#(whose walkman this is actually

[mobiused]

I have a lore question if you habe the time: do we know why yyxy is in Cher from Clueless cosplay?

I've spoken about this before, I can't find where I've spoke about this before, but I think it's to do with setting yyxy's time in Eden as a story that takes place in the 90s. A lot of the lore is set in the late 90s, indicated primiarly in Vivi's and yyxy's arc with fashion and technology, such as the cassette tapes, walkmans, computers, VHSs and whatnot. As mentioned in the 1/3 section of this post, I think there might be some geopolitical signifiers too, that suggest a lot of the story is set in this time period. Talking about Walkmans at all reminds me of this theory, from ChoerryColour, whose theories are focused on metanarratives and the music industry and really worth checking out.

By using one of the most iconic outfits from the 90s, right in 1995, it helps indicate when this part of the story is taking place, and what that means. If yyxy's arc occurs at the same time as Vivi's pre-robotification life (as suggested by EDILY's retro vibes) then you can more easily make connections between the two, like why Yves shows up on Earth in The Carol 2.0, why Vives go on a date in 'new', why a lot of strange things happen like they do. What message are they trying to deliver by setting it specifically in the 90s, over setting it in present day, or a nonspecific time all together?

[procrastinatorproject]

@jazzfic, while I'm on the extremely shameless self-promo train:

Remember this? 😁😁😁

help. forgot about this

[cloverdaisies]

HOW TO SURVIVE SENIOR YEAR ☆

ERIC SOHN x reader 𝜗𝜚𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔

˗ˏˋ description:ˎˊ˗જ⁀➴ৎ୭ : a chaotic how to guide on surviving high school with an 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 crush on the skater boy with the locker next to urs.

˗ˏˋ genre: ˎˊ˗જ⁀➴ৎ୭: pretty much chaos & fluff !

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ ʚ word count: ɞ ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆: 5.4k+

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ ʚ dt : ɞ ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆: for bar! @sohnric sorry it’s so late ! ! yk, e v e r y t h i n g that’s been going on & i’m sure you don’t mind! merry late c h r i s t m a s i <3 u very much, i tried to incorporate everything for you… i think these prompts definitely reached the right person!! ৎ୭… so for my bar ! ! …..

# FRIDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 1996

# MORNING! 🌥️

The unbearable series of screeching from the school bell, cued the sound of wheels scraping against the pavement outside. A pair of blue cargo jeans complimenting a classic pair of red jordan’s glued themselves to a skateboard as it began flipping and jumping curbs. The wire of a walkman dangling, the flimsy headphones leaking sounds of a noisy guitar through the hallway of the school.

“Eric Sohn. No skating in the corridor and you’re late to class.” A nerdy-looking hallway monitor approached the skateboard wielding boy, holding out some form of citation for Eric to sign with a wavering hand.

“I’m not signing that.” He laughed, snatching the sheet making sure to crumple it into a tight ball before throwing it behind him. “You didn’t see me. Thank me later.”

The hall monitor, whose name tag read ‘Younghoon’ looked down with eyeballs bulging from his skull at the cigarette in his palm, tears pricking his waterline. Eric continued to skate the corridors to his homeroom, biting into an apple with that jaw of his that had to have been sharpened by the gods-

at least…. that’s what you saw….

Eric was a childhood crush of yours, considering you two lived on the same street growing up and you still vividly remember the heart eyes that pumped from your skull when you watched him play basketball on his driveway from your windowsill every night after school. Everything he did was enchanting, he made the simplest things look hot and his charm was next level too.

As for what Kevin sat next to you was seeing: just some dude burping and blowing it into his friends face afterwards.

In your sick love fantasy, you still thought he was the funniest most angelic man to first stick his feet in the soil of the earth.

“If you wanna survive senior year, you need to stop staring at him like that. it’s gross and it’ll leave you the minute it gets heart eyes for anything else. How many times can we have this conversation?” Kevin laughed and scribbled down, ‘1. NO F**K BOYS (especially Eric Sohn)’ in bright red ink at the top of your page.

“So!” Your homeroom teacher waltzed into the room with a wide grin glowing from cheek to cheek. “The class of 96’ how do you feel?! Your time at this school is almost over! Some of us are setting good examples, sat in our actual chairs and not the table Mr. Sohn?”

You giggled as Eric turned with a sigh, crossing his arms and sinking into his seat, secretly you hoped he would catch eyes with you just for a second and share a smile. However, the boy just put his headphones back on and slammed his head on the wooden desk as if he were to fall asleep.

You looked down at the diary where,

“ 1. NO F**K BOYS ”

had been written so passionately by Kevin and thought, if you’re gonna make senior rules, you should at least make the best high school ‘how to’ guide the world has ever seen.

——

The entire school day, word had gotten about ‘Kyu’s first party of the semester’ renowned for his crazy mansion of a house, and parents that were home a concerningly small amount of the time. Happening tonight, you hadn’t even thought about what you were gonna wear yet, or the fact that Kyu himself was Eric’s bestfriend.

Eric had a rather large friend circle of boys in your year, from Juyeon who was into sports to Jacob who was a bit of a music nerd and closer to Kevin if anything. Despite this, neither you or Kevin had received an invite to Kyu’s house for later that day.

# LUNCHTIME ! 🍛

Filling your metal tray and sitting next to Kevin on the end of one of the empty lunch hall tables, before you you could even begin biting in the panini you’d paid for, it was snatched out of your hand by...

“Sunwoo, that was my sandwich.” You groaned, looking at your empty plate and then back at him with a glare. “Do you not have your own food?”

“This looked nicer than my food, just have it back.” He shrugged dumping the half eaten sandwich back on your plate.

“Oh no it’s all yours.” You smiled sarcastically watching as he smiled and took the sandwich back in one animalistic gulp.

“So sorry about that y/n. Isn’t he just awful? I got you a new one.” Hyunjae, as if the entire scene was staged, sits beside you with his hand smoothly rested on his cheek. He pushed a new sandwich in front of you with a carton of orange juice sat at the top of the tray.

You rolled your eyes before you almost tripped over your comically untied laces (how did both of them end up that way?) You flew backwards only to be caught by Hyunjae, once again returning to his cringey script.

“Falling for me, I see?” He smirked lifting you back to your feet as you sat down to retie your laces that had been undone by someone at some point in time.

“Is this just going to happen every lunchtime?” You cocked an eyebrow with a huff, tying bunny ears in your converse and briefly looking back up to the boy.

“Of course, however each time it just gets more creative.” He smiled confidently, you were unaware that these were romantic gestures since Hyunjae made it seem like one big joke with his extravagant concepts.

“Please make it stop.” You rolled your eyes and tucked into the new sandwich, Kevin laughing to himself. You began to zone out as you noticed Eric from across the canteen, sat on the table skateboard propped up and talking to his friends. He looked at you momentarily with a smile before you were interrupted by Hyunjae waving his hand in front of your face.

“Are you guys coming to kyu’s?” Hyunjae asked, biting into his own.

“No. We’re not cool enough.” Kevin began to fake cry, wiping invisible tears and squealing in a high pitched whine.

“He said anyone can come, of course you guys are invited. When has he ever asked anyone?” Sunwoo added punching Kevin the back lightly and taking a seat at the table. “Just show up.”

As lunch ended, you found yourself digging through your locker for the biology notes you’d written the other day. However as you dug through your shelf you just couldn’t find them.

“What you looking for?” A deep voice alarmed you, looking up to see Eric Sohn throwing his jacket in the locker that belonged to him next to yours.

“Oh. Uhm.” You stuttered for a moment, wondering if your eyes and ears were telling you the truth. “Just some notes for biology, we have a test coming up.”

“Oh yeah, you can borrow mine for now. Just slot them back in my locker on Monday.” Eric passed you a few pieces of A4 with neatly printed notes, the cigarette resting on his lips bobbing as he spoke.

“Thanks, that’s uh, really kind of you.” You smiled as he shook his head nonchalantly.

“It’s nothing, don’t stress.” He added before breezing past you to the exit of the school with a confident stride in his steps, his skateboard under his arms.

# EVENING 🌌 :📍Y/N’s HOUSE

“Okay so what are you wearing?” Kevin asked turning around in his sequin shirt and jeans, complimenting his outfit with a crossbody bag and sunglasses.

“Uhm. Not sure yet. Might go for baggy jeans and a sequin top too.. I have a lot.” You showed Kevin the options, watching as he scratched his chin and looked between them.

જ⁀➴ৎ୭ OUTFIT OPTIONS:

(feel free to mix & m a t c h!)

“Gorgeous!” Kevin smiled, fixing you a few necklaces of his behind your neck. You smiled and looked in the mirror briefly before setting off down the block.

The house pulsated the entire street as guests spilled in the front door to the infectious rhythm playing at max volume from the many speakers around the house. A kaleidoscope of vibrant lights drowned the space, as drinks circulated everyone from the kitchen.

House parties tended to be like some sort of cringe trashy and incomprehensible version of a homecoming dance for adults that you couldn’t seem to understand. Sure they were fun but, high school students embarrassing themselves sure wasn’t.

“Hey Kevin.” A very drunk Ji Changmin sauntered over to us at the entrance, “Who’s the plus one?”

As Changmin looked over with his devilish glare, apart of you started to get nervous. As if you were mixing with the wrong crowd, a gentle flip in your stomach warned you, something was about to go incredibly wrong.

“Hi, I’m y/n.” You introduced yourself with a smile, as he passed you a beer from the many in his arms.

There was one thing that would determine whether someone would survive senior year: alcohol.

“2. PARTIES = STATUS”

Probably one of the most screwed survival tips, but unfortunately for teenagers who were just short of legal age a sip of liquor was enough to emphasise them as ‘cool’. Even if drinking is not your thing, the general consensus of being popular in senior year was to attend parties, host them and make lethal mistakes whilst there.

Throughout the night, you and Kevin found yourselves bouncing from group to group eventually watching Sangyeon and Juyeon play the most intense game of cup pong ever played in the competitive sports world.

♫ ANOTHER NIGHT - REAL MCCOY playing from speakers ♫

“Do you wanna take this one?” Sangyeon asked, holding the ping pong ball in front of you with a raised eyebrow.

“Me?” You asked laughing from the sidelines as he nodded, standing up properly you walked towards the table where most eyes were fixed on the table.

You’d gotten the grips of how to play, grasping the ball with a nervous clench before watching as Juyeon stared down the table with a sly smirk, his arms folded over his white tank top.

Bouncing off the table the ball hit the top of the few cups cups before landing in the fourth, making Juyeon’s total three. The crowd watching laughed as Juyeon threw his head back in defeat, taking the cup and gulping down its contents.

“Taking advantage of beginners luck is dirty play.” Juyeon shook his head at Sangyeon who laughed knowingly. “Whatever. If I land this you’re drinking this.”

Sure enough, as Juyeon bounced the ball across the table it landed in one of the two cups left leaving one. You’d hoped he’d missed not wanting to get to drunk around a group of people you’d never met. Nevertheless you took the cup and necked it’s contents, with a cheering crowd. Juyeon eventually won against Sangyeon, seeing the close of world’s most competitive game of cup pong.

A few drinks through the night, your brain chemistry had already began buzzing and the socialite in you stepped out of hiding, as you spoke to almost everyone you encountered. Hearing commotion from the living room, you dragged Kevin to investigate.

The room buzzed with anticipation as people gathered in a circle, forming a tight-knit group. Nervous giggles filled the air, drowned out by the music playing in the background. Sunwoo placed a bottle in the center of the circle, ready to determine the first pair of an early game of ‘spin the bottle’.

With a flick of his wrist, the bottle spun, its rotation echoing the excitement in the room. Hearts raced as it slowed down, pointing towards its chosen target. The room held its breath as the Sunwoo locked eyes with a girl he’d had a crush on for most of his childhood, their cheeks flushing bright pink as he made eye contact. With a playful smile, Sunwoo picked out one of the ‘fates’ written in the hat, revealing the crumpled paper to the crowd.

“Kiss.” He laughed nervously, smiling as she was, the circle squealed in anticipation. He leaned in to give her peck which raised a “booo” from the crowd at the underwhelming gesture.

“Y/N JOIN IN.” Hyunjae yelled from the group, causing the circle to laugh at how pathetic he was. You jokingly stepped behind Kevin to hide as “Join” began to be chanted in the room, persuading you to sit down in a gap made by Hyunjae and Haknyeon.

You took the bottle and spun it, the booze causing nerves to disappear. As the bottle began to slow down, Hyunjae grabbed the glass pointing it towards him - no one protesting considering this was his life long goal.

You sighed, hoping the paper in the hat wouldn’t do you dirty in this situation, looking up you noticed a familiar figure. Eric’s eyes stared down at you, stood from the other side of the circle, rested against the mantlepiece in his tank top and baggy jeans - a bottle of beer gripped loosely in his hands.

All of a sudden, your hands began to shake in adrenaline, Hyunjae’s eyes wavering as he noticed the way you looked up at the other boy. You began to unfold one of the pieces of paper from the hat, “7 minutes in heaven” you could have screamed. This was truly a worst case scenario, as the circle cheered and Sunwoo ushered the two of you to the bathroom.

Hyunjae locked the door with a sigh, sitting both legs in the bathtub and taking a lengthy swig of his beer in a saddened manner.

“Are you not going to do anything?” You asked curiously, folding your arms and taking a seat on the toilet cover.

“No.”He sighed, resting the bottle on the side and turning to look at you with an inquisitive stare, his eyebrows furrowing as if they contemplating internal questions.

“Why not?” You asked further, leaning forward as Hyunjae’s confident demeanour seemed to have suspiciously faltered.

“I see the way you look at him.” He suddenly spat, as if something within him snapped. “You’ll never give it up will you. Everyday, I do something to make you laugh, smile and show you someone cares. Yet… Every time I try, you’re still staring at that motherfucker who wants nothing to do with you.”

“Sorry?” You asked almost confused, the outburst seemingly unnecessary as he went to speak again but was interrupted by an ominous banging at the door.

