#'i like this house because my friend lives here'

[help-help-i-need-an-adult]

This!

I love to sing. I’ve been singing on stage and at every opportunity since I was 5.

I have traveled the country to sing. I volunteered to be awake every day at 4am and not get home till midnight during the final week of a semester every year to do extra singing as a kid.

I’ve sang with opera companies and local theaters and ballet companies as a volunteer.

When I was the age I was doing this, my dad told me to do what I love for a living and I’ll never work a day in my life.

The thing is singing is work. A lot of it. And it’s hard work.

(There are some lucky people who could refuse to do a lot of the things I’m about to get into and still be successful professional singers, but I promise you, they are not the majority of musicians.)

Specifically, I hate reading sheet music. I can read it and I’m really good as sight reading. But I hate it.

I hate wearing makeup. The older you get, the more you’re expected to wear makeup.

I hate heels. And shaving. And a slew of other things you are expected to do all the time if you’re a singer as an adult female. Dresses and bras and spanks and UGH! No thank you.

And here’s another thing. I watched my older sister who also loves to sing pursue being an opera singer since the age of 13.

She worked a job as early as 14 to pay for her own piano lessons. She went to a fine arts high school and trained under one of the most prestigious soprano opera coaches in the world. She couldn’t get into a college of the same caliber, but studied music anyway.

I watched her bleach her hair to straw and then stop. Over eat and then starve herself with a scary diet. Worry about her makeup every damn day and wear heels around the house so she would be used to them. Fret over outfits being exactly what would be acceptable in her profession of choice to the point where she didn’t have clothes for clubbing with friends. She wore a pink sweater and white pencil skirt to go clubbing with a friend once. She looked like she was going to church.

She got her 1st degree in music education because she couldn’t audition for an opera company till she was 35, and then didn’t use it because she hated teaching children.

She proceeded to work retail and food service and hate it and be miserable and mean to everyone around her because of it.

She became so critical of MY singing and MY appearance because she assumed I’d follow her footsteps to being a professional singer. I couldn’t sing to myself while doing chores without her stopping me to tell me I’d done xyz wrong. I couldn’t buy and wear a dress for an event without her spending hours telling me why it was ugly and how I’d get raped in it. (Nevermind how many other people told me it looked lovely, that shit sticks in your head in a bad way.)

She tried to force me into a diet at 14. I was 5’5 and 130lbs soaking wet.

She called me lazy for not having to energy and drive to pay for my own piano lessons. Nevermind that my teenager level paycheck was going to pay for my own medical care.

I know she kept going back to school for music and was working on her doctorate at one point because our brother told me about it. I have no idea if she’s auditioned and been accepted by an opera company or not. I stopped talking to her over a decade ago because I couldn’t take her abuse anymore.

She took dad’s advice so literally that she worked herself into a terrible person. She was just as miserable as our dad who didn’t follow his dreams at all because of money if not more so.

I watched her doing these things to herself and others and by 14 I realized I did not want that for myself.

I tried a few different things. I thought I might be a lawyer or historian or even a teacher.

In the end, college was awful for me. I never finished despite getting a head start on it at 15. I worked retail jobs until I landed my current position.

I like it a lot. More importantly, I love the life it affords me.

I like the work. It’s fairly repetitive and easy to manage. It even is contributing to a cause I find to be important to bettering the world.

I like the people I work with. I get to work from home and watch tv while I work and have a cat on my lap. I almost never have to get dressed unless I have an in-person meeting. Virtual meetings? No one cares what I’m wearing as long as I’m fully clothed. I’m far from the only one who doesn’t shave or wear makeup despite it being a female dominated space. It’s LGBTQ+ friendly and is actually being ahead of the curve on inclusion in many respects (wild for being in a red state).

Sometimes I get paid to eat s’mores and go on scavenger hunts. My hours are flexible. I have almost 400 hours of saved up sick time I can use. My boss is human and accommodating for things like death in the family even though my family now is a found family.

My pay isn’t stellar because my job is “entry level” but it still pays better than most anything else I’m qualified for without a college degree.

And I can afford to sing.

I sing with 2 local choral ensembles regularly. One of them requires me to wear makeup and shave and wear costumes when we perform. One just wants me to wear all black and not smell bad.

I volunteer to sing with fellow alumni of the prestigious children’s choir I grew up with. Their appearance requirements are somewhere in between the other two.

And I love it because it’s for me. I could stop if one group or another ever stopped filling my cup. I don’t have to read sheet music daily or panic over auditions or spend every day working on pieces I hate.

It’s lovely, because I can still love it.

This isn’t to say you can’t love the grind.

One of my choral ensembles had a director (we recently lost her due to a move) who does singing, our specific kind of singing, for a living. She scrapes by financially with making learning tracks and teaching and coaching. Her travel schedule is crazy because the quartet she performs and competes with live all over the country and they perform and teach all over the world. She wears makeup all the time and cute clothes and is comfortable in heels and navigating stages without her glasses.

Unlike my sister, she’s happy doing these things, but it still looks exhausting.

I don’t want to have to live her schedule. I don’t have her energy levels and never have.

I value my peace and I want my music to be for me. Not a pay check. I want to be able to interpret music and put in artistry I like sometimes. But other times I’m perfectly happy just being part of the group that meets once a week.

Figure out if depending on your art to eat would make you hate it. If so, do something else that you like and can afford you the life and art you love.

I see a lot of people who tell young people–especially young people who are heading into college–that they should “do what they love.” And they’re right. You should do what you love.

But there’s a world of difference between doing what you love for you, and doing what you love for a paycheck. 

I went to undergrad for graphic design and 3-D design–art and more art, I usually say–and I loved it. You know what I didn’t love? Trying to collect my fees from clients. Trying to meet unrealistic, over-simplified or over-specific briefs from people who didn’t know what they were talking about. Coming home, having worked creatively all day, with no creative juice left for the things I wanted to do.

You know what I would tell you instead? Do something that you can be interested in, with people you like.

You don’t have to love it. Loving your work can be a lot, and it often means you have to live in your job 24/7. Some people can do that. Not everyone can, or should.  But if you can find work that’s interesting enough that it doesn’t feel tedious, and people you can enjoy spending your 9-5 with, and you can make money, that’s great! It means you can do the things you love for you.

I’m in law school now. It’s interesting work, and difficult, and I like doing it. I like how complicated it gets, and I like the stories it tells. But I don’t come home and read law journals for fun. I come home, and I sculpt, and I draw, and I paint, and I read. I do these things for me.

And I love it. 

[kooqitas]

𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝓾, 𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓪 𝓬𝓵𝓪𝓾𝓼

#pairing: santaclaus!scoups x reader ♡ smut [18+ mdni], pwp #warnings:ok, maybe i went a little over the moral line again but...

[MINORS DNI]

you were never a child who believed in santa claus, consequently you became an adult who didn't teach children about the old man, it was strange, you saw your friends from school having children and getting married and decorating christmas trees and you never understood why they cared so much about something superficial... of course, as the years went by, the act of living alone in another city completely affected the christmas spirit that you no longer had! of course, you're not some kind of grinch, you don't destroy anyone's christmas, you're just not involved in this celebration.

so this is the situation: it's past midnight and you're lying on the couch in your red pajamas while eating wine and a panettone, and yes, that was the height of your christmas spirit! you were watching some random christmas movie, but to be honest, you couldn't even tell the plot since you weren't paying the slightest attention.

you decided to go to the kitchen just to get another bottle of wine.

and that's when things went wrong.

you heard a loud noise as you left the kitchen, followed by a rustling of clothes. oh great, someone would rob your house on christmas day. okay, you're not the biggest fan of the date, but damn, doesn't the thief have a family?

you grabbed a knife, praying he didn't have a gun, but when you got to the kitchen you found only a hot man on your couch- what?

you screamed, he screamed, it was pathetic!

"who the fuck are you? why are you in my house?"

"what do you mean, who am i? santa claus!"

"fucking santa claus, get out of my house now!"

and you pushed the guy out, but when you turned around there he was again on your couch. what the hell was that.

"you know it's not very polite to kick santa claus out of the house, right?"

drunk. you were definitely drunk.

"hey, hey, hey, young lady!" the supposed santa claus yelled at you. "don't turn your back on me."

"dude, fuck you!"

santa rolled his eyes, extending his hand to you and giving you a smile. "you can call me seunghcheol."

"fuck you!"

at that point, you just accepted that you were delirious. santa claus doesn't exist. if he did, he wouldn't be in your house, much less so... hot and young.

"i can read your thoughts, respect me!" seungcheol scolded you, making you roll your eyes and laugh, doubting the telepathic power of the supposed santa claus. "i already understand that you want my dick in you, stop thinking about it!"

"wait. what?"

"damn, you really don't believe that i'm santa claus?" and you definitely denied it. who the fuck would believe that crazy story? "i'm here because someone wrote a letter saying that you needed an unforgettable night of sex."

"fuck, your job pays you so little that you became a prostitute?"

you laughed, and in the next second, santa claus was in his underwear. no, he didn't remove anything, they just disappeared and damn, he was so hot, you really wouldn't mind a night of sex with this crazy guy using inexplicable magical techniques.

"i can still read your mind!" he scolded. "you know what they say about girls who don't behave?"

"that they don't get christmas presents?" you scoffed.

"exactly. but apparently you're an exception, since i'm here today to give you a present... the best one."

"are you going to make me work in your toy factory?"

"no. your toy will be my dick making you dumb."

and the next minute you were on your knees for santa claus, his red underwear making it clear that he liked the present as much as you did.

......

okay guys don't kill me… should i finish it?

[cherryswisherz]

KARMIC BALANCE ✷ CHAPTER III

✷WARNINGS cursing, pining??? idk. mention of the nd game and h*annah h*dalgo

✷NIYAH SPEAKS aye we back! this one is just paiges pob

✦✦✦✦

SENIOR YEAR

We lose to Notre Dame every year. 

Every. Fucking. Year. 

And now that I’m home in Storrs, looking at everyone as they try to mask their disappointment, I feel the loss even more. 

Which is why I’m walking around in the middle of night, the December air biting into my skin. I can’t stop thinking about everything that went wrong. Why everything went wrong. 

I honestly have no fucking clue why, but I know what went wrong. Everyone does. Our defense was lousy, our shots were horrible, we got too tired. I could go on, but that won’t fix anything. 

I find myself at Xavi and Janes house before I realize it. I tell myself that it’s because Yanna’s there, and not because of the wisdom that Xavia seems to have about every aspect of life. 

When Xavia opens the door wearing a smile and a moo moo, I ignore that bubly feeling in my chest and ask to come in. 

Once inside, I see her apartment is almost completely dark. The big lights are off, the living room being lit only by a candle and two lamps in opposite corners. 

“So, what’s up P?” Xavi asks, running her hands down the silk of her moo moo. “It’s almost midnight and you’re usually dead to the world by 9.”

Knowing that Xavia knows my bedtime makes me smile for reasons I don’t want to admit. 

When I first met her, Xavia was like a mystery. She was funny and smart and absolutely fucking beautiful. She’d apologized for making a false assumption about me. It was the first and only time anyone had ever done that and I never forgot it. 

When she and Jane started coming around more, I forced myself to swallow the want I had to learn more about her, to learn from her because I knew that if I’d gotten to the root of who she was, I’d be even more enthralled than I already was at that point. 

Eventually my heart stopped beating so fast around her. I’d stopped avoiding being within 3 feet of her and trained myself to treat her like I’d treated all my other friends. 

Because that’s what she is. My friend. 

It didn’t matter that her not worshipping ground I walked on excited me. It didn’t matter that almost every conversation we had alone rested in the back of my mind at all times. 

Xavia is my friend and that’s all she’d ever be. 

“Yeah I know. I just can’t get the ND game outta my head and I thought Yanna would be here to talk to.”

I’m lying and I know it. Whether Yanna was here or not, I would have found a way to talk to Xavi. I always did. Not because I wanted to be around her, but because she always had the answer to whatever problem that I have. Anyone would do the same if they’d stopped to pay attention when she was trying to get a word in. 

“Oh, yeah, she’s not here.” Xavi pointed a thumb to the back of her house, where Her and Jane’d bedroom’s were. Her locs swayed with the turn of her head. “Her and Jane went to Urgent Care cause she hit her shoulder on the wall and-” She waves her hands anxiously, as if she doesn’t feel like explaining a complex situation. “It was a whole thing. I’m sure you’ll hear about it tomorrow.”

I know I should be worried about my teammate who can’t seem to stay healthy. And I am. I make a mental note to check in on Yanna at some point, but right now, I’m thinking of a way I can stay and talk to Xavi without making it a thing.

“Oh…” is what I came up with. 

“You can talk to me?” Thank. God. “ If you want.”

Of course I fucking want. It’s all I’ve done for the past three years. 

I want to be a better person. 

I want to be 19 again and do everything differently. 

I want to win the championship this year. 

But all those wants are null and void for the biggest want of all. 

I want to get drafted to the WNBA.

And I’ve made  too many shitty decisions to get there to just throw it all away. So what if I’m miserable?

“Uh, yeah. That’s cool.” I play off my desperation and take a seat on her orange bean bag. 

Xavi plops down on the couch in front of me, crossing her legs and folding her hands. All her attention is on me and a part of me feels like I don’t deserve the attention of this amazing woman. But a bigger part is screaming that this is how it should be. 

Me, admiring every part of her, and her, willing and ready for anything I give her. 

Of course, in this situation all she wants is to know what’s on my mind, but I would give her whatever else she could think up. 

“So whatcha thinkin ‘bout?”  She asks sweetly. 

Her voice isn’t obnoxiously high. It���s kinda deep and mellow, just like she is.

“Um… I just can’t get over everything.” I shake my head and look at my hands. Hands that are supposed to get me everywhere I want in life.  “Like, I get why we lost. What we did wrong on the basketball front. But we were off the other day. We’d run those plays over and over again in practice. Studied film. We should have been prepared, but we were just off.  Like no matter how hard we tried, we just couldn’t get there.”

Xavia nods her head like she understands everything I’m saying. 

“Like everything was against you guys?” she questions. 

“No. I don’t think that anything was unfair. I think that our all just wasn’t enough.”

“Well, I know you can’t speak for anyone else, and I’d never ask you to. But why do you think you were off that night?”

She sounds like a therapist. The kind that isn’t just trying to fix you, but trying to understand you. The kind that hangs on to every word, but not to hold it against you.

“I don’t know. I just kept getting madder and madder and it threw me off. I did everything I was supposed to do.”

She looks confused now. “What do you mean ‘supposed to do’?”

“Like everything I thought was right. Everything I've always done.”

“Maybe that’s the issue.” 

Now I’m confused. 

“What?”

Following my routine has taken me and my team to the Final Four, and for Xavi to tell me it’s wrong stings a little. 

“Maybe doing everything you’ve always done isn’t the answer. Paige, you’re a somewhat mature adult. Do you honestly think you’re right all the time?”

What does she mean ‘somewhat’ mature? 

“...No?”

“Right.” Xavi sounds so sure of herself, leaning in and starting to talk with her hands like she does when she’s talking about her coursework or something equally as interesting to her. “It’s impossible to be right in every situation because every situation is different. When you throughout your daily life, do you treat every person the same? Do you go into every conversation with the same mindset, expecting the same outcome?”

I mean most people are the same, so what else am I supposed to do?

“Kinda, yeah.”

“Well that’s no bueno, babe.” She huffs out, pointing at me. Then, she entrances me again with her hands as she speaks. “ Every human is different. They have different pasts, and different views. Even if the difference between one person and another is miniscule, it’s there. And that difference is why it’s so important that we don’t generalize people.”

I know she’s stopped talking but I’m so caught up in her voice, and her hands and her face, and her to contribute to the conversation.

“Are you understanding?” She asks, seemingly genuinely concern with whether I’m comprehending what she’s telling me. 

And the answer is no, I’m not understanding. Whether there’s a differenc eor not, each person want the same thing and should be dealt with the same, based on what they want. 

This is the code fucking live by,a nd she’s sitting her debunking it in the most intellectual, attractive way possible.

“Not really.”

“Okay so like…” She sighs, pauses to think and then continues. “Do you remember when we first met? When I assumed you were a whore like alot of college athletes are?”

The reminder of our first interaction brings a calmness to me. I remember everything abou that night in her dorm. She wore sweats with no bra, and I’m pretty sure she was stoned.

“Yeah of course. You apologized to me that night and it kinda weirded me out.”

“Right.” Xavia snapped her fingers, bringing me out of my memory. “I apologized to you, because I generalized you and made an assumption based on one aspect of your identity. And I think it weirded you out because you’d generalized every person who’d made an assumption about you. I guess it’s rare that people apologize after being an asshole to you.”

It was rare. So rare that she’s the only person who’d ever done it.

“Okay…”

“So. Incourpurating that into basketball. Every team is different.”

I nod my head to let her know I was following. “Of course.”

“Okay and so every player on every team is different too.”

She lost me.

“No.” Now I’m the one leaning forward, talking with my hands. “They all move as a team. Yes, they have differences, but they’re all working together.”

“I see it differently.” She shrugs like she’s the master of basketball and done copious amounts of research on the psyche of an athlet.  “I feel like every player on that court moves individually. Do they play for the same team, and have the same goal? Of course. But they’re all different. They all have different thoughts and concerns and ideas. You said that girl Hannah was the head of the snake, but I think you should see it differently.”

“How so?”

“Instead of thinking of a team as one snake, think of it like… Like cheetahs!”

“Cheetahs?”

“Cheetahs.” She finalizes. “Once the mama cheetah gives birth, she trains her cubs to survive in any situation. To adapt to any surroundings. She teaches her cubs how to kill different animals, to hide, all that. Eventually, the cubs form a sibling group and go out together to execute everything their mother has taught them. Are you getting the analogy?”

When she’s explaining it in laymans terms, of course I get it. She could probably explain thermodynamics to me and I’d understand it fully. Xavia just has a way of making everything in life seem so simple. It’s wonderful, really.

“Yeah. Like the coach is the mother, the players are the cubs.”

“Right. But each cub is different. There’s a more dominant one, there’s submissives and then theirs the runts. Each one has to edit their mothers lessons to make it useful to them individually. Does that make sense?”

I’ve decided that she’s blown my mind enough for tonight, once again by being right about everything. So I just chuckle and dismiss the topic.

“How do you come up with this shit, Xavi?”

She laughs like a seductress and leans back on the couch, “I dunno. I read alot.”

You read alot? Reading alot has given you the ability to break down a sport like you’ve played it your whole life?

“Well thank you for sharing your knowledge with my dumbass, oh wise one.”

I stand up from the beanbag and make my way to the door, ready to take my exit.

“I’m not wise, I just see from a different point of view than you. Sometimes you gotta get outta your head.”

“I guess.” I sigh, then open my arms. “Thanks, Xavi.” 

She steps into me, her head just below my chest and wraps her arms around me. Her body is warm, but the silk she’s wearing cold. She doesn’t hug me tight or aggressively. Just stands there with her arms around my waist. 

It feels terrifyingly comfortable. 

“Anytime P.” she mutters, pulling away and ushering me out of her home. 

The whole walk back, my mind is on her and everything she said. 

How is it that this girl that is the exact opposite of everything I’m looking for, seems to be everything I need?

✷TAGLIST @patscorner @riyahtheballer @mattslolita @thaatdigitaldiary @janaelalfysblunt @mrsengstler @kmoneymartini @sageworld

@darkskinchristiandiorpostergirl @justliketoreadsowhat @pb524830 @pb524830 @dnftpn @sierrale8ne @numberonepartyanth3m

@pppaaiiiggggeeeeee @uwupaige @paigeluvvr @colorthecosmos444 @authentic-girl03 @makethemhoesmad @lovegalor333 @mrsarnold

@sellasstories @heart4caitlin @avvwritesstufff @st4rrzynight @bueckersp @paxaz535 @thelightknight21 @paxaz535

[imagitory]

This thought process that Scrooge apparently only changed because the Ghost of Christmas Future scared him s**tless will never not annoy me. Like, wow, way to prove you haven't read the book OR watched any of the dozens and dozens of film adaptations in ages.

