#( might just be taking most of the weekend off or just reserving it for shorter interactions )

[hiisheart]

( ngl i really wanna make a blog for sw.eet t.ooth-- )

[edie-baby]

we're okay, we're alright | lando norris

summary: When Lando Norris has a panic attack, McLaren's personal assistant, Olivia McKinnon, is there to calm him down. Even if they have to penguin walk.

word count: 2337

warnings: panic attacks

When a seventeen year old Olivia McKinnon first joined the McLaren F1 team as a personal assistant to their drivers, Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne were in the cockpits, and she got along well with both of them. Fernando had become a bit of an uncle to the teenager, teaching her Spanish whenever she asked, and ruffling up her hair in the most inconvenient of situations. Stoffel was much like an older brother, he joked around with her, teased her endlessly, and was always quick to worry if anything happened to her - he also threatened to beat up her boyfriend when she found out he was cheating on her, but that’s beside the point.

The day the news broke that two new drivers would be filling the seats of the two men she was incredibly close to, it shocked Oli. She was finally getting used to the specifics of the older men’s orders - how they liked coffee, water, what food they liked in what moods, who they were always happy to answer calls from, and who to consistently avoid. And now she’d be having to learn it for two completely new people.

Carlos Sainz she had seen around the paddock, never spoken to nor been introduced to, however after the first few weekends of seeing her multiple times, they began exchanging smiles in passing. He seemed nice, and Oli figured she might be able to continue her Spanish lessons if they got on well enough.

Lando Norris however, Oli had a complicated relationship with. They had bumped into each other multiple times around the MTC when he was there for meetings or sim work, or during race weekends when he hung around the McLaren garage on account of him being a test and reserve driver. Zak introduced them multiple times, sure that a friendship would blossom between the two youngins quite quickly, however Lando was always quick to leave whenever Oli was near. After wondering if she had offended him, or done something wrong, she began to worry and spoke to Zak about the issue, not wanting to have tension between her and one of the men she would be working for. Zak spoke with Lando a few days later, and found out in quite a memorable conversation, exactly why Lando had such an aversion to the small brunette.

“I’m scared of her.” Lando muttered ashamedly. Zak couldn’t help but bark out a laugh, that the boy who drove fast cars was scared of a five foot two pixie of a girl who had a beaming smile and cute nose.

“How? She’s so small.” Zak chuckled, the image of Lando cowering away from a girl six inches shorter than him was one he wouldn’t forget.

“I don’t know, she’s just so scary. I feel like if she wanted to, she could say five words and I would be ruined. Completely, like she could tear me apart in a sentence. I also think she could probably take me in a fight.” Lando replied, fiddling with the bracelet on his right wrist, a nervous habit he had developed after his Mum gifted it to him. Zak merely laughed in response, a fond smile crossing his face at the young driver. He could see from the beginning the two were made for each other, Lando didn’t know it yet but it seemed he already had a very strong connection with the girl.

“Anyone could take you in a fight, Lando. Just be nice to her and I’m sure she won’t bite. Unless you ask, of course.” Zak teased, thankful for his easy going and close relationship with the eighteen year old. Lando went bright red, covering his cheeks with a nervous laugh, the serious eyes Zak was giving him pushing him to flee the room in the mess of flushed cheeks and embarrassed laughter.

I

“Oli! Have you seen Carlos or Jon?” Charlotte yelled, startling the brunette who was pouring over the weekend’s schedule. Olivia looked up, shaking her head at Charlotte who sighed in frustration.

“According to his schedule, Carlos should be in interviews for the next hour, and Jon should be floating around somewhere. Why? What’s gone on?” Oli questioned, double checking the schedule in front of her.

“I think Lando’s having a panic attack and I don’t know how to calm him down. I figured one of the boys would know.” Charlotte rushed out, causing Oli to stand up from her chair abruptly. She had dealt with many panic attacks during her high school years and knew firsthand how hard it was to ground yourself sometimes.

“Where is he?” Oli demanded, already gathering her belongings on the table while Charlotte pointed wordlessly to the drivers’ rooms. Oli set off, jogging through the McLaren hospitality, making a beeline for the Brit’s room. When she got up there, the door was partially open, and that was enough for Oli to push the door all the way open, then quickly closing it behind her to give Lando some privacy.

“Lando? It’s Olivia, Charlotte’s out looking for Jon and Carlos at the moment. She said you were having a panic attack, and I don’t know if you have them much but I wanted to try some breathing with you? You just have to follow along with what I’m doing, okay sweetheart? Big breath in through your nose, one, two, three, four. Now hold that breath in, two, three, four. And let it out through your mouth, one, two, three, four, five, six. Okay, we’re going to do it again. In, two, three, four. Hold, two, three, four. And out, two, three, four, five, six.” Oli attempted the most well known ‘calm the fuck down’ technique, something that never really worked for her but was often good for others. Lando didn’t seem to be able to hear anything she was saying, barely reacting to her presence when the door opened.

He was curled up in the corner of the small bed, his back against the wall, legs pulled tight up to his chest. His breaths were heavy and uneven, and Oli wondered how long he had been breathing like this as it most definitely wasn’t good for his oxygen consumption.

“Sweetheart, I’m going to try something different. I’m going to talk, and I want you to focus on my voice. You don’t need to listen to what I’m saying if you can’t, but just listen to the noise, alright?” Olivia tried again, slowly making her way to the bed. She sank down onto her knees in front of the bed, trying to come off as non-threatening as possible.

“You know, I really like your shoes. I usually don’t like the look of trainers, I’m more of a sneakers girl myself, but they look really nice. But we’ll have to get you some cool socks, they’ll get hidden by your pants most of the time but it’s always fun to have a bit of a secret. I’m wearing beer socks right now. They’re pretty cute, and no one can tell unless I pull my jeans up.” Oli’s ramblings didn’t seem to be doing much to help Lando either, his breathing and rocking completely undisturbed. Olivia wanted to try one more thing before she began repeating the process of different techniques.

She stood up, leaning slightly against the bed Lando was curled on and reached her hand out slowly. She aimed for his bicep, the skin to skin contact startled something in Lando and he jumped. Oli moved back immediately, scared that she had made everything worse when Lando’s hands landed on her own arms, hauling her pliant body up onto the bed and curling his body around her. His head rested next to her shoulder, his nose lightly brushing the fabric of her team shirt, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. He was still curled up quite a bit, his knees tucked close to his chest, the bony joints resting against Oli’s hips.

She heard Lando sniffle and turned to look at him immediately, a choked sob left his lips as tears trailed on a warpath down his tanned face. Oli wrapped her arms around Lando, pulling his head to rest on her upper chest, close enough to her heart that he would be able to hear it beating, whilst not completely smothering him in her boobs. Her hands began brushing through Lando’s hair, listening to the heartbreaking sounds of him sobbing so hard he was coughing.

“It’s okay sweetheart. You’re gonna be okay.” Oli whispered, her lips brushing the top of Lando’s forehead. His sobs began slowing, turning into whimpers and sniffles, then finally stopping to the rare sniffle.

“I’m sorry.” Was the first thing from the driver’s lips when he had calmed himself down. He attempted to untangle himself from his assistant, but she only held on tighter. Lando relaxed straight away, her fingers carding through his curls was so soothing that he could have fallen asleep right there.

“Do not apologise. There’s not a single thing to be sorry for, honey. Are you feeling a little better now? Your breathing is much better and your tears have stopped.” Olivia spoke, softly brushing the slowly drying tear tracks with the back of her index finger, the gentleness of her touch causing a lone tear to fall from Lando’s eye, catching on Olivia’s hand. He hadn’t been touched like this in so long, and knowing that she was only doing it because it was her job could have sent him spiralling again, but Oli caught the look swimming in his eyes.

“Hey, hey! Look at me, okay? We’re okay. We’re alright. Do you want to come with me to get you some water? Maybe a cup of tea? And we should get you a hoodie, you’re shivering like crazy, love.” Olivia was so patient with him, allowing him a few moments to process everything she was saying and speaking a little slower than she usually would. She made a move to get up, her arm outstretched reaching for a hoodie hung over the back of the couch that she presumed Lando had ripped off when he first got in the room. Just as her fingers grasped the material, Lando tightened his arms around her, his breath hitching at the lessened contact with the only thing that was holding him together at that point.

“Honey, I need to get your hoodie. You’re freezing and you’ll get sick if you don’t rug up soon. Look, we can shuffle over there together.” Oli held tight to Lando, scooching her body closer to the edge of the uncomfortable bed to reach out for the teen’s hoodie. She got it this time, letting out a breath that she had held in order to stretch her appendage further. She turned back to Lando, his orange and grey hoodie clutched tightly in her hands, his arms still wrapped in a death grip around her waist.

“Can you sit up for me? You’ll feel better once you’re warmer, and you can go right back to holding me once this is on, I promise.” Olivia assured, using her warm hands to coax Lando into a sitting position, his arms still around her, legs coming to rest on either side of her hips as she sat on her knees. His thighs were pressed tightly against hers, trying to keep as many points of contact with her as physically possible, and she would be lying if she said it wasn’t comforting.

Slowly, Oli got one arm off her waist, slipping the orange hoodie onto Lando’s arm, letting him return it to her back once it was pushed up far enough. She did the same with the other arm, pulling it over his head moments after. Once the hood was down off his head, Olivia fixed his hair, small fingers threading through his curls in an attempt to return them to their previous perfection. Lando remained in his spot, eyes trained on a spot on the floor just over Oli’s shoulder.

“How about that water, sweetheart? I don’t care if we have to penguin walk there.” Oli joked, and she saw a flicker of confusion pass over Lando’s face. She figured it would be something to explain in detail at a later date, instead choosing to spin in her spot on the table, still folded up on her knees with Lando’s legs around her.

Olivia slipped off the bed, her own hands covering Lando’s to reassure him that he could keep them around her waist, his body following hers onto his own two feet when she got too far away from him. Oli continued shuffling forward slowly, hands still holding Lando’s while he followed her small steps to the door of the room.

“Are you okay?” Olivia whispered, feeling Lando curl himself around her more, his chin coming to rest over her shoulder, his curls tickling the underside of his jaw. She felt him nod against her and took it as her queue to open the door and begin the slow adventure to the canteen in the hospitality centre. It took them about three times as long as it usually would, and garnered a lot more looks than usual, however a lot of those stares were in awe of the young couple shuffling through the building. The innocence the two possessed while both working in such a cutthroat environment was adorable, the naivety in their unwillingness to let go of each other.

Zak Brown checked his phone when it buzzed, only to be greeted with a video of the company’s youngest employees that he had a certain fatherly protectiveness over. And after seeing them together, much of the McLaren staff were extremely protective of the two youngsters. They were comforted that their young driver had found someone he trusted and could rely on like the two before them.

The connection they made was an unbreakable one, and there was a bright future for McLaren with Lando and Olivia taking on everything side by side.

[kurohoely]

mask (sakusa x y/n)

What happens when Sakusa realizes masks are better off than on?

genre: hurt/comfort, sakusa is in time skip!

wc: 2.2k

It was known that Sakusa is reserved, he only shows his most relaxed self to those who he trusts, which includes you. He can show those random, whacky emotions, teasing you and giving some gen z emojis but being open and vulnerable? That’s just not him.

You have been dating him for almost a few months now and a lot of people were surprised that you both actually worked out. The dynamic you both have was something people often quote as ‘not compatible’. You knew him before since you both have few classes together in college but who would’ve thought from those unintentional crossings lead you here. Sakusa’s character is pretty obvious and you kind of get it by now how he works and acts but was there any difference between before and now? Why does it feel like the walls are kept up, and builds higher than before?

You tried to initiate a lot of things. He does too but he was indeed more awkward, baby steps as you call it. Despite all that, you appreciate him, all the things he did were definitely out of his comfort zone. You kept saying to yourself that he's trying, remembering that he was the one that confessed first. You hold onto that memory in hope that it will be dynamic throughout the relationship.

But how about right now? With the new season up and running, you kept seeing less and less of him. Countless lonely dinners and cold bedsheets. Rescheduled dates and missing out on one another. You almost excused Sakusa for forgetting your anniversary, thinking it was a given. You signed up to be with someone that has no constant rhythm in their life, always the next big thing to keep their lives afloat. Again, you put on another layer, masking away, reasoning to yourself that things will work out. You don't want to bother him, let alone be the reason why he is stressing out. Patience has always been a good nature of you but sometimes, you question if you should stop being selfless and start being selfish. He is your boyfriend after all.

Sakusa noticed the subtle changes that happened. He felt that you were perfect. Too perfect, as a matter of fact. He wanted to sit down and try to understand why and where this was coming from because he definitely didn't confess to you for perfection. He wanted you. Not any other version. Pure and transparent. No mask. But as much as he wanted to, it is still out of his nature, and with the season starting, it will be quite some time before he can bring this again.

Mid through the season, work is piling up, matches are getting tougher each time they win. That’s a given. You came to almost all of his games and have them recorded on tv. Whatever the outcome, you will always be proud of him. He was basking in his prime condition; you were there for him and his plays were getting synchronized with the team at a rate that even the coach was surprised. He left the thought at the back of his mind, focusing on what he has to do first. After each match, you both have this little ritual, spending some alone time together starting with dinner as both of your schedules sometimes don't overlap quite nicely. Sakusa told you about his plays as if you weren’t there to witness it all and you can’t blame him. You love seeing the sparkle in his eyes when he talks about how good it felt when spiking. The conversation flows naturally and you both talked about how your days went. You were both walking diaries of each other. Not until Sakusa flipped a page that has been long overdue.

He cussed himself to have the audacity to forget about this issue. He doesn’t like this. It was as if he’s taking advantage of your facade, your mask. Even though Sakusa tells you many times that you need to wear one physically, this was something that he wished to be stripped off completely. He hates it. He hates that he can't be a safe space for you. Someone you can let yourself breathe from the suffocating expectations from the outside world. But what he hates the most is that you changed yourself to accommodate his own ignorance.

Sakusa flipped his match schedule. It looks like there won't be another match in 5 days. He called Meian and Iwaizumi if it’s okay if he takes a few days off from practice. Both of them were surprised that Sakusa would even ask for a day off but they agreed anyway. He’s not the type to ask for one so this must be something really important.

Saturday shifts are hard. You only have one day of rest before hustling again on Monday but oh you were SO GLAD that your manager said that you can have a paid leave on Monday after helping out on a side project for some other team.

You pushed your shared apartment door, dragging your feet inside. You saw Sakusa peek his head from the kitchen. He took off his apron and walked to you, grabbing your bags from the floor and giving a peck on your cheek. You went to the bedroom and saw the bath bomb that you bought impulsively on your previous date. A bath sounds nice, you thought to yourself.

Filling up the bath to a slightly hotter temperature, a much-needed one to shake that fatigue out from your body and start your long weekend with a fresher body. Gently dipping your toes, you hold the sides and lower yourself in, letting the heat seep into your skin. As you were shuffling your position, a knock on the bathroom door.

“Can I come in?”

“Doors unlocked so yeah baby come in”

Sakusa twisted the knob, letting himself in. He sat on the floor next to the tub, a rare sight for Sakusa and you. He folded his arms on the dry part of the tub and stared into your eyes. Losing himself in your mind, finding where he actually belongs. He knows this isn’t the right time, not even a good one, to bring up this matter but it has been pushed back for too long, he couldn’t care less about what setting it was in right now. You were always firm on your stands, confronting those to have the middle ground in everything but now, it was as if he’s with someone else.

“Hey sunshine, how's the bath”

You flushed at the pet name he called you. When was the last time you heard that softness, that warmth? The sense of home and belonging to another person, solely wanting to give your whole life away in exchange for his.

“It's pretty nice. Do you wanna join in?”

“Hmm sounds nice.”

He removes his mask and strips quickly, submerging himself into the tub in front of you. He pressed his muscular, toned back to your chest, taking its warmth into his body. Taking in whatever he could take from you between his skin and yours. Your scent, your heat, your touch, the friction, sensation - everything. He knows he wants everything but how about you? He sometimes thinks that he forced you into the relationship, going above and beyond to go with how he handles things. His fussy attitude when it comes to cleaning, being in crowds, and towards people in general. Whatever the train of thought was, he needs to know, He can’t bear seeing his future bland and monotonous because you were not there. You were his yellow, heck, you were his entire spectrum.

“Hey y/n, I know it's not a good time to ask this but, did I do something that makes you uncomfortable? I know I’m not good with words or being affectionate, doing all those sweet things that you see in movies but the last thing I want you to be is forcing yourself to be something that you are not.

“If there’s anything wrong that I did please tell me I…”.

“No! You did nothing wrong. You were perfect but maybe too perfect. I have this feeling that you weren't being yourself for quite some time. It's like you have this mask that you put on whenever you are with me. I know you are sensitive in nature - both to other people and towards yourself, which is why I fell in love with but aren't relationships supposed to be a two-way thing? I need to know what’s bothering you so please talk to me. I want you to feel safe with me. I want you to be your most comfortable as if both of us are the only ones that are living on this earth. I wish I could come and talk to you sooner about this but I got too caught up in the games. It's my fault. I’m sorry. I’ll try to be braver on confronting things like these. I’ll try to be more attentive to the small things”

Hearing this from Sakusa made your heart burst into so many emotions that were buried for so long. Happy, sad, hopeless, desperation, anger, guilt but most importantly, longing. You could only cry when he finished his last words. You were gasping for air, clawing yourself into Sakusa’s shoulders to grip on whatever you can. Wet streams trickled down Sakusa’s nape, dampening them. Sakusa was flustered as if it was the first time he ever saw you broke down. The first time? Oh God, how much has he been missing in this relationship...

“I’m sorry Omi. I was trying to be understanding. I tried to make this home at least a space where you can have at least some peace. I wanted to be with you more so badly but I know by asking it, you have to take time off or you might just think I'm annoying. And I hate it. Words cut more for me since it is the least effort to bring out but weighs the most. I don't think I can bear with it. So I avoided it. I avoid creating any chances that would lead us to fight. But then, it hit me when you started to slip away, distancing yourself subtly. Our dinner time became shorter, we didn't even cuddle anymore because your muscles were sore and I want them to heal fast so you can play your best. It seems like it backfired huh?”

Sakusa was taken aback due to a lot of things. How he finally was able to hear you say his pet name, the range of small things that you do, putting him as your topmost priority when you yourself are buried down, succumbing to earth more and more. How could he be so blind? It hurts him. It hurts him that you didn't even consider being comfortable with him. It destroys him that all of your actions were threaded with the thoughts of him when he did nothing, even worse, he forgot. Sakusa felt a sting poking through his heart, thin-like rods thrusting through it slowly. He felt a burning sensation that he was sure he didn’t like. If he felt this after hearing all of these, what about you? You’ve been carrying these for weeks, stretching out to months, yet you’re still here. How did he end up with someone as thoughtful and wonderful as you? He turned his body around, facing you. Your legs tangling together, bringing you inside his embrace, pushing your foreheads together. He lets out a breath after his thoughts finally reach a verdict.

“Hey bub, it’s okay. We’re here now. I’m sorry it took my dumbass this long to have this conversation. You don’t know how much you meant to me even though I barely show it. Please know that at least. I love you. I love you so much, too much that I cannot imagine waking up the next day without you. You were the reason I can handle Atsumu’s ass, thinking about if I can go through that part of the day, I can see you again. A little reward from me to myself. I asked for a few days off, shall we do a bit of catching up session?”

A tint of coral pink brushes lightly on top of your cheeks. Seeing Sakusa being all vulnerable and open, is a view that you wish no one will ever see besides you. You smiled and chuckled lightly.

Sakusa's heart swells. There it is. The smile that got him smitten all over. The small chuckle that you made was a symphony to his ears. It was as if at this moment he fell in love again. He found the you that he fell for but even deeper. He swore that day he would never make you feel like this.

You both get out, drying yourself together. Omi blow-dried your hair and you did his. He's pretty good at managing your hair because of his curls. You both did a random 14-step Korean skincare routine and cuddling around watching your favorite movie - Pride and Prejudice. Sakusa never understood why you liked this movie so much but today he finally does. When two lovers placed down their masks and finally faced each other, all became visible. The adoration in one's eyes, longing for the warmth of the other, to finally be together.

[smuttyanimeslut]

Tea In Ba Sing Se

Paring: Zuko x gn!reader

Warnings: cussing, fluff, slight angst

Description: modern age avatar au with tea shop Zuko

Word count : 1k

Secret Tunnel softly played over the loud speakers in the Jasmine Dragon. Tightly gripped the tea cup as you blew on the steaming hot substance, your eyes locked into the boy behind the counter. The Jasmine Dragon had the best tea in all of the Earth Nation, as well as the most mysterious wait staff. The boy with the burnt eye was new, you had never seen him before, and you would have noticed him. 

Your eyes followed him over the rim of the tea cup. His movements direct and smooth. Who was he? Where did he come from? What did he do before this? He never faltered, tripped, or stumbled even when guest got under foot. What could have possibly made him so nimble? 

His voice was like honey when speaking to guest, but chipped and short when speaking to his coworkers. He didn’t seem to make friends easy. You felt drawn to him. 

His scar seemed familiar some how, even though you were sure you had never seen him. Why wouldn’t he leave your mind? 

“Hello,” you said on your third Sunday visiting the shop with the brown headed boy present. You hadn’t changed your schedule since you first stated attending the tea shop several months ago, but now it was different with him here. His name tag read Zuko.