“I get you guys are probably exchanging cooties in there, but I need to shit.” The sweet sound of Haknyeon’s charming voice and vocabulary echoed through the bathroom causing you to hold back a laugh in the situation.

“Listen y/n. I need to ask a favor.” Hyunjae proposed, stopping you from reaching for the handle of the door. “My parents have been bugging me about having a girlfriend, since my brother has one now and they’re telling me I’m a good for nothing man who will never be able to commit to someone. Which is kind of true. But will you pretend to be my girlfriend to get them off my back?”

“Will I? Hmmm….” You pretend to think for a second before retorting with a loud. “NO.”

“Please. I’ll help you get him, I’ll do everything I can to help you win Eric over. I’m one of his bestfriends.” Hyunjae’s eyes glistened in genuine sparkle, an expression you’d only come across once or twice in your life.

“I’ll think about it. But for now, it’s not a yes or a no.” You closed the conversation, head spinning as you opened the door, Haknyeon spilling into the bathroom and beelining straight for the toilet.

“3. DONT PRETEND TO BE SOMEONE’s GIRLFRIEND WHILST YOUR TRYING TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE.”

Oddly specific rule, however as you proceeded down the stairs it seemed you wouldn’t have to convince people you were dating - their dirty minds had already assumed what had happened in that bathroom.

“You’re on.” You looked back at Hyunjae with a smile before linking arms with Kevin to leave, the party only dying down in the early hours of the morning.

# SATURDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER 1996

# MORNING 🌥️

The gentle rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains, birds began chirping outside, and the comforting aroma of breakfast drifted from the kitchen. Your eyes stuck together and your head booming with music from the night before, on the floor Kevin was sprawled emitting gentle snores.

The sound of a car horn outside, immediately brought you to your senses, with your fingers your gently moved the curtain to see Hyunjae leant against his car.

“Your dating Hyunjae?” Kevin asked, giving you the fright of your life as he appeared over your shoulder.

“No.” You immediately refuted, getting shivers from the sickly idea of having to date such a inferior choice of male.

“So why’s he here?” Kevin asked with a sarcastic voice, laughing at the stupidity of the scene.

“We’re dating but like just so his family gets off his back.” You sighed, standing up out of bed and beginning to make yourself look more presentable.

“You’re FAKE dating, Hyunjae?” Kevin’s jaw dropped even more than it already was if that was even possible. “That isn’t gonna look good to lover boy now is it?”

“Listen, he’s helping me get him. He’s on the inner circle, if I have a chance of getting Eric this is it.” You sighed taking your clothes to change in your arms.

“I’m calling Jacob.” Kevin suddenly added, pulling out his nokia with its antenna.

“Don’t you dare he said don’t call unless it’s emergencies, he’s in exam mode.” You recalled, knowing Jacob is practically unreachable during exam season.

“This is an emergency.” Kevin emphasised each word with a sarcastic edge.

“It’s not and if you call him, I’ll make your life so difficult.” You pointed at the boy with a warning finger before walking out to meet Hyunjae in front of his car.

♫ ALL THE SMALL THINGS - BLINK 182 playing from the car radio ♫

“Hey.” You smiled, climbing into the passenger seat of his car, the soft top rolled down so the breeze would eventually leave you wind swept. “Where we heading?”

“Bowling with my parents.” Hyunjae grumbled, more than happy you were in his car but visibly stressed with the entire situation.

“Is this all I have to do and I’m not your girlfriend anymore?” You suggested, leaning your head on the side of the car and letting the wind catch your face.

“Should be. Then I’ll tell you all about him.” Hyunjae chuckled, one hand on the steering wheel and another raking through his hair.

The bowling alley downtown was lively, decorated with neon lights and the sound of crashing pins. The smell of hot dogs and nachos wavering faintly in the air. The lanes are filled with laughter and ‘friendly’ competition.

Hyunjae swiftly introduced you to his mother and father, who looked you up and down before sending him an impressed smile.

“I’ll have to warn you dear y/n, they both get a bit competitive.” Hyunjae’s mother smiled as Hyunjae age his dad began squaring up to each other in the lane.

Whilst you were putting on your shoes, you felt a pair of eyes on you from somewhere unable to tell where.

“Hey y/n!” A familiar cheerful voice greeted you, looking up shell shocked you saw Eric, dressed in his work uniform with a lollipop. You felt your heart shatter, Hyunjae had to know he worked here, he set you up, but why?

Eric looked gorgeous in uniform you had to say, his pinstriped shirt and jeans complimented by the blue cap. However, you had bigger issues.

“You on a date with Hyunjae?” He asked, polishing a pair of shoes behind the counter next to you, happening to notice how pretty his hands were. “You look pretty, he’s a lucky guy.”

What did he say?

“Oh Eric! You met my girlfriend! This is y/n!” Hyunjae wrapped an arm around you with a condescending smile, for you everything felt as if it had frozen in time.

Eric swivelled the lollipop in his mouth for a moment, observing the look of shock you’d tried to conceal with a smile on your face and chuckled to himself.

“Landed a nice one there haven’t you buddy?” Eric almost began to patronise his bestfriend, a look of suspicious nature hidden in his big smile like a cheshire cat.

“I’m just going to go to the bathroom.” You giggled before excusing yourself to the toilets across the arena with a nervous pace.

“Well that backfired.” A voice sounded, someone pulling you back from one of the booths in the canteen. Kevin and Jacob sat like spies with sunglasses tuxedos and newspapers had been watching the entire time.

“He set me up.” You sighed putting your hands in your head. “I know he’s jealous of him but i didn’t think he’d go this far.”

“It’s Hyunjae. This is probably hilarious content to him.” Kevin rolled his eyes as Jacob nodded along, them both peering around the corner to watch the scene unfold.

“Y/n have you ever considered that Eric might like you?” Jacob asked taking his sunglasses off to look at you properly before you answered.

“He definitely doesn’t like me like that, maybe as a friend?” You suggested, twiddling your thumbs together over the wooden surface.

“Well he doesn’t seem to like the entire you and Hyunjae thing.” He added looking back over to the icy conversation between the two boys at the check in desk - Hyunjae’s parents stepping in to tell him they were ready to play.

“How can you tell?” You furrowed your brows in confusion, waiting for the reply as he began to speak.

“Duck! He’s coming.” Kevin quickly hid you under table covering you with his jacket as they both got back to their newspapers.

“Kevin?” The sound of Hyunjae’s voice from above the surface startled. “You seen y/n anywhere?”

“No? I saw her come in with you.” Kevin cleverly redirected the question allowing the boy to shrug and walk in a different direction looking for you.

“I told you these disguises wouldn’t work, we needed the moustaches.” Kevin hissed across the table to Jacob, the both of them having watched a few too many over the summer.

“Listen what do I do? Because I can’t tell Eric I’m fake dating Hyunjae because then he’d find out I was doing it because I have a stupid little thing for him!” You exclaimed, frustrated as you’d fell right in to Hyunjae’s trap.

“4. DON’T FALL FOR YOUR CRUSH’S BESTFRIENDS BLACKMAIL”

“I wouldn’t call it little. But hope things work out for you!” Jacob smiled angelically ignoring the pain shimmering in your eyes.

“Me too!” They began to gather their things ave scramble, about to take flight from the situation.

“Where are you guys going?” You asked panicked they were about to ditch you and leave the sticky situation.

“Getting you out of here.” Kevin replied taking your arm and sprinting out of the nearest exit - they may have set an alarm off for opening a fire door but oh well.

“5. DO HAVE FRIENDS THAT WILL GET YOU OUT OF SITUATIONS YOU CAUSED YOURSELF”

# MONDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 1996

After hibernating in your bed for the rest of the weekend and 13 times Kevin had tried to ring the landline to check if you were okay. It was time to face them all at school and you could not think of anything worse.

“Oh my god. It’s aliveeee.” Kevin acts out a poor excuse of a Frankenstein impression as you laughed and breezed past him to your locker.

“If you see Hyunjae hide me.” You chuckled as he signed ‘rodger that’ with a salute and began rambling about the pasta he cooked for dinner the night before.

All of a sudden you were pushed into the locker, Kevin stood in front on you casually reading a book as Hyunjae walked by with a question mark above his head. He didn’t bother asking where you were, assuming if you weren’t with Kevin you weren’t there at all.

You eventually broke free of the hiding spot, fixing your hair and brushing down your clothes. The sound of wheels rolling down the corridor coming to a halt beside you.

“Were you?-” Eric was about to ask but refrained considering Kevin was signing ‘cut’ and ‘shush’ behind you flailing his arms around like a maniac.

“Here’s your notes.” You smiled, a touch of pink rising to your cheeks as your hand grazed his defined one, the notes you’d borrowed in pristine condition.

“Thanks, cutie.” He smiled, the nickname causing you to freeze up in your tracks, you knew he only said it out of courtesy or like the others that was ‘just his personality’ but it made your heart melt - as you watched him skate down the corridor, his biceps flexing to maintain balance.

You managed to survive your classes without being berated by Hyunjae or any of his friends, having to sadly eat lunch in a cubicle surely wasn’t a high moment of yours.

Soon the bell was sounding for the end of the day as students flocked out of the grounds excited for the school’s baseball match that evening.

“There she is!” You heard an annoyingly shrill voice yell from behind you, as you were about to cross the car lot. Behind you was Eric Hyunjae and Juyeon, walking in a line towards you whilst Eric was on his skateboard.

“Told you I saw her.” Eric laughed as you were clearly avoiding Hyunjae at all costs, you turned with a bitter smile as they got closer.

“You coming to Eric’s big game tonight?” Juyeon asked giving a friendly elbow to Eric, clearly nervous as it was the first big game of the season.

Eric looked at you with an ounce of hope, only to be quickly shot down, but you couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes sparkled at the idea.

“No she’s actually got a date with me.” Hyunjae answered for you with a snide tone, eyes flickering towards you.

“No,no. I think I’ll go.” You smiled, “I really like baseball.”

“I don’t wanna interrupt you guys.” Eric looked between you both with something suspicious lingering behind his eyes as he turned his baseball cap to the left.

“You’re not interrupting us! Perhaps this ‘date’ can be on the pitch.” You suggested looking at Hyunjae’s wide eyes, knowing his plan was falling to pieces but he couldn’t disagree, not in front of everyone.

“Cool.” Eric smiled smugly, “See you there.”

You watched as him and Juyeon walked to the pitch for pre-match practice. Not wanting to spare Hyunjae anymore time, you walked at lightning speed in the direction of your house, ignoring him yelling your name from behind you.

“Y/n give me a second.” Hyunjae caught up to you on the sidewalk, grabbing your arm to turn you around. “You don’t have to do this anymore, go get him. It’s clear you’ll always love him and I can’t change that. I’m sorry, I took it too far.”

Despite the fact you appreciated the apology it seemed as if it was a little to late, he’d already tried to bring everything crashing down between you and Eric and now he thinks the both of you are on a date at his game. You smiled at him and nodded, swiftly turning on your heels and rushing home.

# LET’S GO H A W K S, LET’S G O O O !!🏟️

The chanting of cheerleaders and commotion amongst the crowd sang from outside of the pitch, Kevin and Jacob having already bought snacks rushed to a bench with good sight of the pitch.

“I’m so excited for this, there’s literally no way we lose.” Kevin watched as your school team walked out on to the pitch, immediately spotting Eric and making smoochy faces at you.

You didn’t notice too much of Kevin’s torment, as you were captivated by the sight of him. Eric looked up at the bleachers as if he was scanning the crowd for someone in particular his eyes landed on you for a moment - or Kevin maybe even Jacob.

The game commenced, no home-runs were scored by the competition and our team was not looking to beat them either. Time was running out as the ball left the hand of the pitcher, Eric stood in formation waiting for the ball to reach him. He swung the bat behind him and hit the ball with astonishing force triggering a roar from the crowd. He made a run for it, it was a home-run, the winning home-run.

“Go get him girl.” Kevin said as the players began to leave the pitch, watching as you ran off immediately to find him.

You patiently waited outside the locker rooms for him, knowing the other players would be tossing him around and winding him up. He eventually emerged from the lockers, wet hair and a towel around his neck.

“Can I talk to you?” You asked as he caught eyes with you, confused to why you’d waited.

“Sure, where’s Jae?” He asked, following you as you began to walk to somewhere more private.

“I’ll explain all of that.” You sighed, looking back at the boy for a moment, feeling your heartbeat pause in time as the sunlight hit his skin.

You both made your way under the bleachers, Eric already making a joke about what happens underneath them before even getting there.

“Eric. I have to say this otherwise one day I’m going to implode.” You began, your heart facing the adrenaline kicking through your veins and it was as if a theme park was screaming in your stomach. “I like you.”

A silence sat amongst you, the conflict in his eyes bouncing back and forth making you increasingly apprehensive for what he was about to say.

“Y/n I can’t do this to Hyunjae. Listen I really like you but that’s my-” Eric tried to collect himself, holding on to the top of the bleachers with one arm and wiping his forehead with the other.

“Eric we’re not dating! I know you can see that.” You pleaded with him, watching as his gorgeous eyes twisted to confusion.

“You’re not?” He asked, more than confused.

“No…. I agreed to ‘fake’ date him to get his parents off his back and to get to know more about you. But.. he took it too far and I think he might’ve been jealous I liked you.” You admitted, chewing your bottom lip and looking anywhere but at the boy fresh off the pitch in his baseball uniform.

“I don’t know because what if you’re lying to me.” He suggested, you couldn’t get offended because what if you were?

“Eric you’ve known me since we were kids I wouldn’t lie to you, I wouldn’t get anything out of doing that.” You reassured him, watching him contemplate ideas in his head as if mini cogs were turning.

“Y/n I know I don’t show it, but I really was interested in you but Hyunjae I couldn’t hurt him. Do you mind if I?” He asked, pulling you closer to him with his back leant up against the metal beam behind him.

“Of course I don’t.” You smiled, your voice barely above a whisper as you watched that beautiful grin of his spread across his lips, his brown eyes sparkling down with the sunset peaking through the gaps of the rows.

