#2024 really went in hard to kill me | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

zegrasdrysdale · 4 months ago

Note

Request for a Hughes!sister x Wyatt Johnston fic!!!

Hughes!sister takes Wyatt to her brothers family skate after dating Wyatt secretly for the past a year or 2

[ in every life ] w. johnston

part of the "falling for a hughes" au

paring : Wyatt Johnston x hughes!sister

summary : youngest Hughes sibling (and Luke’s twin) brings her secret boyfriend of a year to family skate the day before the Stadium Series, shocking not only her family, but the entire Devils roster

warning(s) : none (just a lot of fluff tbh)

author's note : i didn't mean for this to be so short tbh, but i caught some bad writer's block and didn't wanna give y'all (or anon) a half assed fic so ... here y'all go ig UPDATE: this is now apart of an au universe where reader gets a name

au masterlist

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〘 February 2024 〙

It's not a secret how nervous she and Wyatt are as they approach MetLife Stadium. Not only is she introducing most of her family to her boyfriend, she's basically hard launching their relationship after over a year of being together.

The actual secret is that she’s dating Wyatt Johnston.

The younger sister of Jack and Quinn Hughes, the twin sister of Luke Hughes is dating a member of the Dallas Stars and has been for over a year. She's not dating a member of the Devils or the Canucks like most people would probably assume she would be, but she's not. There have been rumors that she’s been involved with players on both teams, but they were never true.

Neither of them have told anyone despite her occasionally visiting Wyatt in the Pavelski household a handful of times over the last year or so. Her brothers never questioned why she was in Texas either. Honestly, she never really told them, but always made it a point to go with Jack and Luke when they would play Dallas or go to the Rock for the game.

That's how she met Wyatt to begin with. When she went to a Devils game in December 2022, she ran into Wyatt trying to find her brother after the game. Jack knows that they know each other because of that run-in, but has know idea of their relationship or that they even became friends after that day. It wasn’t until January 2023 when the Devils went to Dallas when they became more than friends.

They just celebrated their first anniversary together, and they both decided that it was time to tell people. She just didn’t think that it would be when all eyes are on the Devils.

She pulls up next to Jack’s car in the parking lot when she and Wyatt arrive at MetLife for family skate. It’s his one day off between games and he’ll be flying to Dallas early in the morning for the game against Edmonton tomorrow.

Wyatt doesn’t seem as nervous as she is. He’s typing away on his phone as she says, “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want.”

“You told your brothers that you were bringing your boyfriend with you,” Wyatt replies. He looks up from his phone and meets her eyes. “I’m not going to make you look like a liar.”

She smiles. “You sure you’re ready for everything that comes with publicly dating a Hughes?” she asks. “All eyes are always on my brothers, which means they’re on me too.”

He reaches over the armrest and tucks a loose piece of hair behind her ear. “I’ve been ready,” he admits. “I have never been more ready to be able to call you my girlfriend. Seguin, Pavs, and Delly tease me about you all the time and call you my girlfriend so I can’t wait to see their faces when I tell them that you are my girlfriend.”

With a laugh, she leans into Wyatt’s touch. “Luke might kill us for keeping this a secret from him,” she says. “He is my twin brother and thinks he knows all my deep, dark secrets.”

Wyatt shakes his head. “That’s fine,” he laughs. “At least I‘ll die a happy man.”

She pushes his arm away with a smile and gets out of the car. “Sappy,” she comments.

He gets out of the car too and they grab their skates out of the trunk. She holds out her hand for him to take. He slings his bag over his shoulder and takes her hand to walk inside.

Her nerves are shot as she shows her credentials to the security team so they can get into the building then onto the field where the ice is. Wyatt doesn’t say anything but her hands are so sweaty as they make their way out to the field.

The Devils are holding practice before family skate. Red and black jerseys fly around the ice as they have their last practice before the game against the Flyers tomorrow night. Players’ families and friends stand on the other side of the glass while they wait for family skate to start.

She finds her parents talking to someone on the medical team, probably about Jack and his shoulder. She doesn’t want to interrupt, but she’d rather not overwhelm Wyatt with being introduced as her boyfriend to her parents and brothers at once.

With a sigh and shaking hands, she approaches Jim and Ellen with Wyatt at her side. The medical guy walks off as she walks up to them. Wyatt lets go of her hand so she can be the one to tell them.

Ellen spots her daughter walking up in one of Wyatt’s white Stars beanies but a black Devils hoodie with Jack’s number on her chest. It’s a very interesting combination.

“Hi, darling,” Ellen greets her. Her mother gives her a hug and looks at Wyatt. Jim hugs his daughter as soon as her mom lets her go. “Is this the boyfriend that Jack said you were bringing?”

She nods and tucks herself against Wyatt’s side. He drapes his arm over her shoulders.

“Yeah,” she says. “This is Wyatt. He plays for the Stars. He’s one of their best players.”

Jim and Ellen exchange a look before Jim looks at Wyatt with a serious look on his face. “Have you been treating our daughter right?” he asks. “Because I’m going to need to have a conversation with you if you aren’t.”

“Uh, yes, sir,” Wyatt quickly replies. She looks up at him as he talks. “I try my best despite the distance between us. I’m always doing what I can to see her when I’m in the area. I do what I can with everything that keeps us apart.”

Her father seems content with his answer. Ellen does ask her own question. “Wyatt, do you love her?” she asks. “She deserves nothing less than to be loved.”

They’ve said the L word before so she knows Wyatt loves her, but she’s completely surprised by his answer.

“I love her to the stars and back,” Wyatt replies. “I’d love her in every universe. I’ll choose her in every life. Even if we’re thousands of miles apart, I love her. When we’re right beside each other, I love her. I can’t imagine not being in love with your daughter now that I know what it feels like to be in love with her and be loved by her. You’re right in that she deserves nothing less than to be loved, and I love her in every single way possible.”

She pouts as she listens to Wyatt’s words. She had no idea that he was that in love with her. It almost brings tears to her eyes as she listens to him.

The way he talks about her could genuinely make her cry. She never thought that she would ever be so in love with someone or be loved by someone the way Wyatt loves her. There were so many times when she thought she found someone that loved her, but they only loved her last name and who her brothers were.

Wyatt doesn't seem to think the same way that her exes thought. He genuinely seems to love her, and it has nothing to do with who she's related to.

She waits until he’s done talking before she talks. “You really feel that way?” she asks.

“I meant every word,” Wyatt tells her.

“Alright, I guess this is okay,” Jim says, tearing their attention away from each other. “As long as the two of you are happy, I don’t care how long this has been going on but I can tell you’re both very happy. Good luck telling the boys though. They might not be as happy as we are for you guys.”

Coach Ruff calls an end to practice so the guys leave the ice to find the people they've invited to family skate. Ellen and Jim walk off to get their skates.

She quickly tries to find her brothers before they can find her and Wyatt, but Jack and Luke sneak up on both of them.

A voice pipes up behind them. "The hell is this?" her twin brother asks behind her. She sighs and turns to face her older brothers. "No way you have been dating a Dallas Star."

Luke has a look of betrayal on his face and Jack just looks confused.

She smiles at her brothers. "Surprise?" she hesitantly says. "You're both familiar with Wyatt, right?"

"How long has this been going on?" Jack questions. "Because you never said anything about a boyfriend until like last month when you asked if you could bring him but clearly this has been going on for a little bit if you felt comfortable bringing him."

With a bite of her lip, she says, "We've been together since January of last year."

Jack's jaw drops and Luke shoots glares at Wyatt. "You've been together for a year and didn't think to tell either of us that you were dating another NHL player?" Luke asks. "Did you not trust us?"

"I did!" she quickly defends herself. "Neither of us really wanted to tell anyone. I didn't want Wyatt to feel the pressure of all eyes being on him while he finished out his rookie season and he agreed. If it makes you feel better, Wyatt never told Joe Pavelski even though he lives in his house during the season. None of his teammates know either so it wasn't just the two of you that we didn't tell. Quinn doesn't know either."

"Oh, he'll know as soon as I can get to a phone," Luke mumbles under his breath.

Jack smacks him on the shoulder. "Luke, shut up," he tells him. He turns his full attention to his younger sister. "Look, as long as you're happy then I don't care. Obviously you wanted to make sure that there were no other intentions like there were in the past before you officially introduced us to him. As long as he treats you right then I have no problems with it, and neither will Quinn."

Luke looks nothing less than mad, but he says, "I will knock you into the boards if you hurt her, Johnston. Don't think I won't because I'm four inches taller than you and I will defend my sister without a second thought."

"If I ever hurt your sister, I give you full permission to throw me into the boards," Wyatt tells Luke. "Both of you, and Quinn. Seriously."

“At least the Merc rumors will finally stop,” Jack sighs. “I mean, for two people that rarely ever are seen together, you and Dawson have faced a lot of rumors.”

She smiles and tucks herself against Wyatt’s side. “Thank God because I could tell that he was getting so annoyed over those rumors,” she laughs. “This is pretty undeniable, don’t you think?”

Wyatt hums and presses a kiss to her temple before they put on their skates.

No one was expecting Wyatt to be the person that she brought to family skate. Multiple of the Devils stop her and ask why Wyatt was there when he plays for the Stars. Every time she told someone that Wyatt was her boyfriend, their jaw dropped.

The only person that seemed genuinely happy was Dawson Mercer. Probably because he’s glad that the rumors are over because they were rough to deal with sometimes.

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a-reader-and-a-writer · 1 month ago

Text

For What You've Done

AI-Less Whumptober 2024: Day 4. non-consensual body modifications Fandom: Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, Past Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Reader, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Reader, witch!reader, f!reader Summary: Five months ago, the love of your life was killed in a car accident. In the aftermath of Jake's death, you and Rooster lean on each other to deal with your grief and soon become a couple. So when you suggest a camping trip together, Rooster agrees. After all, what’s the worst that could happen? Word Count: 5773 TW: Main Character Death, Whump, Non-Consensual Body Modifications, Witchcraft, Car Crash, Drugged, Resurrection, Betrayal, Possession, Vomiting, Language Notes: A huge thanks to @sunlightmurdock for beta reading this! 💗 Part of @ailesswhumptober's event!

Whumptober 2024 Masterlist

“Now can you tell me why it was so important we came to this spot on this night? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for spending a few days camping under the stars with you, but the middle of the week when it’s supposed to be fucking freezing isn’t maybe the ideal time.”

Bradley glances over at the passenger seat of his Bronco where you are currently gazing out the window at the trees flashing by.

You turn your head towards him with a smile and take his hand from where it is leaning on the armrest between your two seats. Giving it a tight squeeze, you say, “I told you, it’s a surprise. But I promise, it’ll be worth it, you just have to trust me.”

“You know I do.” Bradley’s eyes have returned to the almost non-existent road in front of him, but he raises your hand to his lips and places a quick kiss on the back of it. You giggle softly as his mustache brushes against your skin and he wiggles it to make you giggle again.

Bradley’s heart soars seeing you this happy again, even if these moments are fleeting. Before the accident, you seemed to carry the sunshine with you everywhere you went. Your light filled up every room you entered and no one seemed able to be in a bad mood when you were around. However, these last five months…

As if reading his mind, you slip your hand from his and slide it up his cheek until you run your fingers through his hair. “Hey, I know this between us is still new and I’m still struggling with everything that happened to…” You close your eyes and swallow hard as if his name is caught in your throat, still unable to pass your lips. But then you open your eyes and continue, “But I wouldn’t have made it through it without you. Your patience, your support, your love…you’ve been amazing, Bradley. And I just hope you know that what happens tonight, it’s all because of you.”

