#@ anyone who saw my last post: i did not in fact pick the rest of Besharam Rang apart bc everything after that had more or less

[theinfinitedivides]

most bisexual moment in existence in this film so far is the f*cking pool scene, bc no matter how you slice it there is nothing like Deepika and the saffron one piece. (they cut out my favorite shot from the OG Besharam Rang outro with Shah Rukh's hand just over her navel tho and i'm crying sfjsfdnkjsdnj) John and those white shorts. ass. pectoral muscles hip muscles thigh muscles v line muscles but ass. Shah Rukh in handcuffs again not for the reason that is generally implied in these kinds of sexually charged situations *cough*. trying to keep myself together but it's not working

[jamdoughnutmagician]

Eddie and Argyle:Hell or High Water-Operation Mary-Jane (Blurb)

Summary:On a road trip across the states two stoners come across a new furry friend.

basically based on this text post, that I couldn't very much leave alone without writing a little something for

Word Count:761

Masterlist

“Dude I am telling you, Jonathan is way into this Nancy chick. All he ever does is talk about her.” Argyle chuckled from where he was sitting beside Eddie in the driver’s seat of his van. Eddie liked Argyle. The pair had actually bonded pretty quickly after Argyle had come down to Hawkins with the rest of the Byers’ family.  

“No way man. I saw how she was with Harrington with my own eyes, there’s something going on there.” Eddie refutes with a scoff.

“Well I guess only time will tell, my friend.” Argyle smiles.

Eddie slows down as he approaches a gas station. He’d been driving for a few hours at this point and his fuel gauge was beginning to dip low.

“Gotta fill ‘er up” Eddie notes as he pulls into the station.

“Alright, I want to get out and stretch my legs anyway.” 

The pair get out of the van and Eddie begins to fill up his van from the gas pump, before heading inside to pay.

“Alright, I'm heading inside, you want anything?” Eddie shouts out to Argyle.

“Yeah, grab me a Pepsi?”

“You got it, man” Eddie smirks, flicking up finger guns.

Argyle wanders around the gas station court for a few minutes, and as he does his attention is caught by the sound of some gentle mews coming from a cardboard box just behind the station.

Peering down to look inside the box, there curled up is a tiny little kitten. Its tabby stripes are a little fuzzy and unkempt.

“Hey there little one, did someone leave you here?” Argyle asks softly as he crouches down by the box. The kitten’s tiny little ears perk up at the sound of his voice.

The kitten mews in response once more, as Argyle looks around to see if there’s anyone else around. Nope, nobody, apart from him, Eddie and the gas station attendant. 

“Alright, I got us pringles, twizzlers, snickers, a Pepsi for you, and a Dr. Pepper for me.” Eddie says lifting up a small plastic bag in the air as he makes his way out of the door.

“Shh, dude you're gonna scare her.” Argyle hushes from where he's still crouched down by the side of a cardboard box on the floor.

“Scare who?” Eddie asks.

“I've made a new friend.” Argyle answers, stepping back enough for Eddie to see the kitten.

Eddie's eyes soften on the tiny little cat. She looked so small and helpless in that big cardboard box. 

Judging by the way that there was no food or water left out for her, Eddie assumed that the people at the gas station had no idea about her. The fact that the only other thing in the box was a scraggy piece of towel, didn't fill Eddie with confidence. Whoever it was that dumped her here likely wasn't coming back for her any time soon. 

“Pick her up and let's get out of here before someone notices.” Eddie says.

“What?”

“Well we can't just leave her here, dude? What if something happens to her?”

“ Just pick her up? Like with my hands?” Argyle says, his eyebrows drawing up.

“Yeah” Eddie assures. “My uncle Wayne used to have a cat, black and white thing called Humphrey Bogart-we used to call him ‘Bogie’, so I know how to handle them, you've just got to be gentle.”

“Your uncle had a cat with a last name?” Argyle asked, turning to look at Eddie in confusion.

“Doesn’t matter. Just slip your hand under her belly, and carefully pick her up, don’t be nervous.”

“Like this?” Argyle asks, carefully picking up the tiny kitten and wrapping in the scrap of towel from the box.

“Yeah now let’s get back into the van before anyone sees us and tries to arrest us for cat-napping.” Eddie flicks his eyes around to see if there are any CCTV cameras which to his relief there’s not. It’s only a small gas station, so I guess people aren’t too worried about what goes on. It’s not like Eddie needs another offence to add to his ever-stacking list of misdemeanours.

The boys manage to successfully get back into the van and pull away without being seen, and the kitten that is comfort curled up in Argyle’s lap purrs happily as it sleeps.

“That’s it MJ, you just make yourself comfortable.” Argyle smiles.

“MJ?” 

“Yeah, Mary-Jane. MJ for short.” Argyle answers confidently. “What? She has to have a name, dude.”

Eddie chuckles. Just what every all-American road trip needs. Two stoners and a tiny kitten.

@reidsbtch @trashmouth-richie @rebelfell @reysorigins @sunnythespookyghost @penguinsandpotterheads @xxhellfirebunnyxx @onegirlmanytales @mrsjellymunson

[spectofdirt]

So I don't actually know. How. To make this post in like a way that makes sense because hoo boy I'm running on like pure pain and spite and I have no actual knowledge of things BEYOND of what I'm reading so half of this is me glueing clues together with bullshitted facts anyways

This is the lore I got from Poltergeist's info, and some other extra things (do note that this is based off my own speculations and theories so uh have a spoonful of salt with this):

Poltergeist (name still unknown (or maybe I missed it I don't trust myself)) is a 15yo spirit who died in the 1960s and haunts her hometown, which is Broward County, Florida

Lowkey estimate her actual birthyear to be around the 1940s or 1950s but idk I never did good in math anyways

In regards to how she actually died, this is how I think shit went down:

There was beach party that was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida during spring in some year around the 1960s.

Now Polt here isn't very fond of going outside because of how sensitive she is to the sun

But despite her condition, she always wanted to go out and enjoy life like how she sees other people do in tv.

So after hearing news about the beach party, she decided that she's going to attend it, just so that she could be like the "popular girls" (judging by her behavior and voicelines, Polt seems to have low self-esteem and always compares herself to other, mostly to actresses on tv and etc)

Now, it's pretty apparent that Poltergeist died because of drowning, it's even mentioned in her voiceline where she describes what she last saw before passing

But a part of me wants to say that Poltergeist probably died without anyone noticing, or like yknow, people didn't realized Poltergeist was drowning before it was too late.

The reason why I feel like this is the case is because a majority of Polt's voicelines hints to her wanting to be noticed/not be left behind by (Vertin)

(I have more picture references but Tumblr is mean to me so imma just type out the rest of the references)

Poltergeist Idle voiceline, continuing from the image above: "Oh my God ... Where are you? Don't leave me alone! Please..."

Poltergeist Night voiceline: "Listen! Did you hear that? The ticking sound of a clock. This... This is too quite. Nobody noticed me. Nobody looked over. I... I..."

But also I'm not that certain about it since it could be just me looking too deep into her timidly behavior

Anyways, after her death, she became the talk of her hometown for a short while, at best a couple of years if not only for a few months

A section of her 03 story interview:

Pandora Wilson: Could you tell me about tour hometown? I mean, Broward County?

Poltergeist: ...Everyone forgot about me...

Poltergeist: It was such a shocking tragedy, but no one remembers it now. They all forgot about me, like I never existed...

Pandora Wilson: Is that why you repeatedly returned to your hometown?

After seeing how she's forgotten by everyone, she returned to her hometown as a poltergeist and started to haunt people at random (there's no actual reference or mention of who she haunts so I'm just assuming it's just the county in general)

A paragraph from her 02 story:

According to the investigation record of the police in Broward County, Florida, theblocal poltergeist incidents which took place from 1960-1965 had the following similarities:

Aaaaand I guess that's it? I don't know if I missed anything important but lemme just throw in trivia facts about Poltergeist in here:

- she mentions that she has a mom but never mentions about her dad at all so I assume that her mom is a single mother? No hints whether her dad is dead, alive or a secret third option so this is the safest assumption.

- apparently??? The octopus in her hair and around her leg is also a ghost???? It was mentioned as her second item. either it points to Poltergeist being dead for a long while before returning as a spirit or something else, I have no real clue

- it's mentioned that Poltergeist picked up a third leg somewhere, specifically she "dig it". I'm just gonna guess that she picked up someone else's leg that was on the ocean floor (apparently there were a lot of drowning cases at Fort Lauderdare so it's not that surprising to find more bodies down there. I'm just curious as to why Poltergeist even took someone's leg while also forgetting that people only have 2 legs.)

And I think that's all that I have. Again, this is just my own speculations and theories, and uh yeah I guess that's all that I can find about Poltergeist from the hit game Reverse 1999. Hey Bluepoch you better give more Poltergeist content soon you better-

[mallardducksaysquack]

Aaaaaaaand the multifandom captor poll results are in!!!

Let’s analyse them one by one before we head out to our designated basements ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

(obviously, major spoilers for Slow Damage, Sweet Pool, Togainu no Chi, Boyfriend to Death and Manakashi no Yuri wa Akaku Somaru as well as descriptions of extreme violence)

(if you are a minor and somehow came across this post, please do NOT proceed)

I recalculated the percentages after excluding the “see answers” votes. Enjoy the MS Excel conditional formatting I had learnt for all the jobs I didn’t get.

Here's the sorted ranking with recalculated percentages:

Let’s now go through the ranking from last to first place.

8. Yuuko (Manakashi no Yuri wa Akaku Somaru) - 0% (0 votes)

No one voted for Yuuko. Very good. FUCK YUUKO.

The snuff-to-necrophilia skullfucking scene might as well have been the vilest shit I have ever seen in my life. I literally had to look away from the screen while censoring this screenshot.

6/7. (tie) - Masami Toono (Slow Damage), Manami Kanzaki (Manakashi no Yuri wa Akaku Somaru) - 2.6% (3 votes)

While I didn’t end up voting for Toono, I actually seriously considered choosing him (alongside Madarame and Taku).

To the three people who did vote for him – you got the ugliest waifu. But hey! You now live in a villa! All of your orifices are safe! Congrats!

Barely anyone has played Manakashi, so I'm positively surprised to see that a couple of Manami enjoyers have showed up.

She might seem very sadistic, but in fact she’s just a pure maiden who will do anything and everything in the name of love. And no matter whether you’ll get choked until you end up in a vegetative state or let her amputate all your limbs with a chainsaw, you’ll always have the pleasure to marry her in the end, or at least have her start planning your wedding. Long live the bride and bride!

4/5. (tie) - Strade (Boyfriend to Death), Zenya Okinaga (Sweet Pool) - 8.6% (10 votes)

Looks like the Strade voters want the hammer AND the drill.

I couldn’t understand why anyone would vote for him considering such a low chance of survival until I saw @pesikoshka reblog the poll with a tag saying “strade because he would kill me fast lmao”. Seems like the fast imminent death was in fact an effective selling point!

Genuinely trying to figure out whether the ten of you are such hardcore Zenya simps or just haven’t played the other games. Getting fucked and forced to give birth in a basement until the end of my life does not seem very appealing to me, but I mean, you do you, I guess? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

3. Kei Madarame (Slow Damage) - 14.7% (17 votes)

My personal choice – at least at the time of voting. Sure, he’ll beat the shit out of me, but at least he’ll also grant me relative freedom? I swear I did not vote for Madarame just because I’m so horny for him. This is not a waifu contest. I just like the idea of not spending the rest of my life in a basement.

@mahnati I saw your tags

and let me just say… “as it should have been”. But the nation has spoken, and we have to accept the verdict.

2. Shiki (Togainu no Chi) - 19% (20 votes)

Voting for him has never once crossed my mind. I think I must have been blinded by the fact that I don’t like him. I played TnC about 13 years ago, so my memory is very fuzzy, but I guess you were right about him being a relatively safe option?

1. Taku Murase (Slow Damage) - 44% (51 votes)

What a landslide victory! While I did not end up voting for Taku myself, I truly approve of your choice. After all, he is the literal only character on this list who doesn’t want to hurt you. He’s keeping you imprisoned for your own good. It’s just his lil silly way to protect you ;> It’s time for you to become a guinea pig for his drug research. Enjoy spending the rest of your days in Taku's basement, making sweet love while picking at each other's skin, so that the hallucinatory bugs crawling underneath it can emerge as beautiful butterflies.

That's all for today. Assembly dissolved.

Now go to your basement.

See you never ~ヾ(＾∇＾)

(unless you've voted for Madarame or Shiki - in this case we might bump into each other while roaming around some dilapidated squats and maybe pick a fight)

[masivechaos]

FAMILY LINE

post azkaban! sirius black x fem! reader

Request: yes / no

see the request!

Synopsis: Sirius has to stay at Grimmauld place and it brings back old memories

Warning/content: talking about an abusive childhood, kissing, my english

a.n.: 0.7k words - family line by conan gray! sorry this is short, hope you still like it :)

masterlist/ marauders masterlist / navigation / taglist 

── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.──

“Sirius?” you asked softly.

The man blinked, returning to reality, a smile finding its way to his lips quickly “Yes?”

“Are you okay?” you tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear carefully, talking quietly, not wanting to scare him. He was staring at the family tree, his fingers tracing the burn where his face was supposed to be.

He nodded, forcing himself to look at you, he didn’t want to alarm you. You cupped his face with your hands “Sirius… Tell me what’s up…”

The last years were complicated and full of emotions. In a matter of a few months, you discovered your first love wasn’t the murderer you thought he was and your best friend was actually alive and a traitor.

And now Sirius had to live in the house he grew up in, in the house responsible for all his cries and sorrows, in the house his parents raised him but forgot to love him in the process. You felt like he was a scared child again.

He never told you in detail what happened here but you could see the way he was staring at the walls when no one was watching.

Sirius’ eyebrows furrowed “I- I’m fine” He always told you he was good at lying and it was true except that you were used to it now and could read him like an open book. You guest he picked up this ability from his mother who probably was the number one manipulator you knew. But Sirius wasn’t mean, he was, in fact, the kindest person you’ve ever met and it made you feel good that even after thirteen years of jail you could feel his lies, after all this time you still knew him like you used to.

“No, you’re not,” you rested your forehead against his.

“I don’t like it here,” he finally said. “I managed my way out of this and now- now I’m here again.”

Without even thinking you wrapped your arms around him, pulling him into you, giving him as much warmth and comfort as possible. “But they are not here anymore. No one is going to hurt you”

“I know…” you heard his voice break. You pulled away just enough to see his grey eyes. That’s the moment you remembered how much he hated them. He said it was the same as his father’s. But all you saw was that the moon seemed to have settled in his eyes and you had a chance to look at it every time you gaze at him.

“But even if they’re both dead, I can’t seem to forget what they did. And I hate that they thought I wouldn’t understand. I was a kid but I wasn’t clueless.”

Sirius took a deep breath that broke your heart “If they loved me they wouldn’t have done this to me” You didn’t speak, it seemed like he needed to let it out. “When I was in Azkaban, there was a moment I felt like I was insane, I was finally like them.” He let out an awkward laugh.

“Sirius,...” you sighed as you softly stroked his cheek with your thumb “You’re not like them.”

“I am.”

“You’re not.” You kissed Sirius’ lips and you could feel him relax slightly “You will never hurt anyone… You’d never hurt anyone. Even after all they did, you stayed the same.”

Sirius fled your gaze shyly, “You…,” he wet his lips uncomfortably, “You really mean it?” he said quietly and in front you he became an insecure child again. Eyes big and wide asking you if nothing was wrong with him.

“I do, Sirius.” Those three words were enough for a tear to roll down Sirius’ cheek. He borrowed his face in the crook of your neck as he cried more and more “It’s going to be okay, love,” you whispered again and again until his sobs soften.

“You might share a face and a last name,” you said when he was calmer, “You are not the same, Sirius. You’re nothing like them.”

You held him as tightly as possible, you had found the teenage Sirius again. Sirius missed you so much, there was so many time when he wanted to have you by his side. He might not have a family, but he had you. And you felt like home

── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.───･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.──

⋆ ★ sirius back taglist: @ell0ra-br3kk3r @saturnband @cauliflowertree @madison-rebel @moonlitmeeks @loveeharrington @meredarling @elenatries2write @juneberrie  @faeriieblush @gilmore-angel @heartfucks @sparklenarniawizard @moondemon123 @mystic-writings @siriusblackstwin @natashxromanovf @goodoldfashionedluvergirl @garfieldsladybird @starconfettii @kidcuisinesvcks @percy-the-hufflepuff @fairydxll @spookydarkwitch @duxpuella @innerloverpainter @doyouknowwhoyouare13 @venussflytraps @diorgirl444 @oncasette @locke-writes @maddipoof @widowbf @starlit-epiphany

[lorkonsghost]

Sorry I met post this last night the rest of chapters will be on Ao3 but here's the completed chapter 1 hope guys forgive me about this I haven't really wrote fanfic for anyone other myself for while which was mostly self satisfaction fics I had in brief spurts of inspiration I had so understand this might be a bit oocish for now and hopefully it gets better and in this au is more about the how turtles and friend react with dc April and jason are just tools that and if happen to write a good love story along the way is good to.

The Red Hood ,The Red Head, The Big Bats, And The Big Green Turtles.

They miss being normal

 

Things about this au this all started when the Turtles where 13 and April was 16 she’s been with the Turtles for 5 years after her father dies in this au she only has 3 human friends in this au Irma who doesn’t know anything about the Turtles. Casey Jones who left for college and hopefully to go pro in hockey also he going for a physical education degree. An Karai who is currently in Japan trying to take over the foot clan their from shredder.

 

Jason in this au is friends with all outlaws and Rose he’s been back in Gotham since he was 17 and a crime lord. He’s been and is on good terms with Bruce for most part they can be in same room and have pleasant conversation as long as the joker not brought up. He doesn’t like Ra’s for a few reasons a lot because of Tim although don’t tell him that and he feels used by Taila

 

 

 

 

 Jason has no idea why he’s fighting alien robots with almost 6ft tall turtles, or why the girl he started dating a month ago is also fighting said alien robots but he wasn’t really going to question it. He was fighting alien robots makes a lot of things easier if you don’t question them wait are those fucking ninjas and why did the turtle in red say their name like it’s a bad thing. Jason was really rethinking coming to New York to go drinking by himself was a bad idea maybe if he at least brought Roy he wouldn’t be in this mess.

 

1 month ago, and 2 weeks after Jason’s 21 birthday

 

Jason was getting sick of always having someone tag along every time he went drinking, for his 21st birthday wasn’t the problem, but the 4 times he tried after that though. The first time doing it solo Dick showed up not 10 seconds after his first shot the next tine he did it was in star city and Roy showed up before even his first shot. The third time it had to be a joke because why did Rose fucking Wilson show up at the bar he was drinking at in central city she normally never even visit central city. The fourth time he knew it was joke because he went to the most sewer rat bar in Gotham and for fuck sake why was Bruce their wearing a fucking fake mustache. Jason wasn’t really annoyed at not drinking alone if he actually wanted to do that he would just stay home and buy a few beers with Bruce’s credit card but it was the fact that he kept running into people he new he just wanted to get drunk and make a few mistakes but no now somebody he new was their and he can’t go embarrassing himself in front of them he had reputation to up hold. So that’s why he’s in New York he knows almost no hero’s who even touch New York so he thought no problems.