He kissed you, so sweetly, so gently, holding your face with the palm of his hand and bringing your waist closer as your stomach flipped and your heart filled with love. As you parted he brought you into his arms, it was the warmest hug that just felt as if everything was right.

“Now that you’ve said it, it makes sense. I’ve never seen someone avoid their boyfriend so much until now.” He laughed thinking of the time you escaped the bowling alley with Kevin and Jacob and further went to extreme lengths to avoid him at school too.

You giggled in his arms, looking up to his face that smiled back down at you, gently moving in for another kiss.

“I think I won twice today.” Eric laughed, giddy with excitement the grin on his face practically beaming from ear to ear.

That’s how you sort of survived senior year.

tagging: @juyeonszn @deobienthusiast 🤍

[britany1997]

Howl at the Moon

Part three

Werewolf Steve x GN Reader

Part one, Part two

We all deserve some super sweet, stressed werewolf Steve fluff after my finals

Steve faced his own reflection in the employee bathroom. He gripped the sink as he breathed deeply, trying desperately to calm himself. It was the first night in a long time Steve had had to work an evening shift on the night of a full moon.

He rubbed his face with his hands, reminding himself that Family Video closed at 7:30, and the sun set at 8. That was more than enough time for Dustin to meet him at his house and make sure he was secured in the basement.

He sighed, but now he had you to worry about.

What if there wasn’t enough time? What if he got loose and found you? What if he hurt you? He grimaced at the thought. That wasn’t an option.

Steve splashed some water on his face. He could do this. Robin was staying late to close up, so he could leave a little earlier if he needed to, he’d be home in plenty of time.

Everything was going to be fine.

“What do you mean you lost him?” Robin whisper-screamed into the phone, her eyes darting around to Keith’s security cameras (which she was hoping were just for show.)

“He’s a giant, brown wolf! How do you lose one of those?” She hissed.

Dustin’s chattering on the other end of the line only made her groan and rub her temples.

“Well what should we do?” She asked, “do we track him down? Could we even get him home if we found him?”

God she wanted to slam the phone into the cradle repeatedly.

“Ok fine fine fine, you’re right. Just give me a second, I need to cancel on Vicky.”

Robin promptly hung up before Dustin could say anything else.

She sighed. Steve was going to be covering any shift she told him to till she graduated.

You hummed along softly as your Walkman blared The Cure. You were taking a walk through the woods by your house, picking flowers and stargazing.

As the tape switched between songs, you heard a soft whining coming from behind you.

You whirled around, only to be met with the sight of the biggest dog you’d ever seen.

You probably should have been intimidated by his imposing size, but he was so…friendly.

When you turned, his tail started to thump loudly on the dirt floor in excitement. His lips seemed to pull up slightly, almost as if he was smiling.

You were charmed, returning his smile with one of your own. You approached him hesitantly, hoping he’d let you pet him, but before you could reach out, he trotted over to nuzzle his head against your hand.

You laughed at his eagerness and scratched behind his ears.

The dog barked happily, obviously pleased with your attention. While you pet his head with one hand, he licked all over the other, forcing you to wipe off his slobber on your jeans several times.

After awhile, you began to wonder if this dog belonged to anyone. You checked around his neck, and smiled a bit when you didn’t find a collar.

“Do you want to come home with me?” You asked, scratching behind his ears once more.

The dog licked your cheek so enthusiastically, you almost toppled over. You’d take that as a yes.

You smiled as you lead him home.

Steve woke up to the familiar, post full moon pounding in his head. He groaned and rubbed his temples.

…

He rubbed his temples?

Steve froze. How could he not be chained to the wall right now.

His eyes darted around an unfamiliar, but cozy, living room as he realized he was most definitely not in his basement.

In fact, he wasn’t even in his house.

Steve panicked. He crept around, trying to find some semblance of an idea of where he’d ended up without waking the owners.

Whose house was this? Had he actually broken into someone’s home while in wolf form?

But everything seemed to be in perfect condition, even the front door! Wouldn’t he have torn everything up? He scratched his head in confusion.

Suddenly he froze.

Right there on the mantle was a picture of you.

He slowly, nervously, made his way over to the mantle. Scratch that, there were tons of pictures of you.

Steve wanted to scream. Somehow, he’d found his way into your home.

His head snapped in the direction of the stairs as he heard some rustling.

Steve knew he had to get out, and fast.

But there was the small problem of…not having any clothes.

In a panic, Steve grabbed a blanket from your sofa, wrapped it around his waist, and snuck out the front door as quickly and quietly as he possibly could.

He hoped a detour to his house wouldn’t make him too late to work. He was already envisioning the earful he’d get from Robin after, what he assumed, had been a pretty big escape last night.

He sighed, being a werewolf sucked.

“So you were just in their house?” Robin cringed, “how’d you even find their house? That’s super weird Steve.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know,” he groaned, “I have no idea how it happened, I told you I can never remember what happens on full moon nights.”

“It’s gotta be a wolf thing,” Robin decided, “you probably sniffed them out or something.”

“Yeah I guess, maybe we should-”

Robin and Steve’s heads both snapped to the front door as the bell jingled, signaling your entrance.

Robin’s eyes widened at the sight of you. She turned to Steve, then turned back to you, then turned to Steve again. “I’ll just uh- take my break then.” She slunk to the back room, but left the door open to hear everything of course.

“Hi,” Steve shivered. Did you see him leaving your house somehow? Did he somehow let you know it was him last night? Did you know what he was?

“Hi,” you replied, a pained smile on your face.

Steve’s gaze softened, “what’s wrong?”

You sighed, pulling posters out of your bag.

“I lost my dog,” you told him.

Steve’s face went white as a bed sheet. “Y-your dog?”

You nodded. “I found him wandering the woods last night and brought him home,” you explained, “I guess I haven’t had him for that long, but he was sooo sweet.”

You showed Steve the picture you’d drawn on the posters of the big, brown dog from last night.

Steve cleared his throat awkwardly. “He looks pretty uh… tough and intimidating.”

You shook your head furiously, “not at all! When I took him home last night, I put a blanket on the sofa for him so he could sleep there because I didn’t want him to shed all over my white bedspread right?”

Steve nodded as you related the tale.

“Well, I guess he wanted to be with me instead, because he sat outside my bedroom door whining! It was sooo cute.”

Steve cringed internally.

“I finally just went downstairs to pet his head until he fell asleep, he’s gotta be the most cuddly dog ever.”

Your smile fell, “I just don’t know why he’d leave.”

Steve felt tremendously guilty.

“Did you want us to hang one of your posters?” He asked.

Your head perked up, “could you?”

Steve nodded, “yeah, yeah of course. I’m uh something of a dog person myself.”

Your bright smile returned, “thank you so much Steve!” You handed him a poster, “it means a lot.”

“It’s really no problem,” he blushed.

Once you were out the door to hang more posters, Steve let out a deep sigh and crumpled to the floor behind the desk.

He felt Robin patting his back, “look on the bright side.”

“What?”

Robin smiled weakly, “at least they think you’re cute.”

Steve groaned.

Taglist🐺

@6lostgirl6 @misslavenderlady @crustyboypix @gothamslostboy @bloodywickedvamp @ria-coolgirl @rynsfandomsfun @dwaynesluscioushair @arbesa-mind @lostboys1987girl @anna1306 @arenpath @solobagginses @teelas-library @kurt-nightcrawler @bitchyexpertprincess @warrior-616 @f4iryfxies @palomam18 @dwaynedelight @walmart-icarus

[theenpcbracket]

The TTRPG NPC Tournament Semifinals (Round 4): Mary Byram vs. HE

Images are in the order of the poll! Image ID included, click to see the full image please!

More about each NPC below the cut!

Character 1

Name: Mary Byram Party: Ambiscade Gang Relationship to party: Coworker, divorcee

What makes them the best NPC: Mary Byram is living proof that the song “No Children” by The Mountain Goats doesn’t just have to be about romantic relationships gone wrong. She’s a bright red tiefling rogue with a storied past, currently working for a guild called the Thinfingers alongside one of the party members. Previously, she worked with a tiefling rights movement called Hellflame, but something happened there that she doesn’t really talk about. She’s still passionate about both the movement and the group, though.

Our bard lovingly calls her “Mare-Bear.” She hates this. She’s a day drinker. She’s exhausted always. She cares so much but will never admit it unless under duress. I think she genuinely thinks that god cursed her by metaphorically putting her in a get-along shirt with our rogue PC. Their dynamic allowed our party to coin the term “Coworker Divorce” except they’re literally not allowed to actually get rid of each other. She is also constantly saddled with the skater-pilled rogue who was also submitted to the bracket, so she’s usually outnumbered when it comes to harebrained schemes. She’s largely anti-antics, but is down for some antics if she's in control of them. She’s a mastermind and usually gives the help bonus action either by telling people what they fucked up or by telling them NOT to fuck something up. She deserves a break she’ll simply never get.

Quote: "Thoughts?" -the warlock, asking Mary about a proposed plan. "...More than you. Apparently." -Mary

To learn more about Mary, check out the extra propaganda in her tag here!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Character 2

Name: HE Party: The Misdemeanor Mateys Relationship to party: Businessman, aggravating party stalker, final boss

What makes them the best NPC: Mysterious tiny man with static for a head, and the loudest screechiest voice you can imagine (DM once blew out their vocal chords because of him). Levitates and teleports at will, and can pop objects in and out of existence. Runs a business granting magical favors. Originally tried to hire the party to help his business but the group said "fuck no". Now regularly pops in to nag, cause trouble, or play meme songs on a calliope, and occasionally provides useful information. HE controls an alternate dimension called the Mercantile Pile full of items from different times and places, including lots of modern-day technology (unlike the D&D campaign setting). He can be summoned by writing out his name. His calling card is a 7 of Spades, which he can also use to influence the world & cast spells remotely. HE mainly wears business suits & suspenders, but has also appeared in a hazmat suit (riding a tricycle), turtleneck sweater and thigh holster, wetsuit with suspenders painted on, sequin jacket with '69' on the back, peacock burlesque, and nurse drag outfit. He once killed 20 guards with a snap of his fingers. He also destroyed a walkman with a flamethrower. Implied to be the father of the ultra-powerful kid whose primary pastime is handing out enchanted "friendship nuggets" [chicken]. His #1 business competitor is Michael's Wonder Emporium. Eventually turns out to be one of the most central characters to the story.

Quote: "STAY OFF MY THRONE!"

"You're going to call me when you need me!"

To learn more about HE, check out the extra propaganda in his tag here!

[katscatnip]

Listening to one song on repeat

My experience with listening to a certain sound or song on repeat for long periods of time.

Shown below all this text is my most recent streams on Spotify. as you can see,, there is just one song listed, and that's because It's all I've listened to for the past 2 days or so.

I have done this kinda thing sing as long as I recall having personal access and control over what I listen to. my earliest memories of it being the time my mom let me chose the song we play on the sound system (the song in question was Rock the Nation by Michael Franti) and i would constantly ask her to "play it again!" until she couldn't handle it anymore. Next it was when we bought the Curious George movie on CD and in the bonus features, there was a music video for the song played earlier in the movie Upsidedown by Jack Johnson (again was eventually asked to stop playing it over and over lmao.

Next was when i was old enough to stay for the "after school program" it essentially let the kids get into fun toys and boardgames and such and what I would do every single time is find one of the three sony CD walkmen in the electronics box, put in the Shrek soundtrack cd and set SmashMouth's allstar to loop, then proceed to walk up and down the gym's left wall gliding my fingers against the textured grout for the next hour and a half to three hours depending if it was an extended day.

Next was another walkman, my older sibling's bf at the time would bring one over with him when he visited along with his latest playlist burned to a cd and would let me borrow it. this is when I heard the oh-so-familiar and desired FireFlies by Owlcity (my current fav song at the time that I could only hear on the car radio when going into town) where I would proceed to lie on my upper bunk bed in complete darkness and imagine I was in space.

Another time was when a different friend would bring over their iPod and I would loop a couple greenday and Metallica songs over and over (I don't remember the song names now lmao)

Fast forward to my teen years im actively annoying my siblings after playing a song 7 times too many. yada yada ya-

I am aware of that now,,

my friends have been pointing out traits that were worth looking into for a while and I finally did and ya. when I went in they said it was not hard to notice and identify it from the moment I walked in the door.

Anyway, this post isnt about that its actually about how self-aware and insecure I've become from having others perceive this part of me. I've never really had any bad experiences aside from the occasional family member shout at me to "stop playing the same song" which is whatever.

The real issue for me is things like Spotify Wrapped and the idea that what I listen to as an auditory stim is perceived as my "taste" in music and such. i guess its rooted in maintaining a kind of character in the social aspect, and feeling like I have to make what I listen to look palatable to peers and that means having a high listen count and knowledge of artists whose music has meaning and depth while also not being caught listening to the opposite (breakcore, hyperpop, noise, goofy nonsensical hip-hopy stuff, etc)(?)

Which I'm finding to be stackingly exhausting and I think I've trying this year and lastyear to give myself the grace of being me and not conforming to the shape I feel pressured to fit into.

I hear and read a lot of peer's takes or reviews on music and such (which I think is important to have ofc) but it kinda feels to cliquey for me to feel fully comfortable being in those circle's conversations.

sometimes i just like the noises and vibration pattern coming from a specific artist's stuff and don't take in or care about the meaning or depth of a song's lyrics,, anyways yeah. here's some of the semi-recent past loops: (noise warning on some!🔊) 757, Hollywood baby, Improved mashcore, kickback, 3 o'clock things, Being so normal, Uncanny long arms, Leg room, Stuck Inside

below is my current song backslide by 21 Pilots. the tapeworm synth and silly bass drops itch the itch good :+)

[serve-cunt]

gran turismo is a movie that WASTES its OPPORTUNITIES. like. Fuck!! Jann's guilt after the crash!! his imposter syndrome!! Jack's CULPABILITY in all of it... and his relationship with Jann & Danny & Nick !! Danny determined to ignore the actual ramifications of Nürburgring in favor of worrying about what their liability is ... pitted against Jann whose guilt nearly fucking RUINS him !

but what did they do ???? they wrote a bland-ish script, stuck Audrey in there with NO character development or purpose, stuffed every scene with cliches, smothered the fuck out of it all with corporate sponsorship, and called it a day. FUCK. they never saw a logo they didn't zoom in on. the sony walkman LOL. it's slow as fuck! the first twenty minutes are a wash!!

ugh still loved it tho

[weirdo-twins]

How Vol 2 Should have Ended

A re-write of the st4 finale, to address the narrative issues and especially the rampant homophobia, racism, and sexism. There’s a lot here so, as the kids say, buckle up and obviously spoilers below. 