“Hello,” he replied in his honey sweet voice, “how can I help you?” The burnt eye squinted as a small smile played at his lips. 

“Can you surprise me?” You asked, your cheeks inflamed. A confused look passed over his face as his small smile turned into a bright one. “With any type of drink.” You added. 

“You got it.” He said his gold eyes holding a new spark. The two of you exchanged money before you parted for your usual seat by the window. 

The weather outside was changing rapidly, pushing winter in with each passing moment. You brought out your laptop from your bag, and began typing away. When your tea was brought to your table, the cup read in scratchy letters, Earl Grey with a hint of almond milk. A smile played at your lips as you looked down at the lettering. 

Weeks passed like this, Zuko preparing surprise teas per your request. His messy hand writing covering the side of your to go cup. The sight of him brought a smile to your face every Sunday.

The cool air seeped into your bones as you rounded the corner to the Jasmine Dragon. The soft cotton of your grey beanie set a top your head, covering the tips of your ears as your nose ran. Your eyes began to watered as the wind picked up, fingers gripped the door handle leading into the Jasmine Dragon. 

For a moment you allowed yourself to question why you chose to make the walk here every weekend. It’s the tea and free WiFi, you reasoned, knowing good and well that wasn’t the only reason any longer. While they played a big part in your continued visits, you couldn’t discredit the pounding of your heart when you heard his voice, sweet as honey.

The ding of the shop brought you back to the world around you. Iroh, the Jasmine Dragon’s owner, stood behind the counter. You felt a slight drop in your mood as the brown haired boy was no where to be seen. 

“Good morning,” you said walking towards your window seat. 

“Good morning,” Iroh replied, his happy disposition over taking your slight melodically. 

“I think I decided on a major,” your bag slid nicely into the second seat at your table as you spoke.

“Oh yeah?” Iron asked leaning his hip against the counter, his back to you. “If you ever need a job you know you can just come to me.”

A smile played at your lips as his words filled the empty shop. You had gotten to know Iroh quiet well in the last few months. Despite what his family did, Iroh had a passion for Tea, and had started the shop because of it. Even though he only had one shop, it was known as the best in the whole region.

“I know,” you spoke bitting your lip subconsciously, “and you know I would, but my internship pays for my classes.”

A sign left the older mans mouth, “I always have to try. I know how hard they work you over there.”

“Over where?” The honey sweet voice asked from the back of the shop.

Your eyes darted to the doorway behind the counter where the brown haired boy now stood. His tan long sleeved uniform shirt stretched across his biceps as his shoulder casually leaned against the door. Carelessly, he wiped his hands on a rag before stuffing it into the front of his red apron.

“Sozin’s Comet” you explained, your voice coming out slightly quieter than before. “I work with a few other undergrads on a research project for the company. I- I hope to get placed on the Blue Spirt project when it takes off next winter.”

Zuko lazily pushed himself from the door way. “Why would you want to work with a company like that?” The words he spoke were dripping with venom as his body language and face showed indifference.

Sharply, you took a breath in, you had not expected this type of reaction. “It looked good on my college transcript, and on my resume. Plus,” you stated, your voice raising slightly, “Blue Spirit is supposed to focus on environmental issues like the over production of metals by the Fire Nation and its affect on Water Nation towns.”

Your hands slightly shook as you stared into his darkened gold eyes.

“That project was canceled.” He stated in the voice he reserved for his coworkers.

Your heart sank. That project was your ticket out of Ba Sing Se and straight to the capital city of the Fire Nation. “Oh,” you managed to reply as your body sagged. Suddenly, the scarf around your neck seemed to warm. One of your hands found its way to your beanie as it pulled it from your head, the other hand finding its way into your hair. “I might need that job then Iroh.”

After Zuko told you The Blue Spirit project had been cancelled it was announced to the company. All your email inquires about the cancellation had been dismissed with little to no replies. How did Zuko know this information before you, you wondered? And why was this mysterious boy becoming even more mysterious?

Come Sunday morning you had even more questions that you started the week with. However, when you arrived at the tea shop at your usual time you found a coffee sitting at your table. The same scratchy lettering covered the side of the cup.

“Chai tea with 2 shots espresso” it read.

“He’s off today.” Iroh said, his voice carrying across the empty tea shop. “He felt bad for last week and wanted to make up for it.”

Turning the cup more you saw, “I’m sorry I’m a dick” -Zuko

A chuckle left your throat as you stared at the cup in your hand in disbelief. “Who is he?” You asked.

“Zuko?” Iroh questioned.

Pulling the cup from your lips you hummed a response. “He’s my nephew.”

Weeks had passed, and winter was baring down harder than before. You hadn’t seen Zuko since you had found out his relation to Iroh and your Sunday ritual returned to normal pre-Zuko days.

The footsteps left in the snow disappeared in a blaze of white flurries. If you didn’t have homework due tonight, you would have stayed inside cuddled up on the couch watching tv. Instead, you were trudging through the streets of Ba Sing Se to the only tea shop with free WiFi.

“Iroh,” you said as soon as you walked through the door, snowflakes melting on your eye lashes, “I need something big and hot.”

A chuckle sounded from your left, “I’ve got this one Uncle.” His honey sweet voice said. A smile lit up Iroh’s face, as heat rushes to yours.

“Zuko,” you said, slightly surprised. He sat at your usual table, two cups placed before him, in a pair of black jeans and a wool coat to match. A maroon sweater popped out from underneath as well as the collar of a white shirt. Since the last time you saw him his hair had been cut much shorter than his once unkept mess.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” you said slowly approaching the table.

“I didn’t expect to come back.” He replied not moving from his seat. “But I had to know something.”

Seating yourself across from him you spared him another glance. His golden eyes held a new spark to them, and his plump pink lips were slightly chapped from the cold. His tongue darted out to wet them as he looked at you.

“Did you know I was in charge of the Blue Spirit project when you brought it up that day?” He asked sliding a cup in your direction.

“I didn’t.” You replied honestly. “I actually never made the connection. You seemed familiar to me in the beginning but I couldn’t place from where.”

The door of the shop opened, letting in a gust of wind from the harsh outside air. A shiver ran through your body, reminding you of your need for a warm beverage.

“Is that where you’ve been?” You asked casting your gaze downward.

“Yes,” He replied. “You reminded me why I started the project in the first place actually. I was just so frustrated when my father shot it down before I could even begin it, I ran away.”

The shop had began to fill with its regular morning crowd now, voices filling the once silent space. You brought the cup to your lips instead of responding. The warm liquid warmed you as Zuko’s eyes found their way to your lips.

Clearing your throat, you caught Zuko’s eyes. “But what does that really have to do with me.” You asked.

“Right,” a small smile lit up his face, “while I’ve been gone I’ve actually been looking into your work. I was impressed and I want you to be my partner.”

Your breath caught in your throat, and shock over took your features. “O-on the project.” Zuko rushed out after seeing your reaction. A light dusting of pink painted his features.

“I thought you said your father shot it down.” You replied neglicting to give him an answer.

His hand reached around the back of his head, scratching at the base of his neck, “He did, but that doesn’t matter anymore.” His eyes left yours as he spoke, looking off into the shop.

A frustrated sign left your lips, “and why’s that.” You replied.

The boy who spoke in a honey sweet voice, and made you surprise teas every Sunday morning sat before you, not the one who snapped at you over his own company. However, the frustration you felt these last few weeks at his absence was finally coming out.

“Spit it out Zuko.” You snapped, “I have hours of homework to do and your wasting my time.”

“My father doesn’t run the company anymore, I do.” He started, “And I would like your help if your willing to. I’m sorry for wasting your time I just-” he stopped. The hand that was at the base of his neck found yours across the table as he met your eyes. “I didn’t, no- I don’t want to leave Ba Sing Se without you. So take the job.”

The softness of his voice, mixed with the calistness of his hands disorientated you. There was a plead in his words. You didn’t reply right away, weighing your options. In the few moments of silence between you, Zuko had pulled his hand away.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted out, grabbing his things, “I shouldn’t have asked you that. You barely know me. I’m just going to go.” He grabbed his car keys and tea before standing.

As he passed by, you grabbed his sleeve, following him to your feet. “I just have one question,” you said to the back of his head. Turning to look at you, he met your eyes. “Am I allowed to do this?” You asked before pulling his sleeve to crash your lips onto his.

The chatter of the Jasmine Dragon continued around the two of you as Zuko slowly moved his lips against yours. His free hand quickly found its way to your cheek, caressing it. Once you pulled away Zuko looked into your eyes.

“Yes, just not in the office.”

A smile made it way to your face, “That’s rough buddy.” You replied before pressing your lips back to his.

[puckngrind]

Marry Me 2- J. Toews

Song Inspiration: Marry Me by Jason Derulo

Warning: swearing, smut, fluff

Word count: 2529

Marry Me part 1

“Greece.” Jon shoves his latest breakfast concoction in his mouth and looks over at you.

“Greece, like the country, my hair, or your food?” You run your fingers through your hair checking. This makes your fiancé laugh.

“For our wedding?” He swallows hard and you clear your throat trying not to focus on how the morning Chicago sun is accentuating every curve you love on his naked torso.

“Really? You want to get married in Greece?” He shrugs his shoulders and takes another bite. “How about somewhere near Winnipeg?”

“Like where?” His eyes flicker almost challenging you to come up with the ideal wedding spot.

“Isn’t there some botanical gardens? Maybe the lake?” He sees your lips curving in a mischievous smile.

“Which lake?” He mumbles.

“I would say Toews but how do you get guests out there?” You giggle.

“Funny. The lakes near home aren’t bad. Beach sounds better.” Jon stands to refill your coffee and place his dish in the sink.

“Or the mountains. Or here?” You made your way to the window looking out to the city you made your home 2 years prior. “It’s where our love story started you know?” Jon’s arms wrap around you and you feel his breath on your ear.

“I know baby. I love the idea of getting married here but it would be a media nightmare don’t you think?” He kisses the top of your head as you lean back into his chest.

“Yeah.” You huff out. Why the location of your wedding was something the two of you could not come up with was becoming frustrating with each passing week. Your close circle of friends and family almost immediately started asking. Plans couldn’t be made without a location. You twirled your engagement ring mindlessly while the two of you took in the morning view of the city in silence.

“You shoeless on a beach with your dress shirt buttoned down does sound sexy.” You whisper breaking the silence.

“And sweaty as hell in July.” Jon laughs pulling you to the couch.

“True.” That was the only thing you knew for sure. The wedding was going to be in July. After playoffs and before Jon revs up his training for the next season. It was maybe your favorite month with him. “Park City?”

“Utah?” Jon runs his fingers down your arm.

“We went there for All-Star break. Those mountains are gorgeous and I’m sure they aren’t as busy off season.”

“I don’t hate that (y/n).” Without prompting he reached for your phone and handed it to you. Typing away you looked up weddings in Park City in the summer. “If that doesn’t work, maybe the zoo will take us?”

“Don’t you joke Mr. Toews! You know I love the giraffes.” You run your hand over his neck tickling it and he stops you. Turning your body with one quick motion. All wedding plans left forgotten.

“Hmmm....” Jon’s eyes went wide as he pulled you onto his lap and attaches his lips to you in an almost desperation that came out of nowhere. “We should just elope. Do it this weekend and plan the honeymoon instead.” He moans as you run your fingers through his hair.

“J, really?” You catch his lips as they make their way up your jaw.

“No but planning the honeymoon is all mine m’kay?” He bites your lip but you pull away and slide down to the floor pulling his boxers and shorts down with you. His cock springs free and you kiss down his shaft.

“Wedding planning did this huh?” You glide your hand over the tip and down his length.

“Fuck (y/n).” Jon’s breath hitches as your tongue follows your hand. “You did this baby.” His thumb runs down your jaw as you take him in. The sounds that escape his mouth make you work faster. You feel his hands grab at you making you stop and look up. Jon’s eyes are trained on you. “Get up here.” He breathes out as he leans forward pulling you up from the floor. Placing you on his knees he pulls his old playoff shirt off your body and his legs spread apart enough for his fingers to dip inside your folds with ease. “Wedding planning did this huh?” His eyebrow shoots up taking note of how wet you were.

“You baby. You did this.” You mock his words from moments ago and giggle. With that his hands wrap around your hips picking you up and sliding you onto him in one fluid motion. “Jon.” You moan out as familiar stretch sends a shockwave through your body. Your fiancé wastes no time thrusting hard up into you while pulling you down into him. Finding that perfect rhythm you loved so much. Your hands graze his chest and you feel his muscles tighten with every move. He doesn’t let up and the animalistic sounds escaping his mouth tell you he’s about there. Your finger finds your clit and you press into him.

“Fuck that’s the spot.” Jon whisper yells in your ear. His thrusts are shorter and then the wave crashes down on both of you. You ride out your highs and fall into him. His hand coming up to pull your chin up to kiss your lips. “Damn.”

“Yeah.” You coo laying your head on his chest and listening to his heart beat out of his chest.

“Shedd?” He whispers.

“Shedd?” You lean up and look at him. His face is lit up like a kid at Christmas.

“Yeah. The Aquarium. It’s the perfect venue.” He pulls your lips to his again.

“You aren’t wrong. No worry about the weather. It’s here so planning will be easier...”

“Security to keep the wedding private. And sea life!” You see the excitement in his eyes.

“I’m thinking you might need to be the one to make the call. Use your status since I stole the most eligible Chicagoan bachelor off the market.” You pop up and he whimpers. “What?”

“I thought my idea would get a round 2?” He bites his lip and you hand him the phone.

“Make the call and meet me in the shower. Your success will determine if you get a reward.” You dip down to retrieve your shirt and head to the bathroom.

“Fuck I love you woman!” Jon shouts still sitting on the couch naked. You took your time getting in the shower. Start to let the mirror steam up before getting in. Jon joins you maybe 10 minutes later.

“So?” You question.

“How does July 4th weekend sound? They will have fireworks over the lake during the reception.” He crowds you letting the warm water run down his sweaty body.

“I don’t hate it.” You kiss his lips.

“Good because I already said yes.” He pulls your legs up to wrap around him.

“Now we need to actually plan this thing.” You kiss his shoulder and look into his eyes.

“After I get my reward.”

You weren’t sure how planning during the season would go but Jon made sure you utilized his down time for the important things. Gluten free cake was maybe the hardest thing to find but when your favorite bakery, Defloured, got wind the wedding was happening in town they sent over samples. It was falling into place. Jon’s brother, David, to be his best man and Savannah your maid of honor. The perfect dress was the second one you tried on. The only thing you left to Jon to do on his own was the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon.

“Rainforest is good for the rehearsal right?” Jon asked over FaceTime during a long road trip.

“Uh...um....”

“I’m joking Baby.” Jon’s face lit up seeing your reaction. He ended up reserving the same restaurant you met and got engaged in during that road trip. The honeymoon he wasn’t telling you anything and had Savannah pack your bags for the trip.

“Don’t worry. All the sexy stuff we bought is nicely hidden in your bag.” Savannah joked emerging from your bedroom with your luggage all packed.

“It’s getting real Sav.” You lifted your head to see the size of the bag. Warmer weather meant smaller bag. Colder weather meant larger. The medium sized piece you owned was sitting by the door. No help.

“Mrs. Toews...eta...2 days! Now let’s get checked into our bridal suite and hit the town?” She grabbed the smaller overnight bag you packed for the next 2 days, your rehearsal dress, and kicked at your feet to get you to move. Looking around you realized the next time you stepped foot in this condo would be after the honeymoon. Jon most likely carrying you in as promised when you refused to let him do it a year before after buying it.

“Should I expect you to cry tomorrow?” Jon leaned into you at dinner pressing his lips to your temple.

“I don’t actually know.” You scanned the room to see your families and wedding party carrying on in the place that brought you to Jon. “Maybe a good answer?” His smile reached his eyes.

“Same.” His fingers intertwined with yours. “I’m so damn happy to make you officially my family.” Those words were ringing in your ears the next morning as you heard a knock on the door. Jon sent room service to you with a gift.

“Open it!” Savannah shoved a piece of toast in her mouth and the box in your hand. Inside a monogrammed necklace with your’s and Jon’s initials flanking a script T. Your wedding date engraved down it. The scribbled note from Jon said: Today, we become one. I cannot wait to make you mine forever. I love you with all that I am. I’ll see you down the aisle. I’ll be the one in the navy tux. Always, J

A tear and a laugh leave your body in unison.

“What’s so funny?” Savannah questions.

“I ended my note to him the same way but I wrote, ‘I’ll be the one in the fancy white dress.”

“You two are couple goals and make me want to puke all at the same time.” She giggles. “Now let’s get you a new last name Love!”

Before you knew it you were in the car in front of Shedd. You’ve heard enough stories and have seen enough brides to know there were a few types especially the day of. The bridezilla you were not. Savannah assured you she would let you know if that was the case. You excepted to be nervous and you weren’t. Sitting in the car waiting to be told you could head in caused you to stare down at your bouquet thinking about how excited you were to marry the love of your life. A calmness about the thought made a tear come to your eye. Blinking it back you glanced back up. That’s when you saw him. Your soon to be husband crossing the large window.  Look of determination you see so many time when he’s working.

“I just saw him. Is that bad luck?” You blurted out and Savannah laughed at you.

“No. You saw him in the tux at the last fitting remember? It’s bad luck to see the bride.” Of course your man was old school in traditions even though the photographer begged to do a first glance. Jon ensured the photographer there was enough appetizers and booze to keep the guests entertained plus the aquarium itself that you could do all the couple pictures post ceremony. “Ok, let’s get you hitched!” Savannah announced snapping you out of thoughts.  Walking in the plans and dreams and visions had all come alive.  You were greeted by the aquarium team you worked with and ushered to no one got a look at you especially your man.  

The music started.  Your father took you by the arm. 

“It’s go time!”  Savannah turns around and holds your hand.  “I’ll see you down there.”  She stepped out in view and made her way down the aisle.  The music changed and you inhale.  

“Ready Princess?”  Your dad’s voice was steady.  He leads you to the door and that’s when you see Jon and only Jon.  His eyes trained on you like you two are the only two in the room.  The sound of everyone standing only slightly distracts you from the love of your life.  Time seem to stand still in that moment.  You finished walking to the front and Jon walked down to meet you.  Shook your dad’s hand as they passed your hand from one to the other.

“(Y/n) you look gorgeous.”  Jon presses forward but stops short to ensure he doesn’t kiss you.

“You look so very handsome J, even with that tear in your eye.” You whisper back and a soft laugh is shared.  Savannah grabs your bouquet and Jon takes both you hands.  

The ceremony was perfect.  You exchanged vows, promised to love each other forever in front of all of your people.

“And now by the power vested in me by the State of Illinois, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife.”  The officiant declares and cheers erupt.  “Jonathan, you may now kiss your bride.” “Finally!” Jon laughs and pulls you into him, dips you down and kisses you.  Bringing you back up his forehead lands on yours.  “You are officially Mrs. Toews Baby.”  The smirk made you smile.  

“Can you two start walking so we can start the party?”  Savannah leaned in handing you the bouquet back.  Those in ear shot laugh.

“Friends and Family,” The officiant announces.  “I have the pleasure of presenting to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan and (Y/N) Toews.”  Jon lifts your joined hands and your guests clap.  

Someone yells out “Get it Cap!”  as the two of you walk back down the aisle as husband and wife.  Jon stops you at the entry way and pulls you back into him kissing you more passionately. 

Pictures, first dance, fireworks over the water.  The night was perfect and you rarely left each other’s side.

“Can you finally tell me where we are going tomorrow?”  You lean into Jon while finishing dinner.

“Nope.”  he pops the p and gives you that look.  “Maybe after cake?”  He stands and leads you over.  

“Remember, we are feeding each other.”  You look up at him as you slice your shared piece.  Jon laughs.  You were worried he would just take a bite himself.  He assured you that he knew the etiquette and joked which teammate would forget to feed their new wife.  Placing the cake in his mouth he licks your thumb and smiles.  “Greece.”  He whispers.

“What?”  You lick the remaining icing off your finger.

“Our honeymoon is in Greece.”  He kisses you and you feel the excitement of your trip Jon planned.  “Now when can we leave the people and Belugas to start our wedding night huh?”

“Jon!”  You know you are blushing.

“What, I’ve never slept with a married woman before.  Sounds fun.”  He kisses you again.  Before you can say anything he stops you.  “I love you Mrs. Toews.”  

“I love you too Mr. Toews.  I’ll love you forever.”

[youralternantpersonality]

Dreams

Seth x Reader: Wanting you

Warning: Breaking fourth wall. Let me know if you catch it 😉 and gender-neutral parental names

Part 1: “Dreams” by Ella Eyre

Part 2: “You’ve Got It Bad” by Usher

Part 3: “Never Give Up on Love” by Bobby Tinsley

***

Y/n POV

“Will that be all for you?” I say, finishing up writing down the order.

“Well, I could get your number, beautiful.” One thing that is horrible about being a waitress is dealing with the harassment that comes with it. The best way to deal with verbal harassment (like in this situation) is by giving them the “AS,” as my friends would call it. The Awkward Stare. Now, this stare isn’t having ME become awkward; oh no, this is to make sure THEY do. Essentially, you would look at the predator straight in the eyes and give a resting bitch face until they become uncomfortable and silent. To the point where the whole table is uncomfortable. Kind of like your high school teacher would look at the student when no one would shut up. Once they were fully engaged in avoiding my eyes, I gave a final smile and went put in their order at the counter.

