#Bordeaux rock

[chlcavalier]

[boschintegral-photo]

Flower Shop Cimetière De La Chartreuse Bordeaux, France

[glitchaxolol]

Honest opinions on Wrestlemania XL Sunday:

Drew v Seth: I was so happy for Drew when he pinned Seth. Seth was taking those hits like a boss but Drew was honestly slaying. Drew’s entrance looked cool asf but wth was Seth’s😭!? Him tweeting during the match was actually so funny. But anyways, DAMIAN CASHING IN WAS AMAZING AND JUDGEMENT DAY CHEERING TOGETHER AT THE END MADE ME SO HAPPY!!! (I expected Damian to cash in but I was glad he did) Match was still really short tho.

The Pride v The Final Testament: I like both teams but may I say, Scarlett and Karrion looked badass. Some of those hits had to be painful, on both sides. Also Karrion just picking Scarlett up at the end was lowkey sweet. Again, it was really short.

LA Knight v AJ Styles: That flip from AJ over the top rope was smooth. Both of them got in some good hits. That Avalanche German Suplex was actually insane. I was honestly rooting for AJ(who was looking like an absolute daddy btw😩) and I’m genuinely sad he lost. The end was lowkey stupid tho.

Randy Orton v Kevin Owens v Logan Paul: The start was genuinely funny, Randy getting on the back of the cart and riding along. Teaming up on Logan was a good idea. Also like, what did KO expect? Ofc Randy was gonna try to RKO him. They all got some good hits. I was NOT expecting IShowSpeed to be in the suit😭🤣! I was pulling for Randy but I still didn’t mind Logan retaining. Honestly he makes a good heel.

Bayley v Iyo Sky: Bayley’s wrestling gear looked great but Iyo looked lowkey drunk walking down(lol). They both gave us a good match tbh. Bayley was being an absolute beast, taking those hits pretty well. And I’m so happy that Bayley is finally getting what she deserves, she absolutely deserved that win!

Cody v Roman: The orchestra for Roman’s entrance was pretty cool honestly. (He looking fucking hot as ever btw🤭 also he stuck his tongue out so omfg, he cannot keep lookin like that😩). (He could call me a little bitch if he wanted🤞). Jimmy and Jey coming out to fight was pretty cool. I was just waiting for Solo to show up lol. John Cena and Rock coming out to face off with each other was great! I was hoping Dean was the one to come but Seth is alr ig. Roman choosing to hit Seth over Cody was a nice “Fuck you” for when they were in Shield. I actually cheered when Taker came out!!! Both Roman and Cody were absolute BEASTS during the match. I love Roman and I would’ve loved for him to win but it was for the best.

Overall: The matches were a bit short but holy shit was it worth it. The main event was amazing and so chaotic!!!

Reminder: These are just my opinions so don’t get like pressed or anything lol.

[gradienty]

Rock Blue Bordeaux (#99acc7 to #610028)

[andrxsmarty]

[venice-carnival2018]

Recording #Culture #Arts #Music #Pride #Travel in #photography and #video since 1992. Some #viral #Paris #Milan #Sitges #Barcelona #Nice #Bordeaux #Madrid #Amsterdam #Marseilles and #Manchester #London #Clothes_show _NEC #Bodybuilders and many more places. Now in #Photo_book_series on Amazon and Blurb Worldwide. #It's A Lifestyle Thing Yours ? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAb7tiaBmQQofMbdO8sxXkg

[fleshwizard]

Dragons & Folklore de France

Translation below

The Tarasque dwells in the waters of the Rhone river near the town of Tarascon, where it devours travelers and destroys dikes and dams to flood the Camargue. Saint Martha chained it, and the people of Tarascon killed it.

The ruins of the amphitheaters of Metz were infested by hundreds of snakes. The largest of them, the Graoully, had a venomous breath, a mouth bigger than its body and devoured men. Saint Clement chased it away into the Seille River.

King of serpents, the Basilisk takes many forms throughout history and appears in many tales. One of them takes place at the Gate of Saint-Eloi in Bordeaux, known today for its Big Bell, where a well was occupied by a Basilisk. It petrified with its gaze anyone who went there to fetch water. It was defeated by a man returning from the Egyptian crusade, who petrified the beast with its own gaze using a mirail (mirror).

The Cocatrix is born from a rooster's egg incubated by a toad. The egg has magical properties but must not be broken. People who cross its gaze die immediatly.

Made of wicker and covered in flowers, the Grand Bailla wanders the streets of Reims three days a year and feeds on gold and sweets. It was banished by Archbishop Charles Maurice le Tellier.

The Grand'Goule haunts the marshes of Poitou, the waters of the Clain and the flooded cellars of the abbey of Sainte Croix. It feeds on nuns and casse-museaux (snout-breakers, cakes). Saint Radegonde chased it away with holy water.

In the rivers of the Jura and the Alps there is a group of diverse dragons, the Vouivres. They are generally flying serpents covered in fire and guardians of treasures. Many have for a single eye a gigantic carbuncle with extraordinary powers, desired by those in search of wealth and power.

Hidden in the caves and cliffs of la Pointe du Roux near La Rochelle, the Rô Beast traps and devours travelers in the coastal marshes. It was impaled by seven heroic pagans from the seas.

Mythical dragon of the Basque Country, Herensuge gave birth to the Sun and the Moon, swallowed all of Creation in ten days then regurgitated it in flames. Now asleep in the mountains, it sucks up flocks and shepherds in his sleep. When it wakes up, it will destroy the world in flames and blood. (illustration)

Durandal is the mythical sword that Charlemagne gave to the knight Roland. Some claim that it was inherited from Hector, the warrior of the Trojan War. At war with the Saracens in the Pyrenées, Roland wanted to break the sword so that it would not fall into the hands of the enemy but Durandal split the mountain. So he threw the sword, which went to stick miles away, in the rock of the town of Rocamadour.

The belief in the Tooth Fairy is widespread in several countries in Europe, and is sometimes amalgamated with La Petite Souris (little mouse). It exchanges baby teeth for money. No one knows what it does with all these teeth.

The Camecruse is a bogeyman that haunts the moors and marshes of Gascony. It is agile, can jump and hide in the night to better devour lost children. No one knows exactly how it feeds.

The caves under the hill of the town of Hastingues are home to Lou Carcolh, a monstrous snail, long, slimy and hairy. Its shell is as big as a house. With the help of its tentacles, it grips people to devour them.

The Questing Beast is hunted by kings and heroes in Arthurian legends. It symbolizes evil, incest, violence and chaos, and takes it name from the loud noises that come out of its stomach, similar to the barking of dozens of dogs.

The fairy Mélusine, cursed princess of Albania, was condemned to change into a snake below the waist every Saturday. She married Raymondin de Lusignan with whom they had 10 prodigious children. But Raymondin broke his promise never to see Mélusine on Saturday : he surprised her in her monstrous form, and she left her family forever.

[mollat-bordeaux]

🖤🖤🖤 Légendes n°10 Johnny Hallyday @legende_lemag disponible au rayon Musique de la @librairie_mollat #johnnyhallyday #rock #musique #varietefrancaise #librairie #mollat #bordeaux (à librairie mollat) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoPZ2l4K2mU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[apomaro-mellow]

Every Baby Needs a Daddy 2

Part 1

Eddie hadn't forgotten about Steve the next day. Far from it. But his early morning thoughts had been occupied with getting up in time and going through his morning routine. It wasn't until he got dressed and put his jacket on, the same one from yesterday, that he was hit with the remnants of Steve's scent. He lifted it to his nose and took a deep breath.

His number was still in the pocket. Would texting him now seem desperate? Eddie took another breath. Fuck appearances. He had to see him again.

-------------------------

Steve had been prepared to chalk up last night to a fever dream. Or even if it was somehow real, that Eddie wouldn't call or text. Or even if he did, it wouldn't be until weeks or months later when he remembered the pathetic omega he'd met one rainy night.

And then he checked his phone on his lunch break and saw that he had a few messages. All from an unknown number.

'hey' 'it's me' 'Eddie' 'that guy you met last night?' 'I was thinking that i could maybe take you out to dinner again?'

Steve beamed so hard anyone looking might think he was insane. How cool should he play it? Maybe he should wait until he got off of work. Would it be better to call? By the looks of the texts, Eddie seemed really into him. Would Steve be able to string him along for longer?

The moment the thought passed through it was gone. He had woken up this morning, yearning for Eddie's scent. If he got close to him again, there was no way that he could make him wait.

Steve told him that he was free any time.

It probably came off as desperate but he didn't care. He wanted Eddie and wanted to be wanted by him. He couldn't afford to play it cool.

Three days later, Steve was standing outside of a nice restaurant. Eddie had sent the location and Steve dressed in the best clothes he owned. Thankfully he didn't have much of a reason to wear them, so they looked fresh and he went the extra mile to iron them. It was a nice collared shirt in blue and some khaki pants. A car drove up and Eddie came out of it, tossing the keys to a valet.

Eddie had offered to pick him up from his apartment but Steve refused for some reason. It felt like a dignity thing.

"Hey there, handsome", Eddie grinned. He had a red button down over black slacks and that leather jacket again. Steve needed to bury his face in it, in Eddie.

Steve got part of his wish when Eddie slung an around his waist and led him inside. He refrained from turning his head to dip his nose into it and drown himself in Eddie. They sat down and a waiter was with them right away for their drink orders. The waiter asked about wine as Steve looked at the menu.

"Hmm, whatever's red and sweet, my good man", Eddie said.

"We have a nice Cabernet, if you would like."

Eddie looked like he was about to agree when Steve spoke up. "Eddie, what are you eating?"

The alpha glanced at the menu before pushing air out of his mouth. "Probably a steak, beautiful. I'm actually not all that picky."

"We'll take a Caremenare", Steve said. "One from Bordeaux if you have one, if not anything on from southern France is fine."

Eddie gave Steve an appraising look as the waiter walked off to get their drinks. He let out a low whistle and then Steve stiffened.

"You know your stuff."

"I uh, yeah", Steve cleared his throat. "This seems like a real classy joint. Normally a server will ask what you plan on dining on before giving a wine suggestion."

"Ah, so he thought I was some bum who would've been happy drinking some cooking sherry?"

"Basically." Steve hadn't meant to show off like that. It just came out.

Eddie didn't look put off though. If anything, he looked impressed.

"You know, I'm not hard to please. I'm the type to drink whatever they put in front of me. Unless it's vodka." Eddie stuck his tongue out in disgust.

"I figured a rock star would have more refined tastes", Steve said.

"Oh I think I've got great tastes", Eddie said, licking a canine.

Steve had been looking at the menu, about to ask what he meant he saw the look Eddie was giving him. He quickly snapped the menu back up to cover his face and how warm it felt. Steve was no stranger to blatant flirting. He'd frequently laid it on thick himself. But knowing who Eddie was and how they'd met put an extra layer on it.

Did Eddie like him for himself? Or because he seemed easy? They started talking, the conversation now about traveling. Eddie was telling him of a particularly wild night in Italy and Steve was halfway in thought.

Would he feel different if Eddie was just a normal alpha? Or was it the fact that Eddie knew he was half the way to destitute that made Steve hesitant? Above all, Steve just didn't know if Eddie respected him or if he felt sorry for him. Eddie hadn't ever said anything condescending about him or omegas in general though. He'd never made Steve feel lower than him. He made sure he was comfortable with rides and being paid for before doing so.

Steve remembered what his best friend told him before abandoning him (getting her dream job) across the country. Basically, waste not, want not, but applying it to everything. If Eddie wanted to take him out and buy him meals and drinks, who was Steve to deny him? And if he wanted something sweet after, well Steve wouldn't be upset.

"Wait, you tried sneaking into the catacombs? You know it's a tourist site? You can just get a guide and go in", Steve said.

"Yeah, well Jeff had this bright idea of going in without permission, cause you know, rebellion is totally more metal than just hiring a tour guide, and going at like 2 am because that's the 'best time'", Eddie did air quotes and rolled his eyes. "And also tried to get into more restricted areas."

"Lemme guess, Jeff's a free spirited explorer?"

"I like adventure as much as the next guy, but I also like seeing the sky", Eddie said. "And Gareth's worse. Dude froze solid the moment we got down there. Hell of a time to learn he's got claustrophobia."

Their orders were taken and Eddie watched probably with a bit too much interest as Steve ate. He was enjoying this ritzy fare as much as he did the bar and local restaurant from before. Maybe Steve was the type to fit in anywhere. Eddie wanted to give him more. He'd seen some of the couples around them. People with clearly money to spare and they lavished it on the beauty dining with them. Gilded omegas. Kept omegas.

"I just wanted to, I don't know, take care of him", Eddie had lamented to his band mates while on a Zoom call.

"What, like a puppy?", Grant asked while in the middle of doing laundry.

"No! Yes? Like, ugggh", Eddie ran his hands down his face. "I know how this is gonna sound. Don't judge me."

"Holy shit", Gareth paused in his gaming to look at Eddie's face on one of his screens. "Dudes, I think it's finally happening."

"No fucking way", Jeff said.

Eddie turned around in his chair, trying to turn his back to them but he went to hard and did a 360 instead.

"Eddie, do you wanna be his-"

"Please don't say it out loud", Eddie covered his face with his hands.

"He does", Jeff said. "He wants to be a sugar daddy."

"This guy's gotta be hot. You got pics?", Grant asked.

"No one's that hot", Gareth said. "Chrissy was that hot and you still didn't-"

"Alright, forget I said anything. This is supposed to be a brainstorming sesh", Eddie quickly changed the subject.

Eddie wanted Steve to be his. But he didn't just want to date him. He wanted to spoil him, take him on exotic vacations, show him off, have Steve lie in bed without a care outside of being Eddie's baby.

But he couldn't just ask that, could he? That was probably one aspect of celebrity life Eddie, nor any of the other guys really knew too well. Getting a date? Easy. Getting someone like this? Would Steve even want to do that? He probably had his own goals and aspirations that went beyond being some guy's plaything. God though, Eddie would treat him so right. Steve really wouldn't want for anything.

"So, I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but how does a uh, fine vintage such as yourself find him single?"

"'Fine vintage'? Are you calling me old?", Steve asked with mock offense.

"Well you wear it very nicely", Eddie quipped back.

"For the record, I'm not chronically single. I've just been pretty busy lately. Had a few quick lays, but nothing serious for a while."

"How about somethingggg not serious buuut pretty exclusive?", Eddie asked. He leaned a little closer to Steve and was able to smell the increased interest. Good.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you, me, on a French beach in about a month. You could really show off that wino talent."

Steve snickered and moved a little closer to Eddie. "Well you can start with not calling me a 'wino'. And if you really want me to show off, you'll have to take my to Italy."

Eddie put an arm around Steve. "That can be arranged." He started to kiss his neck and let out a soft growl at the way Steve melted under his lips. His hand found Steve's thigh and gave it a squeeze.

Steve hummed and turned his head to kiss Eddie's cheek, then grabbed his hand and threaded their fingers together. He gave Eddie's lips a rather chaste kiss but then whispered against them.

"Take me to your place."

dont @ me on the wine stuff i literally drank a $7 bottle of vermouth yesterday and enjoyed it clearly i am not an expert.

Part 3

Tag Team

@awkotaco24 @lingeringmirth @littlewildflowerkitten @estrellami-1 @tartarusknight @velocitytimes2 @mrsjellymunson @trashcanniballecter @marklee-blackmore @dragonmama76 @paintsplatteredandimperfect

[estellan0vella]

Fallen Into Place: L.F Lee Felix x fem!reader (College AU)

WC: 18.2K

CW: Mentions of physical abuse by a parental figure, Substance Use, Implied and discussed sexual relationships, Discussion of a parent’s death due to cancer General Masterlist SKZ Masterlist

Seungmin's room at the Alpha Phi house is a chaotic mix of minimalist black furniture and books shoved in every conceivable corner. A sleek desk is shoved up against the wall, covered in half-empty energy drink cans and a complicated tangle of wires that probably belong to the computer he built himself. You're perched on the edge of his unmade bed, the France trip booklet spread across your lap. The glossy pages feel weirdly fancy for a school trip, like they're trying too hard to make this sound like the experience of a lifetime.

