#*arrives late with youtube links* hello

[flyingfish1]

Oooh, that reminds me! I don't know if you've seen this -- I feel like it didn’t get a lot of attention at the time, maybe just because the Dean/Cas/destiel/spnwin/please-fix-the-finale-please side of the fandom probably isn’t going to be gravitating towards jarpad panels so much -- but there was an interesting little piece of potential information given at jibcon12 last August:

[The video should start around the 22 minute mark]

JP: Jensen and I have talked about a great way to see some more of Sam and Dean Winchester – um – and without giving too much detail, and nothing’s been written! – but I think we’d like to see what would happen if somehow or another,* Sam and Dean ended up back on earth, somehow? Um. Yeah. (Unfortunately, these last two years since we wrapped Supernatural, neither of us has aged well, and it would be too expensive to cover up in visual effects and makeup, so we’re gonna have to do it like thirty years in the future.) [laughs]

*at the time, I saw a couple of tweets mistakenly reporting that he had talked about “another Sam and Dean” coming back to earth – as in, AU Sam and Dean, from an AU world – but they must have misheard: he’s saying the phrase “somehow or another.” He’s talking about our Sam and Dean.

So ever since then I’ve been clinging to that comment with white knuckles, lol

I mean, I don’t want to act as if it’s set in stone. as he said, nothing’s been written, so obviously things could change, or maybe they already have changed given that this was said last summer!

(although, on that note, last summer would have been, approximately, when spnwin was being plotted. And Jensen has said that he and Robbie have an idea for how they could tie future seasons of spnwin into a potential spn continuation. hm. *pins string to cork board* I’ve connected the dots)

But it lines up with other things that Jensen has said since then, like,

JA: Oooh, when we do the reboot, that’d be a good scene. When we come back from heaven. Finding the car.

So yeah -- fingers crossed.

ONE FEAR meme that they'll eventually do the spn reboot continuation but it will stick to the heaven endgame and they'll do the "original pre-covid heaven reunion ending" instead of leaning into the chuck won theory stuff/ having them bust out of heaven (bc it's not real !! that heaven is faker than fake)

like sorry misha<3 but no that original heaven ending was not good either. spnwin gave me some faith that dean is unhappy in heaven and wants to bust out (and jack is acting a little off) but like pls do not give me a future spn continuation just to keep them all dead in heaven. they CAN film the heaven reunion if they want, as a precursor to their breakout of heaven and be alive boys again plot

[canmom]

Animation Night 175: Short Film Night N+1 "Whoah, These Films Are Short"

Hello everyone! As you might gather from how spotty these streams have been lately, I have been running on kinda low energy for writing about animated films. But Animation Night will never die! Never!!!

Not even if I have to make an AI overlord to put all of humanity into bubbling, softly glowing science tubes, projecting each person's minds into a virtual studio so everyone can produce animation to fill my programme. [This is a hypothetical. No plans are afoot to bring about this eventuality.]

Tonight is one of those short film nights! I really like short films - there's a reason animation night started with package films like 'Robot Carnival'. And even though every collection is hit and miss, there's usually some gems.

Now, every so often we tune into the films of students at animation studios like CalArts and Gobelins. But students have been making films since long before there were video streaming sites. Some of those students will go on to be 'important in the animation industry' and stuff like that!

I recently came across a trove of CalArts films from the 80s through the 90s, thanks to rarefilmm, who maintains a great site for finding obscure movies. In his words:

Full list & link w/all the shorts I got from '80s CalArts students, some of these are on Youtube but not all of them, also included here is an unifinished version (doesn't have colors) of Wisconsin (1994), from the late Chris Moeller, considered lost media.

It's a fascinatingly old-school collection - some of the students go for a classic Disney kind of 'full animation' but you can also see the seeds of styles that would become prevalent in the 90s. The shorts are very short by the standards of modern student films, many of them less than a minute long - if anything underlines how tech has affected this scale of animation it's that.

And for modern contrast, Gobelins are releasing a current batch of student films! Alongside TRY HARD, in which anime girls try to get into anime gobelins, we have the Tekkonkinkreet-esque Kakomando in which parkour-loving kids vie with adults in a shanty town, and the above short in which a young alchemist is apprenticed to a vain and reckless older guy.

That's the student side, but what of web animation? Well, our favourite Australian animator couple Zoë Medcraft & Felix Colgrave made a great video about ants...

For that matter, I don't think I've shown Medcraft's previous animation, I'm A Witch, which drips with just as much style...

Schuschinus made a new PSYCHO ESSENCE, and I think this would be a great chance to visit the works of one of my favourite JDR-like autistic passion project series. Psycho Essence is a massive stream-of-consciousness space opera telling of how a group of hedonistic cyborg weirdos, the Maschinensäcke, resist the cosmic repressive hyperfascist force of 'F' (for Freitaglandmänner). Classic Kirby type stuff and incredibly sincere.

Honestly I think it might be a good time to watch the whole series! It's not the easiest thing to follow but it has some real sights and honestly, I just admire the whole energy of Schuschinus and his project so much.

Meanwhile The Line, one of the most talented animation studios in the world, released this incredible Berserk-core short film Heavenly Vessel - the debut for director Venla Linna. In their words:

The uneasy stasis of a space-dwelling Monarchy is shaken by the arrival of a hypnotic, luminous dwarf planet. Caught between the authoritarian Duke and the impulsive Prince, all will come to light.

That means growing extra eyes and transitioning in a kind of space orgy, apparently. Absolutely gorgeous film, and I'm really excited to see the Line going in this more narrative direction, when so much of their other work carries the stain of being an ad lol.

We also have the second season of Worthikids' series Bigtop Burger to enjoy - the ending, in which we visit the planet of clowns and learn the significance of Old Deut to clown culture, is something else.

And as usual with short film nights, if you've seen anything cool and weird and animated on the internet of late, let me know and I'll slot it in! I'm always excited to see new animation!

Animation Night 175 will be going live in just a moment, and the films will start in maybe 20 minutes or so, so please make your way into the theatre at twitch.tv/canmom!

[ishipmutualrespect]

REPORT FOR MY SHOW EXPERIENCE IN MILAN ON APRIL 10th

Let me start by saying a big thank you to everyone who attended with me because they made my experience amazing so thank you to my husband who was there for me and to @alwaysyousweetcreature @betterlatethanhouie @nonsocomechiamareilmioblog1 and @likearagingroar. I also want say that it was a great pleasure to meet @violeblanche in person and to say hello to her as well.

I feel like I said a millionth times that I don’t like crowds and that I was very afraid because I was obviously assigned a GA ticket but the experience was amazing and in the end I was so happy because I was so close and I really saw him and his face and his movements close and not from far away (because obviously if I had a seat I wouldn’t have seen him so good).

We arrived at the venue around 4.30pm because everyone who was there with me agreed on not wanting to be barricade so there was really no rush to go there before. There were at least 2 hours to wait in line so we asked where we should go and we followed the instructions. People had all the space they needed, I personally insisted on being on the external side of the line so that I could always got out of it if I needed and everything was really fine in the end. At 6.30pm we started moving and people were asked to move in little groups and we also walked with calm, no one was rushing or running, at least where we were.

We were inside the venue at 7.15pm I think maybe 7.30pm and we find a nice space right at the side barrier. We were very close but we had all the space needed around us. As time passed people came a bit around us but at the back there weren’t many people so looking at the videos going around (there’s this one where I’m there with my friends 😅) it’s a bit weird because it looks like we were in a very big crowd but at the same time we weren’t. This gives you an idea on where we were.

Let me tell you the people who organized the fan action need a shout out! Amazing, well organized! They explained everything to everyone before the show and in the end the results were beautiful. I was so emotional during the rainbow lights, it came out very well and it must have seemed so big for Louis. I’m so happy he could see that. I already posted the rainbow here and here’s the Wall fan action, this video is as beautiful as the other one (LOL you have to excuse me for these videos because I wasn’t able to do anything other than sing)

At around 8pm Only the Poets started and let me tell you I LOVED them. Their songs are beautiful. I’m listening on a youtube video of the song “every song I ever wrote” since this morning because I genuinely love it so much. If you want to listen to it this is the link of the video I found about them singing this song. There were people who were handing out flyers about the band. You should take one or a few (and hand them out to other people) because they were explaining something about their concerts and about how if you take one and you go to their concerts there is something special for you (I don’t really know what but listen to them and they’ll explain I’m sure, I was a bit too stressed to listen and now I regret that).

Louis came on stage a bit late, maybe 10 minutes after 9pm and the edging (lol) was just a bit too much 😅 ok so I was so so so so happy when the smiley came down and the band started playing we made it. I don’t think I ever experienced a feeling like that. I’ve got to tell you I didn’t go to that many concerts obviously, maybe 3 in my 38 years, and I never saw Louis before or Harry or any of the other boys and it was unreal. UNREAL. It felt so good and so weird at the same time because I see him on my dash everyday so I thought I was used to it but SEEING him there on the stage in front of me with all his tattoos and his movements… UNREAL! He’s beautiful (obviously) and the energy he brings with himself while walking out on the stage… impossible to describe. Everyone was so incredibly happy to see him. I saw so many smiles around me (yes I’m the kind of person who looks at the other while I’m happy because I want to see if the others are happy as well and everyone around me was smiling).

When he started singing my husband was shocked because he told me that for 2 entire songs he couldn’t hear his voice because everyone in the venue was SO LOUD! and it was so true, everyone was singing their hearts out, me included, and it was amazing!

I hoped that my friends were going to take videos and pictures of the night because I was there not being able to take my phone out of my jeans because I was too occupied by looking at Louis while smiling or singing. No other abilities were provided from me LOL. I genuinely asked my husband to record Habit for me because I wanted to listen how loud we were during Princess Park (so this video I posted is a part I took from his video) and we were LOUD!!

As I already wrote in another post I already knew, as long as Louis came on stage, that it was gonna be over too fast but I enjoyed every single bit! I sang and danced and hugged my friends so much and I was really happy!

WE MADE IT, DRAG ME DOWN, “come so far from Princess Park” and “for every question why you were my because” were the loudest moments. When we came out of the venue I was still singing drag me down LOL. I guess that’s the song that hit me the most during the show idk why. I love it and my favorite 1D song is THROUGH THE DARK so obviously I love that one as well. ONLY THE BRAVE omg only the brave was amazing, so beautiful, made me want to tear up and the fan action was obviously fanstastic! HABIT also amazing! I screamed “come so far from Princess Park” so loud with all the others around me! DEFENCELESS and FEARLESS live hit different! Wow! LOVED THEM! Fearless isn’t one if my favorite songs on the album but live… LIVE it’s just WOW! ALWAYS YOU I’m not gonna lie I sang that “waiting to wrap your legs around me” with Harry’s legs on my mind I’m not ashamed of saying it and I’m gonne be honest with you I understand why Louis would write that line. I mean who wouldn’t?? I was waiting for BEAUTIFUL WAR since the beginning and I wasn’t wrong because it really is one of the best covers… covers I mean he owns this song now so yeah! Oh also everyone had their lights on on their phone and it was very emotional! WALLS wow! Walls was amazing with the fan action. I felt the words of COPY OF A COPY OF A COPY so much! Soooo so so much! Me and my friends sang it looking at each other and it hit us (I think I can speak for them all)! We have videos of Eli and Ila having a really good time with LITTLE BLACK DRESS! They had so much fun and I had as well! I’m gonna be honest EVERY SINGLE SONG on the set list is beautiful, his voice is beautiful. I forgot some songs but I didn’t want to make this the longest review post on history LOL. I LOVED also the songs I didn’t mention. When he hit those notes I heard people gasp and I gasped as well!

People tried to sing “sei bellissimoooooo” (which means “you are beautiful” in Italian) in between songs but I’m sure he didn’t get what they were trying to sing and he had to go on with the set list so yeah that went pretty unnoticed I believe.

My husband was there handing out the purple and red papers which were on the floor because people wanted them but they couldn’t get down on the pit. So everyone kept asking him the papers and the red paper strings which came down during walls LOL.

So this is it, to end this post these are the only 2 pictures I took from the big screens

[streetlight11]

Something About You

Summary: He has been going on dates, meeting new people online, wanting to find the girl of his dreams. But so far, all of them whom he met either have nothing in common with him or has a lot of common interest except cats. He has 3 cats so he could never imagine dating someone who would never get along with his cats. Turns out, the girl he has been dreaming about happens to be a lot closer than he think.

Theme: University au, partial strangers to friends to lovers

Genre: Fluffy fluff

WC: 4.2k

Pairing: Lee Minho x Fem!Reader

a/n: Hello! I’m back with a new fic. Hope you enjoy!

“So, how was your date?” Chan asked his roommate who had just entered their shared apartment looking just as tired and done as his pet cats. The boy simply frowned, kicking off his shoes and went straight to their living room only to crash on the couch next to where the older boy was seated with his laptop in his lap, probably just composing new tracks.

“Horrible. Probably won’t be getting back to her anytime soon.” Minho shrugged before taking out his phone only to scroll through YouTube of cat videos. 

Just then, a soft meow came from below his feet only for Soonie to hop into Minho’s lap and purred when he stroked its head to its tail in a loving motion. Chan let out a soft chuckle. He had a hunch on why this date didn’t work out just like the rest of Minho’s date.

“Was she another one of those girls who are scared of cats?” Chan asked but Minho’s face turned into a scowl.

“Worse. Can you believe she actually kicked the poor kitty away when all it wanted was a pet from her? God, how can some people be so awful?!” Minho grunted in annoyance, making Chan gasp in shock.

He has heard about all Minho’s past dates being scared of cats and sometimes even running away from them but never did he think someone would actually harm the poor animal. 

“Geez, yeah, she is definitely out of your list then.”

“Tell me about it.” Minho rolled his eyes as he got up to take a warm shower after a terrible first date.

The next morning, Y/N got woken up by her blaring alarm that has been going off for the past 5 minutes. Her morning lecture was in an hour but her roommate and also her close friend, Sana had already left since she had classes slightly earlier. She forced herself out of bed, only to shower and change into a comfortable outfit that was campus appropriate.

She managed to stop by the café right outside her apartment to get her morning dose of caffeine before walking to campus that was conveniently 20 minutes away from where they lived.

Y/N arrived on campus 5 minutes before her first class, making her way straight to class on the opposite side of the back entrance. Y/N was a CS major while Sana was a Psych major, hence the different schedules. She wasn’t really an outgoing type of girl, but she’s not exactly an introvert either.

Y/N has never been the one to start a random conversation with someone first. But, once she feels comfortable with a person, she can joke and chat for hours and never get tired of it.

She was a shy yet friendly girl at the same time and that’s what makes Sana befriend her so easily.

Above else, Y/N was a very sporty girl and she loved playing netball. Hence, the reason why she was the Team Captain of Konkuk U girl’s netball team. Sana wasn’t in the sport but she always came down to support her best friend if they had any tournaments for that season. Hours passed and Y/N had just finished her classes, only to receive a text from Sana, telling her to meet at the cafeteria.

Y/N entered the cafeteria hall with her laptop in one hand and her phone in the other, just scrolling through her twitter when she came to a stop at the entrance to try and find her friend.

When she spotted her blonde haired roommate standing by a table where there were at least 8 guys seated at, she knew it was Sana’s best guy friend.

Y/N walked as her eyes were trained to her phone screen but her feet brought her exactly to where Sana was. She didn’t realise where she was walking until she heard Sana’s adorable voice calling out her name.

“Y/N!”

The said girl froze in her spot, seeing that she was just 2 feet away from her and the guys.

Y/N simply smiled, proceeding to join Sana by the side of the table, only for her eyes to naturally travel to the people seated at the table. If she could admit, she was currently staring at two rows of handsome looking guys.

“Babe! This is my best friend I told you about! This is Chan. Chan, this is my roommate and best friend, Y/N!” Sana introduced them to each other, only for Chan to smile. He stuck his hand out, making Y/N shake it gently.

“Hello. It’s nice to finally meet you!” Chan said as a smile appeared on his face.

“Hey, nice to meet you too.” Y/N mimicked his expression, something she normally did when she just met someone.

“Don’t mind her, she’s just shy!” Sana explained and some of the boys found themselves smiling at this remark. Just then, Y/N’s eyes seemed to find it’s own way towards Minho who was seated at the very end of the table. Of course she doesn’t know him, but he did attract her eye for being quite cute. Probably even cuter than the others.

“Okay guys, I’ll see you later. Y/N let’s go! I’m starving!” Sana giggled as she bid the boys goodbye before linking her arms with her roommate and soon dragged her down the cafeteria aisle.

“You didn’t tell us your best friend’s friend is cute too?!” Jisung said, causing Chan to shrug.

“Sorry guys, cause I didn’t know either.” Chan teased, making Jisung roll his eyes but a small chuckle left his lips right after.

A few weeks passed and as expected, Y/N often rejected Sana’s offer of joining her to hang out with the guys not because she didn’t like them. It was because she was shy and Sana of course understood this but she never pressed on it. Instead, she gave Y/N the chance to willingly join if she wanted to without any pressure.

However, it was a Thursday late afternoon and the girl’s netball team was having a tournament that day. As promised, Sana came down to support Y/N and her team. Except this time, she made sure to tag all the boys along and they came without a single doubt.

Y/N was just doing her warm up when she glanced over to the bleachers, that’s when she saw Sana and the rest of the guys on the fourth and fifth rows of the bleachers.

Y/N didn’t know why but she found herself instantly smiling when she saw that they came down to support her. Just then, Sana happened to look over and she locked eyes with Y/N, making her wave her hand up high as she let out a soft giggle.

She responded back with a small wave while some of the guys did the same.

Right at that moment, she locked eyes with Minho who was seated in the seat just below Sana. For some reason, she could feel her heartbeat speeding up in her chest.

Almost an hour later, it’s the final round and it was between Konkuk U and Sogang U. Y/N currently sat on the ground beside the bench where her team members were seated.

“Alright girls. I have a lot of faith in you guys but let’s switch some of you so that you guys get to participate in the games fair and square.” Y/N announced to her teammates who then nodded, waiting for her next command. After switching 3 of the players and Y/N was satisfied with this, the 7 players soon cheered before going to the court.

The game started and it already got pretty intense.

Sogang U was winning by a thread but Y/N tried to keep the game in their court. Right when Yeri was about to toss the ball towards Y/N who was sprinting forwards, a member from the Sogang team forcefully threw themselves against her form.

Y/N practically got thrown across the court when she crashed onto the ground with an awful loud thud before she slid to a stop.

At the fall, she managed to hit her head on the ground from the impact, causing her to go lightheaded for a brief moment. A series of gasps were heard from the crowd, watching her press her forehead against the ground as a hiss left her lips.

The girl who shoved her, only smirked before they continued the game.

“Oh no…” Sana whispered as they stared at Y/N’s limp body. Just then, Yeri ran to her team captain, only for her to gasp asking if she wanted to swap with anyone on the team. Y/N brushed her off when Yeri helped her up, only to hear that Sogang U scored another point.

She rubbed her temple slightly, wincing in pain but nonetheless told Yeri that she was okay. Just then, their coach shouted at Y/N to swap with Irene but Y/N gave him a shake of her head followed by an ‘okay’ sign and soon resumed the game. Her friends watched anxiously as Minho couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

“Why won’t you just rest?” He whispered under his breath when he saw her jog to get the ball.

A few moments later, the same opponent from Sogang U targeted Y/N again, pushing Y/N by her shoulders. Y/N almost lost her balance but she swiftly threw the ball over their heads, towards Lisa on the other side of the court.

The girl snarled at Y/N but she gave the girl a soft smirk before raising an eyebrow up to taunt her.

A few runs later, the girl purposely tripped Y/N, making her accidentally fall backwards with her ass hitting the ground hard. Y/N glared at the girl, only to hear a few seconds later that Konkuk U was taking the victory trophy.

The girls were just walking back to their side of the hall when somebody roughly turned her around and threw a snarky remark to her and her team.

“Better luck next time, when I actually get you on the bench. That way my team for sure can win that trophy.” The girl said before she gave Y/N’s cheek a few slaps. Y/N’s friends who saw this were furious as Chan and Felix practically had to hold Sana back. Y/N scoffed, watching the girls of Sogang U continue walking while Y/N’s teammates comforted her, telling her it’s okay. 

Once everyone in the bleachers were leaving, Y/N was just wiping her neck from the sweat when Sana came running to her with her arms open. Sana gave her a few words of comfort, telling her not to be too affected by whatever that girl said. After the tournament was over and their coach had dismissed them, she took her duffle bag. They were walking towards the entrance of the hall when her vision suddenly went black and her head was pounding. 

A soft groan left her lips when she nearly collapsed down to the left side but someone was quick to catch her and it was Minho. He wrapped an arm around her waist while the other hand reached for her forearm that was clutching onto her head.

“Woah. Are you okay?” His voice soft, laced with obvious worry.

Y/N nodded, letting Sana help Minho hold her as they each held her on either side. Outside the campus’ back entrance, Minho asked if Y/N was strong enough to walk back to her apartment with Sana alone and she said yes.

Sana told the boys she would update them if anything happened along the way. But the girls ended up going home safely, only for her to recover in just two days.

A week passed and it was a Saturday night, where Sana told Y/N she would be out with her boyfriend. Y/N decided to head to a nearby library to study since the campus was closed on weekends. It was already nearing 10pm, probably the reason why she kept yawning every 5 minutes.

“Maybe I should head home.” She thought as she began to slowly pack her bags and soon left.

The boys on the other hand had just finished checking out the new steakhouse downtown. Simply hanging out without having alcohol involved.

They were just walking down the dimly lit street, their voices were probably the only audible sounds currently apart from the cars driving past every few minutes. The street was quite empty, they could literally count with their fingers on how many people they’ve passed by.

They were just talking about some soccer league when Minho’s eyes travelled towards the alley down the road, only to see a girl petting what looks to be a stray cat.

His eyes lit up as a smile tugged on his lips.

He has never seen anyone openly pet a stray cat around this area before so he was quite surprised to say the least. Nevertheless, he smiled brightly as he quickened his pace, telling the boys to meet up with him at that alley where the cat and unknown girl was.

Minho briskly walked towards the alley, only to be met with a very familiar face.

“Y/N?”

At the mention of her name, she turned to look up towards the guy standing by the sidewalk, currently looking down at her just gently scratching the cat’s ears.

“Minho? Hey…” She smiled and she could feel her heartbeat pick up speed.

“What are you doing out here at this late timing alone?” He asked, genuinely worried.

“I was at the library studying. I‘m on my way home actually.” She admitted, only to feel her cheeks heat up. Just then, she heard Chan’s voice from behind her, making her turn around.

“Y/N? Is that you?” Chan asked, making her giggle with a nod.

“Where were you headed?” He asked.

But before she could answer, a soft meow echoed down the street as the cat pressed it’s head into Y/N’s open hands, making her giggle. 

This small gesture was enough to make the boys smile, and maybe Minho’s heart to flutter.

“I actually just told Minho that I was about to head home from the library, when this adorable little one just started following me from down the block and I don’t think it’s gonna leave my side anytime soon.” Y/N said with a soft sigh. The cat meowed yet again as though responding to her.

Minho tilted his head to the side in confusion upon hearing her sigh when she looked down at the pretty brown fur ball before scratching the side of the cat’s face again.

“As much as you’re super adorable, I can’t take you home with me, baby.” Her voice was soft. The cat simply purred with soft round eyes staring back at her. Her words came as a shock to some of them but curious to the remaining.

“Wait, why can’t you?” Minho asked.

“I’m actually sensitive to cats.” She confessed, only for Minho’s heart to blossom. She’s sensitive to cats and yet she still pets them and even showers them with love? Where has she been all his life?

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Is it bad though?” Hyunjin asked, only for her to shake her head.

“I can touch them, but if I stay too long in an enclosed area with them, my skin will start to get red and itchy, and my nose would start to get runny.” Y/N said pressing her lips in a thin line, making the guys nod, feeling bad for her.