Jason was a few drinks in when he first saw her it looked like the first time she ever been in bar by herself and Jason thought why would she choose such a warn down bar like this. Jason took a shot for confidence and approached her thinking the most he could do is keep her company.

 

“Hello their beautiful looking kind of lonely mind if I join.” Jason say with his buzzed confidence

 “Hmph ha ha ha are you serious my ex had better pick up lines.” the red headed girl says

“Sorry I never been the kind of guy to try pick up a girl this way.” Jason says with a slightly bruised pride

“Oh so how you do it mister aren’t you looking lonely miss.” Her blue eyes smiled behind her glass

“honestly most of the time we just start dating or they fall for bad boy charm” Jason with a cocky smile

“Sorry dated one bad boy don’t know if I need another” her red hair drops a bit but she says with a cheer in her voice

Jason doesn’t know actually why he tried flirting with her Jason knew it wasn’t good to get involved with a civilian Isabel taught him that he missed the flight attendant. But maybe it was the alcohol In his system, or it was the fact he wanted to ignore the hero stuff that’s also probably why he wanted to drink  without anyone he new he just wanted a night where he’s okay to be somebody other than Jason Todd the red hood, the son of Batman in somebody’s eye just Jason.

 

“I never introduced myself I’m Jason I’m not just a bad boy I also happen to read pride and prejudice.” Jason says in half cocky smile with another swig of his drink

“Okay mister Jason tell  me your favorite quote and I’ll tell you my name” Her smile softens

“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.” “I know the original quote is about falling in love but it’s like I lived my life by it”  Jason says trying to hide the emotions he feels when he says it

“My names April so you where telling the truth about reading it” April say with a reassuring smile

Jason collects himself for a moment he’s kinda surprised how far he’s come along in this conversation. Jason really was only Jason right now no baggage to unravel yet and he’s okay with that right now it only him, April, his slowly blurring vision, and the hope maybe he could get a date out of this.

“So miss April tell me something other than your name please”. Jason say with a half smile

“Well currently I’m trying to be a journalist but to get the last 5 credits of my degree I need to intern under another journalist for a year.” April says with a slight annoyed frown on her face

“so what’s the problem can’t find respectable enough journalist or something else” Jason says trying to offer a chance to vent

“It’s not that it’s just any intern ship I apply for needs me full time and my home life just doesn’t allow that right now” April says with happier expression

Jason wants to call in a favor from Clark or Lois so bad right know he really could solve this girls problems with a phone call. But Jason was taught by Bruce, Ra’s, Dick, and Talia you can’t solve all the problems even if two them he would stab and not regret it and Bruce and Dick have been off his shit list for a good minute. But all of them where right he can’t just solve her problem for no reason but Jason wanted to do he makes a compromise.

“Okay that’s problem I could possibly help with” Jason says with cockiest smile yet

“Oh how so” April says with curiosity

“So a family friend is a journalist I could put in a word for and give you a chance at something buuut with it would be uup to you to convince them to agree to whatever youuu propose” Jason say with seriousness but with slurring

“Are you serious why would you do that for me” April says questionably

“Well I could ask you for a date as compensation but instead here’s what in going to do I give them a word if they give you a chance you go on date with me as celebration if they don’t drop my number we never talk again” Jason says with a smile

“Well mister Jason you got a deal and if don’t get I might stillll give you a chaaaasnccce for at least not being a creeeep” April tries to say a little flirty

Jason grabs a napkin and calls the waiter over to closes his tab and ask to borrow a pen and writes his number down

“call me in the morning I’ll set up an interview” Jason say as gets and walks over to April

Jason kisses the back of April hand and says as looks into her eyes once more ”Did you admire me for my impertinence?”

April laughs “yeah I did.”

Jason offers to pay for April’s tab as well but she’s says it’s okay and as Jason leaves he wonders if he’s doing the smart thing involving April in his life.

 

 

April was tired, The Turtles where getting on her nerves a little yeah they where her little brothers in her eyes but still April missed Casey Johns. Although they dated for awhile and lived together and also one maybe 5 good humans who actually new about the turtles. But then Casey Jones afford a full ride scholarship and a almost guaranteed spot on the hockey team for some big school in North Dakota. Both April and him knew this was only chance out of this life and chance to full fill his dream of going pro.

 

April didn’t blame him but she could still be mad dammit then he comes back for your 21 birthday a week ago and their it is the spark. But then he leaves again now April here drinking in a bar she never been to because she only been 21 for a week and she had pass up on another internship. Also this the first time she’s been in a bar by herself and honestly it probably wasn’t a smart idea.

 

When Jason first approached her she felt like he was similar to Casey but she was wrong he was a little awkward and had already a few to many drinks in his system. But without much he Offered to help with internship, he let her rant although he was bit to drunk he answered all her questions honestly. April actually wanted to give it a shot although she could see how it could look like a rebound. She hopes the turtles won’t give her hard time about this.

 

After she left she knew how to get home and it wasn’t by car she wished it was sometimes she walked be behind the bar and found the manhole picked up and went down. She had a normal apartment but that was only for mail and throwing away of dirty money they took from shredder or the purple dragon’s and honestly she wished they just had over to the police but nope. Officially April’s a college student who works for nights at TCRI Donnie faked it for her who make a pretty penny their all though that’s just so she could have the fake address most money goes for food and other essentials for the lair.

 

Getting to lair is never easy since it technically apart of section of abandoned sewer. But April was taught by master splinter even drunk she navigate theses sewers and make all the jumps needed. When she finally gets close she knows because it always has a hint pizza coming from it.

 

Ralph was only one up it appeared she could hear Splinter snoring so she new he was asleep so it was safe to assume they other where as well. Although Donnie could be working in his lab but she didn’t hear anything so not likely and Leo normally doesn’t stay up on slow nights. Ralph was probably awake ether waiting for her return or was playing the pinball machine again.

 

Ralph in a rough voice While not looking away from pinball machine ”So your back form the bar April”

 

“Whooos said I went to the bar “ April tries to lie

 

Ralph says with a bit of worry “April I can smell booze from here, and I see your stumbling I don’t even know how you made it back without getting hurt. You also just slurred you words together I might not be a detective even I can see your drunk”

 

Ralph takes a breath looks her up and down “ I know why you went to bar and probably not the best for this conversation but April I get it your lonely and all other humans who know about us are old, evil, or we can’t meet often. And it doesn’t help you can’t bring yourself to live normal life”

 

April went silent maybe it was alcohol or it was Ralph being right on mark. Unlike Casey who joined this as like a helping hand, April was kind of forced into this and feels she owes the Turtles so much. April knows she doesn’t she helped them as much as they helped her. They become her family when none of hers where left she can’t abandon them Casey still had a sister, and a mom he didn’t need a family the only reason he stayed as long as he did was for her. An as long she was their sister she wasn’t abandoning them.

 

“Can we talk about this in morning when I’m not drunk” April use as excuse to leave the conversation

 

“Fine, but know this I know full well your capable of having a full on ass complex conversation. Even when drunk splinter taught us all how to maintain cognitive thinking even under the worst hallucinogens being a bit drunk is same as fully lucid to you” Ralph says with a tone that says this isn’t over yet

 

“Ok just let me sleep it off and Ralph your right” April says with defeat

 

Ralph says “About what”

 

April open her rooms door ”probably everything”

[stupendousfoxthing]

Stop writing essays trying to fake concern over Jk and his wellbeing while filming the show because you know damn well you wouldn’t have been singing this same song if Jk filmed a travel show with any other member who isn’t Jimin. You are a Jk biased taekooker so aren’t you supposed to know your own bias more than anyone else? Did you close your ears during the very last OT4 Live where Jk himself mentioned that he was done with his schedules but still wanted to shoot stuff? Can you remind me who out of everyone seated there asked him to stop and take a rest else he was going to hurt his body? Now you are trying to act like that same person who is the same person Jk has mentioned for years that he found the most comfort is, didn’t care that Jk was overworked still made him shoot a travel show that he didn’t want to shoot?

Let’s be serious here for a minute since you seem to have this belief that you are the most logical person alive. Do you think that if Jk has other things scheduled during the weekend after his GMA performance the company would have cancelled those things to film a show? Isn’t it obvious that they filmed the show then because he probably didn’t have any other schedules on those few days? Would you have been singing this same song if the person involved was taehyung? You say things like this but if someone brings up the fact that Tae literally pulled Jk out of his comfortable chair and made Jk cook for him on ITS, you would write essays about how people are dumb to think Jk is a child who can be forced to do things he didn’t want to do but here you are implying that Jk has no autonomy even though this man has literally renewed his contract 2 more times since he debuted and I am here wondering why he didn’t revise the terms and and request for the “fanservice with Jimin” clause to be taken out else he takes a walk. You sound ridiculous as hell writing essays that are aimed at painting Jk a spineless puppet to the company.

You posted this video in your rant and as you can see, immediately Jimin noticed that something was wrong with Jk, he didn’t stop asking what the issue was till he was convinced that Jk was ok so even if you don’t have faith in the company, best believe that Jimin would be the very last person to let Jk do anything that is detrimental to his health and if these video isn’t enough to convince you, then maybe Jk’s own words would.

https://x.com/waitingforkook/status/1274373969542615041?s=46

“One of the most insidious things this fandom has done is paint genuine and valid concern as anti-behavior.”

“Valid concern” my ass. This is no valid concern because this “valid concern” only matters when it comes to Jungkook’s interactions with a certain member. If you had valid concern for Jungkook then you would have screamed bloody murder when Taehyung “forced” him to cook for him on ITS when Jk “clearly” didn’t want to. If you had valid concern for him you would have been mad about the fact that after all this “tiredness” and “sickness” Taehyung instead encouraged him to push himself and shoot more when he said his schedules were done yet he wanted to shoot more. If you felt any valid concern for him, you would have been grateful to the one person who told him to stop and take a rest when he wanted to push more, you would have been grateful to the one person Jk has mentioned several times that he found comfort in, you would have been grateful to the one person who didn’t stop to make a commentary at the camera but instead ran straight to Jk who had collapsed and was receiving medical care in Burn the stage, if you had valid love and concern for Jk, you would have known your place as a fan and respected his choices instead of trying to fake concern while cherry picking moments to be fake concerned about, because if you saw Jk gallivanting around concerts, or musicals or premieres with Teahyung even while being sick, you and I know that you wouldn’t have been writing this fake ass essays about concern. And stop lying to yourself that you care about Jk. You don’t because no one who really cares about him would have any negative thing to say about a show where he looks happy as hell and literally shouts out “ I am free”.

You sound ridiculous as hell making all these essays when this is literally Jk through out the show.

https://x.com/jeonmygoogie/status/1815372263937470864?s=46

You would have a much easier time and much more peace of mind if you just accepted that Jk did something he wanted to do with one of his closest friends. That doesn’t take anything away from your ship because right now you just sound like a butt hurt shipper who lacks every single ounce of objectivity and only sees what they want to see. But i guess it is kinda hard for you to do that because every piece of the trailer that you see, debunks some of the things you really want to believe about him and his friendship with Jimin because some of you are just too dense to understand that Jk’s friendship with Jimin and what he does or doesn’t do with Jimin has absolutely nothing to do with his relationship with Taehyung. Even if you sincerely believe in your ship, understand that Jk can still have other people in his life that he does things with. He can have other people in his life whom he loves, whom he hugs, whom he cuddles, whom he goes on private and public trips with and that doesn’t affect his relationship with Taehyung in anyway so for the love of God, stop trying to make the travel show a bad thing. It is actually a good thing that in the middle of work, he could just take sometime to do some fun things and unwind with a dear friend of his and stop saying they pulled him out from his promos. You know you don’t believe that unless you are stupid enough to think that BH would cancel other promos that had been booked and scheduled to film a show. They didn’t pull him out of anything. He had sometime inbetween his albums and music schedules and that is the time that was used and you know that!

You are so stupid it's unbelievable. The fact that you tried to make my concerns for Jungkook about a ship and other members really showed your whole ass here. You proved my "essays" right and I don't think you're smart enough to realize that.

Once again I don't know who you're talking to because none of the things you just projected onto me apply. It's wild how you guys repeatedly word vomit in my inbox trying to argue with things I don't believe and never said. Starting with trying to say my concern for Jungkook is fake (it isn't) and thinking my beef is with Jimin when it was the company that set up the shoots for the show. You are just wrong about literally everything. All the time.

[possiblylando]

Chainsaw Man Chapter 148 not so early analysis

Bit later than usual cause college and I wanted to look into something from part 1.

Fumiko has been continuing the trend of being absolutely useless in every situation shes ever been put in to the point I feel confident in saying she CANT fight. This clearly isn't a kobeni situation where she can fight if necessary because she hasn't even really been trying to fight or protect anyone. It's the point I've actually started to believe the theory that Fumiko is actually Aldo in disguise.

For a refresher Aldo was one of the american assassin brothers who got picked off at the beginning of the arc by Power and Yoshida respectively. However Aldo survived the entire arc and has been awol ever since. He's also surprisingly durable since he survived both of these attacks with minimal injury.

He may or may not have been hit by halloween, Given his facial expression I it seems like he's faking it especially since Halloween was used on the doll devil and so should logically only effect her dolls which Aldo is not.

I went back through these chapters expecting to find a smoking gun that could prove this to be true. Specifically I was looking for a scene where he or one of the brothers was holding an ID card which could be matched against the way Fumiko holds it, But I did not find that.

This is the best I found but it's also standard practice so it isn't good evidence. Back to the chapter itself, It's clear now Quanxi is just going through the motions

She's clearly been lacking when it comes to combat and athletics in these previous few chapters in comparison to her original appearance. She's been sort of stumbling through these chapters with the help of her regeneration. Which is a bit strange until you keep in mind; Quanxi is more than likely SUPER depressed. The last time we saw her before this was when she fought Denji and the previous time before that was when everyone she cared about got murdered by Makima. It's probable that she blames herself for it because she took the job to kill Denji and thus got her and the girls into the situation that killed them in the first place.

Fuck you looking at bitch do something

The transition between these two pages is so good I had to do a double take because my immediate though was that Quanxi was the one who got her arm cut off. But then obviously it's Asa's. You can feel the inspiration from good movie transitions here.

This whole scene is very cool and also very interesting because Asa is able to block Yoshida's sword with her barehand. She got such an amp from the chainsaw fire attacks that she can do this. It also means she has basically the same base stats as yoru. Which is to be expected but I think is interesting.

It seems like this page was drawn before the rest of the one in this sequence because Yoshida is busting through a wall here despite the fact Room 606 was just destroyed; Thus there should be no wall to bust through to escape onto the street. Interestingly the other personality is absent in this scene entirely. We never see Yoru and Asa in the same panel which is an interesting choice. Its probably a creative choice to only have one of them around in major action scenes. Feels like a good time to mention a theory I saw on twitter. I've been trying to find it but I've had no luck. If I can find it it'll probably be apart of next week's post. To summarize the theory; Asa and Yoru are the same entity. Not two separate beings in one body. Asa the human we met at the beginning of part 2 has been dead since the justice (fire) contract user killed her. The Asa we see now is a split personality reconstructed using the intact memories in the body's brain at the time she became a fiend. If true it means Asa is an alternate persona created by Yoru in order to cause more conflict within herself (constant internal warfare) and as a coping mechanism due to the chainsaw devil massacre in hell. Its an interesting theory I want to put on the board incase something happens with it especially since Yoru is growing in strength rapidly. Probably how Black Pochita was schooling them during it.

[emberfrostlovesloki]

Hey!! 🌷🌸🌷🌸 Here's a

　　 🌸🌷🌸🌷🌸 flowers bouquet

　 Λ🌷🌸🌷🌸🌷 for you because

( ˘ ᵕ ˘🌷🌸🌷 you got through

　 ヽ つ＼ ／ October despite

　　 UU / 🎀 \ everything !!

I'm proud of you ♡

Photo credits: Left and Right (@academia-core) Center (@sillyhotchsgirl)

A Little Pleasure and Some Joy 

Anon, you have no idea how much these messages help me get through the day! I’ve had a lot going on recently in my personal life and these make me feel so warmed and cared for. Your use of flower emojis might have made its way into the Aaron fic that I’m going to post in a few minutes. 😊 I want to give you something back for being so kind. So here’s just a short Hotch x gender-neutral reader blurb (as I don’t know your pronouns). This is highly inspired by my favorite essay, “Joy” by Zadie Smith. I include flowers in this because of your emojis. If any of you want to give that piece a read I’d be happy to send a PDF link, just comment or DM me. I hope Anon and anyone else who reads this has a lovely and safe night. Levi 💖

Read the story below the cut. (Hardly edited) 

Pairing: Aaron x gender-neutral reader. The reader uses they/them pronouns. 

Category: Fluff

Word Count: 1K

Warnings: None 

List with all stories

y/n_ = your name 

Aaron had many pleasures in his life. The chief of which was nestled warmly against his chest and down the hallway two doors over. The one in his arms was slowly coming to wake. He rubbed _y/n_’s bare shoulder as they blinked slowly awake. “Morning,” _y/n_ said in a voice muted by a good night's rest. They were still half asleep as Aaron leaned down and kissed their forehead. The Pleasure and joy that was still asleep two doors down would be up in an hour, asking for cereal and milk and to watch Saturday morning cartoons. And _y/n_ would have to bargain with Jack that he did not watch the big kid cartoons and only saw two episodes of whatever the child was currently hyper-fixated on. They would take the child to the park and Jack would let out his energy and he and _y/n_ would sit hand in hand on the bench near the playground or they would take turns pushing Jack into the sky on the swingset. Jack’s laugh was not a pleasure, that was a joy. And when _y/n_ became fully conscious and pressed their lips to his own slightly stubble-covered face, that too was a joy. _y/n_’s eyes shone with care and they moved a bit off of him to grab a shirt to cover themself before they moved to the communal area of the apartment. _y/n_ brushed a hand down his jaw and said, “You want coffee?” Aaron smiled and responded, “Always my love.” _y/n_ nodded and asked, “Pour over or French press?” Hotch settled back against the mattresses and pillows saying, “If you use the last of the grounds for the pour over we can go to our favorite spot to pick up some new beans after the park with Jack.” _y/n_ beamed, and replied, “Pour over it is.” Coffee was another pleasure. His taste had become decidedly better after _y/n_ had moved in with him and Jack. Aaron didn’t have a problem with shit coffee. He was used to shit coffee. But _y/n_ had standards, and he wanted them to feel totally cared for by him, which included raising and learning about the caffeinated beverage they both relied on so much. Aaron moved out of bed and grabbed some pants from the dresser, He slipped them over his hips. He looked at _y/n_ and said, “I might be a minute, dear. I’m going to shave.” _y/n_ looked over to him and said, “Do you have to? You know I like you with a beard.” Aaron flushed slightly. This was another pleasure. He was so used to being clean-shaven, and he still preferred that at work, but on a lazy weekend when he could spend an extra minute or two with _y/n_ instead of performing that grooming ritual, he would take the time with _y/n_ every time. The fact they liked him, loved him with a beard was something he was still getting used to. One time after a case where his dominant hand had been injured, _y/n_ had shaved him with skill, precision, and care. That memory was a joy. 

