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unholybacon355 · 9 months ago

Text

Late Present

Nayeon x Male Reader

Words Count: 6.3k

A/N: Hope you enjoy reading this because I had a great time writing it. Originally this was supposed to be not longer than 2k words (Even shorter if I could) but the most I wrote the most I wanted to add things, and at the end the result is this.

Again. Hope you have fun and enjoy reading this.

That day after dinner you had received a message from your girlfriend. In it she said that she had left you a video in a shared folder in the cloud, but that you couldn't open it until you were completely alone. Well, now it was already night and you were lying in your room. That qualified as being completely alone. Although of course, you were still at your parents' house so you would have to use headphones to watch the video on your laptop.

It was the second week of January and you were visiting your parents' house, in the town where you had grown up. Now lying in your childhood bed you placed the computer on your lap and opened the video. A shot of the bathroom in the apartment you shared with your girlfriend instantly appeared on your screen. It wasn't a very big place but at least it had a bathtub, and that was exactly what you were looking at.

The video showed a shot of the bathtub filled with water about half full and some candles placed on the shelves of the walls. For now there was no sign of your girlfriend or anyone or anything else. After something like a minute you heard noise coming from outside the shot, and after a few more seconds your girlfriend appeared on the scene while smiling at the camera and making a greeting gesture with her hand. She sat on the edge of the bathtub. wearing a white coat, and at first glance nothing more than two adorable pink bows in her blonde hair, which made it fall into two pigtails, one on each side of her face. The robe, on the other hand, only partially showed her legs, from the knees down.

“Hi babe. I hope you're having a good time at your parents' house. I... Well, I wanted to give you one last Christmas gift. I know it's been weeks but as you know I was very busy and didn't have time to do it before.” Nayeon smiled at the camera as if apologizing for the delay. “Anyway, it's better that you receive it now that we're not together, so you'll miss me even more.” With a small giggle she stood up and slipping her robe off her shoulders let it fall to the floor, where it piled up next to her feet. Nayeon was obviously completely naked under the robe, which now made for an interesting contrast to her hair decorations.

Quickly understanding where this was going, you paused the video and got up to lock the door and turn off the light in the room. You lay down again with the laptop on your stomach, but this time you undress completely before returning to bed. You were ready to enjoy your girlfriend's gift without interruptions, so you pressed play once again.

Nayeon instantly turned around, showing her full body in front of the camera, and still with that smile on her face, she asked. “Oppa, do you like what you see?” Oppa. She always drove you crazy when she used that word, because she only used it in private. It was like something secret for the two of you. On the other hand of course you liked what you saw. Nayeon's smooth skin completely exposed to you, her small but firm breasts crowned with those beautiful light brown nipples, her delicious ass, or even her hands and feet. Everything about your girlfriend drove you crazy, obviously so did the place where her legs met, that magnificent place of pleasure with silky lips and a small mop of hair that Nayeon liked to keep to frame the beauty of her crotch.

The mere sight of your naked girlfriend was enough to make you hard instantly. You took the liberty of starting to caress yourself very slowly while she leaned down to light one by one the candles that she had placed before. Then your girlfriend left the frame and you saw how the light went out. When Nayeon re-entered the shot, her skin shone with the yellowish glow of the candlelight. There were several of them, and they were placed strategically, so you could actually still see quite well. That is if now interesting shadows were created here and there, making the contrast help to better highlight Nayeon's curves, which made your cock throb in your hand.

Your girlfriend got into the bathtub and sat inside facing the camera. The water covered her up to the height of her ribs, and as a result of the reflection of the candles you could hardly see what was below. “I hope you enjoy my gift.” Nayeon shyly bit her lower lip before leaning back against the wall of the tub and starting to play with her breasts.

At first it was just gentle touches and caresses on her nipples, but soon she began to get a little more daring and use her fingers to play and press her delicate pleasure buttons. You heard a small moan through your headphones, and that made you start moving the hand that was stroking your cock a little faster. But just a little faster, you didn't want to rush things because you imagined that wouldn't be all.

Soon more moans began to leave Nayeon's mouth, as she became more energetic with the caresses of her nipples. “Love, I miss your mouth on my tits so much. It always made me so wet when you suck my nipples." Your cock throbbed at the memory of her hard nipples in your mouth.

Now your girlfriend lowered her hand to caress her belly and put it under the water, which could only mean that she was taking care of the most sensitive part of her. New and louder moans confirmed your suspicions. While one hand rolled one of her nipples, the other created small waves on the surface of the water, which further distorted her vision. It was clear that Nayeon was enjoying the moment, as she had now tilted her head back so you could only partially see her face, but you knew from firsthand experience that her cheeks had turned red, and that her mouth was hanging open in a silent moan.

Now the only sound you heard was the water crashing against the edges of the bathtub, and Nayeon's heavy breathing. But you could see how her arm moved, and how her hand completely took one of her breasts to give it gentle squeezes, before releasing it and going back to playing with just the nipple. You had to admit that the shadow that the candles created on your girlfriend's tits made them look even more appetizing, and also made you salivate.

Just as you were going to start properly masturbating, Nayeon stopped her movements, sitting up straight again and removing her hand from the water. In fact, you could see how her cheeks were red, but what she did next didn't give you time to appreciate the pretty blush on her skin. Well, as you had seen many times, she put her hand on her mouth to clean her own juices from her fingers. Nayeone sucked her digits as if they were a cock, making eye contact with the camera and opening her mouth so you could see how her tongue ran over every curve of her fingers, collecting the precious nectar.

“Fuck, I'm so delicious.” Nayeon exclaimed when her fingers were clean. The taste of her nectar was something you knew quite well, so you could confirm that it really was delicious. You loved drinking it straight from her crotch, eating her until she came in your mouth while she held you in position by wrapping her legs around your head. And she loved sucking your cock when it was soaked with her own juices, because above all things Im Nayeon greatly enjoyed herself during sex.

You knew that behind this loving gesture of recording a video so that you could touch yourself thinking about her, there was also the fact that Nayeon loved the attention. She loved being the center of attention and being told how beautiful she was, because she knew she was, but that didn't mean she was going to be unfaithful to you. Each and every time she had rejected the people who made advances to her, because she loved you and only you. Nayeon needed the eyes of the world on her, but she only had eyes for you. Which made you a pretty lucky person, because to be honest your girlfriend was way above your league.

“Have you enjoyed it so far?” Of course you were enjoying it, your hard cock was enough proof of that. "I hope so. But don't despair because the best comes now.” Nayeon blew a kiss to the camera before getting down on her knees, once again revealing her lower body, then she turned around and leaned over to show you her butt. “Do you see well?” She asked as if you would be able to answer her, but you were grateful for the gesture of her keeping the conversation alive at a time like this. Then with a giggle she used one of her hands to grab one butt cheek and stretch it a little, letting you see a metallic sheen where her anus should have been.

“Damn naughty girl.” You exclaimed involuntarily, at the revelation that Nyeon had had a plug in her butt this entire time. You smiled wondering why you hadn't seen it coming, especially when you knew your girlfriend really liked those types of toys. Nayeon had a wide variety of them, and she liked to use them whenever she could. For your part, in the most diverse situations you liked to put your hand in her pants or under her skirt, to check if she was wearing one of them. For example, you knew that she loved going to the nearest store with a plug plugged into her butt, or going for short walks in the park carrying her favorite plug.

“Mmnnghh Oppaaaaaaa… I miss you. I want your hand to be the one that holds my buttock. Or would you rather spank me because I've been a bad girl?” She then released her buttock to hit him with her hand, which was accompanied by a small moan. The thing was, you weren't sure if she deserved a punishment for being a bad girl, or instead she deserved a gift for being like that. In any case, you would have to deal with that dilemma later because right now you were more busy watching how your girlfriend opened her butt again with one hand and with the other began to play with the plug that she had plugged in.

Small moans from Nayeon let you know that she was really enjoying the little tugs she gave the toy. She held it tightly by the base with the tips of her fingers, and pulled on it until the widest part threatened to come out of her rectum, then she let go and the toy entered her ass again on its own. You were well aware that your girlfriend loved that, because on many occasions it had been your hand that had been pulling on the toy, while Nayeon dissolved into moans lying on your lap. But right now she was kneeling in the middle of the bathtub, spreading her butt and pleasuring herself. And you were hundreds of miles from that bathtub, masturbating to the delicious moans and the beautiful view of what your girlfriend was doing.

You had already reached a fairly pleasurable rhythm as you moved your hand up and down on your member. Speeding up when Nayeon moaned more or said something dirty, and slowing down when she stopped moving to give her butt a rest. More spanking made you increase the pace of your hand again, which in turn made your precum come out and bathe your entire glans with that natural lubricant. You let out a small moan, more like a sigh than anything else, but you still had to stop to deal with how much Nayeon's gift was turning you on, because you had to remember that you were still at your parents' house. It was already late at night, but you didn't want anyone to hear you masturbating to a home movie of your girlfriend anyway.

You bit your lower lip to suppress more sounds as you moved your hand again with considerable speed, as Nayeon was moaning pleasantly. She suddenly pulled harder on the toy and this time pulled it out completely, making a sucking noise as it left her rectum and leaving her anus open. The glowing light of the candles allowed you to see how Nayeon's anus slowly closed in a rather obscene way. At that moment you would have done anything to put your fingers there, or to rim that beautiful opening with your tongue. And as if her thoughts were connected, Nayeon put the fingers that had previously been in her vagina back into her mouth, and she sucked them, covering them with saliva. Then she put her middle and ring fingers into her own rectum, taking advantage of the saliva and all the foreplay.

“Babe… I miss your big dick stretching my little asshole so much.” Your girlfriend's words came to you fully charger of sensuality and sincerity as you watched how she played with her fingers, putting them in and out of her anus completely. "I miss you. Fill me again with your hot milk.” In an act that seemed incredible and fascinating to you, Nayeon said those words with a pout. Only she could do something so innocent in the middle of an act as obscene as recording herself masturbating through her ass, and still look adorable. One more example of how incredible your girlfriend was.

By God, that duality drove you crazy. Your cock almost exploded at the sight of that tender gesture on her face, remembering the many times you had come all over Nayeon's face while she made that same pout. Because if there were other things your girlfriend loved besides being the center of attention and having a plug plugged into her ass—aside from you, obviously—that was you ending up in her face. Nayeon loved feeling how the thick ropes of your semen hit her face and ran down her perfect features. All to end up cleaning herself with her tongue, and sometimes sharing a kiss with you. After all, if she had received your cum on her face so lovingly, the least you could do was kiss her.

Your cock throbbed again as you watched Nayeon insert a third finger into her anus and leave it inside her for a few seconds. "I miss you so much. My ass feels so lonely without you inside.” She removed her fingers from her and shook her butt from side to side, showing off her rectum that once again remained open for a few seconds, as if inviting you to fuck her. Of course you couldn't because it was a video, but you would have liked nothing more at that moment than to be in that bathtub with your girlfriend having a good time.

Now Nayeon took from behind some shampoo bottles an object unknown to you, which she had clearly prepared previously, along with a little bottle of what was clearly lubricant. The object in question was similar to a plug, except for the fact that it had a fairly wide hole in the center. Apparently it was made of glass, or some similar material, as it was completely transparent. After all, it was like a glass tube at least two inches in diameter and four in length, with fins on one end to prevent it from being inserted completely or to be able to grab it.

Your girlfriend put the toy in her mouth and, with her elbows resting on the edge of the tub, she looked back at you with that cute but naughty face. The face she used when she was planning some mischief. All this while she was shaking her butt again. At this point it was clear where that toy was going to end up.

“Now the good stuff begins.” Nayeon took the toy and coated it well with lube, before placing it on her butt where it entered with almost no effort on your girlfriend's part. Her entrance was already quite dilated by the plug and fingers. A not at all suppressed moan told you how pleasurable this was for Nayeon, it was a shame that she couldn't know how much you were enjoying it too.

Now the light of the candles allowed you to see the glazed shine of the object plugged into Nayeon's back entrance, and in an almost perverse way it also allowed you to see the inside of your girlfriend. Somehow despite not being so close to the camera, and only illuminated by the glowing flames of the candles, the transparency and action of the toy made it possible for you to see the inside of your girlfriend's rectum. The obscene and exciting game that your girlfriend was playing left you speechless, this was perhaps the dirtiest thing you had ever seen her do. Well, except maybe for that time in the elevator at that mall.

“Isn't it a beautiful sight?” Nayeon shook her butt again, but this time it was a thousand times more obscene and provocative because of the new toy. That exciting scene was taking you to a new level of pleasure, so much so that you had to slow down the pace at which you masturbated because you didn't want to finish before watching the video completely. Now you move your hand slowly, but applying more pressure with your fingers on your cock, giving deep pumps to the very base of your member.

“But I bet you want to see something even better. Want?" Again that tender tone that highlighted the duality of the moment and drove you so crazy. A wide smile that showed off your girlfriend's bunny teeth, and even her gums, followed that innocent-seeming question. Nayeon then took one of the shampoo bottles, and presented it to the camera, standing it on the palm of her hand, as if this were all a commercial. A very obscene and twisted one. Only at this point did you realize that what your girlfriend was holding was not a bottle of shampoo at all.

The object in question was neither more nor less than a bottle of lubricant, but not just any one. No, it was a one liter bottle of a type of lubricant that you had wanted to try for a while, but every time you tried to buy it was sold out. What made it special was that it imitated semen, at least in its texture and viscosity. So you could say that Nayeon was holding a one-liter bottle of fake semen in her hands.

“I bought it online last month along with the toy. I asked Momo if she could use her address so you wouldn't suspect anything.” Without losing that adorable smile, and with an expression of pride on her face, she let out a small giggle. “We should try it together next time.” Was that shame what you were seeing on Nayeon's face? It was almost impossible to believe that your girlfriend blushed at that proposal, when she was literally recording a porn video in which you could see the inside of her guts. She bit the tip of her index finger before blowing a quick kiss to the camera and turning so you wouldn't see the red on her cheeks, but it was too late for that. It almost made you feel bad that you were masturbating right now, but the duality of the video made you keep pumping.

Regaining her composure, Nayeon uncorked the bottle and, holding her ass up as much as she could, poured a generous amount onto her ass. The viscous whitish liquid landed at the height of her tailbone and began to slowly drip downwards. Soon you almost had a heart attack, because you were watching the fake semen being spilled by gravity into your girlfriend's ass. You had a prime view of Nayeon's gaping anus being filled with lube.

A gasp that wasn't for excitation caught your attention. “It's cold, but feels so good.” So what had caused your girlfriend to gasp was the difference in temperature between the fluid and her insides. You found it funny, but you didn't have time to laugh because now Nayeon was pushing the rest of the lubricant in with her fingers, so that it too would enter her. Immediately afterwards she again poured a generous amount onto her butt. “I wish it could be your milk that fills me. Oppaaaa, I want to feel how you overflow my insides with your semen.”

God, it kept driving you crazy how she kept saying those obscenities in such an innocent voice. The funny thing was that Nayeon wasn't doing it just to provoke, it was something she really couldn't control. She had even been scolded at work for treating a client with that same voice. Of course, there was no tone of voice that could make it seem tender as Nayeon put more lubricant through the toy, to the point that it seemed like she couldn't get more inside her.

The fake semen, in a fact you thought impossible, had filled the toy to the brim. So if Nayeon moved her butt roughly, some drops would fall directly onto the bath water. Apparently putting as much lubricant as possible inside her was the ultimate goal of having used that toy, because now your girlfriend was removing it, leaving only the liquid in its place. You again saw how Nayeo’s anus closed, this time even slower than the last, leaving the fake semen trapped inside her.

Once again, showing off her obscenity, Nayeon put the toy in her mouth and sucked it as if it were a lollipop. She even managed to stick her tongue inside the toy’s hole and pick up some of the lube. “God, I'm delicious. Now I understand why you love to eat my ass.” Your ever-so-modest girlfriend put the now completely clean toy to the side and leaned over the edge of the tub again. Her position lifted and she naturally spread her butt cheeks a little, offering you once again that perfect view of her puckered rear entrance. By flexing the muscles around it a little, Nayeon managed to make a small amount of lubricant come out of her, which slid down the edge of her buttock and thigh.

The next thing your girlfriend did was move her butt up and down, in the best twerk she could do in that position, moaning with the movement as the liquid stirred inside her and excited her even more. “Nngghhh!! Hooneeey, I'm so full. Just thinking that it could be your cum moving inside my guts makes my pussy drip.” She used the hand that hadn't touched the lube to separate the folds from her delicate vulva, as if she were offering herself to you, and then with those same fingers she drew circles over her soaked pussy. “It feels good… But I miss having you inside me. I want to put your cock in my mouth so bad.”