“You know, you could be a little less cute and more intimidating?” said Orion, my now lifetime best friend since I had started this job a couple of months ago. I turn to look at him and give him the finger as he walked around me to bring his tables their food.

“He does have a point. Straighten up your back more, pull your shoulders back, and clock your head to the side just a little. That way, you’ll really knock them.” Emily said. She was a regular here. Every Wednesday at 4 pm and Sunday at 12:30 pm, she would come in, go to her usual spot at the counter, and either order the chiefs salad with a side of a sliced pickle, the garden burger with seasoned fries, or 5 stack pancake with orange/apple juice. Her husband Sam or another kid named Jared and his girlfriend Kim come on Sunday morning, grabbing a crap ton of food (so Emily doesn’t have to cook) and leave. Polite men, scary—at least Sam can be, but polite. Jared is just a child, and I can do nothing but pray for Kim.

“You mean like that ugly pink toad lady from-”

“Don’t say it!” I roll my eyes. Ever since KJ Bowling expressed her feelings towards the LGBTQA+ community, she refuses to acknowledge it. The disbelief and sadness that took over for the love of Henry Planter she had were wild, yet kind of crazy to watch.

“Look, it could be worse. You could love the Dawn saga by Tephanie Neyer and find out that she is horrid in disguise. But hey! Once it hit 2 years, you’ll start realizing all the fucked-up shit in the series and slowly be okay. Dawn fans know Tephanie is fucked up, we know the series is fucked up, we acknowledge it all and take full responsibility for liking it, but some still like it. We don’t support it, but we like it.” I tell her, shrugging my shoulders. I have to remember, she’s a rookie in this game.

“That’s true. Why are the best authors the most fucked up?” she says, playing with her fries I just placed down in front of her.

“Because they hate us and know what the population likes. Just like politics.” I say, stealing one of her fries.

“I don’t know how you guys like that series! Wasn’t there racism, classism with the Ghoul’s and Werecats, hyper-sexualization on the prides where the cats came from, misinformed information, plagiarism, and too, I don’t know, squishy and fluffy in them?” Orion asked.

“First off, they were shapeshifters. Secondly, only in Dawn, Dusk, and Night were squishy. But only because Bethany and Elliot were on their honeymoon in the last one. Daytime didn’t have it because Elliot broke up with Bethany.” I nod in agreement while grabbing the food for my tables.

“I thought their name was Ben and Evy?”

“No, that’s the gender swap version,” I say, walking away with the food. I place the food down at one table and refill drinks to another; some of the reservation guys come in. Seth, Embry, Jake, and Quil. I look over to Orion to call him for his table, but it looks like he and Emily are in a heated discussion about the book series. So, I take over for him. As I walked over to the table, I made eye contact with Seth, and my stomach flipped.

Why you in my dreams? Don't know much about you But I heard about you for the longest time And I see you 'round whenever I go out With some friends of mine And I remember when I saw you standing in a different light It's funny where my mind goes when I'm in my bed at night though

As I lay in bed, I notice that my feelings become stronger and stronger for him almost every time I see him. He was a few inches shorter than me, cheerier, and lanky. I always saw Seth and his friends, but out of nowhere, these…flutters? Feelings? Emotions I don’t like started eating me up every time I see him. I know it might be a crush, I won’t even deny that, but…why?

I toss and turn that night and eventually give up on trying to sleep and just stare at the ceiling, thinking of him. Confused and resistant to even wanting to think about it. The last thing I need is to be in a relationship while in my fucked situation as is. I don’t need my guardians knowing anything about Seth either.

But then again, just like evil authors, life fucks us all over, and you can help but go along with it. Well, unless you sue them. Then that’s different.

'Cause I push you away in real life You ain't even close to my type But when I'm sleeping Everything's upside down, upside down, yeah I saw you last night in my, my dreams It felt so beautiful, I almost believed We were a thing and I liked it I never looked at you like this Till I saw you last night in my, my dreams Why you in my dreams? (Why you in my? Why you in my?) Why you in my dreams? (Why you in my? Why you in my mind?) Seth POV

I saw her again today. She was walking down the hallway with Orion and Kayla to gym class, and we made slight eye contact before Jake decided to take my attention away from her. I look at him, but I don’t really pay attention to him. I don’t know when it happened, but I have always loved Y/n. When she transferred here in middle school, she was cute, shy, and had (and still has) a babyface.

I could never talk to her. Every time I was around her, I’d get so scared and freeze up. And although we’re in high school, I still can’t control it. Lately, my feelings have been getting stronger. Not just with her, but in general. I don’t know what it is, but it’s taking a lot more of my energy trying to control myself. Leah and mom have noticed it too. But Embry was the worst. Speaking of which,

“Hey, where’s Embry?” Quil and Jake looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

“But did you hear a word I said?”

“Obviously not. He was too busy gawking at Y/n.” Quil said, laughing. I rolled my eyes and walked away. Ass-whores.

After school, we head to the diner and, like always and on cue, Jake and Quil make fun of me because Y/n works there. I roll my eyes at them and attempt to push them off me without smiling, but I can’t help it; they’re stupid. It’s not their fault.

Fell asleep at nine And once I closed my eyes, girl, you were so, so mine We laid in the dark, you left in morning light But, girl, it felt so right And if it's in our minds then we should make it life Girl, I mean real, real life Nothing's never for ya We were all and over for ya 'Cause I push you away in real life You ain't even close to my type But when I'm sleeping Everything's upside down, upside down, yeah I saw you last night in my, my dreams It felt so beautiful, I almost believed We were a thing and I liked it I never looked at you like this Till I saw you last night in my, my dreams

That night I quickly dreamed of her without even having to try to at this point. Every time I want to or attempt to talk, I freeze. Thinking about her just makes me feel…warm. Her beautiful y/e/c eyes are captivating. They’ll draw you in, and once you’re in, you’re stuck. Her y/h/(L/C/T) hair embraces and defines her facial features.

The dream always starts out the same. I’m running through the forest at a high fast pace towards a place that always ends up being her home. I follow around the house to her room on the left side of the house towards the forest. As I look at her window, I see her sitting at the window seal and we instantly make eye contact. My heart stops for a second—she smiles and I walk up to her window to come inside. She doesn’t open the window. She places her hand on the window and my much larger now hands cover hers. We look at one another and smile.

I’m not bothered by her not opening the window. I’m just happy she isn’t freaked out about my presence. Unfortunately, every time she goes to open the window, my alarm wakes me up. And when I mean alarm, I mean Leah.

I groan and curse her and the need to wake me up so early. As I get ready, I think of Y/n and I can’t help but smile. Today’s going be a good day.

Why you in my dreams? (Why you in my? Why you in my?) Why you in my dreams? (Why you in my? Why you in my mind?) Y/n POV

The weekend comes and I’m heading in for my shift Sunday morning. I usually wouldn’t work weekends, but that was before I met Emily. I have Friday and Saturday off instead. It’s eight in the morning and Kayla, two of the cooks, and I all pile in before we open at nine. By 9:30, a few families start piling in and by 10, we have the food catered to Sam or Jared ready.

“Hey, Kim!” I wave to her as she walks into the diner. She waves back and heads to the counter. After setting up my table, I head over to the food and help her pack it up in the truck.

“I see you guys ordered more food than usual. Did more family members move into the area?” I say, passing her the multiple trays from the cart to the car.

“Yeah…something like that,” she laughs it off, “but rest assure, this will be gone within the next 45 minutes…maybe sooner.” I laugh with her. I believe her 100 percent. After seeing Jared and Sam, I already know their family that Kim describes them to be, is just as big, if not larger, then this food should hold them off for 2 hours. Maybe.

“Well, that’s all of them: drive safe, Hun. And stop by sometime after school. You’ll miss the adventures of Orion and Emily arguing over pink and rose gold.”

“Aren’t they different?” I nod my head. “But they’ll argue over that?” I nod my head again. She shakes her head and smiles. “Em usually starts it?”

“Sometimes. Only when she needs a good laugh or when she just feels like fucking with him. Last week they were in a heated discussion about the Dusk saga.”

“Oh, dear god! She told me about that. I can’t believe she went that deep into it with him.” Kim laughs.

“I know. That’s probably the only time they’re not being repelling off the same topic. Normally one would disagree for the fuck of it, but they put their fuckery aside and agreed to agree on that topic.” We both laugh. I finish up my conversation with Kim and head inside.

If I gotta fall asleep, sleep to see ya Then I'm gonna fall asleep, sleep to see ya It's different in the daylight Miss you, I dunno know why If I gotta fall asleep, sleep to see ya Let me fall, fall deep, deep to see ya It's different in the daylight See you in a new light 'Cause I push you away in real life You ain't even close to my type But when I'm sleeping Everything's upside down, upside down, yeah

I wave bye to Em, and Orion comes in. I clock out for my break and go sit in one of the booths in the back. As I am prepping my garden burger with ketchup, I think back to my dream I had last night. This one was recently new, confusing, but knew. I take a much-needed bite of my food and relax for the next 15 minutes.

I just got done with my daily nighttime routine, unable to sleep due to Taylor and Kennedy arguing, I go to my window and look outside. I look up at the sky and just drift off into a world of daydreaming until something catches my eye in the bestrew of trees next to my house. As I continue to look, I see big brown eyes of an animal. I smile and the animal walks out of the trees slowly and morphs into Seth. I smile brighter as he comes closer and closer to me. By the time he reaches me, I can feel myself become excited and full of glow, happiness, and this sensation of warmth.

He steps up to the window and smiles down at me. I place my hand on the cold glass and he looks down at my hand and does the same. I can feel the heat radiating from his skin, which only makes me smile more. I unlock the window and just as I am about to open it, my alarm wakes me up.

I’ve been stuck on this for so long that Orion had to shake me out of my daydream. I put my food aside for later and went back to work. I’ll just deal with the dream another time.

I saw you last night in my, my dreams It felt so beautiful, I almost believed We were a thing and I liked it I never looked at you like this Till I saw you last night in my, my dreams Why you in my dreams? (Why you in my? Why you in my?) Why you in my dreams? (Why you in my? Why you in my mind?)

MasterList

[sylphid187]

Coming Home, Taking Flight Chapter 3: I'm Finally Here

Hinata finally arrives in Osaka, and meets with his new housemates while waiting for tryouts.

He's tired from the trip, but he can't wait to step back into the court, especially after remembering all the monsters waiting for him to get there.

The car stops at an apartment building located just around the corners of the city. By the time the trio arrived at their destination, it was already past 10pm. As much as Kuroo had wanted to get Hinata to Osaka as quickly as possible, ignoring speed limits and having zero stops along the way, was completely out of the question. The ten hour drive goes smoothly enough, with a combination of chatter and sleep. Occasionally, Kenma had offered to switch with Kuroo in the middle of the trip, but the latter had insisted that he'd be fine after a few minutes of rest and a good meal. The two were prepared enough to have bought snacks to munch on in the car for the duration of the trip, and made sure that there was little to no mess when eating as well. 

The trio had also stopped by a small takeout spot for dinner. And as much as Shouyou loved brazillian comfort food, he also missed his fair share of Japanese takeout. Of course, Kenma never let him pay for anything, already taking out his wallet even before Shouyou had the slightest chance of pulling out a bill to pay with. This made Shouyou protest indignantly about the whole situation, but Kenma would simply give him a look that said 'no objections' and Shouyou would evidently clamp his mouth shut. It was amusing too, watching Kenma race to pay for Shouyou, and then Kuroo racing to pay for Kenma. 

If Shouyou had wanted to push, he doesn't think Kenma would really mind if he really did insist on paying for his own meal. But again, Kuroo had smiled from the sidelines and reminded Shouyou that "It's better to just run with it chibi-chan. Let Kenma spoil you a little more while we're here, and we'll be out of your hair by the end of the day." 

Shouyou personally thinks that Kenma has already spoiled him plenty, but he decides to take Kuroo's advice and allow Kenma to do as he pleases, especially if it makes his friend happy. He settles for "Thanks a lot Kenma." because if anything, he really is thankful. The smile he gets is it's own reward, for him and Kuroo both.

When they arrive, Shouyou is slightly snoring in the back seat. He feels someone nudge him gently on the side, and he blinks his bleary eyes open to see Kenma there looming over him with a small smile on his face. "Wake up Shouyou, we're here." 

"Wha…?" 

"Wakey wakey chibi-chan! Gotta get you to a nice warm bed before you knock out!" He spots Kuroo standing at Kenma's side and he rubs the sleep off his eyes one more time. He lets out a yawn and then proceeds to make his way out of the car's back seat. Once he steps outside, he stretches his arms and legs for good measure. 

He looks over to Kuro and Kenma again before giving them a small bow. "Thank you so much for driving me to Osaka!" 

He hears Kenma sigh and Kuro lets out another laugh in amusement. "Shouyou, stop thanking us. We were happy to do it." Kenma tells him, and he looks to see his friend with a small smile on his face. 

"Yeah come on chibi-chan, consider it a welcome home gift. Besides, you got to spend more than ten precious hours with yours truly." Kuroo tells him with a grin and a thumbs up. This gets Kenma to whack Kuroo on the head for good measure. 

Shouyou looks around again and looks towards the apartment that they've parked in front of. "Uhm, not that I'm not grateful but…." Shouyou scans the building again and looks around the area, to get some kind of clue, but the whole neighborhood already seemed to be asleep. "Where exactly are we? I didn't think people had apartments for overnight rent around here?" 

"You aren't here to rent an apartment chibi-chan." 

Shouyou's eyes widened. "You didn't buy an apartment did you?! Please tell me you didn't! I only needed a place to stay for two nights!" As absurd as it sounded, Shouyou really wouldn't put it past Kenma and Kuroo at this point.

Kenma actually chuckles at this. "I mean, we could definitely afford it, yeah." Shouyou's eyes widen even more, before the other continues "But no Shouyou, we didn't  buy an apartment. And even if we did, there's no way I'm letting you pay for it." and this allows him to release a sigh of panic and relief. He was already grateful to everything Kenma had done, he didn't want his friend needlessly spending for him, no matter how much Shouyou knew they could afford it. 

"You are staying here though, chibi-chan." Kuroo finally tells him, pointing up. "Third floor if I remember correctly. We're just waiting for the owners to come get you." 

"Owners?" And as if on cue...

"HEY HEY HEY!!!" Shouyou's eyes widen at the familiar greeting, and he can't help the wide grin that spreads across his face. He turns around, already knowing the identity of the man approaching, and looks to see Bokuto Koutarou there with a tired looking Akaashi Keiji following behind him. 

"Bokuto-san please, let's not wake the neighbors."

"Bokuto-san!" He runs forward to meet them halfway, and he's already feeling the sleepiness leave his body. 

"Kaashi! Look! It's my number one disciple!" Boukuto meets Hinata's embrace and uses his strength to try to carry the shorter male, enveloping him in a bear hug, and twirling them around.

"Yes Bokuto-san, so I see." Akaashi looks at them both with a smile. He then looks over to the orange-haired male and goes over to ruffle his hair. "Hello Hinata. Welcome home." 

"Hi Akaashi-san! It's so good to see you again." Hinata smiles wide while still being twirled around by Bokuto. He can't help the laughter that escapes him, as his mentor carries him around for everyone to see. 

"You too. You're looking well Hinata." Akaashi tells him kindly. "Bokuto-san, now might be a good time to help Hinata take his things up to our apartment?" 

"Ah! You're right Kaashi!" Bokuto comes to a stop and then releases Shouyou from the hug. "Come on, my disciple! Let's get your things into the apartment!" Both males had looked towards the car to see all of the things that needed to be carried into their home, and they began to slowly grab things to take up the steps and into the apartment. 

After the whole exchange with Bokuto and Akaashi, Kuroo and Kenma had gotten to work unloading Shouyou's things and handing them over to the other two. By the time all the greetings and hugs were over, all of his belongings were successfully taken to the apartment on the third floor. Shouyou had insisted that he could  carry his things up by himself, and all he needed was for them to show him the way. But his friends were very insistent on helping, Bokuto happily boasting that carrying a luggage atop three flights of stairs was no trouble at all for someone like himself. Shouyou was also pretty sure the apartment building may have had a small elevator for situations like move-ins, but Bokuto had insisted that he wanted the extra cardio. 

Once all of Shouyou's things were brought up, Kenma and Kuro stood at the doorway waiting for the moment they could say their goodbyes. The five of them stood there chatting with one another and catching up, as Kuroo and Bokuto were joking around about one thing or the other, while Kenma and Akaashi were looking on with exasperation. 

"I don't get how they have so much energy at this hour. I'm looking at them and I get tired just by looking. Kuro's energy goes from five to ten every time he's with Bokuto." Kenma says with a sigh, but Shouyou doesn't miss the fond look on his face as he looks at Kuroo. 

"I can't comprehend it either, on most days. Bokuto-san seems to have an endless reserve of energy stored in his body. I was sure that would have dwindled with all the practice he does after he's gone pro." Akaashi says with a shake of the head. "I was wrong, of course. It seems to have magically multiplied now, tenfold." 

"Bokuto-san seems to be the same as ever. I'm looking forward to seeing him play on the court again!" Shouyou chirps in. He couldn't wait for the opportunity to play with his mentor! He was already itching to get on the court.

"Ah that's right, he mentioned it to me the other day, that you were trying out for the Black Jackals. Are you nervous?" Akaashi asks with a tilt of his head "There's a lot of familiar faces on that team." 

"I am! I'm super nervous, but I'm just really excited to play indoor volleyball again." Shouyou tells them. He's been to some of the indoor matches in Brazil that Coach Lucio had allowed him to participate in, but he was still mostly competing on the beach with Heitor. He's been thankful to be allowed to practice with the indoor volleyball team there during weekends too, but now he's about to get the opportunity to go toe to toe with a bunch of indoor monsters. 

"I'm sorry I won't be able to watch you, but I'm sure you'll do well." Akaashi-san tells him encouragingly. 

"You'll make it Shouyou. I'm excited to see how many people will be shocked at the sight of the smallest player on the court, to not be trying out as a libero." Kenma says with a smug smile. 

"I might not be the smallest player though Kenma!" Shouyou says with a pout. "I'm not as short any more." 

"Still shorter than most though." Kenma says jokingly, and he swears he can hear Akaashi chuckling.

"I can't wait to have you on the team, my disciple!" Shouyou suddenly feels a hand that loops around his shoulder and tilts his head up to see Bokuto and Kuroo there, joining in on the conversation. "I think Tsum-Tsum will be happy to toss to you! And he doesn't really like tossing to just anybody." 

"Ah, Miya right?" Kuroo puts a hand on his chin in contemplation. "Guy's got a reputation of expecting the best out of his spikers. People say he's never been one to attend tryouts much either, because he doesn't have high expectations for newbies making it on the team. You're trying out as a middle blocker yeah?" 

Shouyou shakes his head. "No, I'm planning to try out as an opposite hitter actually! But I need to make sure they know I can be a good all-rounder too." He notices how only Kenma doesn't seem to be surprised by this.

"Huh. Then Miya is definitely someone you wanna impress." Kuroo tells him with a nod. 

"Aw, Tsum-Tsum really isn't that bad! But yeah I guess he does give off that vibe of being a bit unapproachable. He'll be watching this year though, all of us will. Coach's orders." Bokuto says. "It's less of him thinking less of new players from the get-go, but more of just how disappointed he gets when they don't meet his expectations." 

"And Miya Atsumu certainly has some very big expectations." Akaashi says in agreement. 

"Miya just knows what he wants." Kenma replies with a shrug. "I don't think there's anything wrong with knowing what you want and making sure you get the best out of every play. He's good enough to demand the best and have all these spikers dancing to his tune, it's only a matter of being good enough to keep up with him." 

Kuroo suddenly grins again and Shouyou feels the older male looking at him. "Miya Atsumu is considered a monster, and the only other people who could keep up, are monsters just like him." 

Shouyou remembers the Miya twins from when they beat Karasuno all those years ago. Inarizaki had punched their way into the Spring Interhigh semi finals back during 2015, and Shouyou remembers the rush his team had felt having been given another opportunity to face them on the court. His highschool days were honestly filled with opportunity when it came to being face to face with members of the monster generation, but among those talented monsters, there was no denying the genius that was Miya Atsumu. Kageyama was of course one of those geniuses of their time, the 'King of the Court' himself, but they were on the same team. There was a different thrill of having greats as opponents, versus the thrill of having them on your side. 

Shouyou also remembers a vague memory when their team had won their first bout with Inarizaki high. 

"Shouyou-kun, Imma toss to ya one day." 

Shouyou can't help but smile at the memory. He wonders briefly what it'll finally be like to have a setter like Miya Atsumu, and figures the only way to find out is to go tryouts and do everything he can to impress. If he wanted a setter who could get him to new heights, he needed to show them that he could hit anything they could ever think of throwing his way. 

"You guys sure you don't want to stay the night? We still have some futons you can use." Shouyou hears Akaashi ask, and he looks up to catch Kuroo raising his hands and gesturing "no". 

"Nah, Kenma and I'll make the drive home. You guys have some quality time with chibi-chan and catch up, yeah?" Kuroo slings an arm over Kenma's shoulder again and leans his head towards the other.