He gives you a small smile. “I know I’m not him and I’m never going to try to replace what you had, but I’m really happy we found our way to each other. I don’t know how I would’ve made it through without you either, sweetheart. But we did it…together. And as long as we’re together, I know it’ll be okay.”

“Together,” you hum, your fingers continuing to run through his curls. “I love hearing you say that because I plan on you being by my side for the rest of our lives.”

There is something about that statement that scratches at the back of Bradley’s brain. Maybe it’s your choice of words or the slightly serious tone your voice suddenly dropped into.

But before he can consider it further, you perk up in your seat and point out the window. “There! Pull over there! This is the spot.”

Bradley doesn’t see anything special about the place other than a slight clearing in the trees on the right side of the road—just big enough for him to park the Bronco. But, he promised to trust you on this excursion, so he did as you asked.

Once he is parked, the two of you grab your backpacks, sleeping bags, cooler of food, and the tent from the back. You promise it’s not a long walk so you take everything in one trip. After about five minutes of trudging through dense underbrush, unruly trees, and hidden roots, the two of you stumble into a clearing.

The space is maybe twenty feet across in a roughly circular shape. All of the foliage is suspiciously missing from this space even though it doesn’t seem like it was cleared necessarily. More like it just grew this way. As Bradley glances up, he sees another sort of circular opening in the treetops above, giving him a clear view of the sky as the sun begins to set.

The place has a strange energy and a chill goes up Bradley’s spine as a sudden wind blows through the clearing. But before he can say anything, you whisper an awed, “We’re here.”

There are tears in your eyes and you begin to bounce slightly as you gaze around. You let out a soft squeal, then compose yourself. Turning to Bradley, you say, “It’s going to get dark soon and we have a lot to do before then. Can you go gather up some firewood? We’ll need a lot to keep it going throughout the night.”

Bradley nods slowly, still not completely sure what he has gotten himself into. “Yeah. I’ll see what I can do. Do you think you can put the tent together by yourself?”

“Oh, I have something else to get ready before that. It’s your surprise,” you say with a wink. “But we can put the tent together when you finish with the wood.”

Deciding to just go along for now, Bradley sighs. “Whatever you say, sweetheart. This is your trip. I’m just along for the ride.” He kisses the top of your head then heads off into the woods.

Thirty minutes later, there is a towering pile of sticks in the center of the clearing. Bradley isn’t sure why you wanted him to put them there considering you wanted to keep most of them for later in the night, but once again, he didn’t question it. However, it did strike him as odd that you seem to have not really done much while he’s been gone. You’ve taken a few smaller bags out of your backpack and laid out some clothes, but that’s it. Meanwhile, he’s been working up a sweat trudging all over collecting wood.

At least when he brought back his final bundle you gave him a cold water bottle and a kiss on the lips. He downs the bottle as you return to whatever it is you are up to.

As he watches, everything begins to blur around the edges of his vision.

He blinks a few times and rubs his eyes, but the blurring only begins getting worse. And what’s more, he’s feeling light-headed. It feels just like that moment in his plane where the Gs get too intense and he begins to blackout. But why would that be happening now?

Stumbling slightly, Bradley mutters, “Sw-sweetheart…I think…I think I need to sit down for a minute. I might’ve overdone it with the w-wood.”

The next thing he knows, his world spins ninety degrees as he crashes to his side on the clearing floor. He tries to sit up, but every part of him is made of lead and he doesn’t have the strength to even lift his hand. His vision is no longer just blurry, it's starting to tunnel into darkness. He can just make out your feet as they step into his line of sight.

With the toe of your sneaker, you kick his shoulder so he rolls over onto his back. He’s now staring up at the pinkish-purple sky framed by a circle of treetops.

Then, your face peers over, blocking everything else from view. A cruel grin—one unlike any he had ever seen on your face—stretches across your lips. “No, Bradley, that’s just the drugs I slipped in your water kicking in. I have work to do and I need you to stay out of my way while I do it. So enjoy your little nappy-nap. I’ll see you when you wake up…or maybe not.”

Before Bradley can process what is happening, he is swallowed by the darkness.

Bradley was eyeing the couple in the corner, trying to decide if it was his job to step in or if he should leave them be. After all, this was far from the first time you and Hangman had one—or three—too many drinks on your night off and gotten too handsy for a public establishment. At the moment, things were still fairly tame, but Bradley knew from experience that could change in an instant. Last month, he and Coyote had to drag the two of you out of the bar after Penny complained about the near-pornographic sounds coming from her back booth.

It had been the last straw. After putting up with your drunken hanky-panky since the two of you started dating ten months ago, Penny finally put her foot down and swore if it happened again, you would both be banned. And as much as it would please Bradley to see Hangman’s face when he sobered up and found out he was no longer allowed at The Hard Deck, Bradley knew the whole squad would be bummed if they lost one of its members for their weekly hangouts. Plus, he had come to really enjoy your presence among the group (that was when you weren’t plastered and attached to Hangman’s lap). So, somewhat reluctantly, Bradley stood and walked over to your table.

Neither one of you seemed to notice him as he approached. You were too busy jamming your tongues down the other’s throat. But Bradley sighed and clapped his hands, startling you apart. “Come on, you lovebirds. Time to go home.”

Hangman’s eyes were slightly out of focus as he shifted you slightly on his lap so he could glare up at Bradley. “Aw, come on, Bradshaw. Just because you aren’t gettin’ any doesn’t mean you have to spoil our fun.”

You giggled into Hangman’s neck and Bradley swore he saw you lick his skin before mumbling, “Don’t be mean, Jakey. Maybe Bradley just wants to watch.”

“No. Bradley definitely doesn’t want to watch,” he groaned. Crossing his arms over his chest, Bradley said, “Look, I have an early morning meeting with Cyclone tomorrow so I’ve got to get some sleep. But Penny’s already threatened to kick you out and I’m not going to let one of you drunk idiots drive home.”

“Jake’s drunk, I’m fine,” you grinned. You slid off Jake and straightened up to prove your point, but the slight sway in your stance only served to further Bradley’s assessment.

He sighed again, pressing his fingers to his eyes. “Sweetheart, I can smell the booze on your breath from over here and something tells me you wouldn’t make it to the bar without falling over. I’m driving you. End of discussion.”

You pouted, your bottom lip jutting off your face in a way Bradley had to admit was adorable, but it didn’t sway him. He held out his hand and, after a moment, you rolled your eyes and dug your keys out of your pocket. Slamming them into Bradley’s open palm, you stuck out your tongue at him. But then you gave him a clumsy wink and he knew even if you did remember tonight, you wouldn’t hold it against him.

Walking ahead, Bradley patiently held open the door as Jake and you stumbled across the room, each leaning heavily against the other in a mess of limbs and slobbery kisses. When you made it to your truck, Jake helped you climb into the back, his hands roaming across your ass far longer than necessary as he pushed you up the tall step. Then he dragged himself into the front seat and closed the door.

“Seat belts.” Bradley waited for a second but neither of you made a move to follow his instructions. Sighing, he said, “I’m not going anywhere until both of you put on your seat belts.”

“Yes, Mom,” both of you mocked in unison before collapsing into a fit of drunken laughter, but at least he heard both belts click into place.

As he drove towards Hangman’s house (where you had moved in a few months ago), the two of you continued your slurred dirty talk, occasionally throwing nonsensical jabs in Bradley’s direction for making you leave early. Normally, he might have tried to fire a few back, but it was too much fun listening to Hangman smugly say something he thought was so clever only for it to be nearly incomprehensible in actuality. Bradley couldn’t help but laugh at a few particularly bad ones.

He never saw the other truck run the red light.

It slammed into the passenger’s door, sending your truck spinning out of control as broken glass filled the air. Bradley tried to control the steering wheel as it jerked in his hands, but his head smashed into his door and he blacked out.

He came to a few moments later—his vision blurred and his head pounding—to the sound of you screaming from the back seat. “No! Jake! Nooo!”

Apparently, nothing sobers a person up quicker than seeing their greatest fear come to life in front of their eyes.

Bradley slowly raised his eyes to the rearview mirror, a fresh stab of pain driving through his head, and looked back at you. With blood pouring down your face from where your head slammed into the seat in front of you, you thrashed around for a moment until you managed to unbuckle your seatbelt. Ignoring the glass covering the interior of the truck, you pulled yourself forward between the two front seats and crawled into Jake’s lap.

It was only then that Bradley got his first look at his other passenger and he immediately wished he hadn’t.

All it took was one glance to see that Jake Seresin was dead.

Between the unnatural bend of his neck where the seatbelt still dug into his skin and the glassy, blank stare in his once-spirited green eyes, Rooster knew his wingman was gone. There was nothing anyone could do to save him.

However, you apparently refused to accept that.

Laying your head on his shoulder, you begged, “Baby, please, wake up. Don’t do this. Come back to me. Please, Jake.”

You placed your hand on his cheek and gently tried to turn his face to look at you. His head flopped unnaturally far backward and Bradley felt bile bubble in his throat that he struggled to keep down.

Your eyes grew wide as your bottom lip began to tremble. “No, no, no, Jake, no. Please, baby, I love you. You can’t—you can’t—no!” You sobbed and buried your face in his chest.

Bradley heard you muttering something under your breath, but he couldn’t make out what it was. It almost sounded like something in another language but not one he recognized. He began to worry that your head injury might be worse than he initially thought.

He softly called out your name and began to reach out to touch your shoulder, to try and move you off the corpse of the man you loved. Yet before he could, your head shot up. Your eyes darted across Jake’s face once more, almost as if you expected something had changed in the last few seconds. But when you saw that it hadn’t, your mouth opened wide and you let out an ear-splitting, heart-wrenching wail.

That wail has haunted Bradley ever since that night, and it is that wail that is echoing in his ears as he slowly opens his eyes. He can’t be sure how long he was out, but it has gotten significantly darker since his eyes were last open. Stars dot the midnight blue sky above and a full moon rests perfectly in the center of the clearing opening. Dark shadows stretch and dance against the trees surrounding the clearing, cast by the blazing fire that had materialized while he was unconscious.

You are standing in front of the fire, muttering something under your breath. As Bradley watches, you toss a handful of powder into the flames which flare deep red for a second before returning to its usual yellow-orange glow. Your flannel shirt and jeans from earlier have been replaced by a flowing black dress that brushes the ground just high enough to reveal your bare feet poking out underneath.

The clearing floor is littered with broken sticks, burrs, and rocks, and, as you move around the fire, he notices you are leaving a faint bloody trail in your wake. Yet you don’t seem to notice or care as you continue whatever you are doing undeterred by any discomfort.

Suddenly, Bradley’s stomach lurches and he rolls to his side just in time to vomit, the contents of his stomach spilling across the clearing floor. He heaves a few more times before things settle, and he collapses onto his back once more.

“Ah, good. You’re awake. I was afraid I gave you too much and would have to start without you.”

Bradley turns his head to see you still standing by the fire, but your attention is now fixed on him. Slowly, on trembling arms, he pushes himself to his feet. “What is this? What the fuck are you doing? If this is some kind of game or kinky shit I didn’t know you were into, I don’t like it.”