Just then, Minho squats down beside her figure only to stretch his arm over to pet the cat and the little fur ball just willingly went over to him. The cat rubs its face against Minho’s knees and thighs. Y/N couldn’t help but smile when she saw just how equally loving he was towards it. At that very moment, Minho just happened to look up only to catch her looking at him.

A small little bubble burst in the pit of his stomach as she soon tickled the cat’s lower back, making it go to her.

Y/N giggled when the cat stood on its hind legs, pressing its two front paws on her collarbone, making her laugh. Y/N cupped the fur ball’s face and soon caressed it sweetly before she nuzzled her nose against the cat’s pink ones, only for the cat to meow in her face.

“Looks like it really loves you Y/N.” Chan said, making her laugh.

However, her smile was soon wiped off and a soft frown appeared on her face. But this didn’t go unnoticed by Minho. So he suggested something quite smart.

“I have an idea. We’ll distract it while you quickly head back home. You know? To avoid it from following you?” Minho said, making the rest of them nod in agreement. She stared at the cat for slightly too long before she locked eyes with Minho, only for her to mouth to him softly.

“Thank you.”

With that being said, the rest of the boys slowly began to huddle around the cat while Y/N carefully got up and tiptoed her way down the street in the direction of her apartment.

She glanced back when she was reaching the traffic junction, only to catch Minho staring at her with a very soft expression. After she finally turned the corner, Changbin couldn’t help but speak up while the rest were busy pouring their attention on the cat.

“Damn, she’s pretty, she’s a team captain, she’s nice, AND she loves cats even though she’s allergic to it? I think you’ve found your match made in heaven, hyung.” He ended with his usual smirk, wiggling his eyebrows to Minho only for the elder boy to huff although he knew deep down that what Changbin said was right.

Y/N went home that night only to find her mind going back to when Minho looked so in love with the cat. Why did that make him look so… so endearing?

She smiled to herself thinking about how happy he looked when the cat was practically smearing its scent all over him. Y/N simply shook her head off of the thoughts and soon took a fresh shower before heading to bed, with Sana still nowhere to be seen.

Ever since that night, Y/N slowly began to warm up with the guys more. Especially Minho since it seemed as though they could literally talk about cats for hours. She found out later that he owned 3 cats in his shared apartment with Chan and that they were basically his children. She couldn’t help but laugh despite finding that extremely cute.

Y/N was added to their group chat which had the boys and Sana in it, only for her to exchange numbers with Minho as well. It has been 3 months since they’ve gotten closer and needless to say, Minho started to fall for her as the days go by and so did she.

It was currently a Saturday evening and both her and Sana got invited to Chan’s place to just hangout and chill, in which the girls agreed without a second thought.

Y/N wore her denim ripped skinny jeans, a shirt tucked in, a black jacket and her converse. Sana wore an open shoulder dress and a pair of vans since she was just a very girly girl compared to Y/N.

They arrived at Chan’s shared apartment, only for her to find out that Minho had kept his cats in his room. Something he doesn’t do whenever any of them come over.

Perhaps he cared for her and he didn’t want her to get sick for coming to their house.

Despite the teasing coming from his friends, he simply ignored them. He brushed them off by saying that he was just trying to be nice. When the girls entered the apartment, immediately, Y/N could already feel her nose being tickled by the atmosphere thanks to the cats living in that space.

But it wasn’t too serious yet but still, a small sneeze left her lips.

They greeted the guys who were in the living room when Minho came out of his room in just grey sweatpants, a tank top and his cutely tousled hair.

As soon as Minho locked eyes with Y/N, he froze in his spot. He saw the small smile on her face, making him shy all of a sudden. A few minutes later, they were all just gathered in the living room when Y/N turned to Minho who was seated on the floor beside her feet.

“Min ah, where’s your cats?” She asked. Minho felt himself tense up at the nickname but quickly regained himself.

“They’re in my room. Why? You wanna see them?” He asked, not realizing that some of them were actually watching them from their respective seats discreetly. Y/N smiled as she gave him a cute little nod. He could’ve sworn his heart jumped out of his chest for a bit. Nonetheless, he brought her to his closed bedroom only to push the door open and was instantly greeted by the soft jingle sounds of their collars.

Y/N smiled as 2 of the fur balls ran up to Minho and her. Making him quickly close the door behind him. Both of them kneeled down onto the ground when the dark grey cat began to nuzzle against her legs, while the light golden one hopped into Minho’s arms effortlessly.

“They’re so cute! What are their names?” She asked as she scratched the grey cat behind its ear, earning a soft purr from it.

“The one in your lap is Dori. This is Soonie. And that sleeping one is Doongie.” Minho introduced when he heard a soft squeak from her in excitement, causing him to chuckle. A blush crept onto his cheeks.

“How long have you had them for?” She asked curiously as Dori snuggled into her chest, making her pout.

“I’ve had them since I was young. When I went off to college, I told my parents I wanted to bring them with me. So, here we are.” Minho said, making her giggle thinking that his story was very cute.

Just then, Dori licked the tip of Y/N’s nose, catching her off guard.

She let out a soft giggle, turning her head towards Minho with her eyes crinkled shut. He found this extremely cute. When she fluttered her eyelids back open, she was met with him staring at her with a warm smile on his face.

She got shy so she turned to look back down at Dori, scratching the back of its ear. Soonie left Minho’s lap as he turned to her and Dori, only for him to give a few scratches to Dori’s head. Just then, Minho leaned in to rub his face into Dori’s body. Y/N giggled, watching him interact with his own pet.

Just then, he pulled away from Dori, taking this chance to turn his head towards her.

But for some reason, it felt like a mistake with how close their faces were from each other. It was almost as if they could feel each other’s breath fanning their lips and unfortunately for them, it was true. The room fell silent as nobody dared to say a word.

For some odd reason, Minho felt brave enough to actually lean in closer. 

Y/N watched very carefully as he closed the gap until she could feel his lips brushing against hers very lightly. At that very second, she closed her eyes, afraid to continue looking. Minho saw this and he began to smile, thinking she was adorable.

So he decided not to dwell on this and instead, he firmly pressed his lips on hers. Her breath hitched in her throat. She soon found herself melting against his lips. Minho’s arm found its way around her waist as he pulled her closer, until she could feel Dori jump out of her lap.

She pulled away when her stomach got pressed by Dori’s paws when it leaped off, causing him to chuckle.

“Sorry about that.” He apologized, only for her to smile.

“It’s fine.” She said with a soft little smile, only for him to blush as he kissed her again, this time reaching up to cup her face in his hand. Her heart was racing against her chest when he felt her rest her hands on his chest. Minho pulled away, having to force himself not to get too intoxicated by her soft, crème brûlée tasting lips thanks to her lip balm.

“Can I take you out on a date tomorrow?” He asked, only for her to giggle.

“Will you bring me to see your babies again?” She said.

“That depends.” He teased, making her laugh as he soon did the same. She smiled against his lips when she kissed him again, feeling extremely happy. They came back out to find the rest of them smirking. They asked why the two of them were taking their own sweet time in there, only for Minho to smirk.

“Maybe because I’m going on a date with the cutest, sweetest girl I’ve ever met who loves cats as much as I do?” Minho said, only for the rest of them to cheer happily for the new couple. Y/N blushed as she hid her face in Minho’s arm, causing him to chuckle but he simply hugged her and kissed her forehead endearingly.

Looks like he managed to find the girl of his dreams anyway.

[thegirlwhowritesawksh-t]

la douleur de l'amour - georgenotfound x f!reader

author: @thegirlwhowritesawksh-t​ me!

word count: 4.7k +

warnings: hella angst, mentions of blood/scabs/injuries. if there’s any you think that you see, please let me know!

a/n: hi y’all :)) first off, to whoever’s reading this: stay hydrated, smile and laugh! and second: this is my submission for @bozowrites​ writing event! <33 congrats!!

**this is my second fic, and i’m hoping to push more out as i get more comfortable with writing! i’m thinking to maybe make a part two to this but i don't know yet. please let me know what you think! *sending besitos to y’all :))*

Prompt: Why are you crying?

1:15 p.m.

In the corner of a dimly lit studio in front of the barre, (y/n) leans over to her left, counting four beats before resetting and proceeding to stretch over her right side. After months spent choreographing, picking costumes, and endless bandages wrapped around her feet, it has led to the final product: her first piece in her dance company’s annual recital premiering tonight.

All (y/n) could feel was pure energy and pride at what she has created. It’s her baby after all and nothing could ruin the day for her.

Feeling her joints start to loosen up, she runs through a mental list in her head making sure each dancer had their costumes, knew where all the dancers would start and end on stage, as well as remembering her own choreography, seeing as she had an important section to end her piece. After double-checking, (y/n) then begins to travel to the center of the studio, and begins to run over the piece.

Remember the triple pirouette here, before you end with a leap to fourth position. Finishing in the fourth position, she lets out a curse as she accidently stubs her right thumb toe, a small scab already tearing at the edge. Shaking out her pain, she reattempts the move, succeeding with an effortless bow.

“You know, your piece is going to be excellent. Why are you so worried?”, a voice calls out in the quiet studio, with (y/n) yelping and trying to find where the voice came from. Standing against the edge of the doorway stood Liam, her dance partner and best friend. (y/n) begins to chuckle and runs the piece over again.

“Can’t help but make sure it’s perfect. I have drenched all my blood, sweat and tears creating this dance, this- this masterpiece. It is my first, and most certainly not my last choreographing piece at this company. There’s too much riding on this for me.”, she replies.

“Even if so, I’d like to think you’ll be fine. Don’t stress, it’s amazing. Otherwise, how are you feeling?”

“Kind of excited, kind of feeling like I should run away.”, (y/n) replies. Avoiding to answering the question entirely, she begins to run the piece over again. She continues,

“I think regardless, it should be a great night. George is coming to the recital tonight and it’ll be the first time he’ll be seeing this dance.” With George editing and recording videos for the Dream Team, his Twitch channel, and YouTube channels, (y/n)’s barely seen him since the start of the dance season. The only time she’s been able to spend time with him has been going to bed with him - even if it’s been a bit more rare lately - and sometimes, a free day on a weekend with no dance practice or no recording for George.

“So that’s why you are nervous, how cute.”, Liam laughs, with (y/n) leaping over to Liam and swatting their arm lightly.

“He swore that he’d come tonight, and he knows how much time I’ve spent perfecting this. I just can’t imagine tonight going any other way. I made sure to get him a seat right in the front, so he’ll be able to see the whole performance, and me.”, (y/n) smirks. As soon as (y/n) found out she would be choreographing one of the pieces in the recital, she immediately told George her good news. George had told her she deserved it for working her butt off since the start of her being at the dance academy. Making him pinky swear, George swore that he would be there for her first performance with her also starring as a choreographer.

“So focus on that instead of thinking your piece is going to crash and burn! Relax a bit. We only have a bit of time before we start getting ready, so let’s run it over a few more times. And don’t even think about slacking off now, missy, we’ll stretch and go get ready after.” Liam decides, and she nods, thinking it’s probably for the best. Running to her bag, (y/n) sends a quick message to George.

George J: hey, can’t wait to see you tonight! i left your ticket on your nightstand, and remember to dress up slightly, it’s a dance recital after all ;) lub you xo - sent at 1:34 p.m.

Content with her message, she tosses her phone back into her bag, and heads back to run over the piece with Liam once more.

>>>

6:47 p.m.

Sticking the last bobby-pin to her bun, (y/n) glances in the mirror to make sure no mistake is in place. Eyeing her look, she can’t help but smile looking at her dance attire, admiring how her purple leotard and dress matches her eyeshadow. Paired with a dark nude lip, she smirks and turns to check her phone for any messages, hoping that one could be from George.

Out of the nine messages she received, most were from friends and family, wishing her luck on her performance tonight. She replied with a thanks and a heart emoji before finally reading the last message coming from George about two hours ago.

George J: hi darling, i saw the ticket, i am so excited for you! can’t wait for you to take my breath away, as you always do. love you more xo  - sent at 4:48 p.m.

Smiling even wider, (y/n) puts her phone on silent, before walking towards the backstage area, passing dancers along the way. Grabbing their hands and wishing them good luck, she arrives at the destination, nerves buzzing as members of the audience start gathering at their seats. Deciding to take a peek, (y/n) rushes to the curtains, peeking her eyes out towards the front rows, trying to spot the pale boy who danced into her heart. First row, seat G for George, she giggles to herself.

“Trying to find your lover? I’m right here!” Liam asks, with (y/n) turning around.

“As much as I’d love that, I’m no Harry Styles, so I don’t think I’m your type…” (y/n) smirks.

“Hm. Where’s George, I want to see him!”

“I’m looking for him right now, Liam. Give me a second.”, (y/n) laughs as she turns back to the audience. Finding his seat, she subtly frowns seeing as he’s not in his seat yet. He’s probably in the bathroom, or still in line to get to his seat, (y/n) tries to explain to herself.

“He’s not here yet, I think he’s in the bathroom or something. But give him time, he’ll be here.” (y/n) mutters as Liam frowns at her.

“He better show up, it’s your night, (y/n).”, they grumble. They start to say more however-

“Places, everyone! Take your places! We’re starting at seven sharp!” the stage manager yells out. He continues,

“We start in five minutes!” Rushing to get off the stage, she sees dancers brush past another wishing them luck. As the ballet dancers start to move into their places for the intro piece, she then walks over to Liam, helping them set up the microphone as they begin to breathe slowly.

“Hey, you got this. It’s just reading off of cue cards and announcing pieces. And then you’ll be set for my piece. You’re going to do great, Liam.”, (y/n) tries to motivate, with Liam smiling shyly at her.

“And your piece is going to kick ass, (y/n). It’s perfection. Just wait until George sees you dance. I’m a hundred percent sure he’s going to fall for you even more.”

“Yeah, yeah, we’ll see…” (y/n) laughs. Liam clears their throat a bit before raising the microphone to their lips. (y/n) proceeds to head to the viewing room, where a broadcast of the show would play for other dancers to watch and support their fellow castmates.

Taking a deep breath, Liam starts to speak as (y/n)’s nerves start to palpitate.

“Hello, how are you this evening? And welcome to the 67th Annual Recital for the London Dance Academy! I am your emcee, Liam Barrings, and let me introduce you to the first dance of the night created by Sam Hastings. Here is Invictus!”

>>>

8:51 p.m.

An hour later, seven dances, and many whispered good jobs, it is finally time for (y/n) to step on stage and premiere her masterpiece. Slowly tip-toeing to her first position on stage, she glances at her castmates, thanking them silently in her mind for them to trust her to bring her visions to life. Before the curtains open, she turns to Liam on her right, kneeling down and grabbing her thighs, and they smile back at her.

“Ready for it?”, they smirk. Thinking to herself, she nods and turns back to the front of the curtains waiting for the music to begin. Remember the triple pirouette after Liam grabs you. And try to look like you’re in pain from loving him. It is exquisite pain, right (y/n)? Liam is toxic, yet you still love them. Make it believable. And finally, breathe.

Another emcee, Josh begins to speak.

“And now, I present to you (y/n - y/ln)’s dance. This is her first piece with her own choreography with the London Dance Academy, and tonight, we are the very first group of people to watch her story come to life. Please let me introduce you to (y/n) and her piece, La Douleur Exquise!” the audience claps softly, before the curtains open its wings to reveal the creation.

The background, a stark white, yet the lights casts hues of soft lilacs, with streaks of dark reds splattering across the dancers’ bodies. With a small pause, music begins to sing out of the speakers. Liam and (y/n) begin the piece with a small duet. Following closely behind, a quad of dancers mimicking their moves with childlike innocence.

Liam turns to (y/n), conveying an I love you through their linked hands and they abruptly pull her to their arms, as she looks at them with confusion in her eyes and pulling away. Gliding towards the middle, the quad walks slowly to (y/n), enveloping her with open arms, before having a dance section with (y/n) in the middle as Liam looks on, hellbent on grasping (y/n) once more. Every other beat, (y/n) turns to Liam, feeling lost as if they were missing from her.

As the quad looks away, having their own small solos, (y/n) slips away from the group only to leap back into Liam’s arms with her hands grasping their face as Liam slowly grips her waist. Looking at her with renewed interest, his face morphs into fury as one of the dancers pass by her, softly guiding his fingers from her shoulder down to her inner wrist. An angry duet starts, with Liam and (y/n) clashing against each other, as if saying they hate but love each other at the same time.

(y/n) leaps into Liam’s arms, before slowly sliding herself off him as the quad of dancers, follow closely behind, lifting (y/n) to her feet. Everyone proceeds to move as one, with the quad dancing in the center, whereas Liam paces their way to (y/n), lifting her into the air once again, before they land in a small leap. Conversing with their bodies, Liam guides (y/n)’s hands to their heart, slightly pulling her along. Finally coming to the end of the dance, (y/n) runs to the center of the stage, facing the audience.

Grabbing her left arm is Liam, pulling her to their side, and the quad of dancers are pulling her on her right. The war between the two goes back and forth in a tug-of-war before (y/n) seemingly gives up and slams herself to the ground, as the music fades into silence. The audience erupts into booming claps and cheers, and (y/n) feels herself being pulled up from the ground by Liam as a light blush covers her skin. Glancing up at the audience, she tries to smile despite the stage lights burning into her. I did it, I managed to make a story, my story come to life. Hearing the audience continuing to clap, realization sets in and she finds her eyes wandering over to the front row, seat G for George. Seat empty, her smile falters and her eyes become glassy. Some would think because of her success with her piece. She couldn’t tell if she was happy or sad, maybe it was a little bit of both.

>>>

9:23 p.m.

He’s here, he has to be. He’s probably peeing or waiting for me in the front with flowers, or in the dressing room. He has to be here, I know it, (y/n) mutters to herself, hellbent on her beliefs that George is here. Yet the bitter taste of rejection starts to seep into her bones. Shaking her head a bit and attempting to put on the brightest smile, she starts to rush back to the dressing room, a sinking feeling residing in her stomach with each looming step.

Facing the dressing room door, (y/n) can’t help but hope that maybe George is standing there with a bouquet of flowers and kisses reserved for her. Slowly opening the door, her hopes slip through with her mouth curling as she stares at only her reflection in the mirror. He swore that he’d be here. He swore that he would be here for my first performance, (y/n) softly whispers to herself, tears threatening to fall. Gasping, she finally lets herself breathe as she repeats to herself again and again that he wasn’t here.

A soft knock on the door interrupts her thoughts, causing (y/n) to quickly wipe her tears before foolishly yelling out,

“George?”, as the door opens to reveal Liam and the Director himself, Nicholas Anderson.

“(y/n)? It’s us. Where’s George?” Liam asks, a frown settling into his brows.

“Oh, he’s just in the bathroom, he hasn’t been feeling good.” She lies, feeling bile itch her throat. A little white lie shouldn’t hurt anyone, (y/n) thought.

“Hello, (y/n). You looked wonderful out there! Your dance was easily one of the highlights of the night, I couldn’t stop replaying the duet between you and Liam in my head. Your dance truly captured the aspects of a toxic relationship not from one side but from both of point of views. It truly showed exquisite pain, knowing that you would always go back to Liam, but would Liam be there for you?” Nicholas explains, his words smacking (y/n) at full force. Is- is George there for me?, (y/n) thinks to herself. Nicholas continues on,

“I think you are a great addition to our Academy, and tonight truly proved how ready you are to become a full-time member. So how about it? Next season, we’ll be adding you to the roster of choreographers.” Eyes wide, (y/n) nods furiously with a yes and hugs Liam. Nicholas smiles and exits the room, leaving behind two excited dancers jumping around.

“You did it! Now we have to celebrate! Club night, I don’t care. We are going to get plastered! Bring George!” Liam laughs. At the mention of George, her stomach turns as she then realizes George wasn’t here. What sounded like good news turns to rot as she starts thinking of George.

“Let me check my phone, it has been a while in the bathroom, huh?” (y/n) tries to joke, trying hard to not let her voice waver and letting her brain scramble to come up with another small lie. Reaching through her phone, she reads over the texts once again sent from family and friends, finding the conversation between her and George. No new messages, her heart sinks as she slowly starts to open up the rest of her notifications, scrolling to most likely find the purple box that would always stay permanently stuck on her home screen. With bright white letters glaring at her, her heart begins to ebb away feeling a familiar sense of loneliness.

1h, 53 min ago: MINECRAFT MANHUNT W/ THE DREAM TEAM

Relying on her emotions, she turns to face Liam, hoping that her excitement of her promotion would overcome the feeling of abandonment of the man she loved. Plastering a sad smile through watery eyes, she forces out,

“George isn’t feeling well, he’s got an upset stomach. I think it’s the stomach flu going around.” If you can convey pain through dance, you can lie through this as well, (y/n) thought. She continues,

“I don’t know if I should be going out since he’s sick.” (y/n) mutters.

“So we go without him! It’s your celebration, his loss.” Liam rolls their eyes. His loss, my loss - seems like the same.

“I- I don’t know, Liam… I’d want to celebrate with him as well.”

“And I get that, but at least go out with us. You always have tomorrow with him, or later tonight. Do it for tonight, do it because you’re going to be a choreographer next season! At least do it for me and the group. We’ve worked our ass all season and we made your vision come true.” Liam explains. Contemplating with herself, (y/n) resolves with a soft smile and mutters an okay. Pumping their fist in the air, Liam excuses themselves to notify the others of the good news and plans.

Once again facing the mirror, (y/n) repeats with determination to celebrate her night. It’s her night to celebrate with loved ones, even if the one she loved the most isn’t there beside her. So much trying to take your breath away when you weren’t even here, George. Taking a breath, she forces out a shaky laugh and tries to smile. Let’s go celebrate, (y/n).

>>>

1:39 a.m.

Slightly stumbling out of the taxi, (y/n) manages to slowly walk her way up to his doorsteps, phone still showing that George was still streaming. Pausing her hand on the doorknob, she resolves to try to wait until morning to confront him, not trusting herself completely to be okay in front of him. Opening the door softly, she walk in, attempting to not make a sound. With small steps, she closes and locks the door before setting her bags down. That can be cleaned tomorrow, (y/n) thought. Rubbing her eyes, she decides to make herself tea before she goes to bed, most likely not with George until he finishes his stream.

While making her tea, (y/n) thinks of everything that she has worked for in the last few months. Endless changes to her dance, countless small injuries, whether it be a jammed toe/finger, scrapes of blood scattered around her feet from dragging her feet too hard across the floor, everything. Why is it that with her triumph, she is beyond proud yet the idea of George not being there to witness her moment shatters that accomplishment? Mulling it over, she doesn’t notice George bustling down the stairs, finished with his successful 5 hour stream with Dream and Sapnap. Spotting (y/n) making her tea, he slowly approaches her and wraps his arms around her waist, landing a soft kiss to her shoulders.

“Why are you home late, Darling? It’s nearly almost two in the morning.”, George chuckles, as (y/n) freezes in his arms. Softly shaking her head, she tries to side-step out of his arms and brings her tea to the opposite side of the room, wrapping an arm around herself. Clearly, he didn’t remember, (y/n) slowly starts to think and repeat to herself.

“Why do you think I was out, George?” she softly asks, taking a sip of tea to calm her nerves. I guess we’re just going to have to hash it out now.

“I don’t know, but did you see the stream? I beat Dream at the last second and he was this close to defeating the Ender Dragon!”, George starts to explain while laughing, with (y/n) taking a harsh breath in. Pinching in-between her brows, she snaps,

“No, George, I didn’t see the stream because I went out to celebrate.”, she mutters, tears slowly starting to escape.

