to give blow jobs.

Dean 12:52 What the fuck is wrong with you I’m in school! My lunch hour is almost over I’ll have to get up from my desk very soon This is all your fault

Castiel 12:59 :)

Dean 1:00 Just for that No blow jobs for you tonight

Castiel 1:07 :(

MONDAY, APRIL 6th

Dean 11:55 I bet I can grade more midterms than you today

Castiel 11:58 I know better than to make bets with you, Dean Winchester.

Dean 12:03 It was just a kiss I bet you’re just pissed you lost

Castiel 12:04 I can’t engage in PDA in front of my niece and one of my students at a school event!

Dean 12:04 Youre such a prude

Castiel 12:06 Unlike some teachers, I maintain boundaries between my personal and professional life.

Dean 12:07 Prude.

Castiel 12:09 Did you text me on a Monday afternoon just to harass me about my reluctance to kiss my boyfriend in front of minors?

Dean 12:11 Huh Boyfriend

Castiel 12:20 Dean?

Dean 12:21 What?

Castiel 12:22 Is everything okay?

Dean 12:23 Other than *my boyfriend* refusing to even entertain the idea of a friendly wager?

Castiel 12:23 Yes, other than that.

Dean 12:23 No

Castiel 12:25 That’s good. You scared me for a second.

Dean 12:26 I did?

Castiel 12:26 Are you okay with being my boyfriend? The long gap between our messages made me realize we haven’t talked about it before.

Dean 12:27 I mean it’s a little weird My 16 year old students have boyfriends “boyfriend” seems a little I don’t know Juvenile We’re not 16 anymore, Cas Thank god.

Castiel 12:30 Would you prefer “partner”?

Castiel 12:31 It’s just whenever I hear someone call their significant other “partner” I can never tell if they are talking about their life partner, same-sex partner, police partner, or if they are cowboys. That was a joke! Ignore this. I remember how much you like Westerns. “Partners” is off the table.

Dean 12:31 HOWDY YALL THIS IS MY PARTNER CAS

Castiel 12:31 Please never introduce me to someone like this.

Dean 12:32 Only if you watch Tombstone with me tonight

Castiel 12:33 Can I still grade my midterms?

Dean 12:35 You’re killing me here Cas Yes

Castiel 12:40 I’m your huckleberry

SUNDAY, APRIL 12th

Castiel 2:19 Good luck with the softball game today!

Dean 2:21 You’d better make it up for me for missing this one Its the semifinals

Castiel 2:22 I will. Say “hi” to Claire for me.

Dean 2:27 What the hell? Why is she here? We’re not even playing Carver

Castiel 2:29 She has a crush on Kaia Nieves

Dean 2:30 Ohhhhh That explains a lot

Castiel 2:30 She thinks she’s being subtle.

Dean 2:37 I see that runs in the family Subtle as a brick wall. All of you.

Castiel 2:38 Excuse me, you had no idea about my feelings for you back in high school.

Dean 2:49 So? Charlie said you were obvious as fuck But it didn’t matter since I was a dumbass

Castiel 2:50 I prefer oblivious Less dumb Less ass

Dean 2:57 How dare you My ass is a goddamn gift. You take that back right now

Castiel 2:59 Of course. Don’t you have a game to coach?

Dean 3:01 Shit you’re right

TUESDAY, APRIL 14th

Castiel 11:18 I know how I can make up for missing that last softball game last weekend

Dean 12:01 Sorry The kids called me out for texting you 5 mins before the bell last time How the hell did i get stuck with a class full of narcs

Castiel 12:03 It’s probably karma For all the rule breaking you did in school

Dean 12:05 Hey I wasn’t that bad

Castiel 12:05 You frequently defaced school desks and returned library books after their due date.

Dean 12:06 I’m dating a narc too???

Castiel 12:07 You didn’t ask what I have planned.

Dean 12:07 OK i’ll bite What do you have planned babe? Please tell me it’s not another documentary on bees That was depressing The grand canyon one was cool though

Castiel 12:10 Speaking of narcs

Dean 12:10 This doesn’t sound good

Castiel 12:11 When I had to get my extra copy of Camus from my car, I stumbled on Miriam at the edge of the parking lot with a few more students. They were skipping class and smoking marijuana. Naturally, I reported them to the administration.

Dean 12:13 Not helping your not-a-narc case

Castiel 12:13 They received detention for skipping class.

Dean 12:13 And the drugs?

Castiel 12:13 I may have neglected to report the drug use.

Dean 12:14 Seriously?

Castiel 12:14 I still confiscated it. Research evidence shows marijuana has negative effects on the developing brain.

Dean 12:14 I guess that’s fair

Dean 12:15 Hang on Do you still have it? OUR brains are old as balls Seriously, are you telling me you have weed now?

Castiel 12:15 Surprise? I can throw it out if you’d prefer to do something else tonight.

Dean 12:15 Dont you dare!!! I’m going to get a six pack on the way home, download the last Star Wars, and we’re gonna do this right Your place or mine?

Castiel 12:16 I have been neglecting laundry lately. Yours?

Dean 12:16 You’re on This is going to be so awesome

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15th

Dean 12:06 Did you really mean to invite me to dinner with your brother?

Castiel 12:09 I didn’t mean to bring it up when we were high, but the invitation still stands. Claire told him we were together. He wants to meet you.

Dean 12:11 Oh

Castiel 12:11 You do not have to say yes.

Dean 12:13 I’ll go It just took me by surprise

Castiel 12:13 I don’t want to pressure you.

Dean 12:14 Youre not pressuring me

Castiel 12:14 Are you sure?

Dean 12:16 Look, I just know your relationship with your brother is complicated And I don’t want to stick my foot in it By accident or some other way

Castiel 12:20 We’re in a better place than I’d like to admit. I spent a long time resenting Jimmy for the time he had with Father. But it wasn’t his fault Father was a bastard who had a second family he preferred to be with. Jimmy was barely in middle school when Father started going on his “business trips”

Dean 12:21 Jesus christ You told me bit about it back in high school But I didn’t realize it was a second family situation

Castiel 12:21 Mother kept it from us for years. I still haven’t forgiven her for it.

Dean 12:21 Are you OK?

Castiel 12:22 I’m fine. It was a long time ago.

Dean 12:22 That stuff takes a long time to get over.

Castiel 12:22 I suppose.

Dean 12:23 Is it okay if you stay at mine tonight?

Castiel 12:24 Our next date isn’t until Friday

Dean 12:24 I don’t want to wait until Friday to see you

Castiel 12:27 Can you pick me up at Carver at 4pm?

Dean 12:27 You got it More time with you and my baby Win-win!

FRIDAY, APRIL 24th

Dean 11:51 Are you sure what I usually wear to school is OK?

Castiel 11:53 You texted me nine minutes early?

Dean 11:53 Shut up I had to bribe my kids For NINE extra minutes Friggin tyrants

Castiel 11:54 What did they extort from you?

Dean 11:54 I promised to throw out their lowest pop quiz grade

Castiel 11:54 That isn’t too bad.

Dean 11:54 I was already planning on doing it

Castiel 11:55 Clever of you.

Dean 11:56 You’re not just dating a pretty face But getting back to dinner with your brother Is a regular button up OK? The tie hides most of the sloppy joe stain

Castiel 11:56 I’m sure you look very handsome

Dean 11:57 I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not

Castiel 11:57 I rarely manage sarcasm in-person. What makes you think I would attempt it over text?

Dean 11:58 Good point

Castiel 11:58 You’re a very good-looking man, Dean. I’ve known this since we were 15.

Dean 11:59 Stop it you’re making me blush

Castiel 12:01 It’s the truth.

Dean 12:04 Alright, alright I’m already sleeping with you No need to butter me up

Dean 12:05 It’s just I remember how you used to talk about him The perfect big brother

Castiel 12:07 More like the perfect student and perfect son. Jimmy was honestly too busy to be much of a brother. The 11 year age difference didn’t help. When I was in high school, he already had the perfect nuclear family on the way.

Dean 12:07 Exactly

Castiel 12:08 Exactly what?

Dean 12:08 You’re lucky I know you And I know you’re not drawing this out on purpose Look, i want to make a good impression, OK? he seems like a hard guy to please.

Castiel 12:09 I That’s very admirable of you, but it’s entirely unnecessary.

Dean 12:10 He’s your family

Castiel 12:11 And I understand family is very important to you, but it isn’t the same with me. It would be very nice if dinner goes well, but if it does not, I will not care in the slightest.

Dean 12:11 Really?

Castiel 12:11 Truly.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25th

11:16 I’m sorry for my dad.

Dean 11:17 Who is this?

11:20 Claire Novak

Dean 11:21 How did you get this number?

Claire 11:23 Alex Jones

Dean 11:24 How did Alex get my number???

Claire 11:24 It was on the softball permission forms How did you not know this Didn’t you draft them?

Dean 11:25 It’s been a while I’m a very busy man

Claire 11:25 Sure. Anyway, my dad was a dick. Totally out of line last night

Dean 11:26 Shouldn’t you be texting Cas about this?

Claire 11:26 I don’t have his number

Dean 11:26 Cas wasn’t kidding when he said you guys weren’t close

Claire 11:27 Nope.

Dean 11:27 Well I am very close with my brother He’s a lawyer out in California

Claire 11:27 Good for you???

Dean 11:29 It doesn’t sit right with me that Cas doesn't have a real relationship with his family

Claire 11:31 That seems like Uncle Castiels business

Dean 11:33 But Jimmy isn’t Cas’s only family SO if you ever need a place to crash, i’m always available

Claire 11:35 Maybe my dad was right And you’re secretly a perv I’m not staying with you you freak

Dean 11:35 Jesus christ, I’m trying to say, if ALEX isn’t the only girl on Edlund's softball team you’re getting buddy-buddy with, it’s fine You should get a chance to explore that part of being a teenager While STAYING SAFE But don’t let your parents stand in the way of that side of your life

Claire 11:41 Dad wouldn’t kick me out

Dean 11:42 Maybe not. But if you are at all uncomfortable, just give cas a call I’ll forward you his contact info now

“I might have told Claire she’s always welcome at my place if she comes out to her parents,” Dean says as he pockets his phone. He turns his back on the pile of sparkling clean dishes drying on the rack by Cas's sink. Dean adds, “Hopefully she’ll ask you before she goes to me.”

They hadn't really discussed the disaster of a dinner with Jimmy and Claire. A few tense words on the drive back to Cas's house, a tacit acknowledgement in the morning not to mention it until after coffee and breakfast. But then Cas brought out his homework for the weekend, even while last night's argument scratches at the back of his mind like a fly trapped in a windowless room. So Dean did the dishes and texted Claire.

Cas looks up from his juniors’ final exams. “You were talking to Claire?”

“She texted me first,” Dean says defensively.

Cas sighs and caps his pen. It’s blue, because red pen, according to Cas, is too traumatizing a grading implement. “I’m very sorry about last night.”

Dean waves his apology off. “You warned me it could go sideways.”

Cas’s brow furrows. “Still,” he says slowly, “I told my mother and Jimmy I was gay a few years ago. I think it was easy for them to ignore it as long as I didn’t have a boyfriend in the picture.”

Dean fiddles with a dishrag as he hovers by the sink. “Was Jimmy a jackass to your other boyfriends?”

“What others?” Cas asks wryly. “None of them were ever serious enough to pique Jimmy’s interest.”

“Really?”

Cas nods and gestures for Dean to take a seat at the kitchen table next to him. He holds out his hand, which Dean takes, bemused. “I don’t know why Jimmy thought religion was an appropriate introductory dinner topic. I could tell he was trying to genuinely understand our… lifestyle, to use his word, but-”

“I got angry,” Dean says looking down at their clasped hands.

“You didn’t say anything I wasn't thinking,” Cas says simply. “I’m glad you reached out to Claire.”

“It seems like she needed it.”

“She doesn’t have a lot of adults in her life she can rely on to be in her corner,” Cas says diplomatically. “I’ve tried, over the years, but I can’t relate to her at all.”

Dean laughs. “Of course not. Teenage rebellion wasn’t really your style.”

“Ah yes, of course,” Cas says, his voice dry as chalk, “you’d be the perfect person to talk to her. The cool kids speak their own language. How could I forget?”

Dean smirks. “It’s full of references you don’t get.”

“Don’t remind me,” Cas says darkly.

Dean leans in for a kiss. Eyes dancing, as he whispers, “Relax, babe. You were always the coolest kid in school to me."

#destiel #destiel fanfic #fanfic #teacher castiel #teacher dean #established relationship #fluff #text fic #the story of us verse #profoundnet #rae writes fic

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cuculine-nelipot · 4 years

Text

Wish We Could

Chapter Two: London

{ Pairing: Hermione Granger x Fred Weasley

Summary: After the Battle of Howgarts, Hermione and Ron start dating; their slow-burn friends to lovers arc complete. He’s nice, and she’s comfortable, and everyone is happy for them. Everyone but Fred, who can’t stop thinking that he loved her first, and Hermione, who begins to wonder if they really are as over as she thought they were. }

22nd August 1998, Night

“Well that was a colossally stupid thing to do,” George says from his old bed in The Burrow, spending the night at their mother’s insistence. Half laying down, he doesn’t look up from his magazine. Fred stands uncomfortably still, staring out the window, as though shell-shocked, even though Errol has long been out of sight.

“Yup.”

23rd August 1998, Morning

It was true that it didn’t take an awful lot to keep her up all night: a new book, a good essay, or better, a long one. Hermione had pulled her fair share of all-nighters, but none like this.

“Were you up all night reading again darling?” Her mother asks, taking stock of her daughter’s messier than usual hair, the shadows around her puffy eyes.

“Yes.” This wasn’t a lie exactly — she’d read that letter countless times.

“You look awful.” It sounds harsh, but her mother’s furrowed brow shows real concern.

“It was a sad story.”

1st July 1996

Summer had come to engender mixed emotions in Hermione. On the one hand she was of course excited to see her parents again, but on the other, she missed her friends terribly. She never had friends like Ron and Harry before; friends she saw day and night, friends she shared every meal with, friends she knew from experience would risk their lives for her as quickly as she would for them. She had no siblings, and had hardly kept in touch with the few friends from primary school. It was too difficult to keep fabricating stories about her Very Normal Boarding School Where Nothing Life-Threatening Ever Happened. So home for Hermione had become synonymous with the sort of deep-seated loneliness one only feels when one knows precisely what they are missing.

And now, to make matters worse, there was Fred. Fred who had kissed her in the hospital, and again by the lake, and again in several empty hallways while they waited for term to officially end. Fred who had, over the past year become more important to her than she ever would have expected. Fred, who didn’t look at her like he was lost and she was supposed to have the map, or make it. Fred, who so often grabbed her by the hand with a whiny come on Hermione, mischief dancing across his face, and dragged her along for some pure and honest thrill-seeking, who showed her the world as she had never seen it before.

The shrill ring of the telephone abruptly cut through her melancholia. Assuming it was only her parents phoning from work, she took her time making her way downstairs.

“Hello?”

“Hermione?”

“Fred?” She asked, her voice pitched with incredulity. “How are you calling? Why are you calling?”

“I believe it’s called a payphone and I am using one because I wanted to talk to you.” Even through the crackle and static, the teasing grin in his voice was obvious.

“Wanted?”

“Want.” He could hear the smile in her voice too.

24th August 1998, 10:17 a.m.

Perhaps George was right, and that her silence over the weekend means she isn’t coming. She is wiser than Fred after all. And George is usually right. Still, Fred waits, at an al fresco table at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, his right leg bouncing manically up and down, his eyes flitting to his watch every few seconds. He has been sitting there for forty-eight minutes.

Of course, Hermione knew at once that it was an undoubtedly bad idea, going to see Fred. Though really, it would only be a bad idea if she still has feelings for him, which she doesn’t, or if he still has feeling fore her, which she is sure isn’t true either. Then there is the fact that she had hardly made it to Florean’s all summer, and he has a lovely blackcurrant and gin ice-cream that he’s meant to stop making once Autumn rolls round. But then there is the question of why precisely Fred wants to meet her. And then there is Ron. Such thoughts chased each other in circles around her head, nipping at each other’s heals all Saturday night and most of Sunday, until another owl arrived. This one with a note from Flourish and Blotts asking her to please collect her order at her earliest convenience. Was Monday morning around 10 a.m. not her earliest convenience?

And so at eight-thirty on this almost chilly August morning, Hermione left her house for Belsize Park station, hopped on the Northern line, and alighted five stops later at Leister Square. She walked two minutes in the direction of The Leaky Cauldron, changed her mind, and instead went to Foyles, which reminded her that she did indeed need to go to Flourish and Blotts. After buying just three books and a new book bag, she again made her way to The Leaky Cauldron, then onward to Diagon Alley. This whole harrowing ordeal took over an a hour, and so apart from picking up Merlin’s Annotated Dante’s Inferno, she decided to splurge a little on some new quills, a well of peacock blue ink, and a couple of fancy leather bound notebooks.