“Are you really that stupid that you still don’t get it?” you sneer, the cruelty in your voice cutting into his heart like a knife. “Five months ago, the man I loved more than life itself was ripped from my arms because of you. You insisted on driving that night even though I told you I was fine and because of that, Jake is dead. If you had just stayed out of our fucking business, he would still be here with me.”

No. That’s not what happened. Bradley takes a step toward you. “Sweetheart, tha—”

“I’m not your fucking sweetheart!” you snarl, your eyes burning with a hatred that takes his breath away. “Do you know how repulsive it's been pretending to love you? Letting you touch me, kiss me, all the while despising every atom in your body for what you took from me. The only thing that kept me from strangling you in your sleep was the knowledge I still needed you for my plan to work.”

Bradley’s mind is still groggy from the drugs, but things are finally starting to click together. “So all of it was just a lie? Leaning on each other after Jake’s death? You were just using me? For what? You still haven’t explained what the fuck you’re doing to me!”

You continue on as if he hadn’t spoken, your voice filled with cold fury. “I knew how to get everything I needed. All I was missing was a host. A body for him to return to. But as much as I ached to have my Jake back, I knew I couldn’t take an innocent person’s body. It wouldn’t be fair and he wouldn’t want that. But that’s when it hit me. Why not take the body of the man responsible for Jake losing his? The one who should have died in that crash instead of him? Why was it fair you got to be here when he didn’t? So…I’m going to change that.”

“You’re fucking insane,” Bradley laughs in disbelief, the absurdity of the situation not fully processing in his brain.

Your face softens just a fraction and you scoff lightly. “Jake never told you, did he? Though, honestly, I’m not surprised. I don’t think he ever really believed me when I told him. He thought it was all a joke, a bit of ancient fun family trivia that was all nonsense. But it’s all true.” Taking a step closer to him, you pull out a small, leather-bound book from a pocket in your dress. “You see, Rooster, I am part of one of the oldest magical bloodlines in the known world. In other words, I’m what you might call, a witch.”

Bradley looks from you to the book to you again. Then he mutters, “You’re more insane than I thought you were.”

“We’ll see about that shortly enough,” you say with a thin-lipped smile. Then you begin strolling slowly around the fire. “Up until I lost Jake, I was more than happy to only dabble in the light side of my magic: A calming spell attached to my aura to soothe those around me. A positivity potion mixed into the cookies I made for the squad when you all weren’t getting along. A good luck charm tucked into Jake’s flight suit when he was leaving on a mission. Just tiny things to make all of your lives a little better. And I was more than happy to do it. But now?”

You stop walking and turn to face him. “Now, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to bring my Jake back to me. Even if that means tapping into the kind of magic I’ve sworn never to use. That’s why we had to come to this spot on this night. It’s a place of unlimited power for those strong enough to tap into it. And tonight, that’s just what I plan to do.”

Bradley still doesn’t believe a word you are saying. Maybe it was the trauma of seeing Jake die. Maybe it was something from your past before you met any of the Daggers. But whatever it was, something had knocked a few screws loose in your head and Bradley had to find a way out of here before you turned violent.

He had spotted a knife attached to a belt around your waist, but he is fairly certain he can disarm you if it comes down to it. Yet, even though you are talking about hurting him and that everything you had been through together had been a lie, he still cared about you and didn’t want you to get hurt—get help was a different story, but first he had to get out of here.

However, almost as if reading his mind, you give him a small smile. “It’s too late, Rooster. There is no escape. I already started the ritual while you were asleep. All I need now is blood.” And you draw the knife from your belt.

Bradley takes a few stumbling steps backward, but you shake your head. “Not yours. I’ll be taking enough from you already. No, this sacrifice is mine to make.”

Before he can stop you, you slash the knife across your palm. You drop the knife to the ground with a soft cry as you clutch your hand to your chest. But then, you hold out your shaking hand to the fire, letting blood drip into the flames.

Suddenly, the entire clearing is engulfed in a blinding red light. Bradley squeezes his eyes shut but he can hear you chanting something across the clearing. He doesn’t understand the words but he recognizes some of them as what you muttered in your truck the night Jake died.

Figuring you will be distracted, Bradley opens his eyes and tries to sneak off into the woods. However, he only takes a few steps before a vice-like grip latches onto his throat. His eyes bulge as his fingers claw at whatever is choking him, but his hands only scratch against his own skin. He looks at you but it only increases his panic as he sees your eyes are now two pitch-black orbs as you continue your chanting, a strong wind beginning to sweep through the clearing.

Then, Bradley begins to feel a strange pulling sensation deep within him. His body remains exactly as it was, but something—his consciousness, his soul, whatever it is that makes Rooster the man that he is—is being dragged down and out of himself. He tries to fight it, to hold on, but how do you fight something that is happening within you?

As he feels himself being pulled deeper, slipping from his body, another consciousness brushes against his. A person he immediately recognizes and never thought he’d meet again. “Jake?” he gasps. Tears begin streaming down his face as the presence grows stronger and he just manages to whisper, “I’m so sorry.”

Then Bradley Bradshaw is gone.

Jake Seresin opens his eyes to find himself in an unfamiliar clearing at night. Towering trees surround the space, illuminated by the full moon high above and the towering, flickering flames in the nearby fire. As he glances around, he rolls his shoulders and stretches his back. His entire body feels…off. He doesn’t have any words to explain it but something is not right.

But just then, he notices a woman standing across from him in a billowing black dress. It takes him a moment to recognize you, and when he does, he inhales sharply.

Gone is the bright, smiley, vibrant woman he had come to love with his entire heart and soul. Instead, you are a ghost of yourself: Your hair has been dyed pitch black and it looks like it’s been a while since you washed it. Your cheeks once full are now sunken. And you have huge bags under your eyes as if you hadn’t slept for weeks. Yet, your eyes themselves are the most startling change. Once sparkling and full of sunshine, they are now dull and carry a pain in them Jake has never seen before.

Taking a shaky step towards you, he calls out, “Baby?”

As if you have been holding your breath in anticipation, you gasp at the sound of his voice. “Jake? Is it…is it really you?”

Who else was it supposed to be? “Ye-yeah, it’s me. What’s going on? Where are we?”

“Oh my god. I did it,” you breathe as you stare at him in awe, your eyes dancing across his face, drinking in every inch of it. “I didn’t know if I’d be strong enough, but it worked. You’re back.”

Before he can ask what you mean, your eyes roll back in your head and your knees give out beneath you. Normally, Jake would have been able to cross the distance and catch you instantly, but for some reason, his movements are strangely clumsy and uncoordinated to the point he just barely manages to grab your arms and pull you close before you hit the ground.

You moan softly as he lowers you both to the damp ground and he settles you into his lap. As he tries to reposition you, he notices your feet are bare, coated in mud and steaks of blood. There is also blood oozing from a deep gash on your hand. Your skin feels icy to the touch despite the heat of the fire and he can feel your heart fluttering wildly in your chest. He's still not sure where you both are, how you got here, or what happened to get you in this state, but none of that matters until he can make sure you are alright.

Gently running his fingers across your cheek, Jake mutters, “Come on, baby, you've gotta wake up for me.” He clears his throat and pounds once on his chest. Something about his voice sounds off—he doesn't sound like himself yet there is something familiar about it that he can't quite put his finger on.

But that's forgotten as he watches your eyes start to slowly open, the act seemingly arduous as you struggle to lift your lids. However, as you gaze up at him, the bright, tender smile he had come to love so much stretches across your face. Slowly, you raise a trembling hand to cup his cheek. “Jake. You’re really back.”

“Why do you keep saying that? I didn’t go anywhere.”

“It’s a long story.” You wet your lips and mutter, “Can you help me up?”

Jake scrambles up (still strangely tripping over his own body) and gently helps lift you to your feet. You take a few unsteady steps forward but then seem to find your footing. Turning to face him, you say, “This is going to be hard to hear but I promise, it’s the truth.” You stare at him and when he nods for you to continue, you take a deep breath. “Jake, you died five months ago.”

“What?” Jake’s brow furrows. “What are you talking about? I’m not dead.”

“No, but you were.” you take his hand, your blood smearing across his skin. “What’s the last thing you remember before waking up here?”

“I-I don’t know. I guess…We were at The Hard Deck having some drinks an-and Rooster, he told us he was taking us home. Then I remember a bright flash of light and—” He gasps, clutching his neck as he remembers hearing a sharp snap followed by a single second of the most intense pain he’s ever felt then—he woke up here. Yet his neck feels fine now, if somehow thicker, more muscular than he remembers but that wouldn’t explain the pain.

You nod. “That’s when it happened. Rooster was t-boned by a drunk driver and you broke your neck. He should never have been driving us. I was fine! I was more than sober enough to drive, especially with my protection spells. If he would’ve just kept his fucking nose out of our business…” You close your eyes and slowly take another long, deep breath. When you reopen your eyes, you continue, calmer than before. “I tried to get to your body in time but your family had you cremated before I could try to bring you back. I thought it was over and you were gone for good. But then I found another way. I needed a body. It didn’t have to specifically be your body. And since it was Rooster’s fault you were taken from me, it was the perfect solution.”

“Wha—”

Suddenly, Jake realizes why his voice doesn’t sound like his own yet is still so familiar. Why his limbs don’t feel the same and his neck is thicker. And as he lifts his trembling hand to his face and his fingers brush against a coarse strip of hair covering his upper lip, any lingering hopes that he might be wrong are shattered.

It’s not possible but he is trapped inside Rooster’s body.

With his eyes wide and voice shaking, Jake screams, “What did you do? What the fuck did you do?”

You stumble back, surprised by his furious outburst. “I-I gave you back the life he stole from you. I gave us another chance.”

“And Rooster? If I'm here, then where…” His voice trails off as the last piece of this nightmarish puzzle slips into place and he finally realizes the full extent of what you had done.

“It’s simple, Jake. A life for a life. One soul traded places with another. You’re here now, so Rooster is…” You shrug with a slight wave of your hand, clearly unbothered by the unknown fate you had sent the other man too.

That complete callousness towards a man you had both cared for is all Jake needed to know he hadn’t only lost his wingman, but the woman he loved. He drops to his knees—Rooster's knees—and violently heaves onto the ground. Over and over, his whole body—Rooster's body—convulsing as it tries desperately to rid itself of everything in it, including the intruder. Yet try as he might, nothing comes up. Not even bile. Rooster must have already gotten sick before…

Another full-body tremor sweeps through him.

When he is finally able to pull himself together even the slightest bit, Jake crawls to his feet. Backing away from you, he stutters, “I'm…I'm going to go to the police.”

“And tell them what?” you snap, your eyes turning black as a wind picks up from nowhere and blows through the clearing. “Tell them you're a dead guy in your friend’s body while his soul is currently rotting in hell or wherever the fuck you were? What good do you think that's going to do you besides landing you in the looney bin? No. You're either stuck in Rooster's body or you're going back to where you were to join him. And I'm not losing you again.”

Raising your hand in front of you, fingers reaching out towards him, they suddenly twitch and Jake feels this body stiffen outside of his control. As you begin to slowly twitch one finger then another, Jake's foot lifts and steps closer to you. Then another step. And another. As much as he tries to struggle, Jake can’t resist as you force him to walk across the clearing and stop before you.

Cupping his face with your non-controlling hand—your eyes still black—you whisper, “This is not how this was supposed to go. Jake, you love me. You were supposed to be happy I brought you back.”

