don't freak out

ship: aaron dingle/robert sugden

word count: 2319

He stopped and stared for a while at the crime scene before him, hay bales toppled where Robert had stood. It was just hay. Soft and harmless, shouldn't have been enough to topple a man like Robert, who got knocked about once a month by fists and cars and shovels and hammers–

Aaron clenched his fists. He would be better. He would protect him better.

In the corner of his eye, he saw something move behind the trailer, and he raised his fists by reflex.

“You can take those down, I'm not gonna jump ya.” Serena stepped out from behind the car with her hands raised. “I'm just here to talk.”

lets pretend its dom's birthday today and not two months ago, yes?? everyone on board? good :)

Very much did in the sense that I literally do not know where my job is at the moment. But, for the time being I haven't been let go because nobody else including the store owner knows where it is either.

So, I don't wanna risk doxxing myself by posting pictures but goddamn am I tempted because this is not a believable event. This is a cartoon problem. For looneytoons.

But yeah, so, I work(ed?) at a kiosk selling boba tea, right? Freestanding kiosk in the mall with full water and electrical hookups and multiple fridges and sinks and a mini kitchen and the works. Fully functional tea shop. Very important to note that it was there last night, The work chat was discussing another issue last night at closing time. I'll get back to this.

It's been showing signs of being on the way out with how business is being handled lately and I've been considering other options, which is probably why I'm not as torn up about this as I should be, but maybe it just hasn't set in yet, but that's not the point. The point is there's been a lot of shit breaking and not being replaced and nobody mentioning anything about it until I walk into work in the morning and have to figure out why shit like the fucking cash register isn't there today. So I'm kinda used to having to ask questions about big things that nobody bothered to update me on. I was out for two weeks recovering from a surgery, so I came to work this morning assuming there'd be some kind of bullshit, yeah?

So, the question I had to ask the chat this morning was:

Not a text I ever thought I'd have to send in sincerity, but there it is. Because what I found instead was a fenced off patch of discolored tiles and a few holes in the floor where my entire place of employment used to be.

And the answer? Nobody knows! It was there last night when the mall closed, and every single trace of the structure and all its contents including drink making supplies and our safe and cashbox was gone when it opened again. And when I say nobody knows, I mean everyone from last night's closers to the actual (former?) owner of the store jad no fucking clue about this until getting that text from me this morning. For once I am actually the first to know. 🎉.

So. I guess I didn't so much lose my job as had it stolen. Not by AI, but good old fashioned hands-on human beings picking it up and carrying it away somehow. All mall security would tell me was that they were instructed not to tell me anything and have us contact our management. Who also don't know anything. And later on I came across some construction workers around the gravesite of the kiosk discussing filling in the holes, asked them about it, and was told that they "weren't at liberty to say".

So, not only is my job gone in the most literal physical sense of the word, but it was taken in some kind of super secret kiosk extraction in the dead of night without any warning or witnesses and nobody is allowed to speak of it. The store owner said she was gonna figure it out 10 hours ago and still no word back.

My mother in law thinks the FBI took it.

Not any of the other stores around the state. Just the one little kiosk.

Why? Because she loves a conspiracy and is just a little bit extra.

Also because she was around for the massive crackdown on Yakuza-owned businesses in Waikiki (in her homestate) that did actually involve the FBI seizing stores (no confirmation of making kiosks cleanly disappear in the middle of the night though).

Still no word from my job on what's actually going on, but the most likely theory so far is that maybe the kiosk was on lease and got repossessed? The mystery continues

According to the owner, based on what she's been able to find out, the kiosk was not removed legally and they're starting a potentially long process of legal action. I hope she gets to sue the shit out of whoever did it but for now at least I know for sure I'm unemployed.

Really hoping for more details in terms of who/why/how, so I'll keep updating if I learn anything.

For now the summary is: An unnamed entity that is most likely mall management (on account of mall security cooperating with them) stole an entire kiosk and all the contents including money and machinery with barely a trace in the middle of the night grinch-style, with zero warning or explanation, and ensured the silence of both security and the construction crew, in an action that was definitely preplanned and illegal, and as far as I know nobody knows its whereabouts.

Enjoy the unintentionally funniest text I've ever sent in my life

Aaand a close-up:

HEY HI HELLO THIS ONE'S MY FAVORITE

Gonna start the new year with babygirlifying him to the max!!

"We need to talk to you about your husband," the DI had explained after they'd introduced themselves and flashed their badges. Then she'd told them, because Robert's still the next of kin and they have to inform him, that Kev had been found dead in his stupid cake van a few hours ago. She hadn't called it stupid. Aaron added that part.

AO3 link

emmerdale fic. robron. sickfic. angst. wip. part one of two three

Robert's lying on his back in the cold damp grass when he comes to.

It's early. Painfully so. The skylarks haven't even started warming up for their dawn chorus yet, but here Robert was, napping in the dark. His head's pounding, and when he makes the mistake of lifting his hand to his hairline, he lets out a wince, and his fingers come away tacky with something warm and wet. He groans and lets his arm flop back down, trying to ignore the twinge that comes with the movement.

He’s tired. And cold. And he can't remember why he's alone on his back on the muddy ground in the top fields in the dark, but his head really fucking hurts, so he doesn't try to move again. Not just yet. Five more minutes, mum…

After working himself close to exhaustion on the farm, guilt-ridden and depressed but determined to get by on his own, Robert ends up crashing his tractor into a ditch.

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Day 3 of @robertweek2026 ~ Free day. Happy birthday Robert Sugden and more importantly happy belated birthday to the wonderful @madroxed who should’ve gotten this yday! 🥳

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thank you for the WIP Wednesday tags from @aaronsugdens @barnbert @bartonmatty @robrondale @jackiemerrick and @jonathan-harks 💕 & I’ll tag birthday bobbie @thisissirius @allisonrw96 @capseycartwright @aelric @princessfbi @jcforsapphics @livflahertydingle @donotpercievemebaby @breakfastteatime @ultrabananaquan @littlespoonevan @fcntasmas @butteredsc0tch @softlass27 and @kellykadesperate

thank youu @stuckinanothertimezone for the tag and for starting us off! here's to hoping i get even one work finished before the upcoming (self-imposed) deadlines kick in, posting a snippet from a work for robron week for motivation

"You had no right," he starts, blazing. "I had every right!" Vic pushes back, equally furious. "She's my daughter —" "I'm her family too! She's my niece, and I love her as if she were my own, and you know that. You don't get to try to cut me out now. And if Robert were here —" "Robert's not here!" Aaron roars. "He signed off on any rights to do with her when he decided to get himself locked up before he even met her." Vic's cheeks have gone flushed, blinking rapidly as she swallows. "He's appealing." Aaron freezes. "No, he's not." "Yes, he is," Vic insists. "I asked him to." "Yeah, two years ago, Vic," he reminds her, biting. "What makes you think this time will be any different?"

A bit from one of the stories for robron week.

He looks younger now, soft and vulnerable in a way he probably wouldn’t appreciate showing. It’s not what he’s used to, Robert thinks, quick ins and outs more in fashion than staying a night, at least from what Robert gathered between harsh kisses and rough touches that made his head spin. But here he is, the duvet slipped down to his waist, and Robert can’t help but pick it up, bring it to cover the man’s shoulders.

Aaron, Robert thinks absently as he lingers by the bed, his name is Aaron.

He’s beautiful, and suddenly, Robert can't handle it, can’t keep looking at him, and his throat is full, his eyes burning.