Then Nayeon opened her mouth and stuck her tongue out as far as she could, putting on the same expression she did when she gave you a head. With her free hand she imitates the movement she normally makes when masturbating you, moving her hand back and forth in front of her mouth. Making the whole show like when she gave you one of those delicious blowjobs that only she knew how to give, and you liked to receive. It's not like you had much experience in that regard, you had only had relationships (Don't even dare call that sex, because that was going too far) with a couple of people before Nayeon but your girlfriend had adapted so well to what you liked that it was impossible for anyone to know you better than her. Once again, you thought, irrefutable proof that your girlfriend was in a league completely above yours. You were grateful that she decided to be with you in the only way you could at that moment, jerking your cock frantically at the sight of Nayeon giving an impeccable blowjob to the open air. How lucky the air was too.

Fresh moans from Nayeon were what brought you out of your reverie and brought you back to reality, where your girlfriend had decided that she had had enough of teasing herself and had inserted two fingers inside her pussy. She had her knees as far apart as the narrow space inside the tub would allow, while her fingers moved in and out at a pace almost as frenetic as your own hand moved. It was as if despite the physical and temporal distance you were still connected, like in one of those ancient legends. Except this time the red thread seemed to connect your cock to her clit, something almost poetic.

Moans and the faint sound of small waves crashing against the walls of the tub were all you could hear now. Your girlfriend alternated between fucking herself with her fingers, and taking them out to rub her needy pussy before putting them back in again. Soon a third finger joined the party, doing the job that right now you were too far away to do. While the hand between her legs fucked her own pussy, Nayeon moved her other hand to her butt. Where a mischievous finger began to trace circles on the wrinkled entrance.

Your heart skipped a beat because you knew what was coming next, Nayeon was going to fuck herself in both holes at the same time. You were aware of how much she liked that too, which is why you had often proposed to have a threesome, but she always rejected it. It was incredible how your girlfriend always refused your offer, not because she didn't like the idea of the threesome itself, but because she didn't accept that someone else could enjoy the enormous pleasure of fucking her. Although it was obvious that you weren't her first partner (she should have learned all those things somewhere) Nayeon's love and attachment to you surpassed any obscenity she could think of. So your only companions when making love to your girlfriend were the many (Many) toys you had, and your own fingers. In some ways, especially when it came to sex, that love was kind of sick, but it worked pretty well for the two of you. Other than that you were a rather loving and somewhat clingy couple, sometimes even sharing tight hugs in public. But not as tight as the finger Nayeon had just shoved up her ass.

Well, to be honest that finger couldn't be that tight considering all the foreplay, and since just a few moments ago it had been inside that same hole accompanied by two other fingers. The fact is that now Nayeon was the fullest she had been that night, with three fingers in her pussy, along with her ass overflowing with fake cum and a naughty finger inside. Clearly that wasn't going to be enough to make her cum if she had gone to all that trouble to prepare her ass like that, so you weren't surprised to see how a second finger passed smoothly through Nayeon's anus.

A new sound joined the melody as Nayeon abruptly withdrew her fingers from her pussy, making a sucking noise like a loud POP! that echoed throughout the room. But that wasn't the only new sound, no, because now those fingers had entered your girlfriend's mouth. So the moans were now muffled and interspersed with sucking noises as Nayeon hungrily sucked on her own fingers. She would take them out and put them back in up to her knuckles, and then take them out again. She would occasionally separate them and swirl her tongue around them to clean them as well.

“The taste is almost as delicious as your semen.” A small giggle made your girlfriend look shy once again in the middle of that obscene scene, but she quickly regained her composure and put her fingers back into her pussy because she had already cleaned all the sweet nectar that covered them, and it was time to collect more. The other hand now also had three fingers inside her, fucking her anus in sync with the one she has in her vagina. When one of her inserted her fingers the other withdrew, always maintaining the rhythm and one of her two holes completely stretched out. The process also caused more and more lubricant to drip from her anus, so by this point her luscious thighs were all stained with fake semen. You didn't understand how liquid didn't stop coming out of her, Nayeon had really filled herself to the brim.

After a few minutes of pleasuring herself, the rhythm of Nayeon's fingers became more erratic. So now she sometimes put her fingers completely in her pussy and completely took out the ones she had in her ass, separating them as they came out to maximize the pleasure . Since she no longer had her mouth occupied, she was able to moan with lust once again.

“Babe, I'm sooooo close.” She drawled as she shoved her fingers into her ass, and used her other hand to draw circles on her clit. “Am I allowed to cum? I’ve been a good girl.” She looked directly at the camera, biting her lower lip in a sexy way, but using her eyes to once again put on that tender expression. Creating that duality in her face that she knew drove you crazy. "I think I deserve it." She said again with that tone that was trying to sound childish and mischievous at the same time.

Since you clearly couldn't respond to that, what Nayeon did instead of waiting for your approval was to massage her clit harder and spread the fingers in her ass as far as possible. It was so evident that she was close to her climax because now all her weight was resting on her chest leaning on the bathtub, and on her knees because her excitement had made her lift her feet and make them emerge from the under water. Where they had been hiding all this time.

Of course you loved Nayeon's feet too. You loved kissing them, licking them, painting her nails, and also fucking her feet and cumming all over her perfect toes. So the sight of her fingers curled in arousal, framing how she massaged her clit and stretched her dripping anus was what finally brought you to the point of no return. With a moan that you could not suppress, you discharged all your semen in powerful jets that gushed from your tip, and even flew over your laptop, landing on your chest. Your hand, which you had tried to prevent that from happening, was filled with your thick cum. Which trickled back over your cock, making you wonder if this was what it would feel like to be inside Nayeon's butt right now.

With your breathing still heavy, you focused again on the video, where your girlfriend was still masturbating, but so erratically and spasmodically that it was evident that she wasn't going to last much longer. You would have been able to see her sensitive pussy dripping with that delicious nectar, if it hadn't been for all that lubricant that was dripping from her ass and soaking your girlfriend's folds. Now the outside of her vagina was completely covered by the slippery liquid, making it look white.

What was also covered, but by a different substance, was your girlfriend's back. The light from the candles reflected on a hundred beads of sweat that had begun to appear on her, making it look as if her skin were covered in a bunch of pearls. That pearly shine made her look so damn beautiful, that this time it was your heart what you felt pumping instead of your cock.

With a single moan, the loudest you had heard from her so far, and in the midst of new and reinforced spasms, you witnessed Nayeon reach her climax. Her orgasm was much longer lasting than yours, making her legs and lower torso tremble. Her fingers on her butt slipped completely out, splashing lubricant out of the tub. Now her hand on her vulva had remained still, covering it completely, as if trying to contain the throbbing in her lips, while her toes were curled so much that they threatened to dig into her soles. It was clearly the strongest and most pleasurable orgasm you had ever seen your girlfriend have.

After a long minute where your girlfriend did not stop involuntarily moving some of her muscles, as a result of her pleasurable orgasm, you could see how she slowly moved the hand she had holding her vagina again. Now Nayeon was patting her lips, as if trying to calm herself, while she slowly lowered her feet back to the bottom of the bathtub.

Panting like she had just finished running a marathon, and with small spasms still running through her lower half, you watched her place her arms crossed over the edge of the bathtub and rest her head on them. The same way she did when she was napping, except this time what she wanted to do was expose her butt to the camera. You could see how her anus was still closing when she did that. She said nothing because probably still was out of breath to speak, so you had no idea what she had in mind right now.

To your surprise, for the umpteenth time that pleasurable night, what Nayeon did was push with the muscles of her rectum to make what was left of the lubricant come out of her. Slowly a thread of viscous liquid began to flow out, which became thicker as the seconds passed. Now the fake semen was not only soaking her ass and vagina, but it had also completely covered your girlfriend's meaty thighs. The scene itself was so obscene, but what topped it off was when there was almost no lube left inside Nayeon. That's when her butt started making farting noises because of the lube and how open her anus was still.

That sound made your cock so hard again in an instant, that you were sure you could use it to hit diamonds and break them. Your hand was still full of your own cum, so you used it as a sort of natural lubricant to pump your aching cock again. You weren't masturbating frantically like you did before, instead you were just stroking your shaf at a slow pace, greatly enjoying each of the movements of your hand.

Apparently the sonata of your girlfriend's butt had stopped, because now you only heard her breathing, still somewhat agitated. It had really been a very good orgasm for her, and certainly for you too. Nayeon then turned to face the camera, but she still remained kneeling in the middle of the bathtub. It made you a little sad not to be able to continue seeing her butt, which although it wasn't big had a wonderful shape. Plus her small buttocks were the perfect size to fit in your hands. As compensation you got a perfect view of her sweat-soaked chest, where her breasts rose and fell in a rhythmic way as a result of her breathing. In addition to being able to see, now from the front, her soaked pussy, that was still dripping lubricant as if it were your semen after having finished inside your girlfriend.

With a wide smile on her face, Nayeon washed her hands in the same water from the bathtub, water that had now turned white due to all the lubricant spilled in it. When she decided that her hands were clean she looked at the camera, and you could see her eyes shining. “Did you enjoy it?” She asked with that tender and loving voice that characterized her so much, while she played with one of her pigtails. A small giggle accompanied the question. “I bet you enjoyed it as much as I did. ”You didn't know if you had enjoyed it as much as she did, since her orgasm was much more violent than yours, but you were sure that your level of pleasure had been very high.

“Next time I want to have you playing with my butt… It's going to be so much fun.” The really funny thing here was how Nayeon had regained that shyness that some people hated because they thought she was fake, but you knew she was sincere. Your girlfriend used both hands to play with her ponytail as she looked away from you, as if she was embarrassed to admit that she wanted you to fuck her ass. As if she herself had not been minutes ago doing something much dirtier and obscene. Your girlfriend was quite a case.

"I love you baby. I hope to see you soon, I really miss you.” She puffed out her cheeks for a second in a brief pout. “Let me know if you liked my gift.” Then, she blew you a kiss and stretching out one of her hands, you saw how she turned off the camera, ending the video.

“What a great Christmas present”, you thought to yourself. Now you feel like you should reward Nayeon for this, and also buy Momo a nice gift for helping her hiding the things. “Definitely the best gift this Christmas”, you decided as you postponed getting out of bed because you definitely needed a shower. After all, your hand, cock, and chest were still covered in your own cum.

#nayeon x reader #nayeon #twice x reader #twice smut #twice fanfic #fanfic #gg smut

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chaifootsteps · 6 months ago

Note

Brandon Rogers confirmed that Full Moon was finished in January. Viv just tweeted that it's now delayed to "next week" (I'm not convinced at all that the episode won't be further delayed to June then Apology Tour to fucking September instead of June) because "we're still working on it it needs more cooking" bitch y'all aren't working on shit. It's done. Idc about the delaying it's her specialty at this point. It's the lying to the audience AGAIN. Vivzie is purposefully withholding it's release for as long as she can just to annoy the audience and attempt to garner more hype but it's actually having the opposite effect- with people jumping ship due to getting tired of the artificial unnecessary delays and waiting for mid woobified content. It's not worth the wait. No wonder so many people are dropping the show when she's constantly scamming people and pulling shitty stunts like this. Breaking promises and delaying long FINISHED content on purpose just to blueball her audience. A good chunk of fans on the subreddit are livid.

Interesting! Now you've really got me wondering just what the hell's going on, what incentive she could possibly have for doing this.

#barbie-wire-taste-tester00 #viv stuff #actual blog post #vivziepop critical

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king-paimon · 8 months ago

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Houseki no Kuni Chapter 107 Thoughts: Goodnight, Sweet Phos...

Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay with this post. I originally intended to finish it and post it on Wednesday, but you know.... life happened.

Another month has gone by and now we're on our second to last chapter for Houseki no Kuni. That's right; it's been confirmed that the next chapter will be the last chapter. Can you believe it? If you've seen my previous posts, I'm sure you have an idea of how I feel about this news.

But that'll be for the end of this post. For now, let's talk about this chapter! I don't know how long this one will be, but I'll still warn you that it might be longer than intended, which is the norm for me. This post is a bit too messy for my liking so I might end up making some edits to it later. For now, I just want to have it posted.

As always, please feel free to share your own thoughts in this post! Here we go!

Visual Storytelling Through Change in Style

The first thing I want to talk about is the visuals for this chapter. It greatly contrast with the visual style of the previous couple of chapters. In those chapters, the art was loud, intense, and chaotic, and yet mesmerizing and immersive. The heavy use of black, sharp lines and patterns emphasizes on the harshness of the changing environment. And in many of those page, Phos looks so small, as they are literally being consumed by their surroundings. Even though there were many panels where Phos, Eyeball, or the pebbles are the focus, the background is still very overwhelming in comparison.

Now contrast that with most of the visuals in this chapter. Most, if not all, of the intense visual motifs from the previous chapters are gone; no sharp patterns, black is subdued significantly, and the background isn't overpowering the characters.

The intensity of the visuals were cut back significantly and were traded in for simplified line art, heavy use of the white negative space, and soft hues that make everything airy and dream-like. This is especially true during Phos's sequence. I like how there are very few thick continuous lines in the artwork. These illustrations are mostly made up of light, loose broken up short lines that create abstract structures. And I like that as the regression continued, Phos's design simplified to the point that they were just a small abstract face.

This art style literally and metaphorically showed us the deconstruction of Phos. It's so simple, and yet so impactful.

This is also the case for the last two pages.

The change in visual tone does a nice job emphasizing the literal and figuratively change in scenery. To be more specific, the drastic art style changes can symbolize the final metamorphosis of the remaining characters and the story itself. With Eyeball and the pebbles, the style emphasizes how they've transitioned to a whole new place in a literal and allegorical sense. And with Phos, they're style does the same by emphasizing on the deconstruction of their being during their final moments.

I apologize if what I said was confusing (I also got myself confused for a moment haha) But I'll just end this section with this: I liked the art in this chapter.

Now then, we should jump into the meat of this chapter....

Phos's final curtain call.

Phos Can Finally Rest...

Like I stated before, I found Phos's pages really beautiful for different reasons. In terms of visuals, it's nice seeing some softer imagery after having nothing but sharp, chaotic ones. And story wise, it's nice to see Phos finally letting go and feeling fulfilled.

They are finally free, for real this time. Free from heartache, pain, existing. Phos is no longer held back by the sorrow they had been carrying, and they are free of regret.

They are finally at peace.

And would you look at that? We got to see Pho's original face one last time. And they were happy.

Good for them.

Before going to the next section, I want to quickly talk about this page:

When I first looked through the spoiler tag for the previous couple of chapters, I remember seeing some posts from people who seemed unsatisfied with how the story progressed. From what I understand, many of them didn't like that Phos decided to forgive the remnants of humanity. With this latest chapter, I'm sure there are fans who were also not happy that during Phos's final moments that they are thinking about wanting to see their old families again. I can understand the sentiment, though I'm not surprised with this development.

Despite everything that had led the story to this point, Phos did not hate their old families. Yes, they harbored malice towards them during different points of the story, and it would have been justifiable for Phos to punish them along with the other remnants of humanity came to them to pray. But instead, Phos chose to forgive and free them.

I originally saw Phos's actions as their way of finally cutting ties with their families and relieving themselves of the emotional baggage that they burdened them with. But it's been hinted for a while that despite everything, Phos still loved their families. And the fact that Phos wishes they could see them again solidifies this fact.

Though I can't say if I like this revelation or not, I still find it interesting. But again, I can understand if some readers disagree with Ichikawa's writing decisions. If you have your own thoughts about Phos's final moments, please feel free to share them!

But regardless of everything, I still think this was a wonderfully fitting send off for Phos.

But I'm not done talking about Phos just yet.

And Start Anew...

I'll admit that having the first image I see be Phos's last gem piece shatter was not the welcoming image I wanted to see. For a moment, I thought my hope that there was a chance the small piece of Phos would grow sentience and live a new life was shattered (haha.)

But hooray, for that theory became a reality! Despite Phos's last piece breaking up again, a small bit remained and is evidently showing signs of life. It was wonderful how the pebbles immediately recognized that small piece as their brother, showing once again how open and welcoming their are. Small Phos is so lucky.

And how ironic is it that this Small Phos is considered the smallest, (in some ways) youngest, and most fragile new member of this new family... much like how Phos was with the gems at the beginning of this whole story. (I know that Phos was the same height as the other gems, but because of their makeup and position within their society, Phos can be considered less significant or "smaller" than everyone else)

Hm. With that thought in the air... I hope the parallels end there and this doesn't mean that this small and untainted piece of Phos won't be subjected to a similar treatment of their predecessor, right?

...right??

Nah, it should be fine....Unless Aechmea somehow comes back-

Created Their New Path: Final Act of Defiance?

The second to last thing I'd like to talk about is this page because it had me thinking about few things.