Surfer Boys + El (part 1)

First of all, let’s put the cali gang actually in or near Hawkins. El could still do the piggyback because short of her actually getting into the Upsidedown, that seems like the best strategy anyway, but the four of them careening into a situation they don’t fully understand without anyone else knowing they’re on the board now too would have added a lot of tension and raised the stakes for that group to be on level with the other groups. It’s an easy enough timeline or location fix. (We could also nix that weird stoner POC motif?)

Next, this is subtle, but important. During the Pineapple pizza scene, El should be struggling to find the words to end her and Mike’s romantic relationship. It would be best if we got some hints during her time away that she was beginning to realize their relationship was unhealthy. But anyway, we should see in her facial expression, tone, body language, that while she did miss Mike, she is not planning on ‘making up’ with him and is trying to figure out how to let him down.

Mike should pick up on this vibe and panic. This should be due to his intense compulsory heteronormativity. Instead of framing him fumbling with the ILY as Mike attempting to overcome his own insecurities, we should see it more obviously as a last-ditch attempt to stop the impending end. Again, subtle, maybe no actual scripted changes, but a change in body language, tone, framing.

The Sinclairs

We’ll come back to them, but now we need to delete that whole scene with Jason and his cronies attacking the Sinclairs because the racial/power dynamic is very fucked up. Jason may still need to walk in on Lucas and Max and step on the walkman, and it would be nice to get Lucas rejecting everything Jason stands for, but we don’t need a young black kid being threatened at gun point like that. 

Instead of Erica getting caught and pinned down, she escapes and runs to get help. I don’t think the murder house is supposed to be right next to the trailer park, but we’re going to say that it is, so that Erica can reach Dustin and Eddie or they can hear her yelling. Which brings us to...

Eddie + Jason

We do need a death this season. We get one every season, and Eddie is, unfortunately, the red shirt. But it should be done much differently. It shouldn’t just be a red shirt death for the sake of keeping the tension alive, it should allow Eddie his real hero moment and mean something. (And yes, the outcast dying is sad, but most of these characters are outcasts in one way or another, it’s their Thing, so I don’t think Eddie dying sends the message that outcasts don’t get happy endings if the rest of the outcasts are ok)

So, the bat scene goes as it does in canon. But Eddie follows Dustin through the gate instead of - I don’t even know what he thought he would accomplish exactly. Enter Erica - Eddie and Dustin rejoin the Murder House group and Eddie and Jason get their destined meet-up. Jason’s been looking for him all season, here we go. 

Eddie gets his hero moment facing off against Jason. He doesn’t run from him anymore. And he dies directly saving either Lucas or Dustin’s life. Maybe by getting Jason away from all of them. Dustin still has his dramatic scene with him as he’s dying. He gets to be a real hero whose actions had bigger impacts than killing a few bats out of thousands. 

Plus, with our main emotional death happening outside the Upsidedown, caused by an angry white kid with a gun and not a supernatural monster, we get the commentary that ordinary violence is as real and terrifying as these scary monsters. (Ala Buffy season 6 anyone?) Also Jason’s villain arc comes to a head. I think it’s also important to show how dangerous guns are in a show like this and that they’re not just cool monster fighting toys.

Jason does not simply die quietly off in the background. We frame him as the dangerous monster that he is and give Eddie some vindication by having him arrested (maybe even blamed for the other murders as well, thereby clearing Eddie’s name). The is revealed later via the news reel. In the moment, either they manage to subdue him or he just runs after the reality of killing someone sets in. 

Mad Max

Ok, now about Max. We are not turning her story into one where she loses to the monster (depression) just as she is starting to heal and get help. This doesn’t work specifically because Max’s ending in canon really undercuts the powerful scene in episode 4 where she chooses to fight for her own life and wins because her friends love her. It undercuts all the progress she’s made coming back from that trauma and it sends a pretty shitty message about mental health and to anyone who identifies with her. 

Instead, we amp up her fight scene a little so that her happy memories are actually used in a way that explores her character and continues her arc of healing. As she runs and distracts Vecna, we see her coming back to her true self, remembering who she is and what she has to live for. 

It still gets pretty dicey. El shows up and we proceed as in canon for awhile. Max has found her core and puts up a good fight, but the music, her doorway out, is gone. She levitates, Lucas (and us) are terrified, her arm breaks, we’re all freaking out here. 

But Max is stronger now and she holds onto that core of who she is and keeps pushing him away. She has El and Lucas and Erica and she’s not an easy target. 

Surfer Boys + El (part 2) 

Meanwhile, while El is struggling, it is not just hearing her boyfriend’s voice that gives her strength. Instead of just telling Mike to monologue, Will starts talking to El himself. It’s a clambering combination of Mike and Will and Jonathan (and even Argyle) telling her to fight, telling her she’s strong with and without her powers, telling her they’re with her. Maybe we even get a Jonathan Byers pep talk for El, a little window into how he’s adjusted to being her big brother too these last few months. It’s all of them together that help El fight, help her find her own inner strength.

And Mike still says he loves her. He gets caught up in the moment, rambling, doing his best to hang on to their relationship because he wants to be straight and he wants to be in love with her and he doesn’t want to lose her. And he still says that Thing about how his life started the day they found her. And this all gets Vecna’s attention. 

He can hear them. And he recognizes Will. He can sense him now, a radiating presence in Hawkins, right by El, rife with pain and doubt and isolation. Someone Vecna already knows inside and out, has a bond with. And this is his opening. He gives up on Max and switches to Will. 

In the restaurant (maybe Benny’s), Will has gone still and quiet. They don’t notice right away because they’re focused on El. But Will hears the chiming of the clock, and suddenly Will is there, in the ruins of the house with Max and El, and Vecna starts in on him. 

Max, no longer in his thrall, wakes up in Lucas’s arms. She has a broken arm, but otherwise is ok. But she tells him she thinks Will is in real trouble. 

Meanwhile, Vecna overwhelms Will. It’s easy. He plays Will’s own words about being a mistake back to him. El tries to help him. She tells him to think of something happy. She blasts Vecna. In the restaurant, she’s screaming Will’s name, and they’ve noticed. Jonathan is frantically trying to wake Will up (parallel to Joyce in S2)

Will

Will thinks about his friends, but Vecna corrupts that with memories of his friends ignoring him, his own isolation. He thinks about Jonathan. The words Jonathan just said to him. But Vecna drowns it out, with all the fears and doubts a gay kid in the 80′s would have. That a lot of gay kids today still have. And then he plays Mike’s line back to him. He tells him Mike will never love him. No one will ever love him. He shows him every painful scene Will and Mike have ever had. Will levitates to the restaurant ceiling. His bones start snapping. 

El does her best to stop him. They fight. She says something like HE IS MY BROTHER. NO. Eventually, as in cannon, they stop him. The combined efforts of the Russia crew and the monster fighters in the Upsidedown take him out. 

Will falls. Jonathan breaks his fall, has him in his arms. El comes out of her trance and she and Mike crowd in close. Will is like Max in canon. Not completely vecnaed, but in very bad shape. Paralleling Joyce in season one, Jonathan is holding him and telling him to breathe and that he loves him and he’s going to be okay. (The song that played in s1 when Will was ‘dying’ and also played while Max was dying plays over Will again) 

The bell tolls, the earthquake happens. Max and her group know Will or El must have died. El has the same reaction, saying that Will cannot die and pumps his heart for him with her powers while Argyle is getting an ambulance there. Will has Max’s fate of being comatose. 

Why this works for Will when it didn’t for Max: Will’s arc has been entirely repressing and hiding his trauma. All of it, not just the gay stuff. He hasn’t confronted or processed anything, so this is round one that will force him to confront it. He hasn’t started healing and then gone backwards. There’s a more concrete promise that this is not the end.

It also plays into sooooo many parallels that Max’s situation doesn’t. One of Will’s central functions is being missing. Him being physically present but mentally gone is a nice symmetrical flip to what we had in s1 and will bring up old tensions in a new way. Joyce was gone when this happened. Jonathan was in charge when this happened, etc. S1 ends with Will in the hospital waking up and everyone being happy. S4 ending with him in the hospital and not waking up drives home that point that ‘this time it won’t all work out’ with even more poignancy than Max’s. 

This also gives new meaning to ‘running up that hill’ as Will has essentially swapped places with Max. And it serves as a plot twist right when we need one. We were worried about Max, but she’s not the one we should’ve been worrying about. 

It sets up s5 so well. Joyce will be back on her ‘my son is not dead’ juice, which is peak Joyce. Fighting to save her kids’ lives. Insisting on things that sound crazy (although hopefully they all just believe her this time when she’s like I can hear him etc.) It will give Mike the time, space, and motivation to sort out his own feelings as he remembers what losing Will felt like and how much he needs him in his life. He’ll probably feel a lot of guilt for pushing Will away and saying that thing he said. He and Max could bond over those feelings. It will also set us up for an entire season of Will fighting his demons and then finally finally gaining the agency he has never had in this show from day one. 

The show started with his vanishing. It would be poetic to end on his reappearance. On him beating the thing that has haunted him. Bring things full circle.   

Anyway, this is how I would’ve done it and no I’m not taking notes. 

[doitinanotherlanguage]

Updates on Learning Mandarin Chinese 3/∞: 我看了电视剧。

A while ago, I asked people to recommend me Chinese/Taiwanese dramas so I could practice my Chinese listening comprehension. I got a bunch of recs (thank you so much everyone who recced me dramas! ❤️), so I decided to sit down and try them out. My method was to watch the first episode of all these dramas, and then continue watching the ones I found interesting.

Here are the dramas and my thoughts on the first episodes:

开端 (2022; Reset)

Mystery Sci-Fi Thriller

After repeatedly finding herself dying in an explosion while riding the same bus, a college student finally concludes that she is stuck in a never-ending time loop. Inadvertently, she drags a fellow passenger into her loop and they pair up to find out what is going on.

My verdict: This is very exciting! After watching only the first episode of Reset, I have no idea what the heck is going on but I’m excited to continue the show and find out! I love mysteries, so this is definitely something I’m interested in. I’m absolutely going to finish this drama.

琅琊榜 (2015; Nirvana in Fire)

Historical Drama

A revenge drama set loosely in the period of the Southern and Northern dynasties, Nirvana in Fire is about a strategist who wants to avenge his former house and its 70 000 soldiers, massacred in a conspiracy.

My verdict: Okay, so I’ve never actually managed to watch a Chinese historical drama (that is set pre-1900s) beyond the first couple of episodes. Unfortunately, Nirvana in Fire doesn’t feel like it’s going to become an exception. I’m really intimidated by the episode count (54 + a sequel), and political machinations and power-games in a palace/court don’t necessarily interest me as a plot. Idk, next year I’m planning to read about Chinese history, so I might come back to this then if I get a craving for historical settings.

想見你 (2019; Someday or One Day)

Sci-Fi Mystery Romance

In 2019, a 27 year-old woman is missing her boyfriend, presumed dead in a plane crash. One day, she falls asleep listening to a walkman she mysteriously received and is transported into the body of a high school girl, living in 1998. The girl’s friend looks exactly like the missing boyfriend but obviously cannot be him. Things get even more muddled after she learns that the girl whose body she’s inhabiting is destined to die in 1999.

My verdict: This one immediately hooked me. Consequently, I binged the whole thing. Amazing OST (I cannot stop playing the title track and 伍佰’s “Last Dance” over and over again!). Very well acted. A fun mix of different genres (high school, romance, mystery/crime). The mystery keeps you hooked, watching and guessing. And while I have to admit I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the ending, I wholeheartedly loved the journey there. (Thank you so much @marilearnsmandarin​ for giving me the push to give this one a go!)

 山河令 (2021; Word of Honor)

Mystery Wuxia

A disillusioned leader of assassins sets out for the martial arts world, where he becomes entangled in a conspiracy and encounters a bosom friend. With this new friend, he embarks on an adventure to find a legendary treasure.

My verdict: Like Nirvana in Fire, Word of Honor is a visually gorgeous drama (historical dramas are always so dang pretty!). However, it still isn’t for me. I think it’s because I’m not that into watching martial arts or fighting, or upper class (-adjacent) people (much like why NiF didn’t do it for me either). If there are historical dramas about servants and peasants and regular life, please someone point me in their direction!

沉默的真相 (2020; The Long Night)

Mystery Crime Thriller

It’s supposed to be an open-and-shut case: the murder suspect is caught with the body on a busy subway station and he confesses to the murder. And yet, when the case is tried in court, the prosecutor discovers that all is not as it appears. The murder might just be a cover for another more shocking injustice.

My verdict: I. AM. HOOKED. This I’m definitely going to finish! From the first few minutes, The Long Night got me hooked and on the edge of my seat, and I’m dying to know more. Like I said before, I absolutely love a good mystery. And I’m thinking that there’s going to be some social critique? Like about corruption, etc., or something. (Thank you @m1azena​ for reccing this!)

理智派生活 (2021; The Rational Life)

Business Romance Drama

From swimming through the cesspool of office politics with its nepotism, sabotage and company problems, to withstanding familial pressure to settle down and marry, to handling suitors interested in her for their own selfish personal motives, to being counsellor and mentor to her best friend and her juniors, a professional career woman tries to navigate through life in her thirties.