“Maybe…” Jake squeezes his eyes shut as he tries to hide the disgust crawling down his spine at your touch. “Maybe I would have been if things were different. But I can’t live my life knowing it’s at the cost of Rooster’s. I don’t care what he might have done. No one deserves this.”

You thrust your hand downward and he drops heavily to his knees at your feet. Running your fingers tenderly through his curls, you coo, “I know you need time to adjust, baby. I’m sure this is a lot to take in. But let’s just make one thing very clear—” You suddenly grab a fistful of hair and yank his head back so he is forced to stare up at you “—I brought you back and you belong to me now. One way or another, I will have the life I was always supposed to have with you before any of this started. You can either be a good boy and accept that so we both can be happy, or you can make this difficult and I will make you behave.”

You ball your hand into a fist and Jake feels like his brain is about to explode. An intense pressure unlike anything he has ever felt squeezes his mind and he sees sparks explode behind his eyes. You release your hand and the pressure disappears, leaving Jake mewling and quivering on the ground.

You place your filthy, bloody big toe under his chin and raise his head so he is looking at you. “Do we understand each other?” Jake has no choice but to nod. Your eyes return to normal as your bright smile from before returns to your face. “Good! Then you better start practicing your best rooster crow. From now on as far as anyone else is concerned, you are Lt. Bradley Bradshaw.”

Jake feels like he is going to get sick again, but you just turn around and gather up your belongings. In no time, you are ready to go. Jake takes one last look up at the full moon, tears streaming down his face.

And, as he is forced to follow you out of the clearing towards the waiting Bronco, he wonders if Rooster’s fate is really so bad after all.

Taglist: @ohtobeleah, @green-socks, @lorecraft, @heart-0n-fire, @mayhem24-7forever,

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@yjwnoot, @wanderdreamer, @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy, @callsign-phoenix, @shanimallina87,

@forever-sleepy-sloth, @notroosterbradshaw, @dezthegeek, @blessupblessup, @cherrycola27,

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@cycbaby, @footprintsinthesxnd, @fantasticcopeaglepasta, @writercole, @onebigfangirlworld,

@wkndwlff, @ravenmoore14, @clancycucumber230, @slightly-psycho-multifan, @kmc1989,

@deppresseddyslexic, @horneybeach1, @mandylove1000, @aczhang777

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scramratz · 2 months ago

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Rant abt your Cds I'm curious

OK HERE GOES SCRAMS 2024 CD COLLECTION TIER LIST

(Disclaimer: these are just my personal opinions and if yours differ from mine, fine. It’s not a sin to be wrong)

S TIER-

Goo-Sonic Youth: Straight bangers all the way through. Girls love it when you show them your Sonic Youth cd. Extra points cuz the pamphlet unfolds into a sick poster

Midnight Vultures-Beck: Good album to clean the house to. Every song a banger. Beck as a person sets off alarms, though 🤔

Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot-Sparklehorse: Genuinely my favorite artist and album of all time. Fall asleep to Homecoming Queen often.

Siamese Dream-Smashing Pumpkins: Fire straight though. Good when you’re in a depressed 20-something mood. Better than Mellon Collie in my humble opinion.

Gorillaz-Gorillaz: The start of one of my favorite bands and objectively one of the best bands in the world don’t fight me on it I’ll kill you.

A TIER-

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots-The Flaming Lips: Solid album. Iconic cover art. “Do You Realize??” always got me feeling feelings

Violent Femmes-Violent Femmes: Top 3 favorite band. Every song went platinum in my household. Would have been higher but reminds me of my mom too much.

Dig Me Out- Sleater-Kinney: Got it because the name sounded familiar. Ended up loving them! Doesn’t sound right if it’s not played loud, though, and considering I live in an apartment, I don’t play it often.

Fear Yourself-Daniel Johnston: Got it because I love “Hi, How Are You” but haven’t been able to find it anywhere. Was pleasantly surprised! Hits the same melancholy spot but slightly more upbeat.

Figure 8-Elliot Smith: My favorite sad boy that definitely DIDN’T kill himself. Not my favorite Elliot album but every one of his albums is A tier personally.

The Diary of Alicia Keys-Alicia Keys: WENT QUADRUPLE PLATINUM IN OUR HOUSEHOLD. Prime cleaning the house on Sunday music. Dragon Days is seriously underrated.

Garbage-Garbage: Don’t know how to say this without sounding insane but this album sounds like the color #DC007F and I like that color a lot

2-Mac Demarco: The CHOKEHOLD Mac Demarco had on us artschool bitches in 2016 OMG. Was gonna change my name to Viceroy

B TIER-

Money for Nothing- Dire Straits: Top tier dad music.

Lumine fever- The Adrenals: Got it cuz the cover looked cool. Was pleasantly surprised! They rock the adequate amount

Rocket to Russia- Ramones: They’re good but I don’t get the hype honestly. They’re the Flavor-Aid of Punk

Starfish- The Church: Only love one song on it, the only song anyone likes tbh. The rest are your standard 80s deal

Crooked Rain-Pavement: I really love Pavement but there is a thing as too much Pavement and I think I’ve reached it

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot-Wilco: Honestly should have been in A tier but all the pretentious music dudes I’ve met has soured this album for me so it goes in B outta spite. Jesus Etc my fave song tho

An Evening with Silk Sonic- Silk Sonic: Nice, short, gets me in a happy mood. Does what it needs to do!

Prolonging the Magic- Cake: John McCrea don’t really be singing, do he? He just fancy talkin

C TIER-

Gigantic, Fuel, and The Nixons: I got all 3 on sale and they all sound the same and that sound is…ok? Like it’s alright background music

Blind Melon-Blind Melon: What was with 90’s bands putting random kids as their album covers? Decent listen, though.

Summerteeth-Wilco: Good background music. I can’t remember any songs off it.

Los Angeles/Wild Gift-X: I like X but I hate that fucking album art omg it’s so hard to look at. I like their songs individually but as a cohesive album, eh.

D TIER-

Throwing Copper-Live: bought it on sale with the above 3 but liked this one substantially less. Only redeeming quality to me is the album art.

Ben Folds Five-Ben Folds Five: Misleading considering there’s only 3 of them. He sounds like my ex boyfriend from highschool before I realized I liked girls

F Tier-

The Ragetones/Fall Apart-The Ragetones: Saw them play at a shitting basement show. Everything sounds better when you can barely hear yourself think.

F Punk-Big Audio Dynamite: Found it at the thrift and rehomed it outta pity. Sounds like the 80s in a bad way.

#ok that all folks goodnight #that’s not even all my cds just the ones I felt like talking about #scram rantz

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argumentl · 6 months ago

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2024/05/26 Androgynos talk notes

Toshiya has a long history with Aiji, living very close to each other as kids.

Toshiya approached Pierrot to ask if he could be their roadie, and helped them out a lot, sometimes stayed at their hangout/Pierrot house(?)

Toshiya remembers telling Aiji how he was apparently sleeping with Aiji's girlfriend. He actually wasn't, it was a rumour fans had made up due to the crazy fan rivalry.

Kaoru remembers going to see Pierrot at Namba Rockets, it was a Pierrot/Lareine taiban. Aiji was suprised to hear Kaoru actually bought a ticket and went, instead of being invited. Kaoru says its just cause he was really curious to check out new bands whenever he could, to find out for himself what was up.

Kaoru remembers meeting Aiji and not liking him at first, because he had responded indifferently when Kaoru tried to greet him.

The first Androgynos was suggested by Dynamite Tommy after he had heard that 'unnamed third parties were trying to do something similar with Pierrot'(?), but Kaoru and Aiji had talked about doing something like this hypothetically a number of times in the past.

Toshiya was skeptical that Pierrot would want to do it when he first heard the idea.

Toshiya remembers trying to go and say hi to Kirito on the day of the first Androgynos, but Pierrot's manager wouldn't let him see him (Kirito swears its only because he was asleep at the time)

Joe asks what songs of each others the members want to hear in October. Kirito says Zan, and Aiji says The Devil in Me. Kaoru says there is a high chance they will play new material. Toshiya says he wants to hear Dracula or Mangetsu. Kirito replies that they have recently said on twitter that they won't play Dracula anymore. The others laugh at the coldness of this response. Kaoru is adamant that he wants to hear Sepia, simply because he likes that song. Kirito is surprised that a member of Dir en grey would like such a song.

They then talk about the sub-title 'Censors kill the word. Hypocrites spread morphine from the stage'. Kaoru says he never considers censorship when he makes anything, if it gets censored, so be it. He gives an example of how a severed head got censored from one of their cd covers once.

Kirito thinks censorship is actually important so artists can challenge themselves more as they try to counter/get around it.

Kirito mentioned throughout the broadcast that his butt was hurting (I guess cause the chair was too hard), so Kaoru later tweeted about having Androgynos cushions.

#薫 #dir en grey #kaoru #kirito #aiji #pierrot #androgynos

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eeunoia · 5 months ago

Text

ENHYPEN Series

sinag | psh.

chapter eleven

pairings: park sunghoon x reader

synopsis: waiting for a great plot twist in your life, the ruthless and powerful mafia boss park sunghoon forced his way in to it.

word count: 4k

warnings: contains harrassment, violence, guns, killings, abuse, obsessive love & other stuff. if you can't take this stuff, feel free to scroll away. let me know if i missed some.

note: replies and reblogs are well encouraged. thank you so much for reading my works and please stay safe. ily

The man in front of you moves slowly, approaching closer. By the way he moves and carries himself, you can already tell how much power he holds. The thought itself sent shivers through your spine.

His hand extends closer to you and you almost jolt in fear. Sunghoon took notice of it and felt a pinch of excitement. The way you look so fragile and scared beneath him just makes his mind fuzzy.

“Please d-don’t touch me.” you hissed at him when you felt his hot skin touches yours. You even moved your head away from his touch.

His hand was left mid-air as he stared at it for a while before he trailed his eyes back over at your face. He looked at you for a while, not saying anything before he let out a heaved sigh.

“I will let that slide...” he utters and stood up before dragging a chair so he can sit down in front of you.

You gulped and kept your eyes at him, afraid that if you look away, he will do something. You waited for what’s he’s gonna do or say next. He let out a sigh before slowly taking off his coat. Your eyes wanders off to his broad shoulders then to his toned arms that his white longsleeves hugs perfectly.

“Untie her and leave us alone.” he ordered and without wasting any second, the men around do as they told. You silently watch them but your eyes were cautious of what’s gonna happen next.

They soon slowly exited the room like how he wanted. Eventually, it was only you and him inside this big fancy room. You were still cautious and your heart was still beating so fast when you slowly cares your wrist that slightly hurts because of the cuffs. His eyes darted at you as he grinned a little.

“Sit down so we can talk.” he spat and your face frowned a bit when you heard how he ordered you around like you’re one of his men.

You stayed silent and decided to just sat down quietly, you kept your mouth shut even if you wanted so bad to talk and complain. After seeing that you followed obediently, a ghost of smile appears across his handsome face before he pulled a folder that was placed at a table.

He threw it over your way and it landed just right beneath your feet. You gave him a confused look and refused on checking what’s inside.

He lifts his chin and pointed it at the floor where the folder is.

“Go ahead, open it.”

“I don’t want to.” you said firmly. He clicked his tongue at the side of his cheeks before he tilted his head over to the side, eyes never leaving you.