From the OG novel --

"They went, the Ghost [of Christmas Past] and Scrooge, across the hall, to a door at the back of the [school]house. It opened before them, and disclosed a long, bare, melancholy room, made barer still by the lines of plain black deal forms and desks. At one of these a lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire; and Scrooge sat down upon a form, and wept to see his poor forgotten self as he used to be."

Scrooge was forced to reflect on the lonely Christmas's of his childhood and he wept, in the company of the first Ghost. Do you think the man we saw at the start of the novel would've ever lamented his childhood circumstances in front of anyone, let alone an entity he'd only just met? I daresay his own nephew Fred had never seen his uncle cry before. And as this scene plays on and Scrooge also remembers how much his younger self was cheered up by the books he'd read -- Robinson Crusoe, Ali Baba -- he comes upon this thought:

"I wish," Scrooge muttered, putting his hand in his pocket, and looking about him, after drying his eyes with his cuff: "but it's too late now." "What is the matter?" asked the Spirit. "Nothing," said Scrooge. "Nothing. There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something: that's all."

Yeah! THIS early on in his journey, only a few short pages after meeting the Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge has already gotten to the point of connecting his miserable experiences with those of a stranger. THIS early on in the story, Scrooge already shows the capacity for EMPATHY. And as Scrooge's time with the Ghost goes on, this pattern continues -- he sees his beloved deceased sister Fan coming to bring him home one Christmas and thinks of his nephew Fred; he sees his younger self loving his work under Fezziwig and remembers his own loyal employee Bob Crachitt. It's only when the Ghost shows Scrooge his beloved ex Belle living her life out happily with a husband and children that the old miser shuts him out, but that doesn't reverse or negate the changes that have already started happening inside of Scrooge. Even while first meeting the Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge's whole demeanor has changed:

"Come in!" said the Ghost. "Come in! And know me better, man!" Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this Spirit. He was not the dogged Scrooge he had been; and though the Spirit's eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them.

Toward the end of their meeting, Scrooge confesses to the Ghost of Christmas Present:

"Spirit," said Scrooge submissively, "conduct me where you will. I went forth last night on compulsion, and I learnt a lesson which is working now. Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it."

And then yeah, while with the Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge does learn more and he changes even further! Because of the empathy that's been nurtured in him from his time with the first Ghost, when the Ghost of Christmas Present says he believes that Tiny Tim will die in the future, Scrooge is dismayed.

"No, no," said Scrooge. "Oh, no, kind Spirit! Say he will be spared." "If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race," said the Ghost, "will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief.

Recently I visited a friend of my mother's for the holidays, and she said something to the effect of "you know this story is a fairy tale because greedy billionaires like Scrooge don't even get scared into becoming better people." But this is my point all the way along -- as much as there are elements of Scrooge getting scared straight in both the book and its many adaptations, Christmas is not about fear: it's about love. And throughout his time with the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present, Scrooge learns once again how to love. And yeah, perhaps this sort of thing would never work on the likes of Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, but this isn't about them: it's about Ebenezer Scrooge, a person who became wealthy in large part because he grew up largely alone and unloved and lacking in control of his own life, which prompted him to hoard money at the expense of nurturing loving relationships in a vain attempt to protect himself from the cruelties of the world and in doing so elected to perpetuate those cruelties and then some. This is about a man who has put his own self-preservation -- hell, not even his own life, considering how miserly and lacking in comfort he lives -- over everything else and has forgotten to take stock of the fact that money is useless when one is dead and that truly only one's goodness and love will live on past their deaths. The mere memory of Fezziwig brought youth, warmth, and love back to Scrooge, making him speak like his younger self for the first time in years -- do we ever once hear anything from Scrooge about his terrible father, who left him at boarding school year upon year? The only mention of Scrooge's father in the entire novel is a single offhand line from Fan about how he's gotten better and decided to let Scrooge come home that one Christmas.

Terrible people die alone and can in time be forgotten. Wonderful, remarkable people are loved and cherished forever -- and there are so many of those such people in the world, from all different backgrounds and classes, most of whom are strangers who you've never met and seemingly would have no motive to be kind to, aside from them simply being as human as you. This is what Scrooge learns from the first two Ghosts.

"Scrooge only changed because he saw how nobody mourned him after his death" NO NO NO NO. You don't get it! The last spirit only worked because of the spirits that came before softening him up! If the spirits had shown him dead and ungrieved only it would not work. As the night goes on amid the visits Scrooge is already visibly changing. He's different after the first spirit and even more so after the second. And it's because of how much he's already changed that the final spirit is able to succeed

[arilevenatz]

You are

Pairing: pirate!jongho x town girl!reader

Genre: fluff

Word count: 9.6k

Warnings: Violence, kidnapping, abuse (not done by the boys) minor character death, jongho is a shy baby, lmk if I missed any!!

AN: I feel like screaming. This has been in my drafts for more than a year when the 'Everything' MV came out. The MV broke me and I was a crying mess. If y'all couldn't tell, my bias is jongho and I have seen that there are not that many good jongho fics in any platform. So I have taken the initiative. (Even tho idk if it's good or not) Anyway if y'all wanna be tagged just reply with your @ . AND please reblog and like it helps me a lot. I kinda fucked up the ending so y'all are free to imagine whatever the fuck y'all want

Nassau, an island which was claimed by the crew of Halazia. The ship was giant and very beautiful as well.

One slight issue,

It's a pirate ship

The pirates of the Halazia are the most feared of them all. They are known for not having any mercy towards any ship they come across.

Yes, even the ones with a white flag.

But Nassau is an island which is owned by them, so it is common for the people living near the harbor to see them come and go.

I, however lived further in the town, so I have never really seen them. Not that I want to as well. I'm scared they might kill me.

Though I doubt that will happen cause they have never really killed any innocent here in Nassau. Not that I've heard that is.

Waking was hard. Going to greet the family was harder. Answering their dumb questions was the hardest.

They say the youngest kid is always the most loved of them all. Not in our case.

We are big on family. And the worst part? We all live in the same plot, but in different houses. Me, being the youngest child in the house, I'm a personal punching bag.

Stuffs like "your brothers are doing so good, you need to follow them aswell" and "your brothers and sister have taken majors in science, you will too I hope" were normal to me.

Ever since I was young, my mom taught me.

If you wanna live in this house without getting called out every time, you have to fake a smile. Please everyone, child. Because of your father, you have to please everyone.

That was then, but now she has changed. She was forced to do so by these monsters in the name of people. I kinda miss her…

I heard my name being called. Looking at the source I saw my mom.

"I know you just woke up but, can you go to the port market and get us some things?"

"Mom, I just woke up..."

"Listen to your mom kid"

I looked at the source, great, my other aunt. Blinded by the pride of marrying a rich doctor, she thinks she is the head of the family, although she is the youngest sibling of my dad.

"yes yes, she will go, won't you kid?" her eyes pleaded to me, not wanting her child to be scolded in the morning.

"yes ma"

I took the money and left.

Being the youngest, I was always called "kid" or "child". It's weird I know, but i don't even care anymore.

The market's a bit far. I have to cross a little outskirt of a jungle. Though I don't have to cross the jungle, it's still a bit scary. But it's dawn, so it's alright right now.

After the jungle, a little walk by some alleyways and then it's the market!

The market was one of my favorite places to be in. Just look at it! It's so lively and colourful. It's so nice that it can make me forget about home for some time.

Ok let's check the list of items. Chili powder, parsley, biscuits and rum.

Hah! That stupid uncle of mine! How can he make a young girl like me buy alcohol early in the morning?!

I eventually got all the supplies and also got the rum. The shopkeeper was my dad's and uncles's friend so he gave me the rum I wanted, but I doubt he would've if he didn't know me. I mean come on, who gives alcohol to a young girl?!

"That will be ten bronze kid"

I handed him the money when suddenly I heard a high pitched laugh

"jongho, at least try to bargain once in your life! Do you or do you not want to save money??"

Looking in the direction, I saw two men. One has black hair, the other one has black and white hair.

What a strange hair colour...aren't his parents dissapointed?

Both of them are dressed in big tunics and black leather pants. The tunics loosely tucked in their pants.

"shopkeeper-nim, can we get this rum?"

The oreo guy handed the shopkeeper a note, seemingly a list.

"No mates, the last one was taken by this lady here"

He pointed at me. Damn dawg why you gotta throw me under the bus?

It was now when the two men looked at me.

"Aren't you too young to drink?"

"Land Ahoy!!!!"

The booming voice of the first mate who is also the quarter master, can be heard from below the deck. He had just spotted an island. Their island,

Nassau.

Beautiful island, with beautiful people and beautiful owners.

hehe

"Mingi, drop the anchor!"

"done!"

"captain, we need to scavenge", the quartermaster and first mate of Halazia, Seonghwa stated to their captain, the one and only, Hongjoong.

"I'm aware. Is the scavenger team ready?"

"I have already concerned Wooyoung, him and his team are ready to go"

"Good"

"Captain!"

The captain and quartermaster flinched by the voice of the surgeon.

"San! You unruly swine! What if the the captain got scared and let go of the helm?!", the quartermaster scolded the younger guy.

"Seonghwa do you mean that I get scared by small things?"

The two of the other males in the room nodded.

"all of you are scared cats"

"Bitch-"

All three males in the room flinch by the sudden intruder.

"Yunho, do you want me to order Yeosang to cut of your hair in your sleep?"

"Captain it was a joke!!"

"Anyways, captain, I came here to inform you that Mingi needs materials to fix the ship, however, he has work to do, so someone has to go on land with Wooyoung to get the supplies", San, the surgeon states.

The captain has now successfully ported the ship and now can let go of the helm. He turned to his crew and told them to follow him. And he went towards the maindeck.

"Send Jongho. He does not have any work for the time being"

"ok!"

San sprinted away almost in a comical way while muttering something which sounded suspiciously like a "smooth operator~"

The battlemaster was in the arms locker. The giant locker was home to weapons for the battlemaster as well as guns for the master gunner, Yunho.

The battlemaster, Jongho, was busy cleaning his swords. Call him a clean freak but he needs to clean all his swords and cutlasses. Not because he is a clean freak, it's cuz a certain someone will scold him if he does not.

"Do you wanna build a snowman?"

"San are you a child?"

The first mate gets inside the locker and sits beside the younger male.

"I am not, but I know a certain someone is though"

"You swine"

The crew of the Halazia is known as the scariest crew outside, but inside the ship, they all are one braincell sharing idiots.

"Anyways, captain ordered you to do to port and get some stuff with wooyoung-ie" The younger boy looked at the first mate with his boba eyes. "what stuff?"

"mingi needs some stuff to repair the broken and probably for his new invention and shit"

"Ok then”

“meat, coriander, honey, alcohol and maybe some broccoli for the soups"

"Wooyoung, why do you need alcohol? Are you gonna drink again?"

The cook of Halazia, wooyoung and the young battlemaster, jongho are set out for an adventure, an adventure to find the specific kind of alcohol for the surgeon of the ship, San.

"What? No! I am getting it because Sanie asked me to!

This morning, San had barged in the kitchen and asked wooyoung to get a special kind of rum, which helps to clean cuts.

Yeah the young boys have no idea how to find it…

"aren't you too young to drink?" jongho asked the girl they just came across in the shop.

The girl didn't say anything and just stayed silent.

"jongho-ya you scared the poor girl"

"No I did no-"

"you can have it"

Both the males looked at the young girl. She has her hand out and in her hand resides the rum bottle.

"You can have it"

"No no we ca-" jongho was cut of by wooyoung. "sure we'll take it! How much was it again?"

"ten bronze"

Wooyoung handed the girl ten bronze and was about to take off, but jongho held him back feeling guilty. I mean come on, the girl probably had her own hardships buying it, and then she got harassed by his hyung.

The younger guy went and handed 5 more bronze. The girl merely looked at his hand confused.

"sorry, he is just immature"

The girl however still remained silent and immobile.

Jongho waited a few seconds and then took the girl's hand and placed the coins there.

"thank you and...Sorry"

The girl looked at the coins and then looked at him. And then she said "I don't need these extra coins, but in return, you both have to go and buy the alcohol for me”

They do it for the girl. The two men are now inside another store, away from the previous. This store is the only other store which sells alcohol here in the port market. But the owner of this shop doesn't know your dad or uncle, so he will not give alcohol to her as she's a girl. So she cleverly asked the two men to go inside and buy it for her.

Wooyoung hands you the additional bottle of rum with a dramatic flourish, a smirk on his face. "Here you go, little one. Consider this our way of helping you out." He smiles at me, while Jongho looks on, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

You look at him giving you two bottles when you asked for one. “I only needed one tho.....”

"We added one more. Consider it a gift from us. Just... don't tell anyone we did this, alright? We'd be in real trouble if anyone knew” Wooyoung said as he put the bottles in your bag properly. You nod at him slightly.

Wooyoung smiles slightly at your nod "Smart girl. And hey... what's your name? I'm wooyoung, that's jongho. Seems like Nassau's been tough on you, hasn't it? If you ever need anything else-"

jongho slightly nudges him to stop and get back to work. He gently pushes Wooyoung aside before he can offer any more unsolicited kindness to the girl. The last thing they need right now is rumors spreading about us befriending locals.

Jongho shoots Wooyoung a warning look before turning his attention back to you "Remember what we said - keep quiet about this. And stay out of trouble, yeah? Nassau's not safe for little ones like you-" he catches himself realizing how condescending that sounded "-Like-”

“Little ones?” You were offended. You hated when someone called you little. It triggered you so much. You family calling you ‘kid’, ‘child’ was enough, you don't need these two weirdos calling you little.

He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly "You know what I mean. Young. Innocent. Uninvolved in pirate life. Just... be careful, alright? We don't want anything happening to anyone”

You wanted to ask why they were so interested in pirate life but they were already turning back.

As Wooyoung and him walk away, jongho can't shake the feeling that he has made things awkward between them and the girl. He glances back over his shoulder, noticing her standing there, holding the extra bottle of rum like a precious treasure. "Woo, did you see that?”

Wooyoung follows his gaze, a thoughtful expression on his face "Aye, I did. She's a tough one, ain't she? For a little thing, she's got guts." He pauses, then adds in a lower tone

"And she's got a way of getting under your skin, too. Mark my words, Jongho - that girl's going to cause us trouble one day." He chuckles to himself, but there's a hint of seriousness beneath his words.

"Let's just hope it's the good kind of trouble.”

Back in the ship, the surgeon, San runs up to them, asking them what took them so long. Woo replied "we had to fight a little girl for the last bottle of rum”. San raises a concerned eyebrow.

“In what world do ‘little girl' and ‘rum’ co-operate in one sentence? That sounds highly inappropriate”

Jongho sighs and shakes his head disapprovingly at Wooyoung's exaggeration. "Don't go spreading tales now. We weren't fighting anyone." He glances at San with weary eyes. "Just... ran into a stubborn lady on an errand.”

San raises an eyebrow skeptically, but his lips twitch in amusement. "'Stubborn lady,' huh? Sounds like someone's been distracted by pretty eyes and a cute face." He teasingly pokes Jongho in the ribs.

Wooyoung covered his mouth with his hands dramatically and replied "no wonder he was not cold but gentle towards the girl. I knew you had it in you!”

Jongho rolls his eyes, trying to maintain his composure despite San's teasing. "Shut it, San. It's not like that. We just didn't want any trouble, that's all." He shoots Wooyoung a warning look, silently telling him to keep his mouth shut.

But it was true, he felt that those eyes held sadness. He has seen war, he has been in dilemmas and has fought with his inner urges. He knows what loneliness looks like. and he saw that in those girl's dull eyes. He stands on the deck watching the sunset paint the sky in fiery hues, but he can't help but replay the encounter with the girl in his mind. The ache in her eyes, the defiance in her stance - it echoes the battles he's fought within himself.

He remembers the way the girl stood her ground, refusing to back down even when faced with two grown pirates.

As the captain, Hongjoong managed more than just his crew; he also oversaw a network of loan sharks. These were the people he trusted with his money, providing them the means to distribute loans in exchange for a share of the profits. Now, it was time to settle. A meeting with the loan sharks of Nassau was pending, and Hongjoong intended to reclaim what was rightfully his.

Rather than meeting on neutral ground, Hongjoong and Seonghwa decided to summon the loan sharks to their ship. It was a calculated move, one that ensured the meeting would take place on their terms and under their control. (Hot men)

The captain’s quarters were cold and dark, the flickering lantern casting shadows across Hongjoong’s features. Seonghwa stood by the door, arms crossed and expression hard, his presence as commanding as the captain’s. The loan sharks shifted uneasily before them, knowing this was not a meeting to be taken lightly.

The lead shark hesitated before speaking, his voice shaking slightly. “Captain, there’s been… a complication.”

Hongjoong leaned forward, his eyes cold “A complication?” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. “Explain.”

“A man we loaned money to—he fled,” the shark stammered. “Disappeared without paying a single coin. He left behind his wife and daughter in Nassau.”

Hongjoong’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling into a fist on the table. “And you let him run?”

“We didn’t know he would,” the shark blurted out, his words tumbling over each other. “He seemed reliable, Captain. A merchant with steady work. But one day, he was gone, just like that.”

“And the family?” Seonghwa cut in, his tone sharp and unforgiving.

“They’re still in Nassau,” the shark admitted. “The wife claims she doesn’t know where he went, and they’ve got nothing left. No way to repay the debt.”

Hongjoong’s gaze darkened. “You mean to tell me you came here with excuses, no money, and no solutions?”

The shark shrank back, sweat glistening on his forehead. “Captain, we—we thought we could pressure the wife. Maybe—” He hesitated, but Hongjoong’s glare pushed him to continue. “Maybe take their belongings or… use them to draw him out.”

The room fell silent. Seonghwa stepped forward, his voice like steel. “Use them?” he echoed, his lips curling into a cold smirk knowing what his captain will suggest next, “You’re suggesting we drag a woman and her child into this mess because you couldn’t do your job?”

The shark flinched, his voice barely a whisper. “It was just an idea.”

Hongjoong stood, the sudden movement making the shark jump. He leaned across the table, his voice venomous. “Ideas like that will get you killed. You don’t lay a hand on them unless I give the order. Do you understand me?”

The shark nodded frantically, his face pale. “Y-Yes, Captain.”

“But you will go back,” Hongjoong continued, his tone playful but colder now. “You will visit the wife, and you will remind her that the debt doesn’t disappear just because her husband ran. Make sure she understands this is her last chance to cooperate. If she knows where he is, she had better start talking.”

“And if she doesn’t?” the shark asked hesitantly.

Seonghwa’s smirk widened, but his eyes remained icy. “Then you make it clear what happens when people cross Captain Hongjoong. Let her know the weight of the debt will fall heavier if her husband doesn’t show his face soon.”

Hongjoong straightened, his eyes burning into the shark’s. “You don’t come back empty-handed again. Bring me the man, or bring me something of equal value. Do I make myself clear?”

The sharks nodded in unison, fear etched into their faces.

“Good,” Hongjoong said curtly. “Now get out of my sight.”

As the door slammed shut behind them, Seonghwa glanced at the captain. “You think the wife knows something?"

“If she does, fear will make her speak,” Hongjoong replied coldly. “And if she doesn’t, it’ll push the coward into the open. Either way, we get what we’re owed.”

He thinks for a second and then says “ you know what, I don't trust these parasites. Send a mule after them, give me every detail of what they do from now on”

The shark’s anger simmered as he stormed through the winding streets of Nassau. Hongjoong’s threats still echoed in his ears, and his humiliation burned deep. To him, the blame lay squarely with the woman and her child.

“They’ve made fools of us,” growled the shark, his fists clenched. “It’s her fault the captain’s breathing down our necks. If we can’t touch them, we’ll make sure she understands what it means to cross us.”

When he reached the small house with two of his acquaintances, they found it quiet and dimly lit. The lead shark pounded on the door with enough force to make the frame rattle. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing the wife. Her face paled when she saw the sharks, but she held her ground.

“What do you want now?” she asked, her voice strong but trembling.