It made me think back to the previous chapters, namely the crazy, nearly perfect plans perpetuated by Aechmea and the Lunarians. It's been emphasized many times how calculated Aechmea's plans were, especially when it came to Phos. He nearly predicted every action Phos would make and kept planning and manipulating accordingly until things go the way he wants. And in the previous chapter, it was also heavily implied that he and the other remnants of humanity counted on Phos, Eyeball, and whatever new organisms they came across, to get onto the Dues Ex Machina ship. In some way, they predicted correctly.

But now I must ask these questions:

Did they also count on the possibility of Phos not entering the ship?

Did they also count on Eyeball switching off the ship's autopilot, manually controlling it, and subsequently crash landing it on a planet that more than likely wasn't the original destination?

For these questions, I want to say no.

It's interesting how even though at this point in the story, both Eyeball and Phos seemed resigned to the fact all of their actions were a result of them being manipulated, even after the perpetrators were long gone. But funny enough, I think that their very last actions were entirely their choice. For Phos, staying on the planet and ceasing to exist was entirely their choice. And for Eyeball, choosing to meddle with the ships settings to grab Phos's last gem piece and boost the ships' output. I don't think Aechmea counted on Eyeball doing that. If Eyeball is correct and they did pass the planet that Aechmea had possibly prepared for them, then this means that Eyeball had in many ways changed the trajectory of his and the pebble's lives, albeit unintentional. This could all mean that are all finally free from Aechmea and his long-game, 4D chess plans.

Phos and Eyeball have finally and truly defied Aechmea and humanity.

...BUT THEN AGAIN.. there's always that dumb chance that this was ALSO somehow part of Aechmea's plan. I highly doubt it, because that would be very ridiculously convoluted, even for this story. But then again, you never know with this author.

But for the sake of this post, I want to believe Phos and Eyeball came out on top in the end by intentionally and unintentionally forging paths that wasn't previously made for them. Even though Phos's final choice was somewhat influenced by the professor, it still felt like it was truly their decision.

I hope this doesn't unravel somehow with the final chapter.

Speaking of which-

The Final Stretch...

I can't believe it. This story is about to end. We'll finally almost done and what a journey it has been. I can't believe I started getting into this series almost over 6 years ago. Many things have happened since then, and during this time, this story had sent me on such an emotional rollercoaster. Though there are many things within the story that I wish was different or handled better, I still think this was a very wonderful and thought provoking story.

Now Ms. Ichikawa has to stick the landing. This could make or break this series.

After everything you put us readers through, I hope the true finale will be worth it.

#houseki no kuni #land of the lustrous #hnk #hnk spoilers #hnk phos #hnk spoiler #lotl #hnk meta #lotl spoilers #hnk analysis #hnk chapter 107 #hnk phosphophyllite #hnk manga #hnk thoughts #story analysis

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oursecretescape · 8 months ago

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Forgotten

words: 7.5k

genre: angst

If my fate is to disappear like this, then this is my last letter - Let go xx TW: Mentions of anxiety, panick attack. Trad: anjinho = little angel. a/n: Hello, my babies. This story is the translation of ''Forgotten'' that I recently posted. I tried to make it as angsty as possible, hope I have achieved my goal. My apologies before hand for any grammar erros. English is not my first language. I suggest you all read it along with the saddest song you like. Well... with all that being said, I wish you a happy reading (or sad? lmao. dunno). Tell me later what y'all thought. ♥

"Hey! We'll be there soon. Sorry for the delay. Today's rehearsal took longer than expected. We're leaving now."

Received at 5 in the afternoon.

I take a quick glance at the clock, and it shows eight in the evening. A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I feel my heart drumming slowly in my chest, each beat amplifying my growing sense of unease.

I get up from the couch and reach for the umbrella swaying gently in the wind coming from the window. I shut my eyes and take a deep breath, attempting to manage the sudden surge of fear and despair growing in my chest. My heart is racing, and my mind is in overdrive. A sense of mortality and suffocation, all rolled up into a single emotion: anxiety.

I sit down, sliding along the corridor wall. I try to control my breathing while attempting to steady the pounding of my heart. I think that dying in the hallway of a building would be so pointless and dull that it makes me laugh. A laugh, strained and devoid of emotion, but functional.

Heart rate normalizing. Labored, but controlled breathing. Mind stabilized.

I feel my face wet with tears. I wipe them away with trembling hands. When did I start crying? I rise from the floor, swaying a little. I take another deep breath and press the elevator button.

Dad always said that thinking of ridiculous things in difficult moments would help distract me. He was right, as he always was.

The cold, damp breeze of Seoul's streets warmed my soul. Its black skies, like darkness, covered with thick clouds, carried heavy raindrops that, upon impact, met my umbrella, creating beautiful melodies. It was comforting to hear the drops hitting the hard concrete; they reminded me that I wasn't crying alone.

It was thundering when I arrived at the destination. Bright streaks in the sky made the monument even gloomier. I found it ironic how everything matched my feelings. As I entered through the doors, I could already hear muffled cries. Sadness and suffering permeated the air, leaving me melancholic.

After a few more steps, I could see the person I love the most in the world greeting me with a beautiful smile. His eyes were shining like true rays of sunshine. I sit in front of him, sliding my fingers where his name rests. Lee Joon-Ho.

"Dad, I miss you so much," I say aloud, my voice cracking with emotion. "It's been incredibly lonely without you here. You have no idea how much I long for your company," I said, feeling the salty taste of tears. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring my friends to meet you like I promised. They're all caught up with their own lives, you know how it is. But don't worry, I'll bring them next time when they're less busy," I chuckle, with no emotion.

I hear footsteps behind me. I stand up excitedly, my heart pounding, but this time as a sign of comfort. They didn't forget. I feel my face stretch into a small smile, which is quickly dissolved.

"Hello, young lady. Good evening," the guard gives me a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I need to ask you not to linger too long on your visit today. The rain caused some minor leaks, and we'll have to close a little earlier."

"Oh okay, I understand," I responded in a whisper.

"I'm sorry. You have 10 minutes. I'll leave you alone," he said, bowing and leaving promptly.

I turn again, sitting on the floor.

"Dad, today I have to leave a little earlier. But don't worry, I'll be back soon," I feel the tears fall like the drops falling from the sky. "I love you so much," I say between sobs. "I miss you."

I stand up in desperation, running out the door, feeling the drops fall freely on my body, without the protection of the umbrella. It was as if I was washing away all the bad feelings flowing from my being.

Arriving home, I take a hot shower and change into comfortable clothes. The room were in dense darkness. It was just the rain and me. And my cat, who was rubbing against my leg, lay on my lap."

I feel my chest inflate with comfort at the presence of the little being and smile at the gesture.

With the phone in hand, I try to distract my restless mind. I see the Twitter icon and feel my heart pounding as if I shouldn't do this, but I do it anyway. The blue screen shining amidst the darkness of the room soon turns into white, leaving my vision blurred. I switch to dark mode and continue scrolling through my feed.

Within a few seconds, I see something that breaks my heart even more. Among the bursts of excitement from Armys, there are videos of the boys, my boys, having fun in a restaurant with her. They forgot about the visitation day because of her. Again, the reason why I was put aside is her.

Knocks on the door make me forget the feelings of jealousy and anger that burned in my body like fire. I hesitated to remove the furry creature from my lap, as it seemed so comfortable. With a little effort, I get up and walk to the door. Upon opening it, I see Adora's face in a comforting smile. Seeing a friendly face, I feel my tears fall freely on my face once again. She immediately drops the bags she was carrying and envelops me in a loving hug.

I can't say for how long we hugged. What I can say is that it was exactly what I needed at that moment. I feel my chest getting lighter as if all the bad feelings had been carried away by the embrace, and I feel grateful to Adora for that.

Slowly I pull away, and I can see her smile return twice as big.

"Better?" she asks, making me nod.

I step aside, and she enters, placing the food bags on the coffee table. I close the door and follow her.

"What did you bring?" I ask curiously, making her laugh.

"I knew food would cheer you up," she laughs. "I brought a lot of junk food. Sweet and savory cookies, ice cream, sweet and sour pork, hamburgers, and sodas."

"Soda?" I wonder. "Since when do you like fizzy drinks? You always said they gave you gas," I hold back a laugh.

"The soda is for you. For me," she reaches into the bag, pulling out two green bottles of soju. "I brought alcohol," she says sticking her tongue out as she shakes the bottles.

I smile at her little dance, but seeing her gummy smile reminds me of him. I feel the sadness wanting to return when I remember the videos, but I cast aside any bad feelings as I grab the ice cream container.

"I didn't want to bring it up, but I'm really sorry I wasn't there. You know how it is at BigHit. I couldn't leave the production until the work was finished," she explains, and I smile.

"It's okay. I understand," I whisper. "The important thing is that you're here now."

"About the boys..." she starts to say, but I quickly cut her off.

"No, it's fine. I don't want to talk about it."

"But you need to, Cassie. You know that. Keeping it all inside will only make it worse. You know you can trust me. Vent it out. I'm here," she holds my hand.

I close my eyes, nodding. I search within myself for the strength to let out everything I'm feeling. Everything that's hurting me. I bite my lower lip and open my eyes. It's going to be okay.

"It's been some time since my friendship with the boys started cooling off," I begin, feeling her squeeze my hand in comfort. "You know I met Tae before he became famous, and he's the one who introduced me to the rest of the boys. Since then, we've had a very strong friendship. We weren't always together, especially with the tours and my work, but we were close, like a real family. No matter how long we went without seeing each other, nothing changed, until recently," I sigh. "Park Ji-Hye showed up about 2 months ago, a few weeks before my dad passed away. She auditioned for the dancer position and passed the test," Adora nods.

"Yeah, I saw her audition," she says.

"So, since that day, I saw her getting closer and closer to the boys. They were always talking about how cool and funny she is, and, you know, I was happy for them. A new friendship is always good, especially for them, who are famous and always have to be careful with opportunists. But it never crossed my mind that she would take the place I had in their lives," I smile sadly. "They started visiting me much less. Calling me much less. Inviting me to the dorm or out much less. Until the day I literally became nothing to them," I look at Adora, whose face is red with anger.

"These..." I interrupted her.

"You don't want to lose your job, right?" I ask, laughing. "And you can't blame them either. She became their official dancer, which means wherever they go, she's with them," I shrug. "She's with them all the time, and that surely made them closer to her. Even more than me," I feel my eyes welling up. "I don't want to lose them, but I feel like I already did."

"Hey," she shakes me. "Calm down, breathe. I know they messed up. And they messed up badly, but it doesn't mean they've forgotten about you," Adora says, trying to comfort me.

"They forgot me the day my dad died, Adora. I'll never forget that. I feel like on that day, I died twice. I remember calling them in desperation, crying, not knowing what to do, feeling like my world was falling apart," I pause as I feel all the emotions returning. "And they said they were coming, but they never showed up," I continued after a few seconds of silence. "After that, they sent me a message explaining that Park Ji-Hye had gotten hurt dancing and they were with her at the hospital," Adora nods.

"Yeah, I remember. She just fell on her butt, but she made a scene like she broke her back. Everyone was freaking out at the company, even Bang PD. But in the end, it was just drama," she laments.

"After that, they didn't even visit me. Not even once," I laughed with no emotion. "Right after, they forgot my birthday. I understand that I wasn't excited at all because of my dad, but it wouldn't hurt to receive some supportive or congratulatory messages from them. I was so upset that I sent some sad texts. In less than thirty minutes, they were knocking on my door. We cried a lot, but I felt like a part of me had come back to life and that everything was going to be okay," I sarcastically laughed. "I couldn't have been more wrong, could I?" I asked.

"Cassie..."

"It's okay. You don't have to say anything. After today, I finally understood," I grab a spoon. "They found someone better than me. Someone who can be with them all the time and help them when they need it. I'm just sad that person isn't me. Not anymore," I shove the spoonful of ice cream into my mouth, to prevent the tears stuck in my throat from coming out.

For the rest of the night, Adora didn't bring up the subject again, and I was grateful for that.

A random movie played on TV, but my mind was far away. I looked to the side and saw Adora sleeping with her mouth open. A piece of cookie rested on her cheek while her hand lay above her head. I silently chuckled, covering us and then turning off the TV.

A distant ringing sound caught my attention. I tapped around the couch until I found the phone under the cushion. My eyes automatically closed from the sudden contact with the bright screen, but just as they closed, they widened.

After the first notification, thousands started to show up. My heart throbbed in my chest as my body was flooded with nervousness.

"Min PD: Cassie, please tell me you're there."

"Joonie: Please respond. We're sorry. It wasn't our intention not to show up..." The message appeared cut off because I hadn't unlocked the phone yet.

"Hobierto: Believe us, Cassie. Please, we know you're awake. Answer us."

"Jinnie: Cassandra, we would never do anything to hurt you. Please let us explain."

"Mochi: Answer the phone."

After that message, a group call popped up on the screen. I stared at it, battling the urge to answer. I sighed deeply and threw the phone back onto the couch because no matter how much I wanted to talk to them, I was still hurt. I didn't want to answer and end up fighting. Saying things without thinking and ending up in a worse situation. The best thing to do now was to rest.

I made myself comfortable on the bed we had arranged on the floor, and put the pillow over my head to block out the notifications. When I didn't see any changes, I pressed the power button on my phone and confirmed it right away. I lay back down and took a deep breath. Tomorrow is a new day. Everything will be okay. ——————————————————

It wasn't even dawn when I heard knock after knock. Disoriented, I got up, searching for where the noise was coming from until my feet led me to the front door. I looked at the clock hanging on the wall and got irritated to see it was six past two in the morning.

I swung the door open, ready to argue with whoever had woken me up so early after going to bed so late, but I lost my voice when I saw the seven people I loved most staring at me ty forlornly.

I felt two arms embrace me tightly, followed by two more until I lost count. Desperate whispers for forgiveness echoed in my ear, making me feel loved... until a certain moment. Memories of what had happened the night before made me wake up from the sleep I didn't know I was in. Slowly, I distanced myself from the seven, able to see the tears streaming down some of their faces and sadness emanating from the others.

"Cassie..." Jimin starts. "I'm so sorry. It wasn't our intention to leave you alone in such a difficult time. Please, believe us."

"We didn't come here to lie to you, Cassandra..." Namjoon says. "It really wasn't our intention. I know this is going to sound completely wrong, but we made a promise to Ji-Hye. We promised to take her out to celebrate her birthday since she's far from her family and would probably celebrate alone," I try to hide a grimace.

They couldn't miss her birthday, but could miss mine.

"As soon as we finished eating, we were going to come straight here. And we really were, Cas, really. But the company called saying we had to go there to finalize the last details for the album. It was then that we sent several messages in the group, but you didn't see any."

"That's why we're here," Taehyung says, interrupting Namjoon. "Cassie, listen to me. You're one of the most important people in my life. Sorry if lately my actions haven't shown that, but please, please, Cas, don't be mad at us. I couldn't bear to know that you're upset because of me," he whispers.

"Go to the dorms tonight. Let's talk about this calmly," Hoseok suggests.

I remain silent for a few minutes.

"Come on, please. Hum? Hum?'' Tae shakes my arm. ''You'll go, right? Say yes," he asks.

"Okay," I sigh deeply. "I'll go."

I feel arms wrapping around my body again, and I relax, enjoying the contact. This time, the hug lasted only a few seconds. The boys said goodbye, saying they needed to be at the company in a few hours.

"Tonight at 7. We'll be waiting for you," Yoongi said and then left.

I closed the door, trying to contain my excitement and the obvious smile on my face. As I turned to go back to bed, I was startled to see only Adora's head peeking out from behind the couch. She had a radiant smile on her face as she looked at me with raised eyebrows.

"Shut up," I say, making her laugh. ——————————————————

I look at the clock on the wall. It's 8:07 in the evening. Damn, I was late. I could already hear Adora's voice slowly emerging in my mind, saying that I should have listened to her and picked out my outfit earlier. Shaking my head, I focus on finishing getting ready. The last thing I needed right now was a lecture from my own mind.

I hear knocks and the doorbell ringing repeatedly.

"Shit," I mutter as I hop over to the door.

I try to put on my sock while walking to the door, but my unfailing plan soon becomes fallible when I trip over my own hand and fall on the floor. The knocks and the doorbell grow louder, and I feel irritation creeping in. "ALRIGHT, I'M COMING," I yell and pick myself up.

I walk back to the door with a pout and my hair completely tousled, covering my face. I take a deep breath, fix my hair, put on a fake smile, and finally open the door. As I see the seven people I love most in the world looking at me with confused faces, I feel my smile turn genuine, and the earlier irritation vanish as if it had never existed.

"Is everything okay? Why didn't you come?" I hear Taehyung ask as he scrutinizes me from head to toe."