My verdict: Another fantastic find! I thought that a couple of things in the first episode were lowkey annoying, but I got interested enough that I put on the second episode... And I’m so thankful that I did! I’m now on episode 10, and I’m obsessed! I really like the main character - I might not be in my thirties quite yet, but the pressure to have your shit together and the constant badgering to settle down with a guy.... yes, I can relate. This drama deals quite a bit with the pressures and obstacles women face, and it’s very compelling. (Thank you @jellycannot​ for the brief but super convincing description of this show, I don’t know whether I would’ve given this a chance without it!)

最亲爱的你 (2018; Youth)

Comedy Romance Drama

Five young women share a house while attending the same university. The drama follows their hopes and struggles in life and in relationships.

My verdict: This was a nice surprise! Youth is a Chinese remake of the South Korean 청춘시대 (2016; Age of Youth), which I watched several years ago. I’m so excited to see a Chinese version! The first episode is pretty faithful to the original (as far as I can remember), and I’m looking forward to seeing whether there are going to be any major changes.

猎罪图鉴 (2022; Under the Skin)

Police Procedural Mystery Thriller

A skilled portraitist and a respected police captain put aside their bad blood to work together and solve cases using methods that can only be described as uncanny.

My verdict: As much as I love mystery and thriller, and can deal with crime-solving as part of the plot... police procedurals just don’t do it for me. I think it’s because I filled my quota by watching a lifetime’s worth of CSI shows when I was a teen... However, I must admit that this one seems to be of very good quality. I’m probably not going to be in a hurry to continue watching this, but I’m going to leave the option open, because this does look well-made and promising. Would definitely recommend this to fans of detective and police shows.

[elliemuze]

So I don't normally post personal stuff or opinions. At most, I'll tack on a small anecdote on an existing post, and usually just in the tags. Rarely, if ever, do I create my own. But I feel a visceral need to reinforce something important.

I grew up on early Disney movies. That's my childhood. My first VHS was Bambi, when I was too young to even comprehend what a movie was. I was also an only child, quiet, autistic, and riddled with OCD. I disappeared into movies and books, felt like I was a part of them, and to this day can experience a meltdown at the slightest indication of change.

The Little Mermaid was my favorite. I'd pretend to be a mermaid almost daily, wrapping my legs in blankets or t-shirts, singing my tiny lungs out. In the course of growing up, I'd own a walkman and eventually a CD player. Each had the OST on standby, as cassette tape and CD. I never talked on the long bus rides, just put on my headphones and let the music take me. When I discovered Limewire, the OST was one of the first things I downloaded. My first real bed after the crib era was adorned with an Ariel comforter set, and I had Flounder and Sebastian stuffed animals that never left it until probably high school. In grade school, my mom spent months making me an Ariel costume for Halloween, of which I still have the tail skirt (obviously no longer fits). I don't much care for public performances, especially when they're loud and bright, but when my family took me to Little Mermaid on Ice, I could have stayed in that auditorium forever.

We had one luxurious* family trip to Disney World when I was in 4th grade. We were in Florida for a week, and other than getting placed in a baby stroller by Captain Hook to be comically wheeled around, my highlight of the entire trip was meeting Ariel. I spent most of our time there wondering where she was and when I'd get to meet her, and then if we could go back and talk to her again - I suspect ad nauseum lol.

*Luxurious to us. My parents saved up for years, I presume, and got lucky with some once in a lifetime deals and group discounts. (This was also 20+ years ago.) We were never rich or well-off, so this was a dream come true.

With all that being said... anyone up in arms over Ariel being Black should be ashamed of themselves. Anyone complaining that Disney is just trying to be "woke" should be ashamed of themselves. As if Black people are some ancillary customization that aggrieves the societal "default." What the actual fuck is wrong with you? Sincerely? (That's a rhetorical question, by the way, I have zero interest in any excuse you might conjure from your ass. Any bullshittery will be blocked.)

I truly believe you all need to take a serious look at yourselves, the words you're saying, and do some crisis-level introspection. Because this is embarrassing. It's senseless. As someone struggling daily with adulthood and wishing she could disappear back to the ignorant bliss of childhood, y'all desperately need to grow the hell up and act like real people.

How on earth can you look at all these little Black girls being over the moon to see someone like them, and still hold such vitriol in your hearts? How can you take something so joyful and innocent, and bend over backwards to make it ugly? Most of you I've seen behaving like this are grown ass men, too - as if you'd otherwise even care about a movie whose prime demographic was young girls.

Fucksake, aren't y'all tired? It's so easy, and free, to not act this way. Like you're all competing for the title of Most Contemptible Shitstain, but no one told you it's a defunct category.

-

I know she'll never see this, but Halle Bailey, you make a spectacular Ariel. Thank you for rekindling my childhood with such grace, and all in under two minutes. That trailer left me breathtaken and feeling like I was yeeted magically back through time.

I'm so excited to share this story and experience with all of you. I know it's an obvious sentiment and shouldn't even need to be said, but in case you ever need to hear it: you deserve nice things, you deserve magic, and you deserve the world.

❤💜💚

[theartistknownaslymond]

Whumptober 2022 day 22

Toxic | Withdrawal | Allergic Reaction

As per the request by @stripedroseandsketchpads​ : Joleta?

You’ve got it! Joleta is Going Through it in the wake of her OD. Philippa’s doing her best, she really is, but Letty’s not making things easy.

CW: hospital recovery, references to drugs and drink and overdose. Two very different teenage girls get het up about their relationship. Suicidal ideation and withdrawal symptoms.

---

"Eurgh, Pippa I feel like shit..."

Philippa passed the box of tissues over to her friend in the hospital bed and offered to take the tub of ice cream away.

Joleta's hand tightened defensively on it though, and she scowled. "No...I didn't say I don't want to eat!"

She rubbed her nose with a tissue and made an irritated sound.

"It's not fair...I actually felt great that night, why do I have to feel so rotten now?"

Philippa peered at her, trying to ascertain whether or not Joleta was being serious. "I don't think you're meant to feel good after an overdose, Letty..."

Joleta rolled her eyes and tutted. She dropped the crumpled, soggy tissue on her bed sheets and dug vindictively into the ice cream with a spoon. "My stomach really hurts."

She made pronouncements like this regularly, and Philippa had learned that there was nothing she could offer that might actually help to alleviate any of the problems - Joleta was just going to whinge her way through every uncomfortable symptom of withdrawal. Every time Philippa tried to suggest a solution, or asked whether she should find a nurse to talk to, Joleta would just sigh dramatically.

"You don't understand, Pippa," she'd say. "I don't need to feel like this at all. If I could just get hold of some BMP I'd be fine."

Of course, Philippa had made the mistake of asking what the acronym meant.

Joleta looked suspiciously around the private ward and leaned forward to hiss: "Bolivian Marching Powder. Well, at school we called it Basler Musicians' Powder."

Philippa blinked, finding that she was none the wiser.

"Snow, Pippa! Charlie! Cocaine?" Joleta stared at her, her brows raised and eyes wide.

The mannerisms were as much a staged performance of adulthood as they'd always been, but cleansed of her make-up, Joleta looked more like the sixteen-year-old she was, and Philippa didn't find her arrogance as effective as before. Her lashes were pale, almost white without the staining of mascara, and her freckles spattered carelessly over apple-round cheeks absent of neatly shaded contouring. She didn't look like a magazine model or a Madonna wannabe anymore, just like a young woman whose shape was still half-formed and soft.

And she was adamant that she still wanted cocaine.

Philippa tried to distract her by reading from the book she was partway through, but Letty had no patience with the fantasy settings of Ursula K. Le Guin. She tried sharing new music with Letty through the headphones on her walkman, but Letty sighed and said it wasn't as fun when she couldn't play along. Philippa brought her a ukulele and came with her own tin whistle, but Joleta pronounced these too 'limited' and needled Philippa deliberately by saying she'd have to be desperate to want to play folk music. She asked for ice cream and complained it was too cold; she said she was hungry then fretted she would get fat if Philippa kept bringing her food; she misinterpreted nearly everything she could as an attack against her. Even more so than normal, she was intentionally difficult about everything, Philippa found. Nothing at all seemed to cheer her up, and it was exhausting being with her.

Of course Philippa tried her best anyway. The symptoms sounded miserable, and she guessed that Letty was more upset by her brother's hasty departure than she was letting on. There was, however, only so far an assertive young Geordie lass could be pushed herself, and Joleta really did seem determined to find Philippa's breaking point.

Gesturing grandly with her spoon, having chucked another used tissue on the side of the bed nearest to Philippa in the assumption Pippa would clear the small pile away, Joleta said airily: "You know, mouseburger, if you were a real friend, you'd go and find me some coke. Or at least smuggle me some vodka in here."

Philippa, who would happily have sat there in companionable silence, snapped her book shut between her palms and glared at Joleta.

"Will you stop saying that?!"

Joleta blinked at her. An angry blush began to seep into the skin of her pale, creamy cheeks.

"Excuse me?"

"Stop asking me to get you drugs!" Philippa said, more ashamed of the squeak in her voice than the volume she spoke at.

"Don't use that tone with me!" Joleta shook her spoon at Philippa. Her neck and cheeks were blotched all over with pink now. "Do you have any idea how this feels? Everything hurts! I'm constantly exhausted, but I can't sleep in this bloody hospital! There's... there's always someone about to die or something, you hear them all night coming and going. I'm hungry but I feel sick. My nose won't stop running, like I'm allergic to this place. I am dying for a drink, or for something to happen, or to know when I can go home, or even - just to know where the fuck home is, now!"

Philippa drew a sharp breath in and snatched the spoon away from Joleta.

"And drugs aren't going to help with any of that!"

Joleta laughed shrilly. "They actively will! If I feel shit because I'm withdrawing then the obvious thing to do is stop withdrawing!"

"No!" Philippa beat her knees with her fists.

Joleta's brows raised at the snarl in her voice.

"You didn't see what I saw, Letty. You nearly died. You were blue. You stopped breathing. Why on earth would you want to take something that might do that to you again?"

Joleta's nostrils flared and Philippa thought she'd say something hot and bitter again, but she balled her own hands into fists and shook her head silently.

Finally, in a much smaller voice than Philippa expected, she said, "So what? Who would miss me?" She shrugged and her eyes seemed even bigger, glassy with unshed tears. "Graham left. He hates me, I'm just a disappointment. Francis thinks I'm just some...stupid kid. He doesn't treat me seriously at all. You're mad at me because of him. And I don't have anyone else," round, fat tears welled over her eyelids and matted her lashes. "Where am I going to go, Pippa?"

Philippa put the spoon down and grabbed for Joleta's nearest hand, aghast. "I'm not mad, Letty!"

"You were mad!" she exclaimed wetly.

Philippa, exasperated to have this held against her after the days spent in the hospital worrying over her friend, fought down the urge to deny it. "I...ok, I was a bit mad. It's not something I would do, Letty. Mr Crawford...he's taken away other people I care about. I didn't want him to take you too."

"Oh?" Joleta sniffled and wiped at her nose with a fresh tissue. "I thought you were jealous..."

"Jealous?!" Philippa yelped. She'd gone red herself at the implication. "Certainly not! He might not be the...the devil I thought he was, but ew. Yuck. I don't think so, Letty!"

Joleta eyed her thoughtfully over the tissue, her eyes red-rimmed and wary.

"Anyway, it doesn't matter if I was mad," Philippa continued resolutely. "I'm not now. And I still didn't want you to die! I don't want you to die."

Joleta let the hand with the tissue drop to show her soggy smile, and she squeezed Philippa's fingers in her grip. "You're so sweet, Pippa." She sighed. "But it really would be easier for everyone."

"What? No!" Philippa had to repeat, confused that Joleta still hadn't got the message.

"Well I have no brother, no boyfriend, no money, no house..." Joleta shrugged.

"Come and stay with me!" Philippa blurted out. It wasn't really a future scenario that she dreamed of, but she would offer up her mother's hospitality before she'd see Joleta convince herself she was unloved.

Joleta snorted.

"No, really. You can stay at Flaw Valleys for as long as you need. You could go to school with me if you wanted? Mr Crawford will make sure you get paid for the recording at St Marys."

"Oh god..." Joleta laughed shakily, her tears falling faster again even as she smiled. "Flaw Valleys, Pippa? Sober? I'd...I'd get bullied by the ducks!"

"Geese," Philippa corrected her gently, smilingly. "Just until you get back on your feet, then. But you do have somewhere to go, and people who care."

Luckily, when the proposition was introduced to Kate later on that day, Philippa's mother was as happy to have Joleta ‘round as Philippa had imagined she would be. Only after checking it was really what Philippa wanted, though. And only after emphasising something that made Philippa simultaneously relieved and ashamed of her earlier argument with Letty: apparently one of the major symptoms of cocaine withdrawal was depression. Letty wasn't just being an asshole for the sake of it - all the joy the drug had simulated had been whisked away from her.

Next time she went in, Philippa brought along some things it would never have occurred to her previously to think of: a stack of teen magazines and Joleta's make-up bag. They sang Pogues songs together, Philippa sitting on Letty's bed and painting her nails messily. Joleta mocked Philippa's sloppy skills and Philippa poked fun at Joleta's posh pronunciation of Shane MacGowan's lyrics. All was well between them, and while Joleta didn't stop craving her old crutches, she did at least stop harassing Philippa to bring them to her.

[moriiartist]

what music fits the people you write for?

I have a lot of people that I write for, so for this ask I'll just answer for the Hermits :> (hope you don't mind anon!)