You're not convinced.

"Okay, but seriously," you say, flipping to the section about Paris accommodations. "If that freckled idiot is going, I'm not."

Seungmin snorts without looking up from his copy of the same booklet. He's slouched in his desk chair, one foot resting on the desk, balancing precariously on the edge of his chair like the picture of nonchalant chaos. His black jeans are ripped in just the right places, his vest hanging open over a plain black tank that shows off the lightning-strike tattoos on his right arm.

"Felix? Oh, he's definitely going," he says, his voice dripping with mock cheerfulness. "He's a bakery and confectionary minor. You think he's missing a trip to the fucking homeland of croissants?"

You groan and flop backwards onto the bed dramatically, the booklet smacking against your chest. "Of course, he is. God, his whole 'everything is sunshine and rainbows' bullshit is going to ruin the entire trip."

Seungmin rolls his eyes, spinning his chair lazily to face you. "I mean, to be fair, they did offer it to you at a discount since you're French and can actually help translate."

"Yeah, but is the sacrifice of my sanity worth it?" you counter, sitting back up and waving the booklet around for emphasis. "I don't know if I can deal with that guy in close quarters for twelve days. Twelve days, Seungmin!"

"Listen," Seungmin says, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. His multiple piercings catch the light as he smirks at you. "If I were you, I'd say yes to the trip. You're literally getting it cheaper. You love pastry-making, and honestly, you're not going to find a better opportunity than this."

You huff, crossing your legs and leaning back against the headboard. Your black miniskirt rides up slightly, and you adjust it out of habit. The lace-up stiletto boots on your feet gleam under the overhead light as you cross one ankle over the other.

"They're talking about opening it up to other students to fill the slots," you say, flipping another page. "You and Minho should sign up."

Seungmin shrugs. "I might."

Before you can press him further, Minho's voice comes from the doorway, dripping with his usual dry humour. "Oh, hello, miserable one and two."

You glance up to see Minho leaning against the doorframe, looking like he just walked out of a punk-rock fashion show. His black cargo pants hang low on his hips, the silver chain around his neck catching the light. His sleeveless compression top reveals toned arms, covered in intricate tattoos, and his piercings glint as he smirks at you both.

"Hello, miserable three," you reply, waving lazily at him with the booklet.

Minho strides into the room like he owns it, flopping onto the bed beside you. He leans over to glance at the booklet in your hands, his cherry-red hair falling into his eyes. "What's this?"

"France trip," you answer. "Twelve days. Paris, Nice, Bordeaux. Pastry-making bullshit."

Minho raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "And you're debating whether to go because Felix might annoy you to death?"

"Correct," you deadpan.

"You could fuck some hot French guys, though," Minho points out, stretching his arms over his head lazily. His septum ring gleams as he smirks down at you.

You hum thoughtfully. "You might be right."

Seungmin snickers from his chair. "Maybe you and Felix should fight it out."

Minho shakes his head quickly. "Would not advise. That dude did taekwondo for, like, twelve fucking years. He'd wreck your shit. Maybe just fuck it out instead."

The booklet in your hand immediately becomes a weapon, and you start whacking Minho with it as he cackles and shields himself. "You're the fucking worst!" you yell between laughs, unable to keep a straight face.

"I'm kidding! I'm kidding!" Minho yells, though his laughter doesn't stop. "God, you're so violent for someone in a miniskirt."

"You deserved it!" you retort, still laughing as you toss the booklet onto the bed. "Don't start shit you can't finish, asshole."

Minho grins, unbothered. "Fair. Anyway, I signed up as soon as they opened the trip to all students."

You blink. "You what?"

"Yeah," Minho says casually. "I want some French dick in my mouth, or I want my dick in some French ass. Either way, I'm winning."

Seungmin chokes on his laughter, and you bury your face in your hands. "I hate you both so much."

"No, you don't," Seungmin says, spinning lazily in his chair. "You'd be lost without us."

Minho smirks. "And you'd be bored as hell."

You sigh dramatically but don't argue. They're right.

The cool night air wraps around the Alpha Phi garden, carrying the faint scent of charcoal and sizzling meat from the grill. The frat house's pool glows a soft blue, its reflection dancing on the faces of Seungmin, Minho, and you as the three of you linger at the edge of the garden, cigarettes in hand. The garden's string lights flicker gently, creating an almost peaceful atmosphere if not for the faint bursts of laughter from Felix, Jisung, and Changbin near the grill, where Chan works his magic.

Seungmin exhales a puff of smoke, his arm resting on the back of a patio chair. "Is a peaceful fucking cigarette too much to ask for in this goddamn house?"

Minho, leaning casually against the pool railing with his cigarette dangling between his fingers, scoffs. "In this house? Yes." His smirk deepens as he takes a slow drag, blowing the smoke toward the sky. "Peaceful doesn't exist when those dumbasses are around."

You roll your eyes, flicking ash from the tip of your cigarette. "It's like they can't laugh at a normal fucking volume. Always gotta be like hyenas on crack."

Seungmin hums in agreement. "Honestly, you'd think they'd be tired after practice today. Changbin looked like he was dying after suicides."

"Didn't stop him from inhaling half the kitchen afterwards," Minho adds, chuckling. "Guy's an actual vacuum cleaner."

Before you can respond, Felix's bright voice cuts through the air, closer now. "What's this? The Pessimist Club holding a meeting?"

You don't even have to look to know it's him. That fucking Australian accent and overly chipper tone are like nails on a chalkboard. You glance over your shoulder to see Felix, Changbin, and Jisung sauntering toward your group, beers in hand and grins plastered across their faces.

"Great," you mutter, stubbing your cigarette out on the edge of a nearby ashtray. "Just what I needed."

Felix grins, his freckles catching the light as he looks at you. "Aw, don't look so excited to see us, Cruella."

"Twilight fucking Sparkle," you shoot back without hesitation, crossing your arms. His eyes narrow, but the grin doesn't leave his face. The nickname makes Changbin nearly choke on his beer as Jisung cackles like a madman.

"Oh, come on," Felix says, feigning offence. "That's not even fucking accurate. I don't sparkle."

"Yet you've got the same overly positive bullshit energy," you deadpan. "Don't deny it."

Felix groans dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. "You wound me. Seriously."

Minho snorts. "You walked into that one, Lix."

"Thank you, Minho," you say, tipping an imaginary hat toward him. "At least someone gets it."

Felix narrows his eyes at you, stepping closer until he's in your personal space. "You're just mad because I'm nice and people actually like me."

"Yeah, nice and painfully fucking irritating. It's like you're allergic to negativity," you retort, holding his gaze without flinching.

"And you're allergic to anything remotely fun," Felix snaps back, his grin now replaced with a slight frown. "God forbid someone has a good time around you."

"God forbid you shut the fuck up for five minutes," you counter, smirking slightly.

"Alright, alright," Changbin interrupts, stepping between the two of you with his hands up. "Jesus Christ, you two need a fucking referee."

"Or a muzzle," Jisung adds with a snicker, earning a middle finger from you.

Felix glares at you one last time, but there's no real malice behind it. Just pure, unfiltered irritation. He takes a long sip of his beer, and you watch with a smirk as an idea forms. When you finish your cigarette, you flick the stub neatly into his drink, the small plunk unmistakable.

Felix sputters. "What the fuck, Cruella?!"

You pat his cheek sweetly, giving him an innocent smile. "Oops. My bad." And with that, you breeze past him, heading toward the grill where Chan's flipping burgers with the precision of a chef in a five-star restaurant.

"Y/N," Chan greets warmly, draping an arm around your shoulders as you approach. "You and Lix can't just get along for once?"

You glance up at him, unimpressed. "I'd rather slam my tongue in a car door. Repeatedly."

Chan snorts, his laughter shaking the arm around your shoulders as he uses his free hand to flip a burger. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"And yet, you love me," you reply, leaning into his side. His familiar warmth is oddly comforting after a long, annoying day.

He hums, ruffling your two-toned hair with a grin. "You doing okay? Last time we talked, your dad—"

"It's fine," you cut him off quickly, your tone sharper than you intend. You force a small smile as you snuggle closer to him. "Seriously, it's fine."

Chan pauses, clearly unconvinced but not pushing. "You know if it's not, you can talk to me, right?"

"I know," you murmur, letting your cheek rest against his shoulder. The sounds of laughter and bickering fade into the background as the scent of grilled meat fills the air.

Chan flips another burger before glancing down at you. "You ever need to crash here-"

"Yeah, I know," you interrupt, your voice softer now. "Can I stay tonight?"

"Of course," he replies without hesitation, his arm tightening around you briefly. "You don't even have to ask."

You smile faintly, letting the comfort of his presence calm the restless energy buzzing in your chest. As annoying as the Alpha Phi house can be, moments like this make it bearable. Even if it means dealing with Felix's Twilight Sparkle bullshit for another day.

The Alpha Phi living room is a chaotic mess of overstuffed furniture, mismatched throw pillows, and random items that scream college frat house. The TV is on, playing some action movie that no one is really watching. You're crammed into the loveseat between Seungmin and Minho, your legs crossed and your black miniskirt riding just slightly higher than you intended. Not that you care. The snake tattoo on your left arm glints under the warm light as you sip on an iced Americano from the café down the street.

Chan is sprawled on the couch with Jeongin, who's flipping through some fashion magazine and pointing out ridiculous outfits. Hyunjin sits cross-legged on the floor with his sketchbook, his black hair falling into his face as his pencil scratches against the page. Changbin is perched on the arm of the couch, scrolling through his phone.

The peace, if you can call this chaos peaceful, is shattered when Felix and Jisung walk in mid-conversation.

"Honestly," Felix says, his accent sharper than usual, "I can't imagine anything more horrifying."

Without missing a beat, you dig into your bag, pull out a small pocket mirror, and hold it up to his face. "There you go."

The room bursts into laughter as Felix glares at you, his freckled face reddening slightly. "You're such a fucking menace, Cruella."

Leaning back against the loveseat, you smirk and take another sip of your Americano. "And you make it so damn easy, Twilight Sparkle. Don't dish it if you can't take it."

Minho chuckles beside you, elbowing you lightly. "She's got a point, Lix. You walked right into that one."

Felix opens his mouth to retort, but Jisung cuts him off with a grin. "He wasn't even talking about himself, you know. Felix was telling me about some guy he knows who went on a shitty date."

"Oh yeah?" Seungmin asks, raising an eyebrow. "What happened? She ghosted him or some shit?"

"Nah, worse," Jisung replies, his grin widening. "Apparently, she spent the whole time talking about her ex and then made him pay for everything. Like, didn't even pretend to offer."

"Fucking brutal," Minho mutters, shaking his head. "But hey, Lix, what about you? Thinking about dipping your toes into the dating pool? Maybe get some Tinder dates lined up? Or, I don't know, snag a hot French girlfriend on the trip?"

Felix hesitates for a second too long, and you seize the opportunity.

"Yeah," you say, your tone dripping with mock sympathy. "Because his last girlfriend deflated when he nibbled on her ear."

The laughter that erupts is immediate and overwhelming. Changbin is the first to lose it, throwing his head back and falling off the arm of the couch entirely. Hyunjin tries to keep his composure, but his shoulders shake as he hides his laughter behind his sketchbook.

"Oh my fucking god," Changbin wheezes from the floor, clutching his stomach. "I'm gonna die."

Jisung is biting his lip so hard it looks like it might bleed, but even he can't hold it together when Felix starts spluttering, his face as red as a tomato.

"You're such an asshole!" Felix snaps, his voice higher-pitched than usual. "It wasn't even funny!"

"Oh, come on, Twilight Sparkle," you say, setting your cup down on the side table with a dramatic sigh. "We all know your girlfriends have been inflatable. It's okay."

Minho immediately raises his hand, and you slap it in a victorious high-five as Felix groans loudly. The room explodes into laughter again, Jisung practically collapsing onto the couch as he gasps for air.

"Stop fucking calling me that!" Felix yells, his voice cracking slightly. "It's not even clever!"

"You're just mad because it fits," you reply smugly, leaning back and crossing your legs.

Jeongin, who's been quietly observing, finally speaks up with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Lix, if you do get a French girlfriend, maybe Cruella can help you translate."

"Fuck off, Jeongin," Felix snaps, shooting him a glare. "Like I need her help."

"Oh, you definitely do," Minho cuts in, smirking. "Your French is trash. What was it you said last time? Je suis un croissant? Dude, you called yourself a fucking pastry."

Felix throws his hands up in frustration as the laughter intensifies. "Why are all of you ganging up on me?!"

"Because you're easy to mess with," you say with a shrug, picking up your iced Americano again. "And honestly, it's fun watching you get all flustered."

Felix glares at you again, muttering something under his breath that you can't quite catch. You don't care, though. Riling him up is one of your favourite pastimes, and the fact that he keeps rising to the bait only makes it better.

"Anyway," Changbin says, wiping tears from his eyes as he finally sits back up, "you guys are fucking ridiculous."

"And yet, you hang out with us," Hyunjin points out, his voice still tinged with amusement as he goes back to his sketchbook.

"Yeah, because you're entertaining," Changbin retorts. "It's like watching a live comedy show."

Felix slumps onto the couch with a dramatic sigh, still glaring at you from across the room. You meet his gaze with a sweet, innocent smile, and he groans, running a hand through his hair.

"Fucking Cruella," he mutters under his breath, and you can't help but grin.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The lecture hall is buzzing with conversation as students file in, taking their seats around tables scattered with booklets and itinerary sheets. The Paris trip meeting is supposed to be straightforward, but nothing about being stuck in a room with overexcited classmates screams "calm." You're running late but you don't care. The thought of spending hours cooped up going over the fine details of travel plans is already giving you a headache.

You click your way into the room, the sharp staccato of your boots echoing against the tile floor. Your black leather miniskirt clings just right, and your dark red turtleneck contrasts perfectly with your half-black, half-white hair, messily clipped up in a way that somehow still looks flawless.

"Late as always," Felix mutters from just behind you. He's trailing after you, also late, because of course he is.

"Look who's talking, Twilight Sparkle," you snap back, throwing him a glance over your shoulder. "What, too busy spreading sunshine and glitter to get here on time?"

"Funny, coming from someone who probably spent twenty minutes perfecting her eyeliner just to intimidate the rest of us," Felix retorts, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Well, it's working," you say, smirking back. "You look terrified."

Felix opens his mouth to reply, but the professor at the front of the room clears her throat, gesturing for the two of you to find seats. The only available ones are at a table already occupied by Minho, Seungmin, and Jisung. Great.

"Perfect," Felix mutters as he drops into the chair beside you. "Now I get front-row seats to Cruella's tragic personality."

"And I get to sit next to an overgrown My Little Pony," you reply sweetly, settling into your chair and crossing your legs.

Minho, Seungmin, and Jisung exchange amused glances as you and Felix settle in. Minho leans back in his chair, his arms crossed and a shit-eating grin plastered across his face. "Oh, this is gonna be good."

The professor begins walking through the itinerary, her voice droning on about flights, hotel check-ins, and scheduled activities. You try to focus, but Felix shifting in his seat beside you keeps pulling your attention.

"So," Felix whispers, leaning slightly closer. "What are you planning to do on your free days? Suck out the souls of innocent Parisians?"

"Yeah," you reply without missing a beat, your voice equally low. "So they don't have to suffer through your sunshine bullshit. It's a mercy soul-snatching, really."