"Or Kuroo can go alone, and I can stay here." Kenma shrugs. "I wanna stay with Shouyou more."

Kuroo lets out another gasp. "Kenma! How could you?! You don't want to spend more time with me?!" 

Shouyou can't help but let out a laugh, but whatever he has to say is interrupted by Akaashi instead. "You know what, I take it back. I don't think being exposed to your flirting is healthy." And this gets a good laugh out of all of them. 

"Alright enough, we really have to get going. It's hella late, and I want to get some shut eye tonight. Then again, it's not like Kenma sleeps early anyway." Kuroo grins at them, and nudges Kenma to move. The gamer looks over to his partner and nods. 

"I'll see you around Shoyou. Good luck with tryouts." Kenma comes over to give Shouyou one more hug, and he hugs back immediately. "Remember to call me and send me updates. I'm still your sponsor after all." 

"Thank you again for taking me to Osaka, Kenma. And for literally everything else. You guys have a safe trip home!" He goes over to Kuroo as well and allows the taller male to give him a hug and a good pat on the head. When all is said and done, the two also move to say their goodbyes to Akaashi and Bokuto. 

They wave goodbye, the three of them looming over the third floor as they watch the pair get into their car and zoom away in the night. Once the car is completely gone from their view, Bokuto and Akaashi usher Shouyou inside their humble home, complete with welcome smiles and seemingly endless chatter. 

Once Shouyou is inside, he takes a little time to look around the place and can't help but think of how it immediately reminds him of the pair in front of him. There's a level of organization within the household that definitely reminds him of Akaashi, but he notices the MSBY jacket hanging on the side, including some owl memorabilia decorating the house, that he is sure came from Bokuto. Shouyou thinks it's a good balance between the two, and those who knew them well enough would definitely feel at home. 

The apartment itself is considerably well sized, and very spacious for the two. There's a sofa and a small television in their living room area, which was connected to their small kitchen. There was an island counter separating the two spaces, along with the stove and other cooking tools. A small table on the side that can comfortably sit four people, was also present. Shouyou could make out around three doors from where he was standing, which he assumes to be rooms and possibly a bathroom. 

"Here we are, my disciple!" Bokuto gestures wildly as they enter. 

"We placed your things in the room to the left, Hinata. You can use that room while you're here." Akaashi points to him. "Kuroo's mentioned that you've gotten to eat dinner on the road, so we'll leave it up to you to rest for now." 

"Thank you Akaashi-san, for letting me stay here on such short notice." Shouyou bows again and he feels someone pat his head affectionately. 

"There was no way we were letting you stay in some random budget hotel. Kenma sounded livid over text." Shouyou lets out a nervous laugh. He could honestly tell Kenma wasn't too happy when he mentioned staying at a hotel, and he got an earful from both of his friends even after they mentioned that they'd found a place for him to stay. 

 

"Tsk, that's a no-no, Hinata!" Bokuto beams up at him and ruffles his hair again. "Next time, you tell us when you need help. Because that's what we're here for! I would never let my number one disciple traverse through Osaka alone!" 

The bi-color haired male then looks to his partner and asks "Did I use 'traverse' right Kaashi?!" 

"Yes you did Bokuto-san." 

"Kaashi! Why won't you call me Koutaorou anymore?" Shouyou could definitely hear the pout oozing out of Bokuto's voice. 

"My apologies, it's a force of habit. To be fair, you haven't addressed me by my first name either." 

"Keiji!" The two bantering was a welcoming sight, and one Shouyou thinks he'll be seeing often during the duration of his stay. 

The three of them eventually move on to discussing house rules, and teaching Shouyou where everything was. The two residents weren't strict or particularly picky by any means. They just let him know that Akaashi tended to stay up late due to his deadlines and the nature of his profession, and Bokuto usually woke up first, due to the nature of his. They had simply explained to Shouyou when Akaashi would need his privacy, but other than that, he was free to roam around the apartment as he pleased. 

He was also thankful to the two when they mentioned he was free to use any of the utensils and appliances, barring those personal sanitary ones in the bathroom, like toothbrushes and such, for obvious hygienic reasons. Shouyou tells them immediately after, that he wants to go grocery shopping tomorrow, and wishes to cook them a meal for dinner as a thank you. This immediately excites Bokuto and boasts about being the 'best tour guide ever' to his disciple. 

Shouyou takes his time to familiarize himself with everything, before kindly suggesting that he would like to turn in for the night. He asks a few questions about the neighborhood from Akaashi, saying that he plans to go for a morning jog. The latter is happy to oblige his questions and explains the area in a simple enough manner for him not to get lost tomorrow. "Feel free to call us if you do get lost." Akaashi tells him with a teasing smile. 

"And try not to run too fast! Daichi mentioned once that you ran so fast you made it all the way to Shiratorizawa by mistake!" Bokuto tells him with a grin. 

"Urk! Bokuto-san! I've gotten better with directions now, I promise!" Shouyou exclaims. He refuses to believe he'll end up lost on the first day in Osaka. 

He says his good-nights to the two after this, and walks to his room. He immediately thinks that this is Akaashi's room, with how neat and tidy everything is, and knows that the two will be staying at Bokuto's room while he is present. His luggage is carefully arranged at the corner, and the bed is made with new linens and covers. He smiles as he thinks of how thankful he is that his friends really did go through all this trouble for him. And he's amazed they managed to clean up on such short notice as well, but he assumes that Akaashi is naturally tidy anyway.

Shouyou changes into comfortable sleepwear before falling face-first onto the bed. By now, the ten hour car ride was catching up to him, and he couldn't help but suddenly feel so exhausted due to the long trip and the hour of the day. He immediately sets his alarm via his phone, before placing it on his bedside. Once satisfied, he rolls over until he's facing the ceiling. He looks up and feels sleep begin to overtake him, but even through the sleepiness and weariness, Shouyou is excited. 

He's finally here. Finally in Osaka. Finally getting ready to fly. 

[magickhajiit]

Veles Taxi- Chapter 2

Finally Finished! 😁 I’ve tagged the people who liked the first chapter, hope that’s alright.  🧡

First chapter here

4 hours prior  

The clock’s hand continues ticking. Each movement signalling that the time until midnight is getting shorter. Nicolai’s sat in the weapons room, near enough to the door to listen to the Italians converse in a nearby room but further enough away to avoid the notice and resulting repercussion of anyone spotting him.  

A few sentences are legible from what little Italian he's managed to pick up over the last year. Something about Russian fools and a base deep in the Kitchen reaches his ears before a hand rests on his shoulder, its sharp fingers embedding what’s sure to be darkened prints by morning. With his eager concentration dispersed and a rope of anxiety coiling around his lungs, Nicolai glances up already knowing who he's about to face. He's met with Vittorio, one of the hired thugs in the mafia, who holds a malignant smile akin to a cat coming across a frightened mouse.

“Boss wants you", the words are jeering and his feral grin seems to stretch wider, still failing to reach his eyes. 

Nicolai nods numbly whilst getting up, tightening his hands into fists to suppress the mild tremors running through them. ‘The Boss’, Mateo Ferrero, leader of the New York branch of the Italian mafia, alternated between his nefarious businesses and frequenting high society parties each weekend, a man who was also a known murderer. He’d never served time or even been questioned, after all, who’s insane enough to go after a man who commands half the city? No one still breathing. People like Nicolai weren’t taken to ‘The Boss’ without good reason and he isn’t able to fool himself into believing anything positive was going to come out of this visit. Or even if he is going to come out alive. 

Thoughts whirl around his head as he’s led through a myriad of rooms and it feels like mere seconds pass before Vittorio half shoves him into the office. Nicolai has rarely seen Mateo close up, the first time was right after his mother had passed away and the Italian mafia had only just taken him. A year later Nick still remembers the overwhelming fear that had pulsed through him that day, like a stone of anxiety had crashed down leaving him struggling for breath. At first glance, Mateo had hardly seemed intimidating, with an infectious smile and a booming laugh Nicolai almost saw him as a friend in the unfamiliar circumstances. But that was before he saw the full force of his anger. Before he heard how his laugh turned as sharp as a knife or noticed the flecks of crusted blood ingrained in his rings, juxtaposing against the shiny silver. 

The same man sits there now. A few of his lackeys surround the desk, so deep in discussion, they give Nicolai the lack of attention reserved for a particularly inconsequential fly on the wall. Half wondering if he'd manage to sneak out without anyone's awareness, he shifts further forward hoping at least one of the men will acknowledge his existence.  

One did. The leader of the mafia in fact. The easy smile Nicolai receives imitates genuine welcoming except there’s a wicked edge to it, giving it the sharpness of a thin blade. His heartbeat begins to echo throughout his skull, as it thumps against his ribs in a frantic rhythm, a desperate bird fighting to be rid of its cage. 

"You're going with Amato’s group today," states Mateo  

His voice brings attention towards him, a yearn to protest the assignment is overshadowed by the sudden dryness of his tongue at the unwanted notice. With the heavyweight on his chest only broadening, Nick can only manage a timid nod in acknowledgment, fighting the urge to swallow down a breath that his restricting lungs will refuse to take. 

Mateo continues, “Amato will expect you in ten. You're leaving in half-hour, give or take.” The action of shuffling a variety of files and assignment reports left on his desk usually works well as a nonverbal dismissal, making sure his subordinates know how little value they have to him. Yet Nick stands in a mixture of bravery and stupidity.  

"Where am I going?"  

Mateo glances up, the slight clench of his jaw emphasizing clear irritation etched upon his face "Amato will fill in the details.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Guns, rifles, ammo, bullets proof vests, all things Nick’s seen in the mafia. Even helped load boxes of them into unmarked, windowless vans on the odd occasion. But it’s different to be this close to them. To feel the steady weight of guns as he passes them out or the cold touch of bullets in his palm, or feel Amato jostle him slightly as he helps him put on a vest. His hands brushing away Nicolai’s shaking fingers and fastening each strap himself, trapping Nicolai in an envelope of thick material, each piece perfectly designed for a man at war. 

War. That’s exactly where they’re taking him. Like a lamb to slaughter, weak and defenceless. Each time he attempts to asks, to find out something that might hint to his fate, the response is similar either ignoring him or speaking in rapid Italian over his head, the words too fast to be distinguishable to his ears. So, he stops asking and carries on with the chore he’s been given. 

Mateo was true to his word. Half an hour after Nick arrives, the men get into the vans. Nick’s led by Amato towards the leading vehicle, opening up the passenger door for him, the firm grasp on his bicep is the only thing keeping his body up. His actions aren’t out of the kindness of his heart. Nothing is ever unplanned or unexpected with the Italian mob, Mateo plans out every second of every working day for his men. So, if Nick is being taken on an assignment it’s because they need him. As the vans pull away from the warehouses and the hum of the engine is the only sound Nick has for the company, he can’t help wonder his purpose here; where the anxious, orphaned Russian boy could possibly be useful to the grand plan of a mob leader.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They drive for half an hour, with Amato occasionally muttering a few Italian words into the van’s wireless or moving the wheel to avoid one of the numerous potholes littering the roads, before they near the end of the Italian’s domain. Nicolai recognizes where they’re heading, the streets he was told to avoid even before the Mafia. Amato disregards the apprehensive glance thrown his way, instead hitting his indicator light before swiftly turning left, straight into the Russians' territory.   

The apartments and shops of the Italians’ region had still possessed a warm sense of comfort, a fading memory of safety. So, there’s a sense of abnormality that comes with seeing the new area. Nothing drastically changes in design, it’s the same pattern of flashing shop lights, graffitied walls, and stacked apartments that give off the feeling of him seeing a mirror image of his home. 

‘’Where are we going?” The quiet question that slips through Nicolai's lips has been repeated multiply times in the last hour, never receiving a solid answer. This final attempt at gaining information could be blamed on the growing suspicion he has about their destination, as the group continues deeper into Russian territory. 

“There’s a Russian base in the Kitchen” the words seem deafening as they break the stretching silence of the journey. “It’s got the equipment, information on their latest transactions, and enough men that breaking in and... dealing with them will send a clear enough message to Ranskahovs.” Nicolai almost misses his previous ignorance as the plan’s revealed. “You’ll be sent in first, take them by surprise", the rest of the sentence goes unheard as that settles in.  

‘You’ll be sent in first’ the words rattle around his skull. But he’s not really there to take them by surprise. No, he’s there to distract them, to be used as shark bait, to gather the predators before the others attack and shark bait rarely has a happy ending.

They pull into a nearby warehouse soon after Nicolai has that realization. Amato is one of the first men to get out, before moving to the passenger side. Nicolai allows himself to be pulled out of the van, the shock of the surely fatal nature of his assignment has made him docile to Amato’s orders. They run over the plan again, all of the men careful not to explicitly state, at least in English, that it's most likely a death sentence for Nicolai. 

The plan starts off well. Amato leads him outside the warehouse, both of them momentarily lit up by the flickering glow of the fire exit, before the metal door slams, leaving them in the dark alleyway, enclosed between the overlooking buildings. There’s a fire escape nearby, attached to the grime ridden wall, reaching the top of the parallel building. A slight jab from behind is all the encouragement Nicolai needs to begin the climb, his mind torn between anxiety about his final destination and the mobster ascending right behind him.

Shaking hands reach out, gripping the rungs above him, each rising movement bringing him closer to the roof. There seemed to be something different about the world from the moment his feet step off the ladders and meet the floor like there’s a detailed perspective to everything around him. An intensity to the world, the biting coolness he feels as he reaches the top, the walls no longer containing the fierce wind that wraps itself around him like a tightened cloak.

The perspective doesn't last long though, it’s broken by the creak of the roof’s door. Amato holds it wide open whilst sparing a moment to shoot Nicolai an expectant look. This is the moment they part ways. Amato will head back down to the neighbouring warehouse to prepare his men, whilst Nicolai will creep unobtrusively towards the side door several floors below. Hanging in the air is the unspoken understanding between them that this isn't the real plan. 

Nicolai forced himself to take a step forward and another and once again. He passes the door’s threshold and his stride falters for a moment; an uneasy glance earns a closed door, a quiet click of the lock confirms he’s been sealed in, with the only option of continuing his journey downwards.

He manages to descend a few floors without being seen, some of the Italians would have called it beginner's luck; just enough of it to lull him into a false sense of security, to give him the optimistic view he’d make it without being spotted. The thin layer of optimism is shattered in only a moment, it splinters into pieces like glass when the pressure increases an ounce too much. An inked hand grips Nicolai’s shoulder with enough force to spin him around to face his captor. In a different situation, Nicolai would think the man little different from himself, few years between them mixed with the meagre number of scars and tattoos, marks that criminals wear like badges of honour, hints at the man also being new to the life of corruption and lawlessness.

But circumstances don't allow that thought, they grant him little rational thoughts in those moments, an animalistic urge to survive is the only thing fuelling his actions as he swiftly slides his shoulder downwards and breaks the secure hold the man has. There's something instinctual about Nicolai’s next actions, in the way his body manages to spin around and propel forward, his feet stumbling for a few steps before instinct kicks in and they fall into a quick rhythm: left, right, left, right. Shouting from the man behind him causes another spike of fear and adrenaline to course through his body, encouraging him to sprint faster. Moving around the sharp corner, with the Russian mobster trailing by only a few meters, a sliver of panic interjects its way into the numb haze of his mind. His chances of survival ever decreasing, still Nicolai carries on managing to gain more distance between himself and his pursuer, whilst trying and failing to control his growing concern that the man’s voice has drawn the attention of the rest of the building’s occupants.

Nicolai has just spun left onto the third corridor when he sees it, a door half ajar leading into a small storage cupboard. There isn’t a second’s hesitation before he slides into the room, careful to push the door to a close. Its mere seconds after the door meets the frame that the man turns around the corner, he takes a few steps forward before he pauses, arm bracing against the wall as he regains his breath, almost appearing to be waiting. The reason behind the delay is revealed as Nicolai hears two more men walking towards them, their words inaudible. Their whispered conversation becomes clearer as they round the corner. Even with such a small chance of survival he can’t help feel a spark of comfort on hearing their words in his native tongue, a language he’s rarely heard spoken since his mother’s passing. His contentment is brief, it’s drowned out by a flood of panic as he tunes into the conversation. Unsurprisingly they remark on his absence but it’s their mention of a fight that sends dread crashing down upon him, a fight? A multitude of scenarios begin running through his head. Have the Italians survived, if not then he’s alone in a rival mafia’s base, otherwise he’ll continue working for Mateo until they decide once again that he has more use as cannon fodder.  

Whilst Nicolai was contemplating his fate the men have moved further along the corridor their words no longer managing to reach his ears. Their footsteps have faded away by the time Nicolai works up the nerve to move again. His journey through the corridors couldn't be more different now, his pace painfully slow like he's walking on ice testing each step before he dares to moves. This is partnered with the action of tilting his head in fierce concentration whilst pausing to listen to footsteps. This paranoia is repeated on each subsequent floor, his journey only once being interrupted as he’s forced to hide when a Russian mobster walks past, their pace brisk in comparison. This continues until he reaches the door, making peace with the fact the plan hasn't worked. He walks towards it, planning on returning to base despite the knowledge there'll be repercussions. Not that this is deserved but Mateo finding humour in the fact the diversion has failed seems unlikely.  

Still a gasp of relief passes his lips when the door closes behind him and he can take a moment to glance around without the threat of death hovering above him. As he looks around the glare from a nearby street light illuminates the adjoining road allowing the outline of a man standing on the edge of the alleyway to be seen, his face scarcely lit up by the glow emitted from his phone. Even in the dark Nicolai can still see the police badge, like a beacon, a ray of light reflecting from it. Nervously Nicolai moves forward hoping to ask for help or a phone call or just some way to escape even if the only people he has left are the people that sent him there in the first place.  

Later on, he’ll blame the mixture of relief and left-over adrenaline for what happens next, the officer’s arm struck out grabbing Nicolai and pinning him to the wall. Only a few more memories register in his mind after that; Russian words out of the officer’s lips, the sound of men running towards them and a sharp burst of pain in the back of his skull before darkness takes over.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I think it’s clear but just in case it’s not Nicolai is meant to be the character from the first chapter. 

Thank you for waiting so long for the next chapter, hopefully the next one will be out sooner. Feel free to mention if you notice any mistakes or if the writing isn’t clear at points. 🧡

@angelaiswriting @uwuttaja @kind-wolf @not-uh-author @starsandsunlight @kellydixon01 @frostedroyaltea @stjimmie @brobachev 

[mldrgrl]

No Such Thing as Perfect

by: mldrgrl Rating: PG Summary: Here you are, the long-awaited sequel to A Few Thousand Plus One.  Mulder and Scully’s first date.  

He’s driving her nuts.  Not because he’s doing something, but because he’s not doing something.  It’s been nearly six weeks since he made the insinuation that he was going to ask her out on a date, but there’s been no further mention of it since he brought it up.  More importantly, it’s been nearly six weeks since she insinuated she would say yes, and he’s done nothing about it.

She could tell she surprised the both of them by agreeing to a date.  She would admit, though not out loud and certainly not to Mulder, that she was curious about what a date with him would be like.  He was right, it had been so long since she’d been out with a man she could barely remember when it was, let alone what the guy’s name was.  Ron?

So why then, nearly six weeks later, was she still waiting for him to make his move?  Was he not as genuine as he seemed?  Was he waiting for a perfect moment?  They’d been in town for the last four weekends straight, a record for them, and they were coming up on another.  She can’t handle the anticipation anymore and she’s a little tired of the monotony of housework and errands.

They’re shutting down on Friday evening, he’s already got his shirtsleeves rolled up and his tie loosened.  She packs up her laptop slowly and takes her time with the straps of her bag to work up the nerve.  Finally, she takes the few steps needed to stand in front of his desk and taps her nails lightly against the empty space in front of his nameplate.

“Mulder,” she says.  “What are you doing this weekend?”

“Might play some basketball at the rec center.  The Gunmen are having a hack-off at some point and I’ve been told I could have the honor of adjudicating.  Wanna come?”

“You owe me a date.”

His eyes grow wide at first and his forehead wrinkles as he lifts his brows, but then he smiles so broadly that the apples of his cheeks become suddenly prominent and his eyes turn into twinkling crescent moons.

“Scully, are you asking me out?”

“You’re the one who asked, I’m just holding you to it.”

“Oh, I see.  It’s about accountability then?”

“And trying to get it over with so we can move on with our lives.”

“Oh.”  His smile falls flat and her stomach drops as she realizes how harsh that sounded.

“I don’t mean it like that.  Only that it’s been six weeks since you asked and...I thought you would have planned something by now.  Or are you going to wait another seven years?”

“No, I guess I just wasn’t quite sure you took me seriously.”

“Were you serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

“So…”

“So...I’ll pick you up tomorrow night?  How’s seven?”

“Seven works.”

“Then it’s a date?”

As bold as she was to bring it up, she’s suddenly hesitant again.  A date means trying on a dozen outfits and finding something wrong with every one of them.  A date means carefully selecting the right perfume.  A date means spending extra time on her hair and make-up.  A date means butterflies and expectations.  Hopefully.  If it’s done right.  A date means looking at the man who’s her closest friend, and at this point, maybe even her only friend, a little differently.

“Yes,” she says, slowly.    “It’s a date.”