“(y/n)? Is there something wrong? Why are you crying?“ Turning around, (y/n) tries to look anywhere but him. She settles on looking at the clock, watching as time went by, and her nerves increasing with each second. George starts to say more-

“I needed you tonight. Do you remember what tonight was? To my career? To me?”, (y/n) cuts him off. Standing there without a thought, dread slowly seeps in as George realizes that he missed her performance. He starts to stutter,

“Darling, I- “

“No! No. You do not get to apologize. I needed you and where were you? Sitting on your ass playing Minecraft with Dream and Sapnap! I get that your career is very reliant on you being consistent with your uploads, but you couldn’t have taken a night off? For me? I- ”

“(y/n), it’s not like that at- “

“Don’t- just don’t try to explain or come up with excuses. I just don’t want to hear it George. I spent months working on this, exhausted yet still pushing myself for the damn Academy. You swore that you would be there. I left you the ticket on your nightstand, you even texted me saying that you were excited to come! So imagine me standing on stage, looking at the front row, seat G, and where the hell were you? Not there, George. You were not there. I looked like a fool waiting for you to see me perform and dance. Do you remember Nicholas Anderson?”, (y/n) tries to ask calmly. George only stare at her with defeated eyes as he shakes his head no. Cursing, she heaves out a breath before continuing,

“He’s the director of the Academy, George. He’s offered me a position to be a permanent member and choreographer for the London Dance Academy. So please, let me ask again: where were you? I had to lie to Liam and say that you had an upset stomach and that you couldn’t come out! So, Liam invited me to celebrate with the dancers, to celebrate tonight’s success.”

“(y/n)- (y/n), we can celebrate now. I know- I truly know I messed up, but I can fix it, we can celebrate right now!” George stumbles out, walking towards her to grab her hands. Stepping back, she glares at George, appalled that he truly thinks he could resolve this. Shaking her head harshly, she bites out,

“I don’t want to celebrate with you. I’ve already celebrated with loved ones.” Rolling his eyes, George tries to reason with (y/n).

“Okay, I get it. I’m the bad guy in this scenario. But I’m trying to make this right. I am so sorry, darling, but I want to make it up to you, you know I am sorry.”

“You know, I never ask you to cancel a stream or get off of the stream. I always try to understand for the life of me why the streams have to be long, but I try. I always watch your streams and interact with your fans for your sake. I’ve had to explain countless reasons as to why you never show up to my performances, or why you can’t go out with me with the other dancers. And I am okay with it, don’t get me wrong. I know how much Twitch and YouTube and the Dream Team means to you. But you mean everything to me as well. So forgive me if I wanted to be a little selfish and ask you to support me in one of the biggest performances of my life.”

“I can go to the next one, (y/n). It’s not like it’s the last performance.” George snaps.

“You don’t get it, do you?”, she asks, wiping furiously at her tears, trying to not stutter through her words.

“What is there to get? Clearly I’m trying my hardest to make it up to you.”, he replies.

“I love you. I’m so much in love with you, it hurts. But you don’t get it. I have been there for everything in your career. Your first hundred subscribers, your first million subscribers, when you won the MCC back to back, everything. This was- is the important night of my life, and you didn’t show up. You stuck with Dream and Sapnap and decided to stream instead. This night was important for my career, and you knew! I told you months and weeks in advance. I wanted you to take charge and clear your schedule for today and- and sit in the damn seat that I chose because G stood for George. It was for you.” She sobs out, chest shaking as she tries to collect the words tumbling out of her mouth. With eyes flashing in annoyance, George tries to speak over her tears,

“(y/n)- “

“I created this dance for you! For me and- and for us. Because we believed in each other and had the support for each other. Clearly, it was one-sided and tonight proved that.”

“(y/n), listen to me- ”, George stops himself. Watching (y/n) fall apart, he takes a shaky breath and tries to walk closer to (y/n). However, (y/n) takes more steps back, leaving a distance of hostility and guilt between the two lovers.

“I love you. I love you with all of my heart. And… and I know you love me. But I needed you. Do you even need me?” she asks, the thick silence covering the air.

“Yes! How- how could you even say that, (y/n)?“ George replies just as quick as she finished asking. Looking at him for the first time tonight, she lets out a sob. With cheeks red, hands tugging at his hair, and George frantically looking at her, (y/n) can’t help but cry a little more.

“Because tonight proved otherwise. I wanted a night of you to myself to watch me be pretty and dance, and you didn’t even give up one night for me.”, she says, tugging at her sweater. Looking up, she further goes on to say,

“How stupid would it be if I were to ask to choose between me or the Dream Team? Or- Or your career?”, barking out a bitter laugh as George stares with guilt. As silence meets her ears, (y/n) slowly starts to sober up, eyes slightly widening with shock.

“George…”

“I’d find a way to make it work, I’ve been making it work for us since the beginning!” George snaps.

“George, you know I would never ask that, because I personally think it’s a selfish question. But if I decided to ask seriously, right now. What’s your answer?”

“And I’m telling you, I am making both work. Please believe me, (y/n).”, George says quietly, grasping at whatever opportunities there are left to resolve this potentially fatal matter.

“I can’t tell anymore.”, her voice cracking as fresh tears pool down her cheeks.

“I don’t think I can stay here for a while. At least until I’ve had some time to think.”, she manages to force out.

“(y/n), you can’t be serious. No, we are fixing this now!” George tries to say with an unwavering voice, eyes slowly becoming glassy.

“I can’t look at you George without wanting to cry, and- and scream- yet tell you I love you, even if you don’t deserve my love, especially right now. I need to go- I’m going to go. I’ll be back in a while.”, (y/n) says, choking on her words. Walking backwards, she turns to the door, with George following her and watching her pick up her dance bags. Lying on the ground was a bouquet of flowers, crumpled amongst her heart. Choosing not to pick up the bouquet, she mumbles out,

“I’ll call you when I’m ready.” Pausing, (y/n) looks up at George for the final time tonight, willing herself to not run back to him, despite how much the desire is growing to do so.

“I love you, George.”, opening the door, George yells out,

“I love- “, the door cutting through his confession, acting as a wall between the two. George tries to reach the door knob, ready to run after the love of his life. Yet… he’s frozen on the spot, with tears finally trickling down his cheeks, and pushing deep breaths out to steady his shaking heart.

Why are you crying, George?

[daggryet]

hiii, was wondering if you could do the niki birthday party VOD since there's so much lore content in it and people have a hard time finding it/finding the parts their looking for when they wanna talk about it :)

i couldn't find the original vod on youtube, so i'm transcribing this video (every time there's a - to seperate sections, the video has made a cut)

hope that's okay, and sorry for the delay :D

LINK TO THE TRANSCRIPT

KARL: Wilbur, you didn’t see down here.

WILBUR: Oh, let me, sorry, I’m very-

KARL: This is where the party’s happening.

WILBUR: Ah, Niki, I see you’ve got your birthday meal of lamb, potato-

NIKI: Yeah!

KARL: Yeah.

WILBUR: Nothing like a munch of mutton to celebrate.

NIKI: Yes.

WILBUR: Gosh, I love flesh. What?

BADBOYHALO: What?

KARL: Is that- where is the blood from?

WILBUR: Huh? No, no, that’s just my dinner.

KARL: That’s your dinner?

NIKI: Oh, you already had dinner?

WILBUR: I have, but I can eat again, I can eat again.

NIKI: Okay, okay.

PUNZ: It’s spooky, spooky dinner table.

KARL: Is everybody here or are we waiting on Big Q?

NIKI: Oh yeah!

AWESAMDUDE: Oh, yeah, I made this table.

NIKI: Do you think he’s gonna come?

AWESAMDUDE: Everyone gets some pie

BADBOYHALO: Oh! Give me pie!

QUACKITY: Hey fellas!

KARL: Hello!

QUACKITY: I’m late to the big party, but that’s how you arrive in style.

KARL: It’s okay ‘cause we’re Christmas-ifying, we’re Christmas-ifying.

QUACKITY: Oh my gosh, coke!

WILBUR: We only have pepsi as well, I’m sorry

QUACKITY: Who the fuck is this?

AWESAMDUDE: Big Q. This is you, Big Q

QUACKITY: What?

WILBUR: Did you just say “who the fuck is this guy”?

QUACKITY: Yeah, I said, “who the hell is it”?

PUNZ: Yeah, I think it’s his long lost cousin

AWESAMDUDE: It’s ‘cause you’re late

WILBUR: What do you mean who the hell-? I’m Wilbur Soot!

QUACKITY: I’m not talking about you! Where are you actually?

WILBUR: You just said you were talking about me!

QUACKITY: You’re not even inside! You’re- we’re waiting for you!

KARL: Where are you?

WILBUR: *Screaming*

KARL: Niki, Niki, come on. Hurry, hurry.

NIKI: Yes, yes.

KARL: Come, over here, it’s just- it’s just not-

NIKI: This is our safe space, Karl.

-

QUACKITY: Hey!

PUNZ: Why are you not wearing a shirt?

KARL: Oh, you have a little snow fort!

WILBUR: I’m busy, Big Q. Please step away from my majesty.

QUACKITY: You said you wanted a hug, hug me now.

WILBUR: No.

QUACKITY: Uargh!

WILBUR: Big Q, you may stare at me and give me attention, but you may not touch.

QUACKITY: Oh, Wilbur.

NIKI: It’s just like museums’ artwork.

WILBUR: Yes. I am.

QUACKITY: Can I pet him? Can I pet him?

WILBUR: You may not pet me. I will end you.

QUACKITY: I just did. I just pet him. Does he bite?

-

WILBUR: First one to break gaze loses, let’s go.

AWESAMDUDE: Ladies and gentlemen, this is intense. The passion in Wilbur’s eyes.

NIKI: And here you see a wild Wilbur Soot and Quackity stare at each other. Who is going to break the tension first? We may never know.

AWESAMDUDE: Quackity with that smug smile he has. Wilbur with that fierce determination.

WILBUR: Hey Big Q? Big Q? Can we- can we roleplay for a minute?

QUACKITY: You wanna roleplay? Okay

WILBUR: Come closer to me. *Kissing sounds*

NIKI: Oh.

KARL begins critting WILBUR with his axe.

QUACKITY: What the fuck? Ey, ey! Woah, woah!

KARL: Hey, you can’t do that with Q!

QUACKITY: Woah, woah! Ladies, please! Please! Everyone, calm down!

KARL: That’s my mans!

QUACKITY: Calm down

KARL: That’s my mans!

WILBUR: It’s a birthday party. Now it’s a party,

QUACKITY: Karl, Karl, I need you to- I need you to, ehm-

WILBUR: I’m kissing the back of your neck now, Big Q, alright?

QUACKITY: Thank you. Oh, that feels so good, I was so tense today. All day today, I was so tense

WILBUR: You doing good at work?

QUACKITY: That feels- that feels really good. Yeah, no, I was stressed all day.

WILBUR: I know how you feel.

QUACKITY: Yeah, thank you.

WILBUR: I’m hugging you now.

BADBOYHALO: This is a weird birthday party.

QUACKITY: Ey, what, are you fucking jealous?

NIKI: Karl?

QUACKITY: What are you, fucking jealous?

NIKI: Karl?

AWESAMDUDE: I’ve never been to a birthday party like this.

QUACKITY: Badboyhalo is jealous ‘cause he’s single, oh, Badboyhalo is single

BADBOYHALO: I’ve never been to a birthday party like this.

WILBUR: Big Q, Big Q, I’ve cooked you a meal while you were down in the mines.

QUACKITY: Hey, hey, Karl, I’m gonna need you to show this picture on stream. Let’s see-

KARL: No!

BADBOYHALO: Skeppy! Join me in the other Discord real quick.

QUACKITY: Why-why would you bonk me, Wilbur? What the hell?

WILBUR: I didn’t- I didn’t like-

QUACKITY: I’m not into that!

WILBUR: Oh, I didn’t-

QUACKITY: If you bonk- you singlehandedly- you singlehandedly-

WILBUR: I think we’ve made people uncomfortable.

QUACKITY: You singlehandedly made three people leave.

-

KARL: Take off your outfit.

BADBOYHALO: There!

KARL: The pants!

BADBOYHALO: No!

KARL: No pants!

BADBOYHALO: Everyone, he’s making me take my pants off!

KARL: Guys, can we- can you please help me tell Badboyhalo to take his pants off?

BADBOYHALO: Fine, I took my pants off.

QUACKITY: I’ve never seen you without your pants off.

AWESAMDUDE: You’re in danger.

KARL: It took Punz seconds to turn this into a competitive sport.

QUACKITY: We’re bonding, we’re bonding.

-

WILBUR: Okay. *Sneeze* I don’t actually know the cords for “Happy Birthday”

KARL: Here, here, I’ll make you a stage

WILBUR: I’m gonna guess- I’m gonna guess-

QUACKITY: Nah, nah, I’ve got them for you, Wilbur.

KARL: Here you go.

WILBUR: Yeah, give me the cords, give me the cords.

QUACKITY: It’s- it’s C- it’s C major. G7, G7 again, F major-

KARL: Get off! Who is this nimrod?

QUACKITY: So, it’s happy = c, birthday to = G7, to you-

WILBUR: Okay, that’s good.

QUACKITY: Yeah, yeah. You got it, right? Okay.

WILBUR: Is it alright if I play it in a relative minor, just to add a little bit of suspense?

QUACKITY: Yes!

KARL: ‘Cause it is a haunted house.

WILBUR: Okay.

QUACKITY: Yes!

WILBUR: *Sings*

QUACKITY: Who the hell brought Blink-187 into this fucking party?

WILBUR: You gotta- you gotta cry, Quackity, let out a tear.

QUACKITY: Oh!

WILBUR: *Sad singing*

QUACKITY: Oh!

WILBUR: *Sad singing*

QUACKITY: Hey Karl, fuck your cobwebs. Honestly.

WILBUR: *Sad singing*

QUACKITY: Hey, this is- wouldn’t you say this is the most depressing birthday you’ve had yet?

NIKI: I’m actually really enjoying it. Like, honestly, seriously.

QUACKITY: Why do you lie all the time? Why do you- you can be honest!

KARL: You can tell us.

QUACKITY: You can say how depressing this all is

NIKI: No! I- I’m, like, genuinely happy to have this evening with you.

WILBUR: I’m single, by the way, ladies

QUACKITY: Say no more.

KARL: Do the thing! Do the thing, Quackity.

QUACKITY: Sorry. No, no, no. You haven’t paid me.

WILBUR: Thank you, that was my brief arrangement.

QUACKITY: Wow, woo!

BADBOYHALO: Yay!

QUACKITY: Can you make a version that doesn’t make us wanna die?

WILBUR: Eh, I can- I have some original songs.

BADBOYHALO: Nah, that’s alright.

WILBUR: This one’s called “I hope-“

BADBOYHALO: That’s okay! Thank you, Wilbur.

WILBUR: This one’s called “I hope no one dies on my birthday”

BADBOYHALO: Alright, here we go, let’s sing happy birthday.

KARL: How do we still hear him?

BADBOYHALO: Oh my goodness…

KARL: The noise gate isn’t working.

BADBOYHALO: I think we may need to put sand on him.

NIKI: No, no, no! No, guys, no!

QUACKITY: You’re not scared of killing the guitarist, though?

BADBOYHALO: Oh my goodness.

KARL: Not Bad killing the guitarist. I, ehm-

NIKI: “Not Bad killing the guitarist”

BADBOYHALO: It’s a good name for a song. Wilbur, play one round of “Bad killing the guitarist”

WILBUR, singing: Please don’t murder me, Badboyhalo!

KARL: Can I do vocals? Can I do vocals?

KARL: Let me turn you up

WILBUR, singing: I’m so scared, Karl!

KARL, singing: AH! Badboyhalo wants to kill Wilbur. AH! Nothing’s gonna happen because Bad can’t do it. AH! Bad, please stop killing Wilbur. AH! Now Bad’s killing me. AH! Wilbur’s escaping. AH! I don’t know where Wilbur went, Bad, ‘cause you can’t kill him.

BADBOYHALO: Mhm.

NIKI: Oh my gosh. Where did he go?

KARL: I guess you can’t kill him. I guess you can’t kill him, Bad.

-

KARL: Ehm, Niki?

NIKI: What?

BADBOYHALO: I will do my best.

KARL: Can you, eh, can you please sit at the table next to the cake?

NIKI: Mhm.

KARL: There’s a- there’s a surprise birthday present for you.

NIKI: Really?

KARL: Yeah, yeah. Okay, everybody else, everybody else, stand over here. Everybody else, stand over here.

BADBOYHALO: Shouldn’t we sing happy birthday?

KARL: Bad, no, not yet, not yet. Trust me, not yet. Okay, guys, ready?

BADBOYHALO: Yes.

KARL: Quackity? Come on out.

QUACKITY comes out, with autotuned and bad sounding music (in terms of audio, not the song).

KARL: You’re wearing a chest plate, you’re wearing a chest plate.

NIKI: What are you- what is- are you-?

QUACKITY: Bring up Badboyhalo! Come on up here, mister!

KARL: Come on up, Bad! Come on! Come on! Bad, go, go, it’s really important.

BADBOYHALO: Stop

SKEPPY: Bad, go!

BADBOYHALO left the game.

NIKI: Well.

QUACKITY: Sam!

AWESAMDUDE: Ey!

NIKI: Way!

QUACKITY: Yeah!

KARL: It’s shaking its head!

-

KARL: Go ahead, show him the work.

QUACKITY: Alright, alright, ready?

WILBUR: I’m ready. Do I get to be on the cake?

KARL: You can stand on the cake, yeah.

QUACKITY: You are the cake, baby.

QUACKITY starts his music again and takes off his clothes.

QUACKITY: Yeah! Yeah!

-

KARL: Okay, guys-

QUACKITY: Are you ready to sing happy birthday?

KARL: Yes!

NIKI: Is Wil here? Wil?

WILBUR: I saw things, I saw things…

NIKI: Oh no… are you okay?

KARL: It’s gonna be okay, you know that, right?

WILBUR: I- yeah- I…

NIKI: It will be alright, Wilbur.

WILBUR: I stared at the void, and the void stared back.

NIKI: Do you wanna wait?

QUACKITY: Anyways, I brought KFC, guys! Everyone, have a piece!

KARL: No chance! No chance! Free KFC? No chance, bucko!

FUNDY: What’s going on with Wil? Like, why is he-?

KARL: Oh, wait, Fundy didn’t see. One second. Everyone back to the corner, back to the corner.

NIKI: No! No!

KARL: Fundy!

NIKI: We’ve been through this!

FUNDY: What happened?

KARL: Fundy, stand on the- stand on the-

NIKI: No!

KARL: Fundy, can you please stand on the cake? Guys, guys, come to the corner.

BADBOYHALO: Oh my goodness…

FUNDY: What- eh? Is that what happened to Wilbur because then I don’t-

KARL: No, no, no, you’re good, you’re good.

BADBOYHALO: Go stand there.

KARL: Can you go stand on the bed over there? That pink bed. Maybe turn around, the pink bed.

FUNDY: Who, me?

KARL: Yeah, yeah, Fundy, yeah, yeah. Perfect. Let’s go for it, Quackity.

QUACKITY: Alright, alright.

Autotune is back.

QUACKITY: Welcome Fundy!

KARL: Fundy, come to the cake!

QUACKITY: I have something to tell you, Fundy!

FUNDY: What- what are you doing?

KARL: That’s a-

QUACKITY: Yeah! Woo!

KARL: What do you think?

QUACKITY: You’re gonna pay me for this, right?

KARL: Yeah, man, yeah- oh!

FUNDY left the game.

KARL: Oop, Fundy.

NIKI: No! No!

-

KARL: Are you kidding me? Take off your armor! Quackity, get back on a seat!

BADBOYHALO: Let’s sing happy birthday

KARL: Sam, you got in my seat!

BADBOYHALO: We saw what happened to Wilbur when he wasn’t wearing armor.

QUACKITY: I’m putting my pants off.

WILBUR: Yeah, you saw what happened to me, high five, Bad!

NIKI: No! What?

WILBUR is killed.

WILBUR: Oh.

-

BADBOYHALO: We need the cake.

KARL: Ehm, I want to let everybody know; Technoblade is not at his computer, but he wishes the best for the-the-the birthday, that’s what it’s called.

NIKI: Aww. For the birthday

BADBOYHALO: Happy birthday!

KARL: Wilbur!

NIKI: Wil!

BADBOYHALO: Wilbur, welcome back

WILBUR: Give me attention, give me attention

KARL: Wilbur! It’s him, guys!

Everyone cheered.

NIKI: We’re so happy to have you here.

KARL: Okay, let’s take a seat.

WILBUR: Big Q? You haven’t said anything

QUACKITY: Hey Wilbur!

WILBUR: Give me attention, you gotta say- you haven’t said anything.

QUACKITY: Oh, sorry, I was getting my… it’s none of my business. Hey Wilbur! It’s so good to see you here, man.

WILBUR: Thank you. Alright, let’s sing happy birthday.

KARL: Alright! Quackity, take it away!

QUACKITY: Okay… happy birthday, Karl!

Everyone singing.

KARL: Happy birthday, dear Niki-not-Karl

AWESAMDUDE: Happy birthday

BADBOYHALO: Okay, now that we sang happy birthday, Karl, let’s sing it to-

KARL: Quackity! Quackity, do you know whose birthday it is? Quackity?

QUACKITY: Who the fuck slammed a bottle on the table?

QUACKITY sings happy birthday to BADBOYHALO.

BADBOYHALO: I’m about to murder someone.

KARL: Sounds Skeppy

QUACKITY: Oh, Wilbur’s here! My bad.

QUACKITY sings happy birthday to WILBUR

WILBUR: Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m glad I’m getting the appreciation I deserve

QUACKITY: Guys, guys!

WILBUR: I’m glad I’m so finally getting the attention that I deserve.

QUACKITY: You just got out of rehab? Happy getting rehab to you-

WILBUR: Thank you, thank you. Thank you, thank you, I still have a very bad drug problem, but I’m okay-

KARL: Oh! I think it’s-

QUACKITY: You’re an addict, Wilbur, you’re an addict, Wilbur. You’re an addict, you are

BADBOYHALO: Stop it!

WILBUR: I’m enjoying these songs less and less.

BADBOYHALO: Wilbur!

KARL: Okay, it did take a lot of organization-

NIKI: Very.

KARL: Alright, Quackmeister?

QUACKITY: Hurry up, man!

KARL: Quackmeister, it’s you! Do happy birthday! And then we can eat the cake- oop! I didn’t think, I’m sorry.

QUACKITY: Fuck! Fuck! Okay, alright, let’s do-

BADBOYHALO: Language!

QUACKITY: I’m gonna curse all I want, I don’t give a shit what Boy says-

BADBOYHALO: Hey!

QUACKITY: I’m gonna curse all I want-

BADBOYHALO: You wanna die?

QUACKITY: I don’t give a fucking shit-

BADBOYHALO: You can stop trolling or I’ll kill him again.

QUACKITY: Alright, Jesus, chill out. Chill out, man.

KARL: Okay, say happy birthday

QUACKITY: *Sings happy birthday*

EVERYONE: *Sings happy birthday*

NIKI: Yeah! Thank you, everyone!

PUNZ: Yeah!

NIKI: Yeah!

BADBOYHALO: Very good job, Quackity

QUACKITY, singing: Your eyes are gorgeous, you’re dark and beautiful, you’re gorgeous

BADBOYHALO: Okay, okay, it’s time for presents

WILBUR: Big Q! Thank you, Quackity, thank you

-

KARL: You guys are honking up- oh, wait! We have to turn it into Christmas now.

QUACKITY: You like my bicycle hat?

NIKI: Mhm! It’s really pretty, I like it

KARL: Are we gonna Christmas-ify the-?

QUACKITY: It’s not supposed to look pretty.

BADBOYHALO: Let’s go, Skeppy

SKEPPY: Bye!

BADBOYHALO: Later, guys!

KARL: Bye!

WILBUR: Big Q, I can see you. Big Q, our eyes are locked, our eyes are locked across the room.

NIKI: Bye!

WILBUR: Bye, bye.

QUACKITY: Sing for me.