“Don’t push my buttons, baby. I’m trying my best to take everything slow so you won’t feel overwhelmed and too scared.” he said, his tone getting a bit more serious. You tried so hard to dismiss the sudden endearment he used for you.

You scoffed sarcastically, “For me not to be afraid? You just kidnapped me! I am terrified! Just let me go!” you burst out at him, and you saw how his eyes went cold by hearing you screaming and pleading to be released.

“You don’t know what I’ve been through just to find you. And now that I did,” he said and rested his back at his chair then he clenched his jaw, “I will make sure you ain’t gonna slip away from me again.”

It looks like he’s really serious when he said that to you and you felt something turns inside your stomach as your heart races even faster. You don’t know what’s happening right now and everything’s scaring you. You wanted to just go home right now and see your friends and family.

“You’re crazy! What you’re doing is illegal! This is a crime punishable by the law. You’re gonna pay for this.” you tried talking shit out to him so he will realize what he just did.

But instead of seeing fear over his pretty eyes, you even saw a ruthless grin spread across his face letting you see his fanged teeth. He looked so dangerously attractive and sexy. You hate yourself for even thinking that. This is your captor. The one who put you into this kind of situation. The main reason why you’re shaking in fear and eyes filled with tears.

“Oh, Love. You have no idea who I am, don’t you?” your brows furrowed at what he asked and he just smiled at you.

“I am Park Sunghoon.”

Your heart fell at what you just heard. Of course you know who the hell is Park Sunghoon. The notorious Mafia boss that is known for the inhumane things he did. You do know some of his dirty doings but never in a million times have you thought that he was this young and good-looking.

You gulped and when Sunghoon saw your reaction, he don’t know if he was happy about it. He clearly saw fear and confusion but of course, that’s the least he wants to see from you.

“Base on how you reacted, it seems like you know something about me, Aelia.” your head snapped at his direction when he said your name.

You wanted so bad to be surprised how he manage to know it but after learning that he is Park Sunghoon, you can’t even let your mouth gap open. He surely have a lot of connections and knowing information about someone probably is a peace of cake for him already.

“Were you at (country) five years ago?” he asked.

Your head felt empty after hearing the familiar place. The instant trauma suddenly dawning onto you after just hearing that place. You fight the urge of crying as you held your hands to keep them from trembling.

“No.” you lied at his face.

He scoffed, “Liar.” he hissed but you kept your straight face so you can still try to fool him. His piercing gaze intimidates you so you quickly end the eye contact.

Just by hearing the name of that place brought back a lot of memories that you hated to bits. All bad memories. You’ve tried so hard to forget about it and he just came out of nowhere, reminding you of that place. Of that night. You couldn’t help but to feel so upset over him.

“Since you know me, you probably know that you shouldn’t make me mad, hm?” he asked while looking at you, one of his hand was rested over the chair and the other one playing with his lower lip.

“Why? You’re gonna kill me too? Like what you did to all those p-people?” you asked and you can’t help but to stutter a little. It was too late to take back what you just said.

The terror and fear that consuming you are taking over. You can still remember what he did that night. How he mercilessly shot those people... it was horrible.

He chuckled sarcastically, “Kill you? Don’t be ridiculous.” his grin fell and it sent chills all over your whole system. If his grin looked so playful, his serious face was very intimidating. Scary.

“I didn’t wait for this time to come just for me to kill you. I will keep you and you’re gonna stay with me for as long as we both live, Aelia.” his tone was serious and he’s not even smiling, that makes it even more scarier for you.

“I d-don’t want to! You’re scaring me.” you said honestly as tears slowly stream down your face. Just by thinking about what he’s saying creeps the hell out of you.

He scoffed humorless and tilted his head as he stare at you straight in the eyes. You gulped, there’s really something with his stares that makes your heart race in an unexpected pace. It also makes you feel nervous.

“Open the folder now.” he ordered you and your eyes darted at the folder that he threw moments ago.

For some reasons, you don’t want to open it. It’s just a folder, yeah, but you’re afraid of what’s inside. Your eyes slowly trailed back to Sunghoon and he’s now leaning forward, his elbows resting at his knees as he waits for you to do what he says. Eyes staring intensely.

“I said no.”

He sighed, obviously growing impatient over you. He sat back straight, one of his hand reached over to the back his neck. His free hand fished something and your eyes teared at the sight of him holding a gun by his hand. He craned his neck making it produce a cracking sound.

“Don’t make me mad, baby.” he grunted lowly.

You were left with no choice but to get it because you still want to live and you don’t want him shooting a gun right at you. With trembling hands you reached over the folder and you saw from your peripheral eye that Sunghoon was carefully watching you.

You heaved a sigh and slowly opens the folder. You looked back at Sunghoon before you open it fully and he just nodded his head like a signal to go on, so you did. Your mouth gapped as your eyes teared so much together with your aching heart.

The folder soon collided with the cold floor when your hand lose grip over it after what you saw inside. You gulped, trying to get rid of the lump at your throat, your eyes glared over to his direction.

“That’s not t-true!”

“Oh, that’s not your boyfriend having sex with other girls?” he asked as he slowly walked closer your way.

Your head felt empty and all you can feel was your heart cracking. The pictures inside the folder were too real for it to be edited. You don’t know what you’re gonna feel first but the pain sure is impossible to be ignored. At some point, you’re already expecting something like this from him. But to actually see it with your own eyes is a different thing.

Maybe the fear is too much for you to handle. It’s taking over your capability to think properly. Your eyes lowered and settled at your feet then it moved towards the pictures that were scattered at the floor.

You slightly moved your head away from Sunghoon’s hand when he tried touching it, “W-Why are you doing this? Why are you ruining my life?” you raised your gaze over at him.

Sunghoon was staring down at your tear stained face and he doesn’t understand why some part of him hates it and the other enjoys the sight beneath him. He was naturally dominant and loves people being submissive over to him. And seeing you in this state just makes him lose his mind.

He held your face and caress his thumb over your cheeks with soft and gentle strokes. It was the opposite of how he looks at you. You tried moving away but then he didn’t let you.

“Ruining? Baby, I’m actually putting everything into their right places.” he let out a scoff before he leaned closer to your face.

He was breath-taking. Everything in his face was beautiful. Its making your mind go blank.

“Them into the life they deserve and you, my beautiful Aelia... you’re gonna be with me where you belong.” he said before he leaned closer and drop a swift kiss at your lips. It was just quick that you didn’t even had the chance to complain and resist.

He leaned away and smirked at you, “I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

You jolt in surprise when the door suddenly bursts open. The first one you saw was his suited men opening it wider for him. Afterwards, he walks inside. His hair fixed just like how it was the last time. He’s wearing a gray suit that gave justice to his perfect proportions.

One of his hand inside his pocket as he walks closer and stopped right in front of the bed. He looked at you with blank look on his eyes. Instantly, it sent shivers to your spine.

You watch his every move with cautious eyes while pressed over the headboard of the bed to keep a safe distance from him.

Sunghoon couldn’t help but to find you absolutely adorable. Looking even more smaller all curled up while he stared from the edge of the bed.

“You should get ready.” he informs that made you furrow your brows harder.

“Am I g-going somewhere?” your eyes flickers hope as you slowly lower your guard. “Are you finally setting me f-free?”

Sunghoon licks his lips and tilts his head. He doesn't know why despite how many times he made himself clear of having no intention of letting you go, you still hope. He needs to do something about that sooner. No matter how cute you look like that, he will slightly feel bad of crushing that small hope inside you.

“No.” he said firmly that made your small hope dissipate. You slowly curled back, hugging your knees to your chest and all guard up while staring at him with glaring eyes.

“We’re going back home.”

It caught you off-guard and hope slowly crept inside you once again. This time, you tried hard to conceal it in order for him not to be suspicious. It’s actually better to go back to your country so the chances of escaping will expanse.

“I l-left my things back at my hotel.”

“It will be taken with us so you don’t have to worry.”

“Well I need to change clothes! Do you expect me to wear this robe while riding a public plane?” your tone sounded sarcastic that made him smirk inwardly.

Something about you talking back at him makes him feel excited. You’re too cute.

“I have a private plane.”

A scoff escapes from your lips at his sudden flex of his wealth. You forgot how much money this man have. Of course it isn’t a surprise anymore if he have his own private plane.

“I still want to change in proper clothes.” you stared right at his eyes to show no surrender. He returned the favor by staring back. It almost made you fold and back off, but you cleared you throat.

“P-Please.” you tried being a little more polite. Maybe that will be more effective.

He didn't respond right away and just stared at you before he signalled something to his men. Soon after, one of them entered holding your luggage. Your eyes grew a little to actually see your things and to know that it really did work.

“I will give you ten minutes to get ready and then we’re off to go.”

The way he orders you and gave you a specific time irritates you. Does he really think that small time was enough for you to get ready?

“Are you in a rush? I need time to get ready.” you spat at him right away after what he said.

“You already looked beautiful, what else do you need to do?” he said it so casually that it affected you even more.

With a flushed look on your face, you tried to hide it by shooting him glares. “Can you just get out so I can start getting ready?”

Your red tint cheeks didn’t slipped off from him that made the corner of his lips lift up a little. He clicked the side of his cheeks and tilt his head.

“Fine. Call me once you’re done.” he still stood there like as if he’s waiting for something.

You raised one of your brow and gave him a curious look.

“W-What?”

“I need my kiss.”

That made you flush even more like as if your face is not as red as a tomato already.

“Who said I will give you?!”

“Who said you have a choice?” he fires back, his eyes too serious for you to ignore.

He raised one of his arm then starts to gesture you to approach and give him what he wants. Realizing that there’s no way he will let you off, you slowly uncurl from your position and then crawled out from the bed.

When you’re near, you can feel your heart racing so fast and his manly scent invades your nose at the same time you invades his personal space.

You tip toed and placed a kiss on his cheek. Your head lowered and stared at your feet to avoid any chances of eye contact with him. You heard his low chuckle that made your stomach churns.

“That’s cute.” he mumbles before placing both of his hands over your hips to keep you still.

He then leaned to place another kiss on your cheeks. He was too smooth and fast that you didn’t even had the chance to push him away. After that, he pulls away and lifts a hand to tilt your head up so he can look at your pretty face.

“Start getting ready. I’ll be waiting outside.”

A nod is all you manage to give him because your mind is still floating a bit after what he just pulled.

He turns his heels and started walking outside the room, his men following after him without a single word. The moment you heard the door shuts, you heaved a sigh. Whenever you’re around him, you always have a hard time breathing.

You opened your suitcase and the things looked the same as to how you left them. The first thing you looked for is your handbag that you carry around. You opened it and shoulders sunken when you couldn’t find your personal stuff such as i.ds and your passport.

Feeling down, you realized there’s no point on spacing out because your passport won’t show up if you do that. So instead, you start to go look for an outfit to wear. In the end, you decided to wear the light blue sundress with flowers on it.

You put your hair up and then designed it with a bow. After putting a light make-up, you contemplate whether to go outside already or buy more time to ready yourself.

Ten minutes passes by and you didn’t heard any knock from outside. He doesn’t seem to be rushing you so you spent more time to calm down. Finally gathering some courage, you grabbed the handle of your laugage and started walking towards the door.

You opened it and you’re greeted by one of his men. One of them helps opening the door wider and the other one informs Sunghoon that you’re already done. He’s at the far corner of the hallway, on his phone.