*****

After a sleepless night, she regrets bringing up the date at all.  The continued anticipation of when he would ask was less stressful than the anticipation of the actual date.  She tossed and turned thinking about how things would go, what they would talk about, what it would mean going forward.  And god, what was she going to wear?

She’s at the mall in the morning before it even opens, waiting impatiently at the doors of a Macy’s as the manager fumbles with the keys.  She heads straight to her usual section of pantsuits galore out of force of habit, but has to remind herself she’s not shopping for work, she’s shopping for a date.  Contemporary fashion is distressing, all halter tops and paneled skirts, leather pants and bare midriffs.  Date or no date, it isn’t her.

She tries on what feels like a hundred dresses and finds flaws in almost all of them.  Too revealing, too tight, too baggy, too long, too fancy, too casual, too young, too old.  Finally, finally she finds one that she deems acceptable.  It’s navy blue, so dark it’s nearly black, a-line and sleeveless, with a simple open lace design across the collar.  She even finds a sweater to match and she knows she has a pair of heels at home that will work with it.  It’s a little shorter than she’d like, but at least the hem falls below her fingertips when she drops her arms to her sides.  Most importantly, it looks good on her and she looks like a woman on a date, not a FBI agent.

Back home from shopping, she’s surprised that it’s not even lunchtime.  Time seems to drag by, but then again, a watched clock never boils.  Or something like that.  In an effort to pass time she does laundry, she cleans, she changes her sheets.  Finally, it’s late enough to start getting ready.

In the shower, while she’s shaving her legs, it occurs to her that she’s shaving her legs for Mulder.  No, she tells herself, she’s shaving her legs for the dress she bought.  The dress she bought for her date.  With Mulder.  She bought the dress for her date with Mulder, therefore she’s shaving her legs for Mulder.  She knicks herself twice, distracted by the idea of Mulder  noticing and appreciating her smooth calves and bare thighs.

The lotion she slathers on later, the perfume she dabs behind her ears and on her wrists, the rose shade of lipstick, the hint of blush, the exposed mole above her lip, the untamed freckles, the soft curl in her hair, is all for Mulder.

It comes as a surprise to her that he’s early.  Only ten minutes before seven, but still, he’s early.  Hes never early.  She’s standing before the full length mirror on the back of her bedroom door when he knocks and she has to place a hand on her abdomen to remember to breathe.

And there he is, when she opens the door, in a dark suit and a plain silk tie, looking like he just stepped off of a GQ magazine cover.  He smiles at her and it sends a nervous flutter across her stomach.

“I know you said no flowers,” he says, presenting her with a small potted bonsai tree.  “But, I couldn’t show up empty handed.”

“Oh…”  The gift almost makes her laugh, which she finds oddly calming.

“The guy at the store said it’s easy to take care of.  Regular sunlight and water is all it needs.”

“That sounds pretty standard.”

“You look amazing.”

“Oh…”  She looks down at herself, but the plant she’s holding is now in the way.  The nervous flutter comes back though she knows it’s ridiculous.  After all, she wanted him to notice.

“I got us in at an Italian place a few blocks away.  7:30.  We can walk there.”

“Nonna’s?”

“That’s it.”

“I’ve passed by it many times.  It looks nice.”

“But not too nice.  Casual dining with a nice ambiance and two and a half stars.  I spent the morning in the Barnes & Noble cafe with a Zagat’s Guide.”

“Okay, well let me just...find a place for this and I’ll get my sweater.”

She brings the little bonsai tree over to the bay window and clears a spot on her desk for it.  Mulder stays by the door, his hands in his pockets.  She glances at him on her way to the bedroom to grab her sweater and her purse and he smiles at her.  She wonders how he can look so calm and collected right now when she feels like her nerves are tangled into knots.  She pauses, takes a deep breath, and tells herself there’s nothing to be nervous about.

“Ready?” he asks, holding his elbow out to her like an escort as she comes back into the room.

Dear god, no, she thinks.  “Ready,” she says.

***** If Scully believed in signs from the universe, and she didn’t, but if she did, a lost reservation might be a sign from the universe that they should end the date before it begins.

“I’m sorry sir,” the hostess says.  “I don’t have a reservation for a Mulder.”

“I called today, around one.  7:30.  For two.”

“Our next opening is for 9:15.”

She can tell that something sarcastic is rising in Mulder’s throat and she takes his elbow to stop him before he says something she’ll regret.  “It’s okay,” she says.  “We’ll go somewhere else.”

“I’d like to speak to the manager,” Mulder tells the hostess.

“No, we don’t,” Scully interjects, pulling on Mulder’s arm.  “It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine,” he argues, but follows her out the door.  “They can’t just lose people’s reservations.”

“Well, they did.”

“What do you want to do?”

Good question.  She looks past Mulder down the block.  There aren’t many restaurant options on this side of her neighborhood.  It’s a quieter area, mostly townhomes and a handful of bodegas.  There is a French place another three blocks or so ahead, but it’s not one she was ever interested in.  They’ve already walked all this way though and they’ve both gone to a lot of trouble for this.

“Um,” she says, stalling to make up her mind.  “We can...there’s another restaurant a few blocks…”

“Do we need a reservation?”

“I don’t know.”

Mulder scratches the back of his head for a few moments.  He looks longingly at Nonna’s, like it was something he’d had his heart set on, but then his expression changes and he drops his hand and smiles at her.  

“Okay,” he says.  “Let’s give it a try.”

*****

Deep down, they both know it’s a mistake the minute they walk in the door of the next restaurant.  The maître d’, with his haughty attitude, gives it away.  He peers down his beak-like nose at his book of reservations and sniffs disapprovingly before he rather reluctantly finds an opening and leads them to a table.

The menu is in French and prices are unlisted, which says a lot.  As soon as she’s seated and she’s had a moment to give it more than a cursory glance, she feels a whole new kind of nervous flutter in the pit of her stomach.

“Mulder,” she whispers, leaning towards him a bit.  “We should go.”

“We just got here.”

“I know, but…”

“What do you think a ‘tartiflette’ is?”

“I don’t think we should get anything that doesn’t sound familiar.”

“I know what escargot is, but I don’t think I’ll be having that.”

“We can do this another time.”

“Are you sure?  We’re here and no other plans for the evening.”

Scully hesitates and takes a few glances from the menu to the four corners of the restaurant.  It’s too fancy for her comfort, unnecessarily gilded, chandeliers all over the place, impressionist paintings cluttering the walls.  It doesn’t feel right for a date with Mulder.

“Madame, Monsieur,” a waiter materializes between them and startles her.  “May I get you started this evening with something to drink?”

“Scully?” Mulder asks.

“Um…”  She hates how flustered she feels.  She fumbles the menu, turning it over and back to stall for time.

“You like Merlot, right?” Mulder says.

“Yes.”

“We’ll take a bottle of Merlot,” Mulder tells the waiter.

*****

She’s trying as hard as she can to recall a single conversation that she and Mulder have had that didn’t involve work, but she can’t.  Sips from her glass of wine and tries to think of something to say.  Oh, but there was a conversation once, on that rock, in the lake.  They’d talked about Moby Dick and Mulder had said he’d wanted a peg leg.

“Earth to Scully,” Mulder says.

“Sorry?”

“I asked if you had decided on an entree.”

“Oh, um…I wasn’t even thinking about that.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“Are you still interested in a peg leg?”

“Exactly what are you proposing?”

“I just remembered that time on the lake when the boat sank and we were stuck on that rock.”

Mulder takes a look around and then takes a sip of his own wine.  “Hopefully a cold, wet rock in the middle of a cryptid-inhabited lake isn’t comparable to this place.”

“There’s no such thing as cryptids,” she answers with a smile.

“Ugh!”  Mulder feigns distress and slaps a hand over his heart.

“I was only trying to think of a time and place where we had a real conversation.”

“We have a thousand real conversations every day.”

“You know what I mean.  Not about work.”

He scratches the back of his neck for a few moments and contemplates the menu.  “Bellefleur, Oregon,” he says.  “You were worried about those mosquito bites and it was raining and the electricity was out.  I told you about my sister.”

“Yes, you did.”

“Does that qualify as a real conversation?”

“It does.”  There’s a brief silence and she averts her eyes for a few moments back to the menu.  “Mulder?”

“Hm?”

“Tell me about the Mongolian Death Worm.”

“The locals call it olgoi-khorkhoi,” he says, and she puts down her menu to listen.

*****

They both order what they’re relatively certain is chicken.  The waiter sniffs disapprovingly when they pass on appetizers, but she isn’t interested in pate or anything tartare and she knows that Mulder has an aversion to seafood.  It actually catches her off guard a little that she knows that about him and she can’t remember how.  It’s not an allergy, of that she’s sure, he just doesn’t like it.  

“Arcadia Falls,” she says.

“What about it?”

“When we went to dinner at the Shroeder’s, Cami made tuna noodle casserole.”

“The things I do to be polite.”

“You don’t like fish.”

“Nope.”

“Why do I know that?”

“We probably talked about it at some point.”

“Huh.”

“I don’t like beets either.  Or coconut.”

“I don’t like figs.”

“No one likes figs.”

“Or raspberries.”

“Really?  Raspberries?”

“It’s not the flavor, it’s the texture.  It’s all...bumpy.”

“True.  So, blackberries are out as well?”

“Never had one.”

“Huh.”

When the food arrives, they both look at their plates and try to disguise their disappointment, at least until the water leaves and then Mulder leans closer to her to whisper.

“I thought I ordered a chicken, not a canary.”

She chuckles.  It’s the smallest portion of anything she’s ever seen.  Maybe they should have considered the escargot to start, at the very least the snails are cooked and not fish.

“Bon appetit,” he says.

“You too.”

*****

He convinces her to share a charcuterie board when the dessert menu is presented.  She really doesn’t take much convincing though.  The wine has made her feel a little lethargic and the chicken wasn’t anywhere near satisfying.  Meat and cheese sounds pretty good right about now.

“Though, why the hell meat and cheese is a dessert is anyone’s guess,” he says.

“I think that’s just how they consider it in France.”

“But, it’s meat...and cheese.  More wine?”

“Please.”

Mulder pours the remainder of the bottle of Merlot into her glass.  “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?”

“That’s an odd segue from meat and cheese.”

“I was just thinking about how I’d probably be run out of Paris for daring to eat my meat and cheese before dinner and wondering where else in the world I’d like to go.  So, I’m wondering where you’d like to go.”

“You need my answer to formulate your answer?”

“Where you go, I go.”  He smiles and swirls his wine a little.  “Just wondering.”

“Ireland, I think.”

“Yeah?  Why?”

“My father’s side of the family is Irish, though a few generations back.  I think I’d like to see it for myself one day.”

“I took the ferry there a few times when I was at Oxford.  The countryside is beautiful.  I think you’d like it.”

“What about you?”

“Galapagos Islands.”

“The...really?”  The answer surprises her.

“Yeah.  it’s entirely possible I could meet a giant turtle that met Darwin.  How cool would that be?”

“Pretty cool, actually.”

“And, of course, there’s the Monstro de Archipiélago de Colón to look for.”

“The what?”

“Galapagos Monster.  It was first spotted in 1992, but there’s been an additional two sightings just a few years ago.”

Of course, she thinks.  Of course.

*****

In Scully’s experience, the fancier a cheese is, the more unappetizing it appears, but as soon as the charcuterie board is placed before them, the smell of one of the three cheeses is overwhelmingly pungent and her eyes water in defense.  Mulder is staring at the board with a look of skepticism she isn’t accustomed to.

“Here we have Roquefort,” the waiter points to a moldy blue cheese and continues down the line.  “Camembert, and Epoisses.  The meats are Capocollo, Soppressata, and Prosciutto.”

“Wanna take a bet on which one of these is the one that smells like the bottom of a dumpster on a hot day?” Mulder asks, as soon as the waiter is out of earshot.

She laughs and blinks the tears out of her eyes as she points to the moldy cheese at the end.  Mulder takes a small piece off the corner of the cheese with his knife and brings it closer to his face.  Tentatively, he takes the small bite off with his teeth.

“Nope,” he says.  “It’s actually pretty decent.”

“Do you have any idea what the meats are?”

“I mean, I don’t know if all those words were French for salami and ham, but that’s kind of what they look like.”

She’s not uncultured, but there’s a reason she doesn’t like upscale places like this.  They make her feel ignorant of basic things like meat and cheese.  She takes a cut of the cheese Mulder tried and pairs it with the thin slice of curled meat that resembles salami and takes a bite.

“It’s good,” she agrees.

Mulder has continued with his cheese inspection and tested the Camembert.  It’s the one cheese she’s familiar with.  He nods approvingly and adds meat to a second bite, obviously a fan.

“That means,” he says as he wipes his mouth with his linen napkin, “through the process of elimination, that is the culprit.”  He makes an accusatory stab at the last cheese with his knife and gives it a poke.

“Do you think it tastes as bad as it smells?”

“Only one way to find out.”  He cuts into it and then brings the knife closer, but then turns his head and scrunches his face.  “Jesus, we’ve been in morgues that have smelled better.”

“Don’t do it.”

“I have to solve this mystery, Scully, or I won’t sleep at night.”

She watches in horror as he quickly takes the cheese off the knife and then he puckers his mouth in distaste and swallows heavily.  Immediately after, he drains the rest of his wine and then coughs lightly.

“Well?” she asks.

“If evil took a cheese form, it would be whatever that was.”

She chuckles as he pushes the cheese to the far side of the plate and then covers it with decorative sprig of parsley so they don’t have to look at it.

*****

“Will there be anything else?” the waiter asks.

“Scully?  I think I saw chocolate mousse on the menu.”

“No, thank you.”

“Very well.”  The waiter places the checkbook directly in front of Mulder and quickly retreats.

“Well, that was sexist,” Scully says.

Mulder shrugs.  “Maybe it’s an old-fashioned assumption, but it is a date.”

“Still.”  She reaches for her purse, but Mulder puts a hand on her arm.  

“What’re you doing?”

“We should split it.”

“It’s a date, Scully.”

“That doesn’t mean you should have to-”

“It does to me.  I wanted to take you out.  Let me take you out.”

“Technically, I asked you out.”

“No, I did.  You just held me to it.  You can get the next one if you’d like.”

She sucks in a breath.  She hasn’t even considered a second date.  Mulder swallows again like he did with the terrible cheese and so she relinquishes the hold on her purse and puts her hands in her lap.  She thought this would be the end of things, that they just needed to satisfy the curiosity and then move on.

Does he really want this?  Does he want her?  And, does she want this?  Does she want him?

*****

It’s cooled down a little since they entered the restaurant, and Scully shivers as she steps out into the night air.  Mulder has his jacket off almost instantaneously and slides it over her shoulders.  She smiles at him and pulls it closed across her chest with one hand.  He puts his hands in his pockets and falls into step beside her.

“There’s a 7-11 down that block,” he says, nodding to the left as they cross the street.  “Want a hot dog?”

“A hot dog?  Mulder, we just had dinner.”

“We had a baked parakeet and corpse cheese.  I could go for a hot dog if you could.”

“I guess the portions were rather small.”

“Hot dog?”

“Sure.”

*****

They leave the 7-11 with one chili dog, for Mulder, and one plain hot dog, for her.  Gentleman that he is, he lets her pay the $2.79.  “See, I told you you can get the next one,” he says.

*****

At the sidewalk in front of her apartment, she gives him back his jacket, which he slips back on.  They stand in front of each other, she with her eyes down and scuffing the toe of her shoe against the sidewalk.

“Well,” he says.

“Well.”  She looks up at him and then sinks her teeth into her bottom lip.

“Please just tell me it wasn’t too terrible.  That you’ll give this a second chance.”

“It was far from terrible, Mulder.  But…”

“No, stop right there.” He puts a hand up to halt her.  “No ‘but.’  I’ll take ‘far from terrible’ any day.  The end.”

“But, I still don’t know if this is a good idea.”

He sighs and rocks back on his heels, tilting his head to look up at the night sky.  His Adam’s apple bounces as he swallows and then he looks down at her and nods.

“Okay,” he says.  “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

She shakes her head a few times.  He smiles ever so slightly and takes one hand out of his pocket.  His fingers tickle her palm as he tries to hook his index finger around hers.  When he finally does, he gives her a squeeze and swings their hands back and forth.

“Date’s not over until I walk you to your door though, right?”

“You really don’t have to-”

“I want to,” he says, cutting her off and giving her finger another squeeze.  “Let me see it through.”

“Alright.”

His finger stays hooked with hers as he walks her up to the front door.  Reluctantly, he lets her go so she can pull out her keys.  They’re silent in the elevator and down the short hall to her door.  She stops and turns to face him, but doesn’t look him in the eye.

“I just want you to know that I did have a nice time,” she says.  “Despite...well, you know.”

“So did I.”

“You know, I think that part of it is just...it’s just that dating is such a difficult road to navigate.”

“How so?”  He slouches with his back to the wall, head rolled towards her.

“Well, by and large it’s based on false pretenses.  This really isn’t us, is it?”  She makes a gesture towards the dress she’s wearing and looks down at her feet.  “And that restaurant?”

“A little pretentious.”

“Wouldn’t you have much rather just been at home with a pizza and a beer?”

“Alone?  Or with you.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I grant you that aspects of it are...awkward.  But, I disagree that it’s false or that either of us were disingenuous.  Isn’t it just about putting your best foot forward and hoping the other person sees enough good there to want to know you better?”

“I already know you, Mulder.”

“I guess I’m pretty lucky then.  You’re still here and I wasn’t even trying to impress you.”

“You weren’t?”

“Well, maybe a little.”

She finally glances up at him and meets his eyes.  He gives her a smile and then she drops her gaze again.  She takes a deep breath.  “There are just so many reasons why it-”

He doesn’t let her get any farther than that.  Swiftly, but gently, he takes her face in his hands and cuts off her protests with a kiss.  She’s stunned by it, but not unwelcoming, even grabs on to the lapels of his jacket as though she’s trying to bring him closer.

He smiles and she makes a tiny noise of protest so he presses her into the door as he slips his tongue past her slightly parted lips.  She tugs roughly on his jacket as she shifts her feet, whimpering into his mouth.  He can feel the heat of her cheeks under his hands.  

Rubbing the apples of her cheeks, he breaks their kiss, only to slant his head to the other side and start another.  He goes deeper this time and leans into it so his chest pushes into hers and takes her breath away.  

When he pulls back, her eyes are closed and her breasts heave against his chest.  He leans back in to drag his bottom lip across her mouth once, twice, and then he softly kisses the curve of her upper lip before moving back.  He traces her mouth with both thumbs until she opens her eyes and holds his gaze.  She looks like she’s just woken from a wonderful dream and he can’t help the dopey grin that spreads across his face.

“You just keep saying we shouldn't,” he whispers, sliding his hands back to rub her earlobes between his thumbs and index fingers.  Her eyelids droop.  “Not that you don’t want to.  And if you tell me you don’t see me the way I see you well then...”

“How do you see me?”

He doesn’t answer, just pierces her with an unwavering gaze that has her knees shaking and makes her feel absolutely liquefied.  The love and desire she sees in his eyes almost seems tangible, like she can pluck it from the air and hold it in her hands.  

He blinks languidly and then stands a little taller, his hands slipping away from her face.  It takes her a few beats, but she slowly opens her hands and lets go of his jacket.

“Good night, Scully.”

His voice gives her a little jolt and tilts her head like she doesn’t understand what he’s said.  He chuckles and shoves his hands in his pockets as he retreats, moving to the stairwell instead of the elevator.  When he looks back, she’s leaning against the door, lightly stroking her bottom lip with her index finger.

“Hey,” he says, and she drops her hand and turns her head towards him.  “Told you I was a good kisser.”

The End

[ymnfilter]

He Found A Love [Klaine FF, One-Sided Sam/Kurt]

Summary: 

Set somewhere between Born This Way and Rumors. Sam is jealous that Kurt doesn't have a crush on him anymore and is in a relationship with klaine.

Sam had first noticed Kurt when he first entered the Glee Choir Room. It's not surprising. Kurt demands attention. Not in a way Rachel does, with her loud voice and questionable actions. Kurt demands attention silently. As if he knows all he'll have to do is exist and everyone will always just look at him. He dresses like he wants to impress the world, acts like royalty even when he thinks no one is looking at him. During the weeks Sam has spent in the school, he has never once seen Kurt Hummel's facade slip.

But back to the point, Sam noticed Kurt when he first performed in the choir room. Mostly because Kurt had been staring at him quite intently. But Sam hadn't known then, hadn't really thought much about the other boy's glasz eyes, paper-delicate skin, or pretty features. He had just turned his head slightly more to the left and found himself mesmerized with Quinn instead.

It was easier to pin his affections on her. Because Quinn was a her.

He should've known it wouldn't last, though. He spent most of his time, that wasn't being spent chasing Quinn, looking for Kurt, or staring at Kurt, or wanting to talk to Kurt. Kurt had one of the softest voices he had ever heard. At the same time, he also had the coldest tone. He could tear you to pieces just with a few words and then heal you back to health with even less.

And Sam soaked in the attention Kurt gave him. It might be slightly childish but Sam liked that Kurt liked him even if he was going out with Quinn. He was on the football team, had the head cheerleader as his girlfriend, and had the (beautiful) resident gay kid in love with him. It was like he was living in a teen rom-com.

Nothing could go wrong.

But then, well. Then Blaine happened.