It is perhaps this added weight that, on observing Fred Weasley’s anxious form outside Florean’s, impedes her attempted escape. Instead, before she can take two steps back the way she just came, she feels a hand pulling at her wrist.

“Hermione, wait.” She turns to see him looking imploringly at her with his bright green eyes, so wide and so close she can see flecks of gold in them, reflecting the morning sun. “It’s just ice-cream.”

Just ice-cream — who could argue with that? They order two scoops each and return to the table he had already occupied, Hermione dumping her bag on an empty chair emphatically in a show of annoyance. For a while they sit in silence; her refusing to speak first, and him not wanting to risk ruining their fragile peace. She scoops ice-cream into her mouth without looking up from her bowl, and he eats slowly, without looking away from her.

“I want the record to show that I think this is a colossally stupid thing to do,” she says suddenly, her eyes still fixed on her food.

“Well I suppose ice-cream’s never the healthiest thing in the world but Florean’s is pretty —“

“You know what I mean,” she cuts him off bitingly.

“The record will reflect that both you and George think that this is a colossally stupid thing to do. However, I would like to remind all relevant parties that it was my idea, and between the two of us I am the only Ravenclaw so therefore—“

“What do you want Fred.” She phrased it like a question, but her tone makes it abundantly clear that she would like nothing more than for him to just shut up.

“I just want to talk.” He looks abashed, or as abashed as he can look for Fred Weasley.

“I’m not sure we have anything to talk about.”

“Oh,” he says in a tone both needled and needling, “I think we have plenty to talk about.”

“Like what Frederick? You broke us up remember? Not me. You’re the one who walked away —”

“I walked away? You were the one who was leaving. You left —”

“I had to go. You’re the one who said you couldn’t —“

“And you’re the one who hung up the phone. And you’re the one who kissed —”

“I knew this was a mistake.” She grabs her bag, her chair scraping harshly on the flagstones in her haste to leave, desperate to not hear the end of that sentence.

“Hermione —“ He whines, but she doesn’t look at him. Can’t.

“Good bye Fred.”

17th July 1997

“Good bye Fred.”

“Hermione —“

A click as the phone disconnected. He stood alone in the red phone booth, in the flat above the store.

“You alright there mate?” George asked from the couch, turning from the Daily Prophet, his brows furrowed with concern.

The receiver still held to his ear. The singular, monotonous hang-up tone filled his head, his body, pervading the very fibre of his being.

2nd July 1996, Morning

“Buoyant” was the only word that came to mind as Hermione walked down Charing Cross. She felt buoyant. She had resigned herself to spending the week or so before she and her parents went on vacation wandering around Hampstead with nothing but her books for entertainment, until Fred called and asked if they could meet the following day — today — at The Leaky Cauldron. So she made her way there, buoyantly, glad for some company and more so that it was his.

“Granger!” He hailed from the curb. Of course, her heart didn’t actually skip a beat, but it felt like it did.

“Why are you waiting out here?”

“Well the Cauldron’s a bit of a dive yeah? And Diagon Alley is just the one alley and we’ve been loads so I thought maybe you could show me your London?” He says, all in one breath. She wasn’t sure but she thought his face pinked a little.

“My London?”

“You know… Muggle London.”

“Why?”

“I dunno — if I’m going to live here I should know the area. And,” he added, looking down and rubbing the back of his neck. His speech became stilted. “I want to know what your world’s like.”

“Okay,” she smiled. Buoyantly.

The first place she thought to take him was of course Foyles bookstore, because it was close, and because, well, books. A whole monumental treasury of books.

“Bloody hell,” his eyes widened in child-like wonderment the second they walked through the door. The patchwork rainbow of spines and covers, the smell of new books, the sheer notion of being surrounded by so many stories, and so much knowledge. Even if it only lasted a moment, Hermione had never seen him so still or so quiet before, and she briefly wondered if she had broken him. “This place is massive,” he spun around as he spoke, taking it all in, “is everything in London this big?”

“Not everything. Just a lot of things.” She couldn’t look away from him, the spark in his eyes eliciting an adoring smile. “Did you bring any quid?”

“What’s that?” He asked, not really listening.

“Pounds, muggle money, did you bring any?”

His face blanched as he turned to look at her sheepishly. “Might have forgotten. But I have regular money.”

“‘Regular’ is a state of mind Frederick. And wizard currency far from regular. It’s ridiculous.”

“It’s not!”

“29 knuts to a sickle and 17 sickles to a galleon? It’s completely impractical.”

“Okay fine. Maybe you have a point.”

“Oh I definitely have a point.” Hermione retorted, grinning from ear to ear. She insisted that she had been meaning to change some money anyway, so they switched 10 galleonss for £50.

He moved further inside slowly, overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. At first he simply trailed behind her, but eventually wandered off on his own, winding through the stacks and pulling books off the shelves to peruse at length. She found him in a corner near the children’s section over an hour later, surrounded by piles of books ranging from classic literature to astrophysics. The only things he seemed sure of were a home improvement manual for Mr. Weasley, and the first two volumes of Asterix and Obelix.

“You alright there, Frederick?” She asked, crouching down beside him.

“There’s so many Hermione. How am I supposed to pick? I’ve never even heard of half these subjects before. Do I need a book about aerospace technology? Do I need seven? How should I know?”

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say you don’t need any.”

“Help me,” he whined, looking up at her with his big, doleful green eyes. He had never in his life felt quite so distressed. She sorted through the volumes surrounding him, eventually selecting The English Patient — one of her personal favourites — A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and a history of 20th century archaeological discoveries.

When they at last emerged, it was onto a London bustling with the lunch-time rush. Rather hungry themselves they went in search of sustenance and managed, with a little magical persuasion, to find a table in a small French bakery. At their window seat they split a quiche Lorraine and a croque monsieur, drank iced-chocolate, and tried to stave off the crash that inevitably follows a bookstore-high.

“You’re being awfully quiet today.”

“Hm?” He perked up. “Oh, sorry. It’s just a lot to take in, this.” He gestured vaguely to the sprawling city outside.

“But do you like it?”

He shrugged. “I love it.”

“Good.” She smiled, satisfied, settling further back in her seat.

“Do you like it?” He asked after a moment’s silence, studying her face carefully.

She picked at her food, considering. “I do but… I’m usually alone. I think I like it better with you.” She paused, then nodded as if affirming the truth of it to herself. “This quiche is pretty good.” She raised her fork but before she could take another bite, he was leaning across the table, one hand lightly holding her face, pressing his mouth to hers.

24th August 1998, Evening/Night

This time, Hermione is certain of it. She will not leave her room until the first of September. Her parents however are not on the same page.

“Hermione dear?” Her mother calls, hearing the jingle of keys in the front door. “Is that you? Come into the kitchen.” Hermione obliges, and finds her parents reading different newspapers at the kitchen table, with a steaming pot of earl grey and a plate of shortbread between them like they did everyday after work. The sight is enough to warm Hermione’s heart. She had missed this almost more than she could bear.

“How was your day darling?” Her father asks without looking up.

“Fine.”

“Did you buy any books?” Mrs. Granger does not look up either.

“I bought a few, yes.”

“That’s nice.” Her father offers, taking a sip of his tea.

Hermione lingers by the doorway, not saying anything. Eventually her mother looks at her, and observes a certain heaviness in her countenance. “Why do you look upset? Come sit down and have some tea.”

“Is this about Ron?” Mr Granger inquires, a particularly paternal brand of protectiveness evident in both his tone and in his eyes.

“Is it about the brother?” Her mother asks with hawklike instinct.

“Are you thinking about your… adventures?”

“You promised no more secrets darling.”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” Hermione interjects before they can pursue their line of questioning any further. They blink at her, equally taken aback. “If that’s okay with you,” she adds imploringly, unwaveringly meeting their eyes. They in turn consider their daughter carefully.

“Well alright then,” her mother says, turning back to her paper. “Dinner is in an hour. Go wash up.”

So she does, and she eats dinner with her parents, and after that she re-reads her new herbology textbook in the living room while her mother reads a le Carré and her father listens to a radio comedy. And she’s happy, honestly. She’s happy to be nestled in the warm glow of her childhood home, with her unchanging parents. She’s happy they are safe, and that for the first time in years there was nothing foreboding hovering on the horizon. She is happy, or at least, she is content.

Fred Weasley on the other hand is far from happy or content. After his rather disastrous morning he went straight back to the flat above the store, determined to spend the rest of his day off in bed. He didn’t move for hours. Rather impressively, he was still in bed when George came up after closing. His hair stuck out at odd angles as though he had been trying to pull it out, his sheets were fitfully dishevelled.

“Oh mate,” said George with an emphatically slow shake of his head, “you really need to get a grip.”

Fred looked up from Asterix and Cleopatra, shooting his brother a reproachful look.

“I’m going into London to get dinner. Do try to regain some level of composure before I get back yeah?”

That seemed like too much effort, so Fred fell asleep instead. He wakes up much later, at 1:38 a.m with London rolling round his head like a marble dipped in luminous dye, tracing webs of light. Quietly, he grabs his Nimbus 2001, climbs out the window onto the roof, and shoots off into the night. A certain frost sparks in the air, pinching at his skin. The wind whips through his hair, at his cheeks, stirs something inside his chest.

All the lights are off in the Grangers’ Hampstead home when he arrives, about 20 minutes later. All but the warm glow of a reading lamp emanating from what he knows is Hermione’s window. He hovers across the street, obscured by trees and shadow. He can see her silhouette on the sheer white curtains, sitting in bed, perfectly still, her head bowed slightly. Reading, most likely. His mind wanders to all the times he’d seen her in that exact posture, in a zen-state of complete focus; her small placid mouth, her smooth brow, the inward curve of her nose, mahogany brown ringlets framing her face. He remembers how he used to try and touch her cheek, her nose, her mouth, and how she would swat him away like she was shooing a fly.

She moves; her arms stretch above her head, her hands intertwined. She switches off the light, and Fred goes home.

2nd July 1996, Evening

“Had a good day darling?” Her mother called from the kitchen as Hermione closed the front door.

“It was alright, yes,” she said, leaning against the kitchen doorway. But the smile spread across her face suggested that it was a lot more than simply alright.

“What did you do?” Her father asked, his nose still in his paper.

“Oh you know, just went central. I met up with Fred. Went to Foyles. Had lunch. Walked around.”

“Who’s Fred?” Her father asked sharply, head snapping to face her.

“Ron’s brother,” she replied. Suddenly embarrassed, she shifted her weight nervously. “One of the twins. You’ve met him before dad.”

“Why were you with Fred?” Her mother’s stare was as piercing as her father’s tone.

“Well he and George just moved to Diagon Alley and he asked me to show him around a bit,” she replied in one breath.

“Just Fred?”

“Yes.” Her face burned under her parents’ scrutiny, and she struggled to hold their gaze, not wanting to seem guilty, like she was hiding something.

“Why?”

Hermione only shrugged in response, pursed her lips, desperate for this to be over. “I’m going to shower now.” She turned abruptly and left the room.

“Dinner’s in an hour,” Mrs. Granger called after her daughter. A door slammed shut upstairs. She turned to her husband, and they shared a look of utter disbelief.

chapter one | chapter two

taglist: @thelasttime @bchnan @lovedyouthreesummers @keoghans

#fremione #fremione fanfiction #fred x hermione #hermione granger #fred weasley #harry potter fanfiction #fred weasley fanfiction #hermione granger fanfic #fred x hermione fanfinction #can you tell that I miss foyles?

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creek-cryptid-deluxe · 3 years

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So, It’s been awhile. There’s a reason. The last week or so has been... a week. jesus christ. I shall regale you of my tale, not in chronological order necessarily because that’s how I roll. BUT if you suffer through it, you shall be rewarded with an outdoor plant update post after. Bribery.

So. Early last week, The Spawn sat down with me and presented a proposal, a well researched proposal, advocating for her starting her own residential cleaning business because she finds it incredibly satisfying and relaxing to clean stuff and she does quite well. So we sat and brainstormed, researched, and talked about how she planned to advertise. She needed a business gmail (and all the tools that come with that), logo, business social media, website, and flyers.

Being her age, she doesn’t have the skill or knowledge to do these things. So, I volunteered to help with these things so that she didn’t have to spend money hiring someone. I created the email account, put all the brainstorm stuff into a google doc that saved to the biz drive, which included a to do list and the basic info needed. I created a logo. (At which point, she called me a wizard while watching me do so.) I helped her try to create a biz facebook account, but facebook immediately flagged it as breaking the rules. like literally as soon as I created it. So I appealed it & The Spawn wanted to wait to see what came of that before I went further. So she took me with her to shop for the things on her supply list, and we decided to go grab some of the smaller stuff still needed for J’s appt at the same time. This was Friday.

Saturday, I got a text from J in the early afternoon saying that he needed me. I quickly packed a ‘just in case’ bag, since I didn’t know what to expect or how long I would be there. Now, you have to understand that in the 7 years we’ve been friends, while he has discussed things with me via phone or text, in person he is like me, incredibly stoic. Hell even via text or phone, he always insists that he’s fine and responds to my reminders that i’m here if he needs someone, and to just let me know, he responds “I appreciate it, but I won’t”. So him reaching out like that is a MASSIVE thing. I showed up, let myself in, and he just walked up to me, wrapped his arms around me and started sobbing. I stayed the night, alternating between being comforting and being distracting. It was extremely disarming to see such raw emotion from him repeatedly over the course of the night and to hear him say the things that he is usually uncomfortable articulating.

The next morning he seemed better, thanked me for coming (to which I responded “Of course I came. I’ve not ever been lying when I’ve said that I’d come if you needed me, day or night, but you have to let me know.”) and apologized for ‘being a mess’. I told him every time he apologized (which happened quite a bit over the course of the night) that there was no need for an apology because this wasn’t something to be sorry for. He was struggling, as people do, and rather than embrace the darkness or fight it alone, he asked for help from someone he trusts and loves that he knows reciprocates. That i know how hard it is for him to do that and that I am proud of him.

Sunday afternoon the kids (The Spawn and The Bf) picked me up because she needed to take him home but didn’t want to leave the dogs alone. I got in the car after The Bf got into the back, insisting I take the front seat. We hadn’t even gotten out of the parking lot of the apartment complex when The Spawn casually asked “So are ya’ll fucking?”

that’s how I learned that I was the subject of a bet. Apparently, The Bf asked where I was when he came over and out of convenience, not wanting to really explain the relationship, The Spawn said I was at my boyfriend’s. I guess he went on about how how come I’m never hanging out with him, etc, so The Spawn explained the actual nature of our relationship. At the end The Bf said “Nah, they fuckin’ but your mom isn’t telling you.” The Spawn said, “No, she’d tell me because when I started high school I asked her about her past encounters and asked about what stuff was, if she’d done it, and if she enjoyed it, and she was always honest with me. That’s how I know she likes it up the butt.” He insisted that J and I were banging so The Spawn, knowing the truth, took advantage of this and made a bet. It was an easy win for her. SO...

I get asked this question & I look at her, eyebrows raised because she knows how our relationship is (granted if I were physically able and he was willing, I would definitely jump back up on that horse) and said, “No. Mom is no longer physically capable of fucking without risk of severe injury. Plus, despite having ridden that horse previously, I’m not into endangering our besties status. I would go into further detail and commentary but I don’t want to make The Bf uncomfortable. These are things you know, so why do you ask?” She told me of the bet, Then i promptly text J about it because I knew he’d get a laugh out of it. And I was right.

By the end of Sunday, she recieved an email stating that facebook was upholding the ban, so she and I talked and decided to make a webpage via WIX and after getting a few clients, she could upgrade her account with them to get extras that are offered, including her own domain (rather than the name.wix address) and a lack of wix ads on her page. And then it all went downhill from there.

Monday through Wednesday (yesterday) had The Spawn breathing down my neck more than any boss I’ve ever fucking had about when her business shit would be done. On top of what I’d already done, between Monday and Wednesday I: set up her google voice account for a business number, wrote her a “first time client” script, created a google sheets quick reference client database, created a google forms for detailed client records (all in a folder together that is searchable by client name, which would be the title of the form), set up the calendar, downloaded and edited/collaged her before and after photos she took via cleaning some of our spaces, and built her a 7 page website including the photos, facts, and little blurbs that go along with it. It went live at the end of yesterday.

Throughout this process, rather than just checking in and thanking me for doing it all to save her money, she asked me every couple hours what still needed to be done. When I was not as far along as she felt I should be, she got progressively more hostile. Yesterday morning she had the balls to text me “What all do we still need to do before I can get rolling?” I responded with “ ‘We’? hahahahaha *I* still need to [list].”