WILBUR: *Plays I’m in Love With An E-Girl* This is a song I wrote for you, Quackity.

QUACKITY: Really?

WILBUR: It’s out of tune

-

NIKI: Oh shit

QUACKITY: I got it. I’m in love with an, I’m in love with an e-girl

NIKI: I guess this is our only friend now

KARL: Just adding more snow…

NIKI: Oh, is it- is it two? Oh, yeah! Thanks!

KARL: How do I take his hat-helmet off?

NIKI: Ehm… shears, I think

WILBUR, singing: Well, it’s 2.45 pm, Alex, wake up from snoring, open Alex’s dms, can a red bull by my bed, and I’m- Alex is there, snapchat from Alex is read

QUACKITY: Yeah…

KARL: Wow…

WILBUR, singing: What’s popping, Big Q?

QUACKITY: My love for, eh…everyone!

WILBUR, singing: He’s beauty, he’s grace

KARL: Wow!

WILBUR: Minecraft skin of a peach, and-and that’s it

QUACKITY: Yeah…

WILBUR, singing: Just a single message more, send him riding down my heathen chord

QUACKITY: Oh my gosh, oh my gosh

NIKI: I have- I have iron in my ender chest

WILBUR, singing: I want it so bad, one to fall asleep on call with, I make you forget

KARL: What is this?

QUACKITY: Practicing

KARL: Just practicing? That’s it?

QUACKITY: Yeah, that’s it.

KARL: Okay, sweet.

WILBUR, singing: Everything that came before you, I love- like you, and you are also like a-

KARL: He hit him with the like

WILBUR, singing: Let’s skip to the good bit, that’s consumed me on Minecraft connection. I’m in love with an, I’m in love with an, I’m in love with a Big Q

NIKI: Oh!

KARL: OH!

WILBUR, singing: I’m in love with a-

KARL: He’s just practi- no, it’s okay.

WILBUR, singing: -Big Q. I’m in love with a, I’m in love with a, I’m in love with a Big Q. I’m in love with a, I’m in love with an, I’m in love with Big Q.

KARL: Woah, he’s just practicing?

WILBUR: Just practicing, yeah, yeah

QUACKITY: Just practicing.

QUACKITY: I gotta make sure these are the right chords.

QUACKITY, singing: Wake up in the morning

WILBUR: Yes, yes, that’s a good way to start

QUACKITY: What?

WILBUR: I said it’s a good way to start a song

KARL: Wait, should I- how do I use a name tag?

NIKI: Eh, you just click on them.

QUACKITY, singing: It’s Wilbur streaming, then I see he’s streaming with me today, and it seems like he’s fully ignoring me

NIKI: Is it not working?

QUACKITY, singing: Oh no, looks like Wilbur is already dating someone. Oh no-

WILBUR: I am?

KARL names the name tag for the snowman, NIKI JR

QUACKITY, singing: -looks like Wilbur is already dating someone. Look at my counter, I see a knife-

NIKI: Oh, wait! Oh, wait! Oh my gosh!

WILBUR: Big Q, that’s TOS.

NIKI: Aw!

KARL: Yeah?

NIKI: Thank you, Karl!

KARL: Of course!

QUACKITY, singing: Wilbur is going […] I am fucking pissed, why’s he not dating someone who starts with a Q?

KARL: Wait… is this practice?

QUACKITY, singing: Wilbur, please, come back home. Our daughter misses you

KARL: Come on, let’s go. Let’s listen to them practice

NIKI: Okay. I wanna get my friend with me, though

KARL: Oh!

QUACKITY, singing: Wilbur, please come, please come home to me.

The snowman falls through the stairs.

NIKI: Oh!

KARL: Oh!

-

WILBUR, singing: Big Q, the moment I saw your twin town videos in my recommended section

QUACKITY: I never raided Twin Town, but yeah

WILBUR, singing: Shut the fuck up-

KARL: Woah!

WILBUR, singing: You are big piece of shit, I’m just tryna pour my heart out, all you’re doing is shutting me down, like you shut down this party; yeah, I said it. You ruined-

KARL: Ah!

WILBUR, singing: -Niki’s birthday bash-

KARL: Apparently, the snowman’s gonna die

NIKI: No!

WILBUR, singing: With your stupid acts of unpresented sexual agitated dancing-

QUACKITY: He’s right

WILBUR, singing: I am never gonna invite you to anything I do-

KARL: Here

NIKI: Oh!

WILBUR, singing: ‘Cause you’re a fucking piece of shit, and I can’t fucking stand you.

QUACKITY: Okay… oh

WILBUR, singing: But, you’re still really hot-

KARL: True!

WILBUR, singing: You’re boring me with all your little indecisive bullshit actions-

QUACKITY: Okay.

WILBUR, singing: You are the perfect one for me if you promise you never speak, and you just stand there in my room, looking pretty

KARL: Wow…

-

QUACKITY strumming the guitar.

KARL: Yeah!

WILBUR: Yeah, yeah

QUACKITY, singing: I fucking hate you-

KARL: Yeah!

QUACKITY, singing: I fucking hate you, I fucking despise you, everything you say about me in front of me-

WILBUR: I love this new hundred GEC strat

KARL: Oh, you don’t need to hear- have you heard his 100 GECS?

WILBUR: I’ve never heard his 100 GECS

KARL: Quackity, switch to 100 GECS, hurry

QUACKITY: Huh?

KARL: Switch to 100 GECS

QUACKITY strums the guitar.

QUACKITY, singing: I fucking hate you, I fucking hate what you do, you treat me like ass-

WILBUR: Sounds like a sex bit

QUACKITY, singing: As I’m […] your ass

KARL: I don’t think this is- what is this?

QUACKITY sings.

KARL: That was-

QUACKITY, singing: You can kiss my ass, but you’d have to wait in line, you don’t deserve me, my presence, or my rhymes. I despise you, I despise you, I despise you so much, I despise you, I despise you so much

KARL: The CatJams are flying

QUACKITY, singing: Wilbur Soot, you’re a dick, you don’t deserve all of this, you’re a narcissistic- I stopped midway because you don’t deserve any more lyrics from me.

KARL: Let’s go!

-

QUACKITY, through a muffled mic: Hhhhhhh

WILBUR: He sounds like-

KARL: Corpse? Is that Corpse?

WILBUR: He’s Corpse Husband!

QUACKITY, in deep voice: Choke me like you like me

KARL: Did you see his tweet? Choke me like choke me ‘cause you choke me

QUACKITY: Choke me like you choke me like you choke me. Choke me like you choke me, and choke me at the grocery, I’m shopping, choke me like you choke me

KARL: Wow. Just when we thought this party couldn’t get any better. Everybody left and then Corpse showed up

QUACKITY: How’s it going? Choke me like you choke me

WILBUR: Have my babies!

QUACKITY: *Deep breathing*

WILBUR: Impregnate me!

QUACKITY: *Deep breathing*

WILBUR: Make me pregnant.

QUACKITY: *Deep breathing* Choke me- uahahaha

WILBUR: I crave your seed.

QUACKITY: Wow

KARL: I love your hands

QUACKITY: Hello everyone, how’s it going?

KARL: Oh, the 100 GECS

WILBUR: My womb is throbbing

QUACKITY: Oohhh

KARL: Okay…

-

Guitar strumming. QUACKITY and WILBUR sing “Send Me On My Way”

KARL: I just realized we did the part- we did the birthday party at a haunted mansion instead of an island, I literally named Party Island.

NIKI: Oh, yeah! But we did it together, Karl.

KARL: Oh, but we did- yeah, that makes sense. Oh?

QUACKITY and WILBUR whistle.

QUACKITY: Hey, hey, play me some party in the USA.

WILBUR: Yeah, sure, but also, Niki, what would you said if last year you told yourself that on your birthday, you’d be trending on Twitter?

NIKI: I’m trending?

KARL: Oh! You are! You are for me.

NIKI: Oh!

QUACKITY and WILBUR play Party in The USA. KARL and NIKI join in a little.

-

QUACKITY, singing: Wilbur, now I know, I messed, I was wrong-

NIKI: Oh

QUACKITY, singing: Wilbur, I’m sorry, I neglected you, oh, I never expected feeling this empty, your stream right now would sound like music to me, please come home ‘cause I miss you, Wilbur. Wilbur, come home-

KARL: Oh! Woah!

KARL thinks QUACKITY and WILBUR were kissing.

QUACKITY: Hey Wilbur

WILBUR: Yeah?

QUACKITY, singing: Wilbur, can’t you see? I was blind- hold on. Wilbur, can’t you see? I was blind, I’ll do anything to change your mind, more than a streamer, you’re my best friend – too cool to forget. Come back, I don’t fucking know this part- Wilbur, come home. Wilbur, come home. Wilbur, come home.

KARL: How do all these-?

NIKI: Wilbur!

QUACKITY, singing: Wilbur, I’m subscribed to your channel, it’s a tier 3, but I cancelled it. Wilbur, if you come back I’ll renew my sub, I’ll do a 13 months and that’s more than enough for you to come back and stay with me. Your response right now would sound like music to me

WILBUR: Quackity…

QUACKITY, singing: Please, come home because I miss you, Wilbur

WILBUR: This- this coral block is as vibrant as our love

WILBUR places yellow coral.

KARL: Oh. I thought that was practice…

The coral turns grey.

QUACKITY: Oh my gosh… what happened?

KARL: Oh…

QUACKITY: What the-?

NIKI: Oh…

QUACKITY: What the hell?

WILBUR: You’re scum.

QUACKITY: Wha-what? What?

WILBUR: You’re scum. You’re scum. Look at me. Don’t look away from me. Stop being terrified of me. Look at me.

QUACKITY: What? What do you want?

WILBUR: I’m gonna blow up Manberg.

QUACKITY: What-?

WILBUR: And you’re gonna watch.

KARL: Woah, woah, woah

WILBUR: Ah, we’ve come full circle, we’ve come full circle. We’ve come full circle!

QUACKITY: No, no

KARL: Wait!

QUACKITY: No chance

-

WILBUR: The minute it goes wrong, I’m there.

KARL: I mean, he literally is here.

QUACKITY: I’ll go through with it, Wilbur. I’ll go through with the planned bomb if it-

KARL: Planned bomb?

WILBUR: When. When are you going to go through with this meeting?

QUACKITY: Give me a couple days. I gotta- I gotta set up a few things.

WILBUR: Tell you what, tell you what. If-if you haven’t done it by Friday, I’m detonating it.

QUACKITY: Okay… okay.

WILBUR: I wanna be watching that meeting stream, alright? I’m gonna be watching that stream of you before Friday.

QUACKITY: Alright. Okay. You’ve- you’ve given me a timeline. I’ll tell you soon, okay?

WILBUR: Thank you!

WILBUR leaves the call.

QUACKITY: Fuck’s sake, man!

NIKI: Oh my gosh!

QUACKITY: For fuck’s sake! Oh my gosh, what the fuck just happened?

KARL: Oh my gosh!

QUACKITY: Oh, I gotta fucking figure this shit out

NIKI: Oh…

QUACKITY: I gotta fucking figure this shit out…

NIKI: Oh my gosh…

KARL: What do you need to figure out?

NIKI: He needs you to do something, Quackity. Karl, he’s gonna blow the fucking place up

QUACKITY: No, no, no, I’ll figure it out. Just-just know that we’ll… Manberg is staying, alright? Manburg is gonna stay.

KARL: Manberg forever.

NIKI: L’Manberg!

KARL: Yeah… that’s what I said.

NIKI: L’Manberg.

KARL: That’s what I said. Oh, Quackity’s gone.

NIKI: Oh… bye Quackity.

KARL: It’s just like how the stream started

NIKI: Yes! Exactly!

KARL: Yay!

NIKI: That was great. Really! I know I’ve been saying that a lot, but I can’t thank everyone enough for- for this.

KARL: Of course! It’s your birthday

NIKI: It’s so nice

KARL: Happy Birthday, Niki!

NIKI: Thank you, Karl!

[zhansww]

Hey, I'm new to this side of the fandom. I was a MDZS fan but I fell in love with CQL and Xiao Zhan. I try to avoid rl cp's because of experiences with fandom. However, it's impossible to ignore WY's crush on XZ. I thought of the relationship as brotherly rivals/one-sided crush from yibo. Until I saw them on stage at the tencent awards, and with the release of all these bts vids it doesn't seem like a crush it seems very much mutual and acted on. SO here I am on tumblr checking things out

In the last 48 hours I have been all over yizhan tumblr and I really love your blog because you have a very rational pov. If you don't mind me asking how did you get into this cp? what makes you think they are still together after the ao3 incident? Do you have a preference for XZ or WY and does that make it hard being a CP fan? Is there a master list you can send me to? Sorry for asking so many questions, if any of them offend please don't anwer. Thank you in advanced.

Hello there and welcome to this side of the fandom~ 😄

Thank you so much for liking my blog. It’s always really humbling for me to read such praise //// About me, trying to think rationally when it comes to YiZhan; that is something that is very important imo. These are real people that I am making such a bold statement of, after all. It would be a disservice to them and to myself if I didn’t at least try to judge what they have in an unbiased, reasonable way. On that note, I know that a lot of cp fans fell in love with YiZhan so they just believed in them first and looked for evidence second. For me, it was quite different. I became their fan in late summer 2019. It didn’t take me long to come across cp fans who actually believed that XZ and WYB are a couple irl but I just rolled my eyes at that and dismissed most of their so-called evidence. Me, I wasn’t even sure if they were genuine friends at that point. The first thing I found out about that gave me a clue was the theory that XZ gave Yibo the ox-head necklace he was wearing back then (from June 2019 until August 2020). The lip reading is what made me believe it and I thought “oh so they are friends in real life, too. how cute”. But this was around the same time that Yibo started hiding the necklace which is something that gave me pause but that I explained with “he must be annoyed with cp fans, assuming it’s a romantic gift”. It basically kept going like this for months. I found excuses for anything that confused me at first, I really didn’t want to budge from my belief that ggdd are good friends. The more I found out about them individually and about certain theories that actually made sense, the more that belief crumbled. Until weibo night 2020 which was when I had to concede that assuming YiZhan are friends just doesn’t make sense. I still remember how oddly defeated I felt. I think it’s such a bittersweet thing. They found love but they are unable to share it, to love freely. I feel for them. And I am rooting for them so badly. That was when I started to believe. I wasn’t certain until May 2020. On the 20th, a flight to Shanghai showed on gg’s schedule and dd was set to fly there on that day, too. Other than dd’s arrival at the airport that morning, no one saw either of them that day at any of the places where fans waited, hoping to see them. There were photos of them on the 21st in Shanghai but not the 20th. And then of course, there was dd’s own confirmation that he spent that day with XZ in his weibo story. To be clear, I don’t think that any one thing about YiZhan is or should be enough to make one certain they’re a couple. For me, that particular incident was the final straw, so to say. It’s what made me completely sure about their relationship. I haven’t had any doubt since. I guess this also kinda answers your second question about what makes me think they’re still together after what happened last February. There are other hints that they (and mainly Yibo) dropped last year that let us know they are still very much in love. I elaborated a bit on that here, you can also check the posts I have in this tag for actual examples.

I don’t have a preference. It’s still so funny to me when bxg say they have a bias between XZ and WYB. I genuinely can’t relate. Ehm, I could imagine XZ-biased cp fans to have it harder, though, cuz bj/yx fans are sort of representing this cp’s fandom as a whole and generally speaking, the bj/yx fandom doesn’t seem to be able to separate wang/xian from bj/yx which leads to them, willfully misinterpreting gg’s character and ggdd’s dynamic just to fit their misguided idea of what a queer relationship between two men should look like irl. You may not know what exactly I’m referring to cuz you’re new but I don’t doubt that you’ll see soon enough :/ Personally, I prefer zsww and lsfy fans. With bj/yx fans, I barely ever know what I’m getting beforehand.

I assume you’re referring to a master list of all of XZ and WYB’s content over the last years or so? I think this site might be good but it’s all in Chinese so I don’t know for sure. Hmmm.... this thread might be a start. Also, these yt accounts: BXCnSub, Prime110W and wenwen1111. I'd recommend viki and Youtube for watching their shows. Sorry I can’t be more helpful. I remember coming across an actual master list a few months ago but I didn’t save it. If I should find it again, I’ll link it. Sorry. >.<

[tinyshinysylveon]

i suddenly got this idea where izuku is an anonymous famous editor for youtubers who hire him to edit their videos because he’s a professional at doing it, and katsuki is an upcoming youtube vlogger who travels around the world and yet doesn’t know how to edit his own videos to save his life, so no matter what he does, he always seem to mess up even the basics of editing (part 1/??)

“i think you need professional help” kirishima says as he watches katsuki trying to drag an edited cut on to his video for the umpteenth time that day “shut up, shitty hair just give me a minute-” an error popup. “did you just.. deleted the video?” “....”

katsuki keeps trying, he even watched tutorials on youtube (while skipping important segments ofc because he can totally do that all on his own!) but his patience is wearing thin until kirishima recommended him to someone who’s known in the youtube community for their famous editing skills 

“..deku?” katsuki stares at his screen showing a youtube profile with the name deku as their username and an icon of all might with edited-in sunglasses “okay look, he may seem suspicious to you, but i gotta tell you bakugou, he’s legit, i’ve seen his videos and they look awesome!” well katsuki will be the judge of that despite this deku having 5 mil+ subscribers than him!

the blonde spent the whole day watching deku’s videos which mostly consists of amvs (anime music videos) and games, especially the ones that required a lot of effort to make, plus he even made tutorials! so he gotta give him credit for that, but alas, katsuki is still somehow having trouble following directions and gave up on the latest tutorial video on how to add an easy transition 

when kirishima came to check in with katsuki, all he heard were multiple clicks and grumbled noises, he let out an exasperated sigh “i can’t believe you’re still trying..” “what the fuck do you want me to do kirishima?” katsuki was trying not to flip his table at this point. “hire him obviously!” the red head yells out as if that’s the answer to their problems “..and how do you suppose i do that?” 

it actually took a lot of convincing in kirishima’s part, but katsuki finally threw away his pride and decided to send a message to deku’s business email that was left under his about page on youtube 

“..i want you to become my editor and help me in becoming the #1 youtube travel vlogger in the community” kirishima reads the message out loud that’s displayed on the screen, “you sure you want to send it like this?” “i don’t see anything wrong with it?” “but don’t you think it’s too.. blunt? no formalities or anything like, hello i’ve seen your videos and i would be honored to have you as my editor, you know?” katsuki just shrugged, “it’s too late, i already sent it to him”

about half a day later, deku replied back, “Good afternoon Mr.Explosionmurder, I appreciate that you requested me to become your editor and would like to discuss further details about our agreement via discord. You can contact me by adding my username, deku#2463. I look forward to hearing from you.” to this day, kirishima still can’t believe his eyes when he read the message

“oi shitty hair, what’s a discord?” 

it wasn’t katsuki’s fault that the majority of time he spent in high school was doing his best to stay on top of assignments and projects, plus being in the A honor roll, he didn’t really get to decide on his career until after he graduated, thanks to the courtesy of his parents owning their own modeling industry, he put the money he saved up to good use in traveling around the world and vlogging it for people to see with kirishima as his traveling partner

he explained all of this and his reasonings to deku on discord once he reached out to him and figured out how to use the platform, but katsuki was still suspicious regarding his video editing skills and wanted to see it firsthand on how his videos would look like as a finished product

deku: fair enough, send me your videos and i’ll see what i can do, until then, if you deem it satisfactory, which i’m confident that you will, i request a 50/50 payment on your revenue. take it or leave it. 

for some reason, katsuki agreed to it without a second thought due to the challenging tone from the message; “i can’t believe you! i told you to trust him! why do you have to doubt him?! haven’t you already seen his videos?!” kirishima was full on panicking at this point, how were they going to make money?! “shut up, i know what i’m doing! i know what’s best for my videos!” it was a good chance too since they’re currently in hong kong and planning to shoot the top 10 tourist spots to visit as claimed by an article he found online

a few days later, katsuki finally got all the videos piled up in one folder and sent them all in a google drive to share with deku just as he requested, he even mentioned to him thru discord message to follow the cues he was giving him on his videos such as when he and kirishima took a stroll and tried foods in the temple street night market; “hey deku, i want you to do a close up of kirishima eating the curry fish ball with erotic music playing in the background” he smirks while focusing the camera on the red head eating without a care in the world and not noticing katsuki making the comment, “mmm dude, mmm you gotta try this, it’s so freakin’ good- wait bro, how long have you been pointing the camera at me?” 

in less than a week, deku sent a reply back with the link to the fully edited video; deku: hmm, not gonna lie, but your cues were actually helpful and dare I say, creative? katsuki took it as a compliment and opened the link to the video file, it was about a few GB so it shouldn’t take a long time to upload on youtube, but.. was it ready? he called in kirishima to watch it with him and was actually prepared for it to look horrible despite deku’s obvious talent except.. it was actually pretty good?? better even?! “what did i tell ya katsuki? i told you he was legit,” his partner boasted, just earlier he was embarrassed when the part about him eating the curry fish ball with the “let’s get it on” music in the background showed up while the blonde just rolled his eyes. 

explosionmurder: thanks, and i just saw it, consider yourself hired deku: happy to be of service! i’m looking forward to working with you, mr.explosionmurder! it would be helpful again if you provided the cues during your journey! :)  explosionmurder: don’t mention it and also don’t call me that, call me katsuki  deku: okay, mr.katsuki! [all might emoji]

kastuki found it odd that he became really eager during the exchange but thought nothing of it

a couple of months flew by and katsuki with kirishima in tow have already travelled in 4 other different countries, he even received about 500k+ subscribers, he’s almost to 1 million! as per agreement, he gives half of his revenue to deku which was okay with him since he still has a lot of saved up money in the bank including kirishima’s since they’re sharing it anyway, most of the time, his communication with deku have been entirely professional with a few emojis in between (usually deku’s part), until today that is 

deku: it must be nice to travel 0:  explosionmurder: pfft, what are you talking about? you now have over 7 mil+ subscribers in your channel since i met you, you can go traveling whenever or wherever you want  deku: i can’t  explosionmurder: what do you mean you can’t?

no reply

since then, katsuki didn’t want to think too much on what deku said and focused mostly on traveling, those videos won’t work themselves! after he finished, he sent over the videos of his recent trip from india over to deku and as usual, deku delivered it back beautifully edited along with a message 

deku: that’s so cool! you guys went to india? *o* [link to video edit] explosionmurder: yeah, you should’ve seen shitty hair when he tried that really spicy curry, which reminds me, you did what i asked right? deku: of course mr. katsuki! as always, i’ve paid attention to every cue you asked for! [saluting pepe emoji] explosionmurder: good good, i didn’t just hire you to sit on your ass all day  deku: haha you’re not my only contractor you know ^^”  explosionmurder: is that what you meant when you said you couldn’t travel because you’ve been busy? way to be blunt katsuki, he mentally berated himself, but at least deku answered this time, although reluctantly deku: ...let’s just say im stuck at home  in that very moment, is when everything changed between them explosionmurder: alright nerd, you sound depressed as hell so i’m going to give you the decision to decide on where we’re going to travel to next, think of it as a reward for all you’ve done for us  deku: asdkjflas that’s too much! T_T are you sure mr. katsuki??? explosionmurder: i’m waiting, you got 3 seconds starting now, 3  deku: america! i’ve been wanting to go to america...

katsuki told kirishima his plans, then the spiky red head gave him a pat on the back and a thumbs up, “so you do have a sentimental bone in your body!” kirishima was almost close to being dead that very same day 

when they arrived to america, he asked deku the list of things he wanted to see and most of them were, “all might amusement park, all might cafe, all might- is there anything else the nerd likes besides all might and superheroes?” katsuki says while viewing the list in the hotel they’re staying at. “give him a break, you said so yourself that he couldn’t leave his house, so this is the least we can do for him and for all the hard work he put in our videos,” kirishima reasoned with him

on the last day of their trip, katsuki did his routine in piling the videos together and sending them to deku with the attached message, “i actually bought you a souvenir if you want it, looked like the type of shit you would like, you’ll see what it is in the videos i’ve sent you” they’ve known each other long enough so he thought why the hell not, it’s just a matter of getting his PO address, and the response to this was immediate, “AAA I SAW IT! THANK YOU THANK YOU!” <3<3 <(^w^<)

it was an all might limited edition figurine only available in the US 

for the first time, deku took two days longer to finish than katsuki expected him to since they’ve started because he always goes through them pretty quickly, maybe he’s too busy making them look up-to-par? whatever the case was, when katsuki received the video, it already had a title for it, “MY AWESOME TRIP TO AMERICA PLUS ULTRA!” kirishima just laughed and told him to keep it in honor of deku so he left it like that, “this better give me some views,” he grumbled and uploaded it the night before they went to bed, he wasn’t really worried in checking it out either because he has faith in deku’s abilities  

the morning after was hectic, katsuki has been receiving notifications upon notifications on the “travel bros” (courtesy of kirishima) twitter since last night, one in particular caught his eye, “i can’t believe deku and katsuki are dating! who would’ve thought!” what?

a short video appeared underneath that came from the video he uploaded, and regretfully never took a look at, showing katsuki saying to the camera as he held the AM figurine, “deku, you should’ve been here, look at what i got you, nerd,” at first glance, it was supposed to look normal (from the original video!) except hearts and sparkles began appearing around katsuki as he smirks up at the camera, what the fuck? besides, deku was suppose to edit that all out! for every cue in every part where he says deku’s name, he was expected to delete them like he usually does! even though it was no secret that deku was his video editor, he distinctly remembers mentioning about him in a video they took way back when they first started out their contract agreement

meanwhile, kirishima was having a field day, he finally saw their video while katsuki kept on seeing other short videos of him on twitter from different segments of the trip in which he either had sparkles or hearts around him, especially when he mentions deku’s name; “bro you won’t believe this, our subscribers grew up to over 1 million last night!” kirishima yells enthusiastically, but when he noticed katsuki not paying attention to him, he looked over his shoulder to check what he was looking at. “oh that, you know those aren’t fanmade videos, right?” katsuki unblinkingly turned to look at him, “you mean..?” kirishima gave him a toothy grin, “yep!” 

a video call from discord, “dekuuuu, what is the meaning of this?” a squeaky voice, “i-I’m so sorry i got carried away and i couldn’t help it! all might was too beautiful including you and-!” “..what did you just say?”