The day moved along at a slow, relaxed pace. The family moved to the playground and Hotch did his best to not suspect everyone he saw. He couldn’t turn off the instinct, but he tried to think of the world as a kinder place when he was out like this. _y/n_ leaned over and kissed his temple, stilling his thoughts for a moment. _y/n_ was an optimist and a romantic. Some evenings he caught them scribbling in a worn journal. When he had asked what they were writing, they quickly closed the book saying, “Oh just things I see in you and Jack.” From his partner's expression that they weren’t anything bad. He had sat on the bed and asked, “What type of things?” _y/n_ had taken a breath and said, “Oh just little things about you that make me full. The way you hum Bowie off-key in the shower. How Jack moves his hands when he talks about his friends in kinder. Small pleasures that fill my days.” Aaron’s heart felt like it had grown with the love _y/n_ showed him and Jack. So he had started to look for little pleasures of his own. He distinguished them from joy. Joy was something else and though he was happy to have experienced it, and continue experiencing it, it was far too close an emotion to fear to want on the daily. The sound of Jack crying had them both up in an instant. His son had scraped his knee and Aaron picked up his boy saying, “What happened, buddy?” Jack explained and _y/n_ ruffled Jack’s sandy hair to distract them. They moved on to the coffee shop from there. They waited in line, placed their orders, got a new bag of dark roast, and then moved back to the street. They passed a street vendor selling flowers and Hotch recognized most of them. Flowers were also a pleasure. _y/n_ had shown a fondness for them in a bittersweet way. They had explained that flowers were a great metaphor for life. Struggling to make it to the world against the elements and bugs. Then they bloomed in their glory for a short while. Then they could be supported for a while longer. And finally, they faded. But even after they were gone they could still be remembered for the joy they had brought. If Aaron was an existentialist, then _y/n_ was a naturalist both figuratively and literally. They knew all the scientific names of these flora and fauna. As he passed the stall he thought of the common names he knew: Roses, babies breathe, sunflowers, Castilleja, tulips, forget-me-nots. _y/n_ was partial to sunflowers. They had once said many years ago, “I know it’s cliche but did you know that sunflowers turn to face each other when the sun is covered by the clouds?” Later that evening, Hotch had kissed them for the first time. That memory was another joy. Aaron told _y/n_ to move ahead and that he’d catch up. Hotch moved back to the stall and pulled out a twenty and a five and got some of the prettier forget-me-nots; his favorites. And as he walked to catch up to his family with the flowers in tow, he couldn’t be more grateful for little pleasures and some joy.

______________________________________________________________

tagging my moots cause I love y'all and thought you might enjoy -@criminalskies @sadgirlzluvdilfs @citrusiove @tgskitten @softhairedhotch @hotchs-big-hands

[elizmanderson]

"a kiss to anger a third party," perhaps from this post? elizmanderson. tumblr. com /711617943947067392

okay so fun fact, I am actually an idiot who read right over “another kissing prompt” on the post this kissing prompt came from and rb it just intending to like save the list of different kisses for later

but then I was too embarrassed to admit that in response to this ask WITHOUT writing something so long story short instead of researching lighthouses today like I was supposed to, I wrote a 1,700-word short story about fake girlfriends who kiss in the hallway outside grandma’s sewing room to piss off some shitty relatives

so. yeah. uh. enjoy I guess.

A KISS TO ANGER A THIRD PARTY STORY THAT I DIDN’T MEAN TO WRITE BUT HERE WE ARE

Fake dating has been going shockingly well, considering you’re terrible at real dating and also at lying, and somehow faking dating is both. Then again, family get-togethers are always awkward as fuck. Your cousin and his wife always share a chilly silence; your uncle has a casually off-color comment for every occasion; your mother judges everyone like doing so is an Olympic sport; and your grandparents desperately try and fail to keep the peace. So no one notices that you and Maeve stand across the room from each other instead of holding hands and melting into each other’s bodies the way two lovey-dovey newlydatings should allegedly do.

Rather, if anyone notices, they figure it’s normal. That’s how relationships are in your family, grandparents aside, and everyone has long since written them off as sweet old weirdos. The only reason you don’t think the lingering gazes you share with Maeve are more action than your relatives have ever had is the existence of multiple generations of biological children.

You share a gaze now. Not because you’re actually into Maeve, although you’re not not into Maeve; you picked an attractive fake girlfriend. Tall, with an undercut and dark eyes and a crooked nose and muscley arms that sometimes you think would be really great for picking you up and throwing you onto a bed, before you remember this is fake and please brain do not.

The corner of Maeve’s mouth turns up. You look away, biting back a smile.

You would like to stand here not-smiling at Maeve all night—or at least until the end of the torturous family cookout, which hasn’t even technically started yet because your uncle decided to “help” Grandpa with the grill and ended up setting all the food on fire instead, and the second attempt at dinner just went on the grill three minutes ago—but you seriously have to pee. In lieu of food, you’ve downed three cans of Coke from the drinks fridge in the garage. You cross the kitchen, accidentally-on-purpose brush against Maeve as you exit, and head down the hall to the half bath.

When you come out, you hear voices. Snatches of words. Your mother and cousin-in-law, sitting in your grandma’s sewing room. They’re supposed to be organizing it for her, but instead they’re sitting on bolts of fabric, gossiping.

“...tried to tell me they’d found someone, but they look absolutely miserable with that girl they brought,” your mother says. With a jolt, you realize she’s talking about you. “Maybe they’ll sit together at dinner, but with how far apart they’ve been standing since they arrived, I doubt it. And that girl has been scowling at everyone.”

“She’s worse than Luc,” your cousin-in-law says smugly. “And god knows he has the worst resting bitch face I ever saw. Sometimes I don’t know why I fell in love with him. No offense.”

“None taken. He’s not my kid.”

You don’t even like Luc, but your fingers curl into fists. As usual, you wonder what the fuck you did in a past life to be born into a family of people who spend all their time hating each other.

“Anyway” —your cousin-in-law examines her nails, fresh from a day at the salon, where she surely treats the staff hellishly— “I don’t think it’ll last. They’ve hardly spoken two words to each other all afternoon.”

Your fists tighten. She’s one to talk. She and Luc have hardly spoken to each other since the day of their wedding; on the rare occasion you do hear them speak, they’re picking fights. She gushes about her perfect marriage to anyone who will listen when her husband isn’t around, but their marriage—your uncle’s marriage, your parents’ marriage, every marriage around you except your grandparents’—is exactly the reason you’ve been so reluctant to date. The reason you asked Maeve to fake being your girlfriend, so your relatives would stop offering to set you up with someone. They all make each other fucking miserable.

And they think you and Maeve won’t last?

Okay yeah sure fine, you and Maeve aren’t a thing in the first place. Not really. You’re neighbors, and coworkers, and maybe friends now.

But since Maeve agreed to fake-date you, you’ve shared more with her about yourself than you have with...anyone, maybe. Definitely more than you’ve shared with anyone in your family. Definitely more than they share with their respective spouses, or each other.

Silly things, mostly. You like it when the front door of a house is painted bright, aqua or magenta or chartreuse. Your favorite flowers are all the yellow ones, like dandelions or forsythia, even though otherwise you’re not that fond of yellow. You always like the sad songs and love ballads more than the fun, fast-paced songs that steal the show. Things that don’t matter, except that they do, because now Maeve points out all the brightly colored doors when you walk back to your apartment building together after a shift.

Your mother and cousin-in-law are still talking. The conversation has moved on now—apparently your uncle has cheated on his wife, again—but you’re angry. Your skin prickles. Your nails bite your palms. You could nudge the door open and confront them, but confrontation has never been your forte.

Instead, you tiptoe to the kitchen and touch Maeve’s back.

She half turns, an eyebrow quirked. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I just. I need you to come with me.”

“Why?” Maeve asks, but she’s already following you back down the hall.

“Because my relatives suck and I need you to kiss me.”

You stop far enough from the sewing room that your mother and cousin-in-law probably won’t hear you. You turn toward Maeve, leaning against the wall with your arms crossed. It hasn’t occurred to you that the words I need you to kiss me actually just crossed your lips. Maeve’s dark eyes flicker over you, but she mirrors your posture and waits.

“They’re all in shitty marriages,” you say in a low voice, “except my mom, because she’s in a shitty divorce that was so shitty it was almost as bad as the marriage, except that it was over faster. But because we’re not attached at the hip or making googly eyes at each other, they think my relationship with my new girlfriend is a dead-end that’s going to end before it’s begun.”

Maeve snorts. “Fuck them. I may not make googly eyes at my fake girlfriend, but they’re nuts if they think I wouldn’t go to the ends of the earth and back for my fake girlfriend. Or, like, bring home takeout every night after work, or always do the laundry because they hate doing laundry, or whatever.”

That gets you for a second, because okay yeah sure fine it’s all fake, but Maeve still just kind of said she’d go to the ends of the earth for you. And bring you takeout. And always do laundry, which honestly might as well be a marriage proposal, because someone doing the laundry so you don’t have to is well and truly your love language.

“So.” Maeve’s eyes rove over your face. “Not that I object to kissing you, but how exactly is kissing going to help this situation?”

Right. You asked her to kiss you. Or more accurately stated slightly desperately and angrily that you need her to kiss you. You tense, trying to sound cool and nonchalant when you’re now thinking about kissing Maeve.

“When my mom and cousin-in-law come out of that room,” you say, nodding back toward the sewing room, “I want them to see us kissing. Like, really kissing. You know.”

The corner of Maeve’s mouth lifts again. “Really kissing. Gotcha.”

You flush. “Yeah. That. I just. I want...” You want some really great kissing. Focus. “I want them to see that we’re actually fucking into each other and super affectionate with each other even if we don’t feel like turning it into a performance so everyone else will believe we’re in love.”

Maeve tilts her head. “Even though it’ll literally be a performance so everyone will believe we’re in love?”

Your flush deepens. “Yeah.”

Maeve shifts closer, her eyes flickering over you. God, her eyes. Dark and intense and always just a little bit sad.

“I think I can sell being fucking into you,” she says quietly.

Shit, you think vaguely, poor choice of words on your part, because fucking and you are the only things you can think now that Maeve has repeated them back to you. But the thought slips away, because now Maeve is an inch away, her tall body curving over you, and her hands are cupping your face and oh my god she is actually really for real going to kiss you.

Her lips brush over yours, soft and sweet. Your breath hitches.

The door opens down the hall. As your relatives step out of the sewing room, Maeve crushes your lips under hers. Her hands slip into your hair, your arms wind around her neck, you pull her down, closer, closer, and now you’re kissing her back, your fingers playing in her hair just because they can, your eyes closed, your skin glorying in the warmth of her breath, the press of her body against yours.

Behind you, Luc’s shitty wife makes a sound of disgust and says, “Oh my god, get a room!” Your mother hisses, “Do you want to give your grandmother a heart attack? Right outside her sewing room!”

But (a) your grandma is safely outside by the grill, far away from the sudden make-out session, and (b) your grandma, if she saw you kissing a pretty girl, would almost certainly say something along the lines of “isn’t that sweet!” or “good for them!” And frankly you don’t remember why it was important to kiss Maeve where your mother and cousin-in-law would see it. Or whether there was a point to kissing Maeve at all, unless kissing Maeve was the point.

Your brain is preoccupied with Maeve’s lips on yours, her hands cradling your head, your body crushed beneath hers. But as your relatives slink past and disappear, as the sliding door in the kitchen opens and slams, as Maeve goes on kissing you like her life depends on it, as you fail to say something along the lines of okay we can stop now—as you fail to say, in fact, anything at all—you think, distantly: maybe this dating is less fake than I thought.

[kilannad]

As the Stars Burn On Chapter 31

Masterlist. Ao3. Discord.

(Apologies; I didn't realize I missed posting this on tumblr.)

Bounties

The funeral for Iceburg and the hundred-fifty-three other lives lost during the Great Fires of 1522 was held two days after the invasion of Enies Lobby. The global papers, surprisingly, had yet to announce the decimation of the Water 7 and Enies Lobby, but Laxus knew it would come in time. It didn't matter much to him right then; he and Gajeel hadn't left Lucy's bedside.

While everyone else had woken after a long day of rest, Lucy and Luffy were the exceptions and still unconscious. It wasn't really surprising; the fact that Lucy was alive at all after using Primordial Magic while already running low on energy was a miracle. This case of magical exhaustion was easily the worst he had ever seen and he wouldn't be surprised if she had finally pushed her body to the point of unlocking her Second Origin. Luffy, of course, had been pushed to his own limits during his fight and often required days of rest followed by a massive feast in order to fully heal.

Paulie, who had taken over as acting President of Galley-La until a vote could be taken, had offered them rooms in their headquarters. Word had spread throughout town that it was CP9 and the government responsible for killing Iceburg and there were daily arguments on whether they should secede or not. Of course, with Iceburg dead, they had no mayor and little time to organize a proper vote, leaving Paulie as the de facto leader with all the responsibilities that entailed. For a man known for his gambling problem and yelling about indecent women, he took charge with a gusto that surprised many. He still complained about short-skirts--and got into four screaming matches with Nami that Laxus suspected involved a fair share of sexual frustration--but managed to acquire a large enough ship for all the lives lost and handle the funeral arrangements.

☉

Franky kept his glasses firmly on as The Burning Wave set sail. She'd originally been set to be a merchant ship, but Paulie had commandeered and renamed her. Water 7 didn't have enough ground to waste it on the dead and had since developed a long history of ocean funerals. This one was attended by every citizen out of the hospital and some that had yet to be cleared. All along the eastern coast, where many of the backwater buildings had been decimated by the worst Aqua Laguna any of them had ever seen, people lined up. They were crying, shouting, some simply collapsing to the ground as the foreman of Galley-La prepared The Burning Wave for her first--and last--journey.

She was a glorious ship, four masted and deep hulled, flying the cresting wave flag of Water 7. With sheer veils wrapped around them, the bodies created a shimmering rainbow of light as the dawn hit them. Most had died in the initial explosions, though some had been lost in Aqua Laguna while trying to find safety from the fires. Then, of course, there was Iceburg.

At the launching point, Paulie picked up a den-den. It'd been hooked up to the island-wide intercom system, making it so even those too injured to come could hear the eulogy.

"Twenty-two years ago, this island was as good as dead," Paulie started. "We fought each other for work, we lost all shipments to the rough sea, and had lost all sense of pride in our art. Then Tom created the seatrain and we thought 'Finally. This will revive the island'. In some ways, it did. In others, we were still lost. We were overcharged for imports, the gain of one dock was the loss of another, and on the cycle of poverty went. When Iceburg first came to dock 1 and asked--demanded--to be made foreman immediately, he was laughed at. And then the old geezer that owned the place, my own old man, saw what he could do with a hammer and nail. No one had ever seen ships the way Iceburg did and I doubt anyone ever will again.

"Seven years ago Iceburg united the last of the docks under the Galley-La name and in doing so earned his place as mayor. For every day the sun rose he worked to ensure the island thrived and lived every day for the people of this island." He paused, breath audibly shaking. "It would've been his greatest shame to know his death caused his home pain and his greatest honor to return to the sea alongside his brethren." He cleared his throat. "For the hundred-fifty-three souls lost in Aqua Laguna, I pray you'll find rest sailing the seas. For Jackson, Lilon, Auggie..." on and on the list went, every person lost named as the entire island listened.

Franky pressed a hand over his eyes, trying desperately to hide his tears as he sobbed. Years ago, Tom had told him to do everything with a gusto, but he couldn't bring himself to be open, not with this. Not when it was him carrying the blueprints that got Iceburg killed.

The list came to an end, and with a great boom, the ship landed in the water, her sails dropped. Paulie stepped onto the dinghy that floated behind her and, when she got far enough out, set light to The Burning Wave. He came back to land and, as the whole island watched, they said goodbye.

When it was done and everyone else had stumbled away to begin rebuilding, Franky stepped forward to the edge. Below, the sea roiled, the ash of what parts of the ship didn't sink sprinkling across the sea.

"You know, Ice-for-brains, I've thought about building Pluton more times than I probably should have." Franky opened the hole in his chest, pulling out the thick pile of papers he'd kept there for seven long years. The Pluton blueprints were old and worn, more familiar to Franky than the back of his head. He'd memorized them ages ago, just in case. "It wasn't Tom's memory that stopped me. I think he would've just laughed, and said that as long as I did it with a gusto, it was alright. He could never hate a ship just for living." He pulled off his glasses, tucking them away. The sun was high in the sky at this point, the beautiful day at odds with his dark thoughts. "But you...you've always been a stick in the mud. Constantly worried about what might happen if someone got their hands on the ship, worried that Nico Robin might revive one of the three ancient weapons. For all that I've hated you for most of my life...you've always been my shitty little brother."

The papers crinkled in his hands as he held them up. "I've met Nico Robin, and I don't think she'll ever revive something the world doesn't need. So I guess there's no use for these old things anymore." With a burst of fire breath, they vanished into ash, pulled by the wind out to the ocean, joining The Burning Wave and all the souls she carried. "Don't worry about the future, it's in good hands. 

"Be at peace, little brother."

☉

The Red Force pulled alongside Moby Dick, the pressure in the air shifting, dropping. Shanks hadn't planned on coming to see the old man, but things changed.

"So you finally show your face, brat," Edward 'Whitebeard' Newgate rumbled. He was so huge that his voice shook the air, his naginata held tight in his hand. For all his strength though, the tubes and medical drips connected made him look smaller than he was. He was weakening and the whole world knew it. 

"You're making a mistake, Newgate."

"I'll be in the Locker before I take orders from you, Red-Hair."

"Not an order. A warning. Blackbeard has disappeared into the Florian Triangle."

Somewhere on Moby, someone muttered, "Serves the traitor right."

"He'll come out," Shanks warned. "You know he will and Davy Jones only knows what he'll bring with him.

"Let me worry about the traitor."

"Are you?" Shanks narrowed his eyes, his head still feeling so empty all these years later. "Whisper on the waves is you'd rather let one son go off against orders than punish a traitor. You're getting weak, Whitebeard." It was needlessly antagonistic but Shanks was frustrated. The old era had settled in their territories and established the status quo and refused to change. No ocean was stagnant and the fact that those living by her name were, drove him insane. Never mind the fact that he was waiting for the right time--that didn't mean everyone should freeze as they were.

Unsurprisingly, Whitebeard lunged up, weapon ready as he came at Shanks. He brought his own sword up, Conqueror's flaring as they clashed.

Above, the sky split in two.

☉

The crew was settled into the infirmary where Lucy and Luffy were still unconscious. With the funeral yesterday, the island was slowly getting back on its feet. The Franky Family plus Oimo and Kashi had made it out using Puffing Tom and were now put to work alongside everyone else to help rebuild. There was a scramble to set things up for a proper vote, both for the Galley-La president and the new mayor, but it was pretty obvious to everyone that Paulie would win. He was oblivious to it, of course, but that didn't change the reality.

"So we have all the supplies we need?" Nami checked.

"Yes, Miss Nami," Sanji cooed. "I'm storing them mostly in my room until we figure out the ship situation."

"We just need Lucy to wake up and summon Merry, right?" Usopp perked up. "That's what the Key is for."