I’m sure you’re saying to yourself, “Am I missing something? Did you forget to list something in the list of stuff you did between Monday and Wednesday? You mentioned flyers....” You are correct. But yesterday while I was being driven to my 2nd vax appointment by my father, I basically told him that I’m fried. If a flyer just included facts, I’d be fine, but the part where I need the potential customers to be drawn in and want to learn more is not happening. The creative well has run dry to the point that it is reminiscent of the dust bowl. And I reminded him that there is a reason I no longer do this type of shit for a living. I mentioned that thinking about The Spawn’s company is making me stress puke and that any time The Spawn approaches me to talk about anything, I immediately feel incredibly nauseated.

Now it should be noted that when I mentioned this in a multi paragraph text earlier, he responded with “Just take a step back from it for awhile, then go back to it.”

and everyone wonders why on earth I don’t speak up when I hit my limits and why I just push onward despite the damage it does to me. THIS. THIS IS WHY. Everyone is all for me not pushing myself too hard... until it is inconvenient for them. So I basically screamed in the car. On the way back he said he’d help. Ok. cool.

Except that every fucking idea he had legit just tripled the amount of work I was going to have to do. I mentioned being burned enough that I was considering just paying a freelancer to do it. This motherfucker chimes in with “Oh! [Cool Ex Employee Who Left to be a Stay at Home Mom with her First Baby] does stuff like that. Let me reach out to see if she’d be willing to.” BRUH. That should have been the first thing out of your mouth after my original texts! Jesus Christ. I agreed but with the caveat that HE had to tell The Spawn and say it was his idea because he sees me getting overly stressed and has put his foot down. And he had to do it that night because I knew that if he didn’t, the first thing I’d hear today was “So when are my flyers going to be done?” and I am absolutely not dealing with that shit. The only thing I am doing from this point forward is showing her how to use her database/client files/calendar and I will be happy to answer questions or give advice, but that’s it. This isn’t my company and I’m not employed by her, so I’ve already put in far more work than should have been expected of me, with very little thanks outside of after I finished her logo and a couple times she came down and watched, then told me I’m a fucking wizard.

Really It was good in a way because I had been doing that thing lately where I wonder if I’m just being dramatic because admin type stuff isn’t that hard and if I could do it from home, I should be able to manage... but this put me back down on earth, where I absolutely am not being dramatic and I cannot fucking do that shit 40 hrs a week for some random asshole. Shit, this was for my own child and I was ready to give up, stab her, then tell her to go fuck herself.

so...that’s been my last week and a half for so. Also, my only side effects from Vax 2 (pfizer) is feeling more tired/run down than usual and a bit of extra joint pain... but those might actually be related to the stress and hell I just went through. who knows.

as always, don’t steal my shitshow. get your own shitshow. suffer through your own crap.

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shesawriter39049 · 4 years

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|ROLL DEEP|M| P.1

*Yoongi centered fic with a shared OT7 plot*

CH.1.1 CH. 1.2

**Operation: What’s eating blue!?***

_________________________________________________________

“Stop, this stopped being a you, thing and became a us thing the minute we chose to show up here tonight! You gave us an out and we stayed...we will always stay...”

1.2 K Sneak Peek

Pairing: Yoongi x OC

Genre: Sugar baby AU/Suspense/Smut/Angst/Roomate AU/FWB AU

WC: 7K

Nonsexual Warnings: Mentions of drug use (Molly/weed/)Strong language/ Alcohol addictions/ brief mentions/ speculations of domestic violence/abuse

Sexual Warnings: Oral (M & F receiving) power bottom Min Yoongi, cum play, breath play, spanking, dirty talk, Slight overestimation, sex toys (Cock rings....) Semi-public sex (A chill little blow job in the car) The sexual warnings are for both parts of CH.1 so the smut is split in half!

NOTE: Just to clarify the dynamic Yoongi and the OC are roommates who hookup on the side, they are BOTH sugar babies to two separate people! So yes, that would imply that Yoongi and some of the other boys who are also sugar babies are Bi. There is no MxM but there is mentions of it occasionally….as well as some harmless ot7 flirting! Also all of the boys are introed, Tae and Joon just play a lager part here!

_______________________________________________

I guess, fuck where do we even start? Maybe, will go back to where it all technically started, which was the last time things felt...somewhat normal yeah?

So, that would be...hmm...about 2 weeks shy of you heading into Junior year at USC right? The day your boys picked you up at the airport, and the three of your treated Blue, aka TaeTae to brunch!?

Well, wait let’s back track a little it all started much eariler than that, because you weren’t even aware of your brunch plans until later in the day. So Initially the day in question kicks of with you, in oversized blacked out CHLOE shades, hungover as fuck, sat in at the airport one Sunday afternoon. Smack dab in the middle of Terminal 6, in a bar called Blu2o sipping on a Bloody Mary, scrolling aimlessly through Snapchat. While simotaniously being told for the very first time ...that you’ll be attending a “Haute Couture” themed charity auction...on Tuesday! Yup, the day after tomorrow! Thank god he can’t see your damn face right now, biting down on your straw to muzzle yourself!

“No, babe it’s fine, I’ll just hit Rodeo tomorrow morning, and I’m sure my nail and lash girl can fit me-Oh you...haven’t gotten... what ...your wearing either?” Parroting the words back In slow motion as if it would make the words sound better or something!

Oh for fucks sake! Bringing your forehead flush to the marble bartop already feeling a full blown migraine brewing at the nape of your neck. Giving yourself a couple moments to self compose, this man is so damn unorganized it’s unfucking real. His personal assistant better be the 2nd highest paid person within his entire company because…..This is far from new, I don’t even know why your suprised and I’d say you don’t get paid enough for this....but ya do! So you suck it up, lose the attitude and slip right into your “Yes sir” or maybe I should say ‘Yes daddy” voice.

“Don’t worry about it, I know your busy. I totally get it, your a 28 waist right? Of course, I remember...I remember everything you tell me….Ohhh your gonna let me put you in color too???” Eyes flickering up to the notification from your bank, noting a cute little 12k wire pending.

“Yeah, no, I see it, that should be good. I was thinking Versace or Cavili for you anyway...they have good prints to fit the theme, and if all else fails I have my card too…yup..just landed about..hmm... 30 minutes ago actually. Of course, stop apologizing, Sunday's are always your golf days, I get it, hey, tell the guys I said hi and enjoy your day. Text me later if you feel up to it..k....bye..”

Were you actually getting a little flustered there towards the end? It's the slight accent, isn't it? Honestly, it didn't take much for you to slip into “character” with him, even after barely being together a full month. For one he wasn’t an asshole, had a decent sense of humor, and he’s really fuckin hot...however there was one, little, well shit, not so little issue...you noticed while with him recently. Which, then sparked quite a few questions while also answering some that had been rattling through your head since the day you met. But will circle back to the fact that you spent a week on vacation with a man, while dressed in some of the sexiest pieces of 2019 couture! Yet..you barely got touched once outside of a couple chaste kisses and hand-holding while at the two fashion shows you attended together… so, yeah, yeah!

A low groan in frustration rattled from your throat as you continued scrolling through Snapchat, trying to come up with some possible outfit scenarios in your head! It’s kinda funny, how mynute all of that seems now though, how your definition of “Stress” that day was you trying to decide if your sugar daddy was gay, while also finding time to fit in a self-care day, shopping, and getting your books for school!! The fact that, that was what you considered migraine worthy, fuck, what you wouldn’t give to consider multitasking your only maltitude of “stress” again …..

Just in your own little world, mind swirling with a couple of stylists you’ve met along the way, considering the idea of them pulling some vintage pieces for you instead! What you should be doing, is scrolling through your contact list and texting said stylists, instead you find yourself more and more distracted. Getting lost in the mounds of snap updates from Jimin as he “modestly” sunbathed in a private villa in Italy. Then later sharing a glimpse into his shopping spree from Versace, no doubt a good 20k worth of Italian luxury spread out along the plush white sheets. Sending him a cheeky little “That’s my boy” with a couple of smug winky faces in response!

It’s still kinda crazy to think, things like that are considered normal within your world now, the fact that you aren’t even surprised at the number of gifts. Or, simply the fact that your barley 21-year-old best friend is sunbathing in Italy on someone else’s dime. Then again, you just got sent 12 thousand dollars to spend on an event that would last maybe all of 5 hours, while sitting next to a stack of Louis Vuittion luggage from your first class flight in from Vegas, technically. Opting to land there first after a long 15-hour flight, checking in at The Four Seasons for not even a solid 24 hours before coming home! Honestly?There was no real reason for the pit stop except it gave you an excuse to see a friend while also allowing you to unwind in one of your favorite hotels!

That sentence alone is actually absurd when you really think about it, the idea of you casually booking flights and suites in 5-star hotels as if you’re ordering off the damn dollar menu at Mcdonalds! You, the girl that was working two jobs at the Groove and mourning a piece of shit cheating ex boyfriend her freshman year of college.....is now reminiscing about catching flights to chill with friends and last minute finding dresses for Couture themed galas.Like, what the actual fuck is life.... Oh my bad, life at the moment is constantly being paranoid that you and your friends will get arrested! Life in this moment however...was a fucking perfect!

The friend you where meeting in Vegas was Hoseok by the way, the redhead was currently vacationing in Sin City for the next couple of days, typically residing in LA as well. Just Chillin’ before the semester starts, living his best life, which revolves around “OFF-WHITE'' shopping sprees, private dance lessons, and constantly taking thirst trap pics for his 10’s of thousands of followers online. He randomly texts you saying “I miss your face” you text him saying “I land at 8 tonight bring a bottle and sushi to room 605 at The Four Seasons hotel '' Simple!

Your initial flight, the one that was 15 hours, was originally from Paris, where you spent the last week or so with Jeong-su, being arm candy, sipping wine, sightseeing and of course shopping!. Barley 32 hours ago your Snapchat looked pretty damn similar, if not worse in comparison to Jimin’s but what can I say, you can’t be in the home of Givenchy and Gaulthier and not go to Givenchy and Gaultier!

What your life is, what you and your friends do, I mean, I think it’s safe to say it’s pretty self-explanatory yeah? The average 20 something-year-old in college isn't flying themselves out of the country or going luxury shopping without a little help. In your case, it’s typically thanks to a person you commonly refer to as “Daddy” now, the context behind the word however….is where you and your friends may differ from others…..

But that’s your business, your concern and more importantly your choice, and honestly for a while life seemed too damn good to be true...I guess looking back on it now, I guess that’s because it kinda was!

Sat at the predominantly empty bar alone, more than content by the silence, twirling your straw between your lips, as you scanned back over the shit show that was your schedule for the semester! Getting more of a migraine from that, then shopping or even the fact that you're still hungover and drinking on an empty stomach at half-past 12. Shooting a quick text to your redheaded best friend cursing him out for getting you drunk off your ass on a bottle of Yamazaki 12.

“Can I get anything else for you beautiful? Another drink or maybe an appetizer? We have damn good loaded queso fries if I do say so myself!” Waving the menu in your face playfully, the warm, inviting voice in front of you was the bartender, who’s had his eye on you since you swayed in. Even if you looked like crap for your standards you knew to most you were the farthest thing from it as you swayed into the bar like you owned the place. In your heels, and tiny little black dress, while an airport assistant trolied in your luggage behind you! Ohhh Blair Waldorf would without a doubt be proud!

“Mmmm…” Lips pursed in a slight pout as you raked over the menu, honestly, you were hungry and they have bomb ass fried pickles…..”Actually, yeah, I’ll get-”

“ 3 tall shots of whatever top-shelf Tequila you have, also add whatever she’s been drinking to my tab, along with an order of fried pickles with extra ranch…please and thank you!” Smoothly sliding his black card, and ID across the marble bartop for review.

Oh.

The look on the bartender’s face was fucking priceless, torn between shitting himself and maybe….nah, just straight shitting himself! Skin flushed, the sense of panic was clear as day, wondering if he’d overstepped that fine line between customer service and filtration. Considering whoever the person behind you is, clearly knows you well enough to know your food order. A forced bashful smile playing along his lips as he bowed out in acknowledgment, sliding the gentelmen back is ID and whispering out a faint “Yes sir, coming right up…”

The base vibrating through your ears instantly had you readjusting your posture, a strong tingle running down your spine, back arching ever so slightly. A playful smirk playing along your lips as you slowly laced your tongue back around your staw, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

“You sure you wanna do that? My tastes are pretty expensive..” Tone blatantly flirtatious, yet you still hadn’t bothered to even turn around, that’s when suddenly you hear a deep arrogant chuckle rumbling low in his chest. Only...this sounds a little brighter? And like it’s coming from your left instead of behind you…

“Mmm, I’m sure we can handle it baby….”

You could feel the air shift behind you, it felt warmer, and there was a strong mix of scents flooding through your nose. Leaning back in your seat, pleasantly finding your shoulders, the back of your neck, and your head, cradled against a lean wall of silk. Sighing contently, naturally letting your body melt into his frame, nose running into your face as you smiled so hard your cheeks hurt. That’s when a gangle of veiny, porcelain limbs wrapped around your shoulders pulling you even tighter against him, only to find brown, sharp, cat-like eyes staring down at you, though a pair of translucent designer shades. Seemingly a little bit amused at how excited you are to see him. Long dark wavy locks falling messily into his face, a tiny silver hoop dawning his button nose. Tongue playing at the corner of his mouth, letting the tiny silver ball slip between his lips. This angle lets you really appreciate how sharp, yet soft his features were, an oxymoron that honestly makes no damn sense unless you see him in person….jawline sharp enough to cut glass yet he has the cutest cheeks ever when he smiles. It honestly makes no sense whatsoever and he’s one of the many reasons you have trust issues. Well, that and your line of work, considering the number of men you find out are married and still try and sneak around with you.

Then, as if to just make his presence known, there’s another pair of hands making their home along your body, gently squeezing your thigh. Except, he’s polar opposite to the person I just described, the man behind you is your roommate Yoongi, the man who just took a seat to your left, is your other roommate Namjoon! First off, he’s tall as all hell, and an offensively perfect shade of brown, he can’t even go into the burbs without being asked what self-tanner he uses. In which he smugly replies “Genetics” letting them sit there and try and google said company that makes that brand of self-tan. Streams of meticulously placed colored neo-traditional tattoos paint his skin, accompanied by deep dimples, and bleach blonde hair styled into an undercut, sides buzzed into the perfect fade.

“So you gonna get up and give me a real hug or what???” Placing a kiss in your hair as he pulled back, giving you room to hop out of your seat and right into his arms.

The Full thing is coming soon, this is from summer 2019, I just have to edit, and reread the full thing again! I also wrote the first 3 parts all at once..sooo if your exicted show this some love anddddddddd come let me know!

Love you as always,

Rocki

#Yoongi #yoongi smut #yoongi au #yoongi x reader #namjoon #namjoon au #taehyung #taehyung au #bts au fic #bts au #bts smut #kpop smut kpop au #kpop au #min yoongi

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mugiwara-no-angel143 · 4 years

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Self Ship Games

Tagged by the Harem @mindninjax (added some More ) @theygottheircages , @yukiimanic

Tags: @aurorahoneybuns , @lookslikeleese , @saratour , @enjifuckersupreme

1st Ship Pro!Hero Kirishima x Steff

Kiri and I knew each other from the agency we both worked. He is a pro hero and I run the place. Fatgum hired me on to overlook the comings and goings of the agency’s

I loved his outlook on life, he had an infectious smile and even when things were rough or crazy if he was there I couldn't be down.

I admired his heart and courage. He was so manly!

He admires my stubbornness, my level head and my natural leadership.

From the day I started he’d take note of things I liked

My favorite coffee or snack on my desk when I got to work in the mornings

Ordering lunch and never letting me pay

I’d repay him kissing his cheek and making him a blush as red as his hair.

One night he offered to help me with the grocery shopping for the agency. Fatgum likes to keep a full kitchen on site.

A little girl was crying , she got away from her mom and couldn’t find her.

Kiri went up to her, showed her his hero license, letting her keep it in her hands.

She smiled and took his finger in her small hand as they walked together in search of her mom.

My heart melted and my ovaries exploded. I fell hard that night.

We finally started dating after weeks of flirting

When we brought it up to Fatgum he approved and yelled “FINALLY!”

Dates are always fun, golfing and bowling to diners and ramen shops.

Some nights are just us cuddled up (because cuddles with kiri are top notch, he radiates warmth) not paying attention to the movie we put on but I would be nestled on his chest listening to his heart beat lull me to sleep.

When he has to travel is always the hardest but he always calls to say good night, when he can’t call he still tries to sneak in an “I’m ok” and “I miss you” text because he knows I worry

Especially when he’s gone for weeks, but we make up for lost time by getting lost in each other.

Good morning texts turned into good morning kisses in his arms

Once we move in together that’s it.