The lead shark sneered, pushing the door open wider. “Your lies have caused us enough trouble. We’re done playing games.”

She took a step back, clutching the edge of the door. “I’ve told you everything I know. My husband is gone. I can’t give you what I don’t have.”

Another shark, a burly man with a cruel glint in his eye, stepped forward. “Your daughter—where is she?”

“She’s not here,” the wife said quickly, fear flashing across her face. “She’s out.”

The lead shark smirked, leaning closer. “Good. That makes this easier.”

Before the wife could react, the sharks forced their way inside. She stumbled back, panic flooding her as they loomed over her.

“You’re coming with us,” the lead shark said coldly.

“You can’t do this,” she stammered, her voice breaking. “We’re not hurting you,” the burly shark replied with a twisted grin. “We’re just taking you somewhere else to have a little… conversation.”

Despite her protests, they grabbed her arms and dragged her out of the house, their grip firm but not brutal. She screamed and struggled, but no one was there as they hauled her through the streets and into the shadows of Nassau.

____

You push open the door to your house, expecting the usual comfort of your mother's voice or the warmth of a home filled with the scent of a meal being prepared. But instead, there was silence.

“Mom?” you call out, your voice echoing slightly. You set down the basket of bread and vegetables, but there’s no answer. The quiet stretches on, oppressive, like something’s wrong.

You move through the house, checking the rooms one by one, but it’s empty. There’s no sign of her. Panic starts to creep into your chest, tightening with each passing moment.

As you were looking, you felt someone cover your mouth in a vise-like grip as you trie to claw at him. His thick mustache curls upwards in a cruel sneer. "And what do we have here? The little birdie come back to her nest?”

You try hard to free yourself.

“You think you can run from us?” he sneered, shoving you forward with enough force to stumble you. “You and your mother have been causing enough trouble, little girl. But don’t worry, we’ll make sure you both learn your place soon enough.”

You kick his knees and manage to break free. Just as you reach for the door handle, a large hand cracks across your face, sending you stumbling down. Pain explodes across your cheek and you fall to the floor, dazed and crying. The man looms over you, his fist raised for another blow. "You little brat!”

"Stop!" The lead shark's voice barks out sharply, staying in the second man's hand mid-air. Through your terrified tears, you see him approaching you, his heavy boots thudding against the wooden floor.

“We don’t need more bruises on this pretty little face yet,” he says, his voice almost… amused. His hand lifts, but instead of striking, he just touches the side of your face, his fingers cold and rough against your skin.

You wince, instinctively trying to pull away, but his grip tightens, holding you in place. “Listen closely, little bird,” he continues, his voice dark and low. “We need you to understand something. Your father’s debt? It’s a problem. And we’re not leaving here until we get our money back.”

Your stomach churns at the mention of your father. You try to keep your voice steady, but it cracks. “I don’t know where he is.”

“Yeah, we know,” he replies with a dry laugh, his grip loosening just a little. “Your father’s a coward. He runs and leaves you two behind to clean up his mess.” He leans down, his face just inches from yours. “But that doesn’t matter. Captain Hongjoong’s been clear. We take what’s ours. And you?” His smirk widens. “You’re gonna help us make that happen.”

His words make your blood run cold. Hongjoong. You’d heard of him—his name was spoken with fear and respect, but never this way. They’re using your family as leverage, a pawn in their game, all because of your father’s debt.

“They need you to make sure your father gets the message,” the lead shark continues, standing back up, pacing slowly around you like a predator. “We can’t hurt you… yet. But we’re going to make sure you’re a reminder. Captain Hongjoong is waiting for results. And if that means bringing you along to make your father see reason, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Hongjoong sat in his quarters, staring at the report he had just received from the mule. His eyes narrowed as the words settled in. The sharks had gone against his direct orders, overstepping their boundaries, and now he had to deal with the consequences. The anger bubbled inside him, a sharp, cold rage that left no room for hesitation.

He stood up, the weight of his frustration pressing on him. He couldn’t allow anyone to defy him, especially not when it came to matters as serious as this. The sharks had been sent to handle the situation, to get back the money they were owed—but they’d taken it too far. Taking the girl and her mother? That wasn’t part of the deal.

Seonghwa, who had been standing nearby, watching his captain closely, didn’t need to ask what was wrong. He’d seen this side of Hongjoong before—when his calm, controlled demeanor slipped, and the storm beneath came to the surface.

“Prepare Jongho and Yunho,” Hongjoong said, his voice low but filled with authority. “I want them to investigate. I want to know exactly what those sharks did, and I want them to fix this. I’ll have no one undermining my orders.”

Seonghwa nodded, turning to leave, but Hongjoong stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“Make sure it’s handled quietly,” Hongjoong added, his gaze steely. “We don’t need any more attention than we already have. And if they’ve done something unforgivable… make sure they know who’s in charge.”

Jongho, the Battle Master, was known for his strength and discipline. He’d follow orders without hesitation, but it was his ability to keep a level head in intense situations that Hongjoong trusted most. Yunho, the Master Gunner, had a sharp eye for details and a quick wit. Together with a few loyal crew members, they’d get to the bottom of this—and if the sharks had crossed a line, they’d deal with it swiftly.

Jongho and Yunho stood by the edge of the ship, the salty breeze tugging at their hair as they discussed their next move.

Yunho crossed his arms, leaning against the railing. “So, we’re going to investigate what those sharks did… and if they’ve really messed up, we’re supposed to clean up their mess?” He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Jongho, standing beside him, shook his head with a chuckle. “Seems like it. I don’t think Captain Hongjoong’s happy that they went rogue. Taking the girl and her mother? That’s a whole new level of stupid.” He sighed, glancing out at the horizon.

“I mean, we’re talking about a bunch of thugs who can’t follow orders. What’s next? Are they going to steal the moon?”

Yunho snorted. “If they tried, I’d pay good money to see it. But seriously, jongho, this is a mess. We’ve got to figure out how to handle this without making it worse. The last thing we need is a full-blown war with the sharks because they couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.”

Jongho chuckled darkly. “Yeah, because Hongjoong’s ‘fixing problems quietly’ approach works out so well, right?” He paused. “Let’s just hope these sharks haven’t completely pissed him off. I don’t think even we could smooth things over if he’s really that angry.”

He then grinned. “I’ll make sure to bring some extra bandages, just in case.”

Yunho shot him a sideways glance. “What, you think we’re going to knock some sense into them with our fists?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Jongho replied, giving him a smile. “Though, I prefer it when the problem just gets solved with a good ol' conversation. You know, like ‘Hey, don’t take the girl, or I’ll break your legs.’”

Yunho let out a dry laugh. “Sounds like a great ‘conversation’ to me.”

He then smirked at jongho and said, “But you know, I’m always ready to put some holes in bastards. Let’s get to work.” (See what I did there? ⁠ ͡⁠°⁠ ͜⁠ʖ⁠ ͡⁠° )

The air was thick with tension as Jongho and Yunho made their way to the den. They had gathered all the intel they needed and were now ready to end this. The sharp tang of saltwater in the air mixed with the musty, oppressive smell of the building, and Jongho’s grip tightened around the hilt of his sword.

“You ready?” Yunho asked, his voice low, scanning the area.

“Yeah, let’s go,” Jongho replied, his tone steadier than he felt. They moved quickly, slipping through the shadows toward the back entrance of the den. The door creaked open under Jongho’s steady push, and they silently entered.

Jongho and Yunho moved like shadows, circling around the room, eyes scanning for the girl. The moment their eyes met, Jongho felt his heart stop. There she was—tied to a chair, her head lowered. Her breathing was shallow, and her hands were bound tight, but she was alive. She looked up at him, her eyes widening.

Jongho felt his chest tighten. He was shocked. Not because this was her. The same girl he had seen in the market, and now here she was, in the middle of this chaos, helpless. But because he still remembered her vividly. He has never remembered anyone's face other than ill intent. This made his heart do something he didn't like.

He was about to rush forward when Yunho grabbed his arm. “Stay focused,” Yunho muttered, his eyes scanning the sharks. “We’ll get her, but we need to take them down first.”

Jongho nodded, his heart racing. He knew Yunho was right—they couldn’t let their guard down. The sharks were too dangerous, and they had to be neutralized quickly.

In one fluid motion, Yunho drew his gun and fired, sending one of the sharks crashing to the ground. The noise startled the rest of the men, and chaos erupted. Jongho lunged forward, his sword cutting through the air with precision. Each swing was met with resistance, but he wasn’t slowing down.

The fight was quick but brutal, the room filled with the sounds of swords clashing and bodies hitting the ground. Jongho’s eyes searched the girl, and as soon as the last shark was down, he rushed to her side.

“Hold on,” he said, his voice softer now, as he cut through her ropes. She winced slightly as he freed her wrists, but she didn’t say a word—her eyes were locked on him, full of both fear and relief.

“You’re safe now,” Jongho said, his heart pounding as he helped her to her feet. But as he looked down at her, his heart skipped a beat. Her face was streaked with dried tears and blood, she had a busted lip and a bloodied injury on the side of her head. He realized then that this wasn’t just about the mission anymore. There was something about her that tugged at him, something deeper than just a rescue.

She looked up at him, her voice barely a whisper. “Who are you?”

Jongho smiled softly, trying to mask the sudden rush of emotions flooding through him. “Jongho. Battle Master on Captain Hongjoong’s ship.”

Her eyes flickered with recognition. “You… you were at the market.” She hesitated, her voice uncertain. “You… you’re a pirate? Of the Halazia”

Jongho nodded, his heart tightening. “We’re here to get you out of this mess. But right now, we need to move fast.”

She looked around, “But my mom-”

“Yunho will take care of that”

Before she could respond, they heard footsteps approaching. Yunho’s voice was low and urgent. “Jongho, we’ve got to go, now!”

Jongho took her hand gently, pulling her toward the door. As they ran, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his heart had just made a decision he wasn’t sure he was ready for. He had come here to do a job, to rescue her and get out. But somewhere in that chaotic moment, he realized he wanted to protect her.

The door slammed open, and they ran out into the night. Behind them, the sounds of pursuit echoed, but Jongho didn’t care. He would protect her. No matter what it took.

You settled back into the familiarity of home, the creaking of the old wooden floors and the comforting hum of the market outside grounding you after the chaos of recent events. Life was quiet again, though a bit lonelier now. Your mother busied herself with building a shop, leaving you to wander between chores and stolen moments of peace.

Life aboard the ship was as chaotic as ever, but lately, the crew had found a new source of amusement—or annoyance, depending on who you asked.

“Jongho, will you sit down already?” Seonghwa groaned, throwing an exasperated glance at the younger man pacing the deck.

Jongho ignored him, his brow furrowed in thought as he muttered to himself. “I haven’t checked in on her in over a week. What if something’s happened? What if someone’s bothering her again?”

“Again with the girl,” Yunho drawled, leaning lazily against a barrel. “You’ve mentioned her three times today already. You’re worse than Hongjoong’s parrot.”

“Worse than his parrot?” Yeosang, the navigator, asked as he descended from the helm, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Now that’s saying something. I didn’t think anyone could top its constant squawking.”

“Maybe the parrot’s jealous,” Mingi, the boatswain, chimed in as he carried a coil of rope over his shoulder. He dropped it near the mast and turned to Jongho, his grin matching Yeosang’s. “Sounds like it’s got competition for Jongho’s attention.”

Hongjoong, seated at a small table nearby, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He sipped his drink with a smirk, clearly enjoying the rare sight of Jongho being the center of everyone’s teasing. "I didn't even take my money from her for you"

"captain aren't you like one of the richest people in the 7 seas?" Someone grumbled.

“It’s not like that,” Jongho said firmly, shooting Yunho a glare before turning to Yeosang and Mingi. “She’s been through enough already. Someone has to make sure she’s alright.”

“Someone?” San chimed in, his grin wide. “Or you?”

“Let’s be real,” Wooyoung added with a dramatic sigh. “You don’t just want to make sure she’s safe. You’re attached. Admit it.”

“Sounds like attachment to me,” Yeosang agreed, leaning against the railing with an amused expression. “You’re practically obsessing.”

“I wouldn’t call it obsession,” Mingi said, tilting his head thoughtfully. “It’s more like…” He paused for dramatic effect, his grin widening.

“Infatuation.”

Jongho stopped pacing long enough to shoot them all a sharp look. “I’m doing my job. Protecting her is my responsibility.”

“Protecting her,” Seonghwa said, drawing out the words mockingly. “Or is it something more?”

“I don’t love her,” Jongho snapped, his tone final.

The crew burst into laughter, the sound echoing across the deck. Even Hongjoong let out a low chuckle, finally setting his drink down.

“If you don’t love her,” the captain said, leaning back in his chair, “then stop pacing around like a lovesick puppy. You’re throwing off the entire crew."

“Yeah,” Yunho added with a grin. “Even the parrot’s giving you side-eye at this point.”

Jongho opened his mouth to retort but found no words that would convince them otherwise. Instead, he huffed and crossed his arms, retreating to his post with an annoyed scowl.

Yeosang exchanged a glance with Mingi before smirking. “He’ll realize it eventually,” he said quietly.

“Or we’ll keep reminding him until he does,” Mingi replied with a chuckle.

As the laughter died down and the crew returned to their tasks. Jongho didn’t love her, he told himself. He was just… concerned. That was all. Yes, that's it.

It had been weeks since you’d last seen Jongho. You told yourself you shouldn’t expect him, that he had his own life aboard the ship, filled with duties and battles you couldn’t begin to imagine.

But some small, stubborn part of you always found your eyes drifting to the road outside, hoping to catch sight of him.

And then, one evening, as the sky blushed with the soft hues of sunset, you heard it—the measured, confident sound of boots against gravel. Your heart leapt before you could stop it, and you quickly wiped your hands on your apron, glancing toward the door just as his familiar silhouette appeared.

“Jongho,” you said, trying to sound calm though you could feel your pulse racing.

He nodded, stepping into the doorway. His eyes swept the room, taking in the tidy shelves and the faint scent of freshly baked bread. “Everything alright?” he asked, his tone steady, the same question he always asked.

You smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair from your face. “It is now. Come in.”

He hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the invitation, but eventually stepped inside, his presence filling the small space effortlessly.

You poured him tea, the silence between you familiar and strangely comforting. He didn’t say much—he rarely did—but his quiet presence was enough. You found yourself telling him about the shop, how business had picked up again, and how you’d repaired the shutters just last week. He listened intently, his gaze steady, his attention making you feel like your words mattered.

When he finally rose to leave, you felt a pang of disappointment, though you didn’t say anything. He paused at the door, glancing back at you.

“I’ll check in again,” he said simply.

You nodded, your smile soft but genuine. “I’ll be here.”

And then he was gone, the sound of his boots fading into the evening air. You stood there for a moment, staring at the empty doorway, your heart inexplicably lighter.

You didn’t know why he kept coming back, and maybe he didn’t either. But you found yourself looking forward to his visits, to the way he made you feel seen and safe in a way no one else ever had. For now, that was enough.

The air outside buzzed with excitement, the faint sound of music and chatter from the central town festival reaching your small home. You stood at the window, peeking out at the vibrant colors of the decorations that dotted the streets beyond your view.

The door creaked open, and you turned to see Jongho stepping inside. His usual calm demeanor was in place, though his eyes flicked over you briefly, taking in the faint spark of longing in your expression.

“There’s a festival in town,” he said, his voice low but steady.

You nodded, brushing your hands on your skirt. “I know. I’ve always wanted to go, but…”

Your voice trailed off, and you glanced toward your mother, who stood nearby, watching the two of you.

Jongho followed your gaze, his brow furrowing slightly. “Why not?”

Your mother sighed, folding her arms. “She’s young, and festivals can be crowded, chaotic… dangerous. I can’t let her go alone.”

“I’ll take her,” Jongho said simply, as though the decision had already been made.

“You'd do that? Take me there?”

“Why not?”

Both you and your mother looked at him, surprised. He met your mother’s gaze evenly, his tone firm. “I’ll make sure she’s safe.”

Your mother hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. Finally, she nodded, though she still seemed unsure. “Alright. But don’t let her out of your sight.”

A rush of excitement and nervousness bubbled up inside you as you grabbed your shawl. “Thank you, Jongho,” you said softly, your smile warm and genuine.

---

The town was alive with color and energy. Lanterns hung from every building, their soft glow casting a warm light over the cobblestone streets. Stalls lined the roads, selling everything from sweets to trinkets, and performers entertained small crowds with music and dancing.

Jongho stayed close to you, his presence a steady anchor in the lively chaos. His hand hovered near your back, guiding you through the crowd without a word.

“Where should we go first?” you asked, looking up at him.

He glanced around, his eyes scanning the stalls and performers. “Wherever you want.”

“I don't know, you choose”

“We can do whatever you want”

You look down a bit and think. You'd never been given choices. They were always made for you. You always felt pressure whenever someone said to choose something and at the end you just keep saying ‘whatever you want’.

You grinned, feeling a rare sense of freedom. Tugging gently on his sleeve, you led him to a stall selling candied apples. He didn’t protest when you bought one for yourself and insisted he try one too, but he informed you that he can't have sweet things.

You went around stall from stall, that's when you spotted a beautiful earring in one of the stalls. It was completely your style and pretty. You kept looking at it, that's when jongho noticed you looking somewhere.

“Where are you looking at?”

You look back at him and smile, “nothing.” Maybe I can ask mom to buy these next year, if we can come.

As the night went on, you wandered from one attraction to another. You laughed at a juggler’s clumsy tricks, marveled at the intricate designs of hand-painted fans, and even managed to coax Jongho into trying his hand at a ring toss game.

He didn’t win, but the sight of him concentrating so intently on the simple game made you laugh until your sides hurt.

“You’re enjoying this too much,” he muttered, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward in a faint smile.

“Maybe,” you teased, feeling more at ease with him than ever before.

When the night sky filled with stars, the two of you found a quieter spot on the edge of the festival grounds. You sat on a low stone wall, watching the festival bustling with people even though it was pretty late at night.

“Thank you,” you said after a while, your voice soft.

Jongho turned to look at you, his expression unreadable in the dim light. “For what?”

“For taking me here,” you said, meeting his gaze. “Looking out for me. You didn’t have to, but… it means a lot.”

He was silent for a moment, his eyes studying you. Then he nodded, his voice quiet but firm. “It’s no trouble.”

Back at the ship, Jongho returned to the bustling crew. The festival had left him with a strange feeling, one he couldn’t quite place.

“You’re back,” Yunho said, leaning against the mast with a grin. “How was your little outing?”

“It was fine,” Jongho replied curtly, brushing past him.

“Fine?” Wooyoung piped up, sidling up with a mischievous glint in his eye. “That’s all we get? Come on, did she hold your hand? Laugh at your jokes? Look at you like you’re her hero?”

“Wooyoung,” Jongho warned, his tone low.

But the teasing only grew as San joined in. “Admit it, you enjoyed yourself.”

Jongho shot them a glare that silenced most of their laughter, though their knowing looks didn’t fade.

He didn’t understand the pull he felt toward you, but one thing was clear: he would keep protecting you, no matter what. Anything beyond that… he wasn’t ready to think about it

The next time Jongho visited your home, it was early evening. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting golden light over the small house. You were outside, tending to the small garden by the porch, when you noticed him approaching.

“Jongho,” you greeted, brushing dirt off your hands as you stood. His posture was straighter, and his hands were tucked behind his back.

“Hello,” he said, his voice calm as always, though his eyes briefly flickered down to the dirt smudged on your cheek.

“What brings you here?” you asked, tilting your head curiously.

He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder as though ensuring no one was watching. Then, clearing his throat, he brought his hand forward to reveal a small cloth-wrapped bundle.

You blinked at it, unsure of what it could be. “What’s this?”

“Just take it,” he said, his tone gruff, though he avoided your gaze as he extended the bundle toward you.

With a curious smile, you untied the cloth, your breath catching as the fabric fell away to reveal a pair of delicate earrings. They were simple yet elegant, their small gemstone pendants glinting in the light.