Grian... well, it's kind of hard to articulate the vibes that he gives me. Barely restrained chaos in the form of an unassuming Gremlin? Comedic relief that turns out to be the villain all along? The Fall by half●alive

Mumbo Jumbo... he's just a guy! A guy that wouldn't hesitate to murder, and would do it with a cheerful smile on his face, but a guy all the same! He does give me more nostalgic energy- a Walkman whose songs are almost crunchy in quality because of how many times they've been copied over. Chapstick by COIN

Scar... will inevitably scam you out of something. He’s not actually all that malicious, more like a cartoon villain than anything else, but he’s legitimately good at manipulating people. He has a kind of goofy charisma, an ambition for power and an involvement in things- a talent for living that is more often than not underestimated. Mamma Mia by Austin Webber

Xisuma... is a star burning from a million light years away, whose impression upon our worlds is a pinprick of light in the night sky. He’s ever-present, constant and steady... comforting, to some. For all that he is, though- a leader, a protector, a friend- you could never remove the memory of mystery from his being. Overthinker by INZO

Etho... he’s the ghost of the server. He has an undeniable talent for everything he deigns to put his mind to, as well as the time spent to perfect the skills under his belt, but at the same time he’s not in a rush to show them off. Where other people might train their entire lives just to stand before a cheering crowd, he is proving his worth to nobody other than himself. Wasteland, Baby! by Hozier

Tango... is an interesting mix of one of the most tenacious and talented builders in the server, as well as a littol guy who delights in destruction and hijinks. I mean- he built Decked Out, there’s nothing more I can say for this man other than that he has a kind of mental illness (/j) that would make gods weep. Crazy = Genius by Panic! At The Disco

Impulse... can and will convince everyone that he’s human when, in reality, he’s probably one of the furthest things from it. He just... something about him makes him capable of going to lengths few could even dream of, whether it’s grinding materials or moving his entire goddamn base up by a block. He behaves the most “normally” out of most of the Hermits, but he’s really Not. Adventure Is Out There by AJR

Rendog... is a theater kid who was given the ability to fight God and win, plain and simple. He’s dramatic, he’s stubborn with the stories he wants to tell, and he’s filled with a simple zest for life. It’s only an even bigger bonus that he gets to be able to make his friends laugh with the characters he creates, and what more could a dog want, really? Best Friend by Rex Orange County

DocM77... has no qualms about breaking the fabric of reality itself, not because he actually is a villain, but because, to him, it’s a normal Tuesday afternoon. He’s not a mean or a malicious person- hell, he’s really only antagonistic for the bit! It’s just become second nature for him to play the villain because it’s funny, so why stop? Supermassive Black Hole by Muse

Bdubs... he’s feral, he’s climbing on the walls, he’s going to descend into hell only to come back with a smoothie and one of those tropical shirts that dads wear like he was on vacation. He’s both someone that is hard to take seriously, and a cosmic horror that would melt your mind to fully comprehend. He can and has cried during an argument because he has that many Feelings. Under My Skin by Jukebox The Ghost

[milkiane]

photo booth picture

pairings: peter maximoff x reader

warnings: strictly follows the events of DOFP at the beginning, mentions of food

word count: 2193

note: ‘twinks’ is your nickname for each other. for @peterssweetpea and @sunflowergirl522 because i love the both of u to the moon and back <3

“how does the breakfast club sound to you, twinks?” you asked your best friend, flipping through the movie catalog of the newspaper.

he scrunched his nose up, “ehh,”

“oh, come on, pete,” you groaned, letting the paper fall on your face, “you’ve protested to every movie that’s showing in the theaters.”

“you know we could just go to new york in like a span of a minute to look for a great movie.” he shrugged, “or watch a production of that chick flick you’re waiting for,”

“i- wait, actually, that sounds like a great plan,” you grinned, sitting up.

but before you could even say another word, he shushed you and sped out, and back with a box of popsicles. he dropped it on your lap and went back to playing table tennis with himself.

“peter!” magda called out, “the police are here,”

“what? did they immediately know that you stole these?” you asked, unwrapping one.

“... again.”

“nope, and they’re not cops. i checked,” he said.

footsteps were heard as three men went down the stairs, you looked at them suspiciously but didn’t say a word.

“what d’you guys want? i didn’t do anything,” he said, before speeding around and sitting at the couch from behind them, “i’ve been here all day, ask her.” he nodded towards you, letting the tennis ball fall on the floor.

the three men looked at you, you waved your hand and smirked.

“just relax peter, we’re not cops,” one of them said, completely ignoring your existence.

“‘course you’re not cops, if you were cops you wouldn’t be driving a rental car,” he retorted, making you laugh.

“how’d you know we’ve got a rental car?” the long-haired brunette asked, you shook your head in disbelief, continuing on eating your popsicle.

“i checked your registration when you were walking through the door,” he said, “i also had some time to kill so i went through your rental agreements, and saw you were out of town.”

“are you the fbi?” you asked, peter looked at you and you nodded at him.

peter took the hint and sped around them, time slowing by as he did. he went through the scruffed man’s wallet, hoping to get some money while he’s at it, but instead of money, he saw a folded envelope with his and your name on it. the handwriting was yours, which confused him because as far as he was concerned, the both of you didn’t know who these men were.

he looked at your frozen states before pocketing it and grabbing the next guys wallet, “nope, you’re not cops,” he swiped through it and grabbed the crumpled card, “hey, what’s up with this gifted youngster’s place?”

“that’s an old card,”

“he’s fascinating.”

“he’s a pain in the arse,”

“what, a teleporter?”

“no, he’s just fast,” one of them said, “and when i knew him he wasn’t so… young,”

you looked through his mind, seeing all his emotions, his memories, and his crowded mind. he isn’t from here.

peter sat beside you on his bed, eating his popsicle as he wrapped an arm around your shoulder, “young? you’re just old,”

you snorted before staring at the man whose name you found out was logan, “what’re you doing here, logan?”

the three of them blinked at you, finally acknowledging your presence. he spoke up, “you know what i’m here for,”

you squinted your eyes at him, trying to go deeper into his mind.

“stop entering my mind, y/n,” he growled, he knew that if you went in any deeper, he’d lose connection with the future.

“a telepath?” charles asked, looking at you with wonder.

“and a time traveler, creating portals to anywhere and anytime,” logan groaned, rubbing his head.

“so you’re not afraid to show your powers?” hank asked.

“powers? what powers?” peter furrowed his eyebrows, turning to look at you and ask, “do you see something strange here?”

“nothing anybody would believe if you told them,” you quipped, grinning as peter used his powers to speed over his pacman.

“so, who are you? what do you want?” he asked, eyes focused on the game.

“we need your help, peter, y/n,”

“for what?” you asked, sitting up straight.

“to break into a highly-secured facility,” he sought, “and to get someone out.”

“prison break? that’s illegal, you know.” he retorted, hands still aggressively pressing and pushing on buttons.

they looked around the basement, observing peter’s stolen stuff.

“what’s in it for us?”

“you, you kleptomaniac, get to break into the pentagon.”

this piqued both our interests, peter stopped playing the game and faced them. you sighed, creating a portal and appearing in front of them, “how do we know that we can trust you?”

“because we’re just like you,” he answered. you knew that he meant they were mutants like you, but if peter’s in, then you are, too.

“show him,”

slowly, sharp claws of bones started to appear in one of logan’s hands. you grimaced, turning around to wear your sneakers.

“that’s cool, but it’s disgusting,”

as soon as you’ve got everything settled and planned out, you and peter got into action. you waited in the elevator for the assigned guard as the others went on their ways.

peter messed with him as soon as he got in and grinned, getting the duct tape out. you immediately wrote a note and stuck it on the food tray.

peter went out, uniform-clad and the tray in hand. you sat on the floor, looking at the guard who’s been duct-taped against the wall, “so, you come here often?”

he started muffling out words you obviously couldn’t understand so you blinked at him, “what was that? oh, yeah, you’ve got tape on your mouth,” you hummed, feigning sympathy as you stood up, hearing the glass shatter.

in a blink of an eye, peter and erik, who looks like he’s going to be sick, appeared. peter immediately changed back to his clothes you handed back.

erik looked at you, and you smiled, “it’ll pass, it happens to everyone.”

“you must’ve done something serious,” peter commented, “what did you do? what’d you do? what’d you do?”

you ignored the annoying remarks of your best friend and offered the man a comforting look, “why did they have you in there?”

“for killing the president,” he muttered.

you and peter exchanged shocked looks, “shit!”

“you take karate? you know karate, man?” peter asked, doing some hand motions. you rolled your eyes, wondering why you couldn’t go watch a movie like the both of you had planned instead.

“i don’t know karate,” he groaned, “but i know crazy.”

“they told me you control metal,” peter said, looking at him curiously.

“they?” he asked, looking at you and peter worriedly.

you just shrugged, but peter didn’t stop talking, “you know, my mom once knew a guy who could do that.”

your eyes widened, looking back and forth from erik and peter, but before you could even go into his mind and see if he and your best friend are related, the elevator doors opened.

“charles?” he faltered, but before he could say anything else, charles gave him a right punch on his face, making him stumble, “good to see you, too, old friend… and walking.”

you shook your head in disbelief, waiting as the two of them bickered like an old married couple.

you leaned into peter, and whispered, “can you feel the sexual tension, too?”

“definitely,” he snorted, watching as the events unfold.

the shouts of the guards snapped you out of thought, “nobody move! hold it right there!”

“charles,” erik began. all of you stepping out of the lift as more of them slowly came in. peter moved you from behind him, you calculated each of their moves. you knew that you wouldn’t handle them all at once, especially if you haven’t fully controlled your powers.

“don’t move, hands up, or we will shoot!”

“freeze them, charles,”

“i can’t,”

you grabbed peter’s walkman, and carefully placed it in his hold as erik manipulated the metals around you.

in a millisecond, the guards are down and the bullets were away from you.

you smiled, making your way towards him and giving peter a high-five, “great work, twinks,”

he blushed, but a small frown on his face as charles and erik walked out without acknowledging him. logan smirked, patting him on the back, “thanks, kid.”

“c’mon,” you wrapped your arm around his waist, “how about that movie, now?”

as the rest of them boarded into the jet, you leaned against the car.

“peter, y/n, thank you very, very much,” charles said courteously, shaking peter’s hand, “you take care.”

charles looked at you and smiled, “do me a favor and return it for me,”

you grinned, catching the keys and going in the driver’s seat, “sure thing, charlie,”

peter scoffed in disbelief as you started the car, revving the engines to spite him.

“maximoff,” logan called, he patted down on his pockets for the envelope, but then realized that he’s got what he needs already, “open it with her, alright?”

peter blinked, “oh- uh yeah, sure,”

“come on, peter!” you beeped the car, and teased him, “mcdonald’s may be open 24/7, but i’m not willing to wait for you that long,”

“and peter?” logan added, “take it slow,”

peter chuckled, shaking his head as he got in the passenger’s seat. you waved goodbye at them and started to drive off.

“play some music, i’ve always wanted to sing obnoxiously loud in the car with you,” you said, flicking at the turning signals.

he connected the aux to your ipod and pressed shuffle play on yours and his playlist, another brick in the wall, pt. 2 by pink floyd started playing.

the both of you sang along (quite horribly), as you rolled down the windows, acting as if you didn’t just break into the pentagon, as if it was just the two of you and the rest of the world— how it should always be.

you lowered the volume, ordering by the drive-thru, and carefully parked the car.

you fiddled with the keys, turning the engine off but letting the music play as peter grabbed the takeouts and hopped on the hood of the car, you not too far behind.

you took a bite of your fries, and spoke up, “i know i’ve said it before but i really do think that you did amazing out there.”

he chuckled, “thanks, twinks. you did, too,”

“please,” you scoffed, “i barely did anything but be the moral support and the comic relief.”

he turned to look at you, but you were just watching the cars drive past you, “i don’t think i would’ve been all superhero-ey without you there, y/n,”

you smiled, “well, what kind of best friend would i be if i wouldn’t be there for you?”

the both of you chuckled humorlessly, because, oh, yeah, you were just best friends and nothing more. just secretly pining over each other and hoping that the other feels the same.

peter hummed, taking a sip of his soda before remembering what logan told him, “oh! hey, see. i knicked this from the big dude’s pocket,”

to y/n and peter

“huh,” you scooted over next to him and opened the envelope. in it was a photo booth picture of the both of you, but a bit older.

summer ‘83, peter and y/n

“hey, this is 10 years from now,” you pointed out. the two of you were smiling, plain and simple, but still adoring at the first one.

“how very y/n of us,” he joked.

“shut up,” you laughed, shoving him a bit.

in the second photo, peter had your cheeks squished in one hand, his eyes were crossed and his tongue out while your hand was raised as bunny ears behind his head.

“and how very peter of us,” you retorted, falling in love with the photo from the future.

in the third photo, your nose was scrunched up while you’re smiling as peter was kissing your cheek.

heat crept up on both of your faces, that’s fine, the both of you thought, friends kiss each other on the cheeks, too, right? purely platonic.

but the fourth photo had both of you choking on air. you and peter were kissing. like on the lips.

the both of you turned to look at each other but immediately avoided each other’s gazes as you were too flustered.

you cleared your throat, “well that’s…”

“yeah…” he muttered, “look, there’s a note at the back,”

just kiss already! and admit that you like each other so that you can finally watch a movie!

“oh,” you whispered, you looked at peter, “you, you like me, too?”

“i- well, yeah, for a long time now, actually,” he smiled softly, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear.

“me, too,” you leaned in slowly as he did. and surely, your lips collided, all those years of mutual pining and shameless flirting came to a stop and a start of a new beginning for the both of you.

“so, how about the movie now?”

general taglist: @daltonacademia @inks-and-jinx @weasleyyy @oldschoolkiddo @accioweaslcy @inglourious-imagines @peterssweetpea @iwritesiriusly @fives-cup-of-coffee @just-here-to-escape-from-reality @band--psycho @marswilson24 @miraclesoflove @chokemepansy @spideyspixies @lolooo22 @justfangirlthingies @sw33tgirl @remugoodgirl @tatestripedsweater @gryffindorgirly @hellounicorn

marvel taglist: @marswilson24  @magicalxdaydream

[classic80sand90smovieloves2]

Meeting and Dating Produce Joe

(My gif)(Requested by @westanimagines )

- You and Joe meet when you get a job at the grocery store and are given a tour of the place by your new manager. 

- After being shown around the floor of the shop, he takes you into the backrooms and introduces you to Randy and the ever interesting Joe; who he has to tap on the shoulder in order to make him realize there’s people behind him since his music is playing so loud. 

- The bespectacled boy tries to play it cool but you can tell he’s a little embarrassed; particularly when his eyes fall on you and your manager explains that you’ll be starting work there the next Monday. 