The Key in question was like no other that Gajeel had ever seen. The same length as all the rest, this one was made of oak wood with a ship-shapped head with a constellation carved to the side and a sheep's head as the teeth. It felt the same as the rest in the sense that it felt like magic but beyond that he had no idea. He'd never heard of a Celestial Mage turning something into a Spirit, much less a ship. He didn't think even Lucy had fully understood what she was doing until it was already over.

"Not quite," Laxus countered. "Merry's a Spirit now and that means she can only come over when Lucy opens her Gate and she can't do that full time. It'll drain her too much, and limit her in battle."

"So we're where we started," Zoro summarized. "We need a new ship."

"At least Merry can still travel with us," Robin murmured. "Even if she is dead, she'll still be one of us."

"She'll always be one of us," Usopp said. "But...I guess we really do need a new ship."

"I can SUPER help with that." Bursting in, arms in the air to form a full star from his two tattoos, Franky grinned at them all. "I hope this ain't a bad time, because I'm SUPER today."

"Aren't you every day?" Zoro asked dryly.

"Yeah but today it's extra."

"Can we get back to the part where you build us a ship?" Nami demanded. "I thought you were a dismantler."

"I am, these days." He settled on the ground, popping open a bottle of cola he got from somewhere. "But once upon a time, I was an apprentice alongside Iceburg to a SUPER man named Tom. Tom was the greatest shipwright to ever live and built the Oro Jackson, the Pirate King's ship." He placed the cola down, looking at each and every one of them. "After seeing what you did at Enies, there's no doubt in my mind that you'll be the ones to reach the end. I've always wanted to build a ship worthy of a King and I know that it's meant for you."

The crew shared looks among each other, silently communicating in a way Gajeel didn't even know they'd developed. "Luffy's still asleep," Zoro pointed out finally, when it seemed none of them would raise a complaint.

"We don't have time to wait," Laxus said. "We just waged war on the World Government; they'll be sending someone after us soon. We need a ship and we need it now if we want to leave here alive." He shrugged, then tilted his head towards Zoro. "The captain is incapacitated; it's your call."

Zoro gave a single blink, probably the only show of surprise he'd allow himself. While it was never said out loud, everyone knew Zoro was first mate. This might be the first time it had come up though; it was a rare day when commands needed to be issued and even then, usually Laxus took control in his capacity as strategist.

In the end, looking at the snoring form of their captain, Zoro nodded slowly. "What do you need from us?"

Franky lit up. "Well, I want to make it out of a SUPER material; Adam's Wood, which is only available on the black market and is hella expensive. My original blueprint would've involved about two hundred million worth, but having met you? I'm going to need to revamp it to fit your crew better."

Zoro looked to Nami, who pressed her lips together. "You can have another four hundred," she decided.

"That'll be plenty," Franky swore. "I'll make you the most SUPER awesome ship you've ever seen in no time."

"You better hurry," Sanji warned. "Laxus is right. We only have so much time before the marines finish cleaning up their mess and opt to come for us."

☉

One day, while Luffy was still unconscious and the dragons could watch him and Lucy, the rest of the crew went hunting for a tattoo parlor willing to open for them.

☉

On the fifth night, Laxus couldn't sleep. Gajeel had wrapped himself around Lucy's side, his head buried in her hair as he kept her close. Her breathing was even and her heartbeat had gotten stronger as the days went by. She was long past the danger zone of magical exhaustion, but he still couldn't shake how wrong she looked. Laxus held her hand in his, the small, delicate fingers rough from battle and sailing dwarfed by his own. Against the white sheets of the infirmary, she was washed out and too thin. None of the life he had gotten so used to; none of the things that made his eyes trail her every moment.

Luffy was asleep across the room, the rest of the crew scattered to their own rooms. It was strange to actually have their own space, for once. They'd all gotten used to sharing, but were enjoying having some form of privacy for once. Gajeel and Laxus had shoved both their things in one room, taking turns to shower and eat so that someone was always with Lucy, just in case her magic went haywire. It wasn't strictly necessary, but it made them feel better.

Would the new ship be big enough for individual rooms? Or at least a more organized men's quarters? He'd warned Franky that he and Gajeel couldn't sleep in hammocks but Franky had waved them, assuring them that he'd already figured out everything they needed. How, Laxus couldn't fathom, but he supposed he'd leave it to the expert.

"You're thinkin' too loud," Gajeel slurred, peeking an eye open.

"Maybe you just don't think enough," Laxus whispered.

Gajeel huffed, untangling an arm from around Lucy to reach out. Laxus sighed, but linked hands, ignoring the insistent tugging. "There is no way I can fit on that bed, Gaj."

"Those are a quitter's words," he grumbled, tugging some more. Laxus had been somewhat shocked to find that Gajeel was a snuggler, but in hindsight it actually made a lot of sense. He was likely touch starved from all his years in Phantom, to say nothing of whatever his childhood must have looked like. Laxus usually didn't mind, having gotten used to Lucy's own form of clinging, but the bed wasn't big enough to constitute a double and was already squeezed full with Gajeel's form.

Laxus huffed a laugh, but didn't move. "It's two in the morning. Go back to sleep."

"Tell that to yourself."

Beneath them, Lucy stirred. Both froze, Gajeel suddenly fully awake as he pulled back enough to look at her. Her eyes fluttered, her lips parting in a sigh.

"Lucy?" Laxus murmured. She squinted as her eyes blinked open, the sleep glaze of them settling on Laxus. "There you are, Princess. Had us worried."

"How you feeling, Bunny?" Gajeel rubbed a hand through her hair, drawing her attention.

She blinked a few more times, each slow and heavy. "Tired," she finally rasped. "I dreamed...I think I dreamed of my ancestor."

"What?" The dragons shared a look, but Laxus suspected he knew what she meant. For the glimmer of a second, he'd sworn he'd seen a lock of blonde hair under that hood, but had chopped it up to stress getting to him. "You mean the--the Spirit that took Merry."

"What?" She struggled to sit up, refusing to listen as they tried to push her back down. With no other choice, Laxus settled on the bed and pulled her into his lap. Seeing his opportunity, Gajeel turned on his side and wrapped himself around the two of them. It was a tight fit and supremely uncomfortable, but at least Lucy couldn't try and do something dumb like stand up. "Merry. I forgot, is she-?"

"A Key now," Gajeel told her. "I don't know how you did it, Bunny, but you cracked Primordial Magic enough to put her in the stars."

"There's a new constellation," Laxus added. "Seven stars stretching across the eastern part of the sky. Nami has been ranting for days about it."

Lucy sagged against them, rubbing her eyes half-heartedly. A smile ghosted her lips. "Good. Now her dream can come true."

"And the price?" Laxus couldn't help but ask. "Lucy, with magic like that, there's always a price."

"She said the same thing." Lucy turned her head, instinct guiding her to where her Keys were settled on the table next to her bed. A new one, made of water-worn oak wood, was settled on the ring. "I'll be theirs."

"What?"

"That's the price," Lucy told them. "When I die, I'll be theirs."

Laxus felt his whole body go cold, some old instinct prickling. There was something about her words, even outside of the direct implications, that sent a part of him curling up.

"You have a mark on your back," Gajeel whispered. "It looks like a Key, wood but with black wings."

"A black Key?" Lucy furrowed her brows, eyes going wide. "Oh. Oh. This...this must have been what my mother meant."

"Bunny, you aren't making any sense."

"There's an old legend among Celestial Mages." Her eyes fluttered, clearly still exhausted and needing more sleep. Only their enhanced hearing allowed Laxus and Gajeel to pick up on what she said. "That there's a secret thirteenth Gold Key; that someone once reached too close to the stars and was cursed--to be one of them yet separate."

Gajeel let out a rough sigh, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She nuzzled closer as she fell back asleep, one last murmur reaching their ears.

"I'm glad you two are with me."

☉

Lucy awoke with the first crash, sent from slumber to battle ready in a single moment. She sat up so fast she got dizzy, disoriented and confused. There was a hole in the wall, accompanied by a massive, broad shouldered figure wearing a marine Vice-Admiral jacket. Luffy was sent flying out of his bed, but when he pulled his head from the floor, he gaped at the old gentleman.

"Gramps?!"

"Vice Admiral Garp?" Lucy demanded at the same time.

All heads whipped from Luffy to Garp and back.

"He's your grandpa?!"

"The Hero of the Marines," Robin breathed, paling rapidly. "To send him after us..."

"Oh, don't get your panties in a twist," Garp laughed. "I'm just passing through to check on my idiot grandson."

"Go away, Gramps!" Luffy shouted. "I'm not going to be a marine!"

"Is that any way to talk to your grandpa?!"

Garp bonked Luffy on the head, earning a goose egg as Luffy whined.

"So your grandad is a famous marine," Lucy considered. "It's...sad how unsurprising that is. At least tell me your parents are normal."

"Eh? I have parents?"

"Of course you do, idiot," Nami complained. "Even if they're dead, everyone comes from somewhere."

"Oh his dad is still alive," Garp assured them. "Dragon the Revolutionary has been causing the World Government an even bigger headache than you have! Bwahahaha!"

"Dragon the Revolutionary?!" the crew screeched as one.

"Who's that?" Luffy asked.

"Oops, wasn't meant to say that," Garp chuckled. "Just forget about it, okay?"

"Fat chance at that," Lucy muttered. Garp eyed her carefully, before a grin crawled up his face.

"Glad to see my grandson has a few smart eggs among his number. None of you smart enough to stop him from invading Enies Lobby, of course."

"They took Robin," Luffy said fiercely, which was really all the reason any of them had ever needed.

"So be it," Garp acknowledged. "But I hope you're ready for what's coming."

With that ominous statement, Garp headed out, creating a new hole in the wall as he did so.

"Does anyone else feel like they just met a hurricane?" Nami muttered, rubbing her temples.

"He is a Monkey D." Lucy pointed out wearily. "How long have I been asleep, by the way?"

"A week," Zoro answered. "The cook just went to get started on cooking for the bottomless pit there."

"I've missed 50 meals!"

"How the hell did you get to that number?"

Lucy giggled at the chaos that kicked up, relaxing at the familiar antics of the crew. Gajeel settled behind her on the bed, and she gratefully leaned against him. Her whole body felt like one giant bruise, and she had yet to forget the conversation she'd had last night. Gently, reverently, she traced her hands over her Key ring. Loke and Virgo warmed up, sending their relief that she was okay; Merry, the new Key almost alien in her hands, nearly burned with her pure excitement.

"Don't even think about it, Bunny." Gajeel gently pressed her hand down. "You can wait a couple more days until you're fully healed."

"You're worse than Laxus," she complained, but allowed it. She was still reeling honestly; to have created a Spirit. Was this somehow tied to her ancestor and the Void Century? Could she do it again or had she used her one chance? If it was the latter, she wouldn't regret it, no matter what came. Merry had fought so hard for them, she deserved the return. "Will you at least make yourself useful and get me the paper?"

His grip tightened for a second, before he nodded and detangled himself. She listened as Nami explained that they'd hired Franky to build them a new ship and that it'd be ready tomorrow or the day after, basking in the camaraderie and ease that they all carried themselves with. They'd invaded the World Government and they'd won. They wouldn't forget it any time soon.

The paper, when she got it, was thick with bounties. It didn't take her long to figure out for who; the first page announced to all the world, Straw Hats Wage War on Enies Lobby!

"Guys," she called, dragging their attention to her. "Our new bounties came out."

"I bet mine is higher than mosshead's," Sanji guessed.

"In your dreams, curlybrow."

Lucy pulled them all out, settling them to the side as she read from the article first. "'During this last week, a special unit of Cipher Pol agents managed to achieve the seemingly impossible; they captured Nico Robin of the Straw Hat Pirates.' Blah, blah, blah, marine propaganda, marine propaganda...ah, here we go. 'Then, in a show of madness not seen before, the Straw Hats did the unthinkable. They stormed Enies Lobby themselves, burning the World Government flag and the whole island to go along with it.'"

"Of course, it's our fault," Robin complained. "They could never admit to burning down their own island."

"'Defeating the Cipher Pol agents and Marine Vice Admirals, the Straw Hats took Nico Robin back and escaped. Where they are is a mystery, their last known location being Water 7 where they assassinated Mayor Iceburg and set off a series of explosions-' They're blaming us?!"

"I don't know why you're surprised," Sanji said. "They can't exactly admit it to themselves."

"Our bounties are probably huge," Zoro grinned. "Read them out, would you?"

"Alright, alright." Lucy shuffled the papers around, looking at photos to organize them so she didn't ruin the surprise for herself. "First, our dearest captain, Monkey D. 'Straw Hat' Luffy--320,000,000."

"Whoa! It went up."

"Then, our first mate, cracking into supernova status, 'Oni Hunter' Roronoa Zoro--150,000,000."

"Over doubled. Beat that, cook."

"Our lovely navigator, 'Stormbringer' Nami--65,000,000."

"Why did they get a picture of me summoning lightning? Now people are going to think I'm strong!"

"With Luffy's first bounty, 'Sniper King' Usopp--30,000,000."

"They gave me Luffy's bounty? Holyshit!"

"Beating Zoro's original bounty, but coming too short to meet the current, 'Black Leg' Sanji--77,000,000. Pff..."

"What is that picture?! This has to be a mistake!"

"It looks like you to me."

"Damnit, marimo!"

"Speaking of pictures, this one has Chopper in his monster point, calling him 'Mad Monster' Tony Tony Chopper--20,000,000."

"I have a bounty! Do you think Docterine will keep it on her wall?"

"Following with the lady of the hour, with an updated epithet and bounty, 'Demon Flower' Nico Robin--99,000,000."

"Weren't willing to put me as a supernova? How pedantic."

"Our own warrior exceed, Pantherlily 'The Titan'--40,000,000."

"A fair price, I think."

"And our admiral fighting dragon slayers, both of whom have graduated to supernovas; 'Thunder God' Laxus Dreyar and 'Blacksteel' Gajeel Redfox--200,000,000 each."

"So we have four supernovas on the crew?"

"If Bunny didn't break a hundred million, I'll eat my piercings."

She picked up the second to last of the bounties, 'Cyborg' Franky's 70,000,000 fluttering to the floor as she stared. The picture was, ironically, of Gemini-Lucy. It was mid-casting of Uranio Metria, meaning the background was black and full of stars, her eyes glowing gold and her clothes fluttering around her. It was a very good picture actually, but it meant nothing compared to what it said.

"Wanted Only Alive," she breathed. "'Celestial Princess' Lucy Heartfilia--one billion berries."

[whats-wild-to-you]

Can I request for an enemies to lovers kind of sitch :)

I read this and immediately thought, YES! My mind was bubbling over with ideas and I had to calm myself down first 😅 then one night it came to me. I knew where this was going. I started writing and couldn’t stop. Literally.

Edit: this is going to be sooooooooo loooooooooong. For a second I thought about making it into a short story and post it separately but then I thought, nah! But maybe I’ll still do just so it is a little more structured 🤷‍♀️

ps. Sorry it took a little longer but hopefully the result will make up for it 🫶 I literally couldn’t stop writing.

______________________________________________

Being the only woman in a company full of men wasn’t ideal, especially since everyone assumed you climbed up the career ladder by sleeping with your superiors. Despite the fact that you worked harder than anyone else and was the first to come and last to leave the office, the rumors remained.

It all escalated when the CEO hired Jay. He was an overachiever, a stickler and one who loved the rules. He wanted to get in your superior’s good graces and so naturally he sucked up to him. You annoyed him, because you seemingly got all the attention from the higher ups. 

Jay was also the one who kept the rumor mill going. Almost every day, he would sit with his colleagues at lunch, telling stories about how you supposedly only joined the company because your rich daddy paid money.

You could only laugh about these baseless accusations, but it didn’t mean they weren’t getting to you. You tried your best to remain cool, calm and collected at work, but would break down as soon as you got in your car.

Leaving this job was not an option. You refused to give Jay such satisfaction. All you could do was avoid the hell out of him. For the most part you were succeeding. 

“You. You. In my office. Now!” Your superior emerged, pointing his finger at you, then at Jay.

“I’ve been hearing rumors. Do I need to fire one of you?”

“No, Sir!” You blurted out, side-eyeing Jay who stood there stone-faced.

“Fine. Then you will go on a company trip. Just the two of you!”

“Bu-” Jay began but was cut off.

“If you don’t want to, I expect your letter of resignation on my desk by tomorrow.”

Both, Jay and you remained silent.

“That’s what I thought. Finish work for the day and head home early to pack. Someone will pick you up in the morning.”

Dumbfounded, you walked back to your cubicle, avoiding eye contact with Jay. You struggled concentrating for the rest of the day, and wondered if Jay struggled too. For a brief second you thought about writing that letter of resignation, but you’ve fought for too long and come too far to give up now.

“How bad could it get?” You mumbled under your breath.

The next morning, a van came to pick you up. The driver took your luggage and when he opened the door for you, you saw that Jay was already sitting in the back seat.

“Morning.” You said, mainly because the driver looked at you expectantly.

Jay remained silent and turned his head away from you. You did the same. He leaned against the left window, you against the right.

“We will be arriving in our destination in 3 hours.” The driver announced and took off.

Three hours later you were rudely awakened by Jay slamming the trunk shut. Looking around, you wondered where you landed. Jay was looking around too, but it was more of a figuring out an escape route type of looking.

“I’ll come pick you up in a week.” The driver said and got into the van.

“What?!” You and Jay shouted out simultaneously. You couldn’t speak for Jay but you thought you’d have to spend only the weekend with him. At most.

Defeated, you walked up to the front door. The driver had handed Jay keys and you saw him fumbling to unlock the door. You entered shortly after, inspecting your home for the next 7 days.

It was huge, spacious, minimalistic. Large rooms, an even larger kitchen and living room. There was even a pool but since it was January you wouldn’t be able to make use of that.

There was no staircase but an elevator that lead up to the upper floors. Two to be exact. Each floor had a bedroom, a bathroom, office and lounge area.

“You can stay here. I’ll take the top floor.”

It was the first thing Jay had said to you. Not knowing how to respond, you simply nodded, wheeling your luggage off the elevator.

After unpacking and exploring your surroundings, you went back to the common area and headed for the kitchen. Inspecting the fridge, you found it was fully stocked, as well as the pantry.

Your stomach growled at the sight of all the fresh fruit and vegetables, meats and other delicious foods.

In an impromptu decision, you took several things out of the fridge and looked for pots and pans.

Half an hour later, Jay appeared in the kitchen, opening the fridge to get a bottle of water.

“I made dinner!” You announced proudly, hopeful that Jay would join you.

“Congratulations!” He sneered and left without a second look.

Unbothered, you sat down and enjoyed your dinner. Afterwards you cleaned the kitchen and fixed a plate for Jay, covering it in saran wrap and placing it in the fridge. Somewhere in a drawer you found post it notes and stuck one on the fridge, reminding him that there was food in there in case he was hungry. Then you took the elevator up to your floor and sat in your lounge area, reading a book you got off the shelf.

~

The next morning Jay was the first to get up. You carefully walked up to the kitchen when you saw him standing by the front door.

He bent down to pick something up and seconds later you heard his irritated voice. “You gotta be kidding me!”

You made enough coffee for the both of you and when you opened the fridge to get some milk you saw that the plate you set aside for Jay was still there, untouched.

He startled you when he slammed the paper on the counter and disappeared back upstairs. You sighed when you read its content.