Your heart skipped a beat as you recognized them. “These… these were at the festival,” you murmured, tracing a finger over the smooth surface of one gem. “I saw them, but—”.

“You were staring at them right? That day?,” Jongho interrupted, his voice firm but quieter now. “Figured you might like them.”

Clutching the earrings tightly in your hand. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know,” he replied simply, meeting your gaze for a moment before looking away, almost as if he were embarrassed. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing,” you insisted, a soft laugh escaping you. “This is… this is the nicest thing anyone’s done for me.”

Jongho shifted awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Don’t make a big deal out of it. Just thought you’d like them.”

Your fingers gently traced over the smooth gemstones on the earrings, the delicate sparkle catching the fading sunlight. “But…” you hesitated, looking up at Jongho, who stood there with his usual calm demeanor. “Aren’t these expensive?”

He tilted his head slightly, an almost amused glint in his eyes. “I’m rich,” he said matter-of-factly, as if that explained everything.

You blinked at him, surprised by his bluntness. “You’re what?”

“Rich,” he repeated, his tone steady, though there was the faintest hint of humor tugging at the corner of his lips. “Why does that surprise you? I'm part of the richest pirates in the seven seas. Do you not know?”

“I mean… you’re on a ship all the time,” you said, flustered. “You don’t exactly seem—”

“Seem what?” he cut in, raising an eyebrow.

“Like someone who’d buy earrings for a girl,” you finished, your cheeks warming.

Jongho crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “I didn’t buy them for just anyone. I bought them for you. That’s different.”

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, and you clutched the earrings tighter, suddenly unsure of what to say.

“I told you, it’s no big deal,” he continued, his tone softening slightly. “You liked them, so I got them. Don’t think too much about it.”

You smiled despite yourself, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and something else you couldn’t quite name. “Thank you,” you said again, your voice quieter this time.

He nodded, the faintest trace of a smile on his face. “You’re welcome.”

As he turned to leave, you couldn’t help but call after him, “So, how rich are we talking?”

Jongho paused, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk that was so subtle you almost missed it. “Rich enough to buy the earrings and not think twice about it.”

You laughed softly as he walked away, your heart lighter than it had been in a long time.

Unknown to you, the poor boy had gone through the torment of his 7 brothers, who won't leave him alone. They teased him so much about the earrings that he almost almost threw one of them overboard.

The crew was always quick to notice anything out of the ordinary, and had clearly picked up on Jongho’s latest visit to your home.

“So,” Yunho started, leaning casually against a barrel as Jongho walked across the deck, “we heard about the earrings.”

Jongho paused, his jaw tightening slightly. “What about them?”

“Oh, nothing,” Wooyoung piped up, barely containing his grin. “Just that our stoic Jongho has a soft spot for a certain someone.”

San joined in, throwing an arm dramatically around Jongho’s shoulder. “You know, if you’re going to buy her gifts, why not go all out? Maybe a necklace next time? Or a whole jewelry set?”

Jongho shrugged off San’s arm, his expression unimpressed. “It was just a pair of earrings. Don’t make it a big deal.”

“A pair of earrings,” Seonghwa repeated, feigning shock. “Do you know how much effort that is? Choosing the right ones, paying for them…”

Yeosang, who rarely joined in on the teasing, leaned against the railing with a faint smirk. “I’m just curious how long it took you to pick them out. Did you stare at the stall for an hour?”

“He probably scared the vendor,” Mingi added, his laughter booming across the deck. “Standing there, glaring at the earrings until they wrapped them up for him.”

Even Hongjoong, who had been silently observing from his chair, chimed in with a sly smile. “So, Jongho, how does it feel to be the romantic of the group? Should we start calling you the ship’s Cupid?”

Jongho’s patience was clearly thinning, but his expression remained steady. “I’m not romantic. I just thought she’d like them. That’s it.”

Wooyoung clutched his chest dramatically, staggering back. “He thought she’d like them! Oh, it’s worse than we thought—he’s thinking about her!”

“That’s enough,” Jongho said firmly, though the slight pink tinge to his ears betrayed his frustration.

Yunho, ever the instigator, leaned closer with a mischievous grin. “You know, Jongho, if you keep this up, we might need to start a fund for all the gifts you’ll be buying her.”

Jongho shot him a sharp look. “You’re all lucky I don’t throw you overboard.”

The crew erupted into laughter, thoroughly enjoying themselves at Jongho’s expense. Despite his annoyance, Jongho couldn’t fully suppress a faint smile as he turned and walked away.

As the teasing continued behind him, one thought lingered in his mind: he didn’t regret buying the earrings, no matter how much they made fun of him. If it made you smile, it was worth every ounce of ridicule.

The laughter and teasing aboard the ship gradually subsided as the crew prepared for their next voyage. Supplies were loaded, sails checked, and the familiar hum of activity filled the air. But this time, there was an unspoken heaviness among them. They were leaving the port—and there was no telling when they’d return.

Jongho stood near the railing, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the town lay, now bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.

“She’ll be fine, you know,” Yunho said, walking up beside him and leaning against the railing.

Jongho didn’t respond immediately. His grip on the wood tightened slightly, his eyes scanning the distant rooftops as though he could catch a glimpse of you from here. “I know,” he said finally, though his tone lacked conviction.

Yunho chuckled softly. “You’re terrible at lying, Jongho. Especially to yourself.”

“Leave him be,” Seonghwa said, passing by with a small smirk. “He’s just sulking because he can’t buy her more earrings from the next town.”

“Maybe we should’ve taken her with us,” Wooyoung suggested with a mischievous grin, appearing on Jongho’s other side. “At least then, Jongho wouldn’t be moping around like a kicked puppy.”

Jongho shot him a warning look. “She’s safer at home.”

“True,” Mingi chimed in as he approached, slapping Jongho on the back. “But are you safer without her?”

The others burst into laughter, their voices carrying across the deck, but Jongho remained silent. His thoughts were already elsewhere—back at the small house where he’d left you.

Now, as the ship’s anchor was lifted and the sails unfurled, Jongho couldn’t help but glance back one last time. The town grew smaller in the distance, and with it, the little piece of peace he’d found there.

Everything had to come to an end, he reminded himself, but this end felt heavier than he’d expected. Even as the ship carried him further from the port, his thoughts lingered on you—on your quiet strength, your laughter, and the way your smile had made the world seem just a little brighter.

For now, all he could do was focus on the journey ahead and trust that fate would bring him back to you someday.

Their journey had been long and unpredictable, filled with danger, discovery, and the relentless pursuit of fortune. From navigating treacherous waters to encountering rival ships, every day aboard the ship demanded resilience and wit.

They'd charted unknown territories, bartered with distant towns, and clashed with pirates in battles that tested their mettle. The crew thrived on the adrenaline of their adventures, though the weight of uncertainty often hung over them.

For Jongho, the journey was a blur of responsibility and restlessness, his thoughts occasionally drifting to the little house by the port. Each victory and challenge brought them closer to returning, though they never knew when that day would come.

Now, after years away, the ship had finally docked, and their travels were behind them—for now.

The town felt both familiar and distant as Jongho and the crew disembarked after years at sea. Jongho’s eyes instinctively searched the streets, scanning for any sign of you. The house came into view quickly, and his steps faltered. It looked well-kept, the garden vibrant and alive, and the faint scent of baked goods wafted from an open window.

As he approached the door, he noticed a subtle change—a sign hung near the entrance: “Homemade Goods & Repairs.” His brow furrowed, curiosity rising.

He knocked lightly, and a familiar voice called out, “One moment!”

When you opened the door, your expression lit up instantly. “Jongho!”

You were different, older somehow, with a confidence in the way you stood. Your hands were dusted with flour, and there was a smudge of it on your cheek. But your smile was as bright as ever, and seeing it eased something in Jongho’s chest.

“You’re back,” you said warmly, stepping aside to let him in. “I wasn’t sure I’d see you again.”

“I didn’t expect to see this,” Jongho replied, motioning toward the bustling shop area. Shelves lined with jars of jams and pastries occupied one side, while the other side displayed tools and items neatly organized for repairs.

You chuckled, wiping your hands on your apron. “After my mom passed, I needed something to keep me busy. The shop helps, and it keeps me connected to the town. I do alright.”

Jongho nodded, glancing around. The place had a sense of order and life he hadn’t expected. “You’re running this by yourself?”

“For now,” you replied, smiling proudly. “The town’s been good to me. They keep me busy enough, and I like it that way.”

Jongho’s gaze lingered on you, and he couldn’t help but notice the resilience in your tone. You weren’t the fragile girl he’d left behind. You’d grown, thrived even, despite everything.

“You’ve done well,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with admiration.

Still, his heart felt heavy as he considered what lay ahead. The ship wouldn’t stay docked for long; it never did. His life was the sea—a life of unpredictability, danger, and adventure. But standing here, surrounded by the quiet hum of your shop, he wondered if there was room for something else.

“You’ve made a good life for yourself,” he said finally, his voice quieter than usual.

You nodded, leaning against the counter. “I have. It’s not always easy, but it’s mine.”

A silence stretched between you, heavy with unspoken questions. He broke it first.

“I can’t ask you to leave this behind,” he said. “You’ve worked too hard to build it.”

Your brow furrowed as you studied him. “And you’re not ready to leave the sea.”

He shook his head. “That's all I’ve ever known.”

You stepped closer, your hand brushing against his arm. “Then don’t. You don’t have to choose, Jongho.”

He looked at you, confusion flickering across his face.

“You come and go,” you continued. “The sea is part of who you are, and I wouldn’t want to take that from you. But when you’re here, this can be home. If you want it to be.”

Home. The word hung in the air between you, and for the first time, Jongho felt a sense of calm he hadn’t known he was searching for.

“I don’t deserve that,” he said, his voice barely audible.

You smiled softly. “Maybe not. But it’s here anyway.”

Jongho was silent for a long moment, the weight of your words settling over him. He wanted to say more but wasn’t sure how. He wanted to ask you to come with him, to leave everything behind and sail with him, but he knew it wouldn’t be fair. You had your life here, and he couldn’t ask you to give that up for the uncertain life he led.

But then, without thinking, the words left his mouth, surprising even himself.

“Marry me.”

You froze, your eyes wide with shock. Jongho instantly regretted speaking before he’d thought it through. But he couldn’t take the words back now, and he didn’t want to.

He cleared his throat, trying to explain. “I know it sounds sudden, and I’m not asking you to give up your life here, but…” His voice faltered. “I don’t want to keep going back and forth, not anymore. I want you to be with me, always. Even when I’m out there on the sea. We could make it work, I know we could.”

You stared at him, your heart beating fast as you processed his words. The shock began to wear off, replaced by something warm and steady. Jongho had always been a protector to you, but hearing him say he wanted more—that he wanted to be with you no matter what—stirred something deep inside you.

You took a deep breath, the weight of his question settling on your chest. “Are you sure?” you asked quietly. “This isn’t just about wanting me close when it’s convenient for you?”

He shook his head, stepping closer. “No. I want all of you. Even when I’m gone. You’re the only thing that’s ever made me think about staying.”

You met his eyes, feeling the sincerity in his words. There was no doubt in your mind. “I’m not going anywhere,” you said, your voice steady now. “If you’re asking me to be part of your life, even with all the uncertainty, then yes. I’ll marry you.”

A smile spread across Jongho’s face, relief flooding through him. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt this certain about anything. Without another word, he pulled you into a tight embrace, the promise of the future settling between you like a quiet promise.

The sea might still call to him, but now, he had something far more important to come back to. And this time, it wouldn’t be just a visit—it would be home.

[bullet-prooflove]

"I've been losing so much time" for Hangman please!! 🥺

Tagging: @kmc1989 @dizzybee03 @shanimallina87 @calirindo @consisedictionaryofmistakes

Companion piece to:

Set Up To Fail - Jake reflects on how his past affects his future.

The Other Family - Jake didn't realise his father was still alive...

Jake loses track of how long he spends sitting in front of his father’s house, his gaze fixed on him and his family. He watches as the man who sold him, sits at the dining table, helping the twins with their homework while a woman whose not his mom, tidies up around them.

It would be fascinating he thinks, if it didn’t feel so fucking surreal.

It’s the sound of the passenger door opening that jerks him out of his trance, that and the bark of greeting that erupts from Cujo as he jumps into the car ahead of you, jamming his cold nose against Jake’s cheek.

“Cujo, away!” You command, clicking your fingers and gesturing to the back seat. The German Shepard obeys, slipping through the gap, whining as he stands on the cushioning.

“You didn’t need to come here.” Jake says, his attention diverting back to the house, to his father ruffling one of the twin’s hair.

“Jake, you didn’t come home.” You say softly. “The Find My Friend’s app tells me you’ve been sitting outside this house for three hours. I came to make sure you hadn’t been murdered and buried in the basement.”

It’s a weak joke that would have made him laugh in any other circumstance but it falls flat because Jake, he doesn’t feel anything at the moment. There’s just this crushing numbness in his chest, eating up his insides.

“That man in there, he’s my father.” He tells you, his hands coming to rest on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white as he grips it. “And he has another family, one with a wife and two sons who he helps with their homework.”

That weight of that statement, it’s not lost on you. You know his history, the horrible fucking shit he’s had to overcome to get where he is today. Those scars, he lives with them on a daily basis and the man who caused them, he’s completely unaffected.

“I can’t seem to leave.” He tells you, his voice breaking. “I keep telling myself I’m going to but I just can’t make myself turn on the engine. It’s like my brain won’t cooperate with my body…”

You understand in that moment that he’s dissociated completely. That the trauma of seeing his father again has trapped him in this strange sense of depersonalisation. It’s something that happens with PTSD, something you’d experienced yourself after a bullet almost claimed your life.

“Alright.” You say gently. “The first thing you’re going to do is let go of the wheel. Can you do that for me?”

It takes him a couple of seconds but he relinquishes his grasp on the steering wheel before you help him unbuckle his seatbelt.

“What now?” He asks, tilting his head towards you.

There’s such exhaustion in his features, such devastation. Seeing his father again has ravaged every single inch of Jake’s soul and he’s looking to you for guidance because this nightmare, it’s just too big to process right now.

“You get into the back seat with Cujo and I’ll drive the three of us home.” You say kindly and Jake nods his head despondently before he opens the car door and does as requested. You climb into the driver’s seat, adjusting the rearview mirror just in time to see Cujo place his head in Jake’s lap, his soulful dark eyes staring up at his favourite  person.

“It's alright.” He whispers to the dog, his palm lightly stroking over the German Shepard’s fur. “Everything’s going to be alright.”

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[harmoonix]

Tied together

Astroblog short Observations

Note: This might be my last post for 2024 😍. I really hope you enjoyed my content for this year and I hope you will be here next year for new amazing content 🩵🩵🩵 I wish you all a good 2025, may all your wishes come true within the next year ❤️❤️ by @harmoonix. Always remember that you are loved ❤️

Air Moon x Earth Sun combo natives are a good combination of feelings vs communication. Sometimes the earth sun won't let you to say everything you have on your heart

Mercury in the 7th house can share a similar love language with their loved ones, it can be close people or even potential partners

Mercury in Pisces natives get lost so easily in their conversation, sometimes you have to tell the same thing multiple times which is funny to me. Same to the 12th Mercury

Asteroid Eros (433) in the 5th 7th or 8th houses tend to fall in love with people who have a strong sensual energy = sensual couple

Asteroid Destinn (6583) in a synastry/composite chart can show the destiny of that specific relationship or partner with you

Asteroid Charis (627) in air signs tend to be the most charming when they talk/express themselves/their voice is something charming as well

Moon x Ascendant aspects tend to have such a baby face. Can be the cheeks, eyes, lips, and their ears. Sometimes their face can resemble a kids ones

Moon in Aries natives can be impulsive, something very known among the Aries placements. They also like to dominate the places or people around

Healed Taurus Placements can be a symbol of kindness. Especially if they're combined with a water placement together

Saturn in the 3rd house natives may lack communication in their lives because Saturn likes to restrict the house where hes located. Finding a way to express yourself is a key-to-go for an improvement

Men with heavy MARS influence will act so nasty, sorry not sorry Mars is a planet of war and won't sugarcoat anybody. These men can also have a bad behavior or talking too dirty

Chiron/Saturn in the 1st house = Things will start to get better with the years. Natives with such placements tend to have it harder early in life, but more rewarding later

Mars x Chiron aspects have issues related to their fears and insecurities. Sometimes your fears can be more violent and can have an impact on your daily life

Not 100% applying for everyone but natives with Mars or Pluto in the 7th house can experience one or more toxic relationships. And can be all the type of toxicity

Saturn in the 2nd house has the way long to go in learning about their values and worth. Even about how to spend their money and how to make them, money's worth

Saturn in Virgo/6th house can turn soo negative if things go wrong because they achieve to be perfectionists. It's okay to do mistakes

Juno in the 11th house can indicate ending up marrying your close friend or someone who was in your friend cycle for a while/can also meet with them in the online

Sagittarius Mercury can turn depressive if their friends or close people don't share the same humour as them. It is for the best to share it

Eros (433) in the 9th house can indicate meeting a lover while traveling/in school/highschool, can be an indicator for highschool lovers. (Not 100% applying for everyone)

For some reason Mars in fire signs will choose the be chased in a love relationship. They simply love it. I think that's a way to show their love but they also love to chase others its 50/50 with them

Mars in the 1st house natives will have that very intimidating look on their face. you'll clearly see their expressions and their hotness

Moon in the 12th house natives are so peaceful, like is such a calm place they like to keep in touch with everybody

In my opinion the most underrated houses in astrology are the 2nd and the 9th house because not so many astrologers write about these houses

Sun or Venus in the 2nd house can make the native a money chaser or money lover. They'll marry money if the option is available

Jupiter in the 5th house is such a lovely place for Jupiter!! Is a jovial house for a jovial planet. These natives often have a good personalty and inner core

Pisces and Libra Placements like to talk about love-topics the MOST in my opinion. It will be either a Moon or Venus to do it so. Even most singers who do love songs tend to have these signs in their big 3 or big 6

[narcissistcookbook]

Got high for my second listen through of MYTH side one and I. Something is IN there that makes me insane INSANE I tell you. It’s one of those albums that I will Never put on shuffle because it’s a one way all the way through type beat. Don’t give me aux in the car we WILL be listening to MYTH like it’s one song front to back. Beat my friend with a stick and I put on MYTH during aftercare. Involuntarily started DANCING while listening to it after a smoking half a joint. Mx cookbook WHAT did you put in this record it feels like childhood memories come back to haunt me like an incredible novel I half-remember reading like a long walk through a dark and rainy city like laying in the dark wondering why the house is silent like sifting through an antique shop like hiding from the rain under an outcrop of rock miles from the trail. I’m going to go live in a lighthouse now thanks

no you're right, something is in here and it has seen you

[outreach-by-adellah]

Okay, so in the future I won't respond to haters but you're literally my first one so I can't resist:

First of all, that Hitler meme and those tags are an absolutely bonkers thing to reply to a GERMAN - as in I have a permanent address in Germany as a German citizen - MODERN ORTHODOX - not even Haredi (Also, Chassidism isn't a cult so who's the one with a "disgusting sentiment" that alienates other Jews now?) - B"T. These are all things you'd know had you actually read my blog instead of just cherry-picking things which out of context seem vaguely anti-goy (the post you screenshotted was about how Jews on Tumblr talk about Christmas too often), but you couldn't even find anything because this is literally a Jewish outreach blog, so I'm not going around posting my political hot takes or anything like that.

2. Therefore, here's the lesson for everyone:

As a B"T, who goes to secular school, was adopted by a non-Jewish parent, once dated non-Jewish men (and even women), and is currently writing this from a room with a Christmas tree (grandparents' house), I know what I'm talking about when I say that having a Jewish community in real life (not just people constantly getting angry and political online) does wonders not only for one's yiddishkeit, but also one's sense of belonging. Rates of loneliness and feeling disconnected in today's modern world are absolutely skyrocketing, so I think any good-natured IRL community people can find will greatly benefit them in combatting this.