Felix snorts, unable to hide his amusement. "At least you're self-aware."

"Besides," you add, smirking as you turn your head toward him, "at least their souls are being snatched by someone attractive."

Felix chokes on a laugh, quickly covering his mouth with his hand to muffle the sound. Minho and Jisung exchange wide-eyed looks, while Seungmin just shakes his head, clearly holding back his own laughter.

"Wow," Felix mutters after a moment, still grinning. "You really think highly of yourself, don't you?"

"Someone has to," you reply, tilting your head. "You're all too busy worshipping the ground you walk on."

Felix shakes his head, still smiling. He won't admit it, but he actually enjoys these exchanges. You're sharp, quick-witted, and, unfortunately for his sanity, ridiculously attractive. He had a massive crush on you during your first year of college and never quite managed to shake it. Bickering with you is the only way he can interact with you without embarrassing himself, so he keeps it up, even if it means getting roasted half the time.

"Will the two of you shut up?" Seungmin finally hisses, his tone half-annoyed, half-amused. "I'm trying to actually listen to this shit."

"You're just mad because we're more entertaining than the professor," you say, leaning back in your chair and crossing your arms.

"She's not wrong," Jisung mutters, scribbling aimlessly on the corner of his itinerary. "You two are better than Netflix."

The professor glances in your direction, and you immediately sit up straighter, pretending to focus. Felix bites back another laugh, and you elbow him sharply.

The meeting drags on, but eventually, the professor wraps up her presentation with a reminder about packing lists and travel documents. Just as everyone begins gathering their things to leave, she calls your name.

"Y/N, can I speak with you for a moment?"

Minho and Seungmin exchange a glance before sitting back down, clearly deciding to wait for you. You roll your eyes but nod, making your way to the front of the room where the professor is organizing her papers.

"I just have a quick question about the forms I need to fill out," she says, looking up. "Will I be putting that you're using your French passport or your Korean one?"

"French," you reply easily. "It's just easier to travel to the EU with an EU passport."

The professor nods, scribbling something down. "Got it. Thanks for confirming."

"No problem," you say, turning to head back toward Minho and Seungmin, who are lounging at your table with matching grins.

"So," Minho says as you approach, "French passport, huh? Fancy."

"Shut up," you mutter, grabbing your bag. "Let's go before Felix decides to keep following me."

Seungmin chuckles as the three of you make your way out of the room, leaving behind the chaos of the meeting and the lingering scent of Felix's cologne.

The BBQ place is packed, the smell of sizzling meat and spices wafting through the air as waiters bustle around, carrying trays piled high with food. You, Minho, and Seungmin are crammed into a small booth in the corner, the table already cluttered with banchan and beer bottles. The grill in the centre of the table is heating up, and Minho is poking at the coals with the tongs.

You sip your soju, leaning back against the booth and glancing between your two best friends. "You know something?"

Seungmin barely looks up as he flips a piece of pork belly. "What?"

"I am a fucking catch," you declare, gesturing dramatically with your glass. "I have a nice ass, tits to die for, and flawless eyeliner. But for some reason, no one approaches me. Wanna know why? It's because of you two."

Seungmin raises an eyebrow while Minho smirks, clearly enjoying where this is going. "Us?" Minho asks, his tone mocking. "How is this our fault?"

You set your glass down and point at them accusingly. "You're like my tattooed, pierced bodyguards. Guys take one look at me sandwiched between you two and immediately assume I have the emotional baggage of a Bond villain."

Minho snorts, finally looking up from the grill. "Have you considered," he says with a smirk, "that maybe it's your personality?"

You scoff, narrowing your eyes at him. "Personality means absolutely nothing for a one-night stand, Min. You know that."

Seungmin hums thoughtfully, propping his chin on his hand. "Honestly, we're doing you a favour. We're keeping you from being the subject of a fucking Netflix true crime documentary. Your taste in men is horrendous."

"Excuse me?" you say, voice pitching higher as you glare at him. "I think my taste is fine, thank you very much."

Minho barks out a laugh, shaking his head. "Oh, fuck off. Your taste in men is like a shopping cart full of bad decisions. Honestly, we're saving ourselves hours of police interviews. Do you know how many shady hookups we've already intervened in?"

"Uh, fuck you," you shoot back, kicking his shin under the table. Minho barely flinches, grinning at you like the devil he is.

Seungmin leans back in his seat, his lips twitching. "On national television, we'd be like, 'Yeah, we all fucking saw this coming.' Any shady guy with tattoos and an authority kink has a one-way ticket to you."

You sputter, choking on your drink as Minho doubles over laughing. "An authority kink? You're such an asshole, Seungmin."

"I mean, he's not wrong," Minho says, smirking. "It's the daddy issues."

You swat his arm, but you're laughing despite yourself. "Fuck you, Minho."

"Love you too, sweetheart," he replies, smirking as he pops a piece of grilled meat into his mouth.

Seungmin leans forward, grinning wickedly. "You know we wouldn't hold back in any press interviews if you ever disappeared, right?"

Minho nods sagely, pointing at you with his chopsticks. "We'd tell them everything. Your embarrassing drunken escapades, your horror hookup stories, the whole fucking list."

You narrow your eyes at them, though you can't fight the smile tugging at your lips. "You two are the fucking worst."

Seungmin grins. "We'd tell them about that time you climbed out of the Theta Tau frat house window, and Chan had to catch you like a goddamn princess."

Minho cackles, nearly dropping the tongs. "Oh, or the time Hyunjin pretended to be your fiancé, bursting into your apartment and pretending to catch you cheating just to get that creep to leave."

"That was a good one," Seungmin says, nodding. "Or remember the time we had to dress up in all black with sunglasses and pretend to be your private bodyguards? Changbin pinned the guy down like a linebacker."

You groan, covering your face with your hands. "In my defence, Changbin only pinned him after he stuck his hand up my skirt."

"Oh yeah," Minho says, his voice darkening slightly, "and then we- how do I put this nicely?- beat the shit out of him."

You peek at him through your fingers, trying not to laugh. "Nicely, huh?"

Seungmin smirks, tilting his head. "It's true. That guy looked like he got hit by a freight train after Changbin was done."

The three of you dissolve into laughter, the sound loud and unfiltered, cutting through the noise of the BBQ place. Despite their teasing, you know Minho and Seungmin would throw hands for you any day—and that thought, as annoying as it is, makes your chest feel a little lighter. Even if they are tattooed, pierced, overly sarcastic bodyguards.

Jisung's room is a disaster, as usual. Clothes are strewn across the floor, empty takeout containers balance precariously on his desk, and the faint smell of weed lingers in the air. Felix is sprawled on the beanbag chair next to the bed, a controller in hand as they play some chaotic multiplayer game on Jisung's beat-up TV. The screen is a mess of flashing colours, and the sound of explosions fills the room.

Jisung leans back on the bed, one leg dangling off the side, controller in one hand, and a bong resting on the nightstand within reach. "Honestly," he says, his voice casual but curious, "what is with you and Y/N?"

Felix groans, his freckled face scrunching up as he mashes the buttons on his controller. "She fucking hates me for being positive. I don't like her for being miserable. It's that simple."

"Uh-huh," Jisung hums, unimpressed. He pauses the game to grab the bong, taking a long, slow rip before passing it to Felix. Smoke curls lazily in the air, blending with the already hazy atmosphere.

Felix takes the bong, shaking his head. "I'm serious. She's all doom and gloom, and I'm just trying to exist without getting roasted every five fucking seconds."

"You do bring it on yourself, Twilight Sparkle," Jisung says, grinning as Felix glares at him through the haze of smoke.

"Don't you fucking start with that," Felix mutters, exhaling a cloud and passing the bong back. "She's got the whole Cruella de Vil aesthetic going, and somehow I'm the one getting all the shit."

Jisung snickers, setting the bong aside for now. "Okay, but like, you've got to admit, you still have that crush on her from last year."

Felix freezes, the controller slipping slightly in his hands. "What?" he says, his voice slightly higher than usual. "That's fucking ridiculous."

Jisung raises an eyebrow, sitting up slightly. "Oh, is it? You spent all of first year following her around like a lost puppy. Don't think I didn't notice."

Felix huffs, leaning back in the beanbag chair and staring at the screen. "Yeah, well, that's over. She's- Whatever. She's a pain in my ass now."

"Sure," Jisung says, clearly unconvinced. He grabs the bong again but doesn't take another rip just yet. "But, you know, any clothes we take on this France trip are gonna have to be deep-cleaned and sealed in our suitcases. Gotta make sure the drug dogs don't sniff this shit out at the airport."

Felix snorts, grateful for the subject change. "Yeah, no kidding. Last thing we need is to get fucking detained in customs because you smell like a walking dispensary."

Jisung smirks, leaning back on his elbows. "You're deflecting, by the way. You still like her."

"And what about your big, fat crush on Minho?" Felix shoots back, smirking now that the spotlight isn't on him.

Jisung gasps dramatically, clutching his chest. "Bitch, I am proud of my big, fat crush on Minho. Why do you think I signed up for the France trip? Six days in the city of love. I'm going to woo that tattooed sexy man with pastry and my bomb dick game."

Felix bursts out laughing, doubling over in his seat. "Your what?"

"My bomb dick game," Jisung repeats confidently, sitting up straight. "You think I can't pull? I'm gonna have Minho eating out of the palm of my hand. Or, you know, somewhere else."

Felix shakes his head, still laughing as he wipes tears from his eyes. "There's no fucking way, Sung. Minho would make you his subby bottom bitch in, like, point five seconds."

Jisung grins, unfazed. "I mean, honestly? I wouldn't even be mad about it."

Felix groans, leaning back in the beanbag again, a wide smile still on his face. "You're fucking hopeless."

"And you're deflecting again," Jisung points out, wagging a finger at him. "Admit it. You still think Y/N is hot."

Felix doesn't respond immediately, focusing on the game instead. But the faint flush creeping up his neck gives him away.

Jisung smirks, taking another rip of the bong. "Thought so."

---------------------------------------------------------

Incheon International Airport is a chaotic mix of noise, announcements, and the overwhelming scent of overpriced coffee. Everyone going on the France trip has already checked in their suitcases, leaving the group gathered near security. You glance around, adjusting the strap of your bag on your shoulder. Your green leather miniskirt catches the light, and your black lace-trimmed camisole barely offers any protection from the chill of the air conditioning.

Minho stands next to you, scrolling through his phone while Seungmin argues with a vending machine that just ate his money. The three of you are clearly overdressed compared to the sea of tourists in sweatpants and hoodies. But when have you ever given a shit about blending in?

"Let's get this over with," you mutter, stepping toward the metal detector.

The moment you step through, the machine beeps loudly, its accusatory tone cutting through the background noise. A security worker waves you over to the side. You groan as Minho and Seungmin snicker, stepping through after you and immediately setting it off themselves. Of course.

"Piercings," Minho says simply, shrugging as the male security worker gestures for him to step aside too. "This is gonna take a while."

The three of you stand in a line, waiting as the security team gathers their wands and gloves. A female worker approaches you first, holding up a handheld metal detector.

"Hold still," she says, her tone polite but firm. She waves the wand over your face, and it immediately beeps.

"Eyebrow piercing," you say, pointing to it before poking your tongue out. "Tongue piercing too. Oh, and the lip ring."

The woman nods, moving the detector down. It beeps again as she waves it over your chest, and you sigh dramatically. "Nipple piercings," you explain, "and probably the underwire in my bra."

The worker's expression remains neutral as she begins patting you down, her hands brushing over your sides and chest. You glance over at Minho, who's already standing with his arms out like a bored mannequin.

When the detector beeps over his crotch, Minho smirks. "That piercing was brutal. Prince Albert."

You snort, unable to hold back your laugh, while Seungmin chokes on air beside you. "We held his hands when he got it," Seungmin says, grinning. "He cried."

"I did not cry," Minho shoots back, but he's clearly lying, and you both know it.

"You definitely cried," you say, shaking your head. "I was there."

Seungmin steps forward as the worker moves to him, holding his arms out. The wand goes off near his chest, and he glances down. "Nipple piercings here too," he says casually.

"Shocker," you mutter, rolling your eyes as the female worker finishes with you and waves you forward.

You step to the side, adjusting your bag and scanning the room for the others. Your eyes land on Felix, who's being waved over to another security lane. The worker waves the detector over him, and you can't help but notice when it beeps over his crotch.

Minho leans in close, his voice low but filled with amusement. "No fucking way. Felix has a Prince Albert? Did not have that on my 2024 bingo card."

You bite back a laugh, glancing at Felix, who looks mildly annoyed but unfazed as the security worker pats him down. "Twilight Sparkle with a secret edge," you mutter. "Who knew?"

Before Minho can reply, Jisung gets pulled to another station, and the detector immediately goes off over his chest and, moments later, over his crotch. Minho arches an eyebrow, clearly fighting a grin.

"Interesting," Minho says, drawing out the word.

You smirk, nudging him with your elbow. "Just admit you like the guy already. We all know it. You two are set for the perfect friends-to-lovers romance arc."

Seungmin, still watching the scene unfold, nods in agreement. "Seriously. Everyone knows. You're like one heartfelt confession away from being that couple, the guy who looks like a dom and is a sub and the guy who looks like a sub but is a dom."

Minho glares at you both, but the tips of his ears are turning red. "Oh, fuck off. You're both subby as hell too."

"Yeah," Seungmin says, shrugging as he crosses his arms. "But we're not ashamed of it."

"Exactly," you add, grinning. "We own it. Unlike you, Mr. Denial."

Minho groans, running a hand through his hair as Jisung finally gets cleared and starts making his way back toward the group. "You two are the fucking worst."

"And yet, you love us," Seungmin says, smirking as he slings an arm over Minho's shoulders.

You watch as Felix joins the group again, his expression unreadable as he adjusts his jacket. He catches your gaze for a moment, and you offer him a saccharine smile. "How's it feel to know we're both walking red flags, Twilight Sparkle?"

Felix smirks, his freckled cheeks faintly flushed. "Better than being an open invitation for disaster, Cruella."

The tension crackles as the group begins moving toward the boarding gate, bickering and bantering all the way. It's going to be a long trip.

The plane is already filling up as you make your way down the aisle, your carry-on bag slung over your shoulder. You glance at the numbers on the overhead compartments, searching for your seat. When you finally find it, you stop dead in your tracks.

You're sandwiched between Felix and Jisung.

"Fucking perfect," you mutter under your breath, adjusting your bag before reluctantly squeezing past Felix, who's already lounging in his seat. Jisung flashes you a bright smile as you settle into the middle seat.

"Hi, Ji," you say, offering him a small smile despite your mood.

"Hey," he says back, his eyes crinkling with warmth as he pulls his headphones off one ear. "Ready for the long-ass flight?"

"Not anymore," you reply, side-eyeing Felix as you drop into the seat. You barely have time to get comfortable before Felix leans over, grinning at you.

"Where's my greeting, Cruella?" he asks, his tone dripping with mock offence.

You sigh dramatically, leaning back in your seat. "If you wait till we're thirty thousand feet in the air, open the door to the plane, and jump out, you'll find it on the fall down."

Jisung bursts out laughing, his head tilting back against the headrest. Felix glares at you, though the corner of his mouth twitches like he's fighting a smile.

"Charming as ever," Felix mutters, shifting in his seat.

Behind you, Minho and Seungmin are settling into their own seats. Unfortunately for them, they've been joined by Jihyo, a girl who's infamous at Alpha Phi parties for clinging to the two of them like a magnet. She's already leaning over, batting her eyelashes as she touches Seungmin's tattooed arm.

"Wow, Seungmin," she says in a voice that's somehow both high-pitched and grating. "This tattoo is so detailed. Did it hurt?"

Seungmin gives her a tight-lipped smile. "Not as much as this conversation."