Good morning you two!  Did you think this was a vacation? That I wouldn’t be keeping tabs on you? Wrong! There are hidden cameras all over the house, recording your every move, documenting everything! Purpose of this little getaway is to improve your relationship with each other, and so far you’ve failed. The point is to be around each other, not avoid each other. You have until midnight to work on you communication skills. If you fail, the elevator won’t go all the way up and you’ll be forced to share one floor. Enjoy your stay!

You knew Jay would never make an attempt to talk to you so you had to be the bigger person and start a conversation.

Discouraged, you took the elevator up holding a tray with 2 cups of coffee on it.

“Jay? I made coffee!” 

When he didn’t answer you slowly tiptoed towards the lounge area, hoping to find him there. But the space was empty.

Sighing, you walked up to his bedroom door, knocking.

“I made coffee.”

You waited until Jay opened the door, looking at you condescendingly. He took a cup off the tray and banged the door in your face.

“Well, at least this time he took it!” You went back down, sitting in the large living room. Since you brought your laptop with you, you decided to get some work done before you worried about lunch.

Having lived practically all your life alone, you had developed excellent time management skills. At 1pm sharp, you shut down your laptop and walked over to the kitchen, examining the fridge.

Jay’s plate from the day before was still there, mocking you. Still, you started making food for two, determined to convince Jay to have some this time.

“I’m making lunch. Is there anything you don’t eat? Anything you’re allergic to?” Maybe that was the reason Jay didn’t eat the food you cooked yesterday. Although you highly doubted that.

“Always the goody-goody. Trying soooo hard. Wow, it must be tiring!”

The clinking of the stainless steel knife falling on the marble counter was ear-deafening. You glared at Jay who had his ears covered.

“At least I’m trying! I’m treating you like a human being, whereas you-” You stopped abruptly, shaking your head and resuming your work.

“Eat the damn food, don’t eat the damn food. I don’t care! It’s your choice.” You barked at him, noticing he was looking at you in utter shock.

Only then you realized you managed to cut yourself, the sensation of warm blood dripping down your forearm, the smell of iron making you queasy.

“You’re bleeding.” He said as a matter of fact, but stopped himself short of coming over to you and help you tent to your wound.

Instead he retreated, allowing you to cool off. Still, you managed to finish cooking but had to eat alone once again. After fixing a plate for Jay, you placed it in the fridge, threw the old food in the trash, cleaned the kitchen and left.

It was after 10pm when you heard the elevator ding, certain that Jay must’ve gone to the kitchen to eat something.

At midnight you were rudely awakened by Jay cursing when he couldn’t go up to his floor.

You chuckled gleefully but then remembered that it meant Jay and you had to share this floor now.

You heard footsteps going past your door, down the hall to the lounge area. It was furnished with a futon couch which had to do as a substitute bed for Jay.

~

On day three you made sure to be up and ready first, realizing in the middle of the night that the bathroom on your floor didn’t have a lock. With quick steps you approached the front door, sure that you would find another note from you supervisor.

Good morning! Well? Didn’t I promise you that the punishment for not trying hard enough would be less space? Jay, how are you even able to go without food for two whole days? Did you bring protein bars with you? Either way, these are all locked away now. If you still refuse to eat the food that y/n makes, it will have further ramifications. If you still can’t manage to sit together and eat by midnight, tomorrow you’ll only be able to access the ground floor. Bye!

You grabbed the letter and furiously stomped in the elevator.

“Wake up! You have mail!” You barked at Jay who stirred in his sleep, groaning in disdain. You threw the letter at him and turned around to leave. As the previous days before, you made coffee and offered Jay a cup as soon as he entered the kitchen.

“Are you now in the mood to talk?” You asked mockingly. When Jay didn’t answer you took it as a sign to continue.

“I’m not too thrilled with my house mate either, especially since he’s treating me like dirt but I’ve been raised to respect all people, and to always believe in the good in them. But boy! You’re making it tough for me! So let’s hear it. What exactly is your problem with me?”

Jay gulped down his coffee, looking at you wide-eyed. In all the time you’ve been colleagues, he never saw you losing control like this. Even when people gossiped to your face, you still maintained a cool façade.

“What is it, huh? The fact that I presumably slept with the superiors? Because I couldn’t possibly be smart enough to make it on my own?”

“I’m sorry.” Jay said eventually, his head hanging low.

It took you a couple seconds to register what he said, not trusting your ears at first.

“Ok, then. Stop being a dick and eat the damn food I cook for you so we can go home!”

Jay didn’t respond, but his gaze was glued on your forearm.

“Your wound is bleeding again!” He stated, walking up to you.

You watched him get the first aid kit from the cabinet and proceeded to remove your blood-soaked band aid, cleaning the wound.

Applying ointment stung and you drew in a sharp breath, making Jay look up and lock eyes with you.

“Sorry.” He mumbled, blowing softly on your wound. Then he placed a larger band aid on it and bandaged your forearm.

“Thank you.” You said, confused by Jay’s sudden change in attitude. He nodded and put the first aid kit away.

“What’s for lunch?” He then asked meekly.

“Food. I don’t know what yet.”

“I can assist, if you need me to. Because of your arm and stuff.”

You were about to decline his offer, but remembered the letter from this morning.

“You could help me chop vegetables.”

He nodded content and retreated to the living room until lunch time.

“So where are you from? I noticed a dialect earlier when you got mad at me.”

You looked at him flabbergasted, irritated that it took a good yelling from you to get him to talk.

“Busan.”

“I’ve been to Busan, it’s nice there!”

“I’m sorry. This is creepy. I don’t know anything about you, yet we’re talking like two people who know each other.”

“Cut me some slack. I’m really trying here!”

“Okay, fine. I’m sorry. So I guess you’re a Seoul native?” 

“Born and raised, yes! My family lived in Seoul for generations. My dad was a pharmacists until he retired, and my mother still works as a teacher part-time because they don’t have anyone to replace her with.”

“Any siblings?”

“A younger brother. What about you?”

“I grew up in my grandmother’s house after my parents died. When my grandmother passed away I moved to Seoul. I was 15 at that time and had to work two jobs after school to pay rent for a small room.”

“I didn’t know.”

“You never asked.”

“Touché.”

Jay looked at you, and in his eyes you could see he had many more questions. And lots of regrets.

“Ask.” You encouraged him when you noticed him hesitating.

“For God’s sake, I received a full scholarship. That’s how I was able to attend a good university and get a job at the company.” You cried out when Jay remained silent, looking remorseful.

“I guess I got carried away by all the rumors I’ve heard. People said you were too good-looking to be that smart so you must’ve have had help.”

“I didn’t. And I didn’t want to. I hate being pitied!”

“Ok. Noted. Let’s finish cooking. I’m starving!”

Half an hour later you sat down, sharing the food you both helped make.

“Surely that will restore access to the top floor again, right?” Jay asked in between bites.

“I sure hope so. For your sake! That couch isn’t too comfortable.” You had noticed how Jay was winding in pain every time he had to bend down or reach up the top kitchen shelves. “If you want to, you can sleep in the bedroom tonight.” You blurted out without thinking, prompting Jay to almost choke on his food. “We can take turns.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to you. It’s my fault I have to sleep on the couch. I’ll endure.”

After dinner Jay helped you clean up the kitchen and then asked if you wanted to watch some tv. You sat down next to him, watching Netflix, until you were too tired to even keep your eyes open.

“I’m going to bed. Goodnight.”

“Hmm.” Jay acknowledged and laid across the couch.

~

Rays of sunshine tickled your face. Birds chirped in the distance. Slowly, you turned around, your eyelids fluttering open. Initially your vision was blurred but then you were able to make out a silhouette.

A musky scent filled your nostrils and an unexpected warmth surrounded you.

Gradually your vision focused in on the shape laying next to you.

“OMG! Jay! What are you doing here?”

“Urgh! Why are you yelling?”

“Why are you in my bed? Get out!”

“The couch was too stiff.” He mumbled, rolling out of bed.

Instinctively you turned your head away, but stole a few glances when Jay wasn’t looking.

Dressed in his usual office attire, button down shirt and suit jacket, you couldn’t see just how much of his skin was covered in ink. You foolishly assumed the tattoos on his neck and hands were the only ones.

Seeing him shirtless now, you not only admired his muscular physique but also the art covering his skin.

“Like what you see?”

Only too late you noticed the mirror that hung on the wall across the room. In it, Jay could see you staring at him, licking your lips absentmindedly.

“That’s ridiculous! I wasn’t even looking.”

“Sure. I’ll go get dressed and make coffee. Come down when you’re ready.”

You nodded, still covering yourself with the blanket. As soon as Jay closed the door behind him you let out a sigh of relief.

You went on about your business but the picture of Jay shirtless, getting out of bed, never left your mind.

“There’s another letter.” Jay informed you as soon as you entered the kitchen. He handed you a cup of coffee and the letter he found at the door.

Good morning kids! It wasn’t that hard, now, was it? It even looked like you had fun! Either way, I have a new task for you today. Write down five compliments, five things you admire in each other, and discuss it at dinner. If you do well tonight, you’ll get a treat tomorrow! Bye for now!

That’s doable, you thought and shrugged your shoulders.

Downing your coffee in one gulp, you laid down on the couch, getting some work done on your laptop. When you looked out the window, you suddenly wanted to escape. Feeling close to having a panic attack, you quickly got up and fumbled with the glass door that led out to the pool. You managed to get it open and took a deep breath, filling your lungs with fresh air.

“Isn’t it too cold?” Jay wondered when you crossed the threshold, closing the door behind you. The pool area was surrounded by glass walls but there was no ceiling. With furrowed eyebrows you looked up at the sky until the falling flurries tickled your nose. Quickly you retreated back to the warm interior and sat back down on the couch. It was already lunch time so you got up and walked over to the kitchen. Jay was still seating at the counter, hunched over a sheet of paper, probably doing his homework. The coffee next to him had turned ice cold so you emptied it in the sink and began cooking.

Both of you remained quiet the whole time, but it wasn’t uncomfortable anymore. From time to time you would try to decipher what Jay was scribbling on his paper but his handwriting was horrible.

You chuckled, prompting Jay to look up, realizing you’ve been staring at his writing for a while.

“Hey! No cheating.” He yelled but laughed softly.

You chimed in, trying to deflect. “Me? Pfft! You must not know me very well.”

“I don’t, actually. Tell me more about you!”

Something in his tone alarmed you. He went from hating your guts to tolerating you, even be curious about you, all in 24 hours.

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything!” He said and his eyes lit up for the first time.

So you did. You told him everything. Hours later the conversation shifted over to the couch, where you both occupied the opposite ends. When you looked out the window and realized it was already dark, you gasped.

“Oh no. Dinner!”

“Don’t worry.” Jay chuckled. “I can whip up something quick.”

He found ramyeon somewhere and prepared a pot, carefully setting it on the couch table and handing you a small bowl and chopsticks.

You stared at your food until the tears stung in your eyes.

“Is something wrong? Don’t you like it?” He whispered concerned.

You looked up at him, a single tear rolling down your cheek. “It reminds me of my grandmother.” You whispered almost inaudibly. “The year before she passed away, she started making me ramyeon once a week, saying that she read somewhere that that was what young people liked eating.”

“She sounded like a very sweet and caring person.”

“She was. Sacrificed so much to raise me.”

“Why did you move to Seoul?”

“My parents passed away when I was very young. For years my grandmother wouldn’t tell me how it happened. Before she passed away she told me that they were both killed when a building collapsed. They were in Seoul for the weekend, a small vacation to celebrate their wedding anniversary.”

“That’s horrible.”

“I wanted to visit the site, hoping to feel closer to them but my grandmother held my back saying it would hurt too much. She knew exactly what she was talking about. A year after the accident she received money, like every other bereaved family, and although she had financial problems she didn’t spend the money, instead she saved it for me. In a letter I found after her death, she wrote how that money was a constant reminder that her son and her daughter-in-law weren’t there anymore, how a child had to grow up without its parents.”

You wiped the tears off your cheeks, surprised that you were comfortable enough to share that story with Jay in the first place.

“Sorry. I rarely speak about these events.”

“Don’t apologize.” He spoke softly, getting up off the couch and knelt down in front of you. “Sometimes it’s good to let it all out.”

Fresh tears rolled down your cheeks and you buried your face in your hands. You vaguely remember Jay helping you up to your feet and wrapping his arms around you, allowing you to cry to your heart’s content. Next thing you know, you woke up in your bed, with Jay hugging you from behind, like a big spoon to your smaller one.

Instinctively you turned around, locking eyes with him. Carefully he brushed a loose strand of hair off your face and you cuddled up closer to him until you were practically on top of him, your head resting on his chest, his heartbeat lulling you to sleep, while his hand was stroking your hair.

Despite not knowing how you got to that point you knew exactly that it was what you needed the most at that moment.

Closeness. Intimacy. A shoulder to lean on. It’s been a while since you last admitted that to yourself.

“Jay…” You whispered, lifting your head, your gaze wandering from his eyes to his lips and back.

A silent agreement was made. One kiss. Just one kiss and nothing more. Swallowing the lump in your throat, you rested on your elbows until your face was inches apart from Jay’s. His scent was intoxicating, it made you forget everything else.

Slowly you dipped your head until your lips connected. An involuntary moan escaped as you parted them, allowing Jay’s tongue to go on an expedition.

One kiss!, you thought. Just one kiss.

Your hand grabbed a fistful of hair on the back of his neck and made Jay moan too. Without realizing, you ground your hips against Jay’s lap, while deepening the kiss.

Suddenly you stopped, creating some much needed space between you. No one was talking, you were communicating with your eyes.

Quickly you reconnected your lips, kissing frantically, struggling to get out of your clothes at the same time.

~

You woke up in an empty bed, groaning when you recalled last night’s events. It wasn’t the fact that you regretted sleeping with Jay. But still, something was nagging at you.

“Good morning.” You said meekly, while entering the kitchen. Jay stood behind the counter, drinking coffee. In front of him was a letter. You couldn’t be bothered to deal with it now, too ashamed of what you might read in it, so you just filled your cup with coffee and drank it in silence. Jay was silent too.

Did he already regret last night? Does he think now I’ll have expectations?, you thought but before you could say anything, Jay took his coffee and disappeared.

Sighing, you went on about your day, ignoring the letter for now.

It was past dinner time when you saw Jay again. Suddenly he came down and joined you on the couch. But he was neither looking at you nor talking to you.

Suddenly a light went on outside by the pool and a buzzing sound cut through the silence.

“Is that the surprise the letter mentioned?” Jay pondered to himself which prompted you to get up and read the letter. You had almost forgotten about it, your mind too busy dealing with other things.

Good morning to you! And what a good morning it is, am I right? ;)

You cringed, but kept reading nonetheless.

Since you made substantial progress yesterday, I thought I’d reward you today. Enjoy! A new task awaits you tomorrow. PS. I support an office romance, as long as it’s not interfering with productivity. ;)

You watched as Jay opened the glass door, and you were hit by an unexpected warmth.

“A heated pool?” Jay asked and was taken aback by more buzzing and whirring. “Bubbles? Nice!”

You stepped outside to check for yourself and saw that a part of the pool was sectioned off with bubbles turning it into a jacuzzi. The ceiling was covered by thick glass and the a fan was blowing warm air.

You were not impressed so you turned around and went inside. Jay followed close by, trying to get your attention.

“What’s wrong?” He demanded, cutting in front of you.

“Nothing. I’m just tired.” You said, pressing the button on the elevator.

“Stop!” Jay shouted before you stepped inside.

He sighed, searching for the right words to say.

“I don’t regret last night. And I don’t take it lightly. I want you to kn-” He stopped abruptly when he heard small sobs coming from you. Grabbing your shoulders, he turned you around so you were facing him, examining your face.

“Talk to me! I don’t know what’s going on inside your head unless you speak.”

“I’ve always sucked at expressing my feelings, but I can show you.”

With that you took a step forward, locking lips with him. The kiss turned passionate real fast and you jumped on his lap eagerly, wrapping you legs around his hips.

You didn’t protest when he carried you outside to the heated pool, didn’t protest when he slowly undressed you, drinking in every inch of your body. After undressing himself too, he took your hand guiding you inside the pool, the warm water instantly relaxing your muscles. You straddled his lap again, grinding on top of him as he kissed you passionately. Little moans escaped both your lips and you threw your head back, allowing Jay to claim you wholly.

After you came down from your high, Jay carried you outside the pool bridal style to an area where he patted your skin dry.

“What happens when we go back to Seoul?” You asked out of the blue. The loaded question took Jay by surprise too as his hand halted in mid-air.

“What do you mean?”

“Do we pretend that nothing happened?”

“Why would you want that?”

“Because everyone hates me at work, and I don’t want them to hate you too.” You said grabbing the towel, wrapping it around your body and going inside.

~

Good morning folks ;) I’m gonna be honest. I didn’t think this little experiment would be such a success. Maybe we should turn it into an annual thing!? Anyway, today is your second to last day here, so make it count. Originally I had something prepared for today. A little task that now seems unnecessary. Oh! Before I forget it. I’m actually not watching the camera footage myself, that’d be too cruel. No! There are two independent people that I hired specifically for the task, so don’t worry. Also. Surprise! I’ve restored access to the top floor again. Until tomorrow!

You hadn’t seen Jay all morning but now knew exactly where he was hiding.

Preparing two cups of coffee, you placed them on the tray and made your way to the top floor.

Knocking on his door lightly, you waited patiently for him to let you in.

“I thought we could talk.” You greeted him, walking past him, carrying the tray inside.

“What’s there to talk?” His harsh comment made your blood freeze in your veins but you would be lying if you said you weren’t expecting it.

“Jay, please!”

“What? Do you want to align stories? As you said, everyone at work hates you so I’m sure they won’t come to you for the gossip. What then? Do you need me to say something specifically?”

“Stop!” You yelled, clenching your fists into balls. “I knew something like this would happen. But I wasn’t expecting it to hurt this bad! I don’t care about what you say to your colleagues! I wanted to make sure everything was okay between us.”

“There isn’t an us. You made that pretty clear last night!” He spat, leaving his room.

Immediately you felt sick to your stomach. Using the last of your strength, you made it back down to your floor, collapsing on the bed, and breaking down in tears. You didn’t know where Jay was hiding and you didn’t care if your loud sobs could be heard throughout the house. You knew not to play with fire but in the end you got burned anyway.

You remained in bed all day, surprised to find a bowl of rice porridge by your bed when you woke up in the middle of the night. When you touched it you noticed it was hot. It made you cry again as you ate a spoonful of it, desperately trying to silence your growling stomach.

~

It was unusually quiet when you woke up in the morning. Shuffling to the kitchen, you were on the lookout for Jay. When you went behind the kitchen counter your eyes fell upon the letter. You really weren’t in the mood for it now but picked it up anyway, eager to get the uncomfortable part out of the way.

Only this letter began a little different.

Hey, I didn’t want to wake you so I’m writing you instead. I arranged for the van to pick me up a little early. There was no other reason behind it except the need for me to clear my head and figure some things out. The van will pick you up tomorrow, 8am. I’ll be waiting at your place and hope that you and I will get to sit down and talk. I apologize for making you feel bad, but I plan to apologize in person too. I’m not doing this because I can’t stand being near you, I hope you know that. Maybe you too could use this opportunity to figure some things out. Jay

You put the letter down, sighing. Jay was right. A lot had happened in the last six days, and none of you had a chance to digest it. But did you really want to deal with all of it? Was there something between Jay and yourself? Something more than just sexual attraction? After all, he was the one who made your life a living hell only a week ago. How did he turn into someone you grew attracted to in mere days? What would happen once you returned back to normalcy? How would your colleagues react? Would you be fine with the awkward stares at work?