You stepped outside and glanced at where he is. His eyes met yours and the change of his expression is very evident. His gaze trailed from your face down to your dress.

You felt your cheeks blushing as you glanced away. One of his men reached over your luggage out from your hand. You mumbled a small ‘thank you’ that he responses with a bow.

A hand suddenly rests over the small of your back that made you jolt and turned to look behind. Sunghoon’s already standing beside you, staring intensely. It made you feel shy and conscious of how you look. The way he’s just staring at you just makes you so nervous.

“I told you to call me.”

You gulped, “W-Well, I’m already out.”

He stares for a bit more before he smirks.

“You look beautiful.”

You blushed and quickly glances away making him grin wider. Something about you being shy around him makes you look extra adorable.

“Let’s go.”

He starts guiding you towards the elevator. His hand slides down and casually held your hand. His hand felt so soft but slightly cold. You tried to take it off, but his grip just tightens whenever you try to.

You looked at him and he gave you that strict look that made you stop from pushing his hand off. In the end, you just let it and roams your eyes around. As expected, you’re in a different hotel. This one looked much more expensive.

His men follows behind the two of you keeping a distant, but also on guard. It felt weird having these many people around you. Sunghoon looked like he’s so used to it. Actually, this scene reminds you of your boss Jake Sim. He also have many bodyguards whenever he visits the office.

When you two arrive the lobby, eyes darted at your direction right away. The staffs scurries towards the entrance forming a line. Your brows slightly furrowed because of it. The moment you walk out of the hotel, they bow their head.

It was completely odd. You know Sunghoon is rich and probably a very important person, but to have this kind of treatment? You only see this scenes on movies.

Sunghoon guides you towards a very fancy sports car. He opens the passenger seat for you and after he made sure you are settled, he walks around to ride the driver’s seat. You glanced outside the door and had the urge to run, but two of his bodyguards stood in front like as if they’re expecting you to have the thought of running away.

“Seatbelts, baby.” he snapped you back to reality and you quickly do as he say.

He started driving and you couldn’t help but to watch him do it with no effort. You can’t deny how attractive Sunghoon is. He have this specific aura that automatically draws you in. Irresistable. Like he’s something forbidden, but you can’t help but to stare.

The drive was short and he drove straight to the places where private planes waits for their passengers. The moment he stopped the car and unlocks the door, you took your chance and opened it.

You didn’t hear him shout your name or anything. Even before you can run further, one of his men managed to grab you.

“Let me go!” you shouted and tried to free yourself.

While moving so much, a hand firmly gripped your wrist making you stop. When you looked at him, his eyes looked blank and cold.

“Don’t piss me off.” he spat and his men lets go of you right away.

He smoothly put his arm on you then carried you. You tried to wiggle once again but when his dark eyes stared at you, it looked scary. With defeated eyes, you stopped and just wrapped your arms over his neck then burry your face over his chest out of embarrasment.

He smells so good it actually addicting. The crew greets the two of you warmly and he gently placed you on a chair. Just two of his men went with you and sat far, giving you two privacy.

He sat in front of you and a small table is the only one keeping you away from him. Your lips pursed into a pout and teared your gaze off his pretty eyes.

As the private plane takes off, you watch how the land slowly became small and beautiful clouds came into your view.

One of the flight attendants came.

“Do you want anything to drink, Sir?” she asks politely.

Sunghoon didn’t even glance at her and just read the newspaper he’s holding.

“Whiskey.” he said shortly. Very rude, you thought to yourself.

The crew bows then turned at you with a warm smile that you quickly returns.

“How about you, Ma’am?”

“Oh, do you have a tea?” you softly asks.

She smiled even wider then nodded her head and recites the kind of teas they have. You picked one and as she walks away, your eyes darted at Sunghoon and he’s already watching you.

You blushed and furrowed your brows at him.

“W-Why are you staring at me?”

He smirks, “Because you look beautiful.”

“Y-You already told me that a couple of times today.” you commented and glanced away, but eyes drifts back to him.

“Well, I can’t help it. You’re just very pretty, baby.”

You rolled your eyes to hide your true emotions and tried to busy yourself with the view outside the window. A minute after, you glanced back and he’s now staring at your dress.

“What are you staring at?”

He clicks his tongue and attractively tilt his head, “I just noticed how different the two of us dresses.” he pointed out that made you scan your outfits and realized he was right.

Sunghoon clothes are so dark and then yours are just light color. Something about them screams how different your personalities are. The hot mafia couldn’t stop smirking even if he's already eyeing the newspaper again. You looked so soft while his clothes showed so much of his dominant side.

He loves it. He fucking loves it and honestly growing more obsessed over you.

permanent tag-list:

@rubyanne @map-of-border @hwangjangmi @love13tter @candewlsy @simpforniki @classicroyalty @hime98 @moonsclassyslore @ddeonubaby @yeoungie @acciomylove @mymeloem19 @jvngw0n @dreamjerky @minamoons @clar-iii @herasalvatore @nyfwyeonjun @rcveribin @yizhoutv @one16core @soobin-chois @kyutiepeachy @chareadingpurposes @hwalllllllelujah @solelyenha @90sni-ki @nourhan-8 @nikipedia07 @yangbreads @drunkjazed @axartia @all4haru @sta-rie @purplepuppychild @iceeee @wtfhyuck @tobiosbbyghorl @nikililmj @ayayiiie @aeyeree @heeseung-min @in-somnias-world @psh-pjh @hveanlyanqelic @rae-blogging

#enhypen #eeunoiaverse #eeunoia #eeunoiawrites #enhypen imagines #yandere enhypen #enhypen park sunghoon #enhypen sunghoon yandere #enhypen sunghoon x you #enhypen sunghoon x reader

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yumeka-sxf · 11 months ago

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I can't believe we've reached the season finale! 😭 First off, the key visual for this episode is too adorable and is only reminding me how much I'm going to miss my favorite (fake) family! ❤️

While the early season episode where Bond and Twilight go on a mission together hints at how much compassion Twilight has for Bond, this episode really highlights what a softie he can be when he's around someone with whom he doesn't have to put on any acts.

Not only does he risk his life to go after Bond in the fire, but when he finds out that Bond went into the burning building to save another dog, he gives that soft, sincere smile that's only reserved for when one of his family members does something that truly touches him.

Rather than be annoyed with Bond for putting both their lives in danger, he's happy that he would risk his life to protect others...because that's what he does all the time! Plus, when he thinks Bond is acting out by "attacking" random people, instead of getting mad, he puts it upon himself to try and understand Bond better, the same as he does with Anya.

It's also really adorable how much Bond wants to please Loid. Is he learning from Anya?

This guy has to be one of the dumbest arsonist to stick around the building he just burned down with a hat that says "Fire" 😂

And of course, wet Bond and "trying not to laugh" Twilight are finally animated! Twilight is lucky that Yor and Anya weren't there to catch him snickering like that...the embarrassment may have killed him.

Then we get the pinnacle of how much Twilight cares for Bond when he tells him that he should think of himself as a family member first and guard dog second, plus how heartbroken "someone" would be if anything happened to him. And that sentiment is really a driving theme in the series, not just in this case with Bond, but for Twilight and Yor too. They're always putting the happiness of others before their own, without either knowing that the other is doing it.

I didn't think they would use this story as the season finale, since it only featured Twilight and Bond, and Franky a bit in the beginning. But they made it feel more like a finale by adding new scenes of the other characters! The scenes with Anya and Yor doing origami was cute - I love how Yor went too hard with the scissors 😅

And the ending where Anya gives both Twilight and Bond stellas was a great addition (though maybe a bit canon-altering since Anya in the manga hasn't seen soaked Bond up to this point).

The montage of all the other characters at the end was nice as well.

I laughed at Fiona's target practice 🤣

And the final scene with the Forgers having dinner was the perfect last shot~

No announcement for season 3 yet, but the episode does hint that there will be more! There's a SxF event in Japan in June 2024 where they could make such an announcement. I'm hoping season 3 won't start until 2025 in order to give the manga time for new content - as of the end of season 2, 67% of the manga has been adapted into the anime (according to my story guide spreadsheet), which is a lot. We'll see! But there will definitely be more SxF anime in the future, perhaps even another movie! So for now, only SxF Sundays twice a month will have to tide us over 😄

#spy x family #spy family #sxf #spyxfamily #loid forger #yor forger #anya forger #bond forger #sxf anime

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in-jail-out-soon7 · 10 months ago

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Happy New Year!

After the New Years' festival, you and Mikey talk about the future.

Manjiro Sano x GN!Reader

Warnings: Cursing, tooth rotting fluff, a little bit of angst if you squint & Reader mentions having a kid

A/N: I wish you all the best 2024! January is definitely gonna be a hard month for me mentally, but now that I have my writing to look forward to I know it's gonna be alright. Enjoy Lovelies❤

You lay down in the grass while Mikey kills the engine of his bike behind you. Flipping open your phone you gaze lazily at the bright light, trying to adjust to the screen at least enough to see the time.

1:04 A.M. January 1st, 2006.

You close your phone with a click and shove it into the top of your kimono. The New Year's festival had ended an hour ago. Everyone had gone home, Draken offering to take Emma home, so Mikey could drive around with you. Emma happily agreed.

Rubbing your eyes, Mikey slumps down in the grass next to you with a thud. You roll onto your side to face him.

He lays on his back staring at the star dotted sky. He rubs his hands together. "Shit."

Raising an eyebrow you prop your chin in your hand, pushing yourself off the ground with your elbow. "What's up?"

"It's cold." He pulls his own kimono up slightly to cover his exposed collarbone.

"Oh." You chuckle. "I told you. We should've went home."

Mikey shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest. He doesn't say anything else. You sigh and drop your elbow, folding your arms on the grass to rest you face against.

It's quiet for a few moments. Just you staring at Mikey as he stares at the sky. Picking at a blade of grass you finally break the silence.

"What do you think this years going to be like?" You ask.

Mikey hums and thinks for a moment. He shrugs. "Probably the same as every other year." He turns onto his side to face you. "There's not really a lot we can do right now. As kids. Maybe the year after us and the gang graduate, there'll be more things to do."

"Wait," you sit up quickly. Mikey gazes up at you, confused. "You were planning on finishing school?" You tease in an overdramatic and sarcastic tone.

Mikey rolls his eyes and pushes you back down by your shoulder. "Shut up, (Y/N)."

You chuckle. Even though he wasn't wrong, it still felt weird to refer to yourself as kids. After everything that's happened in the past year, all the fights and deaths, you forgot that you, Mikey and the whole gang were still just kids.

A small sigh falls from Mikey's lips as you settle back into place. As you two sit there in comfortable silence, you begin to feel your eyelids growing heavy.

Lacing your fingers through his you begin playing with his finger tips, tracing along each detail of his calloused hand. "How about in twelve years or something then?" You blurt out suddenly.

Your voice was drowsy and soft as you fought the urge to fall asleep. Mikey chuckled. "Don't know. Like jobs?"

You shrug.

"Maybe like a mechanic or a motorcycle racer- I don't know?" He says. "I think it's easier to think about other people's futures."

You raise a brow and glance at him through your lashes. "What do you mean?"

"Like Takemitchy and Hinata," he starts. "They're gonna get married, Kenny and Emma too."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Kenny and Emma are gonna have a kid too, they're gonna name it Manjiro Jr." He says jokingly.

You scoff. "They are not." Surprisingly, Mikey doesn't argue back, letting the silence take over again. The wind howls and you shudder against the cold. A yawn escapes you before speaking up again. "Is that something you want?"