This is why, although I like to consider myself pretty religious, I do not preach the strictly "religious" aspects of Judaism on this blog so much as the community ones. Not only is nobody interested in hearing that (who doesn't already believe it, at least), but it isn't as immediately helpful to anyone. My "hater" above accused me of discriminating against reform Jews, but (and I say this as a former Reform Jew who went to a Reform Hebrew school for 4 years) if there were truly an abundance of IRL observant reform Jewish communities, I would be advocating for them just as much as I advocate for the Orthodox ones which already exist.

In conclusion, anyone who reads this blog would know that I have respect for all types of Jews, having literally been Reform, atheist, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox (in that order), and having straight up lived as a goy for a few years. This blog is about Jewish outreach - not antisemitism, or politics, or preaching my hot takes - because I love my Jewish community but also know what it's like not to have one. So, I reiterate, go to shul, go to synagogue, go to temple, go to NCSY, go to your shomer shabbos friend's house for lunch, celebrate Chanukah with your extended family, etc etc! It is better than arguing with people online, as I have done here! P.S. If anyone wants to try and disprove me about how it's bad as a Jew to be "terminally online" shouldn't touch their phone for 25 hours after sunset next Friday!

I cannot stress enough how being on Jumblr is like this XKCD comic (2071)

Everyone is constantly posting the vilest things that antisemites say, or rebuttals to the most insane things that anyone could possibly think about Jews or Judaism. ...Meanwhile I'm over here content with my observant Jewish life until opening the psychic bomb of this website. You guys should really try getting a Jewish community in person. I promise that all of this nonsense I'm constantly seeing on Jumblr will no longer even cross your mind once you do.

Other observant Jews, affirm that I am correct about this!

[dailynnt]

FRIENDS WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE

⊹ Summary: Jungkook and you, his childhood friend, live together in an apartment, sharing space as roommates. Your relationship, built on years of friendship, is gradually becoming strained by growing sexual tension. You decide to become friends with benefits, trying not to complicate your feelings. But Jungkook's world is not so simple. When you begin to realize that he is hiding something, you open the veil of his double life - a world of mafia, criminal activity, and risk that could ruin not only your deal, but everything you valued in each other.

⊹ Couple: Jeon Jungkook/ Fem!Reader

⊹ Characters: The Reader, Jeon Jungkook, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung, Min Yoongi, Kim Seokjin, Kim Namjoon, Jeon Hoseok.

⊹ 🔞 Age restrictions: 18+

⊹ 👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏻 Relationships: ⚤

⊹ Number of part: 16/?

⊹ 🖇️ Tags: best friends, friends with benefits, slow longing, sexual tension, protected sex, unprotected sex, alcohol, drunken sex, inexperienced main character, mafia au, illegal trade, deaths of minor characters, weapons, swear words.

⊹ 👩🏼‍💻From the author: Hello everyone. This part turned out to be so long, I hope you enjoy reading it. Please leave your feedback, it's so important for me to know 🥹🙏🏻 I don't know if I'll have time to write something else before the end of the year, but if anything, there will be a continuation in the new year for sure. Thank you all so much for loving my story 😭 Enjoy ❤️‍🔥💜💜

⊹ 🫂Dedication: For you, my love @myjungkookthighs. You are my favorite person 😘🥰 You know that I appreciate you so much and love you🥰💜

⊹ ⚠️ Warning: English is not my native language, so there may be mistakes in the text. Please don't get mad at me too much! Those under 18, please don't read this story!

⊹ 📋Tag list: @myjungkookthighs, @notsevenwithyou, @nikkinikj, @lovelyyylunaa222, @jiminiemanura (If anyone wants to be in my tag list let me know)

≣ Chapter Index ↓

Part 16. Read my love.

A cup of tea cooling on the table is the only thing you can look at. You feel Jungkook's eyes on you all the time. You are nervous. Your palms are sweaty and cold. You hear your mom bombarding Jungkook with compliments and questions. She doesn't notice that you still haven't said anything to Jungkook other than a brief 'hello'.

Jungkook shyly answers all the questions. He's also happy to see omony Hyewon. But the main reason he's here is because of you, so he keeps looking at you. He sees how you avoid his gaze. He's looking at you when omonny Hyewon is distracted by a phone call from your father. She apologizes and moves away from the couch where you are sitting.

You feel even more tense. You look up. Jungkook is smiling at you and it's not an apologetic smile. It's his typical Jungkook smile, playful and provocative. You feel your cheeks flush red. Jungkook makes you feel uncomfortable. He have the confidence after all he's done to come to your house, sit and look at you with such a smile?

"How are you, baby?" - He finally breaks the silence between you. You bite your lip and lower your eyes, returning them to your cup of tea. Jungkook is attracted to this gesture and wants to touch his favorite lips.

"Fine." - You say and finally take a sip of tea to hide your embarrassment. It seems too obvious because your hands are shaking.

"I missed you." - Jungkook suddenly says. You can hear his hushed voice, filled with sadness and tenderness. His words penetrate your heart like a warm ray on a cold day. Your breathing becomes heavier, and your heart begins to pound furiously in your chest, almost painfully. The feeling is like hundreds of butterflies rising in your stomach.

Again, he was making you feel this way. You feel warm in your chest, but at the same time two parts of you are fighting: one part wants to push him away because it knows his world is too complicated and dangerous, and the other part wants to throw itself into his arms and stay there forever.

You lifted your eyes. You missed him too. You've missed him more than ever, but now it feels like he's off limits to you. It feels like you will never be able to be with him again. You don't know why, but instead of telling him that you missed him too, you ask him something else.

"Why did you come here?" - Your voice sounds cold. You fidget nervously on the couch. You don't want to be so cold, but you can't seem to do it any other way.

"I came to see you." - Jungkook answers as if it were obvious. "Also, it's okay to explain everything to you." - You hide your face behind your cup of tea again. You don't say anything because your mom approaches you. She smiles broadly, but when she sees that you are silent and you don't even look at Jungkook, she realizes that something is wrong.

"You're not talking much. It seems like you had a fight." - Your mom speculated.

"Yes, we did omony." - Jungkook admits. He's been calling your mom "omony" since he was a kid. She was his second mom because Jungkook spent a lot of time at your house. When you were kids, your mom was your babysitter. Jungkook's parents were busy at work, so Jungkook was with you every day until almost high school. In high school, he started coming only to visit. But he still has the habit of calling your mom "omony". "Y/N is offended by me." - You look at him. Why is he saying this to your mom?

"Daughter, what's wrong? Why are you mad at Jungkook?" - Mom asked with concern. You silently look at Jungkook with an annoyed look. He told you to come up with an answer. "I noticed right away that you didn't hug your best friend."

"It's because of my job. We celebrated Christmas together, you know. I had to leave Y/N on Christmas Eve." - Jungkook lies. Your eyebrows fly up. What a lie! The to mention the mafia and his kiss with ex, forgot?

"Honey, he probably couldn't do it any other way. Why are you so offended? But Jungkook-ah, boy, you should get more rest. Your mom recently complained to me that she rarely sees you. She must have been so happy that you came." - Your mom said. Jungkook smiled with a shadow of guilt.

"Actually, I haven't been home yet. I came straight to your place after arriving in Suwon." - You're shocked. He didn't even stop by his parents, whom he hadn't seen in almost a year? Was he that eager to see you?

"Son, the first thing you should’ve do is go to your parents. They are so missed." - Your mom gasps.

"I'll go right after I talk to Y/N. I still haven't give her a Christmas present yet." - Jungkook says in his defense. Your mom smiles slightly with curiosity.

"Then I think you two need to talk." - Your mom stands up and picks up the cups of tea. Jungkook smiles gratefully. "I want Eunok to see you as soon as possible. But wouldn't you like to stay for dinner? I'm did pickled crabs. It was your favorite dish I used to cook for you." - Your mother offers gently. You want to protest. Jungkook doesn't have to stay for dinner to eat your mom's pickled crabs. She can give him some to go. Jungkook answers before you do.

"Omony, really? You did pickled crabs? I'm so happy! I’m in time came to visit you." - Jungkook is overjoyed. "I am very happy to stay. I'm here for a few days, so my mom will have time to spend time with me." - Your mom is happy too. She is already excited to start cooking dinner.

"Mom, I promised you I would help you make dinner...." - You get up from the couch and walk towards your mom. She gently stops you.

"Honey, you need to talk to Jungkook. I'll start cooking by myself. When you're done, you can join me." - Your mom says and leaves you two alone.

You look after your mom, who has already gone to the kitchen. You hear Jungkook coming up behind you. He doesn't approaches to closer. You would like him to do this, but he respects your space.

"Can we go to your room? I don't think we can talk properly here." - Jungkook suggests. You think it's a good idea. Without answering, you walk towards the stairs.

"Mom, we'll be in my room." - You warn your mom and hear her shout "okay".

You enter the room first, leaving the door open for Jungkook to follow. Once inside, he closes the door behind him. He stands at the door looking at your room.

It hasn't changed and looks exactly the same as the last time he saw it. A small bed in the middle of the room. A bedside table next to it and your desk. The shelves around the desk are filled with sports books, comics, and sports awards. Several of them belong to Jungkook. He gave you cups, secretly dedicate these victories to you. Apart from his mom, you were his most ardent fan. To the right of the door is a wardrobe and large mirror in height. At window are delicate cream curtains. The room is cozy and you'd never say that a girl lived here.

There is a laptop on the bed, which you are already putting on the table. Jungkook walks over to your bed and sits down. You look at your friend carefully while remaining near table.

"Want to sit next to me?" - Jungkook asks, patting the bed next to him. He wants you to come closer.

"I'll stand. I've been lying on the bed all day." - You say calmly. Jungkook shakes his head and looks around your room in silence. You wait for him to speak. A light laugh leaves his lips.

"When we were at school, I used to come to this place so often. I feel like this is my room. The smell reminds me of those days." - Jungkook says. Your heart aches, that time was the best time of your life. Jungkook was there with all the time and was not involved in crime. Only sports, friendship, and precious memories. "Do you remember the time you hid me drunk from your parents? That morning I was running away through the window. Gosh, my mom gave me such a beating for not spending the night at home."

You remember that incident very well. Something happened between you that night that Jungkook doesn't remember because of the amount of alcohol he drank. It seems like that night you realized that you liked him.

𓏧𓏧𓏧Flashback𓏧𓏧𓏧

Jungkook got drunk at a party the night before his graduation. You remember when a classmate of his called you and asked you to take Jungkook out of the house drunk because he was almost unconscious. It was around 2 a.m. You were reading comics and so you were awake. You sneaked out of the house and followed Jungkook.

At first, the plan was to take him home. But Jungkook turned out to be having, he could barely stand on his feet, and your house was closer to yours, so you decided to take him to yours. You had to take him quietly to your room so that your parents wouldn't wake up, and then send him home in the morning.

You remember texting Doohoon, hoping that he would answer and come to the rescue to take Jungkook home, but he didn't answer. You knew they were supposed to be together. Did Doohoon leave early because he had something to do?

Jungkook clung tightly to your body. It was spring, but the night was cold. But your friend was wearing only a T-shirt, a warm sweatshirt with a zipper, and cargo pants.

His body heat kept you warm. But the longer you walked, you sweated as you struggled to pull your muscular friend. He was bigger and taller than you. Your hardened body tired quickly because Jungkook was relaxed and leaning on you.

His arm was around your neck. His palm was at a dangerous distance from your chest. You took his hand so that he wouldn't accidentally touch them. He leaned his head against the crook of your neck. His hot breath burned the skin of your neck. Jungkook smelled of alcohol and perfume.

It wasn't far to your home, but the distance seemed too long. You stopped to catch your breath. Just a couple of minutes to regain your strength and cover the last meters to your house. When you stopped, you felt Jungkook move his head, which was resting on your shoulder. He buried his head in your hair and touched your warm skin with his nose. You instantly got goosebumps.

"Baby, you smell so good." - Jungkook murmured into your neck. You froze. He had never been this close before. You panicked.

"Shut up, Jeon. I swear I'm going to kill you first thing in the morning." - You snapped, desperately ignoring the way Jungkook's nose was touching your neck. He suddenly deviated and stood in front of you, hugging you. He was holding onto your waist and so wobbling. You looked at your friend angrily with raised eyebrows.

Jungkook looked at you with drunken, half-open eyes that glittered. He looked at your face from the height of his height for a few seconds, and then awkwardly put his hand on your jaw. He grabbed you a little painfully, squeezing your hair. You clicked your tongue nervously.

"Damn it, what are you doing?" - You said, unhappy.

"What do they see in you?" - He suddenly says. You're confused, you don't understand what he's talking about. "Let's see: nice eyes, small face, and plump lips." - He says, describing your face. He touches your lips with his finger. Your heart is beating like crazy. You look at your friend and feel embarrassed. Jungkook looks up at your hair and examines it. "Your hair is an interesting color, maybe that's why they find you attractive?" - He asks no one in particular. You don't understand who he's talking about.

"Who are you talking about? And why did you decide that now is the time to discuss my appearance? Let's go home, it's hard for me to hold you!" - You protested, throwing his hands off your face. But the thought of someone liking you made you happy. His arms fell around your waist and with a quick movement, he pushed you against his body. A soft cry escaped your throat. Jungkook was so close that you forgot how to breathe. He was looking at your lips, and you were dizzy. You were screaming in your head, what was happening?

"Do you think they can take you away from me? I don't think so. You're my friend and they won't touch you with their fucking fingers." - You could smell the alcohol as Jungkook spoke almost to your lips. You listened dumbfounded to what he was saying. Something inexplicable clogged your chest. Emotions you had never felt before. A little excitement mixed with admiration. What is he saying? He has no right to speak so possessively. If someone likes you, he shouldn't get in the way.

"Jungkook, don't be silly!" - You say, trying to distance yourself from your friend. You shouldn't be standing in the middle of the road at 2 in the morning like that. Jungkook squeezed you tighter, not letting you move away at all. You expected him to be much stronger than you. You thought that if he didn't let go, you would be forced to hit him.

"Would you like to kiss me?" - Jungkook suddenly asks. He caught you off guard once again. Your eyes got big and you forgot to breathe again. You asked yourself if you really wanted to do this. You were afraid that, looking at your best friend now, you did want it. He was so handsome, even though he had been drinking. His lips were a magnet. But he's your friend! It's Jungkook! He's probably just messing with you. You recovered and covered his face with your hand, pulling him away.

"Jeon, I'm going to kick you in your bells. You're crazy! I would never want to kiss you. You're my friend. Oh no you're just an asshole I'm friends with." - You said rudely, holding his face with your hand. He laughed into your hand. You could hear your heart pounding in your ears. Why does this idiot have to come out on you like this?

Jungkook loosened his grip on your waist and you instantly pulled away from him.

"Gosh, I think I'm going to throw up." - Jungkook said in a tortured voice when you let go of him. You were scared. Jungkook swayed and went to the bushes and you heard him vomit. You almost threw up yourself. You waited for him to finish.

Jungkook straightened up and turned to you. He smiled and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. You grimaced. God, why did this happen with you?

Walking into the house with Jungkook, who was drunk wasted, was a challenge. He was unsteady on his feet and telling loud. You took him to your room and sat him down on the bed. You locked the door and turned to Jungkook. His eyes were almost closed. But he had a stupid smile on his face. You walked over to him in frustration and kicked him. He cried out.

"For what?" - He hissed, folding in half and rubbing his leg where you kicked him.

"For being a pain in the ass." - You said harshly. You had to do it because he had given you so much trouble.

"I haven't been in your ass yet." - Your friend says, and you gasp at the insinuation.

"Shut your dirty mouth, idiot!" - You growl. "Take off your shirt, I'm going to wash it." - Jungkook straightens up and slowly tries to take it off. But he fails. Losing patience, you come over and help him take off his shirt. You try not to look at Jungkook, who is just staring at you. After taking off his shirt, you throw it over your arm.

"Come with me to the bathroom. I'll give you a toothbrush and toothpaste, brush your teeth and wash your bad mouth. If I hear a single squeak from you, I'll drown you in the tub." - You threaten. Jungkook barely gets out of bed and laughs cheekily.

"Will you help me take a shower?" - He asks leaning on you again.

"Do you want to die?" - You are angry, but Jungkook just laughs.

You make your way to the bathroom as quietly as you can. You pushed Jungkook and close the door. You lead him to the sink and hand him a new toothbrush and toothpaste. While he brushes his teeth, you throw his sweatshirt into the washing machine and set it on the fast cycle. It should be washed in 15 minutes.

Jungkook brushed his teeth while trying to stand on his feet. When he was done, he took off his T-shirt. When you saw this, you gave a soft yelp of surprise. Jungkook smiled slyly.

"I'm going to take a shower." - He said loudly, as it seemed to you. At that moment, you heard footsteps in the hallway and your heart sank. You ran to Jungkook and put your hand over his mouth. You turned on the water and told him to be quiet. You stood there for who knows how long. You turned off the water to hear if the footsteps had stopped. There seemed to be silence. Suddenly there was a light knock on the door.

"Daughter, why are you in the bathroom at this hour?" - You heard your mother's voice through the door. Your blood ran cold in your veins. Holly shit, if she found out that Jungkook was standing there shirtless and drunk in your bathroom at almost 3 a.m., you would be in trouble. Jungkook didn't seem to care. He didn't react in any way.

"Oh, mom..." - You say loudly. "I was reading comics. I forgot to take a bath. I'll take a quick wash and go to bed." - You lied.

"Okay, but don't stay up so late anymore. You'll look like a ghost during the day." - Your mother complained. "Good night." - She said.

"Good night, mom." - You answered and heard her leave. After a while you heard her go into the bedroom. You let go of Jungkook and walked away from him.

"Hurry up." - You order him. Jungkook takes off his pants and you turn away. How did you even get into a situation like this? "Wait, what are you going to sleep in?" - You suddenly thought. He's not going to sleep on the floor in his boxers, is he? Should you give him your robe? Will he fit in it?

"I can sleep naked." - Jungkook says. You forget that he is naked and turn to him. His almost naked body makes you blush. Because even for the split second you saw his body, you noticed how beautiful it was. You turn away from him.

"You're not sleeping naked in my room, Jeon." - You were angry. "Come on, get cleaned up quickly. I'll get you daddy's clothes."

Jungkook couldn't wash quickly enough. You waited for him for what seemed like forever. You were nervous. Mom might come back again because you were here too long. Jungkook was washing behind the curtain and you were embarrassed that he was naked. You had to make an effort not to think about him like that.

Less than an hour later, you ended up in your room. Fortunately, no one caught you. You left the room again to find your father's clothes to dress Jungkook. His shirt was fortunately washed and you took it to your room to dry.

You gave Jungkook Daddy's shirt and shorts. They fit your friend almost perfectly. At 18 years old, he was the same size as your dad. When Jungkook got changed, he climbed on your bed and made himself comfortable while you found the perfect spot for him on the floor. When you saw him lying on your bed, you were outraged. You walked over to him and pushed your friend to the side.

"Hey, you're not sleeping here!" - You said. Jungkook looked at you in surprise, as if he had just noticed you were in the room.

"Do you really think I'm going to sleep on the floor? No way." - Jungkook said and turned away from you. You started to get mad. What kind of asshole is he? You brought him to your house, drunk, provided everything for his comfort, put your blankets on the floor, and he's so insolent!

"Listen, Jungkook, you're not going to sleep in my bed. You better get on the floor or I'll throw you off!" - You threatened. But in a moment you were on the bed. Jungkook grabbed you by the waist and threw you over in one deft movement. You stared at your friend hovering over you in fright. He smiled slyly when he saw you frozen in terror.

"It's no problem if we sleep together on the bed." - Jungkook said still smiling.

"No. We won't!" - You protested.

"I'll sleep here. But if you don't want to sleep next to me, then go to the floor by yourself." - Jungkook said still hovering over you. You blushed. For the second time today, Jungkook was too close to you.

"This is my room and I decide who sleeps where." - You said without giving up. Your friend stared at you for a moment, and then you saw him start to approach. You closed your eyes, afraid of what might happen.