You felt a headache coming the longer you thought about all of these things. It would be best to just end things with Jay. Cut him off before he had a chance to make a home for himself in your heart.

And although you knew this was the sensibel, the logical, the right thing to do, your heart ached at the thought of you having to avoid Jay.

In order to take your mind off all things Jay, you spent all day cleaning the entire house, even though you were sure a professional cleaning crew would show up as soon as you left. Still, you needed to occupy your mind to keep it from thinking about Jay.

At night you couldn’t sleep, counting down the minutes until you would be picked up in the morning.

~

You had been standing outside by the front door since 7am. When the van rolled up the driveway, you immediately grabbed your luggage and wheeled it towards the car. The driver got out and made a move to help you with your luggage but you had already stored it and climbed into the back seat. You saw him chuckling in the rearview mirror and wondered if he knew something. After informing you he would be taking you back to your place, he drove off.

When you arrived at your place and saw Jay waiting for you in the distance, you almost jumped out of the driving van. Walking up to him with quick steps, you tried your hardest to keep your emotions at bay. Wrapping your arms around him, you buried your face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent.

“Did you really miss me?” He chuckled amused, wrapping his arms around your waist when you simply nodded as a response.

“I missed you too!” He whispered close to your ear and helped you carry your luggage inside.

Your small apartment was the complete opposite of the place you’ve been living in for the past week, yet you were happy to be back home. Out of habit you prepared coffee for Jay and yourself and took a seat on your couch.

But Jay wasn’t really interested in his beverage, instead pulled you onto his lap the minute you sat down.

Looking deep into your eyes, he caressed your cheek until his thumb brushed over your lips, parting them lightly. Immediately his lips were on yours, and you responded to the kiss by arching your back, your body glued to his, your fingers tangled in his hair, his hands resting on your lower back.

“Tell me this is more than just sexual attraction, tell me you want my heart as much as you want my body.” You spoke breathlessly in between kisses, daring Jay to share what was on his mind.

“I’m falling in love with you!” He finally said, out of breath too, before he sealed your lips with his again.

[aisawvhel]

04/02/24

hi diary! as expected, i’ll be seeing you today as well :)

just like i expected, this day will be filled with happiness since today was picture day.

but first, i woke up around 4am and saw the news that my classmate passed away, and it is so devastating for me since he used to make the atmosphere in our room better with his jokes and stuffs. and seeing his friends earlier with those puffy eyes breaks my heart. it is too early for you to leave this world, classmate. but now, magpahinga na ikaw, wala ng pain d‘yan sa taas, classmate.

so, this day was the best! it’s better than i expected yesterday. maaga akong pumasok with nadi kanina tapos i saw him earlier this day hehehe. then when my girls came, that’s when my happy moments started.

i was with them the whooooole day and i ain’t complaining. so, i was wearing a very super light make-up earlier and i didn’t curl my hair bcs i was afraid na maging late, so umalis na ako before 6:30. annnnd, G made my make-up, siya yung halos nag ayos sa akin, and also, with my hair. i also loved the fact that i became more close to F and i swear she’s so nice and pretty! i was just waiting for G to send the pics earlier so i can take a better look at it and post it on my socials >////< then, right after taking photos for our graduation pic, we swaps pictures and i got G, F, S, P, C, A and J. i was a bit sad since i didn’t have any pics of R, E, and B but that’s okay. i got R’s picture on my though :)))) after the swapping of pics, we decided to stay na lang sa room since super init, then there, we played games. we made our pics (f’s cards) as our cards. the first game was, kailangan namin makuha yung own picture namin without peeking sa card na kukunin and the last person who find her/his pic ay pipitikin sa kamay. and yk what, the first thing i picked was R’s picture T_____T i am just hoping that they didn’t notice the way i acted earlier when i saw his picture. then the next game was B’s idea. sabi niya “kung sino ang mapipili mo, malaki yung matutulong niya sa‘yo sa future mo.” something like that, and guess who i picked... IT WAS R AGAIN !!!! i hope okay... i hope >////< i really like him so bad. then the last one before we came back again sa room 201 ay kung sino yung makukuha namin na card ay ide-describe namin then the rest ay huhulaan kung sino. and i love the way they described me as “tahimik” and “mabait” i forgot some pero all of the words they used to describe me made my heart happy. but G’s description of me was a bit realistic, not in the bad way okay, it’s just that, i love that she knows me so well :((( she even told anyone earlier that she won’t leave me again and i swear i almost cried, also F’s description of me earlier “mabait ‘to tapos feeling ko mapapa-ano siya sa‘tin” it’s like she’s saying na mapapalapit ako sa kanila lalo and i wish yes. i love being with them so bad. sadly we didn’t get to play again after the others got their own pictures but that’s alright. andddd last but not the least, i was their camera woman when they took pictures together. i wasn’t sad bcs i wasn’t there. i feel happy just being with them. i love how they made me feel like i belong to them. i might cry. tapos, nag buy kami ng mysip kanina and also water tapos i shared my mysip with S then i also asked P’s for water kasi mas uhaw ako sa water and i was so happy na he did let me drink sa water niya. tapos nung pauwi na, ang clingy sa akin ni F and my heart jumps >////< omg. i was so so so so sooooo happy, bye. then the last one, sabay kami ni S naglakad papauwi, then nag milktea kami both. ang saya-saya niya kausappppp. i wish to talk to her more in the futureee, sadly ngayon ko lang sila naging ganito ka-close kung kailan matatapos na ang s.y :((

i love being with you mostly, not really being with you but, just feeling you around me, i like it. idk why, basta i like you. and you’re a torpe pala. i wish to have more interactions with you in the future, R. :)

i guess ito na yon? i can’t remember anything na other than these e. so i guess this is it na.

thank you for this day, universe. please fill my april with happiness and kindness.

— sincerely,

isobel.

[lovekittylover12345]

The Most Beautiful Person He Had Ever Seen

Hello, all. I made another AU last night.

I had wanted to go to sleep at a good hour.

Guess what I did NOT do?

This thing I wrote? It’s around 13 pages long when using Arial at size 11 font- 5,000 words.

On the font and font size I typically use when writing a chapter, this behemoth is 22 pages long- that's more than 2/3rd of one of my typical chapters.

And you want to know something even more terrifying?

It’s not even done yet.

I won’t be finishing this just yet, nor will I be working on other chapters for a very long time, so I won’t be posting this on archive of our own- enjoy this incomplete work I grinded out on what I can only see as a fantastical event where the stars alined to let me write- just not on my actual current work! Argh…

Feel free to ask any questions- I’ll try my best to answer any that come up. I have a few ideas for where the story could possibly go next, but who knows when I haven’t written it all out yet? Everything could end up veering off into an entirely different direction. 

Shall I also use my first instance of a poll? Hmmm… we’ll see.

Without further ado, here’s what I wrote!

It had been a rather ordinary day- visiting his friend Alphys- when Sans turned to look at a heavily neglected part of her lab to see the most beautiful thing he had ever laid his eyelights on.

He didn’t know why he turned to look- he had never had the inclination to look that way unprompted before, unless Alphys wanted to show him whatever half finished project she was working on at the time. Otherwise- it was simply an unused part of the lab- one that was scantily used or even thought of by anyone- used so infrequently in fact that he often forgot that the dusty curtains his friend and colleague had hung up even hid something behind them.

What came over him? Why did he decide to turn back?

Was something calling him? Something telling him that he would see something that he would never forget?

That he would find himself looking at the first thing other than his brother and his community of other monsters that was just as important- key to his life, even? Something that, once he had, he would never be able to live without?

And, what were the chances- that on this day in particular, when he happened to have an odd urge to look back at that unused part of the lab- there would be something so wondrous- so glorious and lovely- to look at? 

That the curtains that had hung for years without once falling- that just on this day, they would fall, just as he turned?

He did not know- and at the time, he did not realize that he would ever even think about the possibilities besides as a quick, passing thought when it first happened.

But now…

He prayed to whatever god made that tiny, infinitesimally small chance occur- thanking them so heartily and insistently that a casual observer probably would have thought he was an extremely devout believer.

Thank you- thank you! You- whoever you are- you glorious bastard! Thank you so- so much! I don’t know who you are- and I doubt you even care, or even exist- but if you do…

Thank you.

Just what was it that Sans saw, in that musty, dark and cramped corner of the lab?

“Oh, th- the curtain! O-oh well… seems I’ll have to put it back up later- but- t-that’s not important! You- you’ve seen her, haven’t you?!”

Alphys rushed towards the curtain, ripping the rest of it down- now revealing that thing in its full glory. 

“Oh- isn’t she just such a cutie?!”

Alphys let out the squeal of a fangirl, delighting in showing off what she had found to her friend. 

As Sans gazed at the thing in front of him, He found himself having more difficulty controlling his expression than usual. It seems that Alphys picked up on this- as well as the question he was about to ask- although it seems she opted to pretend she didn’t see the former.

“Where…”

“W-Where did I find her? I-I found her in a dump! It seems that humans have been using Mt. Ebott as a dumping ground for things they’ve decided to discard for a while now- and such a waste in this case, too! W-who would throw away an almost fully functioning robot?!”

Sans half nodded.

“A robot…”

“Mind you- S-she’s was so badly damaged when I found her- pieces of her just strewn about everywhere- body parts almost completely severed and twisted in many places- t-the circuitry was completely shot- most of the delicate wiring was completely chopped to bits and looked like those noodles I just love to eat- haha… ha. And- and some of those wires- just straight fried! Not just that- the list goes on and on- now… that I think about it- maybe calling her an almost fully functioning robot is a bit of a stretch on my part- but I know y-you get what I mean!”

Alphy’s seemed to simmer down a bit then, becoming more contemplative- sad, almost.

“You know… to be honest- when I found her, with her head sticking out of all that garbage- I really thought I had just stumbled on a human body… There- in those dumps near monster territory- our homes- a.. A murder scene! I was almost afraid of what would happen if I approached her… as if- s-some human boogeyman was going to- pop out- from behind a nearby pile and accuse me of m-murder!” 

She grabbed her shoulders with her arms, shivering slightly.

“T-to be honest… the thought of it- it still terrifies me. What would have happened if she really was a human body…”

Sans was able to recover a bit from his stupor, quickly moving to comfort his friend, giving her a pat on the shoulder.

“Hey, don’t worry about it! We might have gotten into a human-gous amount of trouble if that really did happen, but it didn’t. But I promise, if it did, I and the others would have helped you out- no matter what. I and the others always will.”

Alphys gave a gleeful smile, trying to resist laughing at her friend’s corny joke- but failed horribly.

“Haha! Really… Thanks for that Sans- with what's going on right now, t-that really means a lot. I-I mean it- and… I’d do the same for you.”

Quickly, the pair turned back towards the robot, where Alphys quickly regained her train of thought as the pair began to walk closely to marvel at the robot up close.

“I was able to repair her only just recently- all the bells and whistles- power supply, wiring is spotless, perhaps my best job yet- circuitry repaired or replaced where necessary- and yet- she still won’t turn on… I just can’t seem to figure out why.”

Alphys pointed to each part, explaining what she was able to learn about each thing- their functions, possible hiccups or mistakes she could have made, and even hypothetical upgrades to increase the performance in the future. 

Sans listened dutifully as his friend nerded out- and in his mind, he was too.

He thought carefully about each individual part- even having Alphys move the body around on the table and open up parts of it for a better look. The wiring? Impeccable- truly the best wiring job of Alphys’s he had ever seen, and he knew how hard a project Mettaton was. The circuitry? Although he didn’t necessarily understand what each part was supposed to do, he trusted his friend knew- everything he saw on that front was solid work- no glaring flaws. Each part he checked was exactly how they should be- until he came upon the power supply.

When Alphys showed him what she said was the power supply, he had no idea what he was looking at- it looked nothing like anything he had ever seen- and certainly not Alphys’s work. It was located deep in the robot’s upper back, wedged in behind the spine- near where the heart and lungs would be on a human. Not having any way to look inside what looked to be a hard outer casing, Sans found himself trying to make sense of just what he was looking at.

“This is the power supply? Is that really what I’m looking at right now?”

Alphy’s shakily nodded.

“Y-yes.”

“This- this isn’t your work, is it? Was it already a part of her? How do you even know it’s working-”

“-no- no! I’m certain of it- it’s the one other part left still perfectly intact!”

…other? 

No… focus- I’ll get the answers soon, I’m sure.

Alphys had interjected quickly, in a manner that showed to Sans that she was extremely worried about the current conversation. Not wanting to stress out his jittery friend further, he waited patiently for her to explain.

“Y-you see… I ran some diagnostics and- those wires, you see those? I hooked those up to the supply directly and- There- well… the test I ran showed that whatever powers this- this thing- no no, this girl- It can hold charge just fine- I-in fact- uh… well… you see- this power supply- it already is running! Just… just… it just isn’t running anywhere else… f-for some reason!”

Sans noticed Alphys’s eyes darting to and fro, the signs that she was beginning to panic, and very much so. Not to mention that she was starting to sweat on her brow- and her tail, which was normally still, was swishing to and fro across the ground, too- something that only happened when she was either extremely excited or extremely stressed. He could already tell that there was something she was hesitant to tell him about, but he just couldn’t fathom what it could be.

What could be making her so nervous? And the power supply is on? could it be that what is worrying her has something to do with that? What does all of this mean?

“Well, if whatever is inside that power supply is faulty, why don’t you just open it up and check? Or, why not just take it out and replace it with something else? You were able to get Mettaton’s power supply working just fine, so why couldn't you do the same here? I’m certain you would be able to-”

She vigorously shook her head- taking a quick moment to adjust her glasses with her shaking hands, before hesitantly yet adamantly responding.

“-No! I-I can’t. I-I couldn’t possibly- i-if I messed up- s-she could! Y-you don’t- y-you haven’t seen the scans!”

Sans could sense that she was beginning to have a nervous breakdown- he tried his best to reach her with his voice.

“Alphys, please- I can’t help you if you don’t help me understand- just what did you see when you performed a scan? Did you see something inside the power supply? Is it dangerous?”

She continued to mumble to herself, speaking quickly as she began to bite on her nails.

“I-It was unlike- a-anything I had ever seen- I just couldn't possibly- w-what could I do? An alternate power supply transfer might work- b-b-but I don’t know how much power she needs to- I-If I messed up! S-she could-”

Sans took her shoulders with his hands, giving her a gentle shake, snapping her back to reality.

“Alphys- I get that whatever you saw has you worried- please just let me know what you saw, so I can help you find a solution! I promised you, right? That I would help you? I need you to trust that together we can find a solution. Alright?”

Alphys, regaining her composure, relaxed her body, took a deep few breaths, and nodded her head.

“It was… when I ran those scans.”

He nodded his head, letting her know that he was listening, and that she could continue.

“Well, to be truthful Sans… what I said before? Well… it- no- she- she isn’t just a robot.”

Sans was curious but was carefully keeping his same old expression, not wanting to put any undue pressure on his friend.

She always seems to address the robot in a manner similar to how she would Mettaton- why is that?

“I’m listening.”

“Well… when I was attempting to find out what was inside the power supply, I did a ton of different tests- and I mean it- a ton! Countless times and countless different ideas to find a way to see past whatever metal this protective layer was made out of-” she used her knuckles to knock on the metal she was referring to slightly, “And let me tell you, this metal is practically indestructible! Not that that mattered anyway- I didn’t want to in any way risk the integrity of the power supply- so- I tried everything to sneak a peek at what is hidden inside this shell- and… nothing. Nothing worked- no matter what I tried, I couldn't see anything conclusive.”

Sensing that she was not yet done, Sans gave another prompting.

“Go on.”

“But… on one of those scans- well, I accidentally included some of her neck and the bottom of her skull in the range. And to my surprise, I could actually see inside! I took another scan right then and there! And what I saw… oh stars… I know you’re not gonna believe me on this, but you’ve gotta trust me when I say I didn’t initially believe it either. how do I put this…”

Alphys seemed to be thinking very heavily, even scrunching up her brow muscles enough that Sans feared she would give herself a tension headache. Finally, she seemed to have decided on what to say- or perhaps it was that she had gotten the resolve she needed to speak on what she saw.

“Sans…inside that girl’s skull is something akin to a human brain.”

Before Sans could even respond or react, Alphys rushed to give clarification.

“Of course- they are in no way the same- They are similar in structure for sure, yes- but her brain is not made of any biological matter from what I can tell.”

She scrambled to turn the table holding the robot in place, allowing Sans to see the back of the robot’s dainty looking neck. The back panel had already been removed during their analysis, and Alphys’s familiar wiring was peaking back at them, as it had before. However, when Alphys began to push some of it aside, Sans found himself looking at a far thicker, more metallic looking wire, one that could more reasonably be called a cord- one that undoubtedly ran down into the power supply. With the context of what Alphys said she saw, the part of the cord that went up the neck and out of sight likely went directly into the robot’s brain- that is, if that really is what it was. 

But, a brain? Really? If that really is the truth- could this thing really even be considered a robot?!

Then…

The way Alphys has been referring to it..

No..

To her- this was of referring to her-

-it was because of what she saw…

“Then the reason you feared touching the power supply is because…”

Alphys took another deep breath before responding.

“Y-yes. Currently, the only thing her power supply is transferring power to is the…”

“The brain?”

Alphys nodded.

“Another yes, I’m afraid. This really would have been so much more simple if the power supply allowed itself to transfer power to more than just her brain- but, I honestly can’t blame it for what it is doing right now. From what I can see, the only thing keeping her… well, keeping her ‘alive,’ so to speak- is the fact that her brain is constantly being powered by her power supply.”

Sans scratched his head. 

“I see why you were so worried- especially because we have no idea what that power supply is even running on right now. For all we know, it could turn off mid conversation- and that would be that!”

Alphys gave Sans a glare.

“Stars sans- don’t say that! I didn’t even consider that possibility- oh no- what if you’re right- and it- and it-”

“-it won’t. She has almost certainly been in that dump for a very long time- I’m sure that, considering that the power supply and that cord is made out of a metal you’ve never even seen before, it can surely handle powering that brain just as it always has. Now… we just have to figure out how to coax it to power everything else…”

Alphys clutched her head, tapping her foot. Her tail thumped quietly along with her foot- showing to me that she was really thinking hard.

At least it isn’t swishing anymore- she isn’t nearly as stressed right now, and she doesn’t seem to have tired out, which is good.

Wait…

‘Tired out.’

Could it be? 

“Alphys…”

Alphys turned her head towards Sans Inquisitively.

“Yes?”

Sans’s expression shifted slightly- yet more than it had in front of anyone else other than him in the mirror. His face, practically sparkling with excitement, almost took Alphys aback.

“Alphys, have you perhaps considered that maybe the power supply required more than just electricity to power the whole body? Did you do any tests to check for magic at all?! Perhaps the power supply is low on its other fuel source!”

Alphys’s eyes grew wide, and soon, her face too was full of gleeful excitement. 