"What happened? Something serious?" Seokjin asks, and I shake my head.

"No, guys, sorry. I almost died trying to choose a good outfit to wear and ended up running late, sorry," I explained laughing.

''What do you mean you almost died?" Jungkook asks as I watch their faces turn into a grimace."

"It was nothing, really," I reassure, taking a quick glance at Jungkook, who was holding back his laugh.

He knew it. I am sure he did.

"Are you sure you didn't... you know... fall on your ass?" he smirks. "I'm sure I heard a huge..."''

"Hobi," I said excitedly, "What do you have there?" I pointed to the bags he was carrying while Jungkook laughed.

That little prick.

''Food," he says, shaking the bags. ''We know how much you love eating''.

I chuckle and make way for them to enter. In a few minutes, the food was already on the coffee table, and an improvised bed was set up on the living room floor. I change into more comfortable clothes and join them.

"Look, before we start, we want you to know how sorry we are," Yoongi says.

"Yes... Sorry for not being there on the visitation's day," Jimin adds. "If there's anything you want to say, anything that's bothering you, please let us know. We'll fix it all, Cassie. ''he holds my hand.'' We want things to go back to how they used to be."

"We're here for you, Cas," Jin finishes, and I smile weakly.

I pause for a moment, feeling that it still wasn't the right time. So, I just sigh and shake my head.

"It's okay, guys. Really," I open with a smile. "Let's just watch this movie already. I'm dying to see who'll be the first one to cry and shake in fear like a little kitten." I say, trying to change the subject, and smirk when I realize it worked.

"I am sure it won't be me," Hoseok says with confidence. "Cause you know..." he shows off his muscles. "I'm a man," he pauses for a minute.

It doesn't take long until Hoseok's laughter fills the room, making everyone laugh.

"Who listens to him talking like this, doesn't even think the Gladiator sandal outside belongs to him," Jungkook says, making Hoseok look at him flabbergasted.

''Hey, what do you mean by that?'' he asks shookedt. ''It's fashionable''

"Yeah, Hobi. Sure is," Yoongi says, patting his shoulder.

''Why I don't believe you are being honest?'' Hoseok asks putting his finger under his chain. ''I'm going to expose you on Twitter. Or should I say X?''

''What? Are you into Xvideos?'' Namjoon asks as he returns.

Everybody stops and looks at him. When did he even leave to begin with?

"What were you doing, Joonie?" I ask, smirking at him. "Were you in the bathroom?" he nods as the rest of the boys laugh.

''Now we know why you are thinking naughtiness'' Jimin says.

Namjoon's face turns red as he shakes his hands nervously. He tries to sit down on the couch but somehow ends up falling on the ground. We can see his cellphone flying around the living room as he throws his arms in the air in an attempt to regain his balance, but it doesn't work, as expected.

''No need to be nervous, Joonie'' I say. ''Everybody masturbates once in a while.''

''Do we?'' Yoongi looks at me suspiciously.

"I mean," I chuckle nervously. "How did we even get to this conversation? Let's just watch the movie for God's sake."

"Nah, nah. Don't you try coming up with excuses," Tae says abruptly. "What do you mean by that? Are you dating someone?" Jungkook seems to be having fun as he opens a beer can.

''What? Me? Dating?'' I laugh. ''Not even close. But I can't say the same about Jungkook, can I?'' he chokes.

''Uh? What you on about?'' he asks as he cleans his mouth. ‘’Seven days a week, huh?’’ he burst into laughter. He pauses for a minute before smirking. "Hm, why's that, baby girl?" he says, leaning in my direction. "Are you jealous?" he asks, putting a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Do you want me to…" he bites his lower lip. "You know," he says putting his finger on my lips. I can already feel the cringeness and second-hand embarrassment traveling throughout my body as the rest of the boys laugh. This prick. ‘’You really need to get out from twitter,’’ I say, shoving him away. ‘’The next step is to put up a black and white profile picture and call yourself a webdom’’ He raises both of his middle fingers in my direction before turning his attention back to the beer can. ‘’Are you guys done? Can I finally play this damn movie?’’ Yoongi asks, making everybody nod.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, it was time for them to leave. Unfortunately, they couldn't stay overnight. They had to leave very early the next day due to their schedule.

I hesitated to get up; I didn't want to accompany them to the door out of sheer laziness, and feeling Taehyung shaking me with his foot made me even more sluggish.

"If you keep doing that, I swear I'll fall asleep," I say, making him huff.

"Come on, sloth imitation. Take us to the door," Jimin says, but gives up when he sees Jungkook lying next to me.

"Jungkook, I'm sure you really like your video game, right?" Seokjin asks, and in a jump, Jungkook gets up.

"Are you really not taking us to the door?" Yoongi asks, and I remain silent. "Okay then."

When I open my eyes to see what he was going to do, I feel an arm gather and squeeze my legs while a hand starts tickling my feet furiously.

"JESUS!" I scream in surprise.

I heard laughter as I fought for my life. The strange feeling that tickling brought made me confused if I was laughing because I found it funny or if it was fear messing up my nervous system. The laughter increased as I writhed and screamed for help.

"YOONGI, YOU JERK!" I said without realizing that I was actually yelling.

"Weren't you sleepy?" Yoongi asks. "So, I'm trying to help you."

"WAIT UNTIL I GET UP, YOU PIECE OF BROWN SUGAR, I'M GOING TO END YOU."

"Are you going to take us to the door?" he asks.

"OKAY, OKAY, I'LL TAKE YOU, JUST STOP FOR THE LOVE OF GOD," I yell.

I feel my body calm down and my brain start functioning again as the tickling ceases. I looked at Yoongi who was laughing while sniffing his hand.

"Ew, you have smelly feet," he says, and I get up.

"Come here, you little jerk," I chase after him as he runs away mocking me.

After a few seconds, I could already feel that the 70% of water in my body had evaporated and the air in my lungs was scarce. When did my body become so sedentary?

"Idiot," I curse Yoongi who laughs. "I hate you."

"I love you too, beautiful thing," I hear him say.

Finally, I accompany them to the door. After a lazy farewell, I see them about to leave, but a click in my mind makes me stop them.

"As you know, I graduated from college, but since it was at the time when my father died, I didn't have any enthusiasm to celebrate. Adora recommended that I have a celebration the day after tomorrow night, since it's the weekend. Just to not let it go unnoticed. So... you guys are invited."

"We'll be here, don't worry," Namjoon says, and I smile nodding.

We say goodbye again, and this time, I see them leave. Seeing the elevator door close, I go back inside the house. The smile on my face never leaves me for a second, and finally, after so long, I could feel that things would really be okay.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Thanks to Adora, everything was organized on time. The food was ordered since neither she nor I wanted anyone to die from food poisoning. The time we ended up in the hospital the day we cooked for each other was enough. No need to repeat the dose.

I check the time on my phone and see it's 8pm. They would arrive at any moment, so I sit next to Adora on the couch to chat until then.

☂ ☂

Some time passed, and the boys still hadn't arrived. I look at the time again and see that it's 9:46. I try not to think the worst and choose to believe they would be here soon.

☂ ☂

I sigh deeply at seeing what time it is: 11:14. I try to ignore Adora's pitying look and get up from the couch. I suppress the tears once again. I am tired of crying. And more than ever, I realize that they don't deserve my tears.

"Cassandra..." Adora calls me, and I look at her. "I'm sure there's an explanation for this. Something must have happened at the company, and they couldn't let us know." I shake my head.

Something inside me told me that wasn't it, and I decided to trust my intuition.

"Adora, can you take me to the dorm?," I ask softly. "I don't think I'll have the courage to go alone," I weakly smile, and she nods.

"Of course, my love. Of course..." ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The car journey lasted less than I wished. My mind was constantly clouded by memories, anxiety making the painful memories hurt twice as much. I laughed in disbelief. I wondered what I had done wrong to deserve this.

"Thank you for bringing me," I look at Adora. "And thank you for always being by my side in difficult times. If I felt supported and loved, be sure that it's all because of you. You're an amazing person, Adora, and I hope you know that." she smiles.

"Regardless of what happens there, remember that you are enough. Not for them, but for yourself. Don't belittle yourself for them, Cassie, and don't let the love you feel for them speak louder than your self-love. If you survived two hellish months without their presence, be sure that you can live your life and be immensely happy in the future without them. I guarantee you that," I feel her hand squeezing mine for comfort, and I smile. "I'll be waiting for you here," I nod.

I get out of the car, feeling Adora's words take effect. I walk bravely towards the towering building, ignoring every feeling of nostalgia trying to invade me. I couldn't lose focus now.

Arriving on their dorm's floor, I feel my heart skip a beat. I pause for a moment and try to put my thoughts and feelings in order. Seeing no result, I lean against the wall and try in every way to avoid a panic attack that was about to come. As if it were a heavenly help, I feel my phone vibrate. With trembling hands, I pick it up and see a message from Adora.

"Don't forget, you are strong and capable. And never for a moment think you are alone, because I'm here for you."

I clutch my phone tightly. Adora is right. I am strong and I am capable. I can do this because regardless of what happens, I will be okay.

I take a deep breath, gathering all the strength and courage from my being, and knock on the door. I freeze when I realize what I've done, but I quickly compose myself. I will be okay.

A few seconds passed and no one answered, so I knocked again. But just like the first time, there was no response. After the third attempt, I decide to enter. Typing the password on the door, I entered the dormitory.

Upon realizing that there was no one in the main hall, the pounding of my heart calmed down. I begin to walk through the dormitory, recalling every good moment I had with my boys. I feel the sadness emanating in my chest once again.

I really didn't want to lose them.

As I walked down the corridor, I heard voices coming from the kitchen. I started walking with firm steps, but I felt my legs waver when I heard a female voice among their voices. It was her.

"Jungkook-oppa, you're so silly," I hear her delicate laughter, feeling jealousy burning in my chest.

It should be me there.

"The silly you love," I hear Jungkook reply.

I could hear the happiness in his voice. It was as if they didn't need anyone else at the moment but her. And that made me hate her, but my own mind scolded me. She is not worthy of my hatred. She is as innocent as I am in this story. She did nothing to hurt me, so why would I hate her?

"Hinnie," I hear Hoseok's voice.

Hinnie...

"Try it and tell me what you think."

There was a moment of pause until applause and sounds of appreciation were made.

"It's amazing, oppa," she says. "You really keep improving in the kitchen every day."

Unable to bear it anymore, I think of simply turning around and leaving, but something catches my attention. And it was precisely there, in that moment, that I regretted staying.

"Why do I feel like we're forgetting something?" I hear Taehyung say, and I feel my body tremble.

Once again, there was a pause until someone shouted.

"Shit, really," Jimin said. "We forgot to take the drinks out of the freezer."

I feel my heart break, as if that were possible. I let out a disbelieving laugh and finally come out from where I was hiding.

"And try more of this," Hoseok suddenly stops. "Cassie..."

I hear the sound of something falling to the ground. Soon, everyone was staring at me wide-eyed. I repress the urge to laugh. I realize how messy my whole body was the moment I wanted to laugh and not cry.

"Oh no," Jimin says, as if remembering something. "The party."

With that said, everyone becomes even more desperate. Seeing them approaching, I panic.

"Don't come near,"

They quickly stop. I see them not knowing what to do. And it wasn't just them. I end up getting disoriented with so much pressure. Where did my courage go when I needed it most?

"Um... what's going on?" she asks, and I close my eyes.

It's not her fault. It's not her fault...

"Ji-Hye, could you leave us alone for a moment?" Namjoon asks.

"Yes, of course. It's time for me to leave anyway," she gets up. "I'll see you later," she says bowing both to them and to me.

After she left, silence hung in the air. I tried to hold back my laughter, but when I saw everyone's confused faces, I knew I had failed. When I noticed that no one was going to say anything, I took the initiative.

"Do you know what's more disappointing? It's that I really thought this time would be different," I shrug. "I guess I was wrong, wasn't I?"

"Cas..."

"Do you remember when you asked me if I had something to say, Jinnie? If something was hurting me? Well, I do, and I hope I won't be interrupted."

With no response, I continue.

"I feel like I died. It's been a while since I am just surviving," I start. "The fact that you didn't come to the visitation isn't the part that hurts the most, it's that you weren't there when my father passed away. I remember how desperate I was, and the only people I could think of were you. But you weren't there. Damn, you didn't even call." I whisper as tears fall freely down my face. "When I found myself alone in the hospital, realizing that the person who adopted me and chose me to love had died, that was my first death. The person who loved me, who looked beyond language or race barriers, and who taught me everything I know had suddenly left, without even giving me a chance to say goodbye. Do you know how I felt? Devastated."

I pause for a moment. Melancholy takes over my body as I recall all the feelings I felt that day, and for a moment, I allow myself to cry all I needed. I sob so much that I thought I might choke. Without caring about looks or pity, I just allowed myself, knowing that everything would be okay.

"When I called the only people I thought I could count on, and they told me they were coming, I didn't feel so alone," I let out a humorless laugh. "Until I realized that those people never arrived. The people who always said they would be there for me weren't there when I needed them the most. That was my second death," I look at Jin. "Don't say these things to anybody if they are not coming from your heart. Don't hurt anyone else by saying you have their backs or that you will always be there for them when in reality it's not the truth."

I look at each one. Their gazes were distant, as if they were reliving every moment.

"You know, I don't want you to think I'm mad at Park Ji-Hye. Actually, quite the opposite. I was really happy when you said you met someone nice. Someone who really cared about you and genuinely wanted your friendships. I know how tough it is for you to find real friendships with all the fame, so I felt fulfilled too. I remember telling daddy excitedly, and he laughed at my excitement, happy for you and for me. Right after that, I lost him, and little by little, I lost you too, like I was meant to be alone," I smile weakly. "I am sorry if I'm being selfish, but that's how I feel. You guys forgot my birthday. Forgot the visitation days, and to top it off, you forgot my graduation party. It's like you replaced me as if I never even existed in your lives, and that really hurts. Really.''

I finish, and only then I realize they were crying with me. Some didn't have the courage to meet my gaze. We spent a few minutes without anyone saying anything. The only thing filling the air was the sound of our sniffles and sobs.

"On the day your father died," Namjoon begins. "We felt like we had lost a family member because he was, in fact, one. I am truly sorry, Cas, but for me, Park Ji-Hye's fall was an escape. I didn't want to face reality. I wouldn't know how to react to the loss of someone so special, and I also wouldn't know how to act with you," he looks at me.

"On your birthday, we thought you would like to be alone. It would be the first without your father, so we didn't know what to do, Cassie. We panicked," Jimin sighs. "But now I realize how you felt," he laughs humorlessly. "My God, I never thought I'd be such a horrible friend. What a disappointment," he whispers, covering his face with his hand.

"On visitation days," I look at Hoseok. "I confess that I clung to any opportunity not to go, Cas," he cries. "Not because I didn't love you. I love you, and I love you very much, but I never knew how to react to death. The only two times I entered a cemetery, I spent the rest of the week feeling bad, with depressive thoughts. I also couldn't let Armys worry. I didn't want their 'Sun' to lose its brightness. I am so sorry for not being able to tell you this before. I didn't want to seem selfish."

I suppress a disbelieving laugh.

"Hearing all this, I realize how futile our apologies seem," Yoongi laughs weakly. "But they are true, Cassie... I understand what Hoseok says. You know about my history with depression, don't you?" he asks, and I nod. "It's the same thing for me. If I enter a cemetery, my thoughts don't stop. Some come in a worse form, and I feel like I'm going crazy."

"We were selfish, Cas," Seokjin says. "I was. I didn't want Armys to see us sad because I knew the chaos it would be. I have no words to express how special you are to me," he pauses. "Cassie, you are my sister, my family. You weren't crying alone; I cried with you. I just couldn't show it. I knew it would be worse if I saw you cry, just like I am seeing now."

There was a moment of silence. Until his voice broke.

"I am sorry," Taehyung says. "Damn, I don't even know what to say, Cassie. You are one of the most precious people I have ever met. I remember how you stayed with us through thick and thin. I also remember how happy you were for us at the beginning, and I know the genuine happiness you felt when we received our first award. You stood by my side when my grandma passed away. How could I not be by your side too? My God," he puts his hand on his head in an act of despair. "You stayed by our side when we thought about disbanding. It was you who helped us see why we are here, who helped us find reasons to stay," he looks at me anxiously. "How could I be so selfish?"

"We thought that regardless of anything, you would always be by our side. That you would understand us, even with our deplorable attitudes. We always thought we would have you next to us, so we neglected you," Yoongi shakes his head. I feel like he answered more to Taehyung than to me. "Damn, anjinho, I'm sorry," I lower my head as I hear him call me by the nickname I loved so much.