Mikey raises an eyebrow. "Is what?"

Suddenly nervous you drop his hand and your gaze to the grass. Picking at the earth you swallow, your face growing hot. "A kid."

He doesn't respond and you can't tell what he's thinking, too distracted by your own heartbeat pounding in your ears.

"Obviously not now- y'know!"

Mikey chuckles nervously and sucks in a breath. "I would hope not." He wraps an arm around your waist to pull you closer to him, pushing your face into his chest. "How about we just worry about this year?"

You nod against him. "Okay."

And then once again it was silent. The wind brushed against you two but you found warmth in each other's bodies. You take a long blink, your eyelids drooping lazily.

"Oh.. hey," you start before yawning. "We didn't have our New Year's kiss yet."

Mikey hums. At first it didn't seem like he was going to do or say anything, but before you could follow up your observation he brings a cold hand to your face, cupping your cheek before leaning in and placing his lips against yours. His lips were chapped from the cold and you could still taste whatever candy he had been eating at the festival. Somewhere in the distance fireworks boomed and crackled.

When you pull away you roll away and flop onto your back with a satisfied sigh. Allowing your eyes to flutter shut. You hear the movement of Mikey as he scoots closer to you.

"You can go to sleep," a hand brushes against your face and you shiver.

"I'll be here when you wake up."

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enmmyheavenscg · 3 months ago

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MY SITUATION .

hello everyone ! if you’re aware, you know im currently back from my break!

But my situation hasn’t gotten any better.

TW FOR ATTEMPTED SUI, MURDER MENTIONS, ABUSE - just my parents being horrible . Invasion of privacy

I don even know how to tag this properly.

Today on tuesday, July 30th 2024, 3:42 am as I am writing this.

My mental (and physical) health has worsened since everything had happend, My parents have been making me feel genuinely worst

I just happened to be in a call with a friend before oh- the first time, my parents came in and yelled at me.. my mother raised her hands up a bit, yes but. She usually does that so usually I am not affected by it but today was just. horrible.

After the first couple times they did this, they turned the wifi completely off, I was still In a call with said friend but I was muted. My parents were being absolutely horrible.

I would go detail by detail. syaing hooe the whole wrugement started but No, only thing I’ll be saying is.

My mother went absolutely ballistic and was trying to open my locked door. (Which I Have video of) she kept hurting md, threw something at me and just absolutely started screaming at me , she jus wnt crzy

My father laid his hands on me for the first time today aswell, it was a truly horrifying experience. I’ve always preferred my father over my mother yet - today trigged something inside my brain ? Made me genuinely hate him - myself , everyone around me. My younger brother was sleeping , yet we were fighting in his room .

The argument affected me, it was only an hour ago? .. couple minutes . im

not sure . It all went so fast my brain jusut ii

They kept tyryung to corneer mme and my mom trid to hold me in pllce , not allowing me to leave / get into Myy riom

I had to forcefully do so

I don’t even know what happened . Today started off so good yet endlu horriblly .

I tried

I tried to end it all after that conversation. I was messaing that said friend before, begging them to call help, crying . I’ve never felt more scared, weaker . Horrified . I tried choking myyosg and I still can’t breatffwi

im tryiy not sure how im writiing this but im doing it . I really hope I get my wifi back to be able to send this (if I do then that means I did)

I trid casling emergency servieces, I didn have service - no wifi, nothing. I ws basically stranded , in panic moddee

I wssso lightheaded, dizt and honestly felt like I eas dying (I stsuol am bu am doiing bettr(

I would’ve died if I kept chokiif myslf with it a bit longer

They were gona kill me though. They . Thhy said os

My mom sid my dad woul beat mme until I was dead and unconscious - my ddad sid he din lov me tdoy

My dad sid god woul mak that happen when I said I’d die

My mom threatened to murder me tdosy (twice or once) she was holding sormyuing when I ws forced to opn my door . I can’t rmebr but it was a utensil . N ths all I rembr . Was it a knife? No clie. was it something else ? no clu

Theve alwys been horubel but this was jut icing on cak . I just need to get mor evidence on wht tehy did . Then I havs my proof . (I mite attach wht my mom did to my lock . I rmeber . 4? 3? Years ago she brok it .

And now it’s even more borkn. It may not look like it but it is. N sometiije thi year she brok mmy doorhsndle. Iiz awful here

I truly wanna leave but I hav no choice)

I’m just so scard, I’m mortified geniunlly

photdo down here + vudeo if I can (took the screenshot at 03:51 so ths why it says tagt) plus one I jus took .

sory I knowthuu iz all too much but I’m so

done here. . I add more on as I can try and remember beter . I don’t feel like myself currently so it’s quite hard to remember stif that . Doesn’t but also does feel like me

(ddin add all images.)

Poease . If you rpost thji pls do . I need to get outta herre soon enough

If you wanna talk to me- @ahaclownnoises is my main / my discord

#age regression #hazbin hotel agere #agere #hazbin hotel #tw abuse #tw sui implied #tw murder

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altsvu · 10 months ago

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i love what you did with my last ask so i just knew i needed to do another. how about a aaron x black!reader she's 7 months pregnant and over the phone has a discussion with aaron about the baby's skin color telling him "what if when it gets older it gets killed" and even aaron has to take a breath but over all jack heard the convo and is confused because he's like 8 and doesn't understand race like that and you and aaron explain it

complexities of race

pairing: aaron hotchner x pregnant!black!fem!reader

wc: 1.3k

cw: underlying mentions of current climate (iykyk), brief mentions of race/racism, fluff, pregnancy

a/n: girlll your prompts are so amazing, i love that you give me a challenge 🫶🏽🫶🏽 this was so hard to write not gonna lie, but of course i enjoyed it nonetheless!!! also this is the first fic of 2024! :) also i’m sorry it took me so long to write this!

criminal minds masterlist! ✯ taglist!

✯✯✯✯

“Aaron... I have something to tell you.” you smiled, leaning against the frame of the living room walkway. You hoped that he would be just as excited as you were, all those nights making love paid off.

“Sweetheart... you’re smiling, grinning even. What is it?” He asked.

“I’m pregnant.” you gushed, revealing the pregnancy test that was hidden in your hand.

Aaron’s eyes lit up in excitement. He rushed over to you and pulled you into his arms. “Oh, Y/N, that’s amazing!”

You were crying tears of joy, you were super excited to finally have a baby with the love of your life.

Fast forward to 7 months, you were thriving through all the symptoms of pregnancy. All the motion sickness, waking up in the middle of the night to throw up, the kicking, just to name a few.

Aaron made sure to be there for you every step of the way, from the moment he found out you were pregnant up until now. He would rub your belly a lot, give you foot and shoulder massages, satisfy your weird food cravings, and even read to your unborn child when he could.

You had no worries about this pregnancy. Until the intrusive thoughts started coming. Being a soon to be mom, you didn’t know if it was mother’s intuition, or just the simple fact that you were a black woman living in America. You started thinking a lot about how your baby would be when they grew up. Facing racism almost everywhere you went was not fun, which was why learning how to handle a situation like that was extremely important. You didn’t want your child being made fun of for their skin color or the way they look and not being able to see their self worth, see how beautiful they are, and that comments like those are baseless and have no real meaning.

This was something that needed to be discussed with Aaron. He sees the world differently than you do so it was important to you that your significant other understand your feelings and experiences. It wasn’t going to be like any other conversation they have had about racism; this time it involved a child, an innocent child.

You were at your grandparents’ house for the weekend and you decided to call Aaron to talk while you had some downtime.

He answered the phone fast and the two of you got into conversation quick. He asked you if you were doing okay and that he missed you and couldn’t wait until you came back so he could take care of you. You expressed that you missed him as well and asked him how he and Jackson were doing.

Then you decided to let the cat out of the bag.

“Aaron?”

“Yes love?”

You exhaled out of your nose. “There’s something I’m worried about, uh, for this pregnancy. Or at least something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about for a while.”

“What is it?”

“Our baby is black. I just- I dunno, what if... our child gets killed when it goes out into the world on their own? This world is a sick place and it’s hard to raise a black child.“

Aaron paused for a bit. He knew what you were saying was the truth, and nothing but the truth. But he had no idea how to respond. Growing up, he never really knew what it was like to be made fun of because of the color of someone’s skin, let alone now in today’s world, where people get killed just because of it.

“Y/N, I want you to know that our baby will be protected to the fullest extent. Everything that you told me is all true, and I don’t want to dismiss any of your feelings.”

“I know, and I appreciate you for that.” you answered.

All of Aaron’s words were reassuring, but you still didn’t think he understood. It’s not that you were mad at him for that, you didn’t blame him for anything. You wanted to educate as much as possible.

You were the oldest daughter in your family, and seeing how your other siblings were raised, you wanted the best for your child.

You continued talking to Aaron about it in hopes that those intrusive thoughts would go away sometime soon.

✯✯✯✯

You were back from your grandparents’ house and you were now sitting on the couch at Aaron’s place, which became yours as well since you moved in with him.

He had something important to talk to you about, and a part of you thought it had to do with the phone conversation a few days ago.

“Is everything okay?” you asked.

“Yeah, um, it’s just Jack. He overheard our conversation the other day and he’s been asking questions and I think it would be best for the both of us to answer those questions.”

“I think that’s a good thing. He’s growing up and these are conversations that need to be held. I’m happy to help him understand as best as I can.”

Aaron took your hand and smiled. “I agree.”

A few hours later, after Jack came back home from school, the three of you sat at the dining table enjoying the meal Aaron cooked. Beforehand, you had told Aaron that you were gonna use the eggs in the fridge as an example since Jack was still so young to understand technical terms.

“So, Jack, we wanted to talk to you about something, and it’s very important, okay?” Aaron started.

“Okay.”

“So I know you’ve asked about what race is and things like that. I wanna show you something, okay? I think it will help you understand.”

You got up and got a white and a brown egg from the fridge as well as a spoon and placed them in front of Jack.

“Which egg do you want to break?”

“The white one!” Jack exclaimed, taking the spoon and breaking it.

You smiled softly. “Okay, good. Now how come you decided not to break the brown one instead?”

“I thought it would look different on the inside.”

“Well, do you wanna see something cool?” You asked. Jack nodded in response. You took the spoon and broke the brown one.

“They look the same on the inside.” Jack noted.

“You’re right, Jack. The eggs look different on the outside, but when you break them open, you see that they look the same.” Aaron started.

He explained to Jack that people have preferences for a lot of tangible things, and how it can apply to actual human beings. For only being 8 years old, Jack was very attentive to what you and Aaron had to say, and was asking all the right questions.

“Because the baby growing inside of me is going to look different than you, people may not like that. But my baby is a human too.”

“Is that why you were scared?”

You nodded. “I went through it too, and I just want to keep my baby safe.”

Jack went over to you and hugged your belly in response. It made you smile from ear to ear.

✯✯✯✯

“Hi beautiful.” Aaron said, kissing your cheek.

It had been evening time at this point and Aaron had just tucked Jack into bed, and you were lying down in the other room reading a book.

“Hi,” you responded back smiling.

Aaron got settled in with you in bed and cuddled. “Do you feel better about everything now?”

“Honestly, I know that deep down inside, those feelings are still there and will arise at some point but being able to talk about it freely is refreshing.” you admitted. “And that’s okay.”