Minho snickers, pretending to cough into his hand. "Yeah, Seungmin's great at enduring pain. You know, like a champ."

Jihyo doesn't seem to catch the jab, her hand now moving to Minho's arm. "Your tattoos are so cool too, Minho. Did you design them yourself?"

Minho smirks, leaning back in his seat. "Nope, just got them to scare off straight girls. Works most of the time."

You stifle a giggle, glancing back over your shoulder to see Jihyo frowning slightly, trying to figure out if she's being insulted. Minho meets your eyes and winks, earning a quiet laugh from Seungmin.

"God, how long is this flight?" Minho mutters under his breath, though his voice is loud enough for you to hear.

Felix, ever the boy scout, chimes in. "Fourteen hours, fifty-five minutes. Non-stop from Korea to Paris."

Minho groans dramatically, leaning his head back against the seat. "Kill me now."

Meanwhile, Jihyo continues draping herself over Seungmin, her fingers brushing over the lightning-strike tattoo on his arm. Seungmin finally snaps, pulling his arm away. "Look, Jihyo, I get it, you think tattoos are hot. But can you maybe not treat me like a goddamn exhibit?"

Minho bursts out laughing, and you have to bite your lip to keep from joining in.

Turning back around, you reach into your bag and pull out your copy of Madame Bovary, the French edition. As you flip it open, Jisung glances at you curiously.

"Wait," he says, his head tilting slightly. "You can read French?"

"Uh, yeah," you reply, lifting the book slightly so he can see the cover. "And speak it. Dual nationality perks."

"Dual nationality?" Jisung echoes, clearly intrigued.

You nod, digging into your bag again and pulling out your French passport, flipping it open briefly to show him. "My dad's Korean, but my mom was French. EU citizenship is convenient."

Jisung whistles low. "Damn, I'm sticking with you this trip."

"Not if he's hanging around," you reply, jerking your thumb toward Felix.

Jisung hesitates for a moment before sighing dramatically. "Sorry, Felix."

Felix gapes at him, looking genuinely betrayed. "What the fuck, Ji? You're abandoning me for Cruella?"

Jisung shrugs with a sheepish grin. "She's got the dual citizenship card, man. It's survival instincts."

You smirk, leaning back in your seat as Felix mutters something under his breath.

As Jihyo continues her not-so-subtle attempts at flirting with Minho, he leans over and whispers to you, "Seriously, though, how long is this flight again?"

"Fourteen hours, fifty-five minutes," Felix says again from beside you, not looking up from his phone.

Minho groans louder this time. "I swear to god, if she keeps this up, I'm jumping out of the emergency exit."

"Take me with you," Seungmin mutters, glaring at Jihyo as she giggles at something she clearly thinks is charming.

Deciding you all need a distraction, you reach into your carry-on and pull out a bottle of duty-free vodka. Minho and Seungmin immediately perk up.

"Oh, hell yeah," Jisung says, grinning as you crack open the bottle and take a long sip before passing it to him.

You dig around in your bag again and pull out a juice box, handing it to Felix with a sweet smile. "Here, sunshine. Don't want you to get too wild."

Felix takes the juice box, raising an eyebrow. "Joke's on you, this is my favourite."

You blink in surprise as he sticks the straw in and takes a sip, smirking at you the whole time.

"Well," Minho says, opening his own bottle of soju, "this is gonna be a very interesting fourteen hours."

Seungmin snorts, leaning over and clinking his bottle against yours as the plane finally begins taxiing down the runway.

Almost fifteen gruelling hours later, the plane finally lands in Paris. The seatbelt sign dings off, and the passengers begin shuffling to grab their bags. You're sandwiched in the middle seat between Jisung and Felix, both of whom look equally wrecked from the long flight.

Jisung stretches, cracking his back as he unbuckles his seatbelt. "Fucking finally. My ass is numb."

"Could've been worse," Felix says from the window seat, his voice scratchy from hours of dry aeroplane air. "At least we didn't get stuck near a screaming baby."

You groan, leaning your head back against the seat. "No, we just got stuck next to you, which is worse."

Felix smirks, unbothered as he leans down to grab his bag from under the seat. "Good morning to you too, Cruella. Sleep well?"

"Keep talking," you mutter, adjusting your camisole as you unbuckle your seatbelt. "I'll tell the nearest worker you're wanted internationally. A few hours locked up ought to cool you down."

Jisung snorts so loudly it earns him a glare from a passenger across the aisle. "Please do it. I'll film the whole thing."

"Shut the fuck up, Ji," Felix mutters, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as he files into the aisle behind Jisung.

Once the group manages to shuffle off the plane and through the long stretch of security, you all make it to the baggage claim. The belts are spinning lazily, and you lean against one of the metal rails, waiting for your suitcase to appear.

Felix, of course, can't resist. "Don't lose your suitcase, Cruella. I'd hate to see you terrorize the French airport staff."

"Keep it up," you snap, not even looking at him, "and I will report you having a brick of coke or something. Bet they'd love to lock you in the back room for a few hours while we explore Paris without you."

Minho and Seungmin, standing nearby, both snort into their hands while Jisung straight-up laughs, earning another glare from Felix.

"You're all assholes," Felix mutters, but there's no heat in his tone.

Once everyone has their bags, you make your way toward the exit. The group pauses by the bus pickup area, where a coach is supposed to collect everyone. However, the wait is longer than expected, and the sun is already warming the Parisian streets.

"There's a café near the exit," Jisung suggests, nodding toward the small glass building visible through the crowd. "Let's grab something while we wait."

The group agrees, and Jisung practically drags Felix along as you all head toward the café. The warm, rich scent of coffee greets you as you step inside, and you immediately take charge at the counter.

"Okay," you say, glancing over your shoulder at the guys. "What's everyone having?"

"Iced Americano," Minho and Seungmin chime in simultaneously.

"Same," Jisung says, leaning against the counter as he nudges Felix. "What about you, Twilight Sparkle?"

Felix glares at him, then shrugs. "Tea."

The cashier waits patiently as you translate their orders into French, your pronunciation smooth and confident. You smile politely at the barista, who flushes slightly as he takes the payment.

As you step to the side to wait for the drinks, Felix mutters, "Really?"

You turn to him with a raised eyebrow. "What?"

He nods toward the barista, who's glancing at you every few seconds as he works. "That."

"Oh, come on, man," Jisung says, grinning as he nudges Felix. "Everyone thinks she's hot. Just those two," he gestures toward Minho and Seungmin, "scare everyone else off."

Felix huffs, crossing his arms. "Except you. You're the only one dumb enough to stick around because you're too busy jerking it to Minho every night."

Jisung grins shamelessly, shrugging. "Guilty. I'm not denying shit."

Behind him, Minho's grin grows as he exchanges an excited glance with Seungmin, nudging him lightly with his elbow. Seungmin shakes his head, clearly trying not to laugh.

When the drinks are ready, you grab the cups from the counter, handing them out one by one. You hold Felix's tea in your hand, looking at him with a mischievous glint in your eye. Before passing it to him, you lean down and run your tongue over the lid's mouthpiece, licking it slowly.

"Here," you say, holding it out to him with an innocent smile.

Felix rolls his eyes but takes the cup anyway, muttering, "Not even fazed."

As he takes a sip, Jisung whispers loud enough for everyone to hear, "Indirect kiss!"

Without missing a beat, both you and Felix turn to him and kick him in the shins simultaneously.

"Ow! Fucking hell!" Jisung yelps, hopping on one foot while the rest of you laugh.

Minho takes a sip of his Americano, grinning. "This is gonna be a long trip, huh?"

"Fourteen more days of this," Seungmin mutters, shaking his head. But even he's smiling as the group heads back toward the coach pickup, drinks in hand and the promise of chaos already brewing.

The coach finally pulls into the parking lot of a modest motel on the outskirts of Paris. The building is squat and nondescript, with faded paint and a flickering neon sign that does little to inspire confidence. As the group files off the bus, Minho stops dead in his tracks, his eyes scanning the building with an unimpressed glare.

"Absolutely fucking not," he says, turning to you. "You're not staying in a single room here. This is where people get murdered."

You raise an eyebrow at him, crossing your arms. "Oh, so now you're my knight in shining armour?"

"No," Minho replies, deadpan. "But I do have a vested interest in not having to fly back home to attend your funeral."

Seungmin, standing behind you both, looks over the list of room assignments. "I'll pair up with someone else," he says, waving toward a random guy he recognizes from the flight. "That way you two can share. No one's getting stabbed on my watch."

You sigh, knowing better than to argue with them when they're in one of their overprotective moods. "Fine. But if Minho snores, I'm leaving him for dead."

"Bold of you to assume I'd protect you if the murderer shows up first," Minho quips, grabbing your bag and slinging it over his shoulder.

The two of you make your way to your assigned room, unlocking the door to find a small, slightly dingy double room. The bed is pushed against the wall, the sheets a shade of white that screams "washed too many times," and there's a single chair by the window. You pause in the doorway, your eyes narrowing at the faint outline of what looks suspiciously like chalk on the carpet.

"Is that... the remains of a fucking chalk outline?" you ask, stepping into the room cautiously.

Minho peers over your shoulder, his expression unimpressed. "The college really cut corners with this place, huh?"

"Check the windows," you say, dropping your bag on the chair. "Make sure they're bolted."

Minho nods, walking over to the small window and giving it a firm shake. "Bolted. Barely, but it's something."

You sigh, flopping onto the double bed. The mattress creaks loudly, but you've slept on worse during past adventures with Minho. He joins you a moment later, lying on his back beside you. The two of you stare at the cracked ceiling, the faint hum of traffic filtering in from outside.

"This place is depressing," you mutter, your hands resting on your stomach.

"Very," Minho agrees. "But at least we've got each other."

"Aw," you say, smirking. "Didn't know you were so sentimental."

Minho chuckles, turning his head slightly to look at you. "So, let's cut the shit. Do you have a crush on Felix?"

You splutter, sitting up so fast you nearly lose your balance. "What the fuck, Minho?"

He's laughing now, full-on cackling as you grab the nearest pillow and whack him with it. "I'm just asking! You two bicker like an old married couple!"

"Because he's a pain in my ass, not because I like him!" you snap, hitting him again as he shields his face with his arms, still laughing.

"Okay, okay!" Minho wheezes, tears in his eyes as he tries to catch his breath. "Just checking!"

You throw the pillow back onto the bed, flopping down dramatically beside him. "You're the fucking worst, Minho."

"And yet, you love me," he says smugly, turning his head to grin at you.

"Not right now, I don't," you grumble, staring at the ceiling again.

The two of you lie there in silence for a moment before Minho speaks up again. "But seriously, if Felix tries to pull some 'Twilight Sparkle' bullshit this trip, I'll handle it for you."

You glance at him out of the corner of your eye, unable to stop the small smile creeping onto your face. "Thanks, Minho."

"Anytime, Cruella," he replies, smirking.

The pastry-making class is set in a pristine kitchen with wide marble countertops, rows of stainless steel appliances, and a faint smell of butter and sugar in the air. Each workstation is stocked with bowls, utensils, and pre-measured ingredients. Everyone's already donned aprons, black for you, red for Minho and Seungmin, and an obnoxious pastel blue for Felix across the room.

You're thriving. Your dough is already chilling in the fridge, perfect in texture and consistency, because of course it is. Felix, annoyingly, has also finished, his smug grin flashing every time you accidentally catch his eye across the room. You both know you're equally talented in this department, though neither of you will ever admit it aloud.

Minho and Seungmin, however, are another story.

"I swear to fucking god," Minho mutters, staring down at the gloopy mess in his bowl. "This dough is cursed. It's the pastry's fault. I'm perfect, so it can't be me that did anything wrong."

You burst out laughing, leaning over to check his dough. "You're perfect, huh? Well, perfect Minho, your dough looks like it's been chewed up and spit out by a dog."

Seungmin snorts, his own dough looking only marginally better as he tries to roll it out on the counter. "Honestly, it's a good thing you don't have an ego or anything, Min."

"Fuck off," Minho retorts, throwing a pinch of flour at him before looking at you. "Alright, pastry goddess, fix this mess."

You giggle, grabbing his bowl and starting to work the dough. "Okay, first of all, you overmixed it. Second, you didn't measure the butter properly."

"Details," Minho says dismissively, crossing his arms and leaning against the counter. "I'm a big-picture kind of guy."

"Yeah, well, the big picture here is that you suck at this," you reply, smirking as you knead the dough back into something usable. "But don't worry, that's why I'm here."

Across the room, Felix is helping Jisung with his dough, his tone patient but clearly amused. "Ji, you have to fold it gently. You're not trying to wrestle it into submission."

"I am being gentle!" Jisung protests, his hands pressing down hard on the dough. "It's just not cooperating."

Felix sighs, stepping closer and showing him the correct technique. "Like this. See? It's all about finesse."

"Fucking show-off," you mutter under your breath, glancing at them briefly before turning back to Minho's dough.

"You jealous, Cruella?" Minho teases, his lips twitching into a grin. "Looks like your little nemesis is winning Teacher of the Year over there."

You roll your eyes, throwing a bit of flour at him. "Shut up and focus, perfect one. Your dough still needs fixing."

Seungmin groans as his own dough tears under his rolling pin. "Why is this so fucking hard? I don't understand. It's just flour and butter!"

"Clearly, it's beyond your skill level," you tease, stepping over to help him. "Okay, stop manhandling it. Just let me do it before you make it worse."

"God, you're bossy," Seungmin mutters, but he steps back to let you work.

"Yeah, and you love it," you reply, not missing a beat.

Felix, who's clearly been eavesdropping, calls out from his side of the room. "Hey, Cruella, how's it going over there? Need me to come save the day?"

You glance at him with an exaggerated fake smile. "Oh, Twilight Sparkle, I didn't realize you were auditioning for France's Next Top Pastry Chef. Should I start clapping now, or wait till you mess up?"

Felix grins, his freckles scrunching up as he leans on the counter. "Keep talking. Just remember, my dough's already in the fridge. Can't mess up perfection."

"Perfection?" you echo, scoffing. "You're such a smug little shit."

"And yet," Felix says, smirking, "you're still watching me."

You flip him off, earning a laugh from Jisung, who's now trying to scrape sticky dough off his hands. Minho watches the exchange with an amused smirk, clearly filing it away for later teasing.

Once you've finally managed to salvage Minho and Seungmin's doughs, you guide them to wrap it up and get it into the fridge.

"See? Not that hard when you listen to me," you say, wiping your hands on your apron.

"Yeah, yeah," Minho mutters, glaring at his dough like it personally wronged him. "Next time, I'm sabotaging yours just to feel better."

"Like you could," you reply with a grin, bumping his shoulder as you walk past.

The class instructor announces the dough will chill for a while before the next step, giving everyone a chance to clean up. As you rinse your hands in the sink, you catch Felix's eyes across the room. He raises an eyebrow, and you can't help but smirk back.

The restaurant is dimly lit, cosy, and packed with the sound of clinking glasses and soft conversation in rapid French. The guys are seated at a round table near the back, a small candle flickering in the centre. Jisung glances at the empty seat next to Minho, frowning as he stabs at a piece of bread on his plate.

"Hey," he says, looking up. "Where's Y/N?"

Minho doesn't even glance up from the menu as he flips through it. "She had somewhere to go tonight."

"Where?" Jisung presses, leaning his elbows on the table.

Seungmin sighs, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "The Père Lachaise Cemetery."

Jisung pauses, a piece of bread halfway to his mouth. "Why the fuck is she at a cemetery?"

Seungmin exchanges a quick glance with Minho before replying, his tone quieter. "Visiting her mother's grave."

Jisung immediately sets the bread down, his expression softening. "Oh. Fuck. I didn't know."

"Yeah, well," Minho says, setting the menu down and flagging a waiter over. "She doesn't talk about it much, so don't mention it when she gets back."