"The fact that we started a new friendship also influenced us," Jungkook says. "We were so excited that someone, besides you, wanted a friendship without interest that without realizing it, we put aside the one that had been with us from the beginning," I hear Jungkook say muffled, as his two hands covered his face.

"We don't deserve you, Cassandra. We left you at the most difficult moment of your life, and yet you never stopped loving us," Yoongi pulls his own hair, a habit he always did when he was nervous. "We can't let you leave thinking that we don't care about you because, Cassie, that would be a complete lie. With the stress of the comeback, things only got worse. It was rehearsal, recording, agendas to fulfill, productions, trips, tours. Our minds were a mess, and Park Ji-Hye tried to help us from there. We know she's not the one to blame, and it's not your fault either. It's ours and only ours. I know this will seem like a lame excuse, but I didn't want to let you go thinking that you aren't precious to us. You are Cas. And you always will be."

I close my eyes and try to control my breathing. If before I felt bad, now I feel ten times worse. It seemed like I didn't even know them anymore. The feeling of comfort they made me feel was replaced by anguish. By sadness.

I open my eyes, and for the last time, I look at my boys. I realize that Taehyung understood my gaze.

"Cassie, please... Please don't..." Taehyung starts, but is interrupted by Seokjin.

"Don't you dare say what I think you're going to say."

"But I can't lose her, Hyung. I can't lose her," Taehyung says, crouching down.

I think about going to him, but then I retreat my body. If I do that, I know my heart will weaken, and at the moment, the only person I need to think about is myself.

"I'm sorry, hyung, but I'll be selfish," Namjoon says to Seokjin, and I look at him confused. "I don't know what your decision will be, Cassie. I'll support you, even if you choose to leave without our friendship. But I beg you... Cassandra, I implore you, try to find in yourself a little piece that doesn't want to give up on us. It doesn't have to be now. I want you to heal, and I don't care how long it takes. The only thing I ask is that you don't forget us and don't give up on us. Come back to us when you feel ready. I don't want to lose you, Cas. I..."

"I really hope you find a way to forgive us, Cassie. But understand that if you don't, we'll understand. You, more than anyone else, have every right to hate us," Yoongi says, interrupting Namjoon. "I hope you don't forget about us because, with all my heart, we won't forget about you."

I feel my heart shattering with every tear that falls on their faces. I smile weakly. I will really miss them.

I bow in a sign of respect, and as I return to my normal position, I raise my hand to my heart.

"Thank you, my boys. For all the good moments. You were a very important part of my life, which I will carry forever. I will never forget about all of you," I smile faintly. "How could I forget my first true friendships? My first loves?" I whisper.

I take a breath and smile. A true smile. A smile of gratitude.

"Regardless of what happened, you guys deserve nothing but love and happiness. Don't let anyone say otherwise. Even far away, please remember I will always be cheering for your success. And whenever you feel unloved, remember I love you. Very, very much.'' I can hear their sobs getting stronger. ''Don't think I blame you for what happened; I think I finally understand that life has its ups and downs. People come and unfortunately go," I see Taehyung desperate, trying to find something to say. I look away. I need to be strong. "I hope that every day your friendship with Park Ji-Hye grows, and that you take from all of this a lesson.''

I take a deep breath, looking at them for the last time.

''From the bottom of my heart... I wish you to be immensely happy."

In a gesture, I send thousands of kisses. I see Tae wanting to approach, so I turn around and start walking towards the exit, and this time, I don't cry. I feel the weight of sadness in my chest, but the weight of peace for having put everything I felt out was greater. And for the first time in two months, I believe it when I say that everything will be okay.

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brightoakgame · 27 days ago

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Irregular Monday Update, Edition 16 (new, improved--and soon to be voiced...!)

Good heavens, it's been...a minute since my last proper update, hasn't it? 😶‍🌫️ To start, I want to apologize for the prolonged delay and quiet! My family is in the midst of a long-process major move, uprooting from my beloved home state and preparing for new adventures elsewhere, with the big jump likely to occur sometime around the start of the new year. Most of the past year has been a series of small leaps from one lily-pad to the next in preparation for this, and it's only been within the last month or two that things have finally stabilized enough to allow for some progress on game development. ✨ (read on, MacDuff)

Which, of course, brings us to the first update: Tell It Slant!

An Old Friend trash-talking Edgar Allan Poe in Tell It Slant

Tell It Slant is the game I had the joy of writing (and horror of script-coding) for this Spooktober! 🎃 Participating in a short jam project felt like the ideal way to get a little exercise in before launching headfirst back into Bright Oak, and I had the pleasure of working with a phenomenal, phenomenal team (directed by the wonderful E.C., with art by Jessey N. Droz, music by Senaeris, and a gorgeous UI courtesy of Remnantation, Windchimes, and vronfrog). There are over 270 entries this year--all free!--so if you're looking for something ~spoooooky~ to read this October, this is a great place to start! I'll be posting my personal shortlist of favorites in a few days. ✨

There are few teachers better than experience, and this project was no exception. Amidst identifying places I can improve (and discovering I am nothing if not consistent: there is less than 300 words difference between Tell It Slant and Burdock), something I found particularly striking was working with our remarkable, phenomenally talented cast of voice actors: CobaltKobold, Vanessa Benoit, and the inimitable Chase Via. I never intended for there to be voice acting in my projects prior to this, but after Tell It Slant, my previous works feel so...quiet. Moreover, watching the streams of Tell It Slant, I have come to recognize that having voice acting also adds a layer of accessibility that I'd really like to embrace going forward. Thus, after some discussion with voice director EeeCee and my personal security blanket Remnantation, we come to the next update:

Burdock (revisited!)

Burdock was my first-ever jam project, made last Spooktober (alongside Butterfly Rocket Studios regulars Remnantation, John Åhlin, and Windchimes, as well as the talented ingthing). Rem has expressed interest in embellishing the art, and it feels like the best starting point for me on incorporating voice acting on a personal project. If you enjoy the work of our talented cast in Tell It Slant as much as I do, you'll be pleased to know that three of the Fair Folk in Burdock are likely to sound...rather familiar. For the rest of the troupe, I'll post a link to the casting call later this week. 💚 The re-release goal we're working on presently is this winter, ideally before the year end. ✨

(I spy with my little eye...a Forster sibling dialogue from Act II! Since code tends to run off the page, here's a snap of the raw script instead)

...but what about Bright Oak?!

Bright Oak remains the big constant in my heart, and it is not exempt from this shift in perspective: it is now my intention to have Bright Oak also be fully voiced, with the exception of the main player character and their internal narration. What does that look like as far as the release timeline? Frankly, I'm not entirely sure yet. Given that I'll be getting a major assist on this from the talented E.C., I do not anticipate it to be of as much impact as the impending out of state move, however, and--depending on what avenue I end up taking to secure funding for this addition, whether continuing to work out of pocket or if I need to court crowdfunding--I do think the full game should be complete and ready for release within the next year. Even with all these twists and turns, I'm confident that in the end, we're gonna have something well and truly special, and I cannot wait to share it with you all. ✨

And that...is more than enough from me for today! Thank you all for your unswerving patience and support; I appreciate you more than words can say. 💚 B.

#monday updates #tell it slant #burdock #bright oak #voice acting #voice actors #visual novel #oelvn #interactive fiction #game dev #interactive story #spooky season #spooktober vn jam #spooktober 2024 #spooktober 2023 #spooktober

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crimson-calligraphyx · 5 months ago

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Tag List: @cheyfi @kingdomof-omens @daylightlvrs @blade-in-red @jay02bo @itsmrsfuentes @cncohshit @catj422 @lma1986 @chels3a-smile @kiwi475 @cookiesupplier @timid-raccoon @xxkittenkissesxx

A/N: I just want to apologize for the delay. I really lost my motivation there for a while, but you all deserve an update. Love you all 🖤

Braxton Hicks.

After a very much panicked phone call with my doctor, we were able to determine that the pain I had been feeling was, in fact, false labor. Thank God.

Still, she insisted that I take things easy from here on out—not necessarily total bed rest, but to not be on my feet for any extended periods. There was no way I'd be able to stay off my feet while at the bakery, so that meant that I had to leave the bakery in the hands of Juliana earlier than we had originally planned. Which wasn't a problem per se, but I would've liked to have helped her prepare more than I had been able to.

I tossed my phone down beside me on the mattress with a huff after letting Jules know the new and unexpected plan. She said that it wasn't a problem and that she could handle it, but there was a hesitancy in her voice that told me otherwise. I had no choice but to take her word for it; there wasn't anything that I could do at this point. What the doctor said, goes—Noah wouldn't let me do anything otherwise.

I closed my eyes and ran a hand down my belly with a deep exhale, hoping to shut out the stress from today. I feel him kick against my palm, and it brings a subtle smile to my face. There wasn't anything to worry about. The baby is okay, I'm okay, the bakery will be just fine.

"How are we doing?" Noah asks, quietly entering our bedroom. "We're fine," I answer, opening my eyes to the mess that was my husband. "What the hell happened to you?" I snort, taking note of the light blue he was now sporting on nearly his whole left arm. The longer I stared, the more paint I noticed had accumulated on him. It was splattered across the front of his pants, a good portion of the left side of his shirt, across his face, and even in his hair. "Did a bomb go off while you were painting?"

He glances down at himself, his eyebrows rising in surprise as if he hadn't even noticed he was practically turning into a Smurf. Pink skirts across his cheeks, a bashful chuckle sounding from him as he brings his attention back to me. "Yeah, about that..." he trails off, shaking his head. "I finished painting the room." "Are you sure? Cuz I think you're wearing most of the paint," I tease, pushing myself up into a sitting position. "Yes, I'm sure." He rolls his eyes, "Come see for yourself."

He offers me his clean hand, pulling me to my feet and guiding me to the baby's room. I gasped upon entering, a smile spreading on my face; the walls were pristine, evenly painted, leaving only the painter's tape over the trim as the paint dried.

My eyes flicker to the still-tarped floor, catching a mess of baby blue around the roller pan that was now misshapen. I glanced between the pan and Noah's coated arm before quirking a brow up at him, finally putting two and two together.

"What happened here?" I flashed him a knowing grin, folding my arms over my chest and cocking my head towards the spill. He shrugged before simply stating, "I tripped." "And took a bath in the paint, it seems," I giggled. He rolls his eyes again, draping his right arm over my shoulders and pulling me towards him. "Oh, come on. It's not that bad." He plants a brief kiss atop my head. I snort, leaning into him and wrapping my arm around his back. "Whatever you say, Papa Smurf." "I think you mean Daddy Smurf," he humors, a hint of sultry in his voice as he brings me in front of him and waggles his brows at me. I snort, shaking my head at him. "You did not just say that." "Oh, I so did," he teases before planting a sloppy kiss on my cheek.

I swat my hands at him and he laughs, pecking my face a few more times before letting me go. I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of me from his playfulness and smiled as I stood on my toes, giving him one last kiss before turning to admire the room once again.

"The room really came out great, Noah," I tell him truthfully. "Thank you." He sidles up behind me, running his hands up and down my arms. "Why are you thanking me? It was a joint effort, Liv." I shrug. "You've done so much. You put together the furniture and finished the walls without me." "You're 8 months pregnant," he chuckles lightly. "I'm not making you do all of that. And before you say it, I know I was a dick about it earlier, and I'm still sorry about that. I was just frustrated—" "I know, Noah. I know." I lean into him as he wraps his arms around my shoulders, holding me to him. "Just let me thank you for all that you do, okay?" "Okay," he agrees quietly, kissing the back of my head.

We stayed like this for a moment or two as I envisioned how the room would look once the walls were dry and things were put into place. A smile graces my lips, picturing the white bookshelf filled with children's books, the nightstand with a small lamp, the lampshade peppered with clouds, and a hot air balloon to match the wall decal we'd eventually put up. The crib with blue and white bedding that will soon house our son, the wall behind it soon bearing his name and a picture of him as a newborn. Stuffed animals galore, and a rocking chair in the corner for when we read him bedtime stories.

God, I couldn't fucking wait.

"Seriously?" I shout, slamming the hardcover book in my hands shut, the sound carrying through our much-too-quiet living room. "You okay?" Noah pokes his head out from the kitchen, one eyebrow perched in curiosity. "No," I grumble, holding up the book with one hand and shaking it with agitation. "That's how this ends?!" Both his brows shoot up in surprise, though his expression quickly melts into a knowing smirk when he sees that I'm holding his copy of Iron Flame. "Told ya," he chuckles, returning to whatever task he had in the kitchen. "This is some bullshit! Now I gotta wait months to know what fucking happens!"

I hear him laugh as I toss the book onto the side table next to me, adding it to the ever-growing collection of books I've read in the past three weeks. I huff, throwing my head back against the couch and folding my arms across my chest as I fester in what was admittedly unnecessary anger.

"Here, I made you some lunch," Noah says as he joins me in the living room. He holds out a plate with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, chips, and a pickle spear, with which I do nothing but stare at it. "I'm not hungry," I mumble, setting my jaw and looking forward. He snorts. "Are you really that mad?" He asks, lowering his arms. "Yes," I pout. "It's just a book, Liv. You've gotta eat," he tells me and balances the plate atop my belly.

I blink at the food in front of me, appalled that he actually just put it on my stomach as if it's some sort of fucking table, before slowly bringing my gaze to Noah. He flashes me a cheeky grin, clearly pleased with himself, and my blood starts to simmer.

It's been three weeks of nothing but sitting on my ass and reading, three weeks without going into the bakery, three weeks of Noah coddling me as if I'm broken and not just pregnant, and it was starting to get under my skin.

"Really?" I snap at him. He cringes apologetically, taking the plate back into his possession. "Sorry, I was just trying to make you laugh." "Using him as a table isn't going to make me fucking laugh, Noah." I palm the cushions beside me, pushing myself off the couch and brushing past him, headed down the hallway. "Liv, wait," he sighs, trailing after me.

I reach our bedroom, immediately rummaging through my bureau for a change of clothes—I needed out of these pajamas, and out of this damn house.

After throwing what seemed to be half my wardrobe across the room, I held up a sundress that I hadn't worn since last year and stared at it, wondering if it would still fit. It was flowy enough that it should, theoretically, fit right over my bump and hit my knees. I shrugged, laying it out on the bed, and began stripping out of my PJs.

I slipped the sunflower-clad fabric over my head, wriggling and tugging at the sides to manipulate it into place. It was a little snug around my chest, forcing my breasts together and accentuating my cleavage, but it did fit exactly how I imagined it would around my belly, settling right above the knee.

"Liv, what are you doing?" "Going out," I answer Noah curtly, slipping on a pair of tennis shoes. I can feel his eyes burning into my back as I walk to our closet, digging out a shoulder bag. "Oh... Well, where are you going?" I shrug. "Not sure. Maybe the beach," I tell him as I retreat from the closet, placing a sunhat on my head. "I just need to get out." "Let me take you, then. I don't think you should walk all the way—"

I let out a groan, throwing my head back in aggravation. The hat tumbles from its seat, landing behind me, and I sigh harshly as I begin to squat to retrieve it. Noah beats me to it, picking it up and placing it back on my head. He runs a hand down my shoulder, earning my gaze, and I see his eyebrows are pulled together, creased with concern. "Why are you so mad, Olivia? It's just a book," he all but whispers.

Again, I sigh, my eyes closing as my shoulders slump. "It's not really about the book, that's just an excuse," I mumble, shaking my head at myself. "I'm just cooped up, sitting around doing nothing. And when I do get up to do something, you're there in a heartbeat and won't let me do whatever it is I got up to do. I feel like a ticking timebomb," I scoff incredulously, bringing my gaze back to his. "Just waiting around til he's ready to come out. And then the ending of the book, knowing I have to wait for the next one to get published—it tipped me off. All I'm doing is waiting, Noah. At least let me do something while I wait."

"I—" His lips part, but he remains silent. I can practically see the gears turning in his head as his eyes bounce between mine. "I'm sorry, Liv," he sighs. "I didn't want you overdoing it after what happened." "Can't overdo something I'm not doing," I mutter. "Just let me do something. Anything. Please." "Okay," he agrees quietly with a quick bob of his head. I give him a soft smile. "Okay."

With my shoes in one hand and Noah's hand in the other, we leisurely strolled our way across the shoreline. The sun kissed my skin as the tide rolled over our bare feet and the oceanic breeze coasted by, my hair and dress caught in its path. Gulls cried overhead and children laughed as they played about in the sand, building sandcastles and digging trenches. I let out a content sigh, a grin spreading across my face as peace washed over me.

This was exactly what I needed.

Fresh air and sand beneath my toes; no air conditioning and no book in my face.