Baking disasters - where the floor is covered in flour and face filled with chocolate frosting.

Dancing in the kitchen while making dinner, he come home and joins after a while of watching

Hair dying nights - trying not to get color everywhere.

Saturday morning forts

And lazy Sunday’s in bed with him pulling me back under the covers when I try to be productive “babe, you’re always working, let me just love on you today.”

Our first fight we never remembered what it was about but all we knew is that we couldn't stay mad at each other.

His explosive best friend - he grew on me and his cooking skills 👌🏻 I think I’ll keep him around

He talks about marriage and kids and I know it should scare me but with him it feels natural.

When I do get pregnant, he’s so doting. Running around getting everything I could crave.

He reads every what to expect book

Takes me to all the classes

Wakes me up a week before I’m due to make different route from work and home so when I go into labor he’ll know where I am if he’s at work and I’m home.

Thing is our little girl decided the day we do that is the day she comes.

We are in the middle of a busy sidewalk and he’s freaked … I got us over to the hospital and checked in.

He’d be nervous af , holding on to me, breathing with me. Doing everything from beginning to end

And once she comes into the world, my big manly hero melts as soon as he lays eyes on her.

Running out to everyone waiting with a huge smile “IM A DAD!!!”

Our children would be running around the agency with Papa Tai.

Jumping all over Uncle Katsu when he visits.

Our kids walking around wearing his merch

NSFW

Sex with kiri is always amazing

He’s gentle and loving

He takes his time - we don’t have anywhere to be.

He’s a giver and I love receiving

He’s a nibbler…. loves to leave his mark … and bites … neck, breast, thighs …. sweet reminders.

Makes it his mission to make me cum at least twice before he gets off

I’ll always return the favor … I love his dick

His hardening quirk: oh yes ... T H I G H R I D I N G

Breeding kink “you’re going to look so beautiful, round with my baby in your belly” “I’m gonna make sure you both have the world” “would you like that, yea? To carry my baby?” “Want me to stuff you full baby girl.”

Late nights at work hit different.

When we are alone and stressed, those nights find me bent over his desk , and those nights he leaves bruises but oh how good they feel.

2nd Ship Roronoa Zora x Steff

GIF by rorronoa

I first met the green haired swordsman when I was on the run from the navy. I had a bounty on my head and so did he. So I was shocked when he stepped up trying to help me (he didn’t need to I took care of it)

“You might have bigger swords handsome but uhh I know how to use my little knives.” I wink at him causing him to blush.

The man has no sense of direction! He went on his merry way but heading right to navy territory. I circle back pulling him into an alley and before he could ask what I was doing he sees navy HQs.

“If I’m right and that’s your ship docked just head west and you’ll find it no problem” That’s when he asked me for help so he wouldn’t get lost.

And I got him to the ship and was ready to head back into town when his Captain saw me and invited me for dinner as a thank you for being back his first mate. I had to admit to myself

I may have been a lone wolf most of my life but watching the crew together and laughing with them had me wanting something more.

Luffy ends up inviting me to sail with them and I agreed way too quickly for my liking.

Learning everything I can about everyone. And taking time to get to know what they do an learning how to do it. I love to learn … I’m a sponge.

I know Luffy can handle himself but he became like a little brother to me. His smile is infectious.

They are my family. They picked me and love me no matter my past.

I do my share and become the ship mom of all things, I kept up with the everyday things, looking after everyone, becoming 2nd commander under Zoro.

That caused us to work together very closely, starting to get to know him was nice.

He learned about my past. And vowed to hurt the man that hurt me and anyone else who tries

Once we made it official much to Sanji’s dismay. We were always together.

Couple workouts! Sitting on his back during push ups.

Putting me on his shoulders while he squats He doesn’t let me get away without training either.

But we all know how that ends. My legs wrapped around his waist while he held me up with his body as I did sit ups, catching his lips with mine until my arms came up to hug his neck and he slammed me into the nearest wall.

I do baking with Sanji, it’s my favorite pastime.

He doesn’t like me being too close to the cook but he knows I’m his and his alone.

Calling him in to help and he’s reluctant at first but he loves doing it after awhile.

Sitting in the crow’s nest to look up at the stars

Cuddled up with blankets while I read, sometimes to him, he loves listening to my voice and the voice changes I do. He says I’m pretty silly for a bad ass but here we are.

He teaches me how to use his swords. I show him katas I remember from when I trained at a dojo. It’s relaxing and intimate , I never stay focused

Stolen kisses while doing chores

Camping out when we dock on a beach or outskirts of islands. It was much needed alone time with a ship full of people.

Fighting, drinking and fucking on every island/town we get to just cause we can.

NSFW

HIS STAMINA

HIS LIBIDO

Drives him wild when I bite my lip

I mark him all over

body worship

I can tease him all day and work him up but once I have him where I want him he turns the tables and I’m begging him to let me cum.

“What’s the matter, love? Oh no, I’m gonna take my time right now” “weren’t you just talking about how you can make me cum fast with your mouth.” “Show me”

Quickies in storage closets

When we camp out making love by the fire under the stars , all night. (I need to write this)

I can’t keep my hands off of his body. I know every scar in his body and knows every mark in mine.

There’s not a lot to do on a ship once the wind stops so lots of lazy days in bed, hands mapping each to memory and exploring what we like. Those are days when our mouths do the talking, and what that mouth do, oh know what it does with how he trains to keep that sword there.

He drags out my orgasms on lazy days.

He likes when I take the lead.

He’s rough especially after a good fight and we're driven on adrenaline, sweaty and bloody

Just fucking everywhere On the deck … in the crow’s nest … in the ocean … so much sex

#gah ok bye #thank you for coming to my simp talk #I have a type #strong manly bad asses #my swordsman #my manly hero #I am a huge simp for these two

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strouja · 4 years

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Turned 55 - A day in the life

I did this 5 years ago when I hit 50 and figured I’d do this again. To capture a moment in time and what I did on typical day, but it just happened to be my birthday Sept. 1, 2020

Late night working

I got inspired and decided to improve our security profile on our product on a very minor issue, but it would be nice do. So after midnight, which made it my birthday I researched on how to only allow Transport Layer Security (TLS) version 1.2 (and not allow earlier versions) to parts of our system used for internal communications. This is a minor issue as we lock this down for all customer access and this is just for our own “system to system” communication. So I looked up how to do this for something called Kibana and WebSphere liberty. I checked in config file changes into something called github for our product and sent a “pull request” to have an expert review it.

So it is now 1:30 am and I’m ready to call it a night.

Can we sleep now

The wife comes up to bed and we agree to NOT let our dog Winston sleep in our bed as he can make it hard for us humans to sleep. I would have him stay with us but Linh is not in favor.

So he whines outside our door for a good 15 minutes or so. Now we are ready to sleep.

All of sudden we hear him barking constantly. He behaves as a guard dog and we are perplexed as there is never anything going on late at night. This is relentless. After about 10 or 15 minutes of this I go out to see what the hell is going on. He is in the next room, on my 16 year old son's bed looking out the window barking at something in the darkness.

So I put his LED collar on and let him run around the house and chase until his heart’s content. He stays outside for 1/2 hour or so. I entice him back in and close the curtains in William's bedrooms so he won't go crazy barking anymore. So I think. FYI my son William is passed out in the basement on a new giant bean bag.Now it is probably 2:30 and I'm finally ready to sleep. But no, we hear Winston barking non-stop again.

FYI this never happens, normally it is peaceful here at night and the dog does not bark at things past 9 pm or so. It turns out whatever animals he saw before are still out there and he can see them from the windows on the 1st floor. My wife is fast asleep. I can't sleep because of this and possibly from my short but pretty hard 10 minute bike workout earlier today and the more than normal amount coffee I had today. I normally just have one cup but drank some leftover coffee in the afternoon.I probably fall asleep at 3 am or so.I have a 9 am meeting I have to get up for.

Working for the Man - IBM

Since I work from home I am able to get up right before my 9 am meeting. Then I run a meeting at 9:40 with my boss and my boss’ boss to go over how to allocate our finite internal cloud resources that one team wants to consume all of it. This is all done by Webex video & audio conferencing (like Zoom).

We have a bunch more meetings. Then I get a break sometime before noon.

Catching last 20 km of Tour de France Stage 4

When I get a break I put on the TV and through my Roku 3 put on NBC Sports Gold (without ads and European commentary) to see if today’s Tour de France stage is still on. I find out the race is still live and it is mountain top finish and there are 20 km left. So this is the perfect time to watch. I catch up on work while hearing the race and glimpsing at it.

Although I’m an avid cyclist, race myself, and lead a fast ride every week (normally 2 times a week but reduced to one because of covid-19 and with a smaller group), I’m not a big fan of pro bike racing because I know all the top names and riders are still doping. So I know only a fully doped rider has a chance of winning today’s stage, especially because it is mountain top finish.

Fixing my bike

After my ride on Sunday with my former teammates: Ray Plewacki, Vic Siegfried, and Dave Fuentes, I asked my buddy Ray P. if he can fix some shifting problem of my bike this week. He texted me earlier in the day and he agreed to come over during his lunch break. He arrives at 12:30 as I have another meeting going on. I tell my boss I will have to duck out of the meeting. He is fine with that.

Ray does his magic and does micro adjusting on my Shimano DuraAce Di2 electronic shifting. I could not shift into one of the mid gears in the back. Ray figured it out for me. So I’m all set for Tuesday Night World Championships.

Bike Ride

I eat my Overnight Oats in the very late morning and later on eat my vegan lentil based meal I made yesterday in the instant pot. I finish up work, then clean my bike (clean the drive train) and put bike in car.

I drive to bike ride and get FaceTime video call from my Don Cayelli on the ride over to wish me happy birthday. We agree to have our families go to North Carolina in a few months for a mini-vacation. We talk about a bunch of things and he asks how old the guys I ride with. I explain that the average age is about mid 30s, one guy I am older than his parents. The best and strongest rider by far is 40 years old, a former pro - Jason Schneider. He would not dope and had to leave the pro ranks as a result, doping was rampant (I claim it still is) but was much more out in the open. That is the only reason why his pro bike days were cut short.

There were some notable strong riders not here, 2 of the regulars - Alex Batres and Jason Boslaugh. Them not being here makes it much more manageable for me as the top guys feed off of others and try to outdo each other, in this process this puts the hurt on me. Many other super strong riders have not been here for anytime this year since we resumed these small rides because of Covid-19. Two notable people in this category are: George Croghan & Ferry Gijzel.

The ride tonight is very hard, 3 loops with hills about 12 miles each loop. We average 22.5 mph with stopping for lights every loop. So a pretty hard ride. I stay with the lead group but make a mistake on 2nd lap and don’t follow a very strong move (that I was told about) and end up doing a few miles solo to catch many 3 people and pull us most of the way to the main group on “Bennett Road” and catch them at the light.

Here is the strava from tonight’s ride

https://www.strava.com/activities/3998711104

This is missing pics of the strongest rider - Jason Schneider

Getting heckled on the ride

On the ride I get comments from the 2nd strongest rider on the ride about joining AARP. This kid is 27 and I am older than his parents. Spencer Lofgran is this person of interest.

Close the gap on the ride

On the last lap I was gaped a bit on a flat portion - Lawyers road as I was behind 3 folks that were not continuing the ride and the 4 guys in the front started hammering. The strongest guy comes back and gives me a massive push that pushes me past all the riders. This was by far the strongest push I ever received on the bike

Catching up with Mates

In the parking lot after the ride my buddy Vic Siegrfried is there waiting to wish me happy birthday. Here is a pic from Sunday ride with me, Ray Plewacki (middle) and Vic

Catching up with former work mates - IT Legend

I drive home and call a good friend of mine from work Anthony Zawacki to catch up with him. He was our best worker by far but in our last round of layoffs was dismissed. He is an IT rockstar doing great at his new job. He asks me a work question and that reminds me to contact a team using our product to help them avert a Kubernetes problem of an expiring certificate and to fix it before it expires.

Working for the man again

I get home and hop back on my new work issued MacBook Pro 16″ laptop to figure out the commands I want the customer to run. The commands are not in our official doc and I eventually find the commands that work. I test them on my own test system at an IBM lab and give them to support to get to them to the customer. I no longer have contacts with the on-site team as the main person I worked with left IBM.

I then write a long slack message to our documentation person to explain why we need these commands in our documentation. I then give sample output of the commands and what we are looking for.

The next day I spend a few hours doing more testing and spend an hour with our doc person to make all the changes to our official doc that I then get out to our customers on this release of our product.

Birthday Cake

My wife bought a 2 cakes, chocolate mousse with raspberries and apricot tart.

I eat 100% plant based foods (past 8 months or so) but broke that tonight to eat the chocolate mousse

We FaceTime my daughter Sophia at the University of Virginia (UVA), I light candles, and we sing happy birthday with Linh, Sophia (on iPhone), William and our infamous dog - Winston. Here are some poor photos I took in haste.

Trippy Lights & Wall Art

As I’m heading to bed my son shows me the LED lights we bought him for his bedroom and some very funky psychedelic wall art whose appearance change dramatically as the LED lights change colors.

#Stroud 55 Birthday

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momo-de-avis · 5 years

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Wordtober Day 3: Bait

The Wunderwelt Tribune -- Daily News and Special Events.

Paranormal, the Weird and Unexplained News Column.

Excerpts recovered from a series of unpublished articles.

Latest Topic: Body of Lighthouse Keeper, Asim Rawlings, 43, found mauled in his bed.

Keep Reading?

Thursday, August 23rd, 2019

On August 20th, body of Lighthouse Keeper Asim Rawlings was found in his bed in St. Bartholomew Island. His body appeared to have been mauled, and his death has been placed shortly around the time the body was found. The lighthouse was still in full operation when the body was discovered by a local postman at 7:45 AM, and his every belonging in place, as though nothing had been moved nor touched. Investigators claim some claw marks found on the headboard and wooden walls of Rawling’s home strongly indicate the attack was made by a wild animal, possibly a wolf. Rawling’s body was slashed across the abdomen and stomach, and there were bite marks on his legs. One arm was also cut off, apparently bitten by large fangs.

Investigators have not divulged on the details, but residents of St. Bartholomew are shocked by this event. Most claim to have never seen a wolf on the island, and such an event has never happened.

An ongoing investigation is being led.

Continue reading?

Tuesday, August 27th, 2019.

Police has recently released new information regarding Mr. Rawling’s death, claiming a person was sighted at the lighthouse minutes before his body was found, possibly a woman. Postman Toby Acevedo claimed a figure in ragged jeans and oversized blue sweater stood at the doorway just minutes before he went inside. Mr. Acevedo, who paid no attention to the figure, leaned over to the passenger’s seat, where his bag with mail rested, but turning his head back, he claimed the figure was not there anymore. According to Mr. Acevedo, the figure had ‘long, black hair and a curvy body I’d say resembles more a woman than a man’, but police remain unsure on the identity of this person.

No further evidence has been found. Mr. Rawling’s belongings were untouched, his house clean, and there were no signs of forced entry.

Continue reading?

Saturday, August 30th, 2019.

Further examination on Mr. Rawling’s body brings forth new evidence. Police claim there was saliva found on his wound and hair was collected from his torn clothes, but have added no further comment on the matter.

Rumours, however, have begun to surface regarding these findings. Locals believe the saliva is not animal, but human, and the hair found on Mr. Rawling’s clothes does not belong to a wolf, but rather a single strand of long black hair resembling that of possibly a woman’s.

Residents of St. Bartholomew Island refuse to further comment on the situation, but remain bent on one thing: that the attack was led by a human and not an animal, something the police has thoroughly dismissed.

Continue reading?

Monday, September 2nd, 2019.

Last Saturday, Police released a sketch of a possible suspect, according to Mr. Acevedo’s account on the woman found at Mr. Asim’s doorstep shortly before finding his body. Sketch shows a woman with long black hairs and an oversized blue sweater, and... and... there were eyes, weren’t there? I think there were. I remember seeing eyes.

Residents of St. Bartholomew Island, however, have claimed the sketch is false. They say the mouth is not quite like that, because it is missing its fangs.

Continue reading?

Tuesday, September 10th, 2019.

She had eyed. She had eyes, once. But none of us can remember the eyes. They aired the image on TV and we all saw it, but the screen flickered and it just vanished from all our minds. We published the sketch, but now it’s all blurry and fuzzy, and all there is to her sockets is just... two engulfing black holes.

But she must have had eyes.

Can you see the eyes? Can you see her eyes?

All we can remember is... the mouth.

Continue reading?

Sunday, September 14th, 2019.