Suddenly there was another boy for Kurt to dump his affections onto. And he seemed to like this Blaine kid even more than he liked Sam. He was positively smitten, and while the rest of the glee club might find it cute, all Sam could do was find it irritating.

Because now Sam couldn't look for Kurt and find him looking back at him. Now whenever Sam looked at Kurt, it was to find the other boy grinning at his phone.

He couldn't talk to Kurt without realizing that the softness of his voice was gone. The gentle tone of his voice was reserved for quiet phone calls to his boyfriend in front of his locker in the middle of hallways. Or the parking lot, or sometimes even the choir room.

Sam hated it, but he could tolerate it. And it was fine, because even when Kurt texted Blaine between classes, he had to look up from his phone at some point and look at Sam instead. And just because Kurt wouldn't talk softly to him anymore, doesn't mean Sam couldn't make him laugh with his mad impression skillz.

Yes. Skillz with a 'z'.

But then Finn invited everyone over for game night, and Sam had all this excitement contained in him. Excitement for some undivided time with Kurt (and the rest of the boys, but at least not Blaine) excitement for getting to talk to Kurt. Maybe if he made Kurt laugh enough, Kurt will start using the soft voice with him again. Sam was really just very excited.

And then all his excitement turned to shit when he rang the doorbell to the Hudson-hummel household and a completely unfamiliar boy opened the door.

Sam had never seen him before, but he knew who he was. And he hated him for it.

"Who're you?" Puck asked from behind him, and the boy smiled, all straight white teeth and crinkled laugh lines. He looked like a fucking showman. Sam hated him more.

"I'm Blaine. Kurt's boyfriend."

"Ah. You're the boy my boy is smitten with. I'm Puck. This is Sam, and this is Mike." Puck made the introductions as Blaine opened the door wider to let everyone in.

"It's nice to meet you all. Kurt talk about you. I hope you don't mind Finn inviting me for game night too."

Finn invited him? Finn? Sam felt betrayed. With the way Finn always rolled his eyes whenever Kurt brought Blaine up in conversation, Sam was sure Finn hated the guy. And now he's inviting him to sacred game nights?

"Nah man, the more the merrier." Mike said with a smile, and Sam wanted to gasp dramatically in outrage.

"But the real question is, are you any good?" Puck asked with a smirk.

"I board an all boys private school. Trust me when I say that before Kurt, video games were the only way I could spend my nights and stay sane."

Sam bristled. Before Kurt? How did he spend his nights now then?

Sam was about to open his mouth and say something that was no doubt offensive. Maybe something about the guy's crazy curly hair, or how no matter how dapper he looked or acted, it still wouldn't change that he was still at least half a foot shorter than Sam.

Thankfully, they reached the living room by then, and Sam's attention was completely directed towards Kurt, who was sprawled across the small love seat, his head on the cushion and legs dangling from the arm of the chair. Those beautiful eyes looked up from where he was reading some girly magazine and smiled at Sam (and the rest of the guys, but really at Sam.)

"Hey, Kurt." Sam said and casually took a seat at the front of the sofa closest to the one Kurt occupied. Hah. He inwardly cheered, where you going to sit now, Blainey boy?

"Hey Sam." he said and smiled and Sam preened. Kurt turned to the others, "Hey, you guys."

Sam was still smirking silently as the others answered the greeting, but it dropped pretty fast when he saw Blaine making his way to the love seat Kurt was laying on. There was no space. Where was he going to sit? On Kurt's stomach? But then, Kurt silently raised his upper body up a bit, and Blaine sat on the space cleared, only for Kurt to drop his head on Blaine's lap the next second.

No.

Sam looked around, no body was looking at the two of them. Why wasn't anyone looking at the two of them? Mike just put on the Call of Duty 3 CD of the play station and Finn casually passed the controllers to everyone, including Blaine.

Why wasn't anybody going to say anything about those two essentially cuddling with each other on sacred game night?

"Dude, where's your mom? I thought you said she had a day off?" Sam said after a while. It was to mostly serve as a distraction whilst he tried to shoot at Blaine as subtly as possible. Sure, it wouldn't be good for their team (Blaine was a good player, for someone who's gay) but it was the only thing Sam could do not to snatch Kurt's hand where it was lightly caressing the back of Blaine's neck.

But then again, maybe if Kurt's dad and Finn's mom were home, they wouldn't let their son and his boyfriend act so couple-y and cozy in the middle of the living room.

"She and Burt went grocery shopping. They should be back in a bit."

From where he was sprawled on the couch, Kurt pouted,

"I really wanted to go too. I heard there's a sale on sea food this week."

"Dude, you always grab stuff that no body's even heard of before. And you won't let Burt get the good beer." Finn said as an explanation.

"That's because I would really like my dad to hit his 90s." Kurt snapped back, and before Sam could say anything to back Kurt up, Blaine piped up,

"Maybe they just wanted to spend some alone time together. It is the weekend."

"Grocery shopping? They wanted to spend some alone time together grocery shopping, Blaine?" and Sam snickered. Mike looked at him weirdly for a moment but Sam payed him no mind.

"Hey, come on. You love getting groceries with me."

Kurt was silent for a moment, and Sam's heart dropped, because when Kurt spoke next, it was a whole new level of soft voice.

"Well yeah, but it's shopping with you." Blaine looked away from the screen to grin at Kurt, and on screen his avatar died. Sam killed him. No body noticed.

"I rest my case." Blaine mumbled, and Sam cursed himself for sitting so close, because from this distance, he could hear the awe in Blaine's voice. He could also hear a soft, pleased , almost silent hmm that Kurt let out as a response.

"Hey Kurt, how's the French homework going?" Sam blurted out the first thing that came out of his mouth. And it was a very reasonable thing to ask, in his opinion. After all, everybody knew French was Kurt's favorite subject in school, a school that he didn't share with Blaine. Sam couldn't have thought of a better conversation topic to freeze Blaine out. But it back fired. Again. Because of course it did.

"You don't take French, Sam?" Kurt asked him with an adorable head tilt. Sam's mind went into overdrive,

"Yeah, but my friend, Brett does. He told me that your teacher was kind of really dragging you all through the mud this week."

Kurt scoffed,

"Brett? You mean that boy that smells homeless? I would hardly expect him to enjoy a language as sophisticated as French. I have no idea why he's taking it if he finds even the basic tenses difficult."

Sam didn't know what to say to that, but apparently Blaine did,

"You guys are still on tenses? In your junior year?"

"The rest of the year is. I myself, am already quite fluent. But, I really wouldn't mind someone I could practice it with. I can only talk to myself so much in French."

"You do know that you have a boyfriend who's also fluent in French?" Blaine teased him, glancing at Kurt for a moment before going back to looking at the TV screen,

"You wouldn't mind doing that for me?"

"Of course not. I'll just hit you up whenever I'm studying it, and we can practice together."

How does Sam manage to kick himself so thoroughly?

Before Sam can say something that would inadvertently end up with Blaine and Kurt spending even more time together, he hears the lock of the main door turn, and Mrs.H's voice calling out a sweet we're home! to the boys. Blaine deliberately dies onscreen and both him and Kurt get up to help Mrs. H and Kurt's dad with all the bags. Sam feels like he should help to, but it's probably like his 2nd time at the Hudmel's , and he is predominantly Finn's friend (who himself is still playing) even though he'd much rather be here as Kurt's boyfriend, so the whole thing would probably just be super awkward,

"Oh, Blaine dear, I didn't know you were coming over today! I would've made some of that custard you like so much."

"I hope it's no trouble, Carol. Finn invited me to game night. Plus, dad's off to Costa Rico on business." Blaine grins, "As for the custard, I was hoping you could teach me. Just in case I start showing withdrawal symptoms."

Carol laughs, "Oh honey, if I taught you how to make the custard, I'm afraid we might just not see you again."

"Yes." Kurt drawls, good naturedly, "That's why Blaine's my boyfriend. Because of custard."

"Darn it, you figured me out." Blaine retorts, but pulls Kurt closer to press his lips to the other boy's temple.

"My, aren't you too just the cutest!" Carol sighs and turns to Kurt's father just as he's coming in through the garage, "Aren't they just the cutest, sweetie?"

"Yes. That's how I'm going to end up in the hospital again. Diabetes from my son's relationship." Burt grunts before turning to Blaine with a grin, "Hey, kiddo. Didja watch the game yesterday?"

"Hell yeah. Buckeyes won 25-11. It was awesome."

"Yer damn right, it was. You staying over for dinner?"

Blaine smiles cheekily, "If you don't mind."

"Of course not, we haven't seen you in a bit over a week."

"Yeah, school's been a bit rough. Mid terms are coming up."

And the conversation continues between the four members as they put away all the grocery. They sound like a regular family, with Blaine blending seamlessly with his boyfriend's parents. It's all Sam can do to not groan out loud. If Mr. And Mrs Hummel are so supportive of Blaine and Blaine and Kurt's relationship, Sam can't really see any way to break them up so that Kurt would pay attention to him again.

It's a childish thought anyway. Sam thinks. It's not like he wants to date Kurt anyway. Sam's straight. He is. It's just, attention and hero worship directed towards him is good for his self esteem, regardless of the gender of his admirer.

And Sam admires Kurt, Kurt is beautiful and strong and elegant to the point where it's almost regal. To have someone like that admire Sam had gone to his head way too fast.

And yeah, maybe watching Blaine and Kurt together hurts Sam's stomach a little. But he's pretty sure he'll get over it eventually. Maybe he'll skip some of the Hudmel house game nights from now on. It'll be a step in the right direction.

[lettersnorth]

Aislinn North

Name: Aislinn North

Race: Hyur

Gender: Female

Age: 32

Sexuality: Demisexual

Server: Balmung

Residence: She has a small apartment in Limsa Lominsa and is employed by a Free Company based out of Gridania.

Birthplace: Ala Mhigo

Religion: Adheres to the Eorzean religion of the Twelve.

Patron Deity: Nymeia, goddess of Fate. Her life, being as filled with chaos as it has, has taught her that the individual has very little control over what happens to them in life. All a person can do is control themselves and their reactions. “I’ve done all the preparation I can. Once the arrow leaves the bow, I have no control over whether it hits the target.“

Occupation: Takes on various odd jobs mostly related to engineering and aetherological research. Works for a mercenary company based in Gridania.

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Proficiencies: Sharpshooting, Aether manipulation through arcane maths, Engineering

Interests: Tinkering, Philosophy, Travel, Aetherlogical Studies

Relationships:

SPOUSE: None.

CHILDREN: None.

PARENTS: Deceased

SIBLINGS: None.

OTHER RELATIVES: None.

Likes: Learning new things, reading, travel, people watching, letting her mind wander, triple triad, fixing broken things.

Dislikes: Large crowds, bullies, pushy men, being touched, Ul'dah, wordplay

Fears:

Abandonment - For one reason or another Aislin has lost everyone important to her over the years; childhood friends, mentors, family. She doesn’t realize how much of an impact this has had on her over time, slowly chipping away at her willingness to open herself to new people. As a result, she tends to keep her distance, using her work as an excuse to maintain space.

The Dark - She had an unfortunate experience as a child at the hands of her bullies. To this day she can’t sleep without the glow of a lantern or candle nearby.

Black Magic - She once found herself on a mage’s bad side. The harrowing experience left her convinced there is some knowledge no one is meant to possess.

Being Dependent - Spending years as a refugee in Ul'dah, Aislinn and her father were constantly reminded of how much their survival depended on those with the coin and the power. Ever since then, Aislinn has worked hard to make sure she’s never at the whim or mercy of someone else ever again.

Personality: Generally even-keeled with a steady hand. Aislinn is easily overlooked, she’s never the loudest or the most flamboyant one in the room, but loyal and steadfast to those she’s close to. More often than not, she will put the needs of others above her own, even to her detriment. She gives off a quiet and calm energy but does light up when she gets a chance to nerd out about one of her interests. Some see her quiet disposition as aloof but Aislinn was raised not to use seven words when three will do. As a child she spoke so infrequently that some thought her mute. And while she is well past that, rhetoric is better left to someone more eloquent than she. She still trips over her words or speaks in broken sentences when she gets flustered. In combat she is often underestimated due to her diminutive stature. But what she lacks in brute strength she’s learned to make up for in speed, being quick and light on her feet has saved her many a time. She’s also a crack shot with a variety of ranged weapons. An avid student of philosophy, she prefers to retreat to quiet nature spaces for reading and reflection when she finds herself with free time. Analytical and logical, Aislinn relates best to a person when they are frank and forthright. Her weakness lies in her inability to discern subtlety and innuendo or to read between the lines.

Traits –––

* Bold your character’s answer.

Extroverted / In Between / Introverted

Disorganized / In Between / Organized

Close Minded / In Between / Open Minded

Calm / In Between / Anxious

Disagreeable / In Between / Agreeable

Cautious / In Between / Reckless

Patient / In Between /  Impatient

Outspoken / In Between / Reserved

Leader / In Between / Follower

Empathetic / In Between / Apathetic

Optimistic / In Between / Pessimistic

Traditional / In Between / Modern

Hard-working / In Between / Lazy

Cultured / In Between / Uncultured

Loyal / In Between / Disloyal

Faithful / In Between / Unfaithful

Love and Romance:

Turn-Ons: Strength, protectiveness, kindness, warmth, confidence, tenderness, a sense of safety

Turn-Offs: Loudness, Yelling, Mercurial personalities, pushiness, arrogance, cruelty, inexperience, alpha males, roughness

Relationship Tendencies:  Aislinn has built quite a shell around her due to the hardships and abuse she’s experienced in life. She doesn’t trust easy and has a tendency to withdraw. If she ever reaches out or touches someone of her own volition, it’s a pretty clear indicator that she cares deeply for that person. She’s absolutely monogamous and has no interest in playing games or competing with rivals, she will cut and run and she senses this is the case. After all she’s been through she has trouble believing anyone could see her in a romantic light and subtlety is lost on her so the other person would have to make their interest abundantly clear. Any romance with her would take time and care to build.

Physical Description: Aislinn is on the shorter side though she’s slender and fit from a life lived outdoors. Her most distinctive features are her red hair, which is usually pinned back just enough to keep it out of her eyes, and a scar across her face, just under her eyes. She carries herself with the quiet, earthy confidence of someone who is comfortable in her own skin and knows what it’s capable of. Her attire tends towards the simple and understated as if she’s trying not to attract attention. She eschews bright and garish colors in favor of subtle, muted tones. Instead of a distinct style, she will readily wear whatever is best suited for the city or destination in which she finds herself. She prefers to blend in whenever possible. Her expressions are subtle, a twitch of an eyebrow or slip of a smile is usually as animated as she gets. She’s soft-spoken, with a husky quality to her voice.

History:  A general background and more in depth stories can be found here

RP Hooks:

Tinkering - Have some piece of machinery on the fritz? A clockwork that’s gone haywire? Or maybe that gunblade of yours just isn’t shooting straight. Aislinn knows her way around a variety of magitek and only too happy to get her hands dirty repairing old pieces of machinery or devising new ones.

Ul'Dah’s Seedy Underbelly - Aislinn is no stranger to the street gangs of Ul'dah. She used to be a runner for a cartel during her time in the city. Though she’s left that life behind it’s possible she would be recognized by someone who traveled in the same circles.

Limsa Lominsa - Though the nature of her work has her frequently traveling, she currently calls Limsa Lominsa home. When she’s in town, she can usually be found in the Missing Member tavern, or lounging in the sun, her nose in a book.

Aetherlogical Research - Aislinn is always up for talking about the finer points of aetherlogical study and loves to collaborate on experiments or research.

OOC:

I’m 30+ and prefer to RP with fellow adults. Pretty chill and patient, I’ll roll with most things though I would like the people I play with to be emotionally mature. I don’t have time for toxic behavior, people who can’t keep IC and OOC separate, tantrums or guilt trips.

I’m in the EST time zone. My weekdays are pretty busy between a full-time job and a side job that takes up a significant amount of time. I’m usually around a couple of weeknights long enough to run some roulettes or do some light RP but lengthy RP scenes would probably need to happen on the weekends or in Discord.

I’m interested in plots and long story arcs, relationships that take time to build. I don’t really do tavern RP as my RP time is limited and I’d rather spend it building depth in story and character. Aislinn has a lot of walls and while the potential for romance is there, she’s not going to jump right in off the bat.

I’m absolutely up for plotting a variety of previously established relationships or how our characters might know each other.

I do love running all sorts of content and am happy to have people to run with. So if you’re looking for company for roulettes, maps, raids, etc. I’m there.

[cornyregans]

Adapting Shakespeare to Sims: Scenes from Romeo & Juliet

Essay Word Count: 1,284 words Thank You Word Count: 91 words Total Word Count: 1,376 words

Of all the plays by William Shakespeare, it is probably safe to say that Romeo & Juliet is the one that inspired Veronaville most. This should immediately be obvious should you look at the neighborhood’s name, as it is named after Verona, Italy, where the play is set. Veronaville’s main narrative of young love versus old hate is an obvious shout-out to Romeo & Juliet's central theme. In addition, many of the premade sims found in Veronaville are either members of the Capp or Monty families, both references to the feuding Capulets and Montagues.

The names of both the neighborhood and the feuding families aren't the only naming conventions inspired by Romeo & Juliet. Many of Veronaville's premade sims are either named after characters found in the play (Romeo, Juliet(te), Mercutio and Tybalt); directly reference characters in the play (Consort and Lord Capulet, Contessa and Lady Capulet, Patrizio and Lord Montague, Isabella and Lady Montague); or possess a similar role to a character in the play (Hermia Capp’s role in Veronaville’s narrative can be seen as a parallel to either Juliet’s nurse or Rosaline).

In addition to all the similar naming conventions, the pre-established storylines found in each occupied lot upon first playing Veronaville contain references to some of Shakespeare’s original plays. Since this essay is only going over the scenarios inspired by Romeo & Juliet, I will only be going over the events at the Capp Manor and Monty Ranch for the time being.

Capp Manor

The pre-established storyline at the Capp Manor can easily be seen as a shout-out to the conclusion of the famous “balcony scene.” Romeo & Juliet’s “balcony scene” concludes with Juliet proposing marriage to Romeo as her nurse calls her away. Romeo accepts the marriage proposal, and they later marry in secret a few scenes later.

The Sims 2 does not allow engagement or marriage between teenagers in a hack-free game, so the scenario presented to the player instead has Romeo and Juliette go steady. Much like how Juliet is the one to propose marriage in Shakespeare’s play, Juliette Capp is the one who is set up to propose a steady relationship in-game. Also, just like how Romeo accepts Juliet’s marriage proposal in the play, Romeo Monty is pretty much guaranteed to agree to Juliette Capp’s proposal here (for the record, he’s never refused in any of my playthroughs).

There are two differences between the two scenarios that may tip off someone who knows both the play and the game. The first difference is the lack of any balcony in the scenario at the Capp Manor. While this is more of a minor nitpick than anything, I thought I might as well bring it up since the “balcony scene” is one of the most iconic scenes in Shakespeare canon. Instead, Romeo and Juliette’s relationship upgrade takes place in the Capp Manor's front yard.

The second difference between the scenarios found in Romeo & Juliet and The Sims 2 has to do how each scene concludes. In Romeo & Juliet, Juliet’s nurse calls her away following the marriage proposal between her and Romeo. In The Sims 2, this scenario is supposed to conclude with Juliette’s grandfather, Consort Capp (or possibly her brother, Tybalt), exiting the manor and lecturing Romeo off the lot.

Monty Ranch

The pre-established storyline at the Monty Ranch can easily be seen as a parallel to the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio that results in the latter’s death. In Romeo & Juliet, Tybalt, still upset that Romeo and his friends snuck into the Capulet family’s masquerade ball, challenges Romeo to a duel. Since Romeo has secretly married Tybalt’s cousin Juliet in the last act, he refuses to duel Tybalt because he now considers him family. While Romeo may have reservations about dueling his new kinsman, his best friend Mercutio accepts the duel on his behalf. The duel between Mercutio and Tybalt ends with Mercutio fatally wounded after Romeo attempts to separate them. Having lost his best friend due to his ill-timed intervention, Romeo then duels and kills Tybalt.

The storyline found at the Monty Ranch instead begins with Romeo inviting Juliette over for a make-out session. When you have Romeo invite his main squeeze over, she will ask if she can bring a friend with her, should you accept, her brother Tybalt will follow her over. Once he spots Juliette making out with his brother, Mercutio will come out to the front yard and he and Juliette will exchange some words. Once Mercutio and Juliette are finished with their spat, the former will be attacked by Tybalt should you have agreed to let him tag along with his sister. 

Much like the duel in Romeo & Juliet, the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio ends with the former emerging victorious (while it’s not impossible for the reverse to happen in-game, the instances of Mercutio winning are extremely rare). Even though he doesn’t die in this scenario, losing will end up sending Mercutio into aspiration failure. After beating up Mercutio, Tybalt will be lectured by Romeo and leave the ranch, but he’ll make sure to kick the Monty’s plastic flamingo on his way out.