“No- I haven't! I never even considered- I thought that humans would never use such a thing to power their machines- but it is definitely possible with all that we’ve seen- Sans! That is such a good idea! I’ll run a diagnostic on it right away!”

Sans and Alphys rushed to uncover the tools needed to perform the diagnostics, with Alphys rushing to turn on the machines- as the pair waited for everything to boot up and get ready, the pair both squealed with anticipation- Sans inwardly, and Alphys outwardly.

As soon as the machines were ready, Alphys got them running as soon as she could. Soon, the dark corner of the room that had not seen light in some time was now bathed in the light of the diagnostic. Little robots excited their cubbyholes and began to hover around the area of the girl’s current resting place like flies, carefully scanning the whole body for any traces of magic.

Both waited with baited breath, until, surprisingly quickly, they got their result.

“There's….”

The pair looked at the screen.

“MAGIC DETECTION SCAN: TRACES OF MAGIC DETECTED.”

“Oh- oh my! I never thought- and look! Right there!”

Alphys pointed to the computer screen, zooming in on the robot’s power supply. Compared to the limbs, which had only a faint glow on the screen, signifying that there were only faint traces of magic found- likely from when the robot was still operational- however long ago that was- the power supply was quite the opposite.

“T-there’s something in the core f-for sure- a-and whatever it is- it’s lit up like a Giftmas tree!”

Sans looked at the robot’s body again- and it was then that an idea came into his mind.

Part of the power supply seems to be different than the rest- more protected- like a core. But something tells me that the way to get it to open is more straightforward than it appears!

“Alphys- I have an idea on how to get her to wake up- It’s gonna require me to have a way to directly touch that power supply- likely from the back. Can you get her on her front for me?”

Alphys, delighted to see that Sans had an idea of what to do, was quick to do as asked.

“Of course!”

She turned the robot easily, as if it was as light as a feather. That raised questions in Sans’s head about just what the robot was made out of, but he set that question aside to be answered later.

When Alphys turned the robot to her back, it was exactly as Sans had thought- there seemed to be a spot on the back- between the soft groves that made up the girl's spine- that looked like it could be opened. 

How yet, he wasn't quite sure, but he had a pretty good idea.

As he came closer to the robot, he realized that he had not as of yet actually touched any part of the robot’s body- for some reason, this realization embarrassed him far more than he thought it should have.

Was it because of his thoughts upon initially seeing the robot for the first time?

Or was it because, even now, it was almost as if he was feeling… enamored with her? 

The thoughts only made his hesitation to touch the robot even worse- he almost felt like smacking himself for even thinking such things, but he didn’t want to give away his discomfort to his friend. Sans knew Alphys would tease him relentlessly if she found out that the first thing he ever felt attracted to was a robot- and one that looked like a human of all things! 

A human. 

The first person I have ever thought of in that manner- something that currently looks like the most beautiful thing in the world to me- and it’s a robot that looks like a human? Is something wrong with me?! I must be going crazy! 

And- I shouldn't be thinking these sorts of things about a person who is completely unaware and defenseless- she’s sleeping for god's sake!

He quickly quelled all thoughts on the matter, deciding to think on it another time.

Perhaps when she wakes up…

Wait- there I go again! Ugh- damn it…

“Sans?”

Alphys’s voice helped him quickly recover his wits- allowing him to remain looking perpetually unbothered, as he always did.

“Don’t worry, I got it- I was just thinking about what I need to do.”

“And what do you need to do?”

Sans came closer to the robot and carefully examined her back one more time before finally finding the courage to take the next step.

Gently, his skeletal hands trailed her spine, carefully pushing up her hair out of his way. He was surprised to find that her hair was soft, but he tried his best to not think about it too much. He just knew that if he continued that line of thinking, he would end up with a flushed blue face- and he never wanted Alphys to see him embarrassed- he was certain her first reaction would be to tease him.

As his hands touched the grooves of each metal vertebrae, he was able sense it- and just where he expected. Although Alphys knew a little bit about Sans’s full power, she did not know everything- like, for example, that his magical aptitude was far greater than he made it seem. His phalanges could feel magic buzzing, almost like…

No- there’s no way that can be right- maybe this time I’m wrong.

I…

I hope to the stars above that I’m wrong.

Because if I’m not…

Maybe this really was a murder.

Just under the buzzing, he was able to trace a small, discrete panel- and the fact that that panel most certainly had to be opened with magic.

“Well Alphys? This is what I need to do- you might want to cover your eyes for this one.”

As soon as he spoke, he began to fill the room with magic- so much magic in fact, that wind began to form, pushing everything back. The flaps of his coat moved back and forth quickly, as did the billowing parts of Alphys’s lab coat- anything not held down began to fly back violently, including the curtains that had once hidden away the seldom used corner from sight. 

“Whoa- sans! You shouldn't do too much- you know what could happen!”

As sans continued to pour out the blue tinted magic that caused the robot’s metallic sheen to reflect bright light, he responded as casually as one would to an invitation for lunch.

“Nah- you worry too much. I’m fine- this much is easy.”

As Sans continued to pour magic into the robot, he watched as her back began to open, finally revealing what was inside. In less than a second, he stopped his magic, staring down at what he saw in shock. When he unconsciously reached to touch it, he found that the casing protecting it shocked him- only further leaving him with confusion and dread.

That shock I felt- why now? 

Now of all times- and with this robot of all people? 

What human would ever think to use… could this be considered one of their own?

I just can’t fathom it- who would have thought that humans would have made something similar to Mettaton?!

Why am I seeing what I’m seeing right now?

Is this even happening? Is this another one of my nightmares?

I just… 

I don't understand.

As Alphys quickly came beside him and took a peak at what had been so carefully protected within the casing of the power source, she too fell silent, in shock at what she saw.

Much of the inside- especially lower down on the contraption- was full of those same sort of metallic cables that they had already seen before, with each one connecting to some part of the body- legs, arms, and head- like the veins of a human. They were even able to see what gave the power source its electricity, with some sort of contraption- completely alien to them- seen, full of glowing white and golden light. 

But the thing that shocked them the most was a small canister oriented up-to-down in the body, found in the place where the human heart would be. It was fastened tightly and connected to the generator’s cables, seemingly using the same lines to transmit its magic to everywhere else.

Inside that canister, bobbing up and down- not in the correct orientation but instead in line with the body’s orientation- was a little, metallic silver soul- one that looked almost synthetic- as if it was made in a lab.

This soul was not angled upside down light that of a monster’s, even if it possessed a similar color to that of one.

No- instead, this soul was angled like that of a human- which could only mean one thing.

“Oh.”     

“O-Oh.”

The pair looked at eachother. Sans watched as Alphys’s face contorted to that of terror and grief. 

“T-That- that can’t be right! Oh Sans- This cannot be- it just can’t!”

“Alphys- please calm down- we need to make sure everything is in place before she wakes up.”

Alphys nodded meekly, as if she had been told to kill someone under the threat of death. She was on the verge of tears and shaking like a leaf, tail and all- Still, she got up and quickly helped Sans fasten all of the pieces they had moved back into place.

Not long after they were complete, The robot seemed to boot up- parts of its body made of that special metal began to light up brightly before dimming to a faint glow, as if she was a computer on the startup screen.  

After the light mostly subsided to that glow, another step seemed to start- very suddenly, the various plated that made up her body rapidly reoriented themselves- shifting back in forth from different shapes and sizes as if the metal that had once been so hard to move was now as soft as dough- seeming to be making the proper features and proportions of the robot as they should have been the whole time. 

No longer was each piece bulky and diagonal- now the body had substantially more curvatures, with each limb now sleeker and proportionally correct. Now the robot’s body seemed to actually have skin- albeit still visibly shiny like metal, but still much more natural looking nonetheless. Parts where bones would be seen from under the skin and other deeper tissues now seemed to hint at bones that were not actually there- an illusion that the two scientists watched with fascination. Her hair remained mostly unchanged, as did some aspects of her body- for example, the fact that the pair did not find it necessary to cover her- as although she did have the proportions of the female body, there was not actually anything to see. 

However, even still, the pair began to realize that although there may have been nothing to see, they were still ogling someone they considered to be a lady- and one without any clothes! 

However, as soon as Alphys thought to go get a sheet to cover the poor girl, another step began.

Rapidly moving pieces came from slits that suddenly appeared in the robot’s body- these pieces quickly moved to begin forming what looked to be a dress- one that covered the parts that a lady would have covered in public- the metal slithered its way across the girl’s body until it had reached all the places it apparently needed to, before those pieces began to form together. The malleable metal took on the colors of multiple other metals, gold and silver being the most prominent- only for the metals to suddenly soften, as if they were transmuted into fabric. The fabric puffed out slightly in some areas, like the bottom and the back, but otherwise stayed rather consistent. It looked just like real fabric- and extremely comfortable too, contrary to what the pair had just seen that fabric start from. 

As if to add a few finishing touches, various decorations in the form of jewelry and other items began to adorn themselves on the robot’s body, including ribbons that moved to put up the girl's hair, a soft looking pair of dress slippers, earrings, and… a choker?

Sans found himself questioning just what sort of person would design a body for a person this way, but he could not complain, given that he apparently shared similar tastes. 

“Oh- she looks like a magical girl- kyah! So kawaii! Look at her- isn’t she just gorgeous?”

The first time I’m attracted to anything, and it’s this?

I really must be more screwed up than I realized- but still, I must admit…

She’s even more of a beauty than before she transformed- and even before then, she was still quite the sight!

“You’re right, Alphys- she really is gorgeous.”

Alphys smirked at him devilishly.

“So you found someone you finally like, huh? Took you long enough!”

Sans, being very good at hiding his expressions, did his best to mislead Alphys from the correct answer that she had just found.

“Not necessarily- I just agreed with you when you said she was pretty. It would be like you agreeing with me that Undyne is strong- that’s just a fact.”

Critical Hit!

“Oh yes- that’s a good point Sans- Undyne is strong! She’s also cool, and she’s got big muscles, and she’s so pretty too- wait… forget I said that part!”

Sans grinned.

“Of course- it is now completely erased from my memory. Though, I strong-ly suggest you get better at resisting the urge to talk about Undyne- You’ve got the urge part, now you just need the resist part!

Mentioning Undyne was enough to distract Alphys from the truth, helping Sans escape from being found out for a while longer.

It seemed that now that the body was complete, she began to stir for the first time since being taken by Alphys out of the dump.

With this wonderful news, Alphys was not able to stay worried for long- after all, their effort had paid off, and the robot was most certainly alive! 

“Oh, look Sans! She’s finally waking up- I’m so glad! This is such good news- I can’t wait to ask her some questions.”

“Me too.”

As the robot moved, she looked shaky- like someone waking after a long sleep. 

It was then that the pair heard her voice- it sounded partially robotic, which did make sense- but other than that robotic sound, her voice was soft, sweet to the ear, and currently, confused.

“Where…”

She moved to fully sit up- and when she did, her eyes fluttered open.

“O-oh my…”

Alphys and Sans looked at the girl’s eyes, which were just too interesting to ignore. Her eyes did look very similar to that of a human, but were the color and sheen of various metals, giving away her man-made nature. Gold, and perhaps platinum in one iris- copper and bronze in the other. Those eyes seemed to not fully be aware of their surroundings- likely because she was not yet fully awake.

“Where… am I?”

As one of her hands moved to her head and the other to the table, she tried to stand- wobbling first, and then nearly falling- however, Sans was quick to catch her.

“It’s alright- I’ve… I’ve got you.”

She really is… so light.

And her dress really is soft- who would have thought a metal would be able to soften like this?

“G-good save Sans! Now, how should we approach this…”

Sans carefully guided the robot back onto the table, where she sat back down.

“Thank… you.”

Once she was sat back down, she looked at the odd pair standing before her with a hint of surprise.

“Who… who are you?”

Sans grinned.

“Well, kiddo? We’re the ones who saved your life.”

---

That’s all I have written for now- and I even added a bit more, to get to a better stopping point. Did you like what you read? Now that I think about it, maybe that should be the subject of my first ever poll! Hmmm… let's see- how do I make one of those? Aha! Got it! Here’s your assignment, dear readers who read to the end! How did you like what you read? And would you want to read more?

I’ll be taking this practice test very seriously- the actual test will be next monday, so be sure you all studied the material! Lol.

Now, it’s time for me to pretend that I’m not a writer again, hiding in my little hobbit room with my blackout curtains, reading webcomics and playing video games- like only the best of the best procrastinators can! Contrary to how it may look, I actually have been busy a good deal- and aside from little things that pop into my head for a bunch of different stories, a lot of which aren’t related to Undertale, I haven’t been able to write what I want at all… 

Let's hope that changes soon- I hope to break out of my Procrastination Chrysalis and finally awaken as a Productive Butterfly! Even if only in my dreams… T^T

A girl can HOPE, right?

[arverst-aegnar]

Not anon, but this is ... well, it's basically what you wrote up there, just in different words.

I'd like to say "to be continued", but i've got so many other things i'm working on right now that that would be unjustified optimism. But if someone else feels inspired and wants to run with it, go ahead.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first time he saw the photo, scrolling through his feed, Aang thought he had imagined it. But he had been staring at it for five minutes now, and it was as unmistakable as it was incomprehensible.

The couple in the photo beamed at the camera like they had just won the lottery: cheeks flushed, eyes shining, wide smiles. Zuko's chin rested on top of Katara's head, which was pressed to his chest, her left hand splayed out to show off her glittering ring. The comments underneath were full of “Congratulations!” and “About time!” and “So happy for you!” and “You guys are perfect for each other!”

Perfect for each other? Aang couldn’t understand how anyone would think that. Last time he had seen them, they couldn’t stand to be in the same room together. (Well. Not so much the actual last time he’d seen them, but that had been under … extenuating circumstances.) Now that he thought about it, it had been a long time since he’d seen either of them: almost a year, in fact. But that was hardly enough time for them to get engaged.

He clicked on Katara’s page, half-expecting to find it was all a joke or a prank or something. Instead he found --

I’ve never spent my birthday surfing, eating ice cream, and stargazing over a fire on the beach before! Best part, though? Spending it with my amazing boyfriend who set it all up for me. I love you so much, babe!

Fell asleep at my desk, working on my latest case (what else is new?). I stumble out into the kitchen to try to pull myself together enough to go into work, and find Zuko in my kitchen making tea to go along with the doughnuts he picked up. How did I get so lucky, to find someone who takes such good care of me? <3

Is your boyfriend man enough to take over crocheting a baby blanket because your grandmother’s arthritis is flaring up? Mine is. 

Only sixty-three more hours until Zuko comes back from his “super-manly, dudes only” hunting trip with Dad and Sokka, but who’s counting? (Me. I’m counting.) 

Dinner at The Badgermole to celebrate Zuko’s birthday!! Thanks to everyone who helped me plan for this and keep it all a surprise!! 

On my way to Ember Island with the new CEO of Jasmine Dragon International for the opening of the first international Jasmine Dragon location! Zuko, you’ve been working incredibly hard to get everything ready, and I know your uncle is as proud as I am of what you’ve accomplished!

Coffee from Aunt Wu’s with Zuko to celebrate my first day at the new job!! Don’t tell Uncle.

If you’d told me a few months ago I’d be here, laughing so hard soda is coming out of my nose, I would never have believed you. It’s been an incredible, amazing, crazy first month with you, Zuko Rokura, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. <3

Almost every post was accompanied by a photo: her page was full of photos, mostly of her and Zuko. That was weird enough by itself – Zuko had always protested when other people tried to take his photo, and tried to hide in the background or something if he couldn’t get out of one – but for someone Aang had always thought of as grumpy and closed-off, he was smiling in an awful lot of them. He’d never liked physical touch, either, shying away even from Mai when the two of them were dating, but almost all of the pictures showed him and Katara hugging, holding hands, cuddling, kissing … 

Something unpleasant curdled in Aang’s stomach.

Zuko’s page was private, but a bit of searching found his personal Hawky account. There weren’t nearly as many tweets –

here's my list of places i can/cannot take my gf to on Ember Island, please rec places with NON-SPICY and/or SWT options

things wrong with @paintedlady: - so pretty i can't breathe when i look at her - compliments me too much - cold toes

blue, the autumn sky ocean waves in a typhoon your eyes in moonlight

-- but Aang didn't think he wanted to read much more anyway. He set his phone aside, and decided to avoid social media for the rest of the day, maybe even the week. 

It didn’t make much of a difference. Looking at the houses as he walked Appa had him thinking about where Zuko and Katara were planning on living. He stopped by the store to pick up some muffins and tea so he wouldn’t need to grab something before work in the morning, and wondered when Katara had got that new job. The way the sun glinted off the colored glass outside the crystal shop brought back that first terrible photo, with the beautiful shining ring on Katara’s hand that Aang knew would take him six months to afford, maybe more.

Was that why she and Zuko had gotten together? Surely not. Katara didn’t care about money like that. At least, the Katara he had known a year ago hadn’t.

When he picked up his phone again, it was lit up with notifications. Maybe some of his old friends were trying to get in touch, mend bridges, because of the engagement. He cringed in anticipation. 

He felt a combination of relief and exasperation upon seeing it was just a bunch of messages from his girlfriend.

Mai: (3:30pm) Ready to die of boredom after today. Dinner?

Mai: (3:47pm) Where are you?

Mai: (3:52pm) Don't tell me you're sulking about your ex. 🙄

Mai: (4:25pm) Is your phone dead?

Mai: (4:33pm) Whatever. If you have a clean suit, meet me at Bosco's. If I'm in a good mood by the end, we can get drinks at my place.

Aang sank into the couch, staring at the last text. He'd told Mai about his meeting with the financial advisor last week, and he knew she hadn't missed it when his third credit card declined at that boutique shop the other day. He'd only just gotten his first paycheck from his new job, and it wasn't enough for half an appetizer at Bosco's. And if she was already annoyed with him, he knew she would be ordering one of the priciest entrees on the menu -- where did she think the money was going to come from?

Picking up on his master’s unhappiness, Appa whined and thrust his muzzle onto Aang’s lap. He reached down and stroked the fuzzy white head. “I’m okay, buddy,” he murmured.

As he settled into petting Appa, Aang closed his eyes.

“Hi, sweetie!” Katara greets him with a smile and a kiss on his cheek. “How was the dog park?”

“Great! Appa made a bunch of new friends, didn’t you, boy?” The dog is giving Katara his own hello, which makes detaching the leash a little tricky, but Aang manages. His girlfriend giggles as Appa eagerly licks her face, which makes Aang laugh, too. He’d never doubt Appa’s loyalty, but there’s no denying he loves Katara almost as much as Aang does.

Katara eventually nudges Appa down. “How does pad thai for dinner sound? I made extra in case you wanted to take some for lunch tomorrow.”

Aang slides an arm around her waist as they walk to the kitchen and pulls her to his side. She fits perfectly. “I really worked up an appetite chasing Appa around the park today. I might just eat all of it!”

She snorts. “Okay, Sokka.” Aang laughs. “But I may have made some egg custard tarts for dessert, so keep that in mind.”

The table is already set and two plates ladled high with pad thai, fresh seaweed rolls, and Aang’s favorite dipping sauce. He pulls out Katara’s chair for her, and plants a kiss on her hair as she sits down. In between bites, they talk about their day, the coming week, and about whether Momo is getting fat.