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖑𝖊𝖗’𝖘 𝖇𝖊𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖔𝖔𝖐 𝖆 𝖜𝖆𝖑𝖐 𝖇𝖞 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖊𝖆

𝕬𝖓𝖉 𝖚𝖕 𝖔𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖗𝖔𝖈𝖐 𝖆 𝖒𝖆𝖓 𝖘𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖎𝖉 𝖘𝖊𝖊

𝕾𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖕𝖕𝖊𝖉 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖐𝖊𝖉 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖋𝖊𝖑𝖑 𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖐𝖓𝖊𝖊

𝕭𝖚𝖙 𝖜𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖑𝖊𝖗 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖇𝖊?

𝕳𝖎𝖘 𝖊𝖞𝖊𝖘 𝖜𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖗𝖐 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖇𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖆𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙,

𝕭𝖚𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖈𝖆𝖚𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝖓𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖆 𝖋𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙

𝕾𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖜𝖆𝖑𝖐𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖚𝖈𝖍 𝖒𝖊𝖗𝖗𝖞 𝖆 𝖘𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙---

𝕭𝖚𝖙 𝖜𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖑𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖓 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖜𝖊𝖉𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙?

𝕳𝖎𝖘 𝖒𝖔𝖚𝖙𝖍 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖕𝖊, 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖙𝖍 𝖘𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖗𝖊𝖉

𝕬𝖓𝖉 𝖎𝖓 𝖓𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖇𝖚𝖙 𝖇𝖊𝖙𝖗𝖆𝖞𝖆𝖑 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖔𝖒𝖆𝖓 𝖇𝖑𝖊𝖉

𝖂𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖕𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖑𝖎𝖕𝖘, 𝕵𝖊𝖟𝖊𝖇𝖊𝖑 𝖘𝖆𝖎𝖉:

𝕭𝖚𝖙 𝖜𝖍𝖔 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖑𝖎𝖊 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖒𝖞 𝖍𝖚𝖘𝖇𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖎𝖓 𝖇𝖊𝖉?

ᶜᵒⁿᵗⁱⁿᵘᵉ ʳᵉᵃᵈⁱⁿᵍ?

Tuesday, September 17th, 2019.

In recent developments regarding the case of Mr. Rawling’s death, Toby Acevedo was recently arrested on accounts of cannibalism. The postman was seen wandering the island of St. Bartholomew with bloodied clothes and jaw, and a piece of torn skin held in his hand, until he seemingly stopped at a gas station where witness Anaya Haines called the police. Mr. Acevedo was apprehended shortly after.

Ms Haines, as well as other eyewitnesses, claims Mr. Acevedo appeared to be in ‘a catatonic state’ and unable to properly convey a cohesive phrase. In fact, for the fifteen minutes between the call and the arrival of the police, all Mr. Acevedo muttered was a strange rhyme belonging to the island’s folklore. None of the eyewitnesses were willing to comment on it.

Strangest of all, according to lead investigators, every time Mr. Acevedo spoke the rhyme, those around him covered their ears or screamed in order not to listen to his words. One bystander claimed ‘Do not listen, that is how the angler’s wife will get you.’ Police has dismissed this as superstition.

A search conducted in Mr. Acevedo’s home within the same night revealed the mauled body of Mr. Acevedo’s wife. Her left arm had been chopped off below the elbow, and her left leg as well below the knee. There was no evidence of an attempt at cooking the meat, but rather, that Mr. Acevedo ate his wife’s flesh raw.

Stranger still is the fact that Mr. Acevedo had set the table for two.

None of us still remember the eyes, however. Or what she looked like at all.

Continue reading?

Sunday, September 21st, 2019.

Blood tests on Mr. Acevedo’s wife have revealed she was not drugged or incapacitated in any form. In fact, coroner’s examination seems to lead to the belief that Mrs. Acevedo was alive when her limbs were cut off, however there seems to be no evidence of a fight or any signs of resistance. It appears Mrs. Acevedo willingly allowed her husband to eat her flesh while alive. She died of bloodloss.

Police has questioned Mr. Acevedo, but the postman remains in a catatonic state. What little sanity there is to Mr. Acevedo, as well as what little he has revealed, comes in the form of the strange rhyme muttered by him on the night of the killing, as well as something else:

ᴵᵗ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵉʸᵉˢ, ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵒᵘᵗʰ

No further evidence has been released.

...

Do you feel that? Do you feel that... itch beneath your skin? Do you feel that soft tingle beneath the fingernail? Like someone is poking a needle.

Continue reading?

Wednesday, September 25th, 2019.

‘ℑ𝔱’𝔰 𝔧𝔲𝔰𝔱 𝔞 𝔟𝔦𝔱𝔢’ 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔩𝔢𝔯’𝔰 𝔴𝔦𝔣𝔢 𝔰𝔞𝔦𝔡 𝔄𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔢𝔢𝔱𝔥 𝔰𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔪𝔞𝔫 𝔮𝔲𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔥𝔯𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔡 𝔦𝔫 𝔡𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝔚𝔥𝔬 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔩𝔢𝔯’𝔰 𝔟𝔢𝔡?

𝔍𝔢𝔷𝔢𝔟𝔢𝔩’𝔰 𝔢𝔶𝔢𝔰 𝔤𝔩𝔦𝔪𝔪𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔫𝔬 𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔢 ℌ𝔢𝔯 𝔰𝔬𝔠𝔨𝔢𝔱𝔰 𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔫𝔬𝔴 𝔣𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔱 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔯𝔢 ℌ𝔬𝔴 𝔰𝔞𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔰𝔥𝔢 𝔩𝔢𝔣𝔱 𝔞 𝔪𝔞𝔫 𝔞𝔰𝔥𝔬𝔯𝔢 𝔚𝔥𝔬 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔫𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔬 𝔞𝔡𝔬𝔯𝔢

...do you smell that? What sweet, consuming smell that is. Bubbling red and deliciously sweet, though you think: it is supposed to be salty. But it’s sweet. Oh, how sweet. Can you feel it? Can you see her eyes?

Continue reading?

Monday, September 30th, 2019

Ｔｈｅａｎｇｌｅｒ’ｓｗｉｆｅａｎｄｔｈｅａｎｇｌｅｒａｎｄｔｈｅｂｅｄａｎｄｔｈｅｒｈｙｍｅａｎｄｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈ，ｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈ. ｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈ. ｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈ. ｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈ. ｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈ. ｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈ. ｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈ. ｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈ.

ｄｋｄｄｄｄｄｍｄｍｄｍｃｍｃｃｃｃｄｊｓｋｓｋ... ｓｈｅｗｈｉｓｐｅｒｅｄ ...ａｎｄｓａｎｇ... ａｎｄｏｕｒｅａｒｓｂｌｅｄ. ａｎｄｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈ. ｔｈｅｆｌｅｓ. ｔｈｅｆｌｅｓｈｔａｓｔｅｄｏｆｐｏｒｋａｎｄｏｆｍｅａｔｌｏａｆ，ｄｅｌｉｃｉｏｕｓａｓｓｈｅｐｒｏｍｉｓｅｄｏｈａｈｏｈａｈ

𝔻𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣?

There is a knock on your door.

Be careful, reader.

She was not married to the angler, but to the fish with the sharp teeth.

Are you sure you want to keep reading?

Well, you’ve already heard read her siren’s song.

Keep.

Knock knock.

Thursday, October 3rd, 2019.

‘Knock knock’, she says. You can’t but invite her inside. You cannot see her eyes, they are not there, they were never there, just two black holes waiting to be filled. ‘I was once an angler,’ she says, ‘and his wife, and his fish, and his son, and his flesh, and his voice.’

Look at your arm. It has gone missing. Your stomach is growing and growling. How hungry you are. See the bulbing flesh beneath your skin and the pulsating red slithering down the white bone and the yellowish marrow---are you hungry?

Oh, she is.

ʜᴇʟʟᴏ, ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ.

ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴɢʟᴇʀ’ꜱ ᴡɪꜰᴇ.

___

Past challenges:

Wordtober Day 1: Ring

Wordtober Day 2: Mindless

#wordtober #writing #my writing #creative writing #fiction #my wordtober

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anoldfashionedlife · 4 years

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COVID-19: Sunday, April 12

Easter.

I read an article from the February issue of 1843 about headphone use in public spaces: "Headphones have destroyed our sense of common purpose,” the author writes. "A bedlam of babble in a handful of headphones.” Now, I read everything in the context of a global emergency: if we can’t be together together, how can we be alone together.

I run to Times Square. I leave my house and run my normal route to and across the Manhattan Bridge. I run a few blocks down Canal to Broadway, where I turn right and head north. Broadway will take me all the way to Times Square where it meets 7th Avenue and a whole mess of other things. It's an arterial avenue that cuts through the city from bottom to top.

I run through SoHo, which is empty. SoHo hasn’t been a “cool” neighborhood for a long time, but it’s still popular with tourists. It’s also the closest neighborhood when I need something from a big brand like CB2 or Uniqlo and don’t want to pay for shipping or wait a few days for it to arrive.

I pause at Houston because I’ve always paused at Houston. There’s little traffic so I could cross, but it seems safer to wait for the signal. “Look both ways before crossing, even when crossing a one-way street.” Advice given to incoming freshman at NYU—patronizing and comical, but useful because bikes and assholes don’t always follow the traffic rules.

I get the signal to cross, and I cross to the median where I pause once more. Out of habit I wait for any cars turning onto Houston, not paying attention to pedestrians, but there aren’t any. Everybody has different criteria for “when you become a New Yorker.” For me it was the first time I didn’t hesitate to yell at a driver turning into me as I crossed the street: “Fuck you! I’m crossing here!"

I didn’t live in New York on September 11th—I was a sophomore in high school in suburban Indiana—but I’d read accounts of New Yorkers in the days after who came out into the streets for no other reason than to be with other people, to commiserate and to mourn. Union Square was one place where they'd congregate, not only because it was a public space but because it was the largest and closest public space to the World Trade Center not cordoned off by the NYPD.

When I approach Union Square I slow down to keep my distance from others, mostly people coming out of the Whole Foods. I cross 14th Street into the park and most of the people there are homeless men, sitting on park benches with no place to go.

On the north side of Union Square I run past a bucket drummer, a nuisance in normal times but now a sort-of beacon in a sea of silence. I can hear him all the way past 19th Street three blocks away, and if there wasn’t a light breeze I could probably hear him for another few blocks.

Between 22nd and 23rd the sidewalk widens. There is plenty of space, but I run into the street to keep as much distance from others as I can. As I pass between two parked cars I lock eyes with an Asian woman who, behind a mask, looks at me as though she’s caught her pre-teen son out with friends instead of staying home to study for the PSAT: disappointment mixed with anger.

Continuing up Broadway I skirt between the Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park. Broadway between Flatiron and the ACE Hotel is an interesting mix of Yuppie District—sweetgreen, Milk Bar, Opening Ceremony—and the 28th Street Flower and Bargain Districts, but everything is closed. I run past a homeless man huddled next to an access ramp and think about white flight. In the 50s and 60s we fled to the suburbs. Today we've fled to our apartments.

I run through Herald Square and notice that the garbage cans outside Macy’s are empty. Garbage cans in Manhattan are never empty; they’re almost always overflowing with the detritus of petty consumerism: plastic Starbucks iced coffee cups, Chick-fil-A sauce, Hop-On Hop-Off bus maps.

I think about one of my favorite bars in the city, it’s nearby: Keens is one of New York’s oldest steakhouses, but if you’re not eating there—which I’ve only done twice—you can still order a drink at the bar, and they mix a good Manhattan.

I continue up Broadway and run past security personnel guarding empty office buildings and police officers patrolling empty public spaces. I make it to Times Square, and I think to myself: there are too many people here. There aren’t many people, but it still seems like too many.

I read the displays. Disney says: “Thank you to all the healthcare workers and first responders around the world / We are grateful for you.” T-Mobile says: “Please practice social distancing.” American Eagle says: “We are in this together. We are stronger together.” Clear Media says: “Not all superheroes wear capes.” Sephora says: “To all the healthcare, emergency, and social workers: \ You have our immense gratitude \ Thank you. \ We belong to something beautiful.” Green Giant says: “To all on the frontlines, you are the true giants.” Below the ball-drop is an impressive four-piece vertical public service display: “PL \ EA \ SE \ Practice \ social \ distancing \ & help \ save \ lives. \ cdc.gov/covid19 \ Prevent the spread of germs \ Please \ Stay \ Home \ When \ You \ Are \ Sick \ Prevent the spread of germs \ cdc.gov/covid19.” Amazon advertises a new album from The Strokes called The New Normal. #nystrong

What isn’t missing from Times Square is the guy who walks around carrying an “end is near” sign: “Because of sin Noah’s ark was built. No one believed him. Flood came—they perished. End is near. Judgement day is coming. Repent today. Confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. Only way to heaven.” That he isn't at whatever off-brand church he belongs to on Easter makes his message a bit less convincing.

I think about another one of my favorite bars in the city: Jimmy’s Corner, an old-school bar with boxing memorabilia covering the walls. You’d think in a place like Times Square it was actually owned by Yum! Brands or something, but you can find Jimmy there most nights.

I leave Times Square and run east on 42nd Street. Bryant Park is utterly empty. No homeless men, no vagabonds. Nobody except me and a park employee tending to the garbage cans, replacing one empty bag with another.

The emptiness isn’t surprising, but I should explain why. Since its inception the Bryant Park Corporation has been particularly aggressive in keeping out undesirables. First by removing park benches and adding metal tables and chairs. William H. Whyte, an urbanist in the 1970s, championed them as giving park users a semblance of agency in public space without actually providing it.

More importantly, removing park benches eliminated a surface on which homeless people could sleep. Over time, more and more features were added: upscale food for sale, movie nights on the lawn in the summer, a skating rink in the winter, Fashion Week. Sharon Zukin describes it as “pacification by cappuccino.”

Urban thinkers and advocates have been asking this question for years: Who’s city is this anyway?

I run a few blocks east to Grand Central. Once inside I don’t break pace as I run down the ramp towards the main concourse. For some reason this doesn’t strike me as unusual until I reach the main concourse. Shocked, I stop and take in the sight of an empty, cavernous space normally brimming with activity: commuters catching a train upstate if they don’t live in the city, the subway if they do; tourists careening their necks up to the ceiling painted with the constellations; me grabbing a drink at The Oyster Bar or Campbell’s Apartment, just because.

I’m lucky that my friends and family haven’t been infected by coronavirus; the hardest thing so far has been weeks of quarantine. I haven’t cried during this pandemic—I’m no “boys don’t cry” kind of boy, but doing so seems like an admission that things won’t resemble “normal” for quite some time. But standing here, taking in the sight of my city hollowing out like this, I tear up.

I turn around and run back home. I run down Madison Avenue to Madison Square Park. I turn left onto 23rd Street and then right onto Park Avenue South. Left onto 18th Street, right onto 3rd Avenue, left onto 12th Street, right onto 2nd Avenue. I cross Houston and take Forsyth to the Manhattan Bridge back to Brooklyn.

Back home I put a bottle of sparkling wine in the freezer, but it doesn’t fit because it’s full of frozen food, so I put it in my oversized ice bucket that once graced the tables and suites at the Waldorf Astoria. I bought it salvage a while back and don’t use it as often as I’d like: it fits two bottles comfortably, but one bottle looks silly, like a kid wearing his dad’s tuxedo jacket. I was hoping it’d be a fixture of backyard barbecues this summer, but that seems unlikely.

For dinner I make Ethiopian food. The doro wat turns out quite well, but the injera that’s been fermenting for a few days is an utter failure. I eat the stew with rice.

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airariaira · 4 years

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Troisième - 12/02/20

It’s been more than a month, and holy heck time has truly flown. Yet somehow I feel like I have been here for a while, too. I’m feeling more settled and comfortable here in Troyes - I can get to and from school fine, and I don’t jump up with fright at every bus stop on the way home alone, worried about missing my stop! I couldn’t even imagine getting lost now. I feel confident enough to explore a bit more, and this afternoon I took a walk a little in town and along the Seine, because the weather was gorgeous. That was of course until i was 15 minutes away from home and the wind picked up, then suddenly there was needles of rain soaking through my jacket and my bag and my jeans. Honestly, I felt very personally attacked by the weather at that point. On a day that only a few hours earlier had looked like this from my window?:

It was so gorgeous outside with my window open, I could hear the traffic and the birds and the breeze - the air coming in was a little cold, but in that nice fresh winter way. I couldn’t possibly not go outside. So, after my two hours of school this morning (Philosophy and English Literature), I decided to go on a little walk exploring:

^A padlock fence I saw while walking along the river

^This is one of the ol chimneys from the 19th-century factories in Troyes. Troyes has been a city famous for producing clothing and goods for hundreds of years, and you can see these bad boys pop up all around. I also met some cute new friends:

So what if these new friends are paintings of cats on the streets? This is MY blong, you’re not allowed to judge me.