Jisung nods solemnly, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of the breadbasket. "Is that why she said her mom was French?"

Minho nods, turning to the waiter as they approach. "Can we get five bottles of wine? One for each of us and one for Y/N when she gets here."

"Five bottles?" Felix echoes, raising an eyebrow. "That's excessive even for us."

Minho shoots him a look. "You met her, right? She's going to need it."

Felix smirks, leaning back in his chair. "Fair point."

The wine arrives a few moments later, and they start pouring drinks while chatting about the class earlier that day. Jisung keeps the conversation light, cracking jokes about his disastrous attempt at dough-making, while Seungmin mocks him for not even being able to handle flour properly. Felix mostly listens, sipping his wine and occasionally chiming in with sarcastic remarks.

Just as Minho raises his glass for a toast, the door to the restaurant swings open, and you step inside. The candlelight catches the sharp angles of your face, your makeup still perfectly intact despite the long day. You're wearing a sleek black miniskirt and a long-sleeved turtleneck under a long black coat. A beret sits tilted on your head, and your lace-up stiletto boots click softly against the floor as you make your way over.

Without a word, you plop into the seat next to Minho and grab the unopened bottle of wine in front of you. "Good timing," Minho says, pouring you a glass.

You fill it to the brim, taking a long sip before leaning back in your chair. "Well, don't everyone look so excited to see me."

"Glad you're back, Cruella," Felix says, his smirk faint but present. "Thought maybe you'd gotten lost in the catacombs or something."

You glance at him, unimpressed. "You'd like that, wouldn't you, Twilight Sparkle." Then you raise your glass in mock toast. "Sorry to disappoint. Still alive and kicking."

Jisung, who's been noticeably quiet, finally speaks up. "We saved you a bottle," he says, nodding toward the wine in front of you.

"Good," you reply, downing half the glass. "You're not entirely useless after all."

The group falls into easy conversation, the tension from earlier slowly melting away. Minho keeps the wine flowing, and by the time the first bottle is finished, even Felix looks like he's having a good time.

As the night wears on, you catch Minho watching you out of the corner of his eye. When you finally meet his gaze, he simply smiles softly and raises his glass.

You nod back, grateful for his silent understanding. Because if there's one thing Minho knows, it's when to say nothing at all.

It's late, and the motel room is dark except for the faint glow of the streetlight creeping in through the thin curtains. You're sprawled across the king-size bed, scrolling aimlessly on your phone while trying to ignore the questionable creaks and groans coming from the walls. Dressed in black hotpants and a tank top, you've already resigned yourself to the lacklustre accommodations and are just trying to wind down.

A sharp knock at the door interrupts your quiet. Frowning, you toss your phone onto the bed and pad over to the door, pulling it open without bothering to check who it is. Standing there is Felix, looking thoroughly annoyed, his freckled face slightly flushed, either from lingering embarrassment or leftover wine.

"Minho and Jisung are fucking in my room," he announces flatly, his voice tinged with disbelief. "All that wine we drank apparently worked like a goddamn aphrodisiac for them. I walked into my room and saw Jisung balls deep in Minho's ass."

You blink at him, leaning against the doorframe. "Oh. Good for them."

"Good for them?!" Felix repeats, exasperated. "No, not good for them! My fucking room!"

"Yeah, well," you say with a shrug, "you're not staying here. Sleep in the hallway."

Felix stares at you, clearly unimpressed. "You have twin beds, right?"

"Nope," you reply, leaning your head against the doorframe. "One king-size bed. Minho and I have been sharing it. Hence why you cannot crash here unless you want to sleep in the bath or on the floor, because I am not sharing the bed with you."

Felix raises an eyebrow. "You're that against sharing a bed with me?"

"Absolutely," you say, deadpan. "But I'll be generous. I'll give you a pillow and blanket for whichever you choose. Bath or floor?"

Felix sighs dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "Floor, I guess."

You smirk, stepping back and gesturing for him to come inside. "Brave man. I don't think these carpets have been cleaned since the place opened, though. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Felix drops his bag near the door, eyeing the carpet with mild disgust. "This place is one step away from being condemned. How the hell did the college book it?"

"Budget cuts," you say, tossing a pillow and blanket onto the floor. "Here. Make yourself at home, Twilight Sparkle."

"Don't start," Felix mutters, crouching down to arrange the makeshift bed. As he stretches out on the floor, he props his head up on one arm, looking up at you. "I misjudged Minho, by the way. I thought he was a top."

You laugh, sitting back down on the edge of the bed. "Minho? Pfft. No. He's a subby man, just like Seungmin."

Felix grins, his freckled face lighting up with mischief. "And you?"

Your reflexes kick in before your brain does. You grab the pillow you'd been leaning on and hurl it at him, hitting him square in the face. Felix laughs, the sound rich and unrestrained, as he pulls the pillow away and smirks at you.

"Struck a nerve, huh, Cruella?" he teases.

"Shut up," you snap, though there's no real venom in your tone.

Felix chuckles, flopping onto his back on the floor. "This is going to be the longest fucking trip of my life."

"Right back at you," you mutter, turning off the bedside lamp and pulling the covers up.

As you settle in for the night, the sound of Felix softly muttering about the state of the carpet almost makes you laugh again. Almost.

It's been an hour since Felix set up camp on the carpeted floor, and he's still shifting around. Every few seconds, there's a rustle of fabric or the faint sound of him exhaling in frustration. You've tried ignoring it, burying your head under the pillow, but it's fucking impossible to tune out.

"Jesus Christ," you groan, sitting up in bed and glaring down at him. "Can you stop moving for five fucking seconds?"

"I'm trying," Felix mumbles, his voice muffled by the pillow. He shifts again, this time with more aggression, as if that'll help. "This floor feels like sandpaper."

You let out a long-suffering sigh, rubbing your temples. "Fine. Fucking fine. Get in the bed. You're pissing me off with your constant fidgeting."

Felix freezes for a moment before scrambling to his feet, grabbing the pillow and blanket as he clambers into the bed beside you. The mattress dips under his weight, and he immediately wiggles around like a contented cat finding the perfect spot.

"This is so much better," he says with a satisfied hum, settling under the blanket. He stretches out with an exaggerated sigh, clearly enjoying himself.

"You tell no one we shared a bed," you warn, pointing a finger at him. "If you do, I will shave you bald."

Felix hums, clearly unfazed by your threat as he nestles into the pillow. "Sure, Cruella, whatever you say."

You roll your eyes, lying back down and turning to face away from him. For a few blissful moments, there's silence. But of course, Felix can't help himself.

"You know," he says softly, his tone casual but tinged with amusement, "I don't believe you hate me as much as you say you do."

You splutter, spinning around to face him. "What the fuck does that mean?"

Felix laughs, the sound low and warm, as he props himself up on one elbow to look at you. "Exactly what I said. I think you're full of shit. If you really hated me, you wouldn't let me sleep here."

You open your mouth to respond, but no words come out. Instead, you're left blinking rapidly, your brain short-circuiting as you try to come up with a rebuttal. Felix's grin only widens as he watches you struggle.

"You're so fucking smug," you finally manage to say, your voice lacking its usual bite.

"And you're fun to mess with," Felix counters, leaning back against the pillow with a self-satisfied smirk.

You glare at him, but before you can retaliate, he speaks again.

"You know," he says, his tone softer now, "you're really pretty with no makeup on."

That shuts you up immediately. Your eyes widen, and you stare at him, completely caught off guard. For once, you can't think of a single sarcastic remark.

Felix watches your reaction, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he reaches out, pushing a strand of hair out of your face with gentle fingers. His hand lingers for a moment before he pulls back.

"Night, Cruella," he whispers, his voice barely audible.

You're still frozen, blinking up at him as he settles back into the bed, turning onto his side with a faint smile on his face. The room falls into silence again, but your thoughts are anything but quiet.

For the first time in a long time, Felix has left you completely speechless.

The morning light filters through the thin motel curtains as the door to your room swings open with an unceremonious bang. Minho strides in, yawning, only to stop dead in his tracks when he sees you and Felix snuggled up in the bed. His jaw drops, and his voice echoes through the tiny room.

"What the fuck?!"

You bolt upright, startled, your hair a mess and your tank top slightly askew from sleep. Felix jerks awake beside you, his limbs flailing as he loses balance and topples off the edge of the bed with a loud thud.

"Shit!" Felix groans from the floor, rubbing his shoulder as he glares at Minho. "What the hell, Min?"

"What the hell me?" Minho snaps, his hands gesturing wildly at the scene. "What the actual fuck am I looking at?"

You groan, running a hand through your dishevelled hair. "This is your fault, you know."

"My fault?" Minho repeats, incredulous. "How the fuck is this my fault?"

Felix scrambles to his feet, his face red with both frustration and leftover embarrassment. "Because you decided to fuck Jisung in our room! What the fuck else was I supposed to do? Sleep in the hallway?"

Minho's eyebrows shoot up, and a smirk tugs at his lips. "Wait, hold up. You saw us?"

Felix points a finger at him, his tone accusatory. "Yeah, I fucking saw you! You were on all fours, getting it up the ass from Jisung!"

Minho's smirk widens, and he strikes a dramatic pose, one hand on his hip. "Did I look good?"

Felix throws his hands up in exasperation. "Are you fucking kidding me right now?"

"My arch is amazing, right?" Minho continues, completely unbothered. "I can bend like a pretzel. Years of practice, you know."

You groan loudly, grabbing the nearest pillow and chucking it at Minho's head. "Oh my god, shut up!"

Minho catches the pillow with ease, laughing as he tosses it back onto the bed. "Excuse me for being sexy and irresistible," he says, grinning. "But at least I had a good night, right?"

Felix growls under his breath, grabbing a pen off the nightstand and throwing it at Minho, who dodges it easily. You follow up with a hairbrush, which Minho deflects with the pillow, laughing even harder.

"Okay, okay! I'm leaving!" Felix huffs, grabbing his things and stomping toward the door. He pauses in the doorway to glare at both of you. "This is fucking ridiculous." Then he slams the door behind him.

Minho flops onto the bed beside you, letting out a satisfied sigh as he stretches out. "Well, that was fun."

You roll your eyes but don't resist when he slings an arm around your shoulders. You lean into his side, the comfortable silence between you only broken by the faint sounds of the motel creaking around you.

After a few minutes, you speak up. "I think Felix flirted with me last night."

Minho freezes for a second before turning to you with wide eyes. "Oh? Do tell."

You recount the events from the previous night, the way Felix had called you pretty without makeup, how he'd pushed your hair out of your face, and how he'd smirked as he whispered goodnight. By the time you finish, Minho is staring at you with an amused grin.

"Yeah," he says, nodding slowly. "Oh shit, yeah, he was flirting with you."

You groan, dropping your face into your hands. "Great. Just fucking great."

Minho snickers, patting your back. "Hey, maybe it's not so bad. Felix is hot, you know. And he's definitely into you."

You glare at him from between your fingers. "He's Twilight Sparkle. I can't take him seriously."

Minho shrugs, clearly unbothered. "Sounds like a you problem."

"You know," you say, leaning back against the headboard, "Felix was very surprised that you were subbing for Jisung."

Minho giggles, his grin widening. "Oh, he was, was he?"

You nod, smirking now. "Yep. He couldn't believe it. Guess you really shattered his illusions."

"Jisung was the best dom I've had in a while," Minho says casually, leaning back with a dreamy expression. "You know, maybe that's what you need, a good dom to fuck all your angst away."

You groan, smacking his arm. "Shut the fuck up, Minho."

He laughs, completely unbothered. "I'm just saying! Something to think about, Cruella."

You shake your head, but a small smile tugs at your lips despite yourself. Minho, as infuriating as he is, always knows how to make you laugh. Even when the topic of conversation is the most absurd thing imaginable.

The midday sun glints off the glass pyramid of the Louvre, casting shimmering reflections across the courtyard. The group lingers outside, the chatter of tourists and the clicking of cameras forming a constant background hum. You’re dressed to kill in a black leather miniskirt, a green sleeveless halterneck top that shows off your snake tattoo, and your signature black lace-up stiletto boots. Your half-black, half-white hair catches the sunlight as you lean against one of the barriers, arms crossed, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

Felix stands a few feet away, looking equally bored. He’s dressed in black baggy cargo trousers and a grey vest top under a black zip-up hoodie, his layered chains catching the light. His hair is pushed back in a way that looks almost effortless. His expression says it all: he doesn’t want to be here.

Your eyes meet across the group, and there’s an unspoken agreement. Neither of you says a word as you slowly edge away from the crowd. Minho is too busy taking selfies with Jisung, and Seungmin is engrossed in reading the itinerary. No one notices as the two of you slip out of the courtyard and onto the streets of Paris.

Once you’re far enough away, Felix lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank fuck. I thought I was going to die of boredom back there."

You smirk, glancing over your shoulder to make sure no one followed. "Yeah, standing in a crowd for hours just to stare at a painting sounds like a blast. Come on."

Felix falls into step beside you as you navigate the bustling streets of Paris. "Where are we going, Cruella? You’ve got that ‘I know everything’ look on your face."

You roll your eyes. "We’re in Paris. I lived here for twelve years. Of course, I know where we’re going. Just try to keep up."

The streets are alive with energy, from street performers juggling in the squares to couples sipping wine at sidewalk cafés. You point out landmarks as you pass, your voice casual but tinged with pride.

"That’s the Pont des Arts," you say, nodding toward the famous bridge. "Used to be covered in love locks until they removed them. Too heavy."

Felix glances at it, then back at you. "What, no romantic gestures here? Shocking."

You scoff. "Romantic? Please. The locks were just tourists trying to leave a mark."

As you walk, Felix asks occasional questions, and you find yourself answering more than you expected. Eventually, the two of you end up in the Latin Quarter, where the scent of fresh coffee and pastries wafts through the air.

"We’re stopping here," you announce, pointing at a quaint little café with outdoor seating.

Felix raises an eyebrow. "Coffee and pastries, huh? You trying to impress me with the full Parisian experience?"

"No," you reply, smirking as you head inside. "I just don’t want to deal with your whining if you get hungry."

The two of you order. Coffee for you, tea for Felix, and a platter of assorted macarons to share. Sitting at a small table outside, you take a sip of your coffee, sighing contentedly as you watch the world go by. Felix cradles his tea, taking a sip before leaning back in his chair.

"I can’t believe you’re actually being nice to me," he says, his tone teasing but curious.

"Don’t read into it," you reply, shooting him a look. "It’s nice to show my home to someone who’s never been here before. Even if it is you."

Felix snorts, shaking his head. "Thanks, Cruella. You really know how to make a guy feel special."

You smirk, popping a macaron into your mouth. "You need to try these. You think you’ve had macarons before, but you haven’t unless they’re from a café in Paris."

Felix picks up a macaron, inspecting it like it might bite him. "They’re just cookies, right?"

You scoff. "Just cookies? Oh, you poor, uncultured soul. Try it."

He takes a cautious bite, his eyes widening slightly. "Okay, that’s... actually really good."

"Told you," you say smugly, reaching for another. "We should get the platter and share. That way, you can try all the flavours."

Felix nods, already grabbing another macaron. "Fine by me. As long as you don’t hoard all the good ones."

"No promises," you reply, smirking as you take another sip of coffee.

For a moment, the two of you sit in companionable silence, sharing macarons and watching the city bustle around you. It’s oddly peaceful, and even Felix seems more relaxed than usual. As much as you hate to admit it, it’s... nice. But you’ll never tell him that.

Inside the Louvre, Minho, Jisung, and Seungmin stand in the seemingly endless queue to see the Mona Lisa. The atmosphere is a mix of hushed awe and impatient murmurs as tourists shuffle forward. Minho is leaning against the velvet rope divider, his arms crossed, while Jisung fidgets with his phone, and Seungmin reads the little exhibit signs with mild interest.