“I was thinking about inviting Zuko and Mai over for dinner sometime,” Aang says, watching his girlfriend’s face carefully.

Her nose wrinkles. “I don’t know what Mai sees in him. Zuko’s such a jerk.”

“He’s really not that bad, once you get to know him.” Aang reaches out to take her hand. “But I won’t ask if you really don’t want them to come. I could just meet them for coffee or something.”

He watches Katara consider, idly rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand. She can be stubborn and hot-headed sometimes, but he trusts the sweet, caring side of her will win. 

After a long minute, she shakes her head. “Thanks, Aang, but it’s your decision who you invite to your apartment for dinner. If you want to invite Zuko and Mai over, then I guess I’ll just have to find a way to be nice to him for an evening. Even if he is a jerk.”

Aang smiles. He’s not planning on it being just his apartment for much longer, but that conversation can wait for another day. “I’ll tell him to be on his best behavior.”

He insists on clearing the table, and Katara pulls the tray of egg custard tarts out of the fridge. When he suggests a movie, he can tell she knows he’s really suggesting they cuddle on the loveseat and get distracted by feeding each other bits of egg custard tarts, but the sparkle in her eyes and the upward twist of her lips tells him she doesn’t really mind. 

Aang loses track of the movie fifteen minutes in. There’s egg custard on his shirt and in Katara’s hair, but they’re too busy giggling like teenagers to care. He cups her face in his hands, gently, reverently, cradling her like the precious gem she is, while she looks up at him with adoration. When he leans in to kiss her, the world around him disappears. It’s just him and her, like it’s supposed to be. Forever.

The sound of Momo knocking something off the coffee table jolted Aang out of his daydream. With a groan, he leaned forward, burying his face in his hands. He didn’t know what hurt worse: remembering that it wasn’t real, or that it never had been.

He hadn’t appreciated Katara properly. He knew that now. She’d been taking care of him for so long, he’d just assumed that’s how it always would be. She’d made it look easy, cooking and cleaning and shopping for the both of them, so he thought he could manage on his own. He’d been taken in by Mai’s glamor and thought if he did things her way, he would be more sophisticated, more mature. He’d been an idiot.

Aang pulled out his phone, and scrolled through his feed until he found the announcement again, and with it the information he wanted. In his first uncomprehending encounter, he had missed the tentative wedding date.

Six months. He had almost exactly six months to fix his finances, break up with Mai, and win back his forever girl.

I keep thinking about a cheating Flying Dagger.....

Zuko breaks up with Mai/Katara breaks up with Aang and so here is Aang now living with Mai and he's now realizing how much Katara actually did

Mai hates cleaning, cooking, and would rather spend the $$ to pay a maid, would rather eat out at expensive places and so on... Aang now has to really be responsible for things he never really gave a second thought towards

He really misses Katara, his friends are obviously pissed at him. He probably only knows what's going on in Katara's life thanks to friends of friends/social media and learns shes now with Zuko

First of all, thanks for using Flying Dagger. Together we can make this a thing!

Second, this sounds amazing. If you write this, puh-LEASE tag me in it!!!

[sublimecatgalaxy]

Truth or Dare- Part 2

Pairing: Elliot (Euphoria) x Jacobs!Reader

Summary: Reader wracks her brain over her past with Elliot, hurt by his actions. Reader and Nate have a heart to heart, both of them shocked by the pleasant interaction. Nate helps reader game plan her issues with Elliot.

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of trauma, angst, friendly Nate Jacobs.

Word Count: 3.6k

A/N: Idea from @apovanity87 love her to pieces. Also I have Elliot smut waiting to be posted. Super pumped.

He’s gotten taller since the last time I saw him; the last day of seventh grade.

I could tell that he recognized me, his breath getting caught in his throat as he switched his gaze to look between Rue and Jules, completely ignoring my presence all together. Ignoring me, ignoring his feelings, that hasn’t changed. He was visibly uncomfortable by my presence and he should be. I never thought that I would ever see him again. That I’d be forced to deal with all the shit that he put me through, how bad of a friend he was at the end. But there I was, standing in the middle of the hallway, remembering everything that happened between us.

I was his best friend.

Like the soul crushing best friend that you worry about losing every day. The friend that you would rather die than live without. The friend that you go to the minute something good or bad happens, the friend that you share firsts with when you’re unable to with anyone else. He was my date to every dance, my partner in crime, the person I spent every waking hour with for almost five years of my life. Every holiday, every New Years, every birthday. He was the only friend that my mother liked, the rest of the girls in my class annoying the shit out of her with the constant screaming and yelling, running around the house in her clothes. But Elliot and I were simple. We didn’t need much supervision and my parents even trusted him enough to sleep over whenever we wanted. They trusted him because they could tell how close we were, how much we needed to spend time with each other. Even when we were sick, my mother would go and pick him up and she would take care of us. We were always sick at the same time because of how much time we spent with each other. If I had the flu, so would he. If I had food poisoning, he most likely did too because we shared all of our food. Our friendship was beyond easy. We would just go on walks, talk and play games; like truth or dare.

The game wasn’t always innocent between him and I. Our lips lingering on one another's as we giggled in my quiet bedroom. To him, I’m sure it was just funny, but to me it was my life's mission. We were best friends, who had entered puberty around the same time, and had a three year long game of truth or dare running. How could you expect us not to kiss? How could you expect u not dare one to kiss the other?

The irony in learning about Jules, Rue and Elliot’s ongoing truth or dare game hurt me was terrible. It hurt me beyond belief, my eyes tearing up the moment that Jules asked him that stupid question. It hurt to watch him light up, his answer being ‘dare’, he always answered dare. He always loved the thrill and he always loved what my mind would come up with. Whether it be kissing me, stealing something from my brothers room, telling my mom a deep dark secret; anything. But watching Jules come up with a dare, her eyes gleaming, it broke my heart.

What hurt me more was the fact that he introduced himself to me like he didn’t know me. He asked my name, shook my hand politely and moved on with his day. Like he didn’t want our friends to know that we knew each other. That we were each other's whole world for so many years. And maybe he was embarrassed of me. Maybe he was still mad at me for moving and he wanted me to pay for all the pain that I caused him. Maybe I deserved it.

When I told him that I was moving away a few months before we did, he was mad.

He didn’t have a good home life when we were younger and I could be mad at him, but I silently hope that it’s better now than what it was then. He immediately wanted to go with me, but in seventh grade, being three hours away from each other with no cell phones meant that our friendship was over. I knew that he had depended on me and my family during our whole friendship. We were inseparable and my family always managed to give him what he never had, even though my family members were slightly on the fucked up side.

I thought I had given him enough time, given us enough time, to come to terms with the fact that I was moving and that things would be different. That we wouldn’t be able to fall asleep in each other's arms, sneak out to go out to eat at midnight, hide in my closet where we’d steal occasional kisses as we hid from my older brothers. I told him I would visit him, that my mom had already offered to drive me all the way back there to see him just so we could see each other. Just so we could hug each other and not have to constantly miss one another. I thought that I had proven to him that I didn’t want to lose him, but it wasn’t good enough.

He was angry and bitter. About the move, that I was leaving him, that I kept coming up with excuses for us to be friends despite the miles between us. He had made it very clear that, to him, I was betraying him. He had been abandoned by so many people in his life, so why not tack me onto the list of people that he hated. I didn’t understand it then, but I can understand now that it was easier to hate me than to feel the loss that he would’ve felt by me leaving.

That doesn’t mean I forgive him even in the slightest.

Looking between him and my friends, the truths and dares leaving their lips as I stood and watched, I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell out all of my feelings, completely bare myself to the whole hallway. I just wanted him to look at me, to understand. I wanted him to miss me, to ask me questions, to hug me. Jules could tell I was off, my eyes locked on the boy as he spoke. I was trying to pick out everything that had changed about him. Obviously his height, his hair, his eyes now much softer, the two tattoos that he always talked about getting sat beautifully on his soft skin. He had better style now and he had little facial hair but it suited him.

But what stuck out the most was his smile. It hadn’t changed in the slightest. Neither had his lips. Lips that I thought about for at least two years straight, my preteen heart completely head over heels for him. I guess I wasn’t so different now.

I eventually ran away, tears streaming down my cheeks as I avoided Rue and Jules’ yells behind me. By the time I got to my car, I was in a complete breakdown, my chest heaving as I folded in on myself. It was as if looking into his eyes, watching him distance himself from me, pretending to not know me, brought up everything that I felt for him. All of the anger, the love, the disappointment. The fact that I missed him for so long and he never answered my emails whenever I would reach out to him.

I watched him force himself not to care once and now he was doing it again.

So I left, I decided to be done with it. I decided that if he was going to distance himself from me and become best friends with my friends, that I would do the same. I was already done thinking about him, dwelling over him and being sad over him. I ignored Jules’ and Rue’s calls and texts, my bedroom door slamming by the time I got home. My face was immediately shoved into a pillow, the screams that left my lips slowly turned to sobs as I fell apart.

So, I guess I wasn’t done dwelling or being sad.

I eventually got up, my body throwing itself into a shower to wash the sadness off. It worked, sort of. But the anxiety returned the minute I heard Nate’s bedroom door slam in the room next to me. He scared me, he always has, but a part of me always wanted to go over to ask him what was wrong. To find some way to connect with him, get him to open up to someone that wasn’t Maddy. He needed a therapist, sure, but I might be the closest thing he could get to one willingly.

My hand hovers in front of his door, my hello kitty pajamas and damp hair will hopefully remind him I’m still his kid sister and to not hit me. Setting my knuckles against the door a few times, I gently call out his name, my feet shifting my weight nervously back and forth. I wait patiently for a few moments, my stomach swirling with anxiety as I hear commotion inside the room. Soon after, the door flies open, my eyes widening at Nate’s angry state. I back up immediately, putting distance between us as he glares down at me.

“What do you want?” He asks with a sneer, my eyebrows pulling together as I shake my head quickly, the words getting stuck in my throat.

“Uh, you said you wanted to talk earlier and then we got cut off so…” I trail off, my eyes flickering between his and the floor, worried that he might snap at any moment. A few beats go by, my teeth biting at the inside of my cheek as he blinks at me. He doesn’t say anything, but he moves out of the way, leaving a space for me to enter his room. My heart rate decreases, relief filling me as I step under his arm and into his room; a place where he rarely lets me enter. I hesitantly make my way over to his bed, sitting down with a huff.

“You look rough.” Nate points out, closing the door as he leans against the wood. He analyzes me, my eyes briefly rolling at his ‘compliment’. “What happened?” He asks, my eyebrows pulling together as I frown up at him.

“You don’t care. So why ask?” I ask with a simple shrug, no attitude to be had, just the truth. Nate rolls his eyes, a frown tugging his lips down as he kicks off the door, making his way over to me.

“Jesus, Y/n, I’m asking my sister why she looks like she got hit by a bus. Lighten up. I’m not always out to get you.” He snaps with a scoff, my heart thumping as he flops next to me on the bed. I sigh, realizing he’s kind of right and that maybe he was just genuinely asking if I was okay. I don’t want to trust that thought. Laying back on the bed next to him, my eyes don’t leave the ceiling as I speak.

“If I tell you, can you not get mad or find a way to yell at me and make me feel bad?” I ask quietly, my hands messing with the edge of my shirt as I wait for his response. Similarly to Maddy, I never knew what I was getting from him.

“Yeah.” He replies simply with a small sigh, his head turning to look at me as my bottom lip wobbles. His eyebrows pull together at the sight, not typically used to seeing me in a vulnerable state. My guard was always up around him, not wanting him to get an ‘in’, but right now, after the day I had, I couldn’t keep up the barricades that separated me from my brother.

“Do you remember Elliot?” I ask quietly, my voice barely above a whisper as his eyes squint, trying his hardest to piece the puzzle pieces together in his brain. After a moment, realization passes through his gaze, his head bobbing in a nod. “He must’ve moved here because he’s now best friends with Rue and Jules.” I whisper bitterly, a tear falling from my eye and onto the comforter below me. “He pretended to not know me, Nate.” I pout, Nate’s face softening briefly. “And I know we don’t talk, I know you don’t get me or my feelings or any thought process that goes through my head. But it fucking hurt. And no one knows about him. I never told Rue and Jules about him, I didn’t even tell Maddy.” I sigh, reaching up to rub my eyes with my fists. Nate lets out an exasperated sigh, his hand reaching over to pat the top of my head.

“Do you want me to punch him?” He asks briefly, a loud teary laugh leaving my lips at his words. “Cuz I could really use someone to hit right now, especially if they fucking deserve it.” He chuckles, my head shaking as I roll my eyes playfully. “You act like I didn’t see how mopey and miserable you were after we left. I’m not that terrible of a brother.” He points out, bumping his elbow against my side as I snort.

“You threw a ceramic bowl at my head.” I add, deadpanning as I look over at him. His mouth opens to say something, but closes quickly after realizing I’m completely right.

“That’s valid, yeah.” He whispers with a small laugh. “You broke my nose, don’t think I haven’t forgotten about that.” He remembers with an offended gasp, a smirk on his lips as I roll my eyes, rolling over onto my stomach to look at him.

“You deserved it!” I giggle, shoving him as he huffs. “But seriously, you don’t need to punch him. I’m sure he’d be surprised to see you though. He was always afraid of you when we were kids.” I explain, his eyes widening at my words, obviously surprised. “Yeah, all of my other friends were too busy being in love with you while he was busy being utterly terrified of you.” I snicker, my face falling to rest in my hands.

“I think that’s like my job as an older brother, right? Scaring the punks who are in love with my sister?” He asks, my head shaking as I frown sadly at his false memory of Elliot's feelings towards me. “It’s probably why he was so mad at you when we moved, Y/n.” He adds, my eyes looking at him intently to make sure he’s not fucking with me. Now, Nate’s stupid but he does have a point. That would explain a lot.

“Whatever.” I deflect, my mind deciding to put that on the back burner for the moment. “I don’t know what to do. Right now I’m just going to ignore them all.” I huff, his head bobbing in an agreeable nod. “I’m a real Jacobs’ now, ignoring my problems, hoping and praying that they’ll go away.” I chuckle, Nate’s eyes rolling as he grins.

But the grin doesn’t last long, his eyebrows pulling together in frustration, his lips pulling down into a conflicted frown. I watch as a series of emotions pass over his face, worry filling my belly as I wait for him to speak. “Nate?” I whisper softly, catching his attention as his eyes flicker over to me, his chest rising in a deep, strenuous breath.

“I don’t know how to tell you this without you thinking I’m fucking crazy or something. I can’t tell you why I know this or how. I just need to tell someone and I can’t talk to Aaron.” He huffs, my head nodding slowly in a silent promise. I watch as he bites the inside of his cheek nervously, his eyes focusing on his ceiling as he continues. “I think dad might be gay. No, I know he’s gay.” He says calmly, my eyes blinking at him rapidly as I process his words. I’m sorry… say what? “I can’t tell you yet why I think that, I just-” He cuts himself off, dragging a hand over his face as he sighs. “I’ve been holding onto that for a fucking while and I needed to tell you. I know I give you a ton of shit but you’re smart, so.” He trails off, my jaw slack as I think over his words.

You know what? Now that he mentions that, I can kind of see it.

If it was true, it would mean that he’s like the most stereotypical closeted gay. The type that shoves that side of him down, fucks women, and has a family that he ends up hating. He was a fucking wrestler in high school. That says enough about his sexuality. He never kisses my mother, hugs her, anything. He was very tough, never hugging or spending time with me especially but he was different with Aaron. He didn’t like Nate or I but he resented Aaron and I’ve heard him say it with my own ears. He seems to almost resent my mom sometimes too but I know that he got her pregnant with Aaron when they were still teenagers. They were barely even together too. My mom would tell me the story about how she originally met my dad watching him wrestle with his best friend. How in love she immediately was and how much she wanted him. I always thought that was sweet, but now with Nate’s confession, how sure he seems, the proof that he’s unable to tell me, it makes it seem a whole lot less sweet. That would also mean that my dad never really had the time to branch out, explore, get to know himself. And in the day and age that he grew up, I wouldn’t put it past him.

That’s sad.

“Y/n?” Nate’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts, my body flopping back onto the bed as I sigh. “You think I’m right, don’t you?” He asks, sitting up straighter to look down at me, his eyes hopeful. The worry on his face, how distraught he looked at school, it made me wonder how long he had been holding onto this for. Was it months? Years?

It made my issues with Elliot almost seem microscopic.

“Yeah, I think you have a valid case.” I whisper, a relieved sigh leaving Nate’s lips as he rests his head in his hands. I sit up, my eyes watching him as he lets out a shuttered sigh. I gently raise my hand, patting his back as he groans. “I’m glad you told me. Better have both of us worried about it instead of one of us just panicking silently.” I snort, his head nodding as he sends me a sorry smile.

“You’re not that bad of a sister, you know that, right?” He asks softly, my shoulders shrugging as my heart drops. He gently reaches over, wrapping an arm around my shoulder to pull me into his side. “You don’t get enough credit for putting up with me.” He whispers, a snort leaving my lips.

“I’m well aware. I deserve a fucking award for putting up with your ass, Nathaniel.” I giggle, poking his arm as he shoves me onto the ground with a chuckle. My body hits the floor with a thump, his eyes squinting as he laughs, a fake frown appearing on my lips. I pout as I writhe around on the floor, a fake cry leaving my lips. “Mom! Nate pushed me!” I yell, Nate immediately swearing under his breath, knowing that our mom is going to take that statement seriously. She had separated us during fistfights, so maybe it was kind of mean to bring her into this joke. Nate bursts out in laughter as he looks towards the door, the sound of my mothers footsteps up the stairs making us both freeze. Giggles leave my lips as Nate rushes off the bed, tripping over me to open the door before my mom can. I watch as she looks between Nate and I, her hands on her hips as the two giggle. She sighs with a quiet scoff, shaking her head.

“If someone would’ve told me that my two youngest kids would get alone, I’d be shocked.” She says simply, Nate turning to grin at me as I sit up, looking at my mom with a shrug.

“This only means we’re gonna start ganging up on you.” I wink at my mother, her eyes rolling as she turns around, leaving as quickly as she came. Nate looks back at me with a tight lipped smile, his eyes wide as he shuts his door. “I think we scared her.” I whisper, watching as he throws his head back in laughter. He leans against the door again, my laughter quieting down as I recall my previous issues. Nate picks up on the attitude change in the room, a small, sad sigh leaving his lips at the sight of my pout.

“I know there’s nothing we can do about dad right now but. The thing with you and Elliot can be handled." He points out suddenly, my intrigued gaze looking up at him, waiting. "Just kill him with kindness. Hang out with Rue and Jules, flirt with douchebags in front of him. Make him come to you.” Nate shrugs, his advice making my head spin with new thoughts and ideas. “We Jacobs’ know how to fake it till we fucking make it.” He winks, my head nodding knowingly as I try my best to come up with a plan in my head for the following school day. He was completely right. Nothing would piss Elliot off more than if I treated him like his presence doesn't impact me. If I treated him how he's been treating me. My thoughts don’t get very far before Nate is clearing his throat, nodding to the door. “Okay, sibling bonding time is over. Get out of my fucking room.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tumblr isn't letting me post this with tags for some reason.