TBC maybe?

[marueonmain]

WINDFLOWER

part eight ~ the chance to pipe ~

(part one) (part two) (part three) (part four) (part five) (part six) (part seven) (part eight)

A/N: We are in it now; thank you for sticking around. Messages/Asks are open and greatly appreciated.

Summary: Alex seeks Will’s support and advice for how best to shoot his shot with Y/N. He also takes his first shower in 72 hours.

Pairing: imallexx x reader

Warning: Language.

Word Count: 2.6k

He arrived at Will's apartment, still wearing the mindless grin that Y/N coaxed out of him. Alex walked through the unlocked front door and straight to his friend's bedroom. It was bright, not near as cave-like as his own, and there was the lingering scent of a candle burned recently. Will sat at his desk: a second chair set-up next to him: scrolling through the youtube analytics for his most recent video.

It seemed that CPM was up – good news for the video and its one-million views. Will cleared his throat, causing Alex to freeze just two steps inside. Without lifting his head or dragging his attention from his screen, Will said with a flat and ominous tone, "I warned yous."

"What?"

"About being late." Spinning his chair, Will revealed the blue spray-painted plastic bat sitting in his lap. He kept his stern face for another five seconds before breaking into his usual toothy smile and laugh.

Rather than scrambling together a witty remark in return, Alex chuckled along. To that gag as well as the other usual playful abuse about his laziness and tardiness. Will finished the last one-liner he had prepared in the extra time he was made to wait for Alex to arrive, and his expression faltered. Not that he did not appear cheerful anymore – the smile remained – but it relaxed as a single eyebrow raised.

Will asked, "What's got you all giddy?"

Looking down at his hands, Alex chuckled again, though it sounded more akin to a humorous scoff, and gave no answer. He buried his hands in his pockets and took the seat next to his friend.

"What is it?" Will pestered on. "James Charles unblocked you, did he?"

Alex punched him in the arm as hard as he could (not hard). "Fuck off."

Will rolled his eyes before turning to the camera. He hit record and, putting on his boisterous presentation voice, shouted, "Right! Hello, welcome back to the second channel – welcome back to oddly satisfying. It's been a..."

Top posts for that month included photos of symmetrical flower arrangements, videos of tape-peelings from miniature canvases, woodworking gifs, beautiful block calligraphy, slow-motion capture of a sewing machine, and animation to fulfill the desire to sharpen a pencil to a perfect point every time. Alex gave out ratings of nines and tens like he had a quota to fill. As the video continued, Will argued the scores with him more and more. None so much as he did with the seven Alex gave to a real shit submission of ping-pong trick shots.

It was not an average filming session (unbeknownst to Will); it was a game where with each passing minute, Alex was building up his courage for what he wanted to talk about after the video was over. George had been the one person in the friend group he told about his feelings for Y/N, and that had not gone over well. But Alex thought he might now be able to explain it better – explain himself better – and be supported. Will was, after all, behind the act of snakelike behaviour, a very caring person who had held Alex's hand while he fixed himself several times over.

"What do you give the paw-print painting then, Alex?"

"Hm?" Torn from the bed of his subconscious thoughts into the waking world, Alex darted his eyes to the screen and to the camera. "Uh, ten. Definitely a ten."

"Right. Anyway, we'll end on a good note. Be sure to hit that like button for more reddit videos and go subscribe to Alex's channel—"

"It's really epic!"

"—link will be in the description. And we'll see you guys later!" Will gave a terse salute to the camera and, once the outro was finished, dropped his voice to normal and asked, "Care to do a second one while we're here?"

"Why not?"

Springing from his chair to his feet, Will crossed the bedroom to his cupboard and began to change. Giving the illusion of there being a more significant passage of time between filming. Taking off his beanie revealed his dark unruly hair, which he covered again with his 'crisis actor' hat.

"I was wondering if I could get your advice on something?" Alex began not moving from his seat at the desk. Neither did he turn his attention much from the screen, to give Will some privacy.

"What's that?"

"There's this girl— Well, um, this woman rather, that I am interested in approaching – romantically – and—"

"Why you talking like an android?" Will stripped himself of his black and green shirt. Interestingly enough, the same black and green shirt as Ethan wore when he last had the sidemen member over for a video. "Could you be normal for a minute?"

"I like her. Ok? What now?"

He pulled on a shovel hoodie and grabbing another turned to Alex. Gesturing to the pink zip-up jacket, he asked, "You have a decent shirt under there or want to borrow one of these?"

"I'm fine. But about the girl. Should I even bother?"

"How do you mean? If there's the chance to pipe – you got to take it."

"No. Like if I just end up fucking it up, why—?"

"Stop thinking about the end. We're at the beginning, alright? You're a good-looking lad, even got a decent trim for once in your life." Will ruffled Alex's hair as he returned to the seat beside him. "You're verified. All you got to do is slide into the lass' twitter DMs, and you're in."

"I'm not verified," he said with a bit of a huff. "You're verified."

Will shrugged. Pulling his phone from his pocket to check messages. "Whatever. You ready to record?"

"Not yet. What if she has a boyfriend?"

"Chin him."

"I'm being serious."

"So am I. If there's not a ring and a date...well...it isn't really all that important, is it?" Will scrolled through the next ten posts on r/oddlysatisfying, before changing his mind, scrolling back up, and switching to another subreddit. Adding to his previous comment, "Unless it's Mia we're talking about."

Alex sucked his teeth. "Unfortunately, it is."

"Shut it. I'm having none of that." He pushed Alex's shoulder with one hand and wagged a jokingly accusatory finger. "Let's get back to it."

"Alright. Alright."

Will turned to the camera and, as quickly as he had dropped it, picked up his presentation voice, shouting, "Right! Hello, welcome back to this incredibly ad-friendly youtube channel. Instead of rating sand-cutting and slime, today we're gonna be rating dogs again. So this, welcome to r/aww. There should be some decent content here..."

It was nice sifting through the top posts of the week: a golden retriever taking care of baby bunnies, deer fawns sleeping under lawn furniture, an albino skunk, and a lot more ducklings and birds in general than Alex remembered being popular on the subreddit. Their last filming was full of constant challenges and debates, but when Alex gave nine and ten ratings for animals Will agreed whole-heartedly – save for a single dispute over a cat picture. It was cute; Will just was not terribly fond of cats.

Alex simultaneously commentated for the video and pondered – now that he had his friend's blessing – how best to shoot his shot with Y/N. He beamed with excitement and energy, and the evidence was in the light blush of his cheeks. It was not soft happiness like he felt when sitting on the rooftop of his apartment building, with a sausage roll in his stomach and a decent buzz. It was sharp happiness like the entire world had been dragged into photoshop and had the contrast shot right up to one hundred. All the dust from the corners of his mind was gathered, swept up, dumped in a bin, and set ablaze.

Before Alex could think of anything, it was the end of the video.

"Thank you very much for watching! Hope you enjoyed. Check-out Alex's channel and the WillNE main channel, links in the description, and we'll see you guys later." Will stopped the recording, dropped the act, and pulled out his phone again. There were dozens of messages; his fingers flew across the keyboard, shooting off response after response. "Thanks for helping out the cause."

Alex returned Will's fist-bump. He stood from his chair just to walk the single step and sit on the edge of Will's bed. Any distance would do in helping him ease into the details of his situation; after all, it was not just any woman that he was after.

He started, attempting to sound casual, as if the topic was organic, "What do you think about Re—?"

"Red and Sammy?" Will asked distractedly. Believing he had finished the question how Alex meant to, he took it upon himself to answer it as well, "Haven't met Red to be fair, but Sammy is a solid bloke."

"You think?"

"Yeah, Gee wanted to rearrange some furniture, and Josh and I were useless. I rang Sammy, he came round, practically moved everything himself – even brought beers. You did well good picking him, Lex."

At what was likely intended to be a genuine compliment, Alex felt himself shifting a single step closer to his internal self-destruct button. Of course, Alex knew. He knew that it was not healthy for his mind or mood to be so fragile or rather so easily swayed, but there he was – fuming with misplaced anger.

How could he tell Will? How could he explain he wanted a chance with one of their mates’ girlfriends without coming off as a bad person? Was he a bad person?

Did he care? When he came into the world running a race where he was made to wear sandals while everyone else got trainers. Alex stood from the bed and readied to leave.

Attempting to lighten the mood despite likely not knowing why it dimmed, Will added, standing to throw an arm around Alex's shoulders, "And who said you have no friends?"

"You do."

Will chuckled. "Huh, I must be dead smart me."

"Alright, well..." He intentionally trailed off, ducking from under his friend's arm.

"Are you off?"

"Yeah, I'll sees you later." Alex left the bedroom with quicker and heavier steps than was his usual gait; the difference, however, was not enough for someone outside himself to notice. It was frustration. It was: a set jaw. : an unnatural heat rising from his core to all his extremities. : and a mouth pinched smaller than what seems humanely possible.

If he were a 2D cartoon character, as comments under all his videos would suggest, his irises would be redrawn in the shape of flames. Steam might have even come from his ears.

George likes Sammy. Will likes Sammy. James (or at least drunk James who met him) likes Sammy.

And Alex wanted to steal his girlfriend. Fuck.

He raced through the flat to the front door; just through the threshold and into the hall, he stopped. Waiting to hear the latch bolt behind him. Like the clap of a hypnotherapist bringing their patient back from a breakthrough session – the sound drained him of his anger.

It was not helpful to him to be angry at the situation: angry with himself.

Alex walked the hall to the lift and stepped in. During his descent, he looked at the warped reflection of himself in the metal doors: the prickle of hair on his upper lip, the trim which was different but somehow identical to all his previous, a picture in pink – and also red.

It was the reflection of a man. Despite how his followers portrayed him in collages and fanfics, he was an adult man. Confronting that distorted image altered his perception: what he knew himself to look like: his conscious image.

How interesting he must look in the strange light of an average person's perception. How confused. How tired.

DING of the sliding doors opening, ripped his warped reflection in half. Alex exited half-expecting for Y/N to be there on the other side, considering she was everywhere recently. Luckily, she was not. But that fleeting thought of Y/N snowballed as he walked the hall to his apartment. Outside the door, he stopped and stood Blair Witch style facing it but not moving to unlock it or get the key from his pocket just yet.

Y/N. Alex thought of Y/N. Thought of first meeting her with her cute ears and flushed face. How she doted on Sammy. Thought of speaking with her in the foyer with her calm aurora and chin-hugging top. How he wanted nothing more than to be cute with her – for them to have a song.

Thought of when she was making waffles with shaking hands and a little wrinkle between her eyebrows. How she dodged his questions. Thought of ~the dream~ and how different he would act if it were real.

He rummaged through his pockets to find his key. When he did, he shoved it in and pulled it out the lock with an equal amount of unnecessary force.

It was late. 

Alex had been awake over twenty-four hours, and he wanted – needed – he just needed it to stop. Unable to handle consciousness much longer, he dragged his feet along the straight shot to his bedroom. And into his bathroom.

Not particularly a nighttime shower type of person, Nor a morning shower type of person, Alex was more a when-I-want-to-or-remember-to-shower type of person.

During slight depressive slumps, however, the more accurate category for him would be a once-the-grease-starts-to-drip-off-my-hair-that-is-when-I-will-shower type of person.

Stepping under the showerhead, the warm water wrapped around him. Pelted down on the pale skin of his shoulders and back, relaxing the muscles there. Slender fingers racked shampoo through his tangled hair: it smelled like almonds. Like artificial almonds designed by chemists who had never seen or smelt an almond before. It was nice.

He ducked his head to rinse out the suds and lost his balance, falling forward a bit. Catching himself with his hands on the wall in front of him; it jolted him out from under his somnambulism spell.

Hopping out of the shower, he dried off and wrapped his single towel around his waist. There in the mirror above the sink were those little prickles of a moustache. Alex stepped up, took his razor in his right hand, grabbed the shaving foam off the counter with the left, and looked to his right again to find he had dropped the razor in the sink. His brain was too exhausted to focus on more than one thought – more than one task at a time.

With less than six flicks of the wrist, his upper lip was clean-shaven, and he was trudging along to his bedroom. Alex let his towel drop to the floor; he tugged on a clean pair of pajama bottoms and pitched himself from the other side of the room onto his bed.

"Ow," he muttered to his aching bones. Alex closed his eyes, and for the first time since ~the dream~ appreciated the contemplative silence of his bedroom – and of his head.

Taglist: (message to join!) @angelbabyivy​

[chemiste]

The Faint Headed and Light Hearted ~ one-shot ~

a/n: yo girl is back with another one shot, i had this idea swirling around in my head after watching one of the many harry styles youtube tour edits and just.. decided to roll with it! love you guys <3

mah masterlist

You don’t how, but some way, after all the double shifts you pulled, you were able to buy a pit ticket to see Harry fuckin Styles perform on his tour. 

His songs had been your savior these past months, moving to LA to start fresh since college wasn’t quite cutting it for you. Thankfully, a friend of yours knew someone that was leaving for Tokyo and wanted to rent out their apartment, you jumped at the chance and even got a friend discount on the rent. 

You’d found a job at a book store in Beverly Hills that paid well since they only hired ‘the best’ and had been working there for a few months. 

Now the day was finally here, Harry was in LA for his tour and you were going to see him LIVE, ON STAGE, IN PERSON.

“You’re so lucky Y/N, make sure to tell me all about it, Eric is here so I gotta go,” your friend Melanie said through the phone. 

You were deciding what to wear to the concert, not knowing if you should do with a blue top or pink. 

“Alright, don’t break the bed frame again! I know the old couple below you almost had a heart attack last time Eric and you had a ‘sleepover’.”

“Shut up, at least this girl is getting it tonight!” 

“Hey, I’m sure I’m getting it a whole different way,” you quipped back. 

You hung up after you said your goodbyes and ultimately decided to go with the pink one that said babygirl. You pulled on your ripped black jeans and boots. While tying the laces, you felt your tummy rumble.

Oh shit, I forgot to eat lunch today and I don’t have time to grab dinner.

While debating what to do about food, you took the ticket that had been mailed in as well as a fifty-dollar bill and shoved them into your bra. (The only for sure way nobody would be stealing it tonight.

I’ll just grab something at the auditorium before I go in.

Glancing at the clock on your wall you jumped up, seeing you were late. Quickly, you locked your apartment and slid the key into the wooden frame on the outside of the door so you wouldn’t have to take it. Then you attached your phone with the chain-link your friend had gotten you for your birthday to your jeans so you wouldn’t lose it.

Once you made it outside, you hailed for a taxi and slipped in.

“To the Forum please.”

                                                            ..............…

It was packed.

You’d arrived just in time and were able to give through the security checkpoint, thankfully you’d gone to the bathroom beforehand so all you need to go was get through the crowd. 

Fans were excitedly chattering about the last performance of his tour, it would definitely be one to remember. The line to buy merch seemed to wrap around the whole building, the electricity in the room was amazing and pumped your adrenaline. 

You found the big hall that led farther down into the arena and after showing a few people your ticket, you made it to the pit. 

With some quick maneuvering and a few shoulder bumps, you were able to get to the front of the stage.

“Oh my god, oh my god I'm so excited!” 

A girl with purple hair next to you squealed. You glanced and noticed her other friend as bright orange hair and a headband with two stars wiggling around on top. 

The purple girl turned to you, grinning with her whole face. 

“I’m Piper and this is Timmy! Aren’t you just psyched to be here!?” 

You laughed at her enthusiasm, “Yeah, I’m really really pumped for the show! I had to earn up for this ticket so I pushed through to get to the front of the crowd.” 

The other two nodded eagerly, “We did the same, though, Timmy almost dropped his hotdog but it was fine and he’s eaten it now so no worries about having mustard all over my shirt.”

Crap, you forgot to eat and drink some water before leaving the apartment! 

You were debating on whether or not you could trudge through the crowd again when screams filled the room. Kacey Musgraves made her way out onto the stage so you just decided to tough it out,

I’ll be fine, psh it’s not like I didn’t go without water of eating for a day while cramming to finish and assignment in college.

                                                                         ..............…

“Thank you, everyone and good night!” 

Kacey had been fantastic, your new-found friends and you had jammed to your heart's content during her performance and were high off the feeling, you were a bit light-headed from all the movement and it made you feel like you were floating on top of clouds.

When the cube dropped on the screen, people flipped shit. You bounced along with Timmy and Piper, ready to have the best time of your life.

Then there he was.

Harry Styles.

Immediately he went into Only Angel, enrapturing the crowd with his angelic voice. He danced and wiggled around the stage, getting into the groove of the show. Once the song ended, he lifted his hand to the sky and waved hello.

“California how ‘re we doin’?!”

Screams filled the room and answered him back with excitement. He chuckled and swung the mic cord over his shoulder. 

“Now, this is ma’ last show on the tour.” Awww and boos were heard as he nodded with them, “But I’m glad you’re here with me for it! Let’s hit it!”

He jumped into Woman, then broke your heart with Ever Since New York and Two Ghosts. As the notes finished up on Two Ghosts, he took a moment to get some water and walked along the edge of the stage peering into the crowd. 

“He’s so close to us!!!” 

Timmy yelled, making the stars bounce on his head.

Harry was currently having a conversation with someone a few people to the right of you. 

As he walked by to get back to the mic stand, you could’ve sworn you’d just made eye contact with him.

I must be just a little dehydrated that’s all.

The beats for Carolina started and you grabbed Piper by the arm, “This is one of my favorites!” “Mine too!” She replied, shaking her hands in the air.

She's got a family in Carolina

So far away, but she says I remind her of home

Feeling oh so far from home

She never saw herself as a west coaster

Moved all the way 'cause her grandma told her

"Townes, better swim before you drown"

You closed your eyes and swayed with his singing, it was euphoric. 

But, when you opened your eyes, Harry’s were staring right back at you.

She's a good girl

She's such a good girl

She's a good girl

She feels so good

You both kept eye contact for the verse, you smiled and danced along with it, watching as a smirk grew on his face while he sang. He looked back out into the crowd for the next few parts.

She's got a book for every situation

Gets into parties without invitations

How could you ever turn her down?

There's not a drink that I think could sink her

How would I tell her that she's all I think about?

Well, I guess she just found out

She's a good girl

She's such a good girl

She's a good girl

She feels so good

She feels so good

I met her once and wrote a song about her

I wanna scream, yeah

I wanna shout it out

And I hope she hears me now

You sang with Piper, twirling your spot. Unbeknownst to you is that while you and Piper serenading each other, someone was watching you ever so subtly.

La la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la la la

She's a good girl

She's such a good girl

She's a good girl

Feels so good

She feels so good

She feels so good

She feels so good

Oh she's a good girl

She feels so good (woo)

                                                                      .................

The rest of the night is fantastic, there were only two songs left and you felt like you were on cloud 9. But when Harry started to sing The Chain, and it’s like the drums were ringing in your ears all of a sudden.

You stumbled a bit and started to see a couple spots in your vision but easily shook them away.

The rockstar cleared his voice, “Alright’, it’s the las’ song, yeh ready?” 

Fans responded back by screaming their heads off and Kiwi started. 

The first time he sings it, he’s running through the crowd along the aisle, jamming with everyone else. 

The second time he sings it again, he’s a bit out of breath but very happy nonetheless. 

When he finally makes it back to the stage, sweat dripping off his brow and a very drenched shirt, people are expecting the performance to be over.

But then, with a cheeky smile, he says, “One more time!”

She worked her way through a cheap pack of cigarettes

Hard liquor mixed with a bit of intellect

And all the boys, they were saying they were into it

Such a pretty face, on a pretty neck

She's driving me crazy, but I'm into it, but I'm into it

I'm kind of into it

It's getting crazy, I think I'm losing it, I think I'm losing it

The man on stage surprisingly turns to look at you again. Piper starts freaking out, assuming he’s looking at her, but you can tell it’s you. 

He’s looking at you. 

You start to feel a bit warm in the crowd.

Everyone is warm, it’s fine, I’m fine.

But you can tell you’re not doing so well.

Oh, I think she said "I'm having your baby, it's none of your business"

"I'm having your baby, it's none of your business" (it's none of your, it' none of your)

"I'm having your baby, it's none of your business"

"I'm having your baby, it's none of your, it's none of your”

It's New York, baby, always jacked up

Holland Tunnel for a nose, it's always backed up

When she's alone, she goes home to a cactus

In a black dress, she's such an actress

The problem is, you’re a stubborn person so you decide at that moment to just go ham during the last part of the song, and then deal with your problem later. 

Harry is rolling hips to the song, throwing his head back ever so slightly to see if you’re watching and suffice to say you can’t take your eyes off him.

Driving me crazy, but I'm into it, but I'm into it

I'm kind of into it

It's getting crazy, I think I'm losing it, I think I'm losing it

Oh, I think she said "I'm having your baby, it's none of your business"

"I'm having your baby, it's none of your business" (it's none of your, it' none of your)

"I'm having your baby, it's none of your business"

"I'm having your baby, it's none of your, it's none of your”

“Babygirl, you havin fun?” 

He speaks quickly between the lyrics, as he walks over to your section of the crowd. It takes you a second to realize he’s addressing you by your shirt design.

“Hell ya!” You call back, and he grins.

She sits beside me like a silhouette

Hard candy dripping on me 'til my feet are wet

And now she's all over me, it's like I paid for it (cha-ching)

It's like I paid for it, I'm gonna pay for this

Right when the guitar solo starts, you can tell you’re fucked.