Since my last blog post, a fair amount has happened, I’ll catch you all up... Which won’t be too hard for me to do, seeing as I started writing a travel diary to keep up to date with what I’ve been doing - unlike Mr Alex Gasson it seems, as he wrote in his blog (which, by the way, you can find on this link here) Lets go all the way back to Saturday the 26th of January, the morning of which I wrote my last blog post. That afternoon we took a trip out to my host family’s house by the lake (called La Lac d’Orient) in the pretty, historic village of Géraudot only a little while away from Troyes. We went for a walk around the nearby forest, which was gorgeous. We heard a woodpecker, too.

The lake is man-made, not natural, and is where water from the Seine is redirected to avoid flooding out Paris each year. On the shore, there’s a small plastic path down to the water to make the lake more accessible for those with disabilities. I thought that was good, I’m surprised I’ve never seen anythign like it before.

Following the walk, we went back to the house for a coffee and a board game. That evening on the way back to the city, we stopped by the outlet store shopping centre. I found a little bit of home there...

(I pinkie promise that the bag has gifts in it! For other people!) Sunday the 26th was a slightly warmer day, which I suppose was a bit of a last hurrah, because the forcast for the following week was not so good. On that day I went out with my host mother Marie, we went to another museum. This is in a building called Hôtel de Vauluisant, which houses both the Musée d’Art Champenois, and the Musée de la Bonneterie. The art section was so phenomenally beautiful - filled with old paintings and sculptures and stained glass from the many many churches in Troyes. The section on Troyes’ factory and bonneterie history had many machines from the early factories of the city. This is the area outside of the building:

After that, we went to a beautiful church just across the road from the museum. The inside of the church took me aback for two reasons. One, because if was so incredibly beautiful inside, filled to abundance with enormous paintings, sculptures, and flowers. Two, because it was so freaking cold inside. I coud see my breath cloud out probabaly more dramatically than it has during any winter commute to school in New Zealand. That said though, it was definitely worth the visit. I never knew churches could be so decked-out in beautiful things. I don’t think a picture could capture how pretty it was, but here you go anyway:

Monday the 27th was a pretty standard French school day. I ended up with a bit of a migraine so had a quiet day. That evening we (my host siblings Lola and Antoine, and my host mother Marie) did some English revision for Antoine’s upcoming English exam, which was fun. Tuesday the following day was another good school day. I had a lot of free hours, so I went into town for a while. Wednesday was of course my short day. That afternoon I went out with two new friends, Cheyenne and Alicia, to the museum and town. It was good fun! Cheyenne and I at the museum:

The weekend of the 1st/2nd was good. On Sunday in the afternoon we went bowling. The cousin of my host siblings, who’s from Boston and living in Paris for a year, came and joined us. Her name is Noa, and she stayed from Sunday to Wednesday to celebrate her birthday. On Monday I finally handed out the rest of my New Zealand souvenirs in my English class. At lunchtime I sat with Juliette and some others. Juliette lived in Christchurch for a year a little while ago! Tuesday the 4th was Noa’s birthday. School was interesting, with lots of free periods spaced out throughout the day (awkward timing!) We couldn’t find a spare classroom for French Literature which was weird?? That evening, we celebrated Noa’s birthday with raclette and then cake. On Wednesday she left back for Paris - I wonder if one day we’ll meet again in this big old world? That evening I went wandering around town with Marie for a while again, and I got a photo in front of the famous Cœur de Troyes:

It lights up at night and the red light beats like a heart. I’ll be interested to see how many couples will be taking their pictures in front of it on Friday for Valentine’s Day! Last Friday I walked to the bus stop with a new appreciation for how pretty the city is. I start school at 9, so get to see the way the morning sun hits the old buildings so beautifully. The sky was so blue and the light so nice, I don’t know if a camera could capture it quite so perfectly:

And on Saturday the 8th... Paris!!! I travelled over with my host sister Lola, and we met Marie there. The day seemed to last for so long while it was happening, but somehow I found myself suddenly sitting on the train back to Troyes again. Now, it feels like it went by so fast. We started with the Tour Eiffel, naturally, where I took a video - and unintentionally caught someone proposing! Everything there was so big and old and impressive - it sumultaneously felt surreal, and like it was exactly where I was meant to be.

Following the Eiffel Tower, we took a short cruise on the Seine on the Bateau Mouches to sightsee a little bit. It was so bitterly cold and windy on the water, but the sculptures and cuildings and bridges were pretty enough to make up for it. Here’s a picture of a scaled-down model of the Statue of Liberty, and the Eiffel Tower in the same frame:

After lunch, we had our little indulgence in consumerism by going to the Galleries Lafayette, where all the expensive brands and rich are piled into one big, pretty shopping centre. It was sparkly and dazzling, and I don’t think I’ve every been surrounded by so many expensive things in my life before. It smelled like money and every kind of perfume all at once. Just how Jay Gatsby would have liked it. Here’s me on the roof:

It was such a long way down! After that, we went to the Arc de Triomphe. It’s so incredibly huge in person. It was wonderful to see all of the avenues surrounding me while on the roof (getting rained on... am I making a habit of that?) The rain didn’t drain my spirits, however. It was so cool to admire the bustle of Parisian life happening all below me.

The view from the top:

(I think the stairs were worth it... I’m not sure what the other two think though... 🤔)

I was so tired after that big day that on the train ride back home I just stared into space for the entire hour and a half! Throughout the day, I kept waiting for one of those slack-jawed tourist moments to hit me, a feeling of helpless amazement when I looked at some monument or the like. But it didn’t - perhaps I’m just better at enjoying travel in a slow, contented kind of way. The rain in Paris on Saturday would prove to be the beginning of a storm that would last a few days. On Monday the 10thI was very happy to be sitting inside, writing my travel diary, rather than outside in that rain and wind I could hear against the roof and walls. All in all, I’ve been really enjoying my time on exchange. Sometimes I do truly feel a little out of my depth - like I’m wasting my time here is I speak much English, but I just can’t always articulate myself fully in French. Sometimes I feel a little out of place and behind when I’m around my peers and they’re speaking such rapic French. However, it does get easier each day. I feel happy and comfortable here.

Here’s some more photos, just so I can flex on my people back in New Zealand about how pretty this city is...

^A fountain the bus goes past each day, taken on one of the rare occasions that the bus isn’t packed to the brim and I manage to grab a seat!

^A pretty sculpture in town

^A church with a gorgeous roof that’s just behind the house

^Some more pretty houses (gosh I must look like such a weirdo taking pictures of all these buildings)

^A pretty street in pretty afternoon light

^A very ~zenn~ little square nestled in buildings in town

Aaand last but not least...

A prime example of the memes and doodles that are copied onto the blackboard during recreation. (Shh - don’t tell the teacher who drew what!) Until next time!

#france #student exchange #troyes #france exchange #nziiu #nziiu ambassador #nziiustudentexchange #aria in france

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bolbianddolanhouse · 4 years

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BNHA self insert AU

Start from the way beginning here!

Chapter 32: Chill Lofi Beats to Panic To

It’s that final few weeks before graduation and I’ve slowed down a bit. I’m on track to graduate and the only final I need to worry about is the one in my hero class. Plus with my Labyrinth test coming up, training is a must and is to be squeezed in as much as possible.

-Hero class, Gym-

“Okay class today will be a little different” Aizawa announced “today Miss Palma is going to take on all of you one by one to test her agility” he holds up a timer “it will be timed, the fighting rubric is the first one out of bounds or unable to fight marks time” he motioned to Palma to step into the ring “your position Miss.”

“Thank you sensei” I walk into the circle “Who’s the unlucky first?”

“Heh, It’s Bakugo” Aizawa checked the list “step in there.”

“Remember our first time in the ring?” Bakugo reminisced “and you whooped my ass clear across the floor?”

“How could I forget?!” I get into fighting position “no holding back now, I want an honest fight.”

“I will” he sneered as he got in his position “because I’m gonna win this time!”

Time started and in 30 seconds, I got him pinned to the ground.

“...And that’s time” Aizawa clicked on the timer “great work out there.”

“Dammit!” Bakugo growled as I lifted my foot off his back “defeated again! Guess that’s why they call you the undefeated.”

“But you’ve improved greatly” I said as I extended my hand “thank you for the fight.”

“Heh, shut it American-san!” he snickered as he grabbed my hand to hoist him up.

Everyone else’s fights ended under a minute, proving my power and agility.

“Last fight, Shinso” Aizawa announced “please enter the ring.”

“Oh Hitoshi, Hitoshi” I sighed “it’s been a while since we tussled.”

“Heh sure, a while” he laughed “guess last night was a while ago to you huh?”

“HEY! Watch it!” I blush and get in position “lest you want to get ya ass beat in more than one way.”

“Oh?! Is that a promise?” he gets in his position “I’d love to see you try.” Once the timer clicked, I dashed forward and try to get close enough for the copy. “Hey here’s a concept, What color is your underwear?”

“Check your bedroom floor” I said without missing a beat, knowing his plan to get me in his control.

“Too clever of an answer” he tries to dodge my attacks, barely evading “okay then riddle me this, Kiss me.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me in.

“That’s my line!” I shake myself loose “getting bold are we?!”

“I learned from the best” he smiled “isn’t that right?”

“Why of cours-” I froze in place, I fell for his trick!

The class gasped “I can’t believe it!” Momo broke the silence “she’s finally going to be defeated, after so long.”

“Come on Palma-san!” screamed Kirishima “you can snap out of it!”

“Yeah! Fight your way out like you aways do!” Mina stood up to chant “Palma-san! Palma-san!” Most of the class followed suite.

“END HER REIGN SHINSO KUN!” Mineta and Kaminari screamed “SHINSO KUN! SHINSO KUN!”

“Why don’t you come here and give me a kiss” Shinso commanded her “before I send you out of bounds.”

The chanting increased as I got closer to him, just before kissing his cheek, I broke out of the brainwash and slapped him. “HA! Didn’t think I’d do that huh?!”

“Dang it, so close too!” he rubbed his cheek “you play a very sneaky game kitty.”

“Look at this kitty!” I lifted my shirt and a bit of the front of my pants to fully flash my breasts and part of my crotch, away from everyone else’s eyes. He freezes in place, at the mercy of my command. “Why don’t you walk toward that line?” I pointed to a line and he walked right up to the edge “Oh this so much fun! Do that little cat dance Hitoshi!” he does the dance and I pull down his pants to show everyone is cat boxers “When I kiss your cheek, take one step forward and you’ll be out of my command.” I kiss his cheek and he obeyed the last command before realizing what just happened.

“AYAH! How could I give in like that!” he turned red as he fumbled to pull up his pants “I knew you’d embarrass like this too!”

“Hehehe aw I’m sorry I went a little over board with the commands” I put my hands together “forgive me? please Hitoshi?”

“I can’t stay mad at you!” he got soft and hugged her “you’re a little cutie, kissy wissy baby wayby cuddle bug! Yes you are!”

“Hitoshi!” I blushed “this is so cringe! Please sensei, what was my time for that?”

“2 minutes and 24 seconds” he checked the clip board “and that makes Palma-san the undefeated streak record holder!” he clapped and everyone did the same “for 3 straight years, no defeats nor forfeits in any of our sparring training.”

“Aww thanks yall” I said as Shinso let go “though you didn’t defeat me, I’ve seen you improve greatly with every spar, thank you for constantly improving yourselves despite the high chance of defeat.”

We did more training and the locker room talk was a buzz. “Hey Palma-san” spoke up Jiro “what was with that dialogue with Shinso?”

“What do you mean?” I said as I took off my shirt.

“It was awfully” Jiro was making a suggestive face “flirtatious, even for one of your iconic taunts.”

“I’ve just upped my taunting is all” I took off my shoes and tossed them into the locker “I had to or it would’ve been hard to evade his questions.”

“How did you know he does that little dance?” asked Uraraka.

“I can see his window from my window very clearly” I chortle “the things he’s not aware of at 3am!”

“Don’t hide it Palma-san” Momo said as she turned to face me “it’s clear that you and Shinso have a thing for each other.”

“Yea, I mean, you two have been awfully close since you woke up from your condition” Jiro stated “and I don’t know what kind of friends casually kiss and do baby talk like that.”

I felt all the girls’ eyes on me as I stopped buttoning my shirt and got visibly sweaty “It was just a kiss on the cheek no big whoop!”

“Oh yea? If it’s nothing, kiss one of the other boys on the cheek” Mina crossed her arms “kiss Bakugo on the cheek, you’re all buddy buddy with him! do it.”

“You know what, I will!” I huffed as I finished getting dressed “I’ll walk out there, get his attention and give the most platonic cheek kiss you’ve ever seen!” The girls hurried to see me do the thing. I spot him along with the other boys that were talking to each other about something “HEY BLASTY!”

“YEA?!” Bakugo yelled back.

“IMA GIVE YOU THE MOST PLATONIC BRO PECK OF YOUR LIFE!” I matched his energy as I stomped toward him.

“I’D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!” he growled as he squared his shoulders.

As I bumped his shoulder and leaned in for the cheek kiss, I chickened out and growled “OH! I can’t fucking do it!” I stepped away from him “I’m a big ol’ softy and I can’t just kiss some dude I don’t have feelings for.”

“Urm, what-” Tokoyami tried to call me out of our escapades.

“Shut ya beak Toko!” I squinted loudly at him, then shifted my gaze toward Todoroki “Shoto! set me on fire! do it!” I got in a T pose.

“I can’t set you on fire, you have a date with Shinso later.” Todoroki bluntly said and the girls immediately squealed.

Shinso stepped forward, blushed and defeated “They interrogated me too” he sighed as he held my hand “it’s all true, we’ve been dating for nearly a year now and I wanted it to be a private matter but I guess I was also a bit heavy handed on the flirty taunts.”

“Yea, can’t believe everyone had to find out this way” I squeezed his hand “I guess the word was going to get out eventually.”

“I ship this so hard!” Hagakure squealed

“Please don’t-” Shinso and I started to say but was cut off by another squeal.

“Your ship name is the Control Duo!” she hopped and clapped “because you can control anyone with your brainwash and you can control anything and any quirk with your telekinesis and copy! The perfect combo!”

“That’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever said about our relationship ever” Shinso and I said in sync “do you see why we kept things secret?”

“They even synchronize! Why aren’t we like that?” Kirishima said to Bakugo.

“Ugh, want warp outta here?” I groaned

“Yes please! I just wanna eat in peace.” Shinso said as we did our little ‘chest bump to teleport’ thing to warp us to the classroom to get our packed food.

“Man I wish I had a girlfriend that’d transport me out of situations” Kaminari sighed “they’re so lucky to have fallen for each other, they oddly make a cute couple, don’t you think Iida-kun?” he turns to where Iida was standing but he wasn’t there. “What the? where did he go?”

Iida was at the 2nd floor of the school, looking out of the window to see the couple eating under the tree in the patio. “What does he have that I don’t” he sighed in defeat “she’s too good for him, my turn will come next!”

Time passes and it’s 2 weeks before graduation, preparations to move out were on their way for the couple.

-Hero Dorms, Sunday evening-

“Shinso, what’s with the boxes?” Iida said as he passed by Shinso’s room and stopped “move out day isn’t until 4 days before graduation.”

“I know but I’m getting my stuff ready because, well” he motioned for Iida to come in and close the door “Don’t tell anyone but I’m moving in with Ita in this nice house in a protected community.”

“What?” Iida whispered

“Yea it’s hard to believe but it’s a great place and it’s close to where I’m going to be placed to work” he stuffed his books in the propped up box “she offered me to co-habit with her in July and of course I said yes. We officially move in the day after New Years but I’m getting a head start on packing so I can have things ready to go.”

“So what about the days leading up to the move in?” Iida questioned

“We’ll be staying at my parent’s house until then” he placed the last book in the box “they’ll finally meet her! And then we’ll be living together” he sighed “I can’t wait to just wake up in our shared bed and have her next to me, every morning, forever.”

“Forever? Are you planning to marry her?!” Iida chopped as he asked.

“Marriage? Nah, I don’t like putting labels on us” he scoffed “we’re just forever partners, besides, we haven’t had that talk yet so who knows.”

“Right, well I’ll leave you to your packing” he turned to leave “I wish you the best on your move in.” Once he got to his room, his mood changed drastically. He wasn’t nice and patient Iida, he was jealous and bitter Iida. “How could she not ask me? I’m never going to get my chance if he moves in with her! I’d never disrespect her like that, I’d marry to proclaim my love for her!” he mumbled to himself “She deserves better, she should be with me!” This resentment grew and grew as the days went by until finally he couldn’t contain it anymore.

-Move out day, Sunset-

“Oh wait Hitoshi” Palma stopped walking before remembering what she’s been meaning to do “I need to invite Tenya.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you in the commons area” Shinso said as he saw her stamper off to Iida’s room.

She knocks on the door “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Ita”

“Come in!”

She opens the door to see a nearly cleared out room “Oh dang, you’re almost done” she closes the door behind her “wanna take a break and come with me to the carnival at the school?”