Jisung glances around suddenly, his brows furrowing. "Hold on," he says, his voice cutting through the relative quiet. "Where the fuck are Y/N and Felix?"

Minho straightens up, looking around with a frown. "Shit. Did they even come in here with us?"

Seungmin sighs, rubbing his temple like the realization physically pains him. "Are you fucking serious? They were probably gone before we even walked in the door."

Jisung lets out a low whistle, smirking. "Guess they had better things to do than stare at some overrated painting."

"Yeah, like stare at each other," Minho quips, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "Seriously, though, can we talk about how obvious it is that they like each other?"

"Thank god you said it," Jisung replies, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "It's been driving me fucking insane. Like, the constant bickering? The tension? They're one good argument away from ripping each other's clothes off."

Seungmin nods, his expression surprisingly serious. "It's fucking ridiculous. The way they look at each other when they think no one's paying attention? They might as well have a neon sign that says 'we're into each other.'"

Minho chuckles, nudging Seungmin. "Alright, let's make this interesting. Twenty euros says they fuck the night before we leave Paris."

Jisung grins, holding out a hand to shake on it. "You're on. But my money's on Bordeaux. Twenty euros they fuck there."

Seungmin snorts, shaking his head at both of them. "You're both wrong. Twenty says it happens in Nice. They'll let the tension build up for a few more days, then wham bam thank you ma'am."

Minho leans back against the divider, his grin widening. "So we've got Paris, Bordeaux, and Nice. This is going to be hilarious when one of us wins."

Jisung laughs, looking far too pleased with himself. "I can't wait to rub it in your faces when it happens in Bordeaux. They'll be all emotional and shit after drinking wine at some vineyard. Classic setup."

Seungmin rolls his eyes but smirks. "Yeah, well, we'll see about that. Let's just hope they don't get themselves into too much trouble before then."

Minho chuckles, his gaze drifting toward the exit. "Trouble? With those two? Never."

The Abbey Bookshop in the Latin Quarter is a cosy labyrinth of old wooden shelves stacked to the ceiling with books in every language imaginable. The smell of aged paper and ink fills the air, mixed with a faint hint of coffee from the little café section near the entrance. As soon as you and Felix step inside, the world outside seems to disappear, replaced by the quiet hum of literary charm.

"This is heaven," you mutter, glancing around at the organized chaos of books. Your sharp eyeliner and bold outfit contrast with the soft, almost whimsical atmosphere of the shop, but you don’t seem to care. Felix trails behind you, his black cargo pants swishing softly as he looks around, his layered chains glinting in the dim light.

"Looks small from the outside," Felix says, his voice hushed. "But this place is huge."

"It’s a maze," you reply, already heading for the French literature section. "Try not to get lost."

Felix snorts, shoving his hands in his hoodie pockets as he follows. "Guess I’m the pack mule today, huh?"

"You catch on quick, Twilight Sparkle," you say with a smirk, grabbing a copy of Le Petit Prince off the shelf and handing it to him. Felix takes it without complaint, holding it against his chest as you weave through the narrow aisles, scanning the spines of the books.

Next comes Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, then Notre-Dame de Paris, followed by La Princesse de Clèves, La Peste, Les Misérables, and finally Les Trois Mousquetaires. Each one lands in Felix’s growing pile.

"You’re going to buy all of these?" Felix asks, peering around the stack of books in his arms. "Pretty sure this is half the French canon."

"They’re better in the original language," you say simply, brushing a strand of hair out of your face as you pull another book off the shelf to examine its cover. "You should learn French, though. You’d get it."

"Really?" Felix asks, tilting his head as he adjusts the stack of books in his arms. "Think I’d be any good at it?"

You hum, your lips quirking into a half-smile. "Maybe. If you don’t butcher the accent."

Felix grins. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Cruella."

You roll your eyes, glancing down at your phone as it vibrates in your pocket. The screen lights up with a familiar contact: Appa. Your expression hardens slightly, and without a second thought, you swipe up to put your phone on Do Not Disturb, silencing the call.

Felix catches the shift in your demeanour and raises an eyebrow. "You can grab that if you want."

"Believe me," you say, your tone clipped, "I do not want to grab that call."

He doesn’t push, just nods and adjusts the books in his arms again. "Alright. What else can we do after this?"

You tilt your head, considering your options as you run a finger along the spines of the books on the shelf. "We could go to the Jardin du Luxembourg. It’s like a ten-minute walk from here."

Felix hums, nodding thoughtfully. "Sounds nice. Or?"

"Or," you say, turning to face him fully, "we can hop on a train and see the Palace of Versailles."

Felix looks genuinely torn, his freckled face scrunching slightly as he thinks. "Both sound good. Guess it depends on how long you want to carry me around as your personal assistant."

You smirk, grabbing one last book to add to his pile before making your way to the counter. "You’re surprisingly good at your job. Maybe I’ll keep you around."

As you pay for the books, Felix leans against the counter, watching you with a faint smile. He doesn’t say anything, but there’s something soft in his gaze, something he’d never admit out loud. When you’re finished, you hand him a few bags of books and gesture toward the door.

"Come on, Twilight Sparkle," you say, leading the way back into the bustling streets of Paris. "We’ve got more ground to cover."

"Lead the way, Cruella," Felix replies, falling into step beside you, the weight of the books seemingly forgotten as he keeps pace with your confident strides.

The sun has dipped low on the horizon by the time you and Felix step out of the cab and into the gravel lot of the motel. The air is cooler now, and the faint hum of city noise has quieted to a low murmur. You’re juggling a few bags filled with books, your black leather miniskirt swishing slightly as you walk. Felix carries the rest of the bags, his hoodie unzipped and chains catching the faint light.

As the two of you approach the entrance, you spot Seungmin, Jisung, and Minho standing by the door. They look like they’ve been waiting, their postures ranging from bored to irritated. The moment Jisung locks eyes on you and Felix, his expression shifts into full-on dramatic exasperation.

"Where the fuck have you been?!" Jisung practically screeches, his arms flailing for emphasis. "No note, car gone! You could have died! You could have been seen!"

Felix stops dead in his tracks, blinking at Jisung. "Are you seriously quoting Molly Weasley right now?"

"Get off your high horse or your flying car, Lee Felix!" Jisung snaps, pointing an accusing finger at him. "You two just vanished without telling anyone!"

Seungmin sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "To be fair, Ji’s got a point. You could’ve at least sent a text or something. We were about five minutes away from putting your faces on milk cartons."

Minho, leaning casually against the wall, smirks as his eyes flicker between you and Felix. "You do realize how fucking suspicious this looks, right?"

Felix groans, rolling his eyes as he adjusts the bags in his hands. "Relax, Molly. We just went into the city. It’s not like we were out committing crimes."

"Yeah, well," Jisung huffs, crossing his arms, "a little communication wouldn’t hurt, Twilight Sparkle. You know, for the people who care about your sorry ass."

You let out a loud sigh, walking past Felix and shoving the bags into his chest as you take your own. "This is exhausting," you mutter, turning to Minho with a raised eyebrow. "Minho, let’s go to our room and drink some cheap wine."

Minho’s face lights up immediately, and he pushes off the wall. "Fuck yes. You don’t have to tell me twice."

"Wait a minute-" Jisung starts, but you’re already brushing past him, dragging Minho by the arm toward the door. Felix stares after you, an unreadable expression crossing his face.

"You’re just going to leave?" Jisung shouts after you, throwing his hands in the air. "What the hell!"

You don’t bother answering as you and Minho disappear into the motel, your laughter echoing faintly in the hallway. Felix watches you go and Seungmin elbows him lightly, smirking.

"Jealous much?" Seungmin asks, his voice low enough for only Felix to hear.

Felix scoffs, shaking his head. "Of course not. Why would I be?"

"Whatever you say, Twilight Sparkle." 

In Felix and Jisung’s motel room, the air is filled with the sweet aroma of takeout desserts. The small table between their beds is piled high with boxes of crepes, profiteroles, crème brûlée, madeleines, tarte au citron, and a few other pastries they couldn’t resist ordering. A bottle of wine sits uncorked, their glasses half-full as they dig into the sugary spread.

Jisung, already halfway through his second serving of profiteroles, gestures at Felix with his fork. "You finally ready to admit you’re crushing on Y/N?"

Felix freezes mid-bite, a forkful of crepe hovering near his mouth. "No," he says firmly, though the redness creeping up his neck betrays him.

Jisung grins, shoving another profiterole into his mouth before speaking, his words muffled. "So you have a crush, but you’re still not ready to admit it? Got it."

Felix chokes on his wine, coughing as he sets his glass down and glares at Jisung. "That’s not- What the fuck are you even talking about?!"

"You’re blushing," Jisung says smugly, pointing at him with the fork. "Look at you. All red and flustered."

"I’m not-" Felix starts, but the way he splutters and stammers only makes it worse.

"Just admit it to me, Lix," Jisung presses, leaning forward with a wide grin. "Come on. I won’t tell anyone."

Felix sighs, dropping his fork onto his plate and running a hand through his hair. "Fine," he mutters, avoiding Jisung’s gaze. "I like her, okay? I’ve liked her since first year."

Jisung’s face lights up like Christmas morning, and he lets out an obnoxiously loud laugh. "Knew it! Fucking knew it!"

Felix groans, burying his face in his hands. "Don’t make a big deal out of it."

"Are you kidding me?" Jisung says, practically bouncing in his seat. "This is huge. Now we need an action plan."

Felix lifts his head just enough to shoot him a withering glare. "An action plan?"

"Yeah, dumbass!" Jisung says, reaching for the wine bottle and pouring himself another glass. "You’ve been crushing on her for almost two years. It’s time to do something about it. You’ve gotta romance her. She has to like you too, right?"

Felix hesitates, then sighs. "Fine. Let’s plan. But don’t make it fucking weird."

"Too late," Jisung says, grinning as he grabs a piece of paper and a handful of glitter pens from his bag. "We’re in France, my dude. We’ve got two more days in Paris, the City of Love. Then we’ve got Nice and Bordeaux. Prime romancing locations."

Felix rolls his eyes but grabs a pen, settling in across from Jisung. "Alright. Mindmap time."

"Fuckin’ A," Jisung says, uncapping a glitter pen and writing ROMANCE PLAN FOR CRUELLA in big, sparkly letters at the top of the page. "No ideas are bad ideas. Let’s brainstorm."

Felix leans forward, tapping his pen against his chin. "Okay. Dinner at a fancy restaurant?"

"Good start," Jisung says, writing it down. "What about a picnic in Nice? Beaches and shit are romantic."

"Not bad," Felix agrees. "What about flowers? Like, one of those Parisian flower markets?"

"Classic," Jisung says, nodding. "But we gotta balance the sweet stuff with something big. Like, I don’t know, serenading her under the Eiffel Tower."

Felix groans. "That’s terrible. I can’t sing for shit."

Jisung shrugs. "It’s supposed to be romantic, not good."

"Fine," Felix mutters. "What if we go wine tasting in Bordeaux? She likes wine."

"Now you’re thinking," Jisung says, scribbling it down. "Ooh, ooh! What about locking a love lock on a bridge? Isn’t that a thing here?"

"They removed most of the locks, dumbass," Felix says, snorting. "But I guess we could still do it somewhere."

Jisung grins, clearly getting way too into the brainstorming. "Okay, hear me out. What if you rent one of those little rowboats and take her out on a lake?"

Felix raises an eyebrow. "That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen."

"Disasters can be romantic," Jisung says, wiggling his eyebrows.

Felix shakes his head but doesn’t argue, watching as Jisung adds it to the list. The page is quickly filling up with a mix of ideas, ranging from sweet and thoughtful to utterly ridiculous.

"Okay," Felix says, leaning back with a smirk. "What if I just challenge her to a baking competition? Winner gets to make the other do something embarrassing."

Jisung cackles, slapping the table. "I love it. That’s so you two. Petty and competitive as fuck."

As the list grows longer, Felix finds himself smiling despite himself. Maybe Jisung’s enthusiasm is contagious, or maybe he’s just finally allowing himself to imagine what it might be like if things were different between him and you. Either way, he doesn’t stop the ideas from flowing.

And neither does Jisung. "Alright, last one, get a fucking bottle of champagne, bring it to the Seine at sunset, and confess. Boom. Game over."

Felix groans, but the faint blush creeping up his neck gives him away. "You’re such an idiot."

"Yeah, but I’m an idiot with amazing ideas," Jisung says, grinning as he holds up the finished mindmap. "Cruella’s gonna fall for you, Lix. Just wait."

The final day in Paris dawns bright and clear, the perfect weather for a free day. The group heads to the Palace of Versailles, the grand estate shimmering under the morning sun. The palace looms in front of you like something out of a dream, its golden gates gleaming and its architecture an overwhelming display of opulence.

You’re dressed to kill as usual: a red leather miniskirt, a black sleeveless halterneck top that shows off your intricate snake tattoo, and your signature black lace-up stiletto boots. Your half-black, half-white hair is styled perfectly, and your makeup is sharp enough to cut. Beside you, Felix looks effortlessly cool in beige baggy cargo trousers with black stripes, a black t-shirt, a cropped black jacket with silver zipper detailing, and stacked silver chains.

As you all make your way through the gardens, Felix walks beside you, stealing occasional glances your way. Jisung, walking a few paces ahead with Minho and Seungmin, catches Felix looking and immediately grins, giving him an exaggerated thumbs up.

Felix groans under his breath, running a hand through his pushed-back hair. "Subtle as a brick," he mutters, earning a side-eye from you.

"What’s his deal?" you ask, nodding toward Jisung.

"Nothing," Felix says quickly, a little too quickly.

You narrow your eyes suspiciously but let it slide, focusing instead on the sprawling gardens around you. The air smells like freshly trimmed grass and blooming flowers, and the sound of fountains bubbling in the background adds to the serene atmosphere.

Meanwhile, up ahead, Minho notices Jisung’s antics and raises an eyebrow. "What’s that about?" he asks, nudging Jisung with his elbow.

Jisung leans in, whispering conspiratorially. "Love! Romance! Bow chicka wow wow!"

Minho stops in his tracks, turning to Jisung with a smirk. "Like our bow chicka wow wow?"

Jisung grins, waggling his eyebrows. "Oh yeah. Felix will, uh-"

"Dominate the shit out of her?" Minho interrupts, his voice low but filled with amusement.

"Yeah!" Jisung says, nodding enthusiastically.

"Good," Minho replies, his smirk growing. "Y/N needs that. Maybe it’ll take the edge off her eternal ‘fuck everything’ vibe."

Seungmin snorts, shaking his head as he listens to their whispered conversation. "You two are the worst," he mutters, but there’s a hint of amusement in his voice.

Back in the rear of the group, Felix feels like his ears are burning. He doesn’t even need to hear what Minho and Jisung are whispering about to know it’s about you. Beside him, you’re admiring the ornate fountains, completely unaware of the chaos brewing just a few steps ahead.

"Wow," you say, your voice tinged with genuine admiration as you take in the gardens. "I forgot how ridiculous this place is. It’s like stepping into another world."

Felix chuckles, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "Yeah, it’s insane. Kind of makes you wonder what it’d be like to live here."

"Probably boring as fuck," you reply, smirking. "I mean, what do you even do with all this space? Play hide-and-seek with servants?"

Felix laughs, the sound warm and unguarded. "You’d probably make them regret taking the job."

"Of course," you say, flashing him a wicked grin. "It’s part of my charm."

Felix shakes his head, his lips twitching upward despite himself. He risks another glance at Jisung, who’s now whispering animatedly to Minho, gesturing wildly like he’s planning a heist. Felix sighs internally. This trip is going to kill me.

"Come on," you say, grabbing Felix’s arm and tugging him toward one of the side paths. "I want to check out the Queen’s Hamlet. It’s the only part of this place that doesn’t look like it was made for a goddamn peacock."