- You give the man a polite hello before you’re ushered out of the room and whisked away to be shown around the rest of the building; leaving Joe flustered yet realistically unhopeful. 

- As I said before, you start work the next Monday and things go smoothly. You make friends with the other girls on shift and you do the mind numbing work that pertains to a job at a grocery store. 

- When you first start working there, you don’t really talk to Joe all that much. You don’t have a reason to be in his portion of the store most days and you’re new to the job so you’re doing whatever you can to look like a picture perfect employee as you figure out the rules of working there. 

- Once you’re a little more comfortable in your position, you do a bit more wandering and are trusted with more tedious jobs that have you going into the back of the store. That's when you actually start making conversation from time to time. 

- Your conversations are always a bit awkward but you come to realize that that’s …sort of just Joe. Which is why you begin to feel a bit bad for him.

- He’s always detached from everyone, always alone, and though you can’t say for sure that he isn’t the one who’s doing the detaching, you figure that it can’t be easy all the same and make it your mission to be friendly and talk with him. And his pleasant response to your interest in him convinces you that you've done the right thing. 

- Soon enough, he’s latched onto you. Not in a creepy way but in a friendly, ‘you’re the only one who I’m comfortable around and who talks to me’ sort of way. 

- It’s easy to see that you just being there makes his day a whole lot better; and that he looks forward to your little interactions, and though your coworkers certainly find him a bit strange, you begin to find him sort of cute. 

- Surprisingly enough, it doesn’t take Joe a ridiculously long time to shoot his shot. He just randomly asks if you’d want to see a movie with him on Saturday and against your better judgement of dating one of your coworkers, you can’t help but agree. 

- Hey, if there was anyone you’d be able to avoid at work and whose offer is dorkily endearing enough to persuade you into accepting, it’s Joe. 

- So you meet up with him that next Saturday and settle in for a date at the cinema, sharing a popcorn and pretending like you aren’t flattered by/don’t notice his glances towards you. 

- He almost kisses you after the movie as the two of you are saying goodbye but he very obviously loses his nerve and plays it off before the two of you call it a night. And as you’re driving yourself home, you’re surprised by how disappointed you are that he didn’t....

- Though you don’t wind up waiting too long for that kiss since you wind up taking it for yourself a few days later when you’re retrieving something from his area of the shop. 

- You figure that it’s best to get it out of the way to show him that you want him to kiss you so, after he hands you the box of things that you’d came there for, you lean up and peck him on the lips, giving him a cheerful thanks before you leave the room; leaving him an ecstatic mess. 

- And just like that, you’ve got yourself the freshest boy at the grocers. 

- Joe likes to pretend like he’s this cool tough guy but at the same time, he knows that he isn’t; which makes you being with him a big accomplishment in his eyes. He’s incredibly proud that you’ve chosen to be his girlfriend and being your boyfriend makes him feel cool so he loves pda and being able to show you off.  

- Him awkwardly throwing his arm around your shoulder while trying to look all macho. He’s a dork and that’s just something you’ll have to get used to. 

- Kiss his cheek! Kiss his cheek! Seriously, he loves it almost as much as he loves you. 

- Clumsy but sweet kisses. 

- Taking his glasses off so that you can kiss him better. I can’t imagine it would be easy to touch lips with those massive frames in the way. 

- The main pet name he uses is babe and it almost always sounds hilarious whenever it leaves his mouth.  

- Most of the time, when you cuddle, he’s the big spoon. He likes nuzzling into the back of your neck and having you pressed up against him; and he’s tall so it works out quite nicely. 

- Laying your head in each others laps. Oftentimes he’ll snuggle into your lap or stomach, wrapping his arms around the small of your back as your fingers card through his hair. 

- Brushing his hair out of his face. It never seems to bother him but every now and again it bothers the hell out of you. 

- Always having the freshest fruit and vegetables. If your boyfriend doesn’t put aside the best of the bunch when your favorite produce comes in, is he even your boyfriend?

- Spitting watermelon seeds and playing other stupid little games.

- Sliding down the grocery shoot every now and again when you know you aren’t gonna get caught; not that your boss really cares 90% of the time. 

- Making faces at each other.

- Goofing off and not taking yourselves too seriously. 

- Occasionally spooking him when you come to visit since he plays his music so loud. It’s become a highlight of your day to make him momentarily jump out of his skin; you consider it to be you avenging his eardrums. 

- Borrowing his Walkman and cassettes. It’ll definitely take some convincing though, that things practically his baby. 

- Dancing to music and lip syncing to songs.

- You can’t tell me that he doesn’t look like a “little” nerd, which is why I’m making him liking Star Wars and Star Trek and all of those geeky interests a thing. 

- Going to conventions and other nerdy events like that.

- Playing different tabletop games. 

- Movie dates. Something tells me he’d be one of those guys who are scared of horror movies but would try to play it off like he wasn’t…up until he’s clutching your hand all tight and refusing to walk down a dark street.

- Arcade dates.

- Carnival dates. 

- Mall dates. 

- He’s adorably willing to indulge in your more “girly” interests and probably secretly likes them himself.

- Taking naps together; though he strikes me as the type of person who barely gets any sleep so you might just be taking naps at his apartment while he does his own thing.

- Playful competitions.

- Him scaring the shit out of you with his chopping and dicing; to the point where you’re compelled to do his work yourself so that you know he isn’t gonna lose a finger. 

- Eating lunch together and sharing food. You spend pretty much all of your lunch breaks in the backrooms with him.

- Talking with Randy every now and again while you wait for Joe. He appreciates the occasional company and the fact that you can save him some trouble and relay messages to your boyfriend for him. 

- Long conversations about nothing in particular. You can rant to him about whatever you want but I can’t guarantee that he’ll be listening too intently; not that he’s purposefully ignoring you or anything.

- He’s kind of the typical oblivious boyfriend but he’s never malicious in his ignorance. He’s just a goofy dork who doesn’t take notice of subtleties and has trouble concentrating. 

- Letting him brag about his accomplishments; even though you probably know that he’s completely making them up. He’ll probably “come clean” later on in your relationship and you'll have to hold back a laugh while trying to sound sincere when you tell him it’s okay. 

- Him trying to act tough yet borderline hiding behind you when things get scary. 

- Most of the time, Joe doesn’t take notice of any flirtation or suggestive interactions between you and other men so he rarely gets jealous of people. You could openly flirt with a dude and he’d be none the wiser. 

- As much as Joe likes to pretend like he can kick peoples asses, he most certainly cannot so don’t expect him to start any fights in your honor. He’s a bit of a coward so he really isn’t all too protective of you. 

- Joe’s a laidback guy and you sort of knew what you were getting yourself into when you started dating him so the two of you really don’t get into too many fights. If you do have them, they’re a quick argument and an even quicker resolution. 

- Both of you sort of just choose to forget about arguments or you bicker until you come up with a quick “fine.” “fine!” sort of agreement and subsequently forget about the problem. Either way, fights never last long. 

- Joe tells you he loves you pretty much every day; usually when you’re saying goodbye or in other circumstances like that. 

- He might give you the occasional headache but you love him nonetheless. He’s a dork but he’s your dork and you’re gonna stay with him for as long as you can. 

[theenpcbracket]

Seeding Round: Poll 6

Image IDs included! Click the images to see the full character please!

More about each NPC below the cut!

Character Descriptions are in the order of their appearance in the poll!

Character 1

Name: HE Party: The Misdemeanor Mateys Relationship to party: Businessman, aggrivating party stalker, final boss

What makes them the best NPC: Mysterious tiny man with static for a head, and the loudest screechiest voice you can imagine (DM once blew out their vocal chords because of him). Levitates and teleports at will, and can pop objects in and out of existence. Runs a business granting magical favors. Originally tried to hire the party to help his business but the group said "fuck no". Now regularly pops in to nag, cause trouble, or play meme songs on a calliope, and occasionally provides useful information. HE controls an alternate dimension called the Mercantile Pile full of items from different times and places, including lots of modern-day technology (unlike the D&D campaign setting). He can be summoned by writing out his name. His calling card is a 7 of Spades, which he can also use to influence the world & cast spells remotely. HE mainly wears business suits & suspenders, but has also appeared in a hazmat suit (riding a tricycle), turtleneck sweater and thigh holster, wetsuit with suspenders painted on, sequin jacket with '69' on the back, peacock burlesque, and nurse drag outfit. He once killed 20 guards with a snap of his fingers. He also destroyed a walkman with a flamethrower. Implied to be the father of the ultra-powerful kid whose primary pastime is handing out enchanted "friendship nuggets" [chicken]. His #1 business competitor is Michael's Wonder Emporium. Eventually turns out to be one of the most central characters to the story.

Quote: "STAY OFF MY THRONE!" "You're going to call me when you need me!"

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Character 2

Name: Parsnip Party: Soup Squad Relationship to party: [Submitter's PC, Barley's] pocket frog/run off prince from a nearby land

What makes them the best NPC: Tumblr sexyman material, and has fighter stats as a druid. He uses wildshape for the express purpose of tagging along with a literal child. This lead to him literally melting in Barley's bag once.

Quote: "So what's with the, uh, rivalry you have with the wizard that's trying to kill us, Barley?"

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Character 3

Name: Mary Byram Party: Ambiscade Gang Relationship to party: Coworker, divorcee

What makes them the best NPC: Mary Byram is living proof that the song “No Children” by The Mountain Goats doesn’t just have to be about romantic relationships gone wrong. She’s a bright red tiefling rogue with a storied past, currently working for a guild called the Thinfingers alongside one of the party members. Previously, she worked with a tiefling rights movement called Hellflame, but something happened there that she doesn’t really talk about. She’s still passionate about both the movement and the group, though.

Our bard lovingly calls her “Mare-Bear.” She hates this. She’s a day drinker. She’s exhausted always. She cares so much but will never admit it unless under duress. I think she genuinely thinks that god cursed her by metaphorically putting her in a get-along shirt with our rogue PC. Their dynamic allowed our party to coin the term “Coworker Divorce” except they’re literally not allowed to actually get rid of each other. She is also constantly saddled with the skater-pilled rogue who was also submitted to the bracket, so she’s usually outnumbered when it comes to harebrained schemes. She’s largely anti-antics, but is down for some antics if she's in control of them. She’s a mastermind and usually gives the help bonus action either by telling people what they fucked up or by telling them NOT to fuck something up. She deserves a break she’ll simply never get.

Quote: "Thoughts?" -the warlock, asking Mary about a proposed plan. "...More than you. Apparently." -Mary

[tobiosmilktea]

high fidelity — kuroo tetsurou

3.9k words | genre: fluff | warning/s: terrible writers block writing, ooc kuroo cause i suck | pairing: kuroo x gn!reader

↪︎ in which being the only two employees at a small record store meant that you and kuroo worked together almost every day. and not a single day has passed that you didn’t find your coworker absolutely insufferable. you think he’s annoying, and he thinks you’re cute. in reality, kuroo just sucks at flirting.

a/n: is the plot a bit of a mess? lowkey yeah, but ykw that’s okay cause i needed something stupid to write. this was also a bit self-indulgent cause homegirl just got employed at a record store (yay)

fucking tired—is what you would tell kuroo in the means of his grand intervention to mess with his favorite coworker of all time. granted, you were his only coworker in the infamously meager record store down some random alleyway in downtown tokyo.

those six words were how you would describe how you felt at that very moment. busy with doing what you were employed on doing rather than sitting around and snacking on some trail mix. one would assume that working at a rather small establishment meant little to no work, especially in hours where it was slow with no customers roaming up and down the aisles, but god were you wrong. you were the only one on the shift actually busting your ass off on the floor and at the register while all kuroo does is change the music playing on the store’s overhead speakers and hangs out.

sure, he does do his fair share of work here and there. occasionally he would even take over most of the manual labor of carrying all the new shipments of heavy vinyl records for the sake of courtesy, but at the end of the day, it was always you who would have to restock the displays every time.

so much for being a gentleman.

your feet hurt, your legs ached, your arms were sore. you were just glad that kuroo finally decided to get his ass up and actually walk around for once. he probably wasn’t planning on doing any work, simply just meandering through the aisles of vinyl just to see what to buy next with his 20% off employee discount. you honestly couldn’t care less. what you did care about was that the stool behind the cash register (aka the only place to sit inside the entire building) was finally free.

you settled yourself behind the counter, a sigh escaping your lips as your chin rested atop the palm of your hand.

you finally had a chance to rest. yet despite taking this rare opportunity, you couldn’t help but feel the slightest bit bored now that the store was practically deserted. then again, what did you expect from working at a small business? not to mention, it’s the twenty-first century and all forms of media was digitized and easily accessible by a single internet search. there were, however, a few old souls out there, still in love with the idea of having a physical copy of their favorite artist’s work.

you were easily one of those people.

there was something so endearing listening to strangers talk about their love for music—it’s why you started working here at TRAX in the first place as a sorry excuse to surround yourself with the physical embodiments of the best invention mankind has ever made. hell, you still had the old walkman that your father gave to you. it was from the 90s with its gray plastic chipping at the corners and scratched-off lettering. you even had his old cassette tapes always in your bag whenever you go out.

regardless, the quietness of the store wasn’t at all bad at times. if anything, you were fortunate that kuroo wasn’t annoying the shit out of you like he normally does—poking at your cheeks and teasing you to no end. in fact, it was a nice break from the overstimulation of the occasional busy hours that come out of the blue. from old men mansplaining how record players work to annoying middle schoolers trying to blast their terrible soundcloud songs on the store’s bluetooth speakers. perhaps the slow hours were a godsend.

it was absolute hell trying to chase those annoying thirteen-year-olds out of the store with the help of kuroo. causing a ruckus or not, the situation was a bit funny at the end. it was one of those rare moments you and kuroo shared a genuine laugh together.

a sigh escapes your lips then as you take out your walkman, plugging in the old headphones that came with it. the black, plastic ones with thin muffs whose wires tangle no matter how much you try not to. you place them over your ears.

today’s mood was classic 80s rock, something along the lines of queen, guns n’ roses, and journey beating into your ears as you let your eyelids rest for a few seconds.

however, your means to relax was immediately shut down when a hand snatches your headphones off of your ears.