Noah gives my hand a rhythmic squeeze, and I look up at him. He's squinting, his eyes extra crinkled at the outer corners because he neglected to grab a hat and sunglasses, but he's smiling down at me. I couldn't help but giggle, and placed a kiss against his upper arm before resting my head against him as we carried on.

"Are you having a good time?" he asks, giving my hand another squeeze. "The best," I tell him, returning his squeeze. "I'm sorry for how I acted earlier." "I guess you could say you were a little...crabby... earlier, but it's okay, I forgive you."

I halted, the hand that Noah was holding rising as he continued to walk without noticing I had stopped. He turns when our arms tug against one another, and I shake my head at him, processing his poor joke.

"Get it? Crabby cuz, ya know, we're at the beach and there are crabs at the beach." "You are such a dumbass," I say with a chuckle. "What? I gotta get these dad jokes down sooner or later," he snickers. I roll my eyes. "I'd say you got them down pat." "Yeah?" He smirks when I nod. "Well that's good, he'll be here any day now." I smile down at my belly. "Any day now."

|Chapter 27|

#fanfic #fan fiction #noah sebastian #fanfic writing #romance #quandary #noah sebastian fanfic

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bitbybitwrites · 4 months ago

Note

7. We're going to Fire Island. It's like gay Disney World. (Fire Island, 2022)

Glee (but open to RWRB if you’re more inspired that way!)

My apologies for the delay! Took me a bit to finish this one - because it kind of exploded into something longer than a ficlet!

Thanks again to @tailsbeth-writes for all the Ficlet Friday posts!

It can also be read on A03 here.

Enjoy!

****

Fire Island Follies

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

Santana looked over at her friend and smirked. “Lookin’ a little green about the gills, Hobbit. You ok?”

Blaine took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he clutched his duffle bag close to his chest. The ferry was going through choppy water, and his stomach wasn't faring well at all. No one could blame him; Blaine was from central Ohio and hadn't had much experience being on the open ocean.

He opened his mouth to respond, but unfortunately, at that moment, the boat hit a particularly large wave. The sea vessel bounced so much that Blaine snapped his mouth shut quickly, clapping one hand over it. Santana swore he looked even paler than he had a minute ago.

“Don’t you dare hurl on me, Anderson. I will kill you if you ruin these shoes.”

A young couple and their kid moved away from where Blaine and Santana were sitting, looking at the seasick young man warily. Blaine gave them a weak smile and wave as he peered down at Santana's open-toe espadrilles.

“Fancy footwear for the beach, don’t you think?”

Santana snorted as she wiggled her Burberry-clad foot at Blaine. "I gots to look good for my sweetie.” She leaned over and poked him in the side. He squawked and batted her hand away with a pout. “Can you just give me a smile for once and not look like I’m dragging you to your death.” Santana pleaded.

The boat hit another wave and bounced up and down again. “I feel like death,” Blaine said through gritted teeth. "Just kill me now."

“Oh, perk up, sunshine. We're going to Fire Island. It's like gay Disney World."

****

Blaine was grateful once the ferry finally docked, a vomit-free voyage, thankfully. He gingerly followed Santana out onto the dock, breathing deeply through his nose as he willed for the ground to stop swaying. They both wove in and out of the throng of visitors to the island, searching for. . .

“Tana!” an excited voice squealed.

Blaine stepped aside just in time as a blur of blond hair and bright color whizzed by him, only to launch themselves into Santana's arms. Santana laughed as she caught a young woman in her embrace, swinging her about and then carefully placing her on the ground, kissing her gently.

“Hi, cariño," Santana said softly. "Miss me?"

The other woman giggled and nodded. "So much." She turned and regarded Blaine with a questioning look. "I'm sorry, and you are?"

“Um, Blaine. Blaine Anderson. I, um . . . I’m Santana’s friend.”

The blond grinned and leaned over to deposit a peek on Blaine's cheek. She placed a small, brightly rainbow-colored string of beads around his neck. "Oh yeah, Tana said you might come. I'm glad you did! Happy Pride!"

*****

Blaine sighed as he sat on the deck, looking out towards the sunrise. It was gorgeous view, and Blaine would have thanked anyone who would listen for this brief respite of peace and quiet. There was a whirlwind of activity once Brittany led them back to the house where they would all be staying for the week. He had wandered outside earlier for with a book ( and thankfully his noise-canceling headphones) while Santana and Brittany celebrated their reunion very thoroughly and . . . loudly.

"You know, it's hard making out over Skype. You really can't scissor a webcam." Brittany had confided to Blaine in a stage whisper earlier. "I'm so glad to see her again since I'm working out here all summer."

Blaine had just smiled and nodded. He was slowly getting used to Brittany’s. . . rather quirky personality. She was one of the main reasons Santana dragged him onto this trip. Brittany’s latest job was as a waitress and sometimes backup singer and dancer for the Fire Island Follies.

****

“You are coming with me, short stuff. I will not accept no for an answer.” Santana had threatened a week before. “My lady is out there. I miss her, and I think you would have a really good time. Come on. You're hot. I'm hot. The island will be overflowing with other gorgeous gays you could hook up with. Live a little. You might dress like a grandpa sometimes, but it doesn't mean you have to live like one."

****

The door to the rental home slammed shut as Brittany skipped outside, adorned in a rainbow tulle skirt and bikini top. An intricate collar of rainbow beads lay aginst her neck while her body shone with glitter even in the setting sunlight. A tiara of multicolored rhinestones peeked out from the top of her head as well. "Are you ready?" she asked excitedly. "Tana will lock up and meet us there. She told me to bring you on ahead early. We could use your help to set up if you're for it."

Blaine looked down at himself. “Are you sure this is ok?” He nervously looked at the sparkly black mesh tank top and teeny green shorts that Santana had thrown at him when he stepped out of the shower.

Brittany’s blond head cocked to the side, and she considered for a moment. "As long as you're comfortable. I think you're fine." She said with a grin. "At least it's not the underwear party. That's only for the guys, and I have a feeling you wouldn't be ok just running around in a jockstrap or speedo all night."

She dug into a pouch at her waist and fished out a small tube of rainbow body glitter. Squeezing some on her fingertips, she rubbed it on Blaine’s cheekbones, smiling at the finished look.

“Perfect.”

*****

Cheerios was definitely not what Blaine had expected, either.

First, the nightclub/cabaret space was run by a former drill sergeant wearing a black tracksuit (with appropriately rainbow stripes up and down the arms) named Miss Sue. Secondly, it was probably the most rainbow-themed place he'd ever been to. Colored arches adorned the walls, the floors, the cushions on the bar stools and seats, and even the cocktail napkins. The staff wore tight, tiny rainbow-themed uniforms, some looking like cheerleaders or football players. (Well, that could explain the name of the place) As far as he could see, there were lots of skin, crop tops, booty shorts, and so much body glitter.

And the doors hadn’t opened yet for the public.

The aforementioned drill sergeant was holding court by the DJ station at the back of the club when Brittany and Blaine entered. She brandished a clipboard and barked out loud via a megaphone she brandished in her other hand: "Porcelain, you're up next! White Chocolate, you shake your booty after. Then Starchild, we'll run through yours again if you want."

A chorus of “Yes, Miss Sue.” from across the bar soon followed.

Brittany squealed as she dragged Blaine over to the bar. “Oooh, we get to see a couple of the new numbers before we open the doors." She shoved Blaine onto a cushy, multi-colored stool before she took off backstage. "Stay here. Gotta go see if anyone needs help backstage.”

Before Blaine could protest, she was gone.

Fiddling with the hem of his tank top, Blaine looked around nervously. He couldn't help but feel like he was intruding.

“Porcelain, Starchild, White Chocolate . . who are they?” he wondered aloud.

"Well, me, for one."

Blaine swiveled around on his bar stool to find a ridiculously good-looking guy in the tiniest gold booty shorts that he had ever seen staring back at him.

“I . . .I'm sorry . . . wh. . .what?"

The bartender tossed a rainbow-colored bar towel over his shoulder and plunked down a glass of water in front of Blaine. “White Chocolate. That’s me, I’m saying.”

“That’s . . a, uh. . . .a nice name . .”

The blond grinned, the body glitter shining very noticeably off his abs.

Blaine seriously tried not to stare.

He did.

"Stage name," the bartender confided to Blaine. "Used to have a partner called Dark Chocolate I worked with, but he went off and got him a boyfriend who didn't like him writhing on stage with little ole me. Jake came up with the names. He said we were both smooth and sweet, and it kind of worked cause he was, well, you know, African American and I'm . . ." he gestured again toward his glitter-encrusted abs.

Blaine swallowed and really didn’t stare.

Really.

He really, really didn’t.

“That’s . . . interesting . . .”

The glittering golden god laughed as he leaned over the bar. "I'm Sam," he said, extending a handout. I saw you came in with Brit. Are you a friend of hers?"

Blaine nodded, grabbed the water, and took a large gulp. "Well, more like friends with her girlfriend, Santana."

Sam grinned. "Aww, that's great. I haven't seen Santana in a while. She coming later?”

As Blaine nodded, the lights in the room suddenly dimmed, and a low, sultry bass line began to be piped in through the speakers of the club. All of the workers stopped what they were doing to focus their attention on the main stage. A spotlight held tight on a solitary figure who faced away from the audience. The person held their hand up, and as they snapped their fingers along with the music, the spotlight pulled back slightly, revealing a luxurious black velvet robe.

Blaine’s jaw dropped as the person began to sing: sultry and beckoning, their hands skimming their hips, which swayed hypnotically along with the music.

*****

Never know how much I love you

Never know how much I care

When you put your arms around me

I get a fever that's so hard to bear

You give me fever. . .

The performer turned his head, revealing a strikingly handsome face and piercing blue eyes. The man smirked as he noticed Blaine, watching awestruck. The singer rolled his shoulder, allowing the velvet robe to bare one beautiful shoulder as he winked saucily at Blaine.

Sam leaned over the bar, whispering smugly. "And that, my good sir, is Porcelain, one of our other headliners."

“He’s beautiful, “ Blaine murmured softly as he continued to watch the other man own the stage, dropping the robe on a particular beat of the song to reveal some tiny black leather shorts and a delicate body harness of crisscrossing silver chains attached to a heaver silver chain collar. With every shoulder roll and hip gyration, Blaine could see those chains softly caress the man’s toned abdomen. The leather shorts made it very apparent that Porcelain was not lacking at all in . . . endowments.

Blaine had never been so jealous of an outfit before in his life. He was absolutely entranced by this siren before him.

The devastatingly gorgeous dancer continued to sing:

*****

Captain Smith and Pocahontas

Had a very mad affair

When her daddy tried to kill him

She said, "Daddy, oh, don't you dare."

He gives me fever

With his kisses, fever when he holds me tight

Fever! I'm his missus, daddy, won't you treat him right?

"Would you like to meet him?" Sam asked quietly. "I'm sure Brit or I can introduce you if you want."

Blaine was now at a loss for words, just nodding mutely while his heart raced. Porcelain had danced his way to a stripper pole to one side of the stage, spinning around it a few times before leaning backward and arching his back as he eased off his leather shorts, not missing a beat while he did so.

And Porcelain was looking and singing directly to Blaine as those shorts fell away.

*****

Now you've listened to my story

Here's the point that I have made

Boys were born to give you fever

Be it Fahrenheit or Centigrade

That’s it.

Blaine was now officially dead.

Porcelain had a rhinestone-encrusted thong underneath those tiny shorts. As Blaine watched, the dancer kept singing while trailing his own fingers over his body, grazing his nipples, floating over his arms, down the arch of his neck.

*****

They give you fever

When you kiss them, fever if you live and learn

Fever! 'Til you sizzle

What a lovely way to burn . . .

Without warning, the audio track Porcelain was performing began to moan and speed up, rewinding and fast-forwarding erratically, breaking the hypnotic spell of the performance. Porcelain stopped all movements and stared out towards the DJ booth in confusion as the lights abruptly came up in the club.

“What the fuck?” Miss Sue bellowed. “Someone get Zizes on the phone. I don't care where she is or what she's doing. Of all the goddamn times she decided to go on vacation, of course, it had to be today. We need this shit fixed now. We open in a few hours.”

Porcelain sighed as he retrieved his discarded clothing, slipping the velvet robe on and quickly disappearing backstage.

Miss Sue stalked towards the bar, slamming her clipboard and megaphone on its surface. She gripped the edge of the rainbow-patterned counter tightly, so much so that Blaine could see her knuckles whiten even from his position a few stools farther down.

Without a beat, Sam quickly reached into a fridge under the bar and pulled out a large, ominous-looking black Stanley mug, passing it over to the club owner without a word. Miss Sue took a giant slug of what was inside, a ferocious scowl darkening her features.

Many of the employees skittered away quickly to avoid her impending blow-up.

“Miss Sue,” Sam tentatively said as he cleared his throat. “I, uh, I hate to be the bearer of more bad news . . .”

"What. Is. It. Now. . . " the cabaret owner growled.

"Sebastian won't be able to make it in tonight or for the rest of the week, actually," Sam quickly informed her.

“Where the hell is Sporty Spice gone to this time? I need him and his goddamn lacrosse stick to work during the intermission.”

"Seb's found another Sugar Daddy, and he's taking full advantage," another voice chimed in.

Blaine spun around in his stool, only to find himself face to face with Porcelain. Now out of his stage costume, the man was wearing sinfully low-rise, skin-tight jeans as well as a soft, light blue hoodie that was unzipped to reveal he was shirtless underneath. Porcelain was sporting a set of toned abdominal muscles that Blaine wanted to reach out and touch.

"Last I heard, he was bragging last night that his new man was taking him to some mansion in the Hamptons for a week of fucking and all manner of excessive indulgence. Clothing free." Porcelain rolled his eyes as he accepted a glass of ice water from Sam. "I'm not surprised he bailed on us today."

Sam frowned. “But how the hell are we going to put on the follies tonight if we’re having technical difficulties?” he asked. “I can do body rolls all night if you need me to, but it’s going to be odd with no music playing in the background.”

“Do we cancel?” Kurt asked Sue.

“We have never canceled a performance of the Fire Island Follies," Miss Sue shouted. “It is not going to happen. Not on my watch.”

Blaine swallowed. He couldn’t believe he was going to do this.

“I . . . I could help.”

Miss Sue turned her sharp gaze at Blaine. “Who the hell are you?” she barked. "How the hell did you get in here anyway?"

"Blaine. Blaine Anderson." Blaine held out his hand to Miss Sue, who stared at it like the abhorrent item she felt it was. He dropped it quickly and tried to smile reassuringly.

He wasn’t sure if it was working.

“He’s a friend of Brittany’s . . .and Santana's." Sam piped up.

Sue sniffed, still not entirely impressed.

"And how can you help?" Porcelain asked as he trained a critical eye on Blaine, obviously just as skeptical of the newcomer as Miss Sue was.

“Can you play music? Sing?” Miss Sue demanded.

“Y . .yes," Blaine stuttered. "I can do both, actually, piano and guitar. It's what I do in Manhattan, actually. It's my . . .my day job. Mostly gigs at The Duplex and Don't Tell Mama's."

“How long are you on the island for?” Sue continued her interrogation.

“Just the week,” Blaine reassured the club owner.

Sue stared at Blaine for a while; he couldn't say how long. But the uncomfortable silence that stretched out while he found himself looked up and down seemed to go on forever.

“Up.” she barked at him finally.

Blaine slid off his stool while throwing both Sam and Porcelain confused glances.

“Turn.” she then ordered.

He did and then waited through another long silent patch from Sue as she made her deliberation:

“Hot Pocket,” Miss Sue ordered as she pinned him in place with a stare that quite honestly gave Blaine the chills. “You’ll do. You are to get your ass on stage and see what you can do with what instruments we have on hand. Porcelain, work on your number first. I want you to Fabulous Baker Boys the shit out of the song, you understand?”

"Yes, Miss Sue," the dancer nodded. He turned to Blaine, motioned towards the stage, and swiftly turned on his heel to walk towards it.

Blaine scrambled quickly after him.

“I’m Kurt, by the way," Porcelain informed Blaine softly as they walked out of earshot of the owner. “You better be damn good, Blaine. Or Sue will make you regret ever stepping foot in this club.”

“I am,” Blaine said, his heart racing. “I am good.”

Kurt stopped in his tracks, turning quickly to face Blaine, who stopped moving as well. A few quick steps and Kurt was mere inches away, his blue eyes darkening and staring at Blaine’s lips intensely.

“I like that. Boys who are good for me. Will you be good for me, Blaine?”

Blaine nodded, his breath caught in his chest. It was dizzying being this close to Kurt now. Blaine stared at the performer’s lips as well as they leaned in closer.

“I’ll see you backstage,” Kurt whispered with a smirk. He turned quickly and sauntered up the steps of the main stage and through the curtain.

Blaine did not stare at Kurt’s ass as he left.