Felix lets himself be dragged along, ignoring the knowing looks from the rest of the group. As he follows you deeper into the gardens, he can’t help but wonder if Jisung’s ridiculous romance plan might actually have a chance of working.

The Queen’s Hamlet is quieter than the main gardens, the rustic charm of its cottages a stark contrast to the ostentatious grandeur of the palace. You and Felix walk side by side, the gravel crunching under your boots and his Air Forces. It’s peaceful, but the air shifts when your phone buzzes loudly in your bag.

You stop abruptly, pulling it out. The screen lights up with a familiar name: Appa. Your expression hardens instantly.

"Hold up," you mutter, stepping away from Felix. "I need to take this."

Felix watches you go, tilting his head slightly. He leans against a low stone wall, idly fiddling with the zipper on his jacket. At first, your voice is too low for him to catch much of what you’re saying, but then it rises, sharp and clipped.

"No, Appa, I told you already," you snap. "I don’t want to meet any more men you’re trying to set me up with."

Felix freezes, his brows furrowing as he pretends to focus on the surrounding scenery. But your voice keeps drifting over, laced with frustration.

"I’m not interested," you say firmly. "What part of that don’t you understand? I don’t care how rich or successful they are. Stop treating me like some... project you can hand off to the highest bidder."

Felix’s grip tightens on the stone wall. He’s never heard you sound like this- So raw, so... vulnerable.

"I’ve said no every fucking time, haven’t I?" you continue, your voice biting. "And yet, here we are, again. You call me, drop a name like it’s supposed to mean something, and expect me to just fall in line."

There’s a pause, and Felix assumes the person on the other end is speaking. He risks a glance in your direction, seeing the way your shoulders are tense, your free hand clenched into a fist at your side.

"Because it’s not your fucking choice," you bite out, your voice trembling slightly now. "It’s my life, Appa. Mine. I’m not going to live it on your terms."

Felix swallows, his chest tightening as he listens. The sharp edge in your voice is familiar, it’s the same one you use when you’re deflecting, trying to mask something deeper. He’s heard it plenty of times in your bickering, but it feels different now. More real.

"I have to go," you say abruptly. "Don’t call me about this again. I mean it."

You hang up and stand there for a moment, your shoulders rising and falling as you take a deep breath. Felix looks away quickly, pretending to inspect the nearest flowerbed when you turn around and walk back toward him.

"You good?" Felix asks casually, though his voice is softer than usual.

You nod, slipping your phone back into your bag. "Fine. Just family shit."

He doesn’t push, though a dozen questions burn on the tip of his tongue. Instead, he falls into step beside you as you continue walking, the silence between you thick but not uncomfortable.

For the first time, Felix finds himself wondering if there’s more to you than the sarcastic, sharp-tongued persona you wear so well. And he hates how much he wants to find out.

The next morning, the group boards a coach for a day-long tour of Nice. The warm Mediterranean air filters in through the open windows, carrying the faint scent of saltwater and blooming flowers. The vibe is decidedly more relaxed than it was in Paris, but chaos still manages to cling to your group like a second skin.

You’re dressed in a green leather miniskirt and a black sleeveless halterneck top, the snake tattoo on your left arm catching the morning sunlight. Your stiletto boots click softly as you step onto the bus, your hair styled to perfection. Felix follows behind, his blue baggy jeans cinched with a black belt, a white t-shirt peeking out from under his black sleeveless leather vest. His boots thud against the metal steps, and his silver chains glint under the sun.

"I’m sitting with you," Felix says casually, brushing past you and dropping into the seat by the window before you can argue.

You roll your eyes, sliding into the seat beside him. "Lucky me."

Further back, Minho is sprawled across Seungmin’s lap, his head resting comfortably against Jisung’s shoulder. Seungmin looks mildly annoyed but doesn’t push Minho off, while Jisung beams as though having Minho draped over them is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

The tour guide begins rattling off facts about Nice over the intercom as the bus pulls away, but you barely pay attention. Felix leans over slightly, his voice low enough that only you can hear.

"You’re glowing today, Cruella. Mediterranean air looks good on you."

You glance at him, your lips quirking into a smirk. "Nice try, Twilight Sparkle. I know flattery’s just your way of killing time."

Felix chuckles, his freckles scrunching as he grins. "Who says I’m not serious?"

"You always have an ulterior motive," you reply, crossing one leg over the other. "And I’m not buying whatever it is you’re selling."

Felix leans back, arms resting on the seat’s armrest, his grin never fading. "You’re impossible."

"And yet, here you are," you say sweetly, batting your eyelashes in mock innocence.

Across the aisle, Jisung watches the exchange with poorly concealed glee. He nudges Seungmin, whispering, "They’re at it again."

Seungmin snorts, shaking his head. "I’m telling you, I’m winning this bet. My money was on Nice."

"They’re slow-burning," Jisung whispers back. "This is buildup. They’re not fucking here. Bordeaux is when it’ll happen. Mark my words. Minho’s already out—he bet Paris."

Seungmin hums thoughtfully, his eyes flicking to Felix and you before muttering, "We’ll see."

Minho stirs in Seungmin’s lap, his head tilting to look up at him. "You two gossiping about my loss?"

"Obviously," Seungmin deadpans, and Minho groans dramatically.

The bus stops at the first destination, a stunning overlook with a panoramic view of the Mediterranean. As the group pours out of the coach, Felix sticks close to you, his casual demeanour laced with a certain intensity. You pretend not to notice, but the way his arm brushes against yours as you walk doesn’t escape you.

"Look at that view," Felix says, nodding toward the sea. "Almost as pretty as you."

You snort, folding your arms as you glance at him. "You’re laying it on thick today, aren’t you?"

Felix grins. "Can’t help it. The setting’s inspiring me."

"Careful," you tease, leaning in slightly. "Keep talking like that, and I might think you’re serious."

Felix holds your gaze for a moment longer than necessary, his grin softening just a touch. "Maybe I am."

The group moves from site to site throughout the day, exploring historic plazas, charming old streets, and local markets. Felix keeps up his flirtatious remarks, and you match his energy without missing a beat. It feels almost natural, the back-and-forth between you two flowing effortlessly.

At one point, as the group gathers for lunch, Jisung elbows Seungmin again, whispering, "See? This is foreplay. Bordeaux. I’m calling it."

"You’re so fucking smug," Seungmin mutters, taking a sip of his water. "But we’ll see who’s laughing when I win."

Minho chimes in from his spot, still half-draped over Jisung. "Whoever wins, we’re all enjoying this way too much."

By the end of the tour, the sun hangs low in the sky, casting a golden glow over Nice. You and Felix walk side by side back to the coach, your conversations now dipping into quieter, more personal territory.

And though you’d never admit it, you find yourself enjoying his company far more than you expected.

The moonlight dances on the surface of the River Seine, casting shimmering ripples along its winding path through the heart of Paris. The air is cool but not cold, the faint scent of the river mixing with the aroma of freshly baked bread from nearby cafés. You and Felix walk side by side along the cobblestone path, the sound of your stiletto boots clicking rhythmically against the ground, contrasting with the quiet scuff of his sneakers.

Minho and Jisung had disappeared together hours ago, giggling about some “special” plans, while Seungmin had hit it off with a charming Frenchman and gone back to his hotel. That left just you and Felix, the two of you strolling in companionable silence under the soft glow of the city’s streetlamps.

"You’re quiet tonight," Felix says after a while, glancing at you from the corner of his eye. The silver chains around his neck glint faintly, matching the slight smirk playing on his lips.

"Just enjoying the peace," you reply, your sharp eyeliner cutting through the soft shadows of your flawless makeup. "Nice change from Minho and Jisung’s nonstop chaos."

Felix chuckles, shoving his hands into the pockets of his black baggy jeans. "True. Those two could talk a brick wall into running away."

You snort, a small smile tugging at your lips as the river laps gently against the banks. The quiet stretches on for a moment longer before you break it, your voice soft but direct.

"Just ask."

Felix blinks, looking over at you. "Huh?"

You glance at him, one perfectly arched eyebrow raised. "About my father. I know you’re curious, so just ask."

"Pfft," Felix scoffs, his hand brushing through his blonde-and-black pushed-back hair. "I wasn’t curious."

You give him a look, sharp, knowing, and utterly unamused. "Sure, Twilight Sparkle. Keep lying to yourself."

He grins sheepishly, his freckles catching the light. "Okay, fine," he concedes. "I was kinda curious."

You pull a cigarette from your bag, lighting it with ease before exhaling a stream of smoke into the night air. "My mother died when I was two," you begin, your tone even but detached, as if you’ve told the story a hundred times before. "Ovarian cancer. They caught it too late. She’s buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery."

Felix’s grin fades, his expression softening as he listens.

"After she died," you continue, taking another drag, "I got shipped off to my father in Korea. I only spoke French and English at the time, so I had to learn Korean from scratch. That was... a fucking nightmare."

Felix stays quiet, letting you talk.

"Then I hit sixteen," you say, your voice sharpening, "and all he’s done since is shove marriage proposals down my throat. Rich men, powerful men, people who’d secure my future." You scoff, rolling your eyes. "And he gets less than happy every time I turn them down."

"That’s why you crash at the frat house so much?" Felix asks, his voice careful, soft.

You nod, flicking ash off the end of your cigarette. "One time, I called Chan from home. My loving father had just pushed me down a flight of stairs for saying no to one of his fucking ‘matches.’"

Felix’s jaw tightens, his hands balling into fists in his pockets.

"Once I’m twenty-one, I’m free," you add. "My mother left me an inheritance, enough to make sure I never have to deal with him again."

Felix nods, his voice low when he speaks. "You got a smoke for me?"

You glance at him, one eyebrow quirking up. "You smoke now?"

"Apparently," he says with a shrug, his lips quirking into a faint smile.

Rolling your eyes, you hand him a cigarette and your lighter. Felix lights it clumsily, inhaling with a small cough before adjusting his hold. He exhales, watching the smoke curl into the air before looking back at you.

"So only Chan knows?" he asks.

You nod. "He patches me up if I need it. Minho and Seungmin know about the proposals, but not the rest. Chan’s the only one who gets the full picture."

Felix stares at you for a moment, his cigarette dangling loosely from his fingers. He’s trying to find the right thing to say, but nothing feels big enough for the weight of what you’ve shared.

"You’re tough as hell, Cruella," he finally says, his tone quiet but sincere.

You glance at him, lips quirking into a small, sardonic smile. "Takes one to know one, Twilight Sparkle."

For a while, the two of you walk in silence, the river flowing beside you and the smoke from your cigarettes curling into the night sky. Felix can’t help but admire the way the moonlight catches in your two-toned hair, highlighting the sharpness of your features and the strength in your posture.

The quiet between you stretches for a few beats, the occasional murmur of tourists passing by in the distance blending with the sound of the Seine lapping against the riverbank. You take another drag from your cigarette, exhaling slowly as you glance at Felix, his gaze fixed on the water.

"What’s with the switch-up, by the way?" you ask, your tone sharp but not biting. "You’re being nice to me. It’s... weird."

Felix turns to you, smoke curling from his lips as he exhales upward, the tendrils dissipating into the night air. His silver chains glint faintly in the moonlight, and he quirks a brow, his lips twitching like he’s holding back a smirk. "Can’t a guy change?"

"Change?" you scoff, flicking ash onto the cobblestones. "Our entire dynamic is based on verbally abusing each other. Now you’re Mr. Thoughtful and Mysterious? It’s fucking throwing me off, Twilight Sparkle."

Felix lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head as he takes a slow drag from his cigarette. He exhales again, the smoke floating lazily between you as his gaze locks onto yours. "You’re so blind."

You blink, caught off guard by the sudden seriousness in his tone. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

Felix doesn’t answer, not with words, anyway. Instead, he steps closer, the faint scent of smoke and leather clinging to him as he closes the space between you. Before you can fire off another sarcastic remark, his hand reaches up, fingers tangling in your half-black, half-white hair.

And then he kisses you.

It’s not tentative or hesitant. It’s a kiss filled with frustration, intensity, and a heat that catches you completely off guard. His lips move against yours with a fervour that leaves no room for doubt, soft but firm, demanding but not rough. The world around you blurs; the hum of the city, the gentle ripple of the Seine, all of it fades as his other hand grips your waist, pulling you closer.

For a moment, you freeze, shocked by the suddenness of it all. But then your instincts kick in, and you kiss him back just as fiercely, your lips moving in sync with his. Your cigarette falls from your fingers, forgotten, as your hands find their way to the lapels of his leather jacket, gripping tightly.

Felix groans softly against your lips, his fingers tightening in your hair as he tilts your head slightly, deepening the kiss. The gentle tug on your hair sends a shiver down your spine, and your breath hitches as his hand slides from your waist to the small of your back, pressing you even closer.

It’s electric. Every touch, every brush of his lips against yours, every subtle shift of his hands. There’s a heat between you that feels both overwhelming and inevitable, like this moment has been building for years. When you finally pull back, it’s only because you need air, your chest rising and falling as you catch your breath.

Felix’s forehead rests lightly against yours, his thumb brushing the back of your neck. His voice is low, slightly hoarse. "Took me long enough, huh?"

You blink up at him, still dazed, your lips tingling. "What the fuck was that?"

He smirks, his freckled face glowing under the moonlight. "What do you think, Cruella?"

"You kissed me," you say, as if stating it out loud will make it less surreal.

"Yeah," Felix replies, his tone soft but unwavering. "I kissed you. And I’m gonna do it again if you don’t stop me."

Your lips twitch into a small smirk of your own, your hands still gripping his jacket. "Bold move, Twilight Sparkle."

Felix chuckles, his nose brushing against yours as he leans in again. This kiss is softer, slower, but no less consuming. His hands hold you like he’s afraid you might slip away, and for the first time, you don’t feel the need to push back, to argue, to keep your walls up.

When he pulls back this time, he lets out a breathy laugh, his fingers still gently tangled in your hair. "You’re not as scary as you think you are."

"Shut up," you mutter, rolling your eyes but unable to hide the small smile tugging at your lips.

As you both stand there by the Seine, the river sparkling behind you, it’s clear that the dynamic between you has shifted. And for once, you don’t mind.

The Alpha Phi living room is dimly lit, the glow from the TV casting flickering shadows on the walls as Coraline plays. The eerie stop-motion animation fills the room with an unsettling yet oddly comforting vibe. You’re perched sideways in Felix’s lap, one of his arms draped securely around your waist while the other rests on your thigh, his thumb absentmindedly brushing over the leather of your miniskirt. His warmth seeps into you, and you lean slightly against him, the two of you completely at ease.

You’re wearing a black leather miniskirt, a black sleeveless halterneck top, and your signature lace-up stiletto boots. Your hair is styled to perfection, the half-black, half-white strands cascading down in sleek waves. Felix looks effortlessly put together in black baggy jeans, white sneakers, and a white t-shirt under a black leather jacket. His layered silver chains catch the light every time he moves.

The movie’s dialogue is interrupted by the sound of the front door opening, followed by footsteps. Chan walks into the living room, mid-sentence about something, but stops dead in his tracks when he sees the two of you. His mouth opens, then closes, his brows furrowing as he blinks rapidly like he’s trying to clear his vision.

"Oi!" he finally says, pointing at the two of you. "Everyone, get in here! I need to know I’m not fucking hallucinating."

"What the fuck are you yelling about now?" Minho calls from the kitchen, followed by the sound of chairs scraping as everyone gets up.

One by one, they pile into the living room: Changbin, Minho, Hyunjin, Seungmin, Jisung, and Jeongin, all looking various shades of confused and curious. The room grows crowded quickly, the boys practically shoving each other to get a better view.