“The carnival? Oh the intel one!” he exclaimed “I’d love too, let me just put on my shoes.”

“Cool! I got my little squad of you, Mimi, Jin, Hitoshi ready to go and-”

“Wait, it’s not just us?” Iida stopped reaching for his shoes.

“Well, no, I wanted to go as a group so I can have one last high school memory with yall before I leave to take my exam in 2 days”

“Then I won’t go if Shinso is going too”

“Why? What’s wrong?” she got suspicious “you’ve been distant lately, did something happen?”

“It’s just that” he tightened his fists “you’ve been hiding things from me like you don’t trust me! How can you call me your friend, chosen family, if you don’t tell me everything?!”

“What are you talking about?!”

“About you and Shinso moving in together!” he raised his voice “do you not trust me with that?”

“How am I supposed to tell you anything if you’re always busy?!” she clapped back “you’re my friend and I won’t disrupt your time to get things done to tell you something because I want us to converse about it when I tell you.”

“Well, then maybe we shouldn’t be friends!” he exploded whatever he had pent up.

“Tenya what are you-”

“Put some respect on my name! Last name to address me Palma-san!” he loomed over her with anger in his eyes, clearly not himself.

“Let’s talk this out, please tell me what’s wrong” she pleaded “this isn’t like you and I’m scared, talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to be said here!” he turned to finish packing “leave or I’ll throw you out.”

“I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong!”

“You’ve always been the disobedient one” he picked her up, opened his door and tossed her out like rag doll before slamming his door closed. The noise got the attention on everyone in the hall and commons room.

“Palma-san!” Tokoyami rushed over to her side “are you alright? what happened?”

“I don’t know” she was in shock “Tenya just threw me out of his room when I tried to talk things out.”

“That doesn’t sound like him” Shoji said as he picked her up “I’ve never heard him yell like that to you, what did you say?”

“I just asked him to come with me to the carnival and it escalated from there.”

“Babe” Shinso said in a monotone voice

“Yeah?” she responded and froze in place.

“Stand up and come here” he commanded as she walked into his arms “I’m going to take care of things here, don’t worry about us.” He commanded her until they were at the carnival. Palma couldn’t enjoy herself because the argument was still fresh in her mind. “Hey, don’t sweat it babe” Shinso comforted her as they rode the ferris wheel “give it time and I’m sure he’ll own up to what happened.”

“I hope so” she loosened up and sighed “because I don’t get why he got so hostile” she put her head on his shoulder “thanks for keeping me together.”

“No problem love” he rested his head on hers “soon we’ll have better days, together.”

-Labyrinth test day, End of the school day, Hero Wing-

“Oh this just in class” Aizawa paused his lecture to see the text on his phone “Miss Palma passed her exam, unscathed.” The class exploded in cheer and sighs of relief. “She’ll be back tomorrow before the end of the school day to take her exam, please contain your congratulations until she finishes her exam tomorrow” Aizawa puts his phone back on the table “now back to what I was saying...”

Shinso peers behind him to see Iida staring at the empty desk between them, that was really bothering him, especially since Iida hasn’t apologized. After class, Shinso confronted him in the hallway.

“Iida-kun, may I have word with you?” Shinso got his attention by blocking his way.

“What can I do for you?” Iida fixed his glasses, glaring back at Shinso.

“You can start by apologizing to Ita” Shinso crossed his arms “you have some nerve to treat your friend like that.”

“How can you talk to me about her when you knew I loved her first” Iida clenched his jaw “she was mine and you took her away from me! I don’t even see why she’d choose you over me!”

“You hurt her because of her choice?” Shinso raised his voice “she told me you made it clear that you’re friends and nothing more.”

“She’s the literal love of my life” tears formed in Iida’s eyes “I had plans with her, I was going to tell her how I feel but it’s hopeless now” he takes slow steps forward “I’m a better man than you! She deserves better!” He shoves Shinso.

“Why hurt her then?!” Shinso regains his balance “I won’t fight you Iida-kun, but she has made her choice and as her friend, you should respect that!”

“Easy for you to say” Iida huffed “you’re the one that’s going to wake up to her everyday!” he throws a heavy punch to Shinso’s shoulder, escalating everything into a full blown fight. They didn’t get away with this, though, Nezu and Aizawa had them separated until graduation since it was their first offense and very close to graduation. Everyone knew about the fight by the dinner time, including Ita. When she came back and did her exam, she was terrified of Iida and even more confused on why he’s like this now.

-Graduation day, in the intel dorms-

“Look at us!” Mimi exclaimed as she watched me smooth over my now short, curly hair “in our country’s traditional wear, we did it!”

“I’m just excited to final be not be responsible for those twinks!” I joked “can’t wait to just live my wildest, domestic life with Hitoshi.”

“To think we’re going to be living in the same community” Jin said over his garment fastening “what adventures are going to await us after this!”

We finish getting ready and portal into the auditorium to get to our seats. After a lot of speeches, awards came next.

“May all of our graduating international students come up to the stage?” Nezu announced and waited for everyone to get on stage “these students came from far and wide, away from family and are graduating at the top hero school in Japan” the crowd applauded “but one of them has stood out the most, they’ve excelled in everything they’ve been given and went beyond plus ultra to help their fellow student. Not only that, but is a top 3 in their program!” Nezu motioned for Midnight to bring out the plaque “It’s none other than Itati Palma from the United States of America, Bear tamer, Commanding Officer and Talented young lady.” The crowd roared with cheers and clapping as she received her award.

“Oh geez, wow thank you UA and thank you to my fellow international student for their hard work, we did it!” I look at my plaque and smile “I have something to confess, I’m here not by choice, but by duty. I was nearly killed in my home community because I didn’t want to see my friends or teachers hurt by organized crime. And with no hero culture to save us, I put my life on the line when I should’ve fled. I’m not a hero and I’m not an agent, I am bravery that ignited the duty in the hearts of many to continue the fight back home. I work hard for them so when I do return home, we could finally put a stop to the terror that oppresses us.” I scan the room “I want all of you, future heroes, agents and business moguls alike, to make the promise that you’ll continue your fight to spark the will and bravery to make our community a safer place to live, thank you!”

More talking and naming us one by one for our diplomas later and we were finished. I saw a whole lot of that button tradition happening and cringed at the fact that I got some before. I spotted Iida walking toward the parking lot and ran after him.

“Ten- Iida! Hey!”

“Hm? Oh Palma-san” he said flatly, like he wasn’t excited to see me “you cut your hair.”

“Yeah, it’s what I do after completing something” I peer over his shoulder to see his parents and brother talking to other parents “oh sorry if I was interrupting your family time but I just wanted to say that I hope you have nice holiday and to not be a stranger and text or call me every once in a while.”

“That won’t be necessary” he turned to leave “we aren’t friends anymore, I thought I made that clear.”

“Oh I see” my smile disappeared and my heart ached from his words “maybe fate will-”

“Good bye Palma-san” he said without looking at me and walked toward his family to leave.

“Bye” I weakly waved him off but it was in vain as he just fully ignored me.

“What a jerk!” Jin exclaimed behind me “like what is his problem?! Can’t even say good bye to you like a decent human? I swear I had a bad feeling about him.”

“You okay babygirl?” Mimi put her hand on my shoulder, I didn’t respond “let’s forget him and go for a nice smoke sesh.” She carried me to Shinso and we all smoked before having to part ways until we moved in.

The days rolled by slowly, even though I was very comfortable with Shinso and being under the same house with his family, I still was hurt by all things Iida said. I know it was wasn’t like him to say all that and pick fights, it felt like it was all my fault and I didn’t know what I did wrong. Shinso was there to make me forget about all my worries and refocus on the now.

-Move in day-

“...and here’s the keys to the place” my caseworker hands over a ring of labeled keys “oh before I forget! An update from home.”

“Oh cool, um Hitoshi, will you-” I started to say but Shinso knew what to do.

“I’ll be upstairs, setting up the office space” he rubbed my back “come up when you’re done.”

“What a considerate one you got yourself” the caseworker waited for him to be out of earshot “but anyways, it looks like nothing has changed but they’ve stopped spreading their territory. Its massive but still away from your family, but just in case, we’ve put your family under a no travel lock.”

“Oh that’s not good” I worried “how come?”

“With all the activity, we can’t have your family traveling outside the upstate county in case of targeting” she pulled up photos “they’ve targeted that boy you were with, we’ve lost track of him but we’re not sure if he died or escaped. Last sighting was him running in the middle of the night with just a backpack, trying to train car jump. We suspect he caught a train heading to Los Banos.”

“To El Rancho county?! How long ago was this?” I was perplexed by that part as he doesn’t like rancho anything.

“3 weeks ago, but his family didn’t put a missing persons report on him” she sighed “I think they encouraged him to run away from the violence.”

“I believe that” I said as I looked at a security camera quality picture of him jumping onto a box car “I hope he’s alright then.”

“We do too, and that completes our update” she gathers the pictures “I’ll get out of your hair to continue moving in and such.”

“Thank you so much, I hope I hear soon from you” I handed back the picture. They left and I headed up to where Shinso was “Hey, need help with the desk?”

“Nah I got it” he said as he looked up from the printed instructions “everything okay?”

“Yeah, everyone’s fine. It’s just that my family can’t come see me for a while” I sighed deeply and crossed my arms “and one of my friends ran away from home to escape the violence, I just hope they’re alright.”

“Aw babe, come here” he stands up and brings her in for an embrace “life hasn’t been fair for you in a while but I’m here, don’t worry about the big stuff. You’re here, safe and very much loved.”

I buried my face in the crook of his neck “You’re right, I can’t keep worrying myself like this, I love you.”

The weeks turned into months, things back home didn’t get better nor worse and I felt myself have something missing from my life. But I really couldn’t figure it out.

-Downtown Sumida, after work-

“My legs are killing me!” Jin groaned “honestly, who’s idea was it to enable the quirk suppress field when my job relies on my quirk?!” we all sit at the local tea shop for some boba “but I’m happy we can finally hang out after weeks of just work.”

“Yeah SPEAKING OF WHICH! Did you tell Hitoshi about your admittance?” Mimi perked up “I nearly forgot you applied for the local university!”

“I did and he wasn’t very supportive” I recalled everything he said “we got in a fight over it because he doesn’t like the idea of me being so busy with academics that I’d hardly have time for us. He’s cooled off since then but he’s upset that it’ll change our already busy schedule.”

“Oh I’m sorry he’s being like that” Mimi said as our order came “are things okay with you two?”

“Not to air out our troubles but things aren’t that great” I stab the straw into my drink “he doesn’t want to do the things I suggest nor compromise, we had a future plans talk and he doesn’t want to marry nor own a house but kids are a maybe. Plus on top of all that, he’s been very sexually needy, it was fun for like 4 days but I can’t have him eating me out every-time I lay on the couch or rip my pants off to do me on the kitchen counter when I come home from work!”

Mimi and Jin looked at each other “So what are you going to do?”

“I’m gonna go to college and deny him of unwanted sex” I took a sip “and if he really cares, he’d respect my wishes! Because I want to do things worth-while and our idea won’t launch itself!”

“I love that, you’re making your own happiness” Jin takes a sip “also I can’t believe you’re going to make our silly little high school project into reality.”

“It’s not silly! That little robo dog is still functional after all this time!” I exclaimed “the only thing silly about it is that 3 teenagers made it out of thrift shop electronics and scraps for an A minus!”

“I’m still salty at sensei for that” Jin crossed his arms.

“Point is, we have the potential to make it into a small security companion company. With the increase of working heroes with families, this could be the mediator for their security” I put my hand over theirs “and I’m so happy to have at least you two in support on this venture. Even if there’s a chance we’d flop.”

“I hope we expand big enough to have one of those cool low rise buildings as our headquarters AND have a staff!” Mimi started to get excited “So that way things run smoothly, even if we’re not always there.”

“Woah one step at a time Mimi!” I giggled “for now, lets focus on step number one, credentials to start such a thing.”

“To us, and the future of our success!” Jin raised his drink.

“TO US!” we dinked drinks and laughed.

I got home later with slight dread that Shinso was going to say something about being out a little past than promised. “I’m home.”

“Babe!” Shinso walked up excitedly to me as I closed the door “okay so I know I’ve been sorta a jerk to you about your future plans and we haven’t really pushed past it” he held my hands as he explained himself “I’m just a little afraid that you’ll get lost in your studies that you’ll be rushing yourself to get to other things, so I got something to ground you back on whats important.” He leads me to the living room and points to an open box on the coffee table “take a look.”

I peered in and saw an orange tabby with a leather collar looking back at me and meowed. “You got a cat?!” I nearly lost my shit in excitement.

“Yup, I adopted him from the shelter near my work” he walked up to me “he’s a little over a year old, has all his shots, no quirk and no name until I picked him up” he picked up the cat and flipped the metal tag for me to read “look.”

“HIS NAME IS BISCUIT!” I gushed and almost cried “Hitoshi! We’re pet parents, I’m literally crying!” I cry with a smile and pet the cat’s head.

“I thought you might like him” he chuckled as he kissed my cheek “he’s the new edition to our family...along with Muffins.” he said as he caught a glimpse of the little robo dog manually adjust the thermostat.

In that moment, a sort of forgot all the rough patches and re-aligned myself to be the best so I can give a good future to my expanding family.....nothing will go wrong, right?

-Chapter 32, End-

#bnha #mha #chapter 32 #self insert au #not canon #will update regularly #ask me anything #hope yall like this after academy/adult life leg of the AU bc it's about to get spicy and really fuckin tragic #deadass had to mentally prepare myself to write the next 3 chapters #but also! it's my favorite part of the AU #so buckle up if you're just tuning in

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fatathlon · 5 years

Text

Musselman 70.3 – Race Report

My first 70.3 race was a life experience that feels almost too complex to sum up in mere words. I’ve been trying to find my way to describing all of the different things it was for over two months now, and I haven’t gotten very far. I’m not sure it’s something that can be put into words at all, at least not the true core nature of it. It’s an experience, and experiencing it is probably the only real way to know it. Words, as much as I love them, are sometimes just a pale facsimile of the truth they attempt to describe.

So with that in mind, here at last is a basic run-down of how the race went. I also cut together a video that gets at my outlook and emotions surrounding the event a little bit, but probably doesn’t do much better than the words, in the end.

Swim 0:37:52 – 1st in Division (Clydesdale)

Perfect. Honestly my favorite part of the day, which surprised me. I missed the warmup in the water because I chose to use the bathroom (successfully, so a good choice I think). The lake was so shallow, though, that everyone walked for at least 100 yards, with resistance from the water it was a good warmup. But I had fun, swam strong the whole way, and finished in the range I knew from practice would mean I wasn’t slow and didn’t blow up. I had 1:40/100 on my watch, official time pace was 1:48, probably due to the swim exit to the mat and the standing around during the wave start. No anxiety once i got going, no issues, just ground it out and watched the fish. I felt most prepared for the swim out of all three, when all was said and done. I was not expecting the swim to be the most enjoyable part of the race, but I really did have a lot of fun with it. I also didn’t expect to win my division in the swim, so that was a nice bonus.

Swim exit

Bike 2:49:40 – 2nd in Division (Clydesdale)

My first significant plan deviation happened on the bike, but I didn’t realize it until later. For some reason I had it in my head that my coach said 250 average watts as my target, but it was 250 normalized power. Oops. For what it was worth, I ended with 256 AP on my computer so I felt good about hitting my number, even if it turned out to be the wrong one. Overall I was about 15 watts over the intended plan. I put down two bottles of water and two bottles of Gatorade Endurance, plus two 5-oz squeeze bottles of maple syrup. All of which I brought with me. Every aid station I grabbed water and doused myself. All in all fairly uneventful. Big headwinds on some roads, went from one lake to another and back. 2 miles of gravel. Only one hill I would call a ‘climb,’ but 2,000 ft of accumulated elevation. I felt good on the bike, working but not pushing super hard. The last 5 miles or so started to feel a bit uncomfortable, and I was just ready to get off the bike.

Photographer caught me mid-snack

Run 2:10:00 – 2nd in Division (Clydesdale)

Here, of course, is where things got ‘interesting.’ I felt surprisingly good going out. Smiled and waved to my family and wasn’t even faking it. I was having fun! After I cleared the greater transition area, I looked at my watch and realized I was doing like 8:00/mile out of the gate, so I slowed that roll pretty quick and settled into around 8:50-9:30 for the first 4 miles. Then the hills started and I got slower, which was normal and fine. But then mile 7 was upon me and I got massive, massive intestinal cramping. Like really bad. It stopped me dead for maybe 30 seconds. Then I was walking, not wanting to give up. Happened to be on the biggest climb of the course where a lot of people walked anyway, so that was sort of a blessing in disguise I guess. I was eyeing the bushes and trying to decide if I needed to try a pit stop, but eventually ripped a massive…shall we say…’flatulent expulsion.’ Just gas, no soiled britches. And then I was running again! Got back up to around 9’s here and there, especially on the descents back into town. I still had minor cramping happening but it was small enough to ignore. But the whole ordeal took a lot out of me. I tried to pick it up at mile ten, knowing there was just a 5K left, but it didn’t last. I had almost nothing left for the last mile. Just slogged it in. The one bright spot at that point, besides the finish and my family, was that I passed a superstar aero guy who had passed me on the bike at mile 42 on the gravel. I guess he bonked harder than me. He was walking. I felt bad for him but it was also confirmation of what my coach said — a pass on the bike is momentary. A pass on the run is final.