He smiled. “That’s good. I’m glad Jack was able to take part of this conversation with us.”

“Me too. Surely we’ll have even more engaging conversations like this.”

✯✯✯✯

taglist: @averyhotchner @storiesofsvu @ssaic-jareau @blackbeautifulqueen @mstrinnyb @will-on-the-internet

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allwormdiet · 2 months ago

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Arc 1: Gestation, Concluding Thoughts

Two days in the life of Taylor Hebert, with a bonus one night in the life of Danny Hebert. Let's break it down.

Right now, initial feelings are really positive. I like this arc, I get why people are in on this in such a hardcore fashion, like it's making sense to me as I'm reading it. The characterization is really strong, the A to B plot is cool, and the first fight scene was a fucking banger to open up with.

And like, shit, I get why Taylor is throwing herself into cape life, right? Civilian life is already such fucking misery for her, utterly alone and the only person who's theoretically in her corner is sympathetic but just as helpless as she is. Yeah sure, mortal peril, but if she had nothing to do I feel like the bullying would've killed her eventually. Death versus Lung is at least marginally more noble than death by Emma. And isn't that fucking bleak.

Looking ahead a little bit towards Arc 2 and I'm immensely curious how long it'll take Taylor to do cape stuff again. I feel like I'd need a solid month to process the whole "near death experience" thing and then spend time sweating over whether I even put the mask on ever again. Meanwhile I wouldn't be surprised if Taylor went back out in like a week, because she's a hardcore maniac.

It's also very interesting looking at this and considering the exact sequence of events that went through these chapters. If the bullies didn't wreck Taylor's notebook, or if Taylor took a different message away from its destruction, there might be one or more dead Undersiders right now, and to a lesser extent Armsmaster wouldn't both get credit for a major capture and also owe this rookie hero a favor. Both of those things are going to matter a lot, and it's, I dunno, some people would call that contrived but real life is so full of weird coincidence and happenstance I can buy this no problem.

...Honestly now I get why so many AUs that diverge before this point still include the Lung fight and the Undersiders and Armsmaster meetings, like yeah at that point it's contrivance but I'm not going to sweat an author too hard because they don't want to figure out how fucking dramatic the butterfly effect (hah, butterfly) would be on the rest of the story. Like yeah it's contrived, but that's a lot of work they'd have to do otherwise.

That aside, I'm gonna get back on topic and meditate on my current gripes. 1.3 was a legitimate low point in this arc with the description of the Docks and its residents and their circumstances, and the total clusterfuck of the Azn Bad Boys, which. By the by this is the last time I'm going to say the full name of that gang, ABB is shorter and is less embarrassing for everybody involved. Wall-to-wall racism, classism, and an utter lack of sympathy for the lesser-thans. Like we're talking about crack whores in the year of our lord 2011, or, they were written about in 2011 and I'm hollering about it on the internet in 2024. When this kind of thing comes back up (when, not if, I'm not that optimistic) I just hope I can work around it, like eating everything but the bruise on an apple.

To close this out, I'm thinking about the people in Taylor's life. Emma, a former friend turned bully, and her cronies Madison and Sophia. Pretty shallow characterization at this point, just that they're cruel to the point of hospitalizing their victim. Danny Hebert is supportive, but has all the strength of a sponge when it comes to holding up against the pressures that weigh on Taylor, and he knows it but he's not doing anything differently. The Undersiders, criminals who mistake Taylor for a criminal, but identify her correctly as a comrade and potential friend, who realize she was fighting for them and went to fight for her. Armsmaster, who offers her very genuine and very sought-after praise as an authority figure, and then leans on that authority to get what he wants out of a freshly traumatized and exhausted teenager.

Is it any wonder that Taylor takes the path that she does? Would anyone have it in them to be surprised if they could see all of this from a bird's eye view?

I wonder if Armsmaster ever thinks back about this night, lying awake in bed. If he ever wonders what he could or should have done differently, or if he couldn't have done anything to divert course.

I was talking to my girlfriend about something related to this the other night, actually. If it's worse in a tragedy for there to have been a chance to avert it all, or if it's worse for the end to be inevitable. Looking at Taylor, looking at Brockton Bay, looking at Earth Bet? I dunno. If someone had acted early, with knowledge and intention sufficient to actually provide aid, maybe it would've been enough, but hell. Maybe not. I don’t know which possibility is more damning.

...I get melancholy when it's late, but I don't think it'd be right to delete all that; it's how I'm feeling about the novel, and that's what this blog is for, so even if it's a bit dramatic it'd be self-defeating to pretend I didn't say it.

Arc 2... probably starts tomorrow, assuming nothing comes up. Glad to say I'm looking forward to it.

#worm liveblogging #parahumans #worm gestation #concluding thoughts #liveblog #wormblr

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literary-illuminati · 8 days ago

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2024 Book Review #56 – Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

At the start of the year, I set out to try and read more proper literature. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was not a book I had ever heard of, or by an author I knew anything at all about. But it was on my local bookstore's and local library’s staff pick lists, and has a bunch of awards, and I think showed up on some list of Goodreads recommendations. So 9 months later I finally worked down the list to it and went in totally unprepared and with zero expectations or preconceptions.

The book’s well-written and well-executed, but I can’t say it really worked for me. Or properly, it absolutely was working for the first two thirds or so, but by the end just felt like it lost a lot of the touches that had made it interesting and was just drowning in its own sentimentality.

The book follows Sam and Sadie, two Californian wunderkunds growing up in Los Angelos in the 1980s. They meet in a children’s hospital, where Sam is being treated for a foot the was nearly shattered in a car crash and Sadie is visiting her elder sister as she’s treated for cancer. The two of them instantly begin bonding over playing Super Mario Brothers and begin a friendship and a creative partnership that will - as they grow up and found an artistically and commercially successful video game studio in the late 90s – define the shape of both of their lives, no matter how turbulent and conflicted it at points becomes.

For reasons that probably boil down to the audiobooks my mother played on road trips as a child, I’ve always had a fondness for books that track the broad sweep of a life or lives, zooming out and stretching across the years and decades. So I actually digested this a decent bit more easily than I do a lot of modern litfic that I’ve tried. For the first few hundred pages, it all even holds together very well, bouncing around the timeline and providing childhood episodes and context as it's relevant and making the central relationships compelling and emotionally plausible. Unfortunately a couple of experiments in form (one worked for me, one really didn’t) eat up a lot of page count in the final act, and entirely kill the sense of flow and structure. Not at all helped by the narrative voice losing a lot of its charm and the story growing wholly predictable (and a bit saccharine) in the closing pages.

I say ‘central relationships’ and not ‘relationship’ because describing the book as being about the relationship between Sam and Sadie is just, basically false advertising? Marx – Sam’s college roommate, later Sadie’s boyfriend, the business manager of their video game studio - is for most of the book at least as important a character as the two leads. He’s a much less interesting character – entirely too much of a natural saint, compared to how very flawed and petty Sam and Sadie are both allowed to be – but he’s a key part of the dynamic and most of the book is properly about different permutations of the trio bouncing off of each other. No other character gets a tenth of the focus and exploration of those three, and are really more props for narrative and to incite development than anything else.

The book has (until the end, anyway) a strong narrative voice that I really enjoyed, but which also may have caused me to set my expectations entirely wrong for what the book was actually planning. The only way I can really describe it is that the book reads like one of those New Yorker longreads that are trying very hard to convince you they’re not just rubbernecking some fascinatingly dysfunctional relationships and personal drama among some semi-notable creative figures. Your Bad Art Friends and similar. Deeply opinionated and gossipy, but making a show of seeming detached and objective, always making asides written from the perspective of the modern day and quoting interviews from years later about events as they occur in the narrative. As someone who is a slightly guilty fan of exactly those kind of longreads, it did make for a very fun reading experience.

But it also made me get my hopes up. Which is to say, the early chapters make quite a few references to how latter in life Sam and Sadie wouldn’t be on speaking terms, and how ‘something’ happened at Unfair Games in 2005. I was looking forward to something some messy and newsworthy interpersonal drama of the kind that doesn’t leave either of them (or anyone) looking good. The falling out does occur, but in a way that’s mostly just piles of misunderstandings and a stubborn refusal to communicate from both of them. The company always stays ostensibly together, and things never get much worse than quietly cherished bitterness and a refusal to speak. Which feels very emotionally believable, as incredibly frustrating as it is. The dramatic rupture that happens in 2005, well-

The book’s use of violence always feels slightly unreal. It intrudes on the narrative in ways that, like, they are things that happen, but feel so exaggerated and on-the-nose they took me out of the reading experience, at least a bit. A woman jumps off her balcony to her death and happens to land right in front of a young Sam. His mother stops her car on an LA highway to avoid hitting a dog, and he asks her something that keeps her talking and not moving for the crucial moment before an SUV slams into them, killing her and permanently damaging his foot. And the great end-of-second-act rupture that occurs in 2005 is a pair of homophobic gunmen storming into their office and shooting Marx because their cozy MMO lets gay people get married. Any one would have been fine, but combined they make the illusion of violence as random and capricious wear a bit thin and the writerly artifice underneath a bit too clear, at least for me.

As far as period pieces go – the story isn’t nostalgia bait, but it isn’t not nostalgia bait, either? It’s a few years before my time, so I suppose I just don’t appreciate it properly – the experience of growing up in and living through the late ‘80s through 2000s is one the book cares deeply about replicating. It generally does an excellent job making things feel of-the-moment, if occasionally by having the narrative draw pretty heavy-handed comparisons to what would be different in the present. The aesthetics (fashion, public art and marketing, fads and consumer trends) are all there, and the characters experience them like people to whom they’re novel and trendy. (Personally I could have done with a bit less effort spent describing every single outfit, but if I had memories of what people actually looked like wearing them I might appreciate it more.) It does similar things with LA and (to a far lesser extent) Boston – every other place the book touches on feels vague and a bit unreal, but LA is rendered with a real sense of place and love for the city and it’s little eccentricities.

The area where the book is absolutely nostalgia-bait is video games, and the whole heroic era of rapid changes and improvements to the medium where new boundaries were being crossed every year and a handful of sufficiently talented and dedicated first-time devs could create something genuinely revolutionary. The book even manages the neat trick of making almost every fake game the protagonists create a) plausible for the era and technology and b) actually seem like something I would want to play (less so the Pioneerville MMO created in the final act, as with many things). But I do genuinely want to play Master of Revels quite badly.

The book does share a common failing with what feels like almost every period piece, where by complete coincidence the major characters all conveniently happen to be on the Right Side of History for every really major (that is, from the perspective of the present, character-defining) political issues. This is made a bit more irritating by the fact that despite all being quite radical on the issue of e.g. gay marriage (or just not being even slightly homophobic) from the vantage of the early Bush administration, none of Sadie, Sam or Marx ever even conceive of it as being political.

The book doesn’t conceive of itself as really having politics at all – but again, in the way of a New York Magazine feature where having certain sets of liberal convictions is just a matter of personal decency and morality. A certain unexpressed but present sexual conservativism, a view of class where Sam’s grandparents owning and running a successful restaurant counts as being from the wrong side of the tracks, hyper-conscious of race but without much to really say about it. You’re all familiar with the style, I’m sure.

Anyway yeah, not a bad book by any means, but one that lasted long enough and ended weakly enough to expend any real passion or affection I’d built up for it.

#book review #tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow #gabrielle zevin #literature

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