Oh, who the hell was Blaine kidding.

He most certainly did.

****

NOTES:

I have a feeling that the actual Fire Island Follies is a men's only show . . but here in this fic, I wanted to include something for the ladies too - so Brittany's a performer as well.

Oh, and here in this fic, I kind of picture Sebastian doing a little lacrosse themed striptease act during their intermission of the show. Hence the "Sporty Spice" nickname. 😂

#ficlet friday #fic: fire island follies #klaine fanfic #klaine fanfiction #klaine fic #klaine #kurt hummel #blaine anderson #bitbybitwrites

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eunchancorner · 17 days ago

Text

Revenged and Rescued (Part 5)

Thanks to the delay of living a boring ass life, this one is slightly later than the others. It's also slightly shorter too, lol, sorry

The General led the two over to one of the medical tents, walking in and nodding to the two inside; Lieutenant Rupert Price, and Dave, of course.

Rupert stood at attention as Galeforce entered the tent, quickly being dismissed as the older waved his hand.

“How're you doing, son?” he asked Dave, who averted his gaze, seeming a bit nervous in his presence.

“I'm fine, though it's been… weird. I did end up losing a leg, though…” he motioned to where the blankets laid unevenly. “They're making a prosthetic now, but it's gonna take a while.”

“I was thinking we could get him in a wheelchair, so I can show him around, sir,” Rupert added, gently grabbing Dave's hand. “Just to make sure he's not too bored in here.”

“That sounds fine to me, boys, however, that's not what I'm here about. You two said you wanted to talk to Henry?” Galeforce asked, stepping aside so the other could step up.

“Stickmin…” Rupert stepped forward, standing face-to-face with Henry, his expression impossible to make out.

“Hey, Rupert, I uh… listen, I know we haven't been the best of friends, but maybe we could put the whole Mesa thing behind-”

He was cut off as the shorter suddenly hugged him tightly, clinging on as if Henry was gonna disappear if he didn't.

“Thank you… so fucking much for pulling that stunt when you did. If you didn't, I don't think I'd've ever gotten Dave back… I missed him so fucking much… And I know, we've been assholes to you, and you've not been the easiest to deal with, but… fucking thank you,” he gasped, tears staining Henry's shirt as he noticeably fought the urge to cry.

“Heh, I take it that means we're even now?” Henry asked, patting Rupert's back as the ravenette took a deep breath. The shorter pulled away with a quiet chuckle.

“Yeah, Stickmin, we're even now,” he assured him, taking a deep breath and going back over to Dave's cot, sitting next to him.

“Yeah, sorry for being dicks at Mesa… Honestly, after the Toppats got me, I… I get it. Freedom is worth so much more than some stupid job. Any stupid job. So… yeah. Thanks for crashing the airship…” Dave chuckled slightly at his own wording. “That sounds really weird now that I'm saying it out loud…”

“A little, I guess but… you’re welcome. And uh, sorry for making your lives kinda suck,” Henry apologized awkwardly, feeling like he owed them that at least.

“At least I have a life again,” Dave reassured him.

“Mister Calvin, good thing I caught you,” one of the doctors suddenly approached, a small manual in her hands. She shoved it into Charles’s arms, watching as he flipped through the pages, confused.

“This is a handbook explaining how to perform Henry’s nightly checkups,” she explained, “It explains how many sensors he has, how to test them, how to check his heartbeat and his respirator, and what to do if anything happens. You’ll need to perform these checkups every night before either of you go to sleep, and if anything is wrong, send him down here right away. A slight hiccup could cause everything to fall apart, and I doubt he wants to die a third time. However, there are variations that are considered ��normal’ so please keep those in mind. They should be on page 24.”

The pilot nodded, flipping to said page, and Henry leaned over his shoulder to read. It was, in fact, titled ‘Average Deviations: Biological Factors’.

“So, stuff like emotions are gonna make everything a little screwy? Alright, should be easy enough to understand. Thanks, Dr. Stein,” Charles said, shaking her hand before she left as quickly as she’d come.

“Speaking of going to sleep, it’s getting late. You boys should head down to the mess hall for dinner,” Galeforce advised them, motioning subtly to the darkening sky as the sun set.

“Actually, I was hoping to eat outside with my squad tonight. It’ll be nice for Henry to spend more time with them. Besides, I think they like him!” Charles explained, and the General nodded a bit.

“Well, hurry it up then, I’m only gonna give you 5 minutes after lights out to make sure Henry’s alright to head to sleep,” he warned.

“Right. Seeya guys, then!” the pilot smiled as he began to lead Henry out.

“Seeya tomorrow, boys.”

“Till tomorrow, Stickmin and Calvin,” Rupert saluted as they went.

“Seeya guys later…” Dave called out. “And thanks again…”

#eun writes #thsc #the henry stickmin collection #henry stickmin #charles calvin #general galeforce #rupert price #dave panpa #panprice

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danwhobrowses · 6 months ago

Text

One Piece Chapter 1115 - Initial Thoughts

And we are back from another break

Another sneaky upload while I was coming home from work by TCB, plus other business has delayed me a bit, but now we can get to it

Secrets are pouring out, Joy Boy the pirate

Tell us more, Vegapunk

Spoilers for the Chapter, Support the Official Release too

Back with the Yamato cover story, packing a lunch with Toko and Hiyori

And we're sticking with Wano since even they have the broadcast

They have the flag up as well, Straw Hat territory

Seems they had a Den Den Mushi in Orochi's possessions

Momo muses about Joy Boy being a pirate, having learned about him from Oden's journal

Tama's still there enjoying food too, seems like she lives in the palace now

Shinobu though hasn't 'matured' to her usual look, still looks younger

G4 Base?

Oh fucking...really? XD Demaro Black doesn't miss a hustle

Fake Kid Pirates mein godt hahahaha give it up lad

I mean why would you want to pose as someone who's worth 3 billion? You know how many would kill for 3 billion?

The navy at Egghead are also listening intently to his broadcast, as Vegapunk goes deeper into Joy Boy's past

He's only able to cover from a few Poneglyphs he's had access to (likely the ones Ohara had) but as we expected, a great war occurred; Joy Boy vs the future World Government

Dude was THIS CLOSE to the 'wait, are we the baddies?' moment

Warcury is not happy, as he still chases Luffy and the giants through fire

Mars is pissed too, using his Conqueror's Haki to destroy as many Den Den Mushi as he can find

Vegapunk continues though; of course the WG were just known as the 'Allied Powers' a coalition of 20 kingdoms against Joy Boy's faction - which in itself is a frightening display of Joy Boy's strength, even the superpowers of today could be taken down by a couple countries united, but 20? It took 20!

Alas, Vegapunk doesn't know why the nations were in conflict, just that it was a clash of ideologies, likely control vs freedom, but he chooses not to judge the morality

Zunesha is pensive, as the broadcast emits through Zou

CARROT! We missed you dearie, she's got a fancy Duke coat but she should be in Egghead with the crew ¬_¬

Still, she marvels at Vegapunk noting how Joy Boy's kingdom was advanced beyond even modern science

Oh lord, it isn't just Demaro Black we're bringing up for joke cameos, I know that laugh, I know that headpiece!

Mother Fucking Foxy XD What is that tache man?

Seems it's just him, Porche and Hamburg sailing on a little boat, bandaged up and getting the rumblies

We go back to Stussy, who is contacted by Edison as Kaku lounges in the bubble still

Edison encourages Stussy to drop the barrier, it's useless since the Gorosei could just break through

Feels like you could've called her before diving through the barrier and nearly killing yourself bud

Saturn's also using haki to destroy the Den Den Mushi

Edison puts his confidence in the Straw Hats though

Nami contacts Jinbe, still carrying Zoro - who takes umbrage with him apologizing, since he was busy dealing with Lucci

Nami notices that the blockade is moving to their escape route, encouraging they hurry in her own way

Back to Stussy, she shows relief that the Straw Hats are likely to escape, but without Vegapunk, she wonders what remains for her, she has no purpose

Something Kaku seems pensive about, perhaps even sympathetic, since he can't suggest to her the zoo

Back to V. Nusjuro and Bonney kicks at the Gorosei as he seems to cut Oimo

Not a good landing for Sanji either

Seems V. Nusjuro's not paying full attention to the fight either, trying to use his Observation Haki to sense where the broadcast snail is

Still, he breaks free and slices at Bonney, only for her to be saved by Franky

The slash cuts the figurehead of the giant's ship, better that than Bonney's head, but now she's tuckered out since Distorted Future takes up stamina

As V. Nusjuro leaves the battle and we pan to Zunesha and the Iron Giant we confirm that the void century ended with Joy Boy's defeat

It's not the biggest revelation since the WG rule the world after all, but it also puts further context into all the regrets with Joy Boy and his comrades we have read about in the past

To limit the amount of life signs on the island, V. Nusjuro takes more drastic action, cutting the entire Labophase in half

This causes the CP agents and the bubbled Seraphim to fall to the Fabriophase below

As the Gorosei let gravity try to take those who swore loyalty to them, Vegapunk makes the latest revelation

Sea travel is perilous around the world, it's common knowledge, but a millenia ago it was not; the ancient world, the civilizations that existed in the void century, it's all underwater - they built on top of the ancient world

Also I gotta point out there's some absolutely stunning visual panels in this chapter

Koushiro and the Revolutionary Army also react to the broadcast, only he, Sabo and Dragon appear pensive

Coco Village!? Gen san how you doing! And Nojiko! Still preferred the short hair but she don't care about no global warming she has tangerines to look after XD

Vegapunk continues; before there were vast continents, which'd explain why so few would go out to sea beforehand, and with all of the evidence underwater it explains how the WG can erase a century of history, but it goes deeper - figuratively and literally

Since the void century, the sea has rose 200 METERS!

That's over 600ft; the size of the United Tower, bigger than the Great pyramid of Giza, and that's all Water Level

Naturally, the listeners - the navy - are floored by this revelation, since a Warship is only 60m, but other soldiers tell them to stop listening

There's at least some sense of loyalty - or preservation of cost - for the marines to try and 'rescue' the CP agents and Seraphim from gravity-induced splatter, a la one of their world leaders

Alas Mock Town must mock, there is one among the crowd who isn't laughing though, another one seems to have ignored gravity

Sakura kingdom - mainly Dalton - reflects on the revelation, with Kureha mulling how things continue to get interesting

Oh hey, Miss Goldenweek! Passing by as the island uses a mountain to compare the height

At Water Seven (given the Galley La jacket) Vegapunk discusses how such a thing can occur, and reveals it to have been man-made

Morgans is livid about all this BIG ASS NEWS, having to be shushed by Vivi

Vegapunk continues to show his work; there were no signs, no studies, no science to confirm a natural build up, and if it was natural it would've been made known as a world-altering event

He hints at the use of the Mother Flame, confirming his suspicions

The Gorosei - except Ju Peter, wormy is not getting a lot of love from Oda atm - look furious as Vegapunk continues to note that the sea level rises were caused by the ancient weapons

Those weapons remain dormant, waiting to be used again

And as we pan over to Imu Vegapunk reveals something both horrifying and sobering at the same time: The War Is Not Over

Every island was once a mountain

But time didn't have the influence it should have, Oda has been getting biblical with this lore drop by giving us the common religious theme of The Deluge. Flood myths exist in many religious stories and mythology (which I will keep separate to not ruffle feathers), most common because of Christianity is the flood in the Book of Genesis, which we've already touched upon in One Piece given Noah's Ark. Since we tread nearer to Elbaf it's worth noting that a flood as a role in Ragnarok also;

"the sun becomes black and the earth sinks into the sea, the stars vanish, steam rises and flames touch the heavens."

Once more this was a chapter where Vegapunk's broadcast takes more priority over the things we're seeing, but there are some stunning panels to enhance the revelations, we see also the Gorosei flaunting their haki showing the level they are while the monster trio remain incapacitated or indisposed. I'm at least proud of Franky coming in for some more rescue clutch action, but with Stussy I'm less convinced now that she'll be killed by Lucci, Kaku's silence is loud and maybe, just maybe, they can all see this as a way out. The CP agents are likely not to survive the fall, the Seraphim will and probably will live to fight the Straw Hats under orders of the Gorosei or York, they will likely be used more since the Pacifista are compromised. As for the revelations, a mix of stuff we assumed being confirmed and stuff that theorists have pondered and been vindicated, it's all underwater, which explains the walls in Wano, why Zou is on Zunesha's back (sidebar, how fucking long are Zunesha's legs? like it's gotta be 200m+ submerged alone), and why Water Seven's ruins run so deep.

Still, I enjoyed all the cameos, appreciated seeing Carrot again, and a Vivi cameo is always nice, plus I had to laugh with Demaro Black and Foxy, like who's next? Kuro? Morgan? Krieg? Arlong? Enel?? We have to get to Buggy and the Cross Guild at one point ofc, plus this could be an avenue to reveal the status of Perona, Moria, Weevil, etc.

but outside of that, little progress from the Straw Hats and the incident unfolding in Egghead right now, but given the revelations Vegapunk is giving the Straw Hats time, the Gorosei aren't focusing on them, they're looking for the broadcast snail - and I don't think it's even on the island.

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tinynerdz360 · 28 days ago

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Above and Beyond Chapter 8: First Contact?

With a simple press of a button an image was released to the public; an image that would set the internet ablaze: an enigmatic alien boy with snow-white hair and piercing green eyes, standing with the Ares Crew. His build was of a scrawny teenager compared to the adult astronauts.

The questions came fast —Was this incontrovertible proof of extraterrestrial life? Had the government been harboring cosmic secrets all along?

The unknown employee smirked at his handy work. He felt pleased at what he had done, and not an ounce of shame or regret. This would set the necessary wheels into motion.

***

Hashtags and buzzwords spread like wildfire across social media as the leaked image of Dantom went viral. Theories abounded, ranging from measured skepticism to wild-eyed conspiracy.

"Alien Boy Among Astronauts – What Is NASA Hiding?"

"NASA discovers evidence of aliens on Mars #LittleGreenMen #WeAreNotAlone"

"Leaked photo reveals hidden extraterrestrial, are they walking among us? #Area51Revealed #TruthIsOutThere"

"Press conference DEMANDED - what is @NASA hiding from the American people? Full transparency now! #ReleaseTheAliens #NASACoverup"

Teddy Sanders scrolled through the endless stream of tweets, a scowl etched on his brow, fingers drumming an agitated rhythm on his mahogany desk. They had planned to let the public know, he was hoping to do this on his own terms. That they would be able to delay for a little bit longer. An alien discovery was one of those cases where NASA had wanted to give its own government a heads up and time to process this world-changing event.

But soon after getting the crew picture with Dantom, someone leaked it to the public.

With a heavy sigh, Teddy picked up the phone and dialed the president. This conversation wasn't going to be pleasant.

The call clicked through. "Mr. President, we have a situation." Teddy gripped the receiver with white knuckles. "An unauthorized image of the entity has been leaked. It's spreading rapidly online."

"God damnit, Mr. Sanders!" President Davis' voice boomed through the line, frustration palpable. "I thought I made it crystal clear - no leaks, period. You assured me NASA had this under control."

Teddy winced, feeling the sharp sting of failure. "Sir, I apologize. We're investigating the source of the breach. But right now, we need to get in front of this. The media sharks are circling, demanding answers. And I’d like to point out, that NASA did not have to tell you first. We are a public domain; the public would be told eventually. It’s just happening sooner than later."

Tense hung between them. "I see. I assume we’re on the same page?” Davis asked.

“The page being the emphasis of peaceful contact and diplomacy?” Teddy emphasized.

“Yes, yes, of course.” The President replied. Teddy could just imagine him waving his hand in the air in dismissal. The line clicked dead.

Teddy leaned back in his chair, rubbing his throbbing temples. This alien kid was proving to be more trouble than he ever imagined. As speculation raged out of control, time was of the essence. They needed to seize the narrative before it spiraled beyond their grasp.

With a deep breath, Teddy reached for his computer mouse and clicked open his saved draft of his speech.

***

The cameras flashed incessantly as Teddy Sanders stepped up to the podium, the NASA logo emblazoned on the wall behind him. He cleared his throat, his heart pounding against his ribs. "Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here today."

He glanced down at his carefully prepared notes. "As many of you are aware, an image has been circulating online depicting what appears to be an extraterrestrial being alongside our Ares crew on Mars." Murmurs rippled through the room, but Teddy pressed on.

"I can confirm that this image is authentic. During their mission, our astronauts encountered a juvenile alien life form, which we have come to learn is named 'Dantom.' This alien child was injured, and our crew has been assisting him and successfully making peaceful contact.