"What the fuck?" Hyunjin mutters, his wide eyes darting between you and Felix. "Am I seeing this right?"

"Is she... in his lap?" Jeongin asks, pointing as if he needs confirmation from a higher power.

"She is," Minho says, his tone laced with mock astonishment. "Holy shit. This is real."

"Since when do you two-" Changbin starts, but Jisung cuts him off, grinning like a maniac.

"Wait, hold up," Jisung says, stepping forward and pointing dramatically. "When did you first fuck?!"

You snort, rolling your eyes at the sheer lack of decorum, but Felix answers without missing a beat. "Bordeaux."

"YES!" Jisung shouts, throwing his fists into the air. "The betting pool was sixty! Sixty times two is one twenty. What’s the euro to won conversion rate?"

"181,327.80 won," you deadpan, smirking as Jisung immediately turns to Minho and Seungmin, holding out his hand expectantly.

"Fucking hell," Minho mutters, digging into his wallet. "I knew I should’ve doubled down on Paris."

Seungmin sighs, pulling out cash as well. "I should’ve known you’d win, Ji."

Jisung grins triumphantly as he collects the money, stuffing it into his pocket like it’s the best day of his life. "Thank you, thank you. I’ll be accepting all congratulations and apologies from the losers now."

Felix shakes his head, his hand tightening slightly on your thigh as he mutters, "You’re all fucking insane."

"You love us," Jisung says, winking at him.

"Debatable," Felix replies, smirking before looking down at you. "How’d we end up with these idiots?"

"Bad life choices," you say, leaning back into him with a grin.

The room erupts into laughter, the atmosphere buzzing with the usual chaotic energy of Alpha Phi. As the conversation shifts to other ridiculous topics, Felix leans in close, his voice low enough that only you can hear.

"Still think our dynamic is just verbal abuse?" he teases, his breath warm against your ear.

You glance up at him, your smirk softening just slightly. "Guess you’ve got a point, Twilight Sparkle."

He chuckles, pressing a quick kiss to your temple before pulling back. "Took you long enough to admit it, Cruella."

The two of you stay like that, tangled together on the couch as the chaos of your friends swirls around you. For once, it feels like the world has fallen into place.

General Taglist: @nightmarenyxx

Requested by anon

Proofread by @eastjonowhere

[wub-fur-radio]

Psychedelic Daze ☮︎ Spirit of 1967 vs Reality 2024

A 21st Century Neo-Psychedelic Music Mix

I coulda said it was in my way – D. Crosby

Wub-Fur Internet Radio is back with another of our patent pending streaming mixes of contemporary psych rock from around the world and across the universe. Fourteen tunes that traffic in more than a bit of musical and lyrical nostalgia without completely losing touch with the reality of the present day. Featuring contributions from Helicon, Rancho Relaxo, Robyn Hitchcock, Tess Parks, Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders, Bananagun, Deviant Amps, Sons of Zokü, and a half dozen more bands of partially unreconstructed hippies that are up to the task of dragging the spirit of the 1960s kicking and screaming into the third decade of the 21st century.

Cover art based on a photo by Leslie Bryce of David Crosby visiting The Beatles in the studio during the Sgt. Pepper recording sessions in 1967. Apologies to them all and to legendary Swedish psych rockers Gold, whose tune Psychedelic Days kicks off our mix, inspired its title, and serves as something of a mission statement for its unapologetically nostalgic freak-flag-flying spirit.

▶︎ Listen on Mixcloud

Running Time: 1 hour

Tracklist

Psychedelic Days (3:10) — Gold | Sweden

Magma Rising (4:30) — Cosmic Fall | Berlin, Germany

She Taste of LSD (3:05) — Deviant Amps | England, UK

Flesh Failures (Let the Sun Shine In) (3:33) — Mushroom | San Francisco, CA

Burning of the Midnight Lamp (3:59) — Robyn Hitchcock | London, UK

Higher (3:46) — Helicon | Glasgow, UK

Echoes of the Unknown (4:33) — Rancho Relaxo | Norway

You Know [Live Session] (4:38) — Stoner Bud’s | Bordeaux, France

Children of the Man (5:06) — Bananagun | Melbourne, Australia

Lemon Poppy (3:18) — Tess Parks | Toronto, Canada

Glade Runner (2:52) — Pretty Lightning | Saarbrücken, Germany

Earth Chant [Acoustic] (3:37) — Sons of Zöku | Adelaide, Australia

Light the Incense (3:01) — Black Snake Moan | Italy

Almost Cut My Hair (10:35) — Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders | Philadelphia, PA

• Outro: Getting the Beatles High (0:20) — The Croz

All tracks released in 2024, except She Taste of LSD by Deviant Amps, which was released in 2023, and Glade Runner by Pretty Lightning, which will be released in 2025.

[chifourmi]

Mon bilan 2024 :

- Diplôme d'assistante sociale en poche

- Permis théorique réussi

- Inscription à la salle pour la première fois de ma vie (pendant 3 mois, avec une meuf rencontrée sur un groupe Facebook mdr)

- Inscription à Little Green Box pour mieux manger (pendant 3 mois)

- Fin de ma relation plan cul avec le Dieu Grec

- Rencontre du musicien

- Festival Rock Werchter pour la première fois de ma vie (une folie)

- Accompagnement d'un enfant avec handicap durant un camp d'été

- Voyage en Italie avec Ju' & Lu' (première fois que j'y allais)

- Officialisation avec le musicien

- Voyage à la mer 3 jours avec le musicien et sa mère

- Home-sitting (très mal payé) avec 1 chien et 5 chats pendant une semaine

- Voyage à Bordeaux avec M & A

- Rupture amicale avec ma meilleure amie que je connaissais depuis 9 ans

- Énormément de baby-sittings

- Noël avec la famille du musicien

- Nouvel an avec Ju' & So' puis décompte avec le musicien

(02/01/2025)

[amchara]

Mother's Day

Tessa character study ficlet.

Tessa and her family, a century apart.

(Gen, canon Jessa, canon Wessa references. Tessa, Mina, Kit, James, Lucy)

Notes: Hello! I'm not dead. Still here. Please enjoy this brief fic.

-----

The moments between waking and sleep were always the most disconcerting when memories and sensations were hazy, fragmented and too often blurring together. 

Arms cradling around her waist, warmth at her back, a masculine protective presence hovering that she could burrow into, with fleeting kisses gracing the nape of her neck. 

Most often it was the gentle rumble of Jem’s voice leaning over her as they both woke to Mina’s soft but insistent crying on the baby monitor, offering to bring her in so Tessa could feed her. His graceful dip down to kiss her forehead, an almost wistful look in his eyes as he rose out of their bed. 

But sometimes, it was the soft, warm Welsh lilt and sharp nose pressing into her neck as Will whispered, Tess, Tess, my Tessa and other endearments she’d later ask him to translate. A rough chuckle at the knocks at the door, one usually loud and insistent, and another steady but unyielding. Will’s eyes twinkling and a mock-sadness as he announced there might be some unexpected guests visiting that evening. 

Occasionally at times, there were slightly deeper voices, rough and ready, or cultured and refined that drifted upwards like smoke in her mind. Bedfellows she had turned to in the lonely half-century without either of her anchors. Empty beds that she had filled, out of desperation when the loneliness became too much and she ached to feel connection outside her spellbooks and the scholarly, silent halls of the Spiral Labyrinthe. 

Most days, she could live with these ghosts. Half-remembered and emerging like long-lost flotsam on the tide of memory. 

What was harder was a giggle of a certain timbre she sometimes imagined in the hallways of Cirenworth, long after she knew Mina was asleep. The furtive footstep of a teenage body inching through the halls, not knowing he wasn’t as subtle as he thought he was being. 

When she was half-asleep and cradling Mina to her, she could feel them press in close - the shape of Mina’s nose called to mind the tiny button she and Will had cooed over when they first held James between them, or when chubby fingers grasped her hand fiercely when she tried to let go, and a familiar scrunch of a face into a scowl that was just as easily transformed into a smile as her daughter (daughters?) watched their mother relent and continue to rock her to sleep. Or when the slumped shoulders of Kit watching Jem over the chessboard called to mind another keen-eyed look from golden eyes, or when Kit chewed on the end of a pen doing his homework, and she resisted the urge to tell him that he’d get ink on his teeth from the quill if he wasn’t careful.

She wanted to call out sometimes, to these ghosts. Nothing like Jessamine’s haunting of the London Institute, but spectres of her own making. 

They weren’t new ones though but ones long honed a half-century of being unwillingly drawn in by glimpses of little girls with ribboned hair skipping up and down on the pavement, or triggered by the pushed-up, spectacled grimace of sullen teens on trains or in dusty public libraries as they retreated from the world into books. 

She tried not to stare. Tried to ignore the instinct to respond when a yell of Mum! echoed and remained unanswered. 

“Humans are not meant to live this long, to forget and yet remember it all,” she had whispered to Magnus, one cold, rainy evening in Paris. He gave her a sideways glance out of his cat-shaped eyes and gulped down the last of his whiskey. “Good thing we’re not human then.” But his voice had been kind and she’d woken up to the warmth of the blanket he’d gently placed over her after she fell asleep in an armchair, an empty bottle of Bordeaux at her feet. 

She wondered sometimes, if having a family meant it was harder or easier to contend with the idea of neverending life as a warlock. 

This particular morning, Tessa was still cocooned in her duvet, eyes shut against an increasingly bright glow from the south-facing window, and the buzz of insects on a breezy May morning. She could hear whispering on the landing outside her room this morning, and- 

“Shhh, James don’t go in yet! It’s not yet ready.”

A barely heard scoff - “Luce, we have to go in before it melts, otherwise what’s the point?”

“Min-Min, don’t worry, I got this” - but the note of hesitation in Kit’s voice is clear, as if he’s blustering and pretending. An almost reassuring coo and burble from Mina, and Kit’s voice steadies. “Yeah, you’re right. How hard can it be?” 

A knock on the door. 

A knock on the door. 

A century apart - 

“Come in,” Tessa says, sitting up, and smoothing out the blankets. 

“Happy Mother’s Day!” say all her children, and Tessa smiles.

[ohmytomorrowisthursday]

AOT characters taking you on a date pt. 2

Hi! part one is here 

A lil spice!

Reiner: Idk, Reiner is a hungry man and I feel like he wants a place with a lot of meat lol. Takes you out for southern style barbecue. Loves the low-key vibes and the good food; orders extra corn bread and beans. He is sooooo shy when it comes to his feelings for you  I feel like he would eat so much so that he doesn’t need to talk lol. Likes taking you to his favourite restaurant and seeing you in jeans. I feel like he would love going to a sunset outdoor concert or a drive in movie. Even going to a haunted house, he’d loooove the feeling of protecting you. Wants to hold you to the music, or cuddle you in the car. Physical touch is his love language and he just wants to go somewhere where he can feel your body and make out with you for hourrrrrsss. He cant keep his hands off of you. 

Sasha: ALL YOU CAN EAT. Not sure if its a buffet or like ayce sushi but a place where you can try a ton of dishes and eat as much as you can. Would love making you laugh and playing silly get-to-know-you games. Going to a theme park or fair or anywhere with rollercoasters would be her jam. I feel like she’d love Disneyland but hate how expensive all of the food is haha. Wants to go on rides, eat mini doughnuts and enjoy the fun until you’re both exhausted. Kisses you on the Ferris wheel and buys you both matching merch, like those Toy Story aliens hats. Taking photos in a Photo Booth and end up making out. Hiding behind corners and stealing kisses from each other so no one sees. 

Levi: Every minute of the date is planned perfectly. He has high standards and wants to take you somewhere really nice for dinner, a restaurant where you get multiple courses of food and there’s matching wine paired with each course. Dimly lit with jazz music playing. Has a list of acceptable places and it has to be at one of those. He doesn’t go out to restaurants often, but when he does he goes for a five star experience. Loves seeing you all dressed up, just so he can take it off later. Touches your thighs at the dinner table and is giving you the ‘fuck me’ eyes all night. Loves teasing you and seeing you blush and get flustered. Takes you to a quiet speakeasy after to drink cocktails. My man is definitely a whisky drinker, he is getting an old fashioned or a scotch on the rocks. Whispers dirty things in your ear all night but refuses to kiss you which drives you craaazy. When he drops you off back at home he brushes your hair behind your ear. “I want all of you,” he says before he kisses you. Doesn’t stay because he wants to leave you wanting more. 

Jean: He would be sooooo nervous while planning this date lol. Probably googles ‘romantic date ideas’ because his brain was too anxious to some up with his own ideas. Would pick a nice French restaurant and give you a red rose at the beginning. He’s super blunt and throughout the night he’d say things like ‘you are so hot’ and tell you how much he likes you. Something about him just makes me think he loves classic romance tropes. Like he’d take you to the Eiffel Tower and kiss you under it when its twinkling. Getting a cartoonist to sketch both of you and then keeping it on his wall. Sooo nervous when he asks you to kiss him and he doesn’t hold back at all. Lifts up your chin and look into your eyes kind of kiss. Wants to be your Prince Charming. You tease him about how sweet he is and he gets all red and flustered.

Erwin: I feel like Erwin is a gentleman and wants to take you on a really classy night out. I feel like he’d want to dress up and go to the symphony with you or a charity event at a museum of anthropology, followed by a dinner at a boujie restaurant. Wants to talk about work and your career with him. Would love asking you tough hypothetical questions because loves having really cerebral conversations. Drinking nice Bordeaux and eating oysters and steak. Shares chocolate cake with you after. I feel like he wouldn’t try anything because he’s such a gentleman, but he’d compliment you and kiss your hand. Takes you back to his place for a night cap on his deck. He’d tell you how that he finds you beautiful inside and out and ask for a kiss. He’s slow and holds back but as soon as you say the word, he’s ready to go. Tells you to take off your clothes and loves watching you undress. Loves making your toes curl.

[lady-wyrd]

For everyone who loves The Expanse, I recommend following and watching Space Rocks videos:

"We take The Expanse star Steven Strait -- aka Captain James Holden -- to the European Space Agency's parabolic flight facility in Bordeaux to experience what microgravity really feels like."

[lamaisongaga]

LADY GAGA LOOKS CHIC IN BALMAIN F/W24

She's alive! Lady Gaga enjoyed a low-key dinner date with her man at Nobu in Malibu last night, where she was later seen exiting through the kitchen.

She cut a glamorous display in an oversized black leather trench coat, adorned with golden snail seashell buttons, an off-the-runway piece from Balmain's Fall/Winter 2024 collection – which was a love letter to creative director Olivier Rousteing's hometown in Bordeaux.

Balmain's leather designer, Stanislas Vandenberge, was kind enough to whisper to me that Gaga's coat is a lovechild from two coats which were displayed on the menswear and womenswear runways.

I love Gaga's devotion to owning endless shades in her favorite style - cat-eye.

Here, she's donning the Gentle Monster Vis Viva 01 black acetate sunglasses with silver metal details ($340.00), which part oft their 2023 collection.

Shop:

Gentle Monster "Vis Viva 01" Sunglasses ($340.00)

The oversized golden snail brass earrings with cystals ($895) also hail from the same Balmain collection.

"One thing I'll always associate with Bordeaux's grapes, cuisine and gardens is the beautiful escargot. My team and I have found several unexpected ways to include the snail shell's mesmerizing spirals inside this collection, including coiled stitching, a golden metal breast plate and a wide array of coquille-inspired buttons, jewels and ornaments." says Rousteing.

Shop:

Balmain Snail Earrings ($895.00)

Gaga is also carrying a re-issued version of the Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2005 Stam quilted black leather bag ($995), which was one of the most popular bags during the early 2000s!

Shop:

Marc Jacobs Little "Stam" Bag ($995.00 - pink version)

Lastly, Gaga rocked her signature sky-high Flamingo-1020 black vinyl platform boots from Pleaser.