"Make me lie down somewhere else, baby." - Jungkook whispered in your ear. You felt his hot breath leave a mark on your ear. Your heart beat faster. Was this a glitch in the matrix or another reality? How did you end up in this situation with your friend? He always liked to tease you, but like this? What are you supposed to do? Lie still? Or throw him to the floor? You almost choke when he kisses you on the neck. You instantly feel everything inside you shrink. A pleasant sensation is felt in your lower abdomen. You're excited to the max.

"Jungkook!" - You call out, trying to push him away. You try not to think about how much you like it. Jungkook holds you close, leaving you with almost weightless kisses. You start to panic. You can't do this because Jungkook is drunk. You imagine when he wakes up in the morning and sees you next to him. He'll be upset that it's you and not some hottie. And it will also ruin your friendship. Jungkook almost reaches your lips and you put your hand out and he kisses your palm. When he realizes that it's not your lips, he looks at you dumbfounded.

"What are you doing?" - He asks.

"And what are you doing?" - You ask back. Your eyes are frightened.

"I'm trying to kiss you." - Jungkook replies. Your lips are still covered by your hand.

"I'm trying to stop you from kissing me." - You replies too. Jungkook raises his eyebrows.

"Are you serious?" - He asks you in disbelief that you're refusing. "Every girl in town wants to kiss me. Don't you want to?" - You can hear the sincere surprise in his voice.

"Come down to earth, Jeon. Not all the girls want to kiss you." - You say irritated. "First of all, I'm not all of them, and I'm your friend, you dumbass. And secondly, you're drunk, how are you going to look me in the eye in the morning?" - Jungkook touches the inside of his cheek with his tongue and finally lets go of you. He falls onto your pillow and closes his eyes. You think you'd better get out of bed.

You run away and lie down on the blanket you made for Jungkook. You will have to sleep on the floor. You lay down straight and froze as if in anticipation. Did Jungkook really want to kiss you? Oh my God, he kissed your neck. You couldn't believe that this had happened between you.

You laid on the floor, not moving, listening to his breathing and your heartbeat. You lay there for a while and heard Jungkook snoring.

In the morning you were woken up by a knock on the door. You woke up too suddenly.

"Wake up, daughter!" - You heard your father's voice. At that moment you thought you were going to die. The doorknob was coming down. Dad was trying to get into the room. Did didn’t remember if you to close the door yesterday when you came with your father's things for Jungkook? You jumped up from the floor, taking blanket and ran to the bed. It was just a matter of seconds. You throw the blanket you were sleeping on at Jungkook and fly under the covers, almost falling on top of your friend. He wakes up but can't understand what's happening. You cover him with two blankets. The door opens and your dad looks through the door. Shit, you didn't close the door.

"Flower, are you waking up? It's almost 12 o'clock. Mommy is worried you missed breakfast." - Your father says gently. And you just think that if Jungkook moves, or your father comes into the room and walks over to your bed, you're dead.

"Oh yeah, daddy. Just give me 15 minutes to get cleaned up." - You say, pretending to be asleep. You feel Jungkook under the covers, leaning his head against your side. God, he better not move or you'll kill that asshole if your father catches you both.

"Okay." - Your dad says, and wants to leave. But after a moment, he turns his head back. "Were you cold to sleep?" - He asks looking at the two blankets on your bed. They look bulky and this provides the perfect opportunity to hide Jungkook under them.

"Yes." - You say quickly. "It's so cold tonight I decided to sleep under two blankets." - You lie. You hear Jungkook laughing in your direction. You can already imagine yourself strangling him.

"But the temperature was above freezing this night." - Your father says. That's right, it's May. You freeze.

"But you know me, Daddy ! I'm always cold." - You make up an excuse on the fly and mentally beg your father to leave.

"You are?" - He asks. You are nervous again.

"Yes, dad! I'll be there in 15 minutes, give me time to get ready for lunch." - You say, a little irritated. Your dad apologizes and walks away. You immediately run to the door and lock it. You lean your head against the door and breathe a sigh of relief.

Jungkook crawled out from under the covers. His hair stuck out in all directions. His eyes and lips were slightly puffy. He smiled at you cheerfully. You stared at your friend in awe. He looked so attractive in the morning and his appearance made you forget how angry you were with him.

"I thought I was done for." - He said with a laugh. "If your father found me in your bed, I'd be dead, wouldn't I?" - You step away from the door and grab the pillow you were sleeping on. It flies at Jungkook. He covers himself with his hands.

"Jeon, get out of my room! Otherwise, I will be your death!" - You screamed, but quietly so your parents wouldn't hear you. You were so angry, he had caused you so much trouble.

He crawled out of bed to get away from you.

"How can I go? Your parents are downstairs." - Jungkook complained.

"I don't care. Teleport out. Climb out the window. Anything, but get out now." - You shouted finally, throwing a pillow at him. Jungkook skillfully caught it. You sat down on the bed and breathed heavily. God, you were so stressed. Jungkook carefully walked over to the bed and put the pillow down. You glared at him angrily, and he flinched, afraid of your gaze.

"I need to change my clothes." - He said carefully. You got up and went to get his things. They flew at Jungkook just like your pillow. He grabbed them and smiled.

You went to the closet and pulled out your terrycloth robe. Wrapping yourself in it, you watched Jungkook get dressed. You didn't admire his perfect body, just pierced him with an angry look. He did it quickly. Jungkook tried to style his hair, which was sticking out in different directions.

"How did I end up here?" - He suddenly asks. Your eyebrows fly up. Does he not remember anything?

"What do you mean?" - You snap back. "I brought you here because you were drunk. Don't you remember?"

"No. My head is so pounding." - Jungkook scrunches his face in pain, putting his hand to his head. "The last thing I remember is losing a bet and drinking a glass soju and after followed by a glass of beer." - You stared at Jungkook. What a rare douchebag!

"I knew you were out of your mind, but by how much..." - You complain. Jungkook is indignant.

"Oh, come on. It was a party. Everyone drinks there, you know..." - He says as if it's a good argument. You shake your head in disapproval, and walk over to him, pushing him toward the window to get out. Jungkook doesn't resist. It's a good thing he's climbed through your window many times and knows how to get down safely. He freezes at the window. You let him go.

"Baby. I at least not hit on you?" - Your friend is worried. You can see the anxiety in his eyes.

"What if you did, what will you do?" - You ask with excitement. You wonder how he'll get out of it, because he did hit on you. The memory of his lips on your neck makes you feel butterflies in your stomach.

"What do you mean? I couldn't be!" - Jungkook immediately denies. You raise your eyebrows. Of course he could! He did exactly that this night.

"Why couldn't you? Am I so ugly that you don't find me attractive even when you drunk?" - You say. Jungkook laughs, your sarcasm is his favorite thing.

"Yeah and you're not my type." - Jungkook replies, his voice serious. "I would never hit on you. Especially since you're my best friend. It's like picking on your sister." - You froze at his words. You're not his type? Of course I'm not. But what about that he say about your appearance? What a bustard!

"You're an idiot! You told me this night that I was beautiful and that many people liked me!" - You shouted nervously. But you kept silent about the fact that he said he wouldn't give you to anyone.

"Did I say that?" - Jungkook is genuinely surprised. "I guess I drank too much last night." - For these words, his side immediately suffers from your fist. Jungkook laughs and shuts his eyes.

"Get out of my sight, you jerk, and I don't want to see you for a week." - You say, shoving Jungkook out the window.

"How can you live without me for a week, baby? I'm your air breathe." - Jungkook teases you. You are almost trembling with anger.

"God knows I wanted to keep you alive, but your tongue is your enemy!" - You threaten and run to get the dumbbell that was lying in your room. When you get back to the window, Jungkook has already reached the ground and is running away with a cheerful smile. He waves goodbye, and you give him the middle finger.

You lie down on the bed face down and smell the subtle scent of Jungkook's perfume. You feel a tremor inside. What happened between you tonight has made you look at Jungkook differently. Now the mere sight of him makes you feel admiring and elated. What did he do with you?

𓏧𓏧𓏧𓏧𓏧𓏧𓏧𓏧𓏧𓏧𓏧𓏧

This memory will remain in your mind forever. Because it was after that night that everything between you changed. Could you have imagined then that you would have sex with Jungkook? And that it would give you immense pleasure? Could you have imagined that you could feel some crashing or even fall in love with him and you wouldn't know what to do with it?

Jungkook smiles a sweet smile, probably remembering the morning you beat him. But you are hurt by the sight of him. Because he's not the Jungkook you knew anymore.

"You wanted to talk." - You remind your friend why you're in your room, and it's not because of happy memories from your youth.

"Yes." - Jungkook confirms and his cheerful, beautiful smile is gone. He runs his eyes over your face and finally says. "She did it on purpose. I didn't want to kiss her." - You look at Jungkook and hear your pulse pounding in your ears. So he decide to start with this?

"You didn't mean to, but you kissed." - You say.

"I didn't kiss her back. That hooker did it at Dohoon's request." - Jungkook says seriously.

"Meaning?" - You don't understand.

"That moron brought her to Japan specifically to distract me from you while he told you what I've become. He found out that we went to Japan to get the devices he stole, so he followed us. He's a fucking bone in my throat." - You realize that the trip to Japan was a cover for a job. You suspected it right away.

You ask Jungkook what the devices are, and he tells you.

Jungkook was supposed to guard the transportation of expensive medicines devices. Hoseok entrusted him with this job because he was so busy. But Doohoon, who had recently arrived in Korea, decided to remembering to Jungkook about himself.

He forged documents and substituted spoiled devices. Because of this, his company had problems with the customer. Jungkook said that he tried to resolve the issue so that Namjoon would not find out about the lost deal. Jungkook even mentioned the amount of the deal, which left you speechless. He said that Doohoon went straight to the hard methods. If Namjoon found out about the devices, your friend would be charged with another $50 million debt.

Jungkook also told how he got working on Namjoon. That the super fight was invented by Doohoon and offered Namjoon to make a lot of money on Jungkook. He say that he fought so often because they paid a lot of money for him, and that Doohoon only made a couple of appearances to make it look like he were fighting too.

In fact, Dohun lost a lot of money in casinos and betting in Namjoon’s club. A lot of money. And to pay off his debt, he brought Jungkook to Namjoon to make a lot of money. And everything was working until that idiot invited their classmate (who turned out to be the son of a policeman who hunted on Namjoon) to join them and fight in illegal fights. The policeman's son got all the important information. He even came with them to the club before the "super fight". That's how the police showed up that night.

Namjoon lost a lot of money and made Jungkook look bad. Doohoon did his best to make it happen. To save his own ass, he put the blame on Jungkook, saying that he told their classmate, even though he knew that he was the son of a policeman.

Jungkook said that he tried to escape from Namjoon three times. But the last time he was caught, Jungkook was severely beaten. They threatened that they would kill his parents and brother, and then finally kill him. He was told that either he brings all the money and is free (it was obvious that this option would not work, because Jungkook did not have that kind of money), or he works for Namjoon. He fulfills all his orders, working off his debt, and then he is free. Otherwise, if he doesn't agree to any of these conditions, his family and himself will suffer.

You listened to all this and just couldn't believe it. Doohoon is such a dickhead. Why did he do this to Jungkook? The three of you had such a great friendship. There had to be some reason for Doohoon to hate Jungkook so much, and it definitely wasn't simple envy. It had to be something significant, something that made your former friend go crazy.

Jungkook must have known the reason for this hatred. It was you. Right from the start. Because Doohoon had liked you since you started hanging out together, and Jungkook was greedy for you. Doohoon told Jungkook that he liked you, and then something clicked in Jungkook. He didn't want the two of you to start dating, which is probably why Jungkook started spending a lot of time with you then. He really hardly ever left you and Doohoon alone. Later on, when his classmate and the guys at the sports school started paying attention to you, Jungkook became jealous. But how could he confess to you? You were friends and you never fell for Jungkook's flirtations.

Later, when Doohoon started to show you a lot of attention, Jungkook got drunk and told his friend that he wanted to fuck you. He didn't say it on purpose, but he was just releasing his true desires under the influence of alcohol. That's when everything started to fall apart.

You started to cry, you imagined what Jungkook had to go through. And you were sure that these stories were the tip of the iceberg.

It hurt Jungkook to see you crying. He came to you and hugged you. You felt awe when his scent hit your nose. You leaned your cheek against his chest and cried hard. You realized that you had missed his closeness so much. Only in that embrace did you feel alive. Back at the hotel, when you saw him covered in blood, you were scared and afraid. But now, being in Jungkook's arms, you mentally scolded yourself. How could you think that he could hurt you?

You hugged him tightly, clutching his sweatshirt in your fists. Jungkook buried his head in your shoulder. He can finally touch you. To be close to you. When he arrived today and saw you looking at him standing by the stairs. He realized that he would never let you go again.

Jungkook picked you up and carried you to the bed. He sat down, putting you on his lap, listening patiently as you cried. When you had cried out all the regret that had accumulated inside you, you finally stopped crying.

"Are you okay, baby?" - Jungkook whispered. He was so close to your face that you could feel his breath on your cheek. He touched your cheek lightly with his lips.

"I’m terrible." - You admitted. Jungkook hummed.

"That's why I didn't tell you anything." - He complained softly. "I knew you'd cry. But I promised you I would only tell you the truth..." - He says, and your eyes fill with hot tears again. That's how he promised to tell the truth in day before the Christmas party. Jungkook wipes your tears away with his thumb as he looks at you. His heart is breaking, he doesn't want you to cry for him.

"Jungkook, you didn't kill anyone, did you?" - You suddenly ask, calming down a bit. This question was probably the one that worried you the most.

You met Jungkook's big eyes, which were darting between yours. It scared you that he hadn't said anything for so long. Could he have done something like that?

"No." - He finally said. You were relieved. "I didn't kill people. But the methods I use are not the most humane." - Jungkook admitted.

"What are your duties?" - You ask, even though you already know. Your Sunbaenim helped you find out. Jungkook hesitates. He doesn't think you should know.

"Baby, I don't want to tell you this. These are dangerous things. It's better if you don't know." - Your friend says. You sit on his lap and feel the warmth of his body. You feel so good around Jungkook. Maybe he's right. Besides you know something. Eliminating unnecessary people isn't necessarily murder, is it? You want to ask, but you can't expose yourself.

"Okay." - You agree quietly. "But what about everyone else? All your friends you introduced me to, they all work for Namjoon?"

"Yes. We all work for him." - Jungkook confirms.

"Do you trust them?" - You ask. Jungkook tries to understand what your question means.

"Yes, I trust them. Why do you ask?"

"They all know me. It scares me a little bit." - Jungkook stares at you.

"You don't have to be afraid of them, baby. I know these guys very well. They won't lay a finger on you because they know they're will dealing with me." - He sounded serious. You smiled. Everyone was afraid to deal with Jungkook since high school. But now it's a whole another level.

"What about Namjoon?" - You ask. Jungkook fixes the hair that's falling over your face.

"You are completely my responsibility. And if Namjoon tries to do anything to you, he'll have to deal with me, too." - You smile in pain. He is so confident. What you'd expect from Jungkook. You stare at each other and Jungkook breaks first.

He gently takes your neck and pulls you in for a kiss. When your lips touch, you are cold. His lips are so desirable. You return the kiss with insistence. Jungkook plunges his tongue into your mouth. You intertwine your tongue with his and deepen the kiss. Jungkook strokes your back as if to calm you down. He kisses you as if to say: "Here I am, and I won't leave you anymore."

Your eager kiss is interrupted by a knock on the door. You quickly jump off Jungkook's lap and run back to the window. Your mom appears in the doorway.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, daughter..." - Your mom apologizes. She sees that you are distracted. But you need to turn to your mother to know the reason for her coming. When you return, your mother sees your teary eyes, but she skillfully hides her embarrassment.

"It's okay, mom, we're done now. I'll help you with dinner..." - You are about to leave. Jungkook gets up to go with you, but your mom stops you both.

"I don't need any help. I have everything almost ready. I put the yukkejang on to cook, because it will be perfect for tonight's frosty evening. But I just got a call from Ajuma Jihee, asking me to help her finish the soybean paste. I gave her the recipe and I think she did something wrong." - Says your mom. "I'm just going to go out for 40 minutes, and when I come back, the yukkejang will be ready. Daughter, just stir it from time to time so that it cooks well. Dad will be back soon, so don't be sad." - Your mom left, closing the door.

You looked at Jungkook, who was standing behind you. You smiled weakly, you almost got caught. You're about to go downstairs to watch the soup when Jungkook grabs your arm. He pulls you toward him, his arms around your waist. You stare at your friend in awe.

"Forty whole minutes..." - He says, leaning down and capturing your lips. You mumble, resisting just a little, but otherwise giving in to his skillful lips. You move your lips against his and get a little nervous. What if mom comes in again? But when Jungkook kisses you and leads you to the bed, you realize what he meant earlier. You protest again by mooing into Jungkook's mouth. He stops when your feet hit the bed.

"Kook, we can't have sex in my room. Mom hasn't left yet, and Dad should be home soon..." - You warn him. In a moment, you find yourself on your back, pressed against the mattress by your friend. He smiles slyly and doesn't seem to care that your mom is somewhere nearby. You feel your heart beating against your chest. It's like an electric charge is running through your body. You forget about caution when Jungkook starts kissing you. He grabs your jaw with his hand, squeezing it a little harder, and shoves his tongue deep into your mouth. He kisses you so passionately that the heat rushes through you like lightning.

Your brain is working at high speed, and your body is freezing in anticipation. It's both impatience and sweet intrigue at the same time.

"Shall we finish what we started in this room?" - Jungkook asks as he pulls away from your lips, his hand already hidden under your sweater. He slides his hand under your bra and squeezes your breast. You hold back a moan, biting your lip.

"What do you mean?" - Instead of answering, you ask your own question, breathing heavily.

"What we started the night before my graduation." - Jungkook answers. You round your eyes in shock. Is he talking about the night he almost kissed you for the first time?

"You didn't remember anything the next morning!" - You remind him indignantly. Jungkook smiles seductively. He lifts up your orange warm sweatshirt, lowers your bra, and kisses your nipple. You feel Jungkook's wet tongue on your nipple and it makes you wet your underwear already. He grabbed your breast with his hand, squeezing it with a little force and sucking on the burgundy bud. He plays with the most sensitive part with his tongue and it makes you want to more.

"It's time to confess to you." - Jungkook says when he stops kissing your breasts. Your breathing is labored because of your excitement. You feel Jungkook pressing his half-erect cock against your pussy. It's not hard enough yet. But it won't be for long. "I was going to fuck you then." - He says with a sly smile on his lips, and you just can't believe it.

"What?" - You ask again. He couldn't want to fuck you when you were 17 years old.

"Yeah, baby, we could have been together a long time ago. But I still win, your virginity is mine." - He says and takes off your sweater. He also frees you from your bra with his skillful hands.

"Really? You've been dreaming of fucking me for so long?" - You ask with irony. Although you are just shocked that your friend has been trying to get you into bed for so long.

"Absolutely. But you were so scared at the time, you didn't even let me kiss you. I am one hundred percent sure that if you had let me kiss you, you would have become a woman that night." - Jungkook assures you. He kisses you eagerly, sliding his tongue into your mouth. You answer him with the same greed, as if you were living only for this moment. This kiss ignited a fire between you, your mutual need for each other was too obvious.

Your body silently begged for more, and more, and more as he moved from your lips to your neck. He kissed millimeter by millimeter, as if he were trying to cover every part of your tender skin. You moaned softly, which fueled Jungkook's arousal. He rubbed his cock against you, which became harder with each movement. He wants to fuck you, so you should hurry up while you're the only two at home.

Jungkook pulls himself off your neck and hangs over you. Your faces are separated by a quality of centimeters. You open your eyes and see Jungkook's seductive smile. Your cheeks burn from your closeness.

"Do you want me to fuck you now, or shall we have dinner and I'll take you to the park and fuck you in the car?" - Jungkook gives you a choice. The fact that he's going to fuck you tonight is not even up for discussion. You can only choose the place.

You feel his cock presses into your pussy. Your underwear is soaked with moisture. And you like the position you're in. You can wait for the evening. It's risky to have sex in your room, knowing that your parents could come back at any time. But somehow this makes you even more needy.