While the scenario at the Monty Ranch is strikingly similar to the iconic Shakespeare scene, there are quite a few differences. The first difference between the two scenarios relates to the setting where each event occurs. In Romeo & Juliet, the duel between Mercutio and Tybalt occurs at a market in Verona, whereas the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt in The Sims 2 occurs at the Monty Ranch. The second difference between both scenarios concerns how the fight is started. In Romeo & Juliet, the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt begins because of Romeo’s refusal to duel the latter due to his recent marriage. In The Sims 2, Mercutio catches Romeo and Juliette making out and, after getting into a verbal argument with Juliette, he will subsequently be attacked by Tybalt out of nowhere. As mentioned above, there is a small possibility that Mercutio may emerge victorious, but this is a rare occurrence thanks in part to Tybalt’s maxed body skill. Also, unlike in Romeo & Juliet, the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio at the Monty Ranch ends with no deaths (unless you count the plastic flamingo). Finally, there are differences between the events after the fight. In Romeo & Juliet, Romeo ends up dueling and slaying Tybalt following Mercutio’s death; however, this scenario has Romeo instead lecture Tybalt off the lot, and Tybalt will take out his frustrations on the aforementioned plastic flamingo before he leaves.

Final Thoughts

Veronaville contains many shout-outs to the works of William Shakespeare. While the naming conventions are most obvious, there are many more subtle instances of these little shout-outs found throughout the neighborhood. Even though I read Romeo & Juliet in high school and performed the “balcony scene” in middle school, the similarities in the scenarios at the Capp Manor and Monty Ranch weren’t immediately obvious to me. In fact, it was upon starting this project that I really began to look at the events on each lot through a Shakespearean lens and began making connections between the two.

The similarities between the narratives in Shakespeare and Sims aren’t exclusive to Romeo & Juliet, but they’re easily the most obvious. I hope to go over the Maxis-made scenarios presented at the Summerdream home, along with those of the sim bin Capps and Montys in the future, as each instance is a lot more than meets the eye. Of course, some of these similarities are probably more obvious to the player depending on their knowledge of the Shakespeare canon, but hopefully, this little essay is informative in some way.

Thank you so much for reading this essay, I hope you found it interesting despite being on the shorter side. This week has been a little hectic for me due to some prior obligations, but I wanted to get something out for this weekend, so I figured I’d do something a little different and post two little essays to make up for it.

For tomorrow, I plan on posting a similar essay about how the tutorial at the Summerdream house ties into Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I hope you’ll enjoy.

[heyheyohsorry]

over and over until it’s not the same

Summary: They meet. Fridays. 10 pm. Outside the muggle coffee shop.

Pairing: Hermione/Pansy

Rating: Mature Language

AO3

“A coffee shop?” Pansy asks, standing on the sidewalk.

“I like doing work here,” Hermione responds.

Pansy doesn’t say that it’s a little late to be working. Blaise also worked for the Ministry, and he started drinking at 3 pm on Fridays. Leave it to Granger to do work until 10 pm.

The weather is surprisingly nice for February. Even this late, Pansy was comfortable in her knee-length cloak over a simple black blouse and jeans ensemble.

“Why did I meet you here?” Pansy asks briskly.

Hermione seems startled, “Oh, I thought this would be easier for you?”

It is, a good 15mins shorter. And there’s an apparition point right on the corner. But the location is also much more public than their spot. Not that Pansy believes anyone she knows will be walking around Muggle London.

“Whatever,” Pansy says. They’d be inside soon anyways. “Your place or mine?”

//

“You could have joined me. ” Hermione says, as she steps outside, tugging her coat closer towards her. “I wouldn’t have minded the company.”

Pansy frowns, before gesturing with her cig to the no smoking sign.

“Oh. That’s respectful.” Hermione says proudly, as though Pansy’s a fucking saint for following one rule.

Pansy rolls her eyes.

Since she and Granger started this thing two months, Pansy had learned about Granger. Not just her pretty lengthy list of kinks, but about her addiction to coffee and muggle fine point 0.7mm. She was different than how Pansy once thought. For one, her kindness was real, annoyingly so. To the point, Pansy always felt guilty leaving so quickly after sex.

But there were things that never change Pansy thought, watching Granger adjust the strap of her large satchel bag overflowing with books and parchment.

Pansy was almost impressed how Granger could finally grow out of her buck teeth and manage her frizzy hair, and still look like a complete nerd in her baggy khakis and bulky sweaters.

Maybe one day Pansy would take her to Madam Yvonne’s for a proper fitting. She’d look sinful in a strapless satin cloak. Especially knowing what lovely curves Granger kept hidden under her potato sack clothing. Granger might have the loveliest tits Pansy has ever seen.

“So.” Pansy says, and hopes Hermione has caught her linger gaze on her bosom, “Yours?”

//

The café is more lively during the day than at night. Pansy has to search the small room before she finds Hermione sitting in the back of the shop.

“Thank you! Thank you!” Hermione stands and gushes, as she sees Pansy approaching.

Pansy shrugs handing Hermione the file left in Pansy’s flat.

“I can’t believe I could be so careless. This report needs to be signed and sent tonight.” Hermione explains, opening the folder and quickly flipping through the document.

It was bound to happen with the amount of work Granger took from the office nightly.

“Don’t you have an office?” Pansy asks, looking down at the mess in front of her.

From the looks of it, Granger has set up shop here. Three small round tables have been pushed together and covered with manila folders and paper.

“I do. But it’s sometimes hard to get work down with people barging into my office. Not that I don’t love my job. I do, and I love the Ministry but here I can --.”

“- you can hear yourself think.”

Hermione stares at Pansy with a look she can’t quite place “exactly.”

“Can I buy you a coffee?” Hermione asks, after a small pause. A light blush coming to her cheeks, “As a thank you.”

“I have to get back, but I’ll see you, Friday?” Pansy.

“Yes. I mean, No.” Hermione stutters, “The Peace Commission’s gala is this Friday. I have an extra ticket actually if you would like to-“

“-It’s fine, Granger. I’ll just see you next week.” Pansy says, harsher than she intends.

“Well, um, thanks again.”

Pansy nods before turning abruptly and heading for the door, pretending she didn’t hear the hurt in Granger’s voice.

//

“What was that for?” Hermione asks, shocked, a comical hand coming to her lips to touch where Pansy just kissed her.

Pansy smirks and shrugs then leans in to give Hermione another kiss. This kiss deeper and longer.

Pansy wraps her arm around Hermione’s waist and pulls her closer.

“Must have had one glass of wine too many,” Pansy says once she breaks the kiss.

“I almost thought you missed me.” Hermione teases.

Pansy can tell Hermione is joking and not expecting a real response. But Pansy’s feeling giddy and she had missed Granger, even more, when she saw the pictures of her, Harry, and Ron in the Prophet.

“Maybe I did,” Pansy responds honestly, catching Hermione off guard.

Pansy laughs at the surprise on Hermione’s face.

“Come on,” Pansy says, grabbing Hermione’s hand and starting to walk,  “You’ve got work to make up.”

//

Hermione’s already waiting outside the café when Pansy arrives.

“Hey,” Pansy says as she approaches the witch.

Hermione turns and waves at her, but her face lacks its usual spirit.

“What’s wrong with you,” Pansy asks.

“Nothing,” Hermione says until Pansy fixes her a stern look.

“Ugh, I’ve just had the worst week. Wizengamot is deciding on a law to restrict Mermaids rights, which is exactly what I said would happen if the RCMC didn’t pass a new resolution. But that requires approval from the Department of Mysteries and ugh, it’s all so frustrating.” Hermione exclaims.

Her frizzy hair seemed to get wilder as she spoke.

“Um, well, you can tell me about it.” Pansy offers.

Hermione let out a deep sigh, “I don’t want to bore you.”

“You could never bore me,” Pansy responds. It was one of the things she liked most about Granger. She wasn’t an airhead like the other witches Pansy had dated.

“Yeah,” Pansy says more assured, “We have all night. You unload over a cuppa and later I’ll help you destress” Pansy says with a wink.

“Oh. Wow. That’s..thanks.” Hermione says, already looking more relaxed.

Pansy loops her arm with Hermione and leads her back into the café, “So what did those straw brains in the Ministry do this time?”

//

The following week Hermione’s standing outside the café.

“Hey!” Hermione says. Her voice cracks and Pansy regards her apprehensively.

“You look..suspicious.” Pansy remarks. Hermione’s signature bag is missing and she’s dressed in a long cloak.

“I have a surprise,” Hermione says.

Hermione opens her cloak to reveal a red lace corset, complete with a garter belt attaching to thigh-high stockings.

The corset perfectly cups Granger fabulous tits. Pansy can see her dark nipples and underneath the material.

This is sinful.

How long has she been wearing this? An hour? Since work? All day? Pansy ponders as she steps closer and lightly runs her fingertips over the flower embroidery.

“Do you like it?” Hermione asks.

Pansy stares at her incredulously. Where did Granger get off dressing like this?

A primal instinct comes over her as she leans in close so that her lips brush against Granger’s ear.

“I am going to fuck you.” Pansy practically growls, giving in to the instinct to bite at Hermione’s lobe. "I going to fuck you until you come against my mouth, and then I’m going to fuck you again." Pansy whispers, breath hot and wet against Hermione’s skin, feeling Hermione shiver.

“My place. Now,” Pansy orders. Not waiting for a response before grabbing Hermione’s hand and marching off the apparition point. They had a lot to do tonight.

//

“Do they charge you rent?” Pansy asks sarcastically, sitting down smoothly in the chair across from Hermione.

Pansy doesn’t miss how Hermione jumps before breaking out into a smile. Granger’s been giving her that warm cheesy grin more and more now. Gryffindors broadcast their emotions so clearly.

“You’re early,” Hermione says, her dorky smile still bright on her face.

Pansy shrugs. She decided to skip Friday drinks tonight. She owled Draco a lame excuse. Not that it mattered, Draco practically knew where she was every weekend. If things went well, so would others.

“Eh, I was bored,” Pansy says. “Am I interrupting?”

“No. not at all. This is nothing.” Hermione says, scanning over her notes.

“Good, then we can get going. Wouldn’t want to be late.” Pansy says, standing to her feet.

“Late?” Hermione echos.

“We have an 8:30 reservation at Rosmerta’s new place. If you’d like to go.” Pansy’s voice softens.

Now that she’s asked Hermione the nerves are back. Pansy had decided last week, after the rounds of sex and sleeping over that she liked Hermione. She liked her intelligence and her humor and her perfect tits she kept hidden under knitted sweaters. She realized that she liked liked Hermione a lot.

“I would love that,” Hermione says.

It only takes a few moments for Hermione to collect her various folders and place them in her grandma satchel. Pansy reaches out and slugs Hermione’s bag over her shoulder, mumbling something about “chivalry.”

“Pansy,” Hermione starts, looking at Pansy with more admiration than Pansy deserves, “This means something to me. You should know that, in case you don’t feel the same way.”

Pansy blushes and holds out her hand for Hermione, “It means something to me too.”

And together they exit the coffee shop.

[haikyuulovercompany]

I was looking at your avatar & now I am here to lay down my love for the protagonist of haikyū bc this boy def needs more love!

Hinata does deserve so, so MUCH love. Thanks for requesting my baby. (alongside Tendou). Hinata doesn’t get requested that much. 

—

Hinata watched himself with his shorter hair, now more stylized than when he was much younger, and his stronger factions. The soft outline of his face was gone and replaces by sharper edges. He nervously huffed as he fixed the collar of his dress shirt, to then patted over one of his pants pockets. He felt the small box lying safely inside.

He simply couldn’t believe he had reached that moment in his life. He couldn’t believe he had his own place, which he shared with his own girlfriend. And what was most unbelievable was the decision he had took a month ago when he found himself staring for the fifth time at engagement rings. His stomach roared in anxiousness. He hoped the night ended up in a good mood, or that he didn’t drop the box as he went down to his knees. He might be a different person than the one he was when he was a teenager, but what hadn’t change was his clumsiness.

“Ready,” he heard her from behind him. He turned around finding her in a gorgeous dress dealing with the clasp of her bracelet. If he needed any sign that told him he was about to do the right thing, the way she looked that night was enough to put him at ease. She raised her head to meet his eyes and then share a shy smile to him. “You look handsome.”

Hinata became flustered, passing a hand through his hair as a bad habit. He approached her, depositing a kiss on her head. Against everyone’s expectations, he had also grown up in height. “You look really pretty tonight, too.”

“I hope so.”

Hinata seemed worried for a second. “But you really do.”

She only could chuckle at his concerned. She had said it as a joke, but she could always count on Hinata to try to scare away her insecurities joke or not. It was his nature. “Let’s go or we will miss our reservation.”

The dinner at the restaurant he had picked had been nothing but a façade to his actual plan. The place was beyond beautiful with its view from the city already buried in darkness with the lights shining as if the night sky was at their feet instead of above them. He could see the fascination on her face, mesmerized by the scenery just beside their table and entirely unaware of his drunk in love eyes glued at her. He wanted to drop in one knee at that exact moment instead of waiting. And it would still work if he did so. However, it wouldn’t hold as much meaning as what he had in store for later.

Who could have imagined he would grow to be the romantic type?

He stayed still throughout their dinner. He kept it casual, trying to push aside little twinge of anxiousness in him as they finished their food. He would have to ask the big question soon, and even if he was sure, he couldn’t help to be antsy.

It had been complicated to convince her to go back to their apartment walking instead of taking a cab without seeming suspicious, nevertheless, she had agreed with not much questioning.

And it got worse with every step they took towards the park. His heart threatening to launch itself out of his chest if he dared to go any closer that place. But he kept going, clammy hands hidden in his jacket as he kept her arm linked to his seemingly clueless.

The west park, where they were currently walking to, was the same park he had taken her to their first date. It was the park they both loved to take walks every Sunday like an old couple. There wasn’t any other place for him to do it. They had turned a simple public park into their place.

They made their way through the metal arch announcing they were entering the property. Hinata shivered even thou it was a pretty hot summer night. The light jacket he had chosen to compliment his look was now heavy on him.

When the enormous fountain taking the spotlight in the middle of the park appeared before them, Hinata was done for. This was the place. The most gorgeous spot in the whole park with its wide spaces all around and lights illuminating the fountain. Early on the weekends, it was close to impossible to find an empty space, but at that hour at night, the place was empty—they had it entirely to themselves.

“It’s so beautiful here at night, isn’t it?” she commented, taking her hand off of his arm to walk closer to the fountain. “And so peaceful. I wish it could be like this during the day, too.” And it was now or never, so with shaky hands he took the small box from his pants gripping it tightly so it wouldn’t fly off of them. She slowly turned to him, finding strange his lack of response. She gasped, her hands going to her mouth as a natural reaction. “S-shouyo.”

He swallowed heavily. “Will you… marry me?” She didn’t answer anything verbally. Instead, she choked a cry and went down on her own knees to hug him as she nodded furiously against his shoulder. Hinata chuckled, and then she began to cry more freely, her arms still wrapped around his neck. “Let me put it on you or I’m afraid I will drop it.”

“Yeah, of course. I’m sorry.”

With both of them still on the floor, Hinata took out the ring from its box, and gently hold her hand sliding slowly the ring. “We’re getting married,” she whispered.

Hinata nodded. “We are.”

They locked eyes in one intense glare before she threw herself on him once again, this time successfully brining both of them down in sheer happiness. Hinata didn’t complain. He was beatific himself.

[fortunei]

Second opinion (2/?)

Previously.

rating: k+

pairing: Annette/Ingrid

word count: 1k~

“Ingrid is torn to choose between the two people circulating around her life. Unknown to her, there’s eventually an elephant in the room – and for so many times, she’s just failed to see.”

-

Until her shift ended and even the day has passed for yet another new shift, Ingrid still couldn’t fathom of what happened. The sudden silence coming from Annette is new, she wouldn’t have expected that such cheerful girl like her be so sullen out of sudden.

No, well, Ingrid understands the fact that anyone have their good days and bad days, yet the fact that it is Annette who’s having such bad days has Ingrid to compare between fields of blooming flowers to a complete barren wasteland. Or maybe she has yet to know more about Annette for the orange-haired woman to entrust Ingrid to her problems, while Ingrid should have pestered Annette a lot already for her life story.

“A-Are you okay, Ingrid?”

Bernadetta, with her egg toast ready on respective plates for breakfast this morning, asks. She is confused, Ingrid can tell. Perhaps how she wasn’t chowing down on the meal in front of her garner the purple-haired woman’s worry.

“I’m alright, thank you for asking, Bernadetta.” Ingrid smiles. She moves on slicing her toast to smaller pieces first, watching as Bernadetta is red to her ears for some reason.

Bernadetta is a meticulous eater compared to Ingrid, so far she can tell, just like how her room is composed. Before the entrance, on the top of the shoe compartment, Bernadetta kept two mini cactus. The plants are cared well, seeing the healthy color and how the vines and thorns are not overgrown. Coming deeper inside the room, Bernadetta kept every space clean. She seems to be fond of teddy bears that she lined up some on the sofa right beside the table where they ate. The kitchen area, too, is spotless even though she has finished cooking.

Ingrid does keep her place clean, but she can’t match Bernadetta’s.

“How’s the gardening club? I hope Felix is not there to bother you.”

“H-He doesn’t! He helped me sometimes by bringing in the fertilizer.” Bernadetta explains. Ingrid squints suspiciously at that, but she lets it slide.

Felix has his course in Business Major building a bit frequently now due to some part of Civil Engineering building is renovated. A lone wolf like him happened to come across the green house of Garreg Mach and met with Bernadetta. Felix told Ingrid about the woman’s circumstances and then by the thorough “persuasion”, Bernadetta is now an official member of the university’s gardening club also getting more interest in doing outdoor-related activities.

‘It is better now rather than having a strange woman hovering like a stalker watching the garden but not doing anything about it,’ Ingrid quoted Felix.

“The flower that you said pretty a while ago is now growing nicely, Ingrid.”

“It does?” the short-haired blonde beams. She is happy to know the meek purple-haired woman is enthusiastic about outdoor activities. Bernadetta replies with a quick nod.

“How, how about you go and help gardening club again next Wednesday? I-I’d be happy to have you,” a pause. “A, and I’m sure Dedue and other gardening club members too!”

Ingrid hums, thinking of her schedule in the back of her mind. “If I’m not caught up with deliveries, I’ll go help.”

“Yay!” and Bernadetta suddenly clams up, feeling embarrassed over becoming excited, all the while Ingrid watches her with the same pleasant smile in her face.

At least this exchange is peaceful, Ingrid mused.

Glancing at her wristwatch, Ingrid counts that she still have at least fifteen minutes to indulge on the breakfast before she must head out to do routine deliveries with her bike by the morning. Then after deliveries, she needs to catch up with the seminar after lunch hours. The night shift of Lion House Café will be the end of today’s schedule.

Thinking of Lion House, Ingrid bounced back to Annette. Though, she couldn’t afford to see Bernadetta worried about her again – at least not after Bernadetta exclaimed her happiness.

Time will heal, or better, she could apologize—Ingrid should have disappointed Annette or something. Or she really is a nuisance and Annette couldn’t say it right to her face.

“Thank you for the meal, Bernadetta. I should be off before Leonie called up on me again.”

“O-Oh, Ingrid!” Bernadetta tugs on Ingrid’s sleeve for attention, prompting her to wait as she shuffles to the kitchen. The purple-haired woman takes a box to Ingrid’s hands. Bernadetta is shaking, though she is doing her best not to let the box slip before Ingrid received it firmly.

“Here! A lunch for you! There’s no poison in it! I-I-I made it with love!”

Ingrid blinks. She has a lot of questions, also an option to decline the kindness in her mind, but she accepts the meal anyway, seeing how Bernadetta is … trying her best with this. And most importantly, her personal rule: never let any food to waste.

“T, thank you. I’ll return it after I washed the box, okay?”

“Good luck on y-your work!”

Then again, looks like she won’t be able to dodge questions (and jeering) from Leonie later about the lunch box.

-

The seminar turned out to drag longer than she would expect, thankfully, she has recharged her energy with the rice balls from Bernadetta.

The rice balls are filled with chunks of meat, just how Ingrid would like. Bernadetta sure has known her long enough to memorize her preference of food, something she is grateful of and also something she is not sure of. How to repay a person’s kindness? Did Bernadetta want anything from her? How come this treatment can be something so natural to receive?

Ingrid stays on her chair to text Bernadetta a late follow-up thank you for the lunch, when a familiar cheerful voice called up to her.

“Hmm. What now, texting a girlfriend?”

“Do you really want me to elbow you so badly, Sylvain?” Ingrid scoffs. She raises from her seat, pushes her phone and her handbook to her bag, ready to take off. Though, Sylvain is practically blocking her way and he wants to talk, so Ingrid is going to give it.

“Easy there, pal.” Sylvain is nowhere affected, rather, he seems to be having fun.

The redhead might be a little older, but he is still counted in Ingrid’s circle of childhood friends. At times he can be an unbearable playboy who’ll flirt left to right, then again Ingrid already acknowledged that Sylvain also got some good qualities … that Ingrid can count with fingers, away from his uncountable traits.

Sylvain, Felix and Dimitri would at times nag Ingrid about helping her with her daily expenses, but of course Ingrid would politely decline – close friends or not, it is not good to rely on such connections too much. Ingrid wasn’t able to refuse Dimitri’s offer to be a part time worker on his Café, but at least Ingrid is a bit free from the collective nagging.

“What are you doing here? I thought you have no classes related to Food Science and Agriculture?”

“I just want to say hello—well, after being dragged to help with Professor Manuela’s belonging.” Sylvain cracks his fingers in emphasis.