The room erupted into a frenzy of shouted questions and camera flashes. Teddy raised his hands, attempting to quiet the crowd. "Please, let me finish. We understand the monumental significance of this discovery and the delicate nature of the situation. Our top priority is ensuring the well-being of Dantom and maintaining a peaceful relationship with any potential extraterrestrial civilizations."

He took a deep breath, his voice growing more solemn. "We face unprecedented challenges in navigating this uncharted territory. But I assure you, we are proceeding with the utmost caution and respect. NASA, in collaboration with the government, is committed to transparency and will provide regular updates as the situation unfolds. Thank you."

As Teddy stepped away from the podium, the room exploded with a barrage of questions.

***

President Alfred Davis stood tall behind the lecture podium, he had handsome dark skin, and a charming smile. His presence commanding the attention of the entire nation. The cameras zoomed in on his confident smile, capturing the historic moment. "My fellow Americans," he began, his deep voice resonating through the room, "today, we stand on the precipice of a new era for humanity."

He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. "The discovery of an alien child, Dantom, on Mars is a testament to the boundless possibilities that await us in the vastness of space. This is not a moment for fear or apprehension, but one of hope and opportunity."

Davis leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "As your President, I am committed to fostering peaceful contact and maintaining good relations with Dantom's species."

"We must approach this situation with wisdom, compassion, and an open mind," he continued, his voice growing more impassioned. "I call upon all nations to join us in this endeavor, to set aside our differences and work together for the betterment of all sentient beings."

Behind the veneer of diplomatic ambition, those closest to him recognized the undercurrent of self-interest. To be the President who welcomed aliens to Earth, who brokered alliances among the stars—it was a legacy any leader would covet. And one that Alfred Davis craved more than anything else.

As the audience erupted in applause, Davis basked in the moment, his ego swelling with each camera flash. *This is my destiny,* he thought, his smile widening.

***

The scene shifts to a bustling newsroom where reporters from various international outlets scramble to cover the breaking story. On a large television screen, a stern-faced journalist from the BBC delivers a scathing report.

"While the discovery of an alien child is indeed a momentous occasion, many world leaders are expressing their disappointment and frustration with President Davis's decision to keep this information hidden from the international community."

The camera cuts to a press conference, where the UN Secretary addresses a room full of journalists. "Transparency is crucial in matters of global significance," she states, her voice laced with a mix of relief and irritation. "While we are thankful that first contact was handled peacefully, the lack of communication and cooperation from the United States government is deeply concerning."

Meanwhile, on the streets of New York, a reporter wove through the crowd, microphone in hand, capturing the pulse of public opinion.

A middle-aged man in a suit shakes his head, his face etched with concern. "I don't trust it," he says, his voice tinged with xenophobia. "For all we know, this could be the beginning of an invasion. We need to protect our own first."

Not far from him, a middle-aged woman shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm neutral about it. If they wanted to harm us, wouldn't they have done so already?"

Next, a young woman steps up to the microphone. "I think it's incredible!" she exclaims, her enthusiasm palpable. "Just imagine what we could learn from them. This could be the start of something truly amazing."

The reporter approaches an elderly couple walking hand in hand. The man shrugs, his expression neutral. "I've seen a lot in my life," he says, his voice gruff but not unkind. "Aliens? Well, I suppose it was only a matter of time. As long as they come in peace, I've got no problem with it."

Excitement bubbled up in the form of a group of people of various ages all clad in sci-fi merchandise, their eyes bright and voices animated.

"Can you imagine? Actual aliens!" one exclaimed. "This could be the dawn of a whole new era, like...like Star Trek coming to life!"

"Think of what we could learn from them!" another chimed in, practically bouncing on their toes.

As the interviews continue, the divided reactions of the public become increasingly apparent. Some express fear and mistrust, while others embrace the possibility of interstellar friendship. The reporter turns to the camera, her face a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

"One thing is clear," the reporter says, her voice steady. "The world will never be the same again. As we stand on the precipice of a new era, it is up to all of us to decide how we will navigate this uncharted territory and shape the future of human-alien relations."

***

In the flickering glow of the living room TV, the residents of Amity Park clustered together as the evening news shifted to a breaking story. Amidst the collective gasp that rose from the townspeople, there lay a thread of recognition that twisted their shock into bewildered concern and confusion.

"Isn't that... Inviso-BILL?" someone trailed off, lips quivering in disbelief.

"Can't be; I thought he was a ghost, not an alien," another murmured.

Dash Baxter dropped his plate of pizza as the camera zoomed in. “Danny Phantom! So that’s where he’s been. In Space! So COOL!

"Is that... Danny Phantom?" Paulina asks, her voice laced with disbelief. "What's he doing on Mars?"

"Oh, WOW! I guess he was an alien this whole time.” Star said.

“Does this mean we had first contact? Kinda sucks that NASA’s stealing credit,” Kwan remarked.

As the news spreads, the people of Amity Park find themselves grappling with a mix of emotions. Some express concern for their beloved hero, wondering if his presence on Mars means he's left them vulnerable to ghostly attacks. Others wonder if he was always an alien and not a ghost. Some wonder once again why The World never bothered with Amity Park's business.

---

Across town, in the privacy of Sam's bedroom, three figures huddled around her laptop. Sam, Tucker, and Jazz watched the same broadcast, but their reactions diverged sharply from the rest of Amity Park. As the image of Danny—no, Dantom—flashed across the screen, relief washed over their faces like the first rays of dawn after a long, harrowing night.

"He's alive," Jazz whispers, her voice trembling with relief. "He's alive, and he's on Mars."

Sam stops pacing and leans over their shoulders; her brow furrowed with worry. "But why is he pretending to be an alien? What happened to him?"

"You know, only Danny can make first contact happen by being the alien.” Tucker chuckled, though the sound was shaky, relief undercutting the humor. "Classic Danny."

Jazz took a deep breath in and out, calming her anxiety. Her hands clasped so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "This whole week...we thought the GIW finally got him." She let go of a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

Their search had been relentless, scouring every corner, confronting every specter with the same desperate question: Where is Danny? But each inquiry led only to dead ends and mounting despair. They had been in the middle of making plans to infiltrate the GIW to see if they had him and rescue Danny if they had to. Sam had been ready to take any means necessary to save her best friend.

Sam stands up, her eyes blazing with resolve. "We're going to D.C.," she declares, her voice unwavering. "If Danny needs us, we'll be there for him. No matter what."

“Wow! Wait, if he’s on Mars, it will take them months to return. And they haven’t even left Mars yet.” Jazz quickly pointed out.

“I know that I’m not stupid.” Sam glared. “But my gut tells me; we need to be the ones to inform NASA of the truth. Do you really think the government will sit by and play 'first contact tea party' with him? Do you really think that they won’t sic the GIW on him the first chance they have? I say we go, so we can be his backup. We can see what NASA knows and see if they can be allies. If not, WE get Danny out of there. Distract them, find a way to give him an opening. What if they greet him with ecto guns and shoot him down before he can run or poison him somehow? He might not be able to get out!” Sam ranted.

Jazz stared at the other teen. Her face turning from worry to determination. “You’re right. We don’t know what NASA knows. If they truly want to help, we might be the only ones that can give them the correct information. We can’t trust the government to play nice……I mean, they already keep Amity in the dark and out of the eye of the world.” Jazz crossed her arms; she hunched her shoulders up in concerned thought. “I’m honestly surprised they haven’t done worse to us. Especially with the anti-ecto policy. They could drag any of us off the streets.”

Tucker nods, his fingers already flying across the keyboard. "I'll start digging into NASA's servers, see if I can find any information about what they know and what their intentions are.”

"Right," Jazz agreed, already pulling out her phone to look up flights. "He might have kept his secret from NASA, but the GIW must know by now, which means the government knows. Which means…... Danny is on borrowed time.”

"We've got his back," Tucker finished, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by the steadfast resolve of a friend ready to wade into the unknown. "Just like he's always had ours."

***

Jack Fenton's fist slammed down onto the console in his lab, causing a small eruption of sparks from the machinery. "That darn Phantom!" he bellowed, glaring at the image on the computer screen that showed Danny Phantom, or 'Dantom' as the media had begun to call the figure, standing amongst the astronauts on Mars.

"Jack, calm down," Maddie pleaded, her voice strained with concern, her eyes not leaving the second monitor that displayed a map with their son Danny's last known locations—each point a dead end.

"Can't you see what he's doing, Maddie? Pretending to be an alien just to gain fame! It's infuriating!" Jack's face was red with anger, and his hands shook as he raked them through his hair.

"Jack, please," Maddie said, her own frustration barely contained. "We need to focus. Our son is still missing, and if Phantom is on Mars, then he couldn't have taken Danny." Her voice broke slightly on their son's name, revealing the depth of her fear.

"Then who did?" Jack's question hung heavy in the air, unanswered. Together, they returned to the task at hand, capturing and interrogating any spectral entity they could find, hoping one of them held the key to Danny's whereabouts. But it had already been a week. They both felt the cold tendrils of fear crawl into their hearts. The more time that passed without a lead to Danny, the odds of them never finding him increased. The police hadn’t been able to find anything either. Both Jack and Maddie were convinced that a ghost had done it, not the living.

Jack wraps his arms around his wife, pulling her close as he tries to hold back his own tears. "We'll find him, Maddie. We won't rest until we bring Danny home safe and sound. And if a ghost did take him, they'll have to answer to the Fentons."

***

Meanwhile, in his mansion, Vlad Masters paces back and forth, his eyes glued to the television screen. He watches as the news anchors gush over the incredible discovery of an alien child on Mars, his fists clenching tighter with each passing minute.

"Damn you, Daniel," he mutters under his breath, his voice dripping with venom. "Of all the attention-seeking stunts you could have pulled, you just had to go and become the world's most famous alien."

Vlad's mind races with possibilities, his anger warring with his ever-present concern of maintaining his own secret identity. "As long as that brat keeps his mouth shut about our true nature, I suppose I can let him bask in the limelight for now," he muses, a calculating glint in his eye.

“But be careful, little Badger, one slip up, and I’ll have you locked away for all eternity.” Vlad thought. He could live without making him his adopted son. After all, without that pesky brat getting in the way, he could kill Jack and take Maddie all for himself. He could always make more sons.

With a final glance at the television, Vlad settles into his armchair; his fingers steepled as he begins to plot his next move. He knows that patience is key, and he's more than willing to bide his time until the perfect moment arises to strike.

***

A cacophony of angry voices rebounded off the walls in the stark, sterile confines of the GIW’s operations center. Agents clad in their customary suits huddled around monitors that showed an endless loop of the image that had ignited worldwide speculation.

"Sir, the public's eating this up," a junior analyst said, tapping her tablet to bring up social media reactions. "Public opinions are mostly positive.”

Agent A glared in anger. “We can't let Phantom continue this masquerade. It's... it's a national security threat!"

Agent O nods in agreement, his jaw set in a grim line. "We need to get the President on our side. If we can convince him that Phantom is a danger to the country, he'll have no choice but to hand him over to us."

"And once we have Phantom in our custody, we'll make him pay for his deceit," Agent K adds, a cruel smirk twisting his features. "We'll expose him for the evil entity he truly is, and the world will finally see ghosts for the evil beings they are."

Agent A nodded, his expression unreadable behind dark glasses. "Move up the meeting with President Davis by force if necessary. He’ll understand once we explain," he ordered, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of urgency. "It's time we exposed the truth about ghosts, starting with Danny Phantom."

They had been working with the mole in the White House to set up a meeting, but it was clear they needed to educate the higher government sooner rather than later. They would understand and forgive the need for secrecy. Agent A could just see the President agreeing that the GIW needed to take funds in secret.

Agent A paused a nagging thought clawed at the back of his mind. “Agent O, how about you take this mission? I want you to meet with the President. Can I trust you? To make the President understand by any means necessary?”

Agent O straightened, purpose igniting within him. "Yes, Director. I'll make sure the president understands the gravity of the situation. I’ll do whatever it takes; you can count on me!"

As agents scurried to carry out their orders, TVs nationwide aired President Davis' call for unity and cooperation with the alien species. The channel switched to an UN assembly where diplomats voiced their concerns and criticisms, the atmosphere fraught with tension.

***Back on Mars****

Commander Melissa Lewis glanced at the beds lining the wall, her gaze lingering on the one where Dantom lay curled up, seemingly asleep.

"Alright, let's keep it down," she murmured, her voice carrying the authority.

"Let's go over our tasks once more," Lewis began, her eyes scanning the expectant faces. "We need to find a way to get Dantom what he needs —"

"Commander," interrupted Johanssen, her brow furrowed. I think we need to address the elephant in the room first." She gestured subtly toward Danny, " like how he can speak English and how Vogal can speak this alien language.”

Lewis nodded slowly, acknowledging the point. "You're right, Beth. This situation with Dantom... it's complicated things."

"Complicated is an understatement," Rick Martinez chimed in, his skepticism a stark contrast to his usually jovial demeanor. "He lied to us about speaking English. What else isn't he telling us?"

"Exactly," Lewis agreed, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "It concerns me deeply. Not just that he wasn't honest from the start but also that his interaction with humanity has obviously been negative. If someone on Earth hurt him... We need to be careful how we handle this."

"Whatever his reasons for hiding the truth," Lewis continued, her voice firm yet tinged with empathy, "we have to remember he's just a kid. And he's scared. Let's not forget that."

Alex Vogel cleared his throat, drawing the room's focus. He stood with an engineer's precision, his face somber yet earnest. "I spoke with Dantom," he glanced toward the slumbering figure. "And I believe I understand how we can communicate."

The others leaned in, curiosity piqued.

"Back in Germany, when I was a child, I nearly drowned in a lake during a family outing," Vogel began, his voice steady despite the personal nature of his story. "From what Dantom told me, experiences like that allow for one to understand and, in some circumstances, speak what he calls, ‘Soul Speak’.”

"Wait, you're saying because you almost died once, you can understand him?" Rick Martinez interjected, disbelief etching his features. "That sounds like something out of a fantasy."

"Perhaps it does," Vogel conceded with a nod. “But We don’t have much else to go on.”

“I can’t prove anything or disprove anything, for that matter. Nothing stands out in Vogel’s vitals, and nothing that stands out as odd from everyone else.” Beck said.

"Sure, but English? How does some near-death childhood experience explain him knowing our language?" Rick pressed, folding his arms across his chest as he scrutinized Vogel with a sharp gaze.

Vogel met Rick's skepticism with a calm resolve. "I do not claim to have all the answers, Rick. But our communication transcended mere words. It was as if we connected on a level beyond language—a shared understanding."

Rick's frown deepened, and he looked away. There was no protocol for otherworldly linguistics.

"Regardless of how it works," Vogel continued, addressing the group, "it's clear that Dantom has knowledge far exceeding our own in certain areas. We should consider the potential for learning from him."

Beth Johanssen leaned forward. “From what he said, he’s been on earth before, maybe he’s been there awhile…...but clearly someone hurt him��.” Beth pointed out, trailing off with a hint of sadness in her tone.

Chris Beck shifted in his chair, the physician in him analyzing the boy's reactions from earlier interactions. "That would mean he's been among us—hiding in plain sight, or worse, a captive……someone hurt him, and it’s possible he learned English from his captors. And it would explain why he lied to us…...he was scared.”

Commander Lewis gave a heavy sigh. “We better hope it wasn’t the US government. THAT will complicate things.”

“Still doesn’t explain how he got here, and yes, I know he said by portal…...but a lot is missing from that story,” Mark commented.

“Maybe he found a way back to this ‘infinity realm’ as he escaped somehow. Maybe he got caught, then escaped, and then somehow ended up here?” Rick babbled on.

Vogel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “We really don’t know how these ‘portals’ work and even how much of what the kid said was the truth.”

Beck crossed his arms in thought. “Either way, he needs this ecto-deposit. He’s weak. If we want to help him, we either find the deposit here or leave for earth.”

“I’ll contact command, I think our best bet is getting him back to earth.” Commander Lewis said. She turned to her computer screen to send off the message.

Mark Watney stepped up to Lewis’s side. He leaned over and whispered to her. “Maybe find a way to let command know that someone hurt him back on Earth.”

*sigh* “I plan to Watney.” Lewis replied.

“Yeah, but are you adding in the possibility it was us…. like the US government? Like this could be our fault, well, not OUR fault, but someone down there. What I’m trying to say is that we should come up with a backup plan to make sure he’s safe and we’re not handing him over to the wrong people.”

Lewis frowned. NASA would not like to hear this theory. But with NASA being a more public institution they might have a chance at protecting the kid or at least making him known to the public. “Keeping him in the public eye should help…...not just our public but the world.”

“Right! THAT way they can’t lock him away in area 51.” Mark replied.

Chapter 9

#danny phantom #danny in space #danny phantom au #danny fenton #mark watney #the martian #Crossover #fanfiction #my writing

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