"Can you wait after dinner time?" - You ask Jungkook to get his opinion. You don't want him to think that you want him that badly. So you ask him if he can wait.

"Fuck, no. I want to fuck you right now." - You smile at the note of intolerance in his voice.

"Then we better hurry, darling." - You say, agreeing.

"I don't want to hurry. I want to enjoy you." - Jungkook confesses.

"But we really don't have much time." - You say with desperation. Jungkook smiles at you and gets out of bed. You notice his hard cock resting against his fly. You lift up on your elbows to follow his actions and see Jungkook walk to the door and lock it. On his way to you, he takes off his clothes, throwing them somewhere on the floor.

He comes to the bed and you admire his perfect body. His pumped-up chest and biceps move in time with his hands undoing the waistband of his pants. He looks too sexy. He looks at you with a lustful gaze. Jungkook takes off his pants while studying your face, his eyes moving down to your bare tits and finally settling on your crotch.

Jungkook doesn't like that you're still wearing your pants. He wraps his fingers around your ankle and pulls you to the edge of the bed with a sharp movement. A scream sticks in your throat. Jungkook slowly pulls off your pants. Only your underwear remains. After a moment, Jungkook grabs the edge of the cotton fabric and pulls it down. There is something so intimate about this action. That moment when he undresses you makes you feel adoration for him. You love it when he takes off your clothes with his own hands. You like it when he is in complete control of you. You want to worship him like a king who owns the whole world.

Jungkook sees your naked body and goes a little crazy. He doesn't understand why every time you have sex, his desire to have you grows stronger, and now he almost on the verge of obsession.

Jungkook spreads your legs and sighs in anticipation. He's finally going to taste your sweet pussy. And then he's going to fuck it so well that you'll remember it for a long time.

He gets down on his knees and places his face right in front of your wet cunt. He can hear you breathing heavily. Jungkook takes your ass with his hands to have the best angle. He kisses your inner thigh and you just tremble. His lips are beautiful on any part of your body. He kisses your thighs slowly, even though your wet cunt, which is in his field of vision, is terribly attractive to him.

You clutch the blanket in your hands. The pain in your lower abdomen is becoming unbearable, and you desperately need Jungkook's touch. Jungkook kisses your other thigh, moving closer to your most desired spot.

When his tongue finally touches your clit, an uncontrollable moan escapes your lips. Jungkook licks your clit three times with his tongue, pressing it pleasantly. Your legs tremble with pleasure.

"It's sweet." - He says directly into your cunt, and then bursts in with his lips. His tongue sucks on your clit and you just go crazy with pleasure. You moan loudly, trying to ease the sweet torture of Jungkook's tongue. Your back arches to relieve your condition. When he pushes his tongue into your passage, you go crazy. He pushes it in and out, and his finger caresses your clit. You can feel your orgasm coming.

"Kook..." - You whisper to warn him, but he doesn't let go. He fucks your hole with his tongue, while simultaneously tormenting you with his fingers. After a moment, he sticks his tongue out and presses his lips to your clit. He kisses you gently a few times and then sucks you as hard as he can. The blanket is clenched in your fists so tightly that your fingers go numb. A moment later, you come on Jungkook's tongue. A pleasant pleasure spreads through your body.

Jungkook pulls away from your cunt, his lips and chin glistening with your cum. Jungkook smiles. He gets to his feet. He can't get enough of your excited face.

You open your eyes and stare at Jungkook in awe. He really a king, or no, he is a Greek god created to give pleasure. Your lips stretch into a blissful smile.

"I don't think I can ever get enough of this sweet pussy." - Jungkook says as he takes off his boxers. His cock is excited. It jumps up, bumping against his thighs as your friend frees him from the captivity of his underwear. Semen drips from the tip, and you think you want to taste it and feel its salty flavor.

Jungkook holds out his hands to you, and you place your palm in his. He asks you to get out of bed. You get to your feet and they tremble slightly. The sensations from your orgasm are still present between your legs.

Your best friend, or should say lover, sits on the edge of the bed. He invites you to sit on top and ride his cock. You don't hesitate for a second to get on top.

When your bodies touch, you feel how hot Jungkook is. You sit on his lap, holding onto his back. He gently supports you by the waist. He puts two fingers in your passage to stretch you. You close your eyes against the pleasant sensation of his fingers in your middle, and you hear him smile. You seem to get even wetter as you wait for the grand prize.

"My good girl. So wet for me. That tight pussy will swallow my cock perfectly." - You moan and smile at Jungkook's praise. You open your eyes and see your friend's handsome face. His eyes shine with a devilish light, and his seductive smile makes you more excited than ever, even though there's no to where. He licks your lips, plunging his long, knotted fingers deep into you. "Come on, baby, have a good ride." - Jungkook urges you to sit on his cock.

You rise up on your knees, leaning on the bed and Jungkook puts the head of his cock against your entrance. You lower yourself carefully. He holds your ass, squeezing your meat. When you're completely down on Jungkook's cock, you both let out a moan of pleasure.

Your gaze falls to Jungkook's lips and you just drink in them greedily. You kiss Jungkook with your tongue. He laughs into your lips. He is delighted that you are kissing him so passionately. You've finally shown him how much you need him.

You start to move on his lap. Jungkook fills you to the brim with his cock. He hits you deeply every time you jump on top to create the right friction. Jungkook is fucking you so perfectly. You moan. Your breasts bounce in time with your movements. Why does it feel so good? Why so passionate? You close your eyes and surrender completely to your needs.

"Fuck!" - Jungkook swears. "Your pussy is the tightest in the world. I just want to fuck it forever." - You scratch the skin on Jungkook's shoulders. You want to be fucked only by Jungkook, too. He squeezes your buttocks to help you move. The sound of your bodies slamming into each other fills the space around you. Your head spins around.

Jungkook wraps his arms around you. He thinks you're so small in his arms. He drives his cock into you sharply and deeply, enjoying the friction of your sensitive parts.

Suddenly he stands up, supporting your body with his arms. You wrap your legs around his waist. You try to figure out what he wants to do. Jungkook carries you to the wall. He leans you against it, and you can see your reflection in the mirror. You see his bare buttocks and your legs wrapped around his waist. He is fucking you, thrusting your swollen pussy.

You look at yourself in the mirror and can't get enough of the sight. You dip your nails into his hair and pull lightly. Jungkook pushes you down to the ground and gets out of you. His cock is glistening with your wetness. He kisses you, grabbing your cheeks again with one hand. His tongue is deep in your mouth. Your lips are swollen from the constant kissing.

"This mirror." - Jungkook says in a low voice that penetrates every cell in your body. "Every time I looked at it, I imagined myself fucking you in front of it." - You are shocked. Your friend is so depraved in his thoughts. Why would he want to fuck you in front of a mirror? "I finally have the opportunity." - Jungkook smiles.

He moves closer to your neck. His lips kiss your skin, giving you goosebumps. You feel your wetness dripping down your inner thighs. His kiss on your neck excites you to the limit.

"Jungkook..." - You call out to him. You want him to shove his cock back inside you and give you a good fuck. The thought of him doing it in front of the mirror is exciting.

"Yes, baby." - He responds to the call of his name.

"Take me." - You ask. You want Jungkook too much. You need him too much. Jungkook holds you close. You feel his strong body. His chest is pressed firmly against yours. His big hand squeezes your asshole, digging his nails into the skin. His erect cock is pressing against your pubes. It's so sexy between you.

Jungkook leads you to the mirror. He settles down behind you. Jungkook's cock presses against your ass. He kisses your neck and squeezes your breasts with his hands, massaging them. You moan. It feels good. You want more. You close your eyes and Jungkook looks at you in the mirror.

"Open your eyes and look straight ahead." - He orders you somewhat imperiously, while pushing your folds apart. His gentle, unhurried finger movements on your clit ignite your entire insides. You think today he is caressing you such many times, more than usual.

You listen to his orders. You look at yourself naked in the mirror and your excitement grows exponentially. "Now you can see what you look like when I fuck you. This is your best look." - He whispers in your ear.

He plunges his fingers into your passage, smears moisture over your folds. You breathe heavily. Light moans leave your mouth. Jungkook bends you over, and you grab the frame of the mirror that shows you in full view. Jungkook puts his cock against your hole. You feel Jungkook plunging into your passage. As he fills you with his thick cock, you cheer.

Jungkook looks at you through the mirror. Your face looks pained. Your eyebrows are drawn together, your mouth is slightly open and your eyes are closed. You must see what you look like when he gives you divine pleasure.

"I told you to open your eyes." - Jungkook leans down. His body presses against your back. He puts his hand on your throat and lifts you up. He bites your ear and growls. "Don't make me punish you." - You struggle to remember how to breathe. If it weren't for the fluid stroke of his cock, you wouldn't even do it.

Jungkook bends you back, releasing your throat. Now he can get better access to your cunt. He starts to move while fucking you. He holds your hips with his hands to better control the thrusts. Your moans and the sounds of your bodies intertwine in a perfect symphony.

You look at yourself in the mirror and see that you are not yourself. But your appearance in it makes you look depraved. You meet Jungkook's gaze in the mirror. Absolutely dark, focused only on you.

He slows down, driving his cock lazily and deeply into you. You want more friction.

"Kook... faster..." - You ask.

"Faster?" - Jungkook asks you again, continuing to thrust his cock ruthlessly into your vagina.

"Yes..." - You exhale.

"Do you want me to fuck you fast like a whore?" - He asks. You moan blissfully. You want to.

"Yes. Fuck me like a whore." - You ask. Jungkook stops and you hear his heavy breathing. He doesn't mind at all. But for some reason today, Jungkook doesn't want to rush. He wants to enjoy every moment with you.

But he knows that time is short. That’s why he'll try some other time. When you're in your apartment together and he makes you scream all night.

Jungkook picks up the pace. His cock works wonders. Sex with Jungkook is like a short-term nirvana. You moan from his fast hip movements. He pushes his cock into you to the maximum and freezes. Your orgasm is coming.

You look at yourself in the mirror and think that the picture can't get any better. It's like you're watching a fucking porno with Jungkook and yourself in the lead role. He's fucking your hole. One hand caresses your clit. Fuck, it feels so good.

"I'll... I'll come over, Kook." - You say between thrusts.

"No, baby. I'm not done with you." - Jungkook doesn't let you. He pulls out of you almost at the exact moment you're about to cum. You breathe heavily leaning against the mirror. You can feel your cunt burning. You are disappointed because you could have already felt the most desirable sensation, and Jungkook didn't finish the job.

Before you can properly recover, Jungkook wraps his big arm around your waist and leads you back to the bed. You look at his tattoos with a blurry gaze. He lays you down gently on the bed and climbs on top of you, but he doesn't go inside you right away. You breathe heavily in sync.

He looks at your face and can't get enough of it. During sex, you are the most beautiful person in the world. You drive him crazy. You excite his every cell. Jungkook kisses you, gently, almost lovingly. He pulls away when he has enjoyed your lips enough. He lifts up and turns you over onto your stomach. His hands are on your hips and he lifts your ass to enter you.

You are wet. Despite the fact that he ate you, you release so much moisture that your tight cunt swallows his cock with ease. He plunges into your passage and moans. You know you'll never get enough of this. You grab the sheet with your hand. Jungkook pounds you with his cock, finding your G-spot almost instantly. You can't hold back the screams that come out of your throat. Your mind is so blinded by the lust and pleasure of your friend's thick cock that you forget where you are. But you're home, in your room, and your parents should be home soon. You don’t care, you scream because it feels so damn good.

"Come on, baby, now come on my cock." - Jungkook orders you, feeling your walls begin to clench around his cock. His strokes are fast, deep, and almost ruthless. Your orgasm comes just as he asks you to. You lean your head against the mattress, feeling euphoric, high, ecstatic. Why the fuck is sex with Jungkook so good?

Jungkook is chasing his own orgasm. In just a few quick thrusts, he fills you with his hot cum. You feel Jungkook's cock twitching inside you, filling your passage to the brim.

He slowly stops moving. He stops when his cock softens. Jungkook pulls out of you and falls to the spot next to you. You both breathe as if you've been running a long marathon.

You feel a little cum spilling out of your passage. Your sheets are soiled and you'll have to change them.

Jungkook crawls over to you, kisses your lips, and when he pulls away, he smiles cheerfully.

"Did you like it?" - He asks you. "Because I loved it." - Jungkook confesses.

"It was fucking good." - You admit the same thing. Sex with Jungkook is exactly the kind of thing that gives you maximum physical pleasure. Jungkook pecking on your lips. "You came in me again." - You complain gently.

"I have emergency contraception in the car." - Jungkook reassures you. You smile ironically, raising your eyebrows.

"You knew what you were doing." - You say, hinting that he was going to come inside you from the beginning. Jungkook strokes your face with his hand.

"It's crazy, but I want my cum to fill you every time I fuck you. It's like I'm signing you by myself." - He emphasizes the last word and you feel excited. If you're his, he cannot to kiss his ex anymore.

"If you think I'm yours, then you're mine." - You say, lowering your voice. You sound so serious that Jungkook is surprised. He has never heard you sound so powerful. "If I ever see your ex again, or see you flirting with other people, you'll know what the fire inside me really is." - Jungkook laughs out loud and can't wait to kiss you.

"Your jealousy makes me hot." - Jungkook says as he pulls away from your lips.

"I find my jealousy annoying, so you better not test my nerves." - You say. "Let me go, I have to take a quick shower. I think the yukkejang is burnt. My mom will kill me." - You complain. Before you leave the room, you turn to Jungkook, who is lying completely naked on your bed, looking at you. "Move your ass, Jeon, and get me a pill, or you'll be a father in nine months." - You finally get out. Jungkook lies there like a stone. Your words about fatherhood seem to have hit him over the head.

For a moment, he imagined how beautiful you would be pregnant, carrying his child under your heart. But he quickly pushed those thoughts away. He can't think about that. Because you are already his Achilles' heel.

He is strictly forbidden to think about a normal life, a family, or a child while he is working for Namjoon. Jungkook doesn't know if he'll ever be able to plan for that. Being in a relationship with you is already a lot of pressure for him, because he is responsible for your life, which could be in danger at any moment.

He really fell in love with you because you are all he can think about lately. He can't admit it to you because he doesn't want you to get attached to him, but he wants you to be able to see his love. It has been present in his actions, in his behavior for a long time.

Jungkook tries to be reserved, but his heart betrays him in every little thing. His love is his silent presence, his desire to make your day better, even when he's fighting his own demons.

“Read my love." - He repeats in his mind every time he touches you with his eyes. He can't say it out loud, but he’ll show you. Again and again, until you realize that you are his only reason to breathe.

↰ Previous chapter ⋮ ≣ Index ↓ ⋮ Next chapter ↱

[eilinelsghost]

So I ran across a (not particularly pleasant) conversation about my writing on someone else’s post the other day in which it was put forward that the correct way to frame Bëor’s wife was to erase her entirely and make his sons his nephews; also heavily implying a lack of creativity on my part (and a lack of commitment to the authenticity of Finrod and Balan's relationship) for not having utilized this "much easier solution that changes nothing much but allows for way less cringe".

I vented to friends and just moved on and tried to ignore it, but this particular aspect of the commentary has been bothering me so much that I'm going to take a moment for my own peace of mind to briefly address it here.

Bëor's wife is not a problem to be solved

The majority of women in the Silmarillion already exist as textual ghosts (Bëor's wife included). Why would the story be better served by eliminating her existence? One of the strengths of Silm fanfic that I've consistently appreciated has been the commitment to lifting women from the margins of the text and fleshing them out with full, complicated, and detailed identities. Her unspoken presence in the text is an opportunity to draw another woman forward into the narrative, not an excuse to erase them even further.

Furthermore, we know of Bëor's wife because of the existence of Baran and Belen. This suggested approach holds that they thus create a "problem" within the text for this particular story and the simplest solution should be to take her children from her and give them to someone else, all so that her husband can be free to fall in love without the encumbrance of her existence. Which leads me to the next issue.

Bëor's wife does not need to be erased to make Finrod/Bëor ok

The implication in these comments was that she needed to be scrubbed from the narrative in order for Finrod and Balan's relationship to be authentic or "monogamous." I'm not even going to get into the second part of that (which is...sure a take) but the authenticity of a relationship or the depth of someone's love is not determined by whether this is the only person they have ever been in love with. To be perfectly frank, that sounds more like the purity culture slop I was fed growing up than it does like the desire to uplift and enhance the queer relationship in the narrative that the op seemed to indicate was their intent.

It matters that the House of Bëor are the actual descendants of Bëor

This is a key point in the arc of the Silmarillion itself, but focusing just on what this means within a Finrod/Bëor context, it matters that the House of Bëor - who are consistently loyal to Finrod, who sacrifice to save his life, and for whom he eventually sacrifices his own life - are the offspring of the man for whom he crossed wisdom and wedded despite the chasm of sundered fates. They are how Bëor lives on even after Finrod's irreparable loss. Caring for them - dying for them - is a large part of how he carries Balan forward with him through the years of solitude and how he remains true to his love long after they are sundered.

There is a good deal more I could go on about, but I did say this would be brief, so I should leave it there.

[merryloumas]

❄️ Be There by @mission2feelike [179k]

Niall sits down dramatically, arms flopping to his side before he leans forward and looks right into Harry’s eyes. “So, your ex-boyfriend, who broke your heart four years ago, is coming to stay at your house for six weeks? And his daughter, your daughter, is coming to stay tonight?” Harry nods, worried if he speaks he’ll be yelled at again, but then Niall’s face softens, his ever-present smile is back and Harry hears him breathe out a small chuckle. “Okay, for the record, I think this is the worst idea you’ve ever had, but how can we help?"

or The one where their family has been torn apart and their hearts broken, but an accident, a snowstorm, cinnamon rolls, and the adorable Josie force Louis and Harry to finally face the truth, and each other.

❄️ When Least Expected by rearviewdreamer @all-these-larrythings [22k]

Drowning in a sea of emails and Zoom meetings in the living room, his lonely son falling more and more behind in his kitchen classroom, and crushing weight of the world being on house arrest for the foreseeable future, one fateful online interaction suddenly has everything looking up.

❄️ Nothing Else But Us Right Here by supernope [35k]

Louis sighs and gives himself a mental pep talk as he smooths his jumper down over his hips. He can do this. He can resist the draw of Harry Styles, because he is a responsible, mature adult, and as much as he wants to tangle his fingers in that mess of hair and map those ridiculous tattoos with his tongue, he does not want to get his daughter’s favorite teacher fired.

❄️ If My Heart Was A Compass, You'd Be North by @cheekiestcheeky , @heartsoftlouis [55k]

The one where punk Louis likes to think he’s not clumsy, but he suspects he’ll have to accept it when he falls face first into a relationship with a head full of curls and his tiny human.

❄️ My Heart Might Be Broken (But I Won't Be Broken Down by @elleseekeepdriv [46k]

A story about a couple falling in love and becoming a family, and then breaking up and dealing with a heartbroken daughter while surviving their own heartbreak. But at its core, a story about a couple fighting against biphobia, fighting for their love, and learning to accept each other while learning to accept themselves.

❄️ Oh We're In Love, Aren't We by rearviewdreamer @all-these-larrythings [30k]

After sixteen wonderful years of friendship, it's hard to imagine any grand (and usually dumb) plans they haven't had or some type of mischief they haven't gotten into together. But, when Harry suddenly finds himself without a fiance and Louis just wants to help him feel okay again, they realize falling in love is one thing they haven't done, and that's about to change.

❄️ Sip It Slowly And Pay Attention by vintagehistories @adoredontour [12k]

It’s not that he doesn’t trust Louis, but. He doesn’t trust Louis’ taste. Louis has about the same track record with men that Harry does, if not quite as extensive.

or, harry is a guidance counselor, louis is an english teacher, and harry just wants to go on one successful date.

❄️ Play Pretend, Find A Friend? by @angelichl [40k]

When Louis sees his ex-boyfriend kissing a random girl at a party, he acts out of blind jealousy. He kisses the first guy he can find. It turns into a thing.