“ouch,” you groan as the plastic of the headset scratched at your temple. you look over your shoulder at your coworker with confusion plastered all over your face. “what was that for?”

kuroo blinks with a sly smile on his face, “those things still exist?”

you flick him a look, “what do you want?”

“you don’t get paid to sleep on the job, you know.” kuroo gives you a pointed look as he hands you back your headphones.

you couldn’t help but roll your eyes. the audacity. “i get paid by the hour and the store is literally empty right now,” you defend as you click your walkman on pause, “besides, aren’t you the one slacking all the time?”

“only when the boss isn’t around,” he hums.

“the boss is never around,” you huff.

“speaking of an empty store,” kuroo starts once again, watching you wrap the thin headphone wires around the body of your walkman. “d’you got any spare change?”

your eyes peer at him slightly, “what for?”

“to get a drink from the vending machines down the street, obviously.” replied kuroo.

yet another sigh left your lips, licking at its dryness as you reached into your pocket to reveal a few fifty-yen coins. it wasn’t much, but it wasn’t like anything from the vending machines in the city was that expensive. just anything to get him off your back again for peace of mind. “get me a one too while you’re at it,” you mutter, tossing the coins into his palm.

“why don’t you just come with me?” he asks, curious.

you shake your head, “i can’t leave the store unattended.”

kuroo clicks his tongue, feigning himself from rolling his eyes and just tugging you along with him. “come on, it’s not like there are any customers.” he gestures onto the barren floor as if its emptiness wasn’t already obvious enough.

“do i have to?” you groan. you just got comfortable and you weren’t exactly in the mood to walk all the way down the street either.

“yes,” he said sternly, hoping that it was enough to sway you, but surprise surprise! it didn’t. his unsuccessful (and oddly pitiful) attempt at convincing you to come with him caused the corners of kuroo’s lips to dip into a slight pout.

no matter how annoying your coworker was, thinking he wasn’t at all cute or the least bit attractive was a lie. when you look at kuroo, you’re not entirely sure what it was about him that made your heart skip a few beats despite your brain thinking the opposite. was it his sleek obsidian hair that was always styled perfectly? perhaps it was his eyes that were so pretty that if you looked at him for longer than a few seconds, you would be entranced? or maybe it was his witty charm that despite being annoying, you still found his presence nice to be around?

whatever it was, you hated to think there was even the slightest possibility that you liked kuroo more than you would like to admit. and the worst part of it all? perhaps you did like him more than a friend.

and that was the biggest problem.

how annoying, you think.

“pretty please,” he begged, his warm hands suddenly finding yours in the midst of your internalized dilemma and pulling you out of your thoughts.

the action catches you off guard as you snatch your hands back from his abrupt contact. eyes wide and heart beating heavy, you gulped when you noticed how close he was to you then. the action of you pulling away from him only brought kuroo closer like some odd twist in fate.

your thoughts pondered a bit as you looked up at him, still patiently waiting for an answer as he gives you a comforting smile. perhaps kuroo stepped a bit out of line this time, and there’s no doubt he feels a bit bad about it. he was about to pull away and apologize but after your thoughts spiraled for a few seconds you gave in with a nod.

“fine,” you say, lifting yourself off the stool as kuroo steps away from you with a grin. you follow him around the counter, taking your walkman with you as you pass it.

you just hoped no one came by while you two were out. the last thing you wanted to do was get fired all because your annoyingly handsome coworker wanted to get a mid-afternoon beverage.

your shoes muffled gently against the store’s floor—tap, tap, tapping in some form of patterned unison as you and kuroo left the building.

the backroads of downtown were quiet. considerably so compared to the main streets as there was nothing but tweeting birds, whistling cicadas, and an occasional bicycler whizzing by. it was such a nice day, perhaps it wasn’t a bad idea to go out after all.

there was something incredibly calming about afternoon strolls down the street, feeling the rays of sunlight beaming down on your face as you further melted into an earth-smearing mood while you unpaused your walkman.

your headphones laid around your neck with the volume set on max this time just so kuroo could listen in. the corner of his lip quirked up a bit as you did so. it was like a nod of approval within a minuscule gesture. then again, you and kuroo always had a similar taste in music—messy and all over the place, but the classics are where you and he truly had the most in common.

the walk there was short and quiet. usually kuroo doesn’t mind being the one to strike up a conversation, but right now, it was as if he was trying to savor something at the moment that you couldn’t really pinpoint.

upon arriving at the rows of vending machines, kuroo slips in a few coins before pressing one of the buttons. he opted for a calpico, watching the can fall from behind the glass before bending down to pick it up. kuroo doesn’t even give you a look before he puts in the rest of your change, let alone ask what you wanted. the boy presses on the button right below a matcha drink—the exact one you were planning on getting.

he bends down when the drink dispenses and hands it to you on beat with the music emitting from your headphones.

“thank you,” you say, a bit dumbfounded as you opened up the can.

the slight confusion was evident on your face as kuroo couldn’t help but find your curiosity absolutely adorable. “i always see you with that drink whenever you come in for work,” he explains, chuckling as he takes a sip from his own. “assumed you liked it a lot.”

you couldn’t help but blush at his words, feeling your heartstrings suddenly tug at the thought that he knows you enough, let alone care to even remember such a minor detail. letting out a shaky breath that you hoped was drowned out by the music, you lamely attempted to hide the crimson red hues on your cheeks as you take a drink.

“i’m surprised you’d even remember something so insignificant about me,” you mutter as you two walk back to the store, yet this time your pace slowed along with his.

it seemed as if you weren’t the only one wanting to spend a little more time like this.

“i mean, it’s you.” kuroo replied, fingers nervously fiddling. “you are my favorite coworker after all.”

which wasn’t at all a lie. it was true. you were his favorite, but it was nothing more than a panicked and questionable explanation in the means of nonchalance. he couldn’t exactly expose himself out of the blue ever since you two talked about what you looked for in a partner. he recalled your words of wanting to find someone who cares about you and can remember every detail about you regardless of what it was. and much of his dismay of explaining his type to be the exact same of your own traits and characteristics, his sorry excuse of casually flirting completely flew over your head.

and if he’s coming to think of it now, all of kuroo’s sorry excuses of flirting probably went over your head. he mentally faced palmed himself. god, you probably thought he was the most irritating guy on the planet.

yet to his rapidly beating heart, you laughed, practically beaming at him. kuroo swears you could literally send him into cardiac arrest. “i’m your only coworker, idiot.” you tease before taking another sip.

he grins.

“gives me an even better reason to care then,” he hums, pulling the door to the store open just to be met with a thunderous shout.

you two were met with the owner of TRAX record store aka your boss. the short, pudgy old man with a receding hairline and a scowl on his face stood by the counter, arms crossed over each other like a disappointed parent.

“where have you two been?” he grunts, his familiar adenoidal and croaky voice ripping through your eardrums as you hurried to pause your walkman. “leaving the store unattended just to get drinks? you two are lucky i got here when i did because a customer just came by!”

your lips purse together nervously as the grip around your can tightened. kuroo notices your unease, giving you an apologetic look. he turns to face igarashi, your boss, “sorry sir, that’s my bad. i was the one who convinced (y/n) to come with me even after they said no.”

“oh really?” your boss tested. his hand came up to his chin to scratch the few strands of beard hair he even had. he scoffs, “of course it is.”

your neck swivels up towards kuroo as guilt melted into your bloodstream. knowing igarashi, he wasn’t the type to lay easy on simple mistakes. it was the only reason why you were glad he wasn’t here often in the first place knowing that he was like a ruthless hawk with eyes that followed you everywhere.

“it’s not entirely his fault, sir. i knew better but i still decided to go.” you muttered, refusing to look kuroo in the eye as he looks at you surprised.

igarashi lets out a huff as his eyes closed for a few seconds, “my therapist told me to take deep breaths whenever i feel as if i am about to lash out,” he explains before pulling himself together. he opens his eyes, tone much calmer now but the words were still like venom. “since you two were at least truthful about it, i will let it go this time, but know it won’t be the next time around. alright?”

you and kuroo nod, “yessir.”

“good. now, i want this place spotless by the time i come back.” with that your boss disappears into the back where he would be for the rest of the night–not helping at all. he stays in the backroom just to nap and to get away from his own unhappy marriage. you just hoped he stayed there until the end of your shift.

with your pulse calming, you took a sip of your matcha drink out of comfort, finishing all of its contents before throwing it into the trash bin. kuroo does the same thing, this time out of the fear of getting in trouble again as for the first time in a long time, you hear him ask you, “should we get to work then?”

you almost wanted to laugh. you were oddly giddy about working alongside him rather than vexed, nodding in response. both of you grab one of the grates of newly shipped records from behind the counter, ready to be put on display as you and kuroo worked down the same aisle.

with your walkman still on hand and your headphones wrapped around your head, you decided to play the cassette tape again just to ease the underlying awkwardness that was still in the air.

when you paused your walkman earlier, it stopped near the beginning of good old fashioned lover boy by queen. and the moment freddie mercury starts vocalizing, you could practically feel the ice around the two of you melt, heads bobbing to the beat as you two worked your way down the jazz aisle.

it went like this for the next hour. songs ranging from artist to artist, humming lightly to the beat of every drum. usually, kuroo wouldn’t last two minutes without complaining about doing work, but for once he didn’t mind knowing that you’re right next to him, mumbling the lyrics together in incoherent unison. if he knew working with you was going to be like this, he wouldn’t have been such a slacker after all. you could honestly say the same thing.

the cassette tape pulls to a stop, reaching the end of its duration as you and kuroo reach the bottom of the crate of vinyl records. as you reach inside to take out the last few albums, a gasp escapes you as your eyes fall onto one of the records. it was one that you have been dying to get for years now.

you put your walkman and headphone set down, grabbing the album.

“no way,” you grinned, capturing kuroo’s attention as he looks over at you curiously. “look, look!”

“tears for fears?” he says as a small switch flickers in his brain. “isn’t that your favorite 80s album?”

you nod, happy to think he even remembered that about you as you rush over to the cash register. you buy the album without a moment of hesitation, already freeing it from its plastic wrap as you reach kuroo again. you open the cover, beaming at its beautiful design. you couldn’t wait until you got home to listen to it.

at the end of every other row, there was a record player display that customers were able to use. taking out the delicate vinyl, you carefully placed it on the player’s mat with delicate fingers. you pick up the needle, hovering it over the edge of the record before placing it down gently.

on either side of the record player, there were hooks to hold headphones. each of which was connected to the machine as you quickly pull kuroo over. taking the headsets from the hooks, you put one of the pairs on before placing the other over kuroo’s ears, tiptoeing just to reach his height. almost immediately one of the most iconic songs of the decade stream into his ears. it was everybody wants to rule the world—one of your favorite songs.

you two stood there in silence, listening to the song’s nostalgic beats as your bodies faced each other. while you were looking over at the spinning black vinyl, kuroo eyes fell on you.

there was absolutely nothing in his wake to be able to take his admiration away as this, this beaming expression on your face had something special about it. it was as if his entire world was right in front of him, just an arms reach away.

his heart couldn’t slow for a minute as he could practically hear it over the music playing in his headphones. his breath gave way then, at the moment you turned to look back up at him with glowing eyes as if you struck gold. you consider yourself lucky being able to get your hands on such a rare vinyl, but kuroo considered himself the winner as he had you.

“do you like this song?” you asked him curiously, ignoring the way your heart started beating rapidly from the way he was looking at you with such care and admiration.

you were so close, you were literally right there. all of kuroo’s emotions that battered onto him like a cumbersome downpour can be relieved if he were to just say the words. a simple phrase, three short words, and a heavy heart beat. ready to leave his tongue and all would be done.

come on, just say it!

“I like you,” he says out of the blue, but his voice was a bit muffled due to the headphones.

your eyebrows furrow slightly, mouth suddenly running dry as your eyes widen.

did he just say what you think he just said?

you are not entirely sure what he said considering his words were partially drowned out by the music. you wanted to think that he did say the words of the impossible, but you couldn’t be so sure of yourself.

“sorry, what did you say?”

kuroo’s hands wrap around your headset, pulling them off of your ears and placing them around your neck. “i said i like you and i wanted to know if you wanted to go out sometime!” he says ratherly loudly. his headphones were still on him blasting tears for fears.

you couldn’t help but laugh, the back of your hand coming up to cover your reddening cheeks. warmth surrounded your heart, like a hug that squeezed at your chest in the most comforting way possible. you raise your hands up, cupping around the shell of his headphones as you pull them off of kuroo.

“you’re so loud,” you mutter.

as if fate decided to push you into the unknown with a strange burst of confidence within you, you got up on your tiptoes and leaned it. pressing your lips against his, soft and light, your skin ignited ablaze.

in a mere moment of serendipity just to test out the waters, you were pulled in deeper, mind blurring in satisfaction. yet it was nothing more than temporary as the sound of infamous footsteps gradually got louder and louder. panicked, you pull away quickly just seconds before igarashi emerges from the aisles, staring bullet holes into you and kuroo.

“i suppose you two are working?”

you nod, pulling your wrists out of kuroo’s grasp.

kuroo quickly answers, “we are, don’t worry.”

your boss lets out a suspicious hum as he gives you two one last look. he turns back around again, disappearing into the back.

a sigh of relief leaves you as you turn back towards the boy in front of you. he still waited for an answer, almost desperate to know as his eyes searched for an answer.

grinning, you pause the record player and kuroo watches it spin to a slow stop. “you’re an idiot,” you say with a laugh.

kuroo doesn’t seem to care at that moment, if anything he was just glad there were no one else was around. his hands wrap around yours again, “well, is that a yes or a no?”

“so that kiss wasn’t obvious enough for you?”

liking someone you found annoying was impossible, but liking your annoying coworker? now, that was a different story.

general taglist: @yongboxerrr @rosepetalhaven @tvwhoresblog @tanakaslastbraincell @kellesvt @kitsunetea @milktyama @anejuuuuoy