Your head is pounding from the loud vibrations and you start to lose your balance a bit.

It's none of your, it's none of your

"I'm having your baby, it's none of your business"

"I'm having your baby, it's none of your business”

“Y/N?! Are you alright?” A concerned Piper looks at you.

(It's none of your, none of your)

"I'm having your baby, it's none of your business”

“I-I don’t think so.”

"I'm having your baby, it's none of your business"

(It's none of your, none of your)

In the span of 10 seconds so many things happen. 

Right as Harry is finishing the ending of the lyrics, pumping his fist with the guitar riff right at the end, he makes eye contact with you. 

The lights are flashing too fast for your liking, the first two guitar strokes make you see black spots dance in your vision. 

Right as Mitch strums the 3rd one, your eyes snap up to Harry with a fearful look. 

During the four riff, he’s excitement turned slightly to confusion in response to the look he had received from you.

And then as the final 5th stroke happened, you felt your eyes roll back and dropped.

Piper screamed, but was drowned out by the other fans. Harry watched as you fainted, disappearing into the crowd, but before he could say anything, the lights were cut so the band members could hurry off stage.

He couldn’t just leave you.

In a flash, Harry dropped the mic and hopped off the stage, darting over to the fence line you had been standing at. 

Because it was still slightly dark, nobody noticed the singer jumping over the fence and pushing into the crowd where you had fallen.

“Y/N?! Oh my god, Y/N wake up!” 

He snapped his had to where he heard the crying.

Okay, I’ve got 30 seconds before the lights go up, I need to be fast.

He pushed through the sticky bodies until he found a small opening where you laid, along with two hair-color people crouching beside you. He moved over quickly and examined you, then moved to lift you up.

“Hey what are you doing?!” 

The purple hair girl screamed. 

Harry held you in his arms, Adeline pumping through his veins making it easier to hold you. He watched as your head lolled on his shoulder, seemly unaware of what was happening.

“ ’ve got t’ get her out of here befo’e the lights come up. Can yeh trust me?” 

Piper’s eyes widened as she realized who was standing in front of her. 

“Uh—yeah, go, go.” Harry nodded and turned around, basically hard shouldering people to get to the fence barrier.

“Hey Thomas!” 

He yelled to the security guard, the bouncer looked over and his eyes rose when he saw Harry and you in his arms.

“Grab her so I can get o’ver! Quick, befo’e the lights come up!”

Thomas did as instructed and Harry jumped over, then took you back into his arms, he climbed the stairs at the middle of the stage and rushing to the side stage right as the lights came up.

He let out a breath and started to jog back with you, “Hey! Someone get me a medic!”

A flurry of people came around him and you as he brought you into the backstage room where the other band members had been waiting for him.

Sarah’s eyes lit up in alarm as H came in with you. 

“Jesus Christ! What happened?!” 

She said as she cleared the long table for Harry to set you down on.

Medics swarmed your body and Harry took a step back, hands flying to his hair as he watched with concern and guilt. 

“She jus’, I—, I’d been lookin’ at her during some o’ the songs yeh know? And then I called her out during Kiwi—“ 

“This is babygirl?” 

Mitch interrupted, pointing to you on the table where the medics were taking your pulse and checking your head for an open wound. 

Harry nodded, “Yeah, Yeah, see er’ shirt? So— so I kept watchin’ her and then right at the end of our third Kiwi, she just looked up to me wit’ this terror in her eyes and then fainted! The lights went out immediately I knew she’d get run ov’r so I hopped off and got ‘er m’self.”

Jeff, Harry’s manager, bursted in through the door, “I heard Harry brought an unconscious fan backstage? What the fuck is happening?” 

Harry started to pace, wringing his hands together and pulling at his hair, Sarah watched him in concern and came over, putting a hand on his shoulder. 

“Hey, it's alright she’s gonna—“ 

“But she fainted! I feel like this is meh fault cause it was at mah concert y’know?! And—And, what is she’s not fine—“ 

“She is going to be fine, we’ve checked her over and no sign of a concussion, I think she’s dehydrated and could use something to eat but she’ll be alright.”

The medic interrupted, trying to save Harry from having a meltdown. 

The whole room let out a sigh of relief, as the medics trickled out, Harry pulled up a chair to sit down next to her. 

The other band members watched unsure if they should leave or not, Sarah eventually made the decision for everyone and came over to Harry. 

“Hey, we’re gonna load everything up, let us know if you need anything.” 

Harry nodded, not speaking as he rested his face on his hands that were propped up by his elbows on the side of the table.

The door closed shut and finally, Harry and you were alone.

Well— Harry was with your unconscious body alone, not to be creepy at all.

After a few minutes, you started to wake up, squinting your eyes from the bright overhead lights above you. Harry watched hopefully as you started to sit up, not yet noticing the disheveled rockstar next to you.

“What the fuck?”

“Are yeh okay?”

“AHH!”

You sprain off the table, not expecting a voice to be talking to you.

Not expecting, fucking Harry Styles, to be talking to you.

He got up from the chair, quickly catching you as your legs decided to give out from the sudden burst of energy. 

“Hey, be careful, yeh fainted.” 

The singer grabbed a fresh water bottle from the mini-fridge in the room, “Drink this.”

You took a couple sips, a puzzled confusion on your face as to you looked at the man before you who was intently watching your every move— as if afraid you’d break.

“So, uh, what happened? No offense, but like, why am I sitting on a table with only you in the room.”

You shook your head at what you just said, “Sorry that came out rude, I’m just a little groggy. Can you tell me what happened?”

Harry moved from his chair to sit on the edge of the table with you, “Well, yeh fainted, at the end of the concert. And I saw it so I went out into the crowd and got yeh.”

Your body flushed with embarrassment, memories starting to come back a bit quicker. 

“Oh, thanks for that, you really didn’t need to do it.”

Harry chuckled, rubbing a hand down the back of his neck, “S’alright, kinda felt like it was meh fault, see as though y’eh fainted from my voice.”

You scoffed, not believing this man was inflating his ego with your recent blackout. 

“Wow, you really are a narcissist aren’t you? I did not faint from your voice, thank you very much, I’d forgotten to eat something or have a sip of water before the show. I think the adrenaline was too much so I just dropped.”

He smiled at you cheekily, “Hmm wha’ever you say love.”

You let out a big breath and watched the brit lick his chapped lips, without thinking it through, you handed the water bottle to him.

“Here, drink this.”

He rolled his eyes at you for throwing his words back in his face but did as you said. H took the bottle from your hands, taking light slips before a big gulp.

“Wow sorry, I didn’t realize how thirsty I was,” He said surprised as he handed it back to you. 

You shrugged your shoulders, the crazy emotions bubbling down as you finally saw the man in front of you as a regular guy and not an A-list celebrity.

“S’all good, sometimes you need someone to look out for you if all you’ve been doing is looking out for others.”

He hummed in agreement, “Yeah, it’s just a little hard when you’re out of touch with the major population.” 

You felt bad for him, he basically was inadvertently telling you it was hard to trust people since they might just be using him.

How sad...

You nudged his shoulder, “ Well, just know that there are great people that would be lucky to have you as a friend. Not because you’re Harry Styles, Rockstar Extraordinaire, but because you’re Harry Styles, The one who helps the fainted headed and stays light-hearted through everything. I know we’ve just met but, it shows you do care, truly care. I can’t say the same for a lot of people I know.”

He looked at you with wide eyes, “Wow, uh, thank you. That’s quite a compliment, I’m not sure I deserve it in all honestly.”

You shrugged, “Well, I think you do, so I gave it to you.”

You finished the water bottle and moved off the table, Harry following your actions. You moved back and forth on the balls of your feet, not sure what to say.

“Uh, thanks for saving me from being trampled by the pit. Oh, also your songwriting is amazing, I hope you keep it up.”

You swore you saw the boy flush a bit at your compliment but you brushed it off.

He’s probably still warm from the show.

“Of course, and thank you. I’m sure I will.”

He opened the door for you and you both walked out, going down the hallway to where you assumed the exit was. Before you got to the door, Harry stopped you.

“Wait, one second.”

In a flash, the rockstar zipped away and into another room, you were slightly confused but then he came back with something in his hand.

A phone.

Harry smiled at you, “I was wondering if there’d be a possibility I could take you out to dinner, as an apology for making you faint.”

You laughed, “ I keep telling you Harry, it’s not your fault.”

He smiled, “Please baby girl?”

“Well, who am I to say no to a superstar?”

“Don’t you mean Mr. Light Hearted?”

“Wow, you really are a dork. Twitter is right about you”

He handed you his phone, it was the newest iPhone and had a pink sparkly case on it. You typed in your number and handed it back to him.

“Thank you,” he looked at his phone, “Y/N.”

Oh, I like the way he says it.

You turned to the door and pushed it open, but not before glancing back.

“Bye Harry.”

“See you soon, Y/N”

                                                                    ...........................

When you finally got back to your apartment and had eaten a couple PBJs and downed two glasses of water, you checked your phone and saw a text from an unknown number.

1-310-478-9537

Hey babygirl.

Oh yeah, that ticket had definitely been worth it.

<3

[xgoldentigerlilyx]

Saved for a rainy day

Hello once again! Made another mini fan drabble for the marvellous @themetaphorgirl and her Criminal minds AU called Patron Saints of Lost Causes! Link to the master post here! https://themetaphorgirl.tumblr.com/post/620060589788725248/read-on-fanfictionnet-read-on-archive-of-our-own

So hope you enjoy!

Word count: 1140

——————————————————-

The rain had been pouring all day on the St.Thaddeus campus, flooding the grounds and the floor of the cafeteria. Which meant tonight, supper was in the auditorium. At the front of the room was a long buffet-style supper spread, and students bustling around. There were a few tables set up around the auditorium, but for those who couldn’t fit at the tables sat in the chairs in clusters. Fortunately for Aaron, RA’s got first pick on seating arrangements so he chose a table large enough for his group of friends. ‘More like my group of misfits.’ He thought to himself as the kids started flooding in through the doors.

The first people to sit with Hotch were James, David, and Alex. They took their seats, and started up some small talk while they waited for everyone else.

Next, Derek, Emily, and JJ met them while they talked about their cancelled sports and clubs. “I’m bummed, coach was supposed to give me some pointers for the game on Friday during practice today,” Derek complained to everyone at the table as they settled.

Finally, Penelope and Spencer walked through the large auditorium doors, nearly being shoved down on their way to the nearly full table. “Sorry we’re late! I needed to change into my special rain boots!” Penelope exclaimed, showing off her rainbow boots with sparkly designs. When they arrived, they all left a possession on their spots to mark them while they grabbed their food.

After supper with lots of conversation and fooling around, the headmaster told them they have 30 minutes before bed checks to hang out with friends or play games in the auditorium.

They all agreed to hang out in Lincoln house in Derek and Spencer’s room for their free time. They put their hoods over their heads, and stood outside the auditorium underneath the overhang of the building, providing them one last bit of dryness before they went into the rain.

Penelope, however, had a different idea. Instead of pulling her hood off, she undid the zipper and threw her coat to Hotch.

“Penelope, what are y-“ Aaron tried to ask, putting her jacket on the ground before she grabbed his right hand and ran into the pouring rain.

Once a few feet away from the rest of their friends, Penelope let go of Aaron’s hand and threw hers into the air, immediately becoming soaked. Her hair matted down, and what makeup she had been wearing was running down her face.

“Penelope Garcia!” Hotch protested once his hand dropped to his side, the rain pelting his hood. The wind was so strong, it blew off the hood and soaked his head and dropped into his sweater. His arms wrapped around his torso as he walked back to everyone else under the overhang, but before he could make it another person grabbed his hand. It was JJ this time, her jacket thrown next to Penelope’s and making a small pile. He accepted defeat and followed back into the rain begrudgingly with the two girls, who were now holding hands and dancing around in the heavy rain.

James, unzipping his jacket slowly, turned to Alex. “Would you like to dance?” He asked her quietly, putting his jacket aside and holding an offering hand to Alex. Alex thought for a moment, and took off her jacket, putting her hair into a quick ponytail with a ribbon. Grabbing his hand, she replied, “I would love to.” They walked into the open, and grabbed each other’s hands, dancing to imaginary music, twisting and turning.

Derek, feeling a tad left out, tore his jacket off and ran into the rain, immediately slipping. JJ and Penelope watched him, and each offered a hand after laughing at him. He smiled cockily, and as he grabbed their hands he pulled back, making them fall into the mud with him. They continued to laugh, while Rossi walked over to Spencer.

“Hey kid, why aren’t you out there?” David asked, tightening his own jacket rather than going to take it off. Spencer snapped out of his trance while looking at his friends, and shifted his focus to Dave with a furrowed brow.

“I’ve never done...this before. I suppose I never got the chance.” He sighed, looking down at his old rain boots with holes in the sides. “I could ask you the same?” He asked Rossi.

David chuckled. “You think I’m the kind of person to dance in the rain? With these new shoes?” He asked rhetorically, showing off his new leather shoes. A terrible choice for the rain and mud, Spencer thought.

Before he could reply, his hand was rigged out from the small patch of dry near David. He looked to who was pulling him, and his eyes met the back of Penelope’s head. ‘She looks a bit like a wet cat.’ He thought to himself before he comprehended he was in the cold rain. “Pen! What’re you doing?” He squeaked, not even attempting to pull back. She could pull him even if he struggled.

Penelope stopped once they were with the rest of their friends. They all looked around them and laughed. What an odd group of people, all out in the soaking rain.

James and Alex, still absentmindedly had their hands linked and blushing like mad. Derek, covered in mud and trying to flex his wet arms to JJ who was simply ignoring him and pushing her hair behind her ears to keep it out of her face. Hotch, trying to talk to Derek about how he should put his long sleeves back over his arms but still smiling with childish glee. Then there was Penelope, laughing, and Spencer trying to rattle off the statistics of how they may all catch colds but smiling with the rest. He enjoyed this and hated how much he missed out on doing this before.

Noting Dave’s absence, they all turned to look at him and cheer him out. “Come on, David! Join us!” “Don’t be a buzzkill!” “Nobody cares about your shoes, you can buy new ones!” The kids shouted to their Italian friend who shook his head in defeat. He pulled off the leather jacket, and slowly stepped into the rain and joined his circle of friends.

For the next few minutes, they played a game of aggressive duck duck goose where Derek tackled Emily into the mud, Spencer slipping and hitting his own knee, and James only tagging Alex.

Only when a teacher spotted them, they stopped their game, all sporting sore knees and arms. They grabbed their jackets, everyone opting to just carry them. They would be no use anyway, they’re already soaked. Everyone said goodbye and walked off to their respective houses.

That night everyone slept well, and got to sleep in the next day because of extensive flooding on campus.

“Hey kid, why aren’t you out there?” David asked, tightening his own jacket rather than going to take it off. Spencer snapped out of his trance while looking at his friends, and shifted his focus to Dave with a furrowed brow.

“I’ve never done...this before. I suppose I never got the chance.” He sighed, looking down at his old rain boots with holes in the sides. “I could ask you the same?” He asked Rossi.

David chuckled. “You think I’m the kind of person to dance in the rain? With these new shoes?” He asked rhetorically, showing off his new leather shoes. A terrible choice for the rain and mud, Spencer thought.

Before he could reply, his hand was rigged out from the small patch of dry near David. He looked to who was pulling him, and his eyes met the back of Penelope’s head. ‘She looks a bit like a wet cat.’ He thought to himself before he comprehended he was in the cold rain. “Pen! What’re you doing?” He squeaked, not even attempting to pull back. She could pull him even if he struggled.

Penelope stopped once they were with the rest of their friends. They all looked around them and laughed. What an odd group of people, all out in the soaking rain.

James and Alex, still absentmindedly had their hands linked and blushing like mad. Derek, covered in mud and trying to flex his wet arms to JJ who was simply ignoring him and pushing her hair behind her ears to keep it out of her face. Hotch, trying to talk to Derek about how he should put his long sleeves back over his arms but still smiling with childish glee. Then there was Penelope, laughing, and Spencer trying to rattle off the statistics of how they may all catch colds but smiling with the rest. He enjoyed this and hated how much he missed out on doing this before.

Noting Dave’s absence, they all turned to look at him and cheer him out. “Come on, David! Join us!” “Don’t be a buzzkill!” “Nobody cares about your shoes, you can buy new ones!” The kids shouted to their Italian friend who shook his head in defeat. He pulled off the leather jacket, and slowly stepped into the rain and joined his circle of friends.

For the next few minutes, they played a game of aggressive duck duck goose where Derek tackled Emily into the mud, Spencer slipping and hitting his own knee, and James only tagging Alex.

Only when a teacher spotted them, they stopped their game, all sporting sore knees and arms. They grabbed their jackets, everyone opting to just carry them. They would be no use anyway, they’re already soaked. Everyone said goodbye and walked off to their respective houses.

That night everyone slept well, and got to sleep in the next day because of extensive flooding on campus.

[worldoffanficskpopcpop]

Bang Chan AU Fanfic Recommendation Masterlist

Hello! Welcome to my fanfic recommendations! If you would like to see other groups or other content in regards to this artist or their group, please click the links below! All of the masterlists/posts I’ve made will always be updated when I find new content or scenarios! Feel free to recommend me some blogs to check out! Also, you like my fanfic recommendations, please like and/or reblog so that more people can see it! I will release more groups as time goes on!

Go Back to Stray Kids’ Main Masterlist

Go Back to All Group Masterlist

Arranged Marriage AU 

promise this:  Can I learn to love you?

Boxer!Chan

Boxer: Chan needs to know his limits 

CEO AU 

late office nights: An extremely important project was assigned to you, a new employee in a prospering company. Will all the late nights in the office be spent in vain, or will something good emerge?

Slowly, Suddenly, and Then All at Once:  “You lot are way too nosy aren’t you? Well, if you must know, I’ll tell you the story of how we stopped hating each other and became your unofficial parents. But I’m warning you, no interruptions, otherwise the story ends.” 

Detective AU

Detective Dumbass: Detective Bang refused to accept any help from the rest of the squad, insisting that he worked better alone - but what happens when he realizes that he does need his team with him?

Idol!Reader 

An Aussie Jealousy: Chan feels jealous that you are collaborating with 5SOS

Jealousy:  Momo had never been too fond of me and when she found out that Chan and I started dating, it only made it worse. Now, I had to put up with her for almost a month so we could learn the dance to their new song for a stage

 You and Me: As a trainee at JYP Entertainment, you are exposed to new things. Such as new music, new styles of dance, and new boys

Mafia AU 

Imagine: Chan’s right-hand man needs to learn his place in the gang

Trust: Chan’s patience had ran low with you 

Neighbor AU 

Love Drunk: Peering through the peephole, you spotted the bent-over figure of what looked like your neighbor, fretfully trying to shove his key into your lock. As neighbors go, you and Chan were, for lack of a better word, friendly. So by all means, this wasn’t the first time Chan came over, but this was the first he came over drunk, dazed and confused.

Royal AU 

royal blood : it’s kind of hard to be mean to your soon-to-be husband when he’s one of the kindest people you’ve ever met.

Wounded Hearts: When Chan caught you sneaking back into battle after he had specifically told you not to, he was less than pleased. Why couldn’t you just understand that he wanted nothing more than for you to be safe?

School AU 

Bubblegum: Chan is a underground rapper and you’re a too cute chemistry major

Coincidence?:  just as you were thinking of leaving because your date did not arrive, another guy sits down instead.

College Muse: College Music Producer!Chan and College Writer!Reader both dwell on each other for some help on a project similar in nature 

Competition: Chan’s swim team made it to the finals and you stayed to support him, you didn’t realise your presence would cause such a fuss. 

Hidden Comforts: Your hidden relationship with Jock!Chan makes its reveal 

Idyllic: (adj.) extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque 

insomniac:  in which you meet a music student that is definitely in need of some sleep

Let me love you: he has a reputation in the school and you as a good girl, he hides your relationship because of his reputation and you get sick of secret dates and decided to confront him it turned into an argument, then the two made up.

Muse: You were the Fine Arts major, and he was the Music Composition major. Normally, you’d have nothing to do with the cutie, but as it turns out, you were each other’s muses

nothing like us: You’ve been through countless numbers of miserable relationships. Little did you know, the right one was closer than you think. 

not that bad: chan is getting bullied. you’re like “stop that ''. chan is like “hey…. you’re not a mean person despite having a reputation for being cold-hearted 

Pretty When you Cry: Perhaps all those special times with him didn’t mean shit. Love and let go

Race: It’s the same every time, you always win the races, but Chan doesn’t give up, until you make it up to him

Rescued: You had an accident while swimming 

rubicund :  music production major chris really needs a place to live - and you just happen to have a few empty rooms and need a new roommate.

Shunned: you never seemed to fit in at school; you couldn’t understand why. “Because you’re… different” some people said. But how is that a bad thing? You were always alone, at least until he came along. 

Stuck: student-teacher au, you get stuck in the library with college prof!Chan

Why Not?: You and bang chan weren’t that close, but you were still friends. Through a series of events, you and him ended up being the only ones in his house without any way of you getting out. It was late so bang chan being bang chan insists it’s fine for you to stay which is all well and good except that you get pretty bad nightmares and can’t sleep unless cuddling something or someone and you had unfortunately left your human-sized stuffed bear at your place. 

Single Father AU 

I love you: As a single father, Chan experienced every single difficulty one could imagine. He was frequently frowned upon by others and only could rely on those who were close to him: his eight best friends. As time went by, he learned to ignore those who looked down on him for the sake of his daughter but deep inside, the words, the stares, and the constant questions affected him and he refused to show it. It was only a matter of time when the weight of the burden started to tear him down. It wasn’t until he met you that his whole world found another bright light to cling onto. Even though he feared to say he loves you, you found it easy to love someone like him.

Soulmate AU 

Falling For You (So Sweetly): first touch you have with your soulmate causes magnetic attraction to them for a week or so, enough to ensure that you two get together for sure.

Healing Love: You can feel the pain of your soulmate. Additionally when they receive a bruise or cut, you receive the same marking on your skin. When you meet your soulmate, every injury on you disappears, and you gain the power to heal your soulmate with a simple touch

Human Canvas: You were six years old when you got an inkling of what kind of person your soulmate is; they would draw little doodles on their arms all day, and you would draw back. But as an adult, its as if you two are at war with each other, with them covering your right arm with tattoos and you occasionally painting on your left arm for the fun of it.

My Glow: To have a soulmate was one of the finer things in life. 

Serendipity: For the entirety of your life, you have had the small, neatly and prettily scripted name inked into your flesh on your left wrist

Summer Love: Chan was your summer love once upon a time, and now you two are reunited by the strings of fate once more

The One: Where everyone has a timer on their wrist that counts down until you meet your soulmate

Street Racer AU 

Fast Lane: Chan had pulled you into his world filled with fast cars

Vampire AU

174 years: Chan was frustrated he couldn’t look at himself in the mirror. A kid whose brother broken into his house decided to sit him down and describe his face to him one by one

mistaken: vampire! chan mistakes human! y/n for a vampire

Youtuber AU

Youtube covers: You used to post singing covers on youtube until you got bullied. Yet the person closest to you admires this ‘anonymous’ person’s voice

[give-me-back-my-rhodey]

The Treasures of a Stark - AUgust Day 16

Title: The Treasures of a Stark

Author: Purple_ducky00

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Brief mention of background characters’ racism

Pairings: Sam/Bucky, Rhodey/Tony

Link: Read on AO3

Summary: Sam and Bucky are famous Youtube treasure hunters. When searching for treasure that may have part of insurance fraud, they don't expect the grandson of the accused to help out.