INSPIRED BY CLOUDS.

❄️ Fly Me To Places I've Never Been by @boosbabycakes28 [47k]

The one where Louis’ ex ends up sitting right behind him with his new girlfriend on his flight back to Los Angeles, and the beautiful stranger next to him has an unexpected idea to help him get through the next five hours.

❄️ See It Turning Red by @dinosaursmate [30k]

Prince Harry employs a male escort to accompany him to official functions to spite his father, King Edward, but Harry has a little trouble keeping his head.

❄️ Campus Creatures by @kingsofeverything @louandhazaf [25k]

It’s senior year for werewolf Louis Tomlinson and vampire Harry Styles, and as presidents of their respective fraternities, they’re determined to do it right.

Though what that means is anybody’s guess.

❄️ Break Open The Sky by @karamelised [20k]

Werewolf au. Harry might be a werewolf, but he still wants to experience Uni like everyone else. Turns out he learns a lot.

❄️ Night Changes by colourexplosion [40k]

Fuck, he loves Louis. Wait, of course he loves Louis. What’s not to love? He’s kind and he’s funny and he’s patient with Harry always and he’s always been there when Harry needed him. Well, not tonight, but Harry hadn’t specifically said to him that he needed him and whatever — okay. Of course he loves Louis. That doesn’t mean he’s in love with Louis.

But I am in love with Louis, he thinks, and curses as his shampoo runs into his eyes.

Or, Louis and Harry are soulmates. (With a twist.)

❄️ Help Me, Help You Find Love by haroldstylinson29 [23k]

The one where they all attend a university for supernaturals and Werewolf Frat president and resident heartthrob Harry approaches on campus matchmaker Louis to help him find love.

❄️ Reverse Psychology by heartbreakwthr [17k]

The one where Louis Tomlinson is an elementary school teacher that has visited the hospital twice a week for the past two months, and is hopelessly out of Harry’s league; Harry Styles is a child psychologist who can’t bring muster up the courage to introduce himself to the biggest crush he’s ever had; and somehow they work together to create the best Christmas party the hospital’s ever seen.

Total Fics Read: 15

[the-dye-stained-socialite]

Hello Fallen London Fandom! I want to say something briefly. I've posted a few of my general Fallen London ideas here on tumblr, and people have gotten excited about them, which is great!

However! Less great is the fact them some people have been tagging (or just shouting into the void in the general direction of) Failbetter.

Don't do this:

(there have been more instances, these are simply the first three i found)

First of all: None of you asked me if this was okay. You are elevating my stuff to one of the people who works with this game in a way that I did not ask for, nor did I consent to!

Secondly: My ideas and concepts are not fair use, they are my own ideas and concepts that I came up with. If you as a friend or fan would like to do something with them, or create sonething inspired by or derivative of them, you can ask (and I'll probably say yes! I love sharing ideas with folks who are nice to me!!!) and of course credit that the idea came from me. If Failbetter staff would like to hire me someday to create ideas for them, then they can own the concepts I come up with for their game. As is, i am not being paid, and you are telling Hannah and crew to steal my ideas, pass them off as their own, and profit off of them. That is close to, or even directly, plagiarism. (edit: obviously i don't own general concepts and such, but some of these things are much more specific and developed! and sometime when you're making a point you generalize to get across the idea)

Third: This causes legal issues for the team, for the above point. Especially with a game where money is frequently involved. If you do this to your own post, someone else's post, anyone's post, and they see it? That's a decent way for that idea to never get implemented.

Fourth: Not every idea, headcanon, or fan theory needs approval from the creators. Fandom does not need to be directly intertwined with the creators. Personally, I have the most fun whenever I am actively not giving a damn about the creators, and simply enjoying the things they make in my own time, place, and peace. My monster-fucking, my dreams, my silly ideas I come up and create with friends are my own, and I don't need the creators' opinions or in-game implementation of these ideas!! I am not entitled to their game-making as a fan, and they are not entitled to my personal ideas, and that's okay!

and finally, Fifth: Remember there are real humans behind usernames. I am an entire person with nearly 25 years of lived experience. You do not know me. Don't be jokingly rude to strangers, because no matter how many /pos tags you add to something, it still comes off as rude! You cannot guarantee I interpret your words the same way you do, so be nice. Think about if you would go up to a random stranger in their house and say these things. Don't forget that you can always learn and improve and change for the better.

[midnight-mourning]

Up on the Housetop

❄️❄️Midnight's DCA December Day 20❄️❄️

mmmm i enjoyed the chaos of this one, it's still fluffy and sweet, but I will admit i went for a bit of gremlin sillies with it, hope you enjoy ^-^

Prompt: Had a funny idea. DCA believes Santa is real (programming so he doesn't spoil it for kids), and won't let reader downstairs on Christmas Eve (reader is trying to put out presents lol) Or alternatively, he knows but is just being difficult/is trying to do his own Santa stuff

Word Count: 1330

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

You loved Sun, you really did. His sense of humor, his pleasant demeanor, how affectionate he was, and so much more. You cared about him a lot, so much, really. Moon as well, of course, but Moon wasn't currently causing you problems. For once. 

You see, tomorrow was Christmas, and at this point, you still had a lot to do. Mainly, because you only had half the presents out, the rest had been hidden away, along with stocking stuffers and the likes. For one reason and one reason only; Santa hadn't come yet. 

More specifically, you had to go down and put everything out under the guise of it being Santa and not you. Why? Because the attendant stills believes in Santa Claus, and you'd be damned if you were going to let anything get in your way of keeping that myth up for them. 

And that included the attendant themself. 

However, it was Sun that was the sole problem causer tonight, standing in front of you, hands on his hips as he blocks your access to downstairs. 

Your own arms are crossed, frown matching up with the strained smile on his visage. You thought he was charging. But it seemed the moment you snuck out to get things done, he was right behind you, hand on your shoulder as you were about go down the steps. 

After determining that you were up to no good, he all but pushed you back into the bedroom, you protesting all the while. 

Now, you were at a stalemate. He was refusing to let you pass, and you were refusing to go to bed. If only you hadn't left the tree on downstairs, the light it provided was just enough to keep him out and not Moon. He at least was easy to bribe. 

"Friend. This is ridiculous." He waves to the roof. "Santa could be here at any moment and you're awake!"

You huff. "So are you, Sunny. I just need to go downstairs for a second, then I'll be right up to bed, I promise."

"I can't allow you to do that. What if he's already down there and we don't know!"

You shake your head. "If he's already been then I won't even look in the living room, I promise."

"I can't trust your word! Not after you betrayed my trust today." He crosses his arms to mimic you, chin turned up.

You pinch your brow. "It was just a snowball fight, Sun."

"Just a snowball fight—" He splutters as you put a hand up to stop him. 

"All's fair in love and war, how was I supposed to know that you actually thought I didn't have any left." You think for a moment, then point your finger at him. "And last I checked, you pulled the exact same stunt by kissing me as a distraction!"

His rays flick, faltering a moment before muttering in agreement. "I suppose that's true. But nevertheless, my decision is final. Now I suggest you go back to bed before I make you. And you know how much I hate bedtime."

"This is my house!" You protest, stepping closer to him so you're only a few feet apart. "I should be allowed to go down the stairs of my own home."

"What do you need so badly that'd you risk ruining Christmas for?"

You lift a finger. "First of all, not trying to ruin Christmas. Second of all,"—you can't think of a reason, shoot—"It's none of your business.

Sun bends to your height, gaze narrowed. "Oh, but I think it is, Sunshine. Unless you can give me a truly valid reason, you will not be going downstairs."

You stare at him, squinting in simmering frustration. His rays tick once, twice, otherwise inmoving. 

You make a run for it, and get caught instantly. Your legs are kicking and flailing as Sun marches you away from the stairs and back towards the bedroom. The second he sets you down again, you trying run again, and almost succeed, getting halfway down the steps. 

The more this goes on, the more feral you both become. 

Eventually though, you both get tired, and somehow end up sitting in the middle of the hallway, sitting cross-legged across from each other. Sun is still blocking your access to the stairs, and you're getting very tired of it. 

"It's almost midnight." You state. 

Sun nods. "That it is."

"Bet you Santa's already stopped by." You quip.

He shrugs. "Maybe so, but that's even more reason to stay upstairs then so to not ruin tomorrow."

You groan, laying back on your back. "Work with me here, Sunny. I'm begging." You throw your hands up. "I'll do whatever you want if you just let me downstairs for five minutes. Please."

"I'm sorry, Starlight. But the answer is still no. I can't have you disturbing Santa."

You, for the briefest of moments, consider telling him the truth, but swallow that thought immediately. While yes, he's being incredibly annoying, ruining his fun, for the purpose of trying to make his fun, was silly. Besides, it's not like shocking him would be enough to—

A  new thought crosses your mind. A devious one. One that might just work. 

You sit up, eyeing the animatronic across from you with caution. Then, you scoot a little closer to him. You see him tense ever so slightly. You scoot again, and again, until your knees are knocking against each other now. 

He tilts his head, obviously suspicious. Good. You think this wouldn't work nearly as well if he wasn't.

You put both hands on his shoulders and lean in. 

At first you just sit there, breath hot against his faceplate. Your eyes flick up to his, his pupils flick down to you. You chuckle, and with as much passion as you can muster close the gap—

And blow a raspberry against his cheek. 

You jump to your feet as he sits there, utterly confused, and rush downstairs. 

"Hey!" You here behind you, metal footsteps bounding after you. "That was uncalled for!"

You become a snickering mess as you race into the living room. You don't know how you're going to put out presents with him behind you but you'll worry about that later, just enjoying the victory at the moment. 

"I disagree, I think it was a great... tactic..."

The living room is filled with presents. Not just the ones that you'd put out earlier in the month. You turn, and see your stocking is filled, and the cookies you'd put out are crumbled, milk half gone.

"There's no way..." You mutter, hand going to your hair. "That's impossible."

As you're dealing with the idea that you might be the subject of some weird reverse home invasion, or that Sants might actually be real, a hand rests on your shoulder. You look up as Sun sighs at the sight, then tilts his head down to you, eyes crinkling. 

"Well, Merry Christmas, Sunshine."

You blink. It clicks. "I, what, you, how,"—you shake your head—"You were faking?!"

"Yes, I was hoping you wouldn't find out this way. I know how hard you were trying to keep up the act for us."

"Moon too?" You can't believe it. All that work, for nothing. 

Sun's arms wrapping around you, bending so that you're almost eye to eye. "We appreciated it, we really did! But we also wanted to surprise you and it became this, jumbled mess instead." He looks away then. 

"Hey." You reach your hand up to direct his attention back to you. "What you did was sweet, just shocking is all. I wouldn't have been trying so hard if I'd known."

His forehead presses to yours as he chuckles. "Guess we're both just a couple of silly excuses for Santa then."

"Seems that way." You kiss him once. "I think I'm alright with that though."

Sun pulls you closer as you giggle, kissing you again himself. 

"Me too."

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Thank you for the silly little request @twomanypockets!! As you can see i had a bit of fun with it, thought a combo/sneaky reveal fit very well hehe

Masterpost link

Tag list (if you would like added, see this post for more info):

@scarletcowboy @beemyhuneybee @fishm0ther @deviouscrackers @elsajoyagent8

@luckyyyduckyyy @zenkaiankoku @jogimote @local-shrub @amarynthian-chronicles

@robinette-green @everlightreader @sinister-sincerely @starredeclipse @dangerva

@juukai @crystalmagpie447 @mothgutz236 @lizyxml @divinit3a

[lucysarah-c]

A while ago, I stayed at a close friend’s house—she’s a huge Sims fan. I’d never played The Sims 4 before, but I wanted to recreate places from Holy Ground (my other fic), and I’m sharing them here.

I remembered this the other day because one of the places I recreated was Erwin’s chambers as a squad leader. I gave extra attention to this part because Levi, as a captain, has the same type of chambers as Erwin had before becoming a commander.

Here’s the description I included with the pictures:

Honestly, I was planning to keep it simple, but after diving into manga/anime and game references, I realized his office is way fancier than I expected. If the colors of the wood or sofas don’t match perfectly, blame the limited shade options in the game, not me! Also, I know the carpet in Erwin’s office is supposed to be red, but the game didn’t have a nice red carpet to work with, so I improvised. By the way, someone needs to send help to Erwin because, based on the pictures I saw, he has an absurd number of books scattered everywhere. I tried my best to recreate that chaotic vibe. There’s also a small stand for medals, which I couldn’t include because the game doesn’t have them, but I’m certain Erwin would have plenty. Most of the art in his office seems to be degrees, certificates, or blueprints of his formation strategies, which I incorporated as much as possible. As a commander, I imagine Erwin would eventually have a bigger office—something more spacious to accommodate meetings, a larger bedroom, and maybe even a small living or dining area. But since he’s still just a squad leader in Holy Ground, his office isn’t quite that impressive… yet. Oh, and about the chair in his bedroom—yeah, there weren’t better options in the game, so just roll with it. In his personal space (like his bedroom), I imagine Erwin would allow himself a little more freedom with colors—maybe purples and greens, which I think he prefers over the red theme of his office. It’s a subtle way of showing a more relaxed side of him.

The general layout is the same as Levi’s chambers in Mounting Spring, so let me give you a quick walkthrough of “the place Levi keeps you locked up in.”

The basic setup includes an attached bathroom and bedroom. However, unlike Erwin, Levi’s space has not a single paper out of place—everything feels almost sterile. He owns significantly less furniture than Erwin too. For instance:

The chess table in the office? Gone.

Wall decorations? Gone.

In the bedroom, Levi would keep only the essentials: a dresser, a nightstand, the bed, a mirror, and maybe an additional wardrobe. He wouldn’t bother with an armchair or a second desk.

As for the bathroom, most of the furniture probably came with the space, but Levi keeps it mostly empty. The two bookshelves near the door? He wouldn’t have those either.

The remaining furniture—the sofas, coffee table, chairs in front of the desk, the desk itself, the bookshelves, the chimney, and the small table near the desk with fresh water—those would stay.

In the manga, Erwin’s chambers are shown to be overflowing with books. Levi, on the other hand, wouldn’t have a single thing lying on the floor. Most decorations would also be absent.

Levi’s approach to minimalism reflects his practicality. He has the same mindset as my mom: “The more objects in a house, the longer the cleaning session.” He hates clutter because it makes him think of all the dust that could accumulate.

And there you have it—Levi’s “home sweet home,” lmao.

[lazyahhshifter]

INTRODUCTION: GROUP HOGWARTS DR .・★

————————————

————————————

✭・. BASIC INFO! .・✭

Name: Cassiopeia 'Cass' Lupin

Birthday: November 3rd, 1979

Gender: Genderfluid

Blood status: Halfblood

Parents: Sirius Black Lupin, Remus Lupin

Twin Brother: Edward 'Teddy' Lupin

House: Gryffindor

————————————

" Azor Ahai of The Prince shall wield the swords kept by The Hand and slay the King once more. "

————————————

★・. FAMILY! .・✭

My fathers, Sirius and Remus got married in the summer after their graduation at 1978. Remus lost a bet so he drank a potion that allows gay people to have kids, got freaky somewhere in February of 1979. At November 3rd, Sirius' birthday, me and Teddy were born. I am older than Teddy by 7 minutes, and I brag about it at any given chance.

After James and Lily's death, Sirius and Remus took Harry. Harry, Teddy and Me are like a triplet, we are very close!

My uncle, Regulus did not die, and succeeded at destroying the horcrux. Him and Sirius had a brand new start after that, they are happy now.

Sirius owns a music instrument shop at Diagon Alley. His shop is pretty famous, Weird Sisters and many other famous wizard artists buy their instruments from here. (IM GONNA MEET CELEBS RAHHH) Tonks used to work here during summer vacations untill she Graduated and became an auror. (She still visits though!!!)

We live in a lake cabin typa house, Its a few kilometers far from Godric's Hollow!!!

————————————

★・. PERSONALITY! .・★

Traits: extrovert, impulsive, rebellious, determined, conciliatory, empathetic, enthusiastic, intuitive, playful, reliable, responsive, sentimental, cunning, vivacious, ambitious, competitive, cocky, flirtatious, street smart

Hobbies: Band practice, singing, songwriting, drawing, duelling, ice skating, quidditch, playing guitar, diy clothes, singing musicals till my voice breaks.

Likes: MANY muggle rock bands, musicals, theatre, astrology, astronomy, DADA, quidditch, wizard hockey, history of magic, comics, drama/romance movies, pegasus'

Dislikes: Herbology, Snape(frienemies trust), pureblood supremacists, judgemental people, country music, bugs.

————————————

★・. RELATIONSHIPS! .・★

Best friends: Brandon Meadowes, Hermione Granger

Close friends: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Carmen Black, Demitra Targaryen, Nile Grindelwald, Esme Riddle, Luna Lovegood, Kazuha Kaedehara, Dean Winchester

Friends: Ginny Weasley, George Weasley, Fred Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Sam Winchester, Castiel Novak

Exes (my face claim ain't Ramona for nothing): Brandon Meadowes, George Weasley, Thoma Bauer, Fleur Delacour, Pansy Parkinson

S/O: Theodore Nott

Enemies: Theodore Nott, Draco Malfoy, Lorenzo Berkshire, Mattheo Riddle

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★・. LORE! .・★

We mixed Harry Potter, GOT, SPN, and a bit of genshin. its a whole crossover fic atp😭

Soo many shi happens but I'm only gonna explain the second war because I aint writing allat 🙏 (at least for now)

Voldemort still exists, but he is not the only enemy we have here because me and my girls are the the main characters. The other enemy is the Night King, and we will be the ones who defeat him while golden trio, Esme, and Mattheo handles Voldemort.

Night King is a myth like the deadly hollows, and he comes back every 3000 years. Most people (including Voldemort) did not believe that he existed, but during 6th year, he wakes up from his sleep, so he has to believe it now lol. Since both Night King and Voldemort wants to kill muggles along with muggleborns, they kinda become allies. (Which can also be called as Voldemort obeying Night King's commands since he is the Strongest wizard to be lived, but secretly waiting for his fall so he can take back all the power he had.)

It is predicted in the prophecy that 6 people, The Prince That Was Promised, The Hand of The Prince, Azor Ahai of The Prince, Bladesmith of The Prince shall be the ones who defeat Night King. Which makes Demitra Targaryen The 'Prince', Nile Grindelwald The Hand of The Prince, Kazuha Kaedehara The Bladesmith, and Cassiopeia Lupin, Teddy Lupin, Carmen Black The Azor Ahai. We will start to have nightmares that includes Night King. At the end of the 6th year, we will search for the blades to kill Night King.

Night king, aware of the fact that we are on the search, he orders Voldemort to send death eaters after us. Which are the Notts. We eventually got caught. Demitra, Carmen and Teddy escapes, but me and Kazuha got captured (bookstreet duo real). To test his royalty, Theodore's father orders him to interrogate us, but he betrays his father and Voldemort and tells me the whole plan. We all escape and head our way to Hogwarts with the blades.

When we were about to loose -because Night King has a whole ass army of dead-, Demitra gets the dragons and burns the whole army to their second death.

Rest of it goes accurate to the books, Harry dies to kill Voldemort and comes back to life, Neville slays Nagini and Voldemort dies. While Harry was duelling with Voldemort, Me, Teddy and Carm were also duelling with Night King, and we both stab him on his heart at the same time, and Night King falls along with Voldemort. Happy ending yay!

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★・. ABILITES! .・★

— I can speak English, Turkish, French, and Italian. — I can play guitar, piano, violin and drums.

— I can do wandless magic and non verbal magic.

— I am a talented actor.

— I never get caught when I am sneaking around.

— I can wield ancient magic.

— I am gifted dueller and a sword fighter.

— I never lose any fights.

— I am the chaser of the Gryffindor quidditch team, and I am one of the bests the team has ever seen.

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★・. @amusedforher as Carmen Elizabeth Black!

★・. @missmurdock as Nile Grindelwald!

★・. @elifverse as Esmeralda Riddle!

★・. @labonairy as Demitra Targaryen!

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