Heading out on the run

Finish and Post-Race 5:43:24 – 2nd in Division (Clydesdale), 72/208 Gender, 96/343 Overall

I was pleased as punch to discover I had made my way to the podium in my division. The Clydesdale division, when it exists, is something of a dilemma, because weight is the only criterion for entering. But there’s a big difference between 250 pounds of muscle and 250 pounds of fat, for example. So it’s not always necessarily the equalizer it’s intended to be. The competition in this division was strong at this race; the winner completed it in under 5:30:00. I would have needed to be 10 minutes faster on the bike and at least 5 minutes faster on the run to win, not to mention faster transitions. I was very happy with what I accomplished and felt that I did the best I possibly could have, considering the challenges I faced (both this year and during the race itself).

Made it

Having my family, both close and extended, there to support me along with some close friends really made all the difference, though. For the last two miles, they were all I thought about. I hugged my kids just before the finish and felt a great sense of relief crossing the final threshold.

While waiting for the awards, I had the opportunity to meet and chat briefly with Jennie and David Hansen, two of my Ironman heroes. They were as friendly and open as could be. They both crushed their races. Jennie did the combination race, which was the sprint on Saturday and the 70.3 on Sunday, and won everything.

Video Report

I made a video about the race, attempting to summarize it from another sort of approach. You can watch that here:

youtube

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starspangledbanner27 · 5 years

Photo

**CHAPTER UPDATE - Chapter 2 posted**

Fandom: Saving Mr. Banks (AU)

Description: AU take on the movie, exploring what might have happened if the author of the Mary Poppins books had been someone very different from P. L. Travers. For Carrie Schultz, the chance to collaborate with Walt Disney Studios to bring Mary Poppins from the page to the screen is a dream come true. However, matters grow complicated when animated penguins prove to be a point of contention, a friendly working relationship turns into more than she bargained for, and Carrie struggles to prevent Walt’s team from discovering her own hidden afflictions.

Characters: Carolina “Carrie” Schultz (OC), Don DaGradi, Walt Disney, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Ralph

Rating: T

Genre: Drama/Romance

Language: English

Read on Fanfiction.net, AO3, Wattpad, or below.

Many thanks to my friends who read Chapter 1 and messaged me to comment on it, and a special thank-you to LexLemon on AO3 for leaving kudos! I’m so glad you guys are enjoying the story so far. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Chapter 2! :)

Also, I am planning to post my other Saving Mr. Banks fanfic sometime this week, so keep an eye out for that if you’re interested.

Chapter 2

We arrived at the airport in plenty of time—with no car trouble, despite Sam’s worrying. “Well, it never hurts to double-check!” she retorted when I teased her about it.

During the weeks I’d been waiting for this, the time had seemed to crawl; now, everything was happening all at once. We checked my luggage; we reached the gate; and finally, the only thing left was to say our goodbyes.

James was first, simply because he was easier. “Good luck, Carrie,” he said, giving me a brief hug.

“Thanks,” I replied. “Take good care of Sam for me.”

He nodded. “You bet.” And with that, he strolled over to look at a newspaper stand so my sister and I could talk.

Sam took my hands in hers and held my gaze for several moments. “Well,” she said at last, “you ready for this?”

I drew a deep breath. “About as ready as I can be.”

She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Okay.”

I could tell she was fighting back tears, so I reached out and laid my hand on her shoulder. “I’m going to be fine, Sam. You know that, right?” She opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again and shook her head as the flood spilled over. “Oh, Samantha,” I murmured as I wrapped my arms around her.

“I’m sorry, Carrie,” she sobbed, holding me tightly. “I wanted to be strong for you, but I’m just so scared!”

“Of what, Sam?”

“Well, it's just . . . what if—oh, I don’t even want to say it! What if . . . what if something happens while you’re out there? What if you never . . .” she trailed off, sobbing uncontrollably.

I bit my lower lip to hold back my own tears as I rubbed her back gently. “That’s not going to happen,” I declared, as much for my own sake as for hers. I would not let her know the truth—that the fears she had just voiced were the very same ones that had been whirling through my head ever since the plans for this trip had been finalized.

At last, having regained her composure, she pulled away and held me at arm’s length. “If anything does happen, you let me know, and I’ll come right away. You won’t be alone. And I’ll call and check on you every day, just like I promised, remember?”

I nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

Her eyes probed mine. “You know, Carrie, if you don't feel up to this, there's still time to change your mind. We can go back home and call your agent—tell her to let Disney know it's not going to work.”

“No,” I said firmly. “No, I want to do this. I know I’ll regret it if I don’t.”

“All right then,” she said. “I’ll be thinking of you. I know you’ll have a great time.”

I smiled. “You’ll call me?”

“Every night. Just remember to give us a call when you get to your hotel and let me know you arrived.”

“I will, for sure.”

Just then, the P.A. system crackled, and a man’s voice spoke through it. “Attention, passengers. We are now boarding Flight 327A to Los Angeles. Please proceed to the gate and have your boarding pass ready. Thank you.”

I turned back to Sam. “Well, I guess it’s time to go.”

She squeezed my hands tightly. “Have a good trip, Carrie. I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.” I hugged her one last time. “Thank you for everything.”

“I’m so proud of you, little sis,” she whispered in my ear. Then she pulled away once more. “Now, go get ’em!”

Too emotional to speak, I simply nodded, smiling, and squeezed her hands one last time before hurrying off to get in line. In no time at all, I had reached the counter, my pass was checked, and I was just about to board the plane when I heard Sam call my name.

“Carrie!”

I turned around to see her standing with James. “I love you!” she said.

A lump formed in my throat, and I gulped it down with difficulty before replying. “Love you too!”

“We’ll be waving as you take off!” she called. I nodded, and then quickly turned away and boarded the plane before she could glimpse the tears in my eyes.

Once inside, I somehow managed to jam my carry-on bag into the overhead compartment before flopping down with a sigh into my assigned seat, allowing my eyes to drift shut as I waited for all the hustle and bustle to cease. Finally, after what seemed like hours but was really only several minutes, the aisles cleared, the other passengers settled into their seats, and the stewardess announced that we would be taking off soon. A moment later, I felt the plane start to move; and I sat up a little straighter in my seat, gazing out the window as we taxied away from the gate.

When we reached the runway, there was a long, pregnant pause as we waited for our turn to depart. Then, at last, I heard the pilot’s voice through the loudspeaker:“Ladies and gentlemen, we are cleared for takeoff”—and with that, the plane began rolling forward again. My heart pounded as I watched the ground rush past beneath us, faster and faster by the second—until, with a mighty roar of the engines, we lifted off, leaving ground and gravity behind altogether.

“Well, this is it,” I murmured to myself. “No turning back now.”

~~~~~~

Sunday, April 2nd, 1961

Dear Sam,

In the time-honored tradition of air travelers everywhere who suffer from lack of amusement, I am taking this opportunity to describe for you the details of my flight.

We’ve had a smooth ride so far. I spent the first few minutes after takeoff gazing around the interior of the plane. Blue carpet in the aisle, blue plush seats, smiling stewardess in a blue starched skirt and jacket—that’s about all there is to notice in here. But the view from the window . . . oh, Sam, it’s positively magical! You know how people talk of the horizon—where the land meets the sky—and of what lies beyond it. But do you know that the sky has a horizon of its own? I am looking at it right now—a subtle yet captivating line off in the distance, where the sky above meets the sky below. What lies beyond this horizon must surely be a land too glorious for mere mortals to inhabit. I call it sky; but in truth, it is no sky, not really. Rather, it is a sea—a sea of cool, clear blue and soft, misty white, all bathed in the golden glow of the sun. Do you think Heaven is like this? I imagine it must be.

Up here above the clouds, where the sun is bright and the air is clear, my imagination runs free, and nothing seems quite impossible. I confess that as I look out my window, I half expect to see Mary Poppins herself perched regally on a cloud puff with her talking umbrella and bottomless carpetbag beside her. Do you suppose that if she saw me, she would condescend to wave hello, or would she be too busy admiring herself in her hand-mirror?

I'm running out of room now; but before I finish, I want to say once more that I love you, dear sister, and I miss you already. By the time this letter reaches you, I will probably have been in Los Angeles for a few days, and will be missing you even more. I know you’ll be thinking of me; but I hope you will not waste any time worrying about me. Instead, enjoy your time alone with James, and take this opportunity to care for yourself and look after your own needs for a change. I know I'll be having fun in L.A., and you should be having fun, too—because nothing can keep the Schultz sisters down.

Well, that’s all for now! I’ll see you again very soon. Till then, I am

Your little sis forever,

Carrie

P.S. I hope you made it back from the airport without any car trouble.

Sunday, April 2nd, 1961

Dear James,

I hope that by the time this reaches you, things are going well back home. I’ve already written a letter to Sam, but I also wanted to write one specifically to you, because, as Sam’s sister, there is something I must speak to you about.

When I left this morning, you promised me that you would take good care of Sam; and I know you would have even if I hadn’t told you to. But there is another, more specific, thing that I wish to ask of you, which is this: don’t let her worry too much about me while I’m gone. If she does worry, then listen to her and comfort her as you always do; but make sure she enjoys herself as well.

The two of you now have the house all to yourselves for a while, so take this time to romance her and make her feel special. I can’t help noticing that over the past year, Sam has too often allowed her own needs to go unmet in favor of mine. I know she would never admit it, but she has been much more exhausted lately than I’ve ever seen her before; yet she will not let herself rest from taking care of me. Now that I’m gone, though, she needs someone to look after her for a change—to attend to her needs, listen to her concerns, and lavish her with the attention she so deserves. You already do all those things, but I ask that you use these three weeks to give her an extra dose of love. And, that being said, I know you need no further encouragement; so I guess all that's left now is to say thank you. I know my sister is safe in your hands, and that knowledge is a more precious gift than you can imagine. Thank you so much.

Your sister-in-law,

Carrie

Too tired to write any more, I tucked the letters into my purse, then glanced around the plane at the other passengers. Some, like I had been a minute ago, were writing letters to family and friends, or notes on the postcards the stewardess had handed out earlier. Others were chatting with their seatmates; and a few, as evidenced by the raucous laughter from towards the back, were apparently taking full advantage of the free beverage services available during the flight.

My own seatmate, a middle-aged, pot-bellied man, had fallen asleep about ten minutes after we left the ground; and the only sound I'd heard from him before that had been a curt grunt of acknowledgement as he sat down next to me. Could be worse, I mused. At least he’s not smoking. Neither was anyone else, for that matter—an uncommon circumstance for which I was grateful. In a condition like mine, I hated to think what even one whiff of secondhand smoke might do.

At last, after I had people-watched for several minutes, my exhaustion overcame me. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, listening to the friendly conversations taking place all around and the quiet hum of the airplane, sounding like a summer breeze.

~~~~~

I am sitting on a bench in the garden—a pencil in my hand, my notebook on my lap, my eyes closed, and my face turned upward, smiling slightly as a breeze plays through my hair—when suddenly two hands grab my shoulders, and a voice comes from right behind my ear. “Boo!”

“EEK!” I jump out of my chair and whirl around in one swift motion, dropping my notebook and pencil in the grass. “Sam! You scared me half to death!” She stands there grinning, unfazed. I place my hands on my hips. “Don't look so satisfied with yourself, Samantha.” She wriggles her eyebrows. I raise my index finger and advance threateningly towards her. “I'm warning you!”

“Oh, really?” She waits with a mischievous smirk as I approach; then, when I’m just a few steps away, she shoots her hands out and tickles me in the ribs, rendering me helpless with laughter.

“Sam—haha—Sam—stop!” I gasp between giggles. She pulls away and takes off running across the yard. Laughing, I chase after her. “All right, now you’re in for it!”

“Gotta catch me first!” she teases, glancing back over her shoulder.

“Oh, you better believe I will!”

She rounds the corner of the house with me in hot pursuit. My legs and arms are pumping wildly and my breathing has quickened to compensate, when suddenly a sharp pain springs forth in my lungs, and I am seized by a paroxysm of coughing unlike any I’ve ever experienced before. My legs go weak, and I collapse in a heap on the grass, chest convulsing out of control.

“Carrie!” In an instant, Sam is kneeling on the ground beside me. “Carrie, are you okay?”

“Can’t—stop—coughing,” I choke out.

“Okay. Okay. Just take deep breaths for me. Try to relax. You’re all right.” She rubs my back gently.

I strain against the coughs, trying with all my might to repress them. Every breath I draw feels like a knife being thrust through my ribs; but if I stop breathing, then my body screams for oxygen. All the while, I hear Sam’s voice beside me—“It’s okay, Carrie; I'm here. Deep breaths.” But the coughing will not stop. There is no way to end it, no way out, no escape. I writhe helplessly in the grass, begging God to make it stop . . . and then, all of a sudden, I look up to find everything changed—I am alone in a large, dark room, and my sister has vanished. In a panic, I attempt to cry out for her, but my voice will not come; meanwhile, I notice for the first time that the floor has detached from the wall and is rocking back and forth, back and forth. The entire room seems to spin—or maybe it’s just my own head—and a strange whooshing sound fills my ears. Still coughing, I struggle to maintain my grip as the floor tilts precariously beneath me. The walls by now have dissolved into amorphous blotches of dull color that swim and blend and fade in turn. I cough and cough . . . the blotches dilate and contract . . . the floor’s tilt grows steeper and steeper . . . until at last I can hold on no longer, and I roll off the edge into nothingness—falling . . . falling . . .

DING! I was jolted awake by a loud chime, soon followed by the captain’s voice over the intercom:“Ladies and gentlemen, we are beginning our descent into Los Angeles.” I blinkedgroggily as his words registered in my slumber-fogged brain. Had I really just slept through most of the flight? Sure enough, I looked over to see the stewardess making her way down the aisle, checking to see that all passengers had fastened their seat belts for landing.

I yawned and stretched slightly before glancing out the window just in time to glimpse the city of Los Angeles, and the Pacific Ocean beside it, spread out beneath us as our plane banked to the left. Something about the tilt of the plane tugged at the edge of my mind, and then I remembered—the dream. The coughing, the floor rocking beneath me. I shook my head with a sigh of frustration, but I could not shake the memories that insisted on resurfacing . . . so I resigned myself to staring blankly out the window as my mind replayed everything that had occurred that day in the garden.

Laughing, I chase Sam across the yard. “All right, now you're in for it!”

“Gotta catch me first!”

“Oh, you better believe I will!”

But just as I round the corner of the house, a sharp chest pain and a wild fit of coughing bring me to the ground in a heap. Sam rushes to my side. “Carrie, are you okay?”

“Can't—stop—coughing!”

“Okay. Okay. Just take deep breaths for me. Try to relax. You're all right.”

At last, after several minutes, the coughs subside, leaving me drained of energy. “What happened, Carrie?” Sam asks with concern.

I shake my head. “I don't know. I just started coughing all of a sudden, and then it wouldn't stop.”

“Maybe you inhaled a speck of pollen or something. Are you all right now?”

“I think so; I just feel a little weak.”

“Want to go inside and rest?”

“No, I’ll be fine. I want to stay out here and keep working.”

“Okay. Here, let me help you up.” She extends her hand, and I take it, letting her pull me to my feet.

I cast a mischievous glance at her. “You know, if it weren't for that coughing fit, I definitely would have caught you.”

She smirks. “Wanna bet?”

“Well, next time for sure.” I wink.

She laughs. “We'll see about that. I'm going to head back inside.”

She walks away, and I return to my seat on the bench, retrieving my notebook and pencil from the grass. What I haven’t admitted to Sam is that the pain is still there—lodged in my chest, now more like a rock than a knife, but still unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I draw a slow, shaky breath. “Just a speck of pollen, Carrie,” I tell myself. “Nothing to worry about.”

My mind landed back in the present just as our plane came to land on the concrete. I blinked and shook my head again. Forget all that, Carrie, I told myself. You have three weeks here. Enjoy it while it lasts.

And so, for the moment, I closed the window on the past and instead began to contemplate what the coming days would hold. Heart swelling with anticipation, I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. This was real. This was happening. Please, dear God, let it go well.

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