+++++++

“So, this time, we’re searching for the insurance fraud dump of Montgomery Stark.” Sam Wilson looks right at the camera. “Rumor is, about fifty years ago, Mr. Stark reported more than half of his heirlooms and precious jewels stolen, racking up millions in insurance money. No one ever knows because he died two months after he collected the money, but there are rumors that the man ‘stole’ the things and buried them somewhere off his property. We’re going to see if we can find it. Montgomery Stark was outlived by his son Howard Stark, who died about fifteen years go. Now, the face of the operation is his son, Tony Stark.” “But if we do find it, we’re not giving it to the insurance company because fuck them.” Bucky adds. “Also fuck Tony Stark, the asshole.” Sam motions to cut, and the camera turns off.

Anyone who watches their show knows that Bucky has a dislike for insurance companies. They have screwed him over too many times. He’s highly distrusting of any high power and is more likely to punch first and ask questions later when feeling threatened. But when it comes to doing things for the thrill or exploring anything haunted, he’s the first one to advocate for it.

 Sam, on the other hand, is a little more reasonable. He doesn’t exactly like people in power either, but he isn’t actively hating them. What he actively hates is horror, but he lets Bucky drag him into hunts for haunted treasure. He’s not sure why. Steve is. “Bucky, wasn’t Tony Stark the one who designed that awesome prosthetic?”

 “Yeah, but he’s a billionaire. Fuck him.”

 Sam shakes his head. “Ok, well, you can do that, but I’m going to research this a little more.” He gets up and doesn’t notice Bucky’s face behind him. Pulling out maps and the case files, Sam tries to figure out where the late Mr. Stark could have hidden his stash. Bucky sits at the table a few minutes later.

 “What do you want me to do?” He asks.

 Sam hands him the printed statements from everyone the police had interviewed while the case was open. “Here, read through these. See if anything looks useful.”

 Bucky gets to work, and Sam plots different coordinates into his maps. He’s not finding anything anywhere until Bucky slides over a paper that has the statement of Montgomery Stark’s housekeeper, a Madeline Foster. They first ask her if she was there the night of the robbery. She advised that no, she was not, as she starts work and 6am and leaves at 7pm each day. The robbery took place around 9pm. After clearing herself after a few more questions, they begin to interview her with the view of Montgomery Stark committing insurance fraud. She told them that she doubts he did because “Mr. Stark runs on a schedule that he hasn’t broken for the last fifty years.” Ms. Foster goes on to give the police Montgomery’s full schedule.

 “We can work with this. See where these places are. I wonder if any of these places has anywhere that he could have hidden it.” Sam grins.

 They both work on the case for a good five hours before they both call it a day. “We’ll get back to it tomorrow.” Bucky stretches. “Hey, Steve texted me, asking if I wanted to grab dinner. Wanna come?”

 “I don’t want to third-wheel if Steve wants it to be you two.” Sam isn’t sure why Bucky does this. Does he not want to be in a relationship with Steve, but he doesn’t know how to break up with him?

 Bucky’s eyes widen. “Sam, Steve and I, we’re like brothers. There is, never was, and never will be any romantic love between us. Only platonic and familial. Now, come on. I can even buy you dinner if that’s what you’re worried about.”

 “I can pay for my own.” Sam shoves him. “I’m not going to be your sugar baby.”

They meet Steve at their favorite local restaurant. He asks them about their newest project. When they tell him, he warns them, “The Starks can be pretty private. I knew Howard Stark before he died, and he was nice enough, but I didn’t really know anything about him.”

 Bucky swears. “It figures. If they hear anything about it, they’ll shut us down. Can’t stand to let us find out hidden family secrets.”

 “We’re not that big. I’m sure they won’t hear about it.” Sam tries to reassure them.

  ++++++++

Sam and Bucky try to find clues to help them figure out where Montgomery Stark might have hidden his treasure. After two weeks of no progress, they are wondering if they should just give up. They hear their secretary say something in a loud voice, and another voice answers her. “What’s going on out there?” Bucky wonders.

 “Sir, you can’t just walk back there! You need to book an appointment!” Darcy is getting closer.

 The other voice replies. “Relax. I just want to talk to them. I’m not going to hurt them. This door?” The door opens… and Tony Stark walks through.

 “Fuck.” Bucky mumbles. “Guess Steve was right.”

 Stark looks at them, then holds out his hand. “Hello, Mr. Wilson & Mr. Barnes, I presume? I’m Tony Stark, and I’m here to talk to you.”

 “Sam Wilson, sir. Nice to meet you.” Sam shakes it. “This is my colleague, Bucky Barnes.”

 “Ah, the first Stark Prosthetic. Does it meet your needs and expectations?”

 Surprised that Tony Stark would remember a name, Bucky stumbles over his words. “Y-yeah it works…. Um… pretty good, I I guess.”

 “Pretty good is not good enough. If we have time today (and you’d like), I would take a look at it for you. But that’s not why I’m here. I’m here because I heard wind that you were looking into Grampa Monty’s treasure.”

 “Do you have a problem with that?” Bucky challenges.

 Stark shakes his head. “No, I want to help you. The truth is, I fully believe that my grandfather committed insurance fraud. Which is kind of a dick move because 1.) my grandmother was so disturbed by the whole ordeal; she spent the rest of her life in bed. Not that he knew, I guess, because he died a few months after the robbery. Bad karma is my guess. Also, 2.) much of that stuff was my mother’s jewels from her family. He had no right to collect insurance on any of that, but he did. Now, I would like my mother’s belongings. I’m not sure how it works, but if I have to pay the insurance companies back, I will. If you have any clues, I will help you out in any way that I can.”

 “Are you ok with being videoed for the episode?” Sam asks. “We will have to get our lawyers to draw up a form for you to sign.”

 “Of course. I don’t want to be a bother. Take your time. Here’s my card. Please, give me a call when you can, and I will come down as soon as possible. Thank you for you time.” Stark nods and walks out the door. They can hear him thanking Darcy as he leaves.

  She comes in a few minutes later. “I’m sorry guys. He just wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

 “It’s ok Darcy. There was nothing you could do about it.” Bucky smiles at her. “Thanks for trying.”

 “I like what you do, and you guys pay me well.” She winks.

 When Darcy goes back to her desk, Bucky turns to Sam. “What do you think?”

 “I mean, he seems like he’s eager to help us.” Sam nods. “He can probably get us into different high-end things that we could not on our own. Want to call Matt and Foggy?”

 “Yes. I think they might have some good insight.”

 Sam calls their lawyers, Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson, explaining the situation. They advise to make a strict NDA for Tony to sign. If he’s ok with it or only requests small changes (to be okayed by them), they would advise to go forward with Stark’s help. An NDA is drawn up and forwarded to Stark. He arrives the next day with it and another man in hand.

 “Everything looks good. It is signed and noted. Shall we start?” He questions.

 “Tones.” The other guy gives him a look.

 Smacking his forehead, Stark looks embarrassed. “Fuck. I forgot. Gentlemen, this is my boyfriend, Colonel James Rhodes. I call him Rhodey. Rhodey, this is Mr. Sam Wilson and Mr. Bucky Barnes.”

 “Nice to meet you,” The colonel says, shaking their hands. “Call me Rhodey.”

 “Rhodey signed the NDA as well, so you don’t have to worry about me trying to loophole something with him. We are going to do this with integrity.”

 Bucky and Sam give each other a look, both seemingly swept up in Tony Stark’s big personality. Rhodey notices and gives him a small shove. “Tones, this is their show. We’re just in the background pulling strings to help them.”

 “That’s right. Tell us where we need to be and what we need to do.”

 Sam takes control. “Thank you, gentlemen. If you want to take a seat at the table, we are just going through these papers with a fine-toothed comb to see if there’s anything we missed.”

 The cameras roll, and the four men go through the papers. Tony finds Ms. Foster’s statement, and he holds it up. “This could be huge. Let’s see… the house was robbed on a Tuesday. He probably would have stashed the loot in the next two days, wouldn’t you think?” He looks to the others for confirmation. “Ok, so his Wednesday schedule. Come down for breakfast at 6:30. Go into the office by 7. He wouldn’t have kept the stuff at the office because police did a full sweep of SI as well. Wednesday lunches were spent at La Palova. That’s a pretty exclusive restaurant with plenty of cameras. Let’s just say for now that it’s probably not there. Back to office by one, wow, he kept a really tight schedule. Old Monty left the office at 230 to golf at Emerald Isle. Tons of open land there. Be home by 730 for dinner. I mean, there’s time, but not much. Sorry, am I taking over here?”

 “No, you’re the only one who knows about this stuff, so keep going.”

 “Ok. Thursday schedule, almost the same. Gives himself an hour for lunch, but after work, he likes to drive in the canyon. He was too old for much exercise, I’d bet, but maybe he likes to watch the sunset? The sunsets there are beautiful. Also, a great place to hide not-really-stolen treasure.”

 Rhodey speaks up, “There’s also that little bend where we used to go to make out away from the house, remember? For a guy who spent his whole life driving the canyon, he should know all the ins and outs.”

 “Are you saying that we might have had sex on top of my mother’s heirlooms?” Tony shudders. “That’s creepy.”

 Bucky and Sam share that look again.  Sam shakes his head and puts his hands up. “Okayyyy… we do not need to know more. Remember, the camera is rolling. So, you think that Montgomery Stark hid the stuff in the canyon?”

 “I honestly think he hid it somewhere on the golf course. He owned shares in the course and the club, so technically, no one could ask him why he’s on any part of the land. I wonder if that got passed down.” Tony hums. “I think Monty would’ve thought that people would be suspicious of the canyon.”

 “Well, when we actually get our resources, we can split up into two bands. Mr. Stark, you can take one of us to the golf course. Rhodey, you can take the other to the canyon. There will be a lot of exploring to be done.” Bucky advises.

 Sam tacks on. “Yea, and we have more than one camera so we can film both of us at the same time.”

 By the end of the week, Sam and Bucky think they have the resources they need to scope out both places. They banter back and forth like normal throughout the week. As they’re arguing about who’s going to the golf course and who’s going to the canyon, when Tony asks, “Hey, I meant to ask you. How long have you guys been dating?”

 Bucky chokes and Sam coughs. “We’re… not… dating.” He says and looks at Bucky.

 “Oh, just fucking? Like friends with benefits?” Tony raises an eyebrow.

 Rhodey admonishes. “Tony, language. Camera is rolling.”

 “Ah, they’ll edit it out. Listen boys, if you’re not dating or at least screwing, you should. You got some serious charisma. Kind of like my honeybear and me.” He smooches Rhodey on the cheek.

 “Well, we’re not. End of discussion.” Bucky knows his face is bright red. He really likes Sam, and he thinks Sam likes him. However, he’s too afraid to make the first move. He doesn’t want to mess up the team dynamic.

 Tony smirks. “Whatever. I think I can answer your question, though. Due to the fact that old elitist country clubs are still pretty fucking racist, it might be better if I take Bucky. Unfortunately, there will be less suspicion, and we can get through a lot faster without someone trailing us at all times. You should have seen the last time I took Rhodey somewhere like that. I refused to go back.” He shudders. “I’ll see what I can do if we have to go back a second day, but…” Tony trails off.

 Sam slings an arm around Rhodey’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. We’ll have fun exploring the canyon and talking about you white boys.”

 “If you’re sure. I’m sorry we had to make a decision that way, you know?” Tony smiles sadly.

 +++++++++

The next day, Tony takes Bucky to the Emerald Isle golf course. They talk about this and that, but Tony notices Bucky is a little withdrawn. “Hey, you ok?” He asks.

 “Yea, I’m just trying to figure out what my friend would say if he found out I was hanging out with a billionaire today.”

 “Eat the rich kind of guy?” Tony knows a few of those.

 Bucky grins. “Yea. I am, too.”

 “Well, you surely aren’t pulling any punches. Do you have any questions for me?” Tony is genuinely interested. Barnes seemed like a level-headed kind of guy. He might have some good ideas for Tony to try.

 “I do, actually. How do you feel about making a difference in the world?”

 “I am very strongly for it, but I don’t always need my name on things, contrary to popular belief. They call me a billionaire because I earn billions annually. However, I and the company pay most of our taxes without using loopholes. Other than voting and lobbying a little, I can’t convince the government to do the right thing with the money. Yes, I do have multiple houses and cars, and I even own an island, but much of my money is sunk into various charities and funds around the world. Some have my name backing them, like the September Grants, but plenty of them are given anonymously so my accountant can’t get mad at me for not taking the tax breaks. So, yes, I do want to help change the world for the better, but I don’t want it to seem like I, myself made the world better.”

 Bucky just nods. They make small talk again until Tony brings up Sam. “I think he’s a great guy. You have a great co-worker in him.”

 “Yea, and he’s the love of my life.” Bucky sighs.

 Tony turns to look at him, and Bucky warns. “Eyes on the road.”

“I will.” Tony turns back. “But you love him? Why don’t you tell him? Do you know amazing your life would be?”

 “I don’t want to mess up our already good thing. I mean, I think he likes me, but what if he doesn’t? What if we date and then break up, and we can’t do this anymore? It’s not easy to find a job with a prosthetic.”

 “You could start your own channel. People like you enough. They’ll watch you.” Tony suggests. “But if you want it to last, don’t think about what will happen if it doesn’t.”

 “I’ll think about it.” Bucky mutters.

 Tony pulls into the Emerald Isle valet parking area. “We’re here.” He hands the valet his keys and tips him. “Follow me.”

 He leads Bucky to the manager’s office where he tells the man at the desk that he just realized he inherited the shares from Howard, and he’s looking over the property to see if he should buy more shares, sell these, or stay where I’m at. Do you mind if I take my guy and look around?”

 The manager stammers and acquiesces. He gives Tony keys to a golf cart and a map of the property. They start scouting, the camera guy sitting in the back of the cart. “You know what you’re looking for more than me.” Tony tells Bucky. Let me know if you want me to pull over somewhere.”

 ++++++ “So, how long have you and Tony been together?” Sam asks as Rhodey drives him down the interstate towards the canyon.

 Rhodey shrugs. “Nineteen, twenty years? We started dating when he was nineteen. I was twenty-one.”

 “You guys seem to have what it takes. I’m happy for you.” He wishes he and Bucky could have that, but he knows that Bucky doesn’t like him that way.

 “Thanks. Yea, Tony can be a complete dumbass eighty percent of the time, but he’s a loveable one, you know?”

 Sam nods. He knows someone like that. He sighs. If Bucky’s not for him, Buck’s not for him. End of story. He’ll find someone else at some point. “So, how’s life as a colonel? That’s got to be rough on your relationship, especially before DADT was repealed.”

 “I am happy with my job. I do get more leave because I date Tony Stark, who supplies the military with hi-tech equipment that can’t be weaponized. He won’t make them weapons of any sort anymore.”

 “I don’t blame him. Weapons manufacturing is not a business I’d like to be in.” The two chat about whatever comes to mind until Rhodes pulls off the road at a bend in the canyon.

 “Ok here. There are caves just beyond this bend. Most of them have never been explored. I’ll show you the ones we have definitely been in.”

 “Oh yes, now I’ll be imagining your sexploits.” Sam groans and Rhodey chuckles. “Now, we have to think… Montgomery was an old man at this point. There’s no way he could have dug very deep.”

 Rhodey mans the camera, and Sam grabs a shovel. They head toward the caves. Cave after cave, Sam checks the ground for any areas that may have been dug up and replaced. Those he did find were too small to hold anything like the stash the late Stark would have had. Further and further back they go until Rhodey is worried about the wall stability. “We should probably stay closer to the cave openings.”

 After going through all the caves and finding nothing, Sam relaxes back against the cave wall. “Whew. Maybe Tony was right. There’s nothing here.” The wall moves a little, and he jumps out. Turning, he and Rhodey see a 10” by 10” hold in the wall. Looking inside, they see a small pile of jewels and gold bars!

Sam whips out his phone to call Bucky just as his phone starts ringing. “Hello?”

 “Sam! We found some of the treasure! It was in a secret room in a shed near the edge of the property. It was all overgrown because no one has been there for years!” Bucky sounds very excited.

 “We found the rest! It was in a secret wall in one of the caves! Are you taking it with you today? We’re going to grab this stuff.” Sam is smiling widely.

 Putting on gloves, Sam slides all the treasures into a knapsack. Once done, they walk out of the cave. Rhodey looks back at it, squinting. “Tony’s not going to be happy about this.” He grins.

“Don’t tell me.” Sam warns. “I don’t want to hear it.”

 Rhodey drops Sam off at home. “Put that in a safe or something til tomorrow.” He warns. “Hey Sam, also, I don’t want to tell you what to do, but Barnes likes you, too. He makes heart-eyes at you all day. If your fans can see it, it’s there.” Sam nods and Rhodey drives off.

 ++++++ “So, friends, that’s how we found treasure and solved a crime in the episode!” Sam grins.

 “Also, when Tony asked the question of how long we’ve been dating, we have an answer for him now.” Bucky adds in. “It has been a week ago today.” Sam and Bucky kiss in front of the camera as the screen fades to black.

 “Wow, this episode got a lot of love,” Tony comments. “I’d like to think it was all me. Also.” He turns to Rhodey. “I can’t believe we blew each other right beside my mother’s jewels. I think her ghost is attached to those things. I may have scarred her for her entire afterlife.”

 “Tell me, does ‘Bam’ or ‘Sucky’ sound better as a ship name?” Bucky speaks up. “Twitter made a poll.”

 Sam swats at Bucky’s shoulder. “Tell them Sambucky. They should learn how to name things correctly.” They share a kiss again. Sam is happy he had the courage to talk to Bucky. Spending the rest of his life with this man sounds like a good idea.

[wrydsigil]

NOVEMBER NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

YouTube: The Myth Of Thanksgiving

“A friendly Indian”

TISQUANTUM (SQUANTO) of the Patuxet tribe was captured, by English wayfarers in the early 17rh century.

They sold Tisquantum into slavery in Spain. but he soon escaped with the help of a Catholic priest, where he ended up living for two years in England.  Thus learning to speak English. 

He eventually returned to his native land to become part of the Wampanoag confederation triumvirate: lead by Massasoit, a sachem (chief), and Samoset, a sachem of the northern tribes.  Four hundred years ago, as it is no different today, the native Indians were trying to control their own destinies, only to learn that consequences follow, often not what they expected.  Massasoit’s negotiated alliance with the Pilgrims only encouraged further imperialist England to invade North America.

The three of them entered the colony’s settlement after a brief encounter of misunderstandings of intentions that tested their forbearance of restraint from a violent confrontation, due in part from Massasoit’s unexplained appearance. Even though Samoset spoke enough English to voice greetings, a few days later, the triumvirate arrived to discuss terms of alliance, for the most part, it was Massasoit’s intention not for the Pilgrims to comingle with his enemy, the Narragansett northern tribe.

This was the beginning of Tisquantum’s pivotal role in assuaging the immigrants relations with southeastern tribes. 

It is notable that Tisquantum was probably not his original name, since translated it means “rage”.   When Tisquantum initially introduced himself to the Pilgrims, he was literally saying, “Hello, I’m the Wrath of God”  which couldn’t have been farther from the truth.

Tisquantum was more diplomatic in easing tensions and keeping a lasting peace, currently attributed to Massasoit, who eventually, years after Tisquantum’s passing, waged war on the increasing population of British colonist’s settlements.

Considering that the Pilgrims had just barely survived their first winter, losing nearly half of the original immigrants to starvation, exposure and illness, foremost on their minds was to provision themselves for the next winter, as well as fortify their settlement with a vertical log bastion of protection, in case of an Indian attack.  

It was Tisquantum, knowing of their plight, taught the surviving colonists how to grow their traditional corn, green beans and squash crops by providing seeds.  As well, he showed the Pilgrims where to fish for cod, eel, and herring that was used as fertilizer for the crops.

“Tisquantum’s later history would make clear, he regarded himself first and foremost as a citizen of Patuxet, one of the dozen or so shoreline settlements in what is now eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island that made up the Wampanoag confederation. 

The Wampanoag, in turn, were part of an alliance with the Nauset, which comprised some 30 groups on Cape Cod, and the Massachusett, several dozen villages clustered around Massachusetts Bay. 

All of these people spoke variants of Massachusett, a member of the Algonquian language family, the biggest in eastern North America at the time. In Massachusett, the name for the New England shore was the Dawnland, the place where the sun rose. 

The inhabitants of the Dawnland were the “People of the First Light.”   That “light” would nearly be extinguished from the Native American’s lack of DNA immunity to European asymptomatic diseases

“...this epidemic [was] God clearing the land for a better people.” John Smith.

Massasoit, as the political and military leader of his confederation, had witnessed the epidemic of European born disease that nearly depopulated the east coast tribes.  

So, as much as he even distrusted Tisquantum because of his prior residence in England, he held him captive up until Tisquantum befriended and then inhabited the Pilgrim’s settlement where he eventually passed away from illness. 

After about fifty-years of peace, Massasoit’s Machiavellian persona eventually emerged by waging war against the British, of  which he would lose.  By the end of the 18th century, the Native American legacy would become a foregone conclusion of a conquered indigenous race by an imperialist European invasion, tragically coupled with African slavery.

Thanksgiving Day, in remembrance of Pilgrim’s  bountiful harvest feast, actually consisted of their harvested corn (the beans and squash didn’t ripen) and Tisquantum’s plea with Massasoit to gather up hunters for provide poultry and venison, and fish, which he did.   That’s the image imprinted in textbooks of cornucopia of a delightful and abundant meal, shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag.

But Wampanoag gathering had another motive:  Massasoit wasn’t as hospitable as he may have presented himself for he didn’t want the Pilgrims to have to come and beg for food during the harsh winter since it depleted their own provisions for his People.  Tolerance of the Pilgrims presence hinged directly on strength in numbers, in case his enemies decided to wage war upon them.

Thanksgiving Day, originally mandated by the late President Lincoln and now “Black Friday” (meaning retail stores can discount prices because they have had a profitable year - are in the “red”) falls on the official Native American Heritage Day.  

This overshadows the tragic legacy of European exploitation of the Native American’s rights to their ancestral lands and culture.

 Listen to the YouTube link posted above for further insights.

Want to read more: Native Intelligence   by Charles C. Mann. Smithsonian Magazine, December 2005.

In remembrance of Tisquantum.

[ohwereusingourmadeupnames]

"we can work together. we can help each other." high school starker

do the thing - send in all the prompts. 

thanks for this one, nonnie - I love high school AUs! 

After figuring out the extent of his powers, Peter knew two things – one, he’d never be able to go out for football, and two, he needed to use his powers for good. The first fact felt like the ultimate bummer – what good was super strength if he couldn’t use it to boost his social status? Because, if we’re being honest, Peter didn’t have the greatest time amongst his peers in the halls of Midtown Science and Tech. Despite being surrounded by a school of people with higher levels of intelligence, Peter still fell pretty far down the loser ladder.

The second realization, well – he wasn’t too upset about that. After the first couple of times interacting with the criminals around Queens, it felt good to be a presence that kept mischief away. In his makeshift suit, he felt cool – and if the people who taunted and made fun of him could only see him in action, he knew their opinion would change.

Even low-level heroes didn’t get themselves into potentially dangerous situations for the notoriety, though – Peter wore a mask specifically so people didn’t know who he was. There’d been enough drama in his life up until this point, it didn’t make sense to invite more of it onto his doorstep. So – he tolerated being an outcast in the halls at school because Peter knew his own potential, he understood that even the little things he did to protect the people saved lives – and he supposed that’s really all that mattered.

At least, it felt that way until a new kid started to walk the halls halfway through junior year. Midtown didn’t get a lot of new students, so the guy was the talk of the halls for a while – his ‘I don’t give a shit’ attitude was hard to ignore. On top of the superior intelligence, the new kid had all of the ingredients to be one of the chosen ones. Instead, he kept to himself – which if he were being honest with himself, Peter found a little odd.

Not that he had any room to talk – he’d been watching the boy in the hall for the last couple of months, trying to decide what his deal was, but never actually speaking to him. Their lockers were only five down from each other (Peter would be remiss to admit that yes, yes indeed, he did count) and there’s been more than a few opportunities to turn his head and simply say hello. Yet, he’s never taken any of them. For the most part, Peter enjoyed watching from afar, doing his best to understand with only half the facts.