Professor Manuela was the one holding the seminar just now. She brought some chemical samples with her and distributed a sample batch for the attendees, so Ingrid guesses it is what Sylvain is talking about. Ingrid didn’t see Sylvain be the one distributing the goods, or maybe she stood on the west side and he helped on the east side of the lecture hall.

“You’re unusually edgy though today, what’s up?”

Anything but that question. Ingrid knew that Sylvain won’t budge if she told a lie, so, “Just get into a little problem.”

“I bet in Felix’s dinner that it is another girl problem,”

“That’s not an enough bet – you’re the one making him dinner anyway.” Ingrid chuckles. She straps her bag, strides forward to coerce Sylvain to finally step away. “That’s that, though. Outta my way, please, or I’ll miss my shift. We can talk about this later.”

“Aww, alright, alright. Want me to crash there later with Dimitri? Maybe we can help your customer count-“

“No, thank you. And the boss himself can’t be counted as a visitor, don’t you think?”

-

The night shift of Lion House Café started after 5 PM and last at 9 PM when the café is closing. The hour count is shorter than day shift, but the night shift included the equipment cleaning and filling the stock cards, hence it weighs more on the responsibility. The café is more crowded on weekend nights, so there would be more people assigned to the night shift.

That Saturday, though, Ingrid only sees the count of two people in from a glance to the storefront.

She enters the back room after locking her bike in the reserved parking lot. Mercedes, the second-in-manager of the establishment, greets Ingrid as she gets the café apron from the closet.

The manager of the café is an affectionate, soft-spoken woman in her late twenties. She can be a bit of klutz sometimes, like forgetting the stock card at the break room, or her cardigan on the tabletop counter, but that doesn’t affect her actual management skills. Mercedes always able to exercise cool heads in any situation, and Ingrid respects her for it.

“Oh, Ingrid. You came early, perfect timing,” Mercedes says. Her smile eases from her tight-lipped moment just now. Ingrid wondered of what had taken place.

“We’re a bit low on people since Annette can’t come tonight.”

Hearing the said name, Ingrid is alerted. She feels something sink in her stomach. Her eyes widens to know that a certain diligent worker of the café is absent. Ingrid swallows, hoping that it wasn’t because of the problem from yesterday. “… What happened?”

“She called in sick,” the manager sighs. Mercedes seems restless. “I already told her not to go overboard with her studies.”

Ingrid catches a sense of familiarity in the way Mercedes spoke about Annette, which is maybe the first time that Ingrid ever noticed. Annette and Mercedes are both known to be an easy-going and approachable, they can befriend and get to the comfort of any old and new workers or old and new customers alike.

The blonde decided to let it rest, focusing on the situation.

Annette was sick, no wonder she is not as cheerful as usual. Ingrid put the premise to be her conclusion.

“It will be a bit of extra work to alternate between cash register and making the drinks, but I’m sure you can do it well, Ingrid.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

-

When Ingrid and one other part-timer finally closed the shutter and clean up the main area, Mercedes approaches them with two mugs of steaming hot cocoa in the break room. Spring is already there chasing away the winter chills, but hot beverages will always be a nice treat every now and then. The part timer excused himself first, however, saying that he needs to run somewhere to get a package (in which Ingrid wondered why this late at night), leaving Ingrid alone with Mercedes, sipping slowly to the chocolate treat.

Mercedes, however, doesn’t drink. She sits on the chair across Ingrid, skimming at something on her phone. Ingrid doesn’t feel to bother her boss, even though the silence somehow a bit grim. She must be tired of all the activities today, not to mention, there is a certain name that happened to resurface ever so often.

“Say, Ingrid. Do you happen to live nearby Annette’s rented apartment?”

Ingrid puts down the mug. And it resurfaces now. “I don’t think Annette ever told me where she lived. Or she is in one of the Garreg Mach’s issued dormitory?”

“Dorms like that won’t allow anyone to come back there over the curfew, if I remembered correctly,” Ingrid rolls her eyes at that mention, remembering when the exact dormitory curfew is. Mercedes, as far as Ingrid knows, ever said that she was ‘there for long’ at the Garreg Mach – or she ever worked there rather than studied there, Ingrid missed the details.

Dormitories might be a cheap alternative of housing for students with low allowance, but the strict curfew and unforgiving guards (Ingrid pictured a certain green-haired Professor from Marine Engineering in her mind) will prove it to be a difficult place to be. Ingrid recalled that the given curfew is 9 PM, with a five minute leeway. But then, a night shift work like this will only end around 10 or 11 PM, so it is a no go especially if you juggle with a lot of work or simply loves to take a night stroll to the nearby convenience store for night snacks.

“And … what about Annette?”

“If you lived nearby, I would like to ask for you to check up on her,” Mercedes voices her request, hands folded on the table as she set her eyes squarely on the worker. Ingrid finds herself straightened her posture, her fingers cradling on the mug. “As you may know, she is hard on herself. She might still be studying, despite calling in to be sick.”

What Ingrid sees from Annette is the epitome of diligence, yes. She always come to work early and will never sit still—she will find exactly something to do, and it can be anything. The orange-haired woman might be smaller than any other part-timers, but she loves to make every side is spotless, if not having any other job assigned to her. Ingrid observed it as her kind of habit, so she left it alone.

But to think that she doesn’t have the way to put a stop on herself, it’s … distressing. Worrying. Ingrid, too, is stacking her time with work and studies, but she knew all too well that taking breaks every now and then is as important as anything. Someone ever told Ingrid about it – it’s not like she would forget it easily.

“She is?” Ingrid repeats. “How … how did you know about this?”

At the question, Mercedes falls silent. She draws her eyes from Ingrid somewhere else, looking self-conscious. There is something looming over them, something that Ingrid knows well not to thread into. Much to Ingrid’s relief, though, Mercedes diverts from the point, her small smile from earlier returns.

“In any case, it’s only if you lived nearby. If not, please forget about this.”

Ingrid feels like she has a lot to say, then again it is already getting late to drag on the topic any longer. “Please tell me about her address.”

[princess-butters]

BTS Reaction to Spending The Weekend with Them

A/N: Okay, I couldn’t wait till Sunday to upload this because everything was done but oh my god, oh my god, OH MY FUCKING GOD I am more than excited to write this reaction because one of my favorite BTS Tumblr accounts has given me this request. Now I’m not gonna lie, I never heard of the word kitsch before but I looked it up and this was the best I could do so, and I will say that some parts are longer/shorter than others so I'm sorry about that. And another note, I realized Hoseok's reaction didn't have an ongoing theme like the other ones do but I felt like it was best just to leave it off as it was. But anyways, here ya go @btsjeonjazz and once again, thank you so so SOOO much for the request and hope you enjoy!!

Genre: Fluff, a bit of angst (it's not sad I promise)

Words: 3.9K

Jin: You were in Korea for the weekend with your boyfriend, it was your three year anniversary and you wanted it to be special so you decided to go to his hometown.

What you didn't know, however, was that Jin was gonna propose to you. Just a few weeks ago, he had told you he was gonna rehearse for the comeback when in reality, he had secretly bought a ring and was gonna pick it up with Yoongi.

It was in the middle of the evening when it happened, you and Jin decided to go to the park and just chill out for a while which Jin didn't mind or care because he was planning to take your hand in marriage.

"Y/n, I have something I want to say to you and it's pretty important." Jin stood up from his seat but immediately kneeled down in front of you, tears already prickling in your eyes and hand covering your mouth, "We've been together for three years, right? And throughout those three years, I've felt like you were really the one meant for me so Y/n L/n," Jin stopped in the middle of his confession to pull out a small black box, opening it to show you the diamond ring, "Will you marry me?"

You couldn't contain yourself any longer and reached out to hug him, yes's and incoherent nonsense coming out from your mouth, pulling him into a kiss afterward.

Yoongi: You and Yoongi went to Daegu since he's been on tour, you were tired of staying at the house while he was away for months at a time and decided it was time to spend the weekend together, just to be with him and him only. No members, no company, no bodyguards, no fans, just him.

And while you two were at his hometown, Yoongi decided that tonight was finally gonna be the night he was gonna propose to you, being together for 3 years he has finally decided on how this relationship was gonna progress and in the end, he wanted you to be his wife.

You and Yoongi spent the night together, having a romantic dinner and drinking wine at the end, when all of a sudden, Yoongi had something he wanted to tell you so you went outside to the balcony with him.

"Y/n, you know I'm not good at showing emotion right? Well, I'm gonna try my hardest and tell you how I feel about us and our relationship. We've been together for 3 years and in those 3 years, I finally made up my mind about how I want our relationship to go so Y/n," Yoongi stopped mid-sentence and bent down on knee in front of you, taking your hand and pulled out a gorgeous ring from his pocket, "Be my wife, please?"

You grabbed him the next second and kissed him, tasting your tears as they fell down your face, you mumbled out several yes's and embraced him in your grip for so long.

Namjoon: Being on vacation with Namjoon was the best part of your relationship, there was nothing better than spending 24/7 with the man you love with all of your heart and what better way to spend your vacation with him than being in his hometown for the week. Yes, the fans would come every now and then and yes, it would piss you off but that was your boyfriend's life, you couldn't stop him from what he did or who he was known for internationally. Although lately, it's been getting a little rocky.

Unfortunately, Namjoon has been getting calls from Bighit recently and he obviously had to pick them up in the middle of your vacation and while it probably didn't seem like a bad thing at first, this was supposed to be you and his's time together which meant nobody was the interrupt you guys. And you being the loving partner, you would never say anything ugly or bad about it because like before, this was his job. You didn't have to like it at times but you needed to support him which that's what you did.

Namjoon has recently noticed you were feeling down in the dumps lately and figured it was because of the random calls he's been getting. In your mind, you thought Namjoon was getting calls from Bighit since he was on them on the time but in reality, before you guys came here, he had made dinner reservations and was finalizing everything since he was getting ready to propose to you.

A few hours later, Namjoon had told you to get dressed, confusing you since you didn't think anything special was gonna happen but he had you covered, secretly bringing his favorite dress he loved seeing you wear in his bag. You eventually obeyed him and went to get dressed, after you came out, Namjoon took you to one of the fanciest restaurants in all of Korea. After you two went inside, Namjoon immediately told you everything.

"Y/n, those phone calls that I've been getting lately weren't from the company, I had to lie to you because since we were going on vacation, I wanted to do something special for us." You felt so stupid after he told you, you should've known Namjoon had everything planned out, he was the smartest member of his group for fuck sakes. "All week, I've made plans and reservations for this place because I wanted to do something." Standing up to grab the fancy item from his pocket, he bent down in front of you and you were confused as to what was going on. "Y/n Y/l/n, I love you so fucking much, so much that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Even though we've only been dating for a short time, I really feel like you're my soulmate, nobody makes me feel the way you do. I want you to be my partner forever and now, so Y/n, will you marry me?"

Fat tears started to roll down your face, you probably looked so ugly crying right now but neither of you cared, all you cared about was Namjoon and Namjoon only. You immediately jumped out of your seat and deeply kissed him, forgetting you were in a restaurant and ignoring everybody's sudden round of applause and cheers.

Hoseok: You never felt so embarrassed in your life, how could you be so stupid and insecure? You and he had gotten into a fight because this was supposed to be you and his's time together alone, but he's been spending all of his time with his fans since you were in his hometown for the week, you were hoping that it was just gonna be about you and him but now it's about you, him, and the fans! Honestly, the fans pissed you off more than what you were with Hoseok, they didn't seem to care that you and he wanted to spend alone time together, he even hinted that this was about you and him, but would they listen? No. Now, you can't say that ALL the fans were bad, some understood, they even left to give you your space and some cried but they were happy crying, at least to you they were, but most wouldn't get the picture and continue to steal Hoseok away from you.

You knew why they wanted him with them, he was a really attractive guy and of course, several fans would want him but in reality, he was YOUR boyfriend, not theirs! You hated to sound mean and bitter but that's what you felt right now and you took it out on poor Hoseok when all he was trying to do was be the good person he is.

Looking back at the situation as you went to lay in your shared bedroom, you realized Hoseok was just trying to be that nice role model and idol to his fans but truth be told, his fans were the ones pissing you off and again you took it out on him, god you felt so horrible right now! You just want to die! You felt so awful in fact, you started to cry, you didn't mean to act so angrily towards him, it's all those fans that made you this way.

Too busy sobbing away, you never heard the door open or heard the faint footsteps of your boyfriend walk in to check on you, "Jagiya, are you okay?"

Lifting your head up to look at him, you can tell that this situation affected him just as much as it affected you, scooting to your side of the bed, you allowed him to join in and cuddle with you. Laying on each other's head as you gently sobbed, "I'm sorry, I acted like a complete jerk to you! It was never your fault, Hobi, it was mine! I guess I got so jealous because all of your attention has been on the fans and I felt like you didn't love me anymore since you were so involved with them."

"Jagi, you know you're my number one, always. I know I've been distant lately and I'm sorry for how I've acted, but know that you're my number one always, nobody's gonna take me away from you ever." He pulled you in for a very tightening hug, crushing you if he could but you didn't care, you were so close to him and he was finally yours again after so long. He would make sure this time, all of his attention would be directed to you and you only.

Jimin: Watching Jimin record his vlive was always amazing to you, he would talk to his fans about his day to day life and what's been happening lately and even answer a few questions they might have for you. This week you guys were having a little vacation to yourselves so Jimin decided to do one last vlive for the weekend so he could spend his free time with you.

One of the biggest things he'd love to talk about was you and his relationship with you, it's one of the things that always has him smiling widely and blushing about, and the best part about this was that the fans were happy for both of you. Knowing the fandom and how negative they could get with BTS members dating (unless they were dating each other), you were really surprised when everybody loved you together, there was even fanfic written about you two!

And yes, there were some fans that just didn't like you, solely because you weren't famous and thinking you were only dating him for his money and fame, the real fans knew you were dating Jimin because he could be himself with you and he always made you smile and forget about the bad people in the world, who doesn't love those precious bunny cheeks of his and how his crescent eyes looked whenever he closed them when he would laugh?

So when Jimin waved you over to where he was sitting, you were hesitant because you hated being on camera and though the fans loved you, you hated showing them your face, especially since you're not wearing any makeup and look dead but to Jimin, you always looked beautiful and he wanted to show the world and fans you're natural beauty.

You'd eventually obliged and sat down beside of him, a weak but genuine smile on your face as you stared the computer screen, waving at all the fans and saw the wave of comments flooding in.

"So guys, I actually have something I want to announce to both you and my beautiful girlfriend. There's a big reason why I planned our trip to Busan. Y/n, you know how much you mean to me, right? You're like, my whole world. You don't love me just because I'm famous or have money, you love me for who I am inside and out and you're always there whenever I need you, my angel. Remember when I didn't like the way I looked? Nobody made me feel better about myself than you did, you said 'I don't care about how you look, I care about your personality and what you are as a person.' and I realized, I need somebody like you in my life, not just as my girlfriend and best friend, but as a wife." That word instantly drove you to tears and it also drove a massive wave of fans showing hearts and (happy) crying emojis in the chat, since you and Jimin were sitting down, he couldn't bend down to take your hand in marriage and he didn't have his ring yet since he wanted to pick it out with you, so he brought your hands in his to hold dearly and smiled so big, you were afraid his cheeks would pop. "Y/n Y/l/n, will you marry-"

Before he could even finish that sentence, you were already on his lap, kissing him in front of the camera, not caring about the fans anymore and just wanted to hold him.

Taehyung: Even though this was supposed to be you and your boyfriend's vacation, of course, the company had the have a fucking concert right before it. But going to your boyfriend's concert was one of the best and worst experiences you had in your life, the best part being that you got to see how happy he looked and how much fun he was having with both the boys and the fans. The worst part, however, were the fans themselves, it was like they had no respect for anybody whatsoever, pushing and shoving each other around, it made you sick to your stomach how little they cared about one another. What fans, you thought.

But none of that mattered to you because thankfully, nobody would do anything to you since they knew you were Taehyung's girl, so if they did anything to you, he would notice it instantly and kick that person out, it's happened more than once so you bet he'll have no problems doing it again if the time comes. But that's not the main story right now.

You didn't know it, but Taehyung was gonna do something big tonight on stage in front of millions of fans, he was gonna propose to you after they perform their last few songs. All week, Taehyung had been forced to lie to you, saying the company needed him for practice and rehearsals but the truth is, he was getting you a ring, he even forced some of his members to go ring shopping with him. Of course, you'd never knew that until tonight!

Later on, it was almost time to end the show, disappointing fans, a lot of them were crying hard because time had gone by so fast, even you were shocked it was almost over. But then to everybody's surprise, Taehyung said he had something to announce to the fans. "I have something to tell you all, I brought my girlfriend of 4 years here with me tonight because I have something to ask of her." His sentence wasn't even finished because of the loud screaming of fangirls, it was like they knew what he was gonna do, all except you. "I have her in the audience now and if you don't mind, I wanna bring her up so I can ask her."

You couldn't even process anything to do except being dragged by a security guard, what was he gonna ask you? He wasn't gonna break up with you, was he? No, no that's crazy, he would never. In an instant, you were brought up on stage, millions of fangirls were staring at you, you thought they were judging you and they probably were but your thoughts were soon interrupted as Taehyung brought you closer to him, noses barely touching and the members giving you space.

"Y/n, all week I've been practicing this speech and question and honestly, I still don't know what's the right way to ask it so I guess I'll have to say it from my heart. We've been dating for a while now but we've been best friends the beginning of our lives, and ever since I first met you, I wanted to keep you in my life forever, and when I asked you out, I was prepared to be rejected but knowing you and the good person you are, you said yes. Now here we are, 4 years later and we have a bond so strong, it's unbreakable at this point."

You didn't think he was doing what you think he was doing, was he? Even though your answer wasn't clear yet, tears were already forming in your eyes, "Tae, what are you saying?"

Suddenly, Taehyung dropped to one knee and the whole stadium was filled with massive cheers and applause, you knew what you thought he was gonna do! He pulled out a velvet box and inside was a diamond ring, probably worth a fortune you thought, "I'm saying will you marry-"

His question wasn't finished because you immediately jumped on him, deeply kissing him and pushing both of you to the floor, not caring about the crowd of fans or the boys' cheers, both you and Taehyung already knew the answer.

Jungkook: This poor boy, he wouldn't know how to propose to you without fucking it up in his mind, he wanted everything to be perfect. So why not plan a vacation for you and him both? Well, he thought maybe if he was spending the weekend at his hometown Busan with you, it would be easier but no, it was worse for him, anxiety and paranoia filled him up.

Thoughts of marrying you always made Jungkook smile and blush so hard, his cheeks looked like they would pop any second. You and he have been longtime friends and lovers, starting off as friends in middle school back when he used to playfully tease you and graduating high school, shortly falling in love afterward. Yes he had a career as a singer and yes you had a career as an artist, you both somehow made time for each other despite your busy schedules.

Jungkook already had the ring and he brought it with him but kept it a secret from you, just like everybody else, he would leave you at the house for a few hours, saying he was gonna go to rehearsals, in reality, he was getting you the perfect ring for a perfect girl like you but even that stressed him out because he wanted to buy every ring for you, but he knew you only needed one and he wanted it to be special. Luckily, he found a beautiful Ruby ring since he knew your birthstone was Ruby, so already he knew it would look gorgeous on you. The price was $5000 but he would pay anything to make you happy.

Just like Yoongi, he was gonna start off the first night right with dinner and to end it off, a bit of wine. Okay, a whole lot of wine. It was already a honeymoon in his eyes so he wanted it to be special. You and him spent the entire day together, touring around Busan and going around his old school and house and even seeing some of his family after so long, you don't know a whole lot of Korean but thankfully knew enough to where you could speak around them since you spent most of your time here with them back in high school.

It was getting late, you and he were in your bedroom, eating food from one of your favorite restaurants in Busan from high school and watching your favorite K-drama on tv when all of a sudden, Jungkook gently forced you guys up.

"Y/n, I'm gonna have a bit of a problem saying this so please don't make fun of me."

He was scaring you a little bit, "Kookie, what's wrong?"

"Y/n, you're my best friend, I've known you since middle school and while yes I was a jackass to you, I did tell you why I was a jackass right?"

"Yeah, it was because you liked me." You chuckled, remembering those days.

"And honestly, I still do. Hell, I don't think I've ever loved somebody as much as I love you. My love for you is so strong that ever since we first started to date, the last thing on my mind was to hurt you in any way. You and I go way back, and I want us to stay like this forever. Even my own family loves you and wants us together, they were never like that with my other girlfriends, so that really does mean we were meant to be." He was getting off course and he had to stop himself from getting farther, you saw he was getting emotional. "I'm just gonna say this quickly. Y/n Y/l/n, willyoubemywife?"

You raised your eyebrows at him, "Huh?"

Taking a deep breath, Jungkook slowed down his sentence, "Will you be my wife?" You didn't know what to say right now, you were completely speechless. Not in a bad way, you've always wanted this to happen! You thought maybe he was getting tired of you or cheating on you, thinking back to when he would leave during the day but now realized he got you a ring! You brought him in for a passionate kiss, forgetting the food and throwing on the floor as you two got on the bed, ready to make love for the first time.

A/N: Okay, this was a LOT longer than it needed to be and I’m lazy not to put up gifs but I hoped you guys enjoyed it and I'm so sorry this took forever! <3