Arriving late to Italian one Monday, Peter was shocked to see that the only place that did not have an ass in the seat was located right next to the new kid. Peter did his best to not be noticed when he stumbled in, his brow still a little sweaty from the chase he’d been in not even thirty minutes previously. He managed to get the guy webbed to the side of a building and an anonymous call in to the police before school started – but he missed the train, which seemed like the ultimate irony.

They were already halfway through the class period, so he spent time looking around the room, instead – and by looking around the room, that meant turning his head away from Tony whenever the boy caught him staring. When they were given time for conversation partners, Peter turned toward the other cautiously, his head tilted. “I’m Peter,” he started, his mouth working faster than the filter his brain was still trying to put into place.

A solid laugh from the other relieved a little bit of the tension in his chest – the tiniest hint of a smile slipping across his cheeks. “I know. I’m Tony – Tony Stark,” the other answered, the new kid finally attached to a name – a suave and debonair name to go with the mystery the guy was shrouded in. “You can’t speak Italian for shit, but you’re really good at Chemistry.”

Peter probably looked like a fish out of water, his lips gapping. It wasn’t often that Peter was the one being observed and from the fresh set of details Tony just dropped, it seemed like the tables were slowly being turned on him. He didn’t get to say anything else, though, their brief time to communicate cut short when the bell rang.

He didn’t see Tony again until he needed to work on his newest version of the web fluid – his old stuff just not doing the trick the way he needed it to. He needed to change the viscosity of it and knew the exact place in the formula to do it. Without thought, he wandered into the open Chemistry lab, his Spidey senses tingling a second before he noticed another human’s presence – the inky dark hair of none other than Tony Stark drawing his attention almost immediately.

No one said anything, in fact – Tony didn’t even look up. His hand flew across the piece of paper on the table below him, his brain obviously working a mile a minute. He could do the ignoring thing, too – and went about grabbing all of the things he needed to start working on the web fluid and got to it.

His head only turned every couple of minutes to look in the other’s direction.

Finally at the point where the reaction was starting to come together, Peter let out a shriek of embarrassment when the beaker started to bubble – his hand almost immediately stuck to the desk. “Oh, shit,” Peter mumbled, his free hand moving out of the way of the rogue solution, the idea of having both hands stuck to the desk more obscene than the current situation.

The rustle of papers and then feet brought Tony’s proximity to his attention – the boy standing in front of him, a huge smirk on his face. “Are you stuck to the table? What the hell is that stuff?” Tony immediately dove in, the questions coming out at an aggressive pace. His sepia eyes were wide, the boy tilting his head to get a better look at the piece of paper on the desk.

“Web fluid?” Tony asked, his tone curious. They caught glances and for the first time since meeting him, Peter understood how truly smart Tony Stark was. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes and then his hands were pulling his phone out and typing furiously on the screen.

“This is you, isn’t it?” Peter grimaced when he saw the video Tony pulled up on YouTube, his latest swing through the middle of the city playing in front of him. His stomach swam a bit, cheeks coloring.

“Uh – no. That’s just bull shit computer generation, right?” Peter replied, the words coming out of his mouth sounding a little weak, a sort of resignation already there. 

Tony was too smart for his own good and soon, another video was being played for him, this one showing the very chemical reaction he’d been trying to duplicate on the desk in front of him - his patented webbing the bad guy to a building coming back to bite him in the ass. 

“That’s totally you. That stuff is genius, Pete. I had Jarvis get his hands on some of the stuff from my dad’s lab – you created something that could serve a lot of purposes.” Tony kept talking, but Peter tuned him out after the uttered ‘from my dad’s lab’.

Choking, Peter suddenly realized why Tony’s last name sounded so familiar. Stark Industries was just on the tv for their newest energy saving development – he remembered saving the link to the article he looked up later to read through the next time he was bored.

Oh shit.

“Your dad’s lab – shit, Tony. You can’t tell anyone about this. Not that there’s anything to tell – but especially not your dad,” Peter babbled his brain forgetting for a second that he was still stuck to the table as he tried to pull away. “Please,” Peter mumbled, the flush in his cheeks getting worse by the second.

Tony didn’t reply for a second, his attention having moved to the piece of paper in front of him. He pulled a pen from behind his ear and worked out a few things, the scribbles from earlier back once again with a vengeance. He fucked around with a few of the chemicals on the table and measured everything out until he was looking at the beaker triumphantly.

“I’m not going to tell anyone. I want to help you,” Tony finally remarked, the boy pouring the liquid in the beaker onto the mess holding Peter to the table. Within a few seconds, the web fluid was loosening, allowing Peter to pull his hand free.

Looking at him speculatively, Peter raised a brow – apprehension tangible in the air between them. “Help me? How could you help me?”

Tony grinned, nimble fingers replacing the pen behind his ear. “Hear me out. We can work together. We can help each other. I have access to materials that could put this stuff to shame. I’ll help you with your gadgets and you teach me how to fight back, how to be brave." Though the words weren’t said with anything but confidence, Peter noticed the small falter, Tony’s weakness peeking through the cracks ever so slightly.

Peter pulled in a big sigh, his brain already saying yes, the idea of having help, of having someone who knew – it was too much of a siren call to resist.

“Fine – but you tell no one. Got it?” Peter demanded, his tone as forceful and assertive as he could make it.

“You’ve got yourself a deal, Peter – I mean, Spider-Man,” Tony got out, the correction making his cheeks crinkle with a full faced smile.

[mamacesawrites]

The Duke of the Bay: Part 7

[Spotify Playlist] [Youtube Playlist]

First Part, Ao3 Link, Next Part 

Story Warnings: Guns, threats, alcohol, homosexual slang used pejoratively and positively, internalized homophobia, ask me to add any if need be

Chapter Warnings:  cigarettes, drinking excessively

Chapter Word Count:   3457

Summary: Patton O’Hearty was a great detective. Most people didn’t take him for one at first glance, especially when he dressed casual. He was abnormally chipper; he thought everything was the cat’s pajamas. He had a smile for everyone he met. He was always tipping his hat at the dames and gents when he walked the streets of the Bay Area.

The only person he could never catch was the leader of the planted mob in Emeryville, nicknamed The Duke. The Duke was good at hiding his dealings and joints well, and he rarely had a snitch in his ranks. The few who tried, well, somehow they disappeared before they could give the police any substantial information. He was well hidden, but popular among the residents of the town. People talked boldly of his rambunctious parties, never revealing the locations though. He was hard to catch, to say the least.

So what happens, when instead, the detective is the one that’s caught?

-

Virgil didn’t want to leave the group behind at Logan’s house, but he knew he had to. It was the safest option. It was more important at that moment for the three of them to have their talks on how to move forward. The less he knew, the better. Even if it hurt to be so far away from his…from Logan.

 Now that he had a moment to himself, walking among the warehouses at nighttime, he was finally free to think about the night before. Had it only been less than a day since he knew he’d have to betray his family? 

 He knew when he took up the job tailing Logan that he was in over his head. He wasn’t expecting that to be how he paid his debts. He made a point not to get too involved in family affairs- it was too much risky work-but he owed some money to his cousin after losing a game of poker. 

 Best loss in his life, and he didn’t say so often. 

As he paced the streets, waiting for Mr. Doris, he remembered with vivid pleasure the events of the evening before. When he finally got Logan to crack and kiss him in a way he had never been kissed. 

 Man, Pat and Alice were sure in for it. Lord knows how Logan was able to keep his cool for this long. Virge had gotten the sense that Alice had figured something was amiss, though. Dame in her situation, it made sense for her to be perceptive. Virgil briefly thought of what it would look like- a small girl pinning tall Logan to the wall demanding to know if he let his hair down. 

 He sighed, watching his breath leave his mouth in a gray mist akin to cigarette smoke. The world wasn’t ready for people like them. He knew that. Part of the reason he stayed on the low was for that reason. If the world was going to hate him, let them hate him for good reasons. Let it hate him for his failures, for his crimes, for the pain he caused people. He wished that the world wouldn’t hate him for finally being comfortable with the idea of falling in love. 

 He had considered moving to Harlem. Now that was a scene. There were stories he’d heard of women on the arms of other women freely. There were men in dresses and women in slacks. There were women who were as burly as men and men as puny as gals. There was music, freedom, a community and safe haven. He had saved up nearly enough to go east to that scene when he had been relocated to help his cousin get a foothold in the west. 

 He felt bummed out for so long, but he felt glad that he got Logan out of the whole ordeal. 

 Scenes of the night before flooded his mind’s eye. Hot skin pressed up against each other. Tightness and heat and primal instinct and sweat and all things he was familiar with, but none of it had felt...like that. Like the grip of a cuddle afterwards. The warmth of a person’s hand twirling his hair. The soft urge to plant kisses on Logan’s face afterwards to care for him. The whispered laughter in between afterglow kisses. 

 A part of him wanted to take Logan there. Logan, in a place like Harlem? It’d be worth it just for the surprise on his prude, puckered face. 

 He took out a cigarette to shift his focus from the forbidden thoughts once he heard the footsteps. He inhaled the smoke with ease when he caught the silver flash of a scar with a face forming behind it from the shadows. 

 “Hello, Virgil. How was your day?” Smooth of voice as ever. Slick like fine whiskey, and every bit of a snake’s hypnotic charm in those eyes. 

 Virgil ignored that. He took a drag from his cigarette to give himself time to form an answer. Finally, he curtly replied, “Same old. Detective Dolt is still on that blessed routine of his. Swear, the guy never steps a foot outta line.” 

 “Right,” the word drew out.  Mr. Doris squinted at him. The man who had taken Virgil’s place in the family business always glared at him with suspicion. Now, without knowing it, he had good reason to. 

 “You?” Virgil asked, trying to hold back a cough. He had to keep it cool. He held out his pack to the scarred man, a peace offering from his earlier brusque behavior that morning. 

 Mr. Doris waved it off. He turned his nose up to examine his shoulder, evidently finding some invisible lint. “I had other matters to attend to, I haven’t been able to find my target. Was he with yours?” 

 Ashes from his cigarette sprinkled slowly to the ground. “Nope, though doesn’t mean he didn’t call or something.” 

 “I see. Was there a girl there?” Mr. Doris inquired, his tone too innocent for his normally vicious demeanor. 

 “What, that broad you were supposed to toss into a river?” Virgil tried to shove out the image of Alice’s eyes-too old for her young face. 

 Mr. Doris growled, “Don’t play games with me, punk,” Virgil tensed at the word, “I am not as easy to forget as the boss, and I need a good reason to give a good lickin’ to someone.” 

 “Well, I’m afraid that isn’t possible, boys.” The Duke stated. Neither of them had heard him approach.

 “Boss, good to see you as always,” Virgil greeted coolly. He took another drag of his cigarette. The smoke soothed his nerves from the inquisition from his ‘coworker’ .

 “Virge, how often do I need to tell you not to be so formal with me? We’re family, after all.” The Duke’s smile was akin to a stray cat finding fresh steak. So, perfectly normal. For him.

 “Right, sorry cuz,” Virgil rolled his eyes. It wasn’t like they were close enough to be brothers. 

 The Duke looked between the men suspiciously. “What aren’t you boys telling me?” 

 “Doris lost the broad and the cop, in the same day.” Virgil confessed quickly, all too aware of his companions low hiss in his direction

 “Yes, I know that already, what else?” the man whined, petulance coloring his tone.

 Virgil’s eyes tightened. He got the strange feeling that his cousin knew more than he was letting on. Still, he played his part with ease. “She wasn’t with Smith, if that’s what you were wondering.” 

 “Oh really? Strange, she wasn’t with my dear detective either,” his cousin mused, twirling his mustache.  

 Mr. Doris’ back straightened. Virgil sensed that there was more to the situation than what was being led on. He catalogued that reaction to build off of later. Something about Patton was causing...something of a rift, between them. It wasn’t like Virgil cared, Doris had it coming for some time. 

 “Well, maybe they got her in a safe house or like, ya know, with another cop?” Virgil suggested. He wanted to get them off of the young lady’s trail. 

 “No, the captain said he had to suspend detective Smith. They’re onto him. There’s no way they’d bring another man in on this.” Mr. Doris was still bothered. Alice was his mark, so of course he was willing to do anything to get her back. 

 The Duke looked at Virgil. “Unless, of course, one of us were lying.” 

 Mr. Doris lifted his eyebrow. Sure, he wasn’t completely sure how loyal Virgil was, but it wouldn’t be like him to get involved enough to cause any harm. Once again, Mr. Doris toyed with the thought of having a tail put on Virgil as well. 

 Virgil felt stones fall in his stomach. Sweat started to build on his brows. He threw his cigarette down to the ground to put it out. “Or, maybe they have a friend. Maybe they left her at one of their  houses.”

 “You just said Logan was at his house earlier.” Mr. Doris stepped closer. His eyes were in slits, it was hard to see even the whites of his eyes, making him look even more like a snake. 

 Mr. Doris had the sudden suspicion that maybe he underestimated the reclusive  man, after all. 

 “I-” Virgil cleared his throat, “I know that. I just meant that maybe we don’t know enough to assume.” 

 “Right,” his cousin surmised. He looked Virgil up and down, as if looking for something. Virgil tried to appear as calm as he could. Whatever the Duke was looking for, he seemed satisfied. 

 Virgil let out a breath quietly when Mr. Doris had the attention of the boss. That was close, he thought to himself. 

 “Mr. Doris, darling, I need you to find her. You have three days. Have Virgil help, and I’ll have Roman let me know if he hears anything about her.” The Duke seemed satisfied with that conclusion, then he added to Virgil, “Take advantage of Mr. Smith being suspended. Find out what you can. Double your watch hours. Only report in if there’s any important development.

 “I’m bored, let’s go down to the Lion’s Den for some refreshments.” The Duke clapped his palms together, signaling the end of the business portion of their meeting.

 Virgil’s nod was curt. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Still, he refused to let it take control as he agreed to join the gentleman for drinks at their speakeasy nearby. 

 The joint was in full swing when they arrived, fashionably late. The men and women who were outcasts, dennigans, drunks, and harlots all danced around as if there wasn’t a care in the world. The dresses were skin tight, and Virgil caught the glitter of cufflinks-obviously from some notable men in their local government. A few of them he had remembered meeting in a dark alley for a kiss or two. 

 The men made their way to a back table just behind the stage. Where they could still hear the music, but didn’t have to be bothered with the usual social engagements. It was dark, it was secluded, it was perfect for gentlemen like them.  

 The waiter that came up to them was nervous. Seemed like he didn’t have much experience directly interacting with the boss. He swallowed, trying not to stutter, and looked a little too green in the face. He took their orders bravely, then scurried away. Virgil pitied the poor boy.

 Virgil made sure to be careful with the giggle water, he couldn’t afford to have loose lips. He made sure to take sips while his companions loosened up. 

 Soon afterwards, Mr. Doris left them to go home, claiming he needed some shut eye before beginning his search the next day. He looked a little too pointedly at Virgil as he said so. 

 The Duke poured himself some more bourbon, giggling. Now was Virgil’s chance to ask for some information. 

 “So, cousin, tell me about this ‘dear detective’. What makes him so dear if he’s the enemy?” 

 “Oh, I don’t know.” the drunk man hedged. He took down the entire glass of the fiery liquid painlessly. 

 Virgil grabbed the bottle to pour more for him. He kept his voice casual, and even spared a fake grin to give off the illusion of camaraderie. He patted his cousin’s shoulder. “Come on, it’s me. I’m only curious.” 

 “Well,” the Duke drew out. He creased his eyebrows in drunken deliberation. “I think I want to shoot him, then the next I want to kiss him, and somewhere….somewhere in between he makes me soft.

 Virgil, you ever think about quitting this lifestyle?” 

 Virgil’s eyes hardened but he forced his short laughter, “No, we live like Kings.” 

 Remus pouted, holding out his glass for more. Virgil poured while he talked. “I think I wanna…” he took his drink, “I think I wanna fuck a cop.” 

 Virgil snickered. He knew the feeling all too well. “Well, good luck with that. You’re on every wanted list from here to Sacramento.” 

 His cousin’s laughter bellowed through the space. “Yes, only as the Duke. Never as Remus…” 

 Virgil instinctively looked over his shoulder. “Don’t say that name here. Do you want to get caught?” 

 The Duke, Remus, lifted his arms up and shouted, “I’m Remus! Remus damn d-” the rest of his words were muffled from Virgil’s hand. 

 It was a long night for them both. Quickly did the bottle run dry. Quickly did another one come. Virgil and Remus spent the night drinking more than talking, mostly due to Remus slurring so bad he was incomprehensible. Though most of his coherent speech was addled with talks about his feelings for Patton, the ‘dear detective’, and the shipment that had come in the night before. 

 “Virge, do you know what I got for us?” Remus stage whispered in his ear. His mustache tickled Virgil’s earlobe, causing him to shiver. 

 “Yeah, boss,” Virgil gulped. “I know about last night at the docks.” 

 “Good,” Remus took a large swig of his drink, “Let’s hope I get to kill the Irish bastard. Here’s to a good business!” 

 Virgil toasted, and took another sip of his drink. Remus became even more incomprehensible, to the point Virgil decided he was cutting him off. He took his cousin home, then collapsed in his own bed where he slept fitfully-with dreams of a teenage girl drenched in her own blood. 

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

 “Dammit, Logan! What the hell were you thinking?” Patton bellowed. He didn’t seem to care that Alice was in the room with them. 

 His eyes were wild with a fury that Logan had never seen before. His hair, once in small curls was now wildly untamed. Logan felt the words slam him hard, but he took a small comfort in knowing that it was the Duke that had upset Patton. 

 The man before him wasn’t this partner. This wasn’t the gentle, giant, Irishman who always had a smile to give. This wasn’t that smooth-talking detective that handled each case with compassion. This wasn't the man who earned the tip of a hat and a gaze of a gal.

 This was a man who had gone mad with the chase. 

 Logan had to do something, but he didn’t know what. He felt at a loss for words. He just let Patton beat into him more with every phrase. His best friend, his partner, was finally losing it. 

 “You just jeopardized our case! You had an informant. Not only an informant, the very gangster who was hired to tail you for a month. What the hell?!” Patton’s fists were clenched. Logan wondered if he was gonna take a swing. He wouldn't have put it past the man, at this point.

 Logan put his hands out, a gesture of peace. “Patton,” he kept his voice even, “We need to think rationally. We have a-” 

 “Rationally? Ya think the God damn Duke is rational? He’s a madman, Logan! And I have half a mind to think that you’re in kahoots with him!” Patton’s voice was hysterical, and his usually tame Irish accent was in full force. It was a miracle he wasn't spewing heavy profanities left and right. 

 Patton’s heart was pounding, no doubt his blood pressure was through the rood. His mind was swirling with angry, dark thoughts he had never considered before. He wanted to punch Logan. He wanted to cry. He wanted to be left alone to crumble. He felt like his very skin was melting underneath the wrath that was striking his soul.  He ignored the concerned looks Alice was throwing his way from the couch. 

 “Patton, please, I-” Logan tried to beg. 

 Logan clenched his fists too. He didn’t want to fight Patton, but the man needed some sense knocked into him. The air in the living room was thick with the heat of anger. Logan’s heart was breaking for his friend, and in the back of his mind he wondered if Mr. Doris had been right about the Duke and his raging partner. He wondered if maybe the Duke got his hooks deeper than a cat and mouse game.

 “No, Logan!” Patton was red in the face, he looked like he was about to burst into flames. “You made an impulsive, stupid, awful decision and-” 

 “At least I’m not the one turning into a madman!” Logan yelled back. He grabbed Patton by his shoulders. “Damn it, Patton! Don’t you get it? You’re playing right into his hand. He wants you riled up so you can’t think straight!” 

 Patton sucked in a breath, but Logan continued. “You think I haven’t noticed a change in you? Patton, you’ve been barely sleeping. You’re crazy if you think that I’m the one not thinking straight!” 

 Logan suddenly embraced Patton. Both of them were sweaty from the day, but neither of them cared. He felt Patton nearly collapse in his arms, and soon he felt his best friend sobbing into his shoulder. The pressure released from his lungs. In his arms was a tired, beaten, angry man. 

 “I’m sorry Logan. You’re right I’m not...I’m not keeping my cool.” Patton pulled away, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket. He wiped his face down. 

 He felt embarrassed, and looked next to him to see Alice giving him a watery smile. His mind was starting to clear. He remembered that his first duty was to the people, and right now he had to take care of a young dame that made her way quickly into his heart. 

 They stood in silence, the air around them dissipated of tension. Soon, they were both being embraced by the small frame of Alice. Something about the moment felt right. Logan closed his eyes. They all took in a deep breath. Together.

 Alice broke the hug to embrace just Patton. She whispered something in his ear, “You’re allowed to be mad. Hell, we’ve all got a bit of crazy.” They both giggled, which was a wonderful sound of chimes and bells. 

 Logan brushed off his shirt reflexively. “Now, I believe talk of the next step can wait. We all need rest. Especially you, Patton.” 

 Alice and Logan bid their farewells to Patton, and soon Alice retired to her new room. The lights were put out. Once some time had passed, Logan retreated to the basement of his manor that he had made his art room. 

 The smell of linseed oil filled his nostrils. He turned on the lights, and set up his paints and easel. His fingers ached, and so did his back, but he needed the mind numbing feeling of color being placed on canvas. He needed to create. He sat at his stool, and summoned a vision in his mind’s eye of what he wanted to paint. 

 He took his palette knife and made himself a beautiful green. He dipped his brush, and started spreading his brush along the canvas. He felt his shoulders relax from making the scenery. Greens and blues made their way into the scene, with spots of black and gray. Logan bit his lip as he focused on the finer details. 

 He ruminated over the events of the past twenty-four hours. He had made a lover, of sorts. He rescued a young girl from a mob boss. He found out his captain was most likely part of a conspiracy to poison the force, resulting in his suspension. His partner finally snapped. He had a sixteen year old girl temporarily living in his house that had been empty for so long.  

 He dipped the point of his fine brush into the white, and carefully laid his details out onto the waves that had formed on his canvas. He was so focused on his  scene, that he hadn’t heard the door open, or the sound of small feet making their way down the steps. 

 Luckily his brush wasn’t on the painting when he jumped from Alice’s voice saying in his ear, “So it’s you that’s filled this house with art.” 

 His heart pounded in his chest from the surprise, and his cheeks reddened from the embarrassment of having his secret caught. He watched Alice slowly walk around the room, taking in the different scenes he had painted before. 

 “Logan, these are beautiful.” she whispered. “If I had money, I’d buy them.” 

 “I, well, um…” Logan stuttered. He was tired, after all. Plus having this young girl comment on his paintings felt oddly relieving. He took a deep breath to gather his words. “I have been painting since I was a child.” 

 Alice threw him one of her dazzling smiles. “I can tell. Why aren’t you asleep? After ushering me and Patton to rest?” 

 “I was too wound up.” Logan answered. “Why aren’t you asleep, after I ushered you to rest?” 

 Alice shrugged, though Logan noticed that she was tense. “I’ve just been thinking.” 

 “Would you like to talk about it over tea?” Logan offered suddenly. He wanted nothing in that moment but to soothe any fears she had. Plus, he was painfully aware of his own weariness. 

 Alice followed him up the stairs, non-verbally giving her answer. The two talked over their tea in the kitchen, only keeping discussion light, getting to learn more about each other. Unspoken was the fear of what tomorrow would bring them. Unspoken, but still so loud, was the intuitive feeling of what was to come. 

 Alice avoided his gaze through their conversation, and pushed away the thought that this would be her last night on earth. They were the police. They knew what they were doing. Surely, Patton and Logan would figure everything out? 

 Eventually they were both done with their tea, and decided to go to sleep. Logan settled into his bed, too tired to think about how the day had stretched on for forever, and instead focused on the hope that he’d wake up to a new day.

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