#Bright side of the life series

[allay-uxini]

Pearl and Martyn’s Iron Song: Bright Side Of The Life Series Piece

My piece for the @brightsideoflifeseries event, based of episode 1 of double life where pearl and Martyn sing a song about iron (artist ramblings under the cut)

so…… I might be a tad late. It may not look it but this piece was REALLY difficult for me to make with the perspectives of the bodies and surprisingly the facial expressions (how do you not make them not look disgusting). I actually had surprisingly a lot of fun with doing the background and shading (though that doesn’t mean it’s gonna be good, I’m letting myself take small victories).

Even though this was really hard for me I’m still glad I decided to participate in this event. Also I want to give a HUGE shoutout to Kait (@uy8hg-art) for being so INCREDIBLY lovely to me by willingly going along with my weekly check-ins, giving me really good feedback and just being so wonderfully patient with me! So please follow them they are great (I’m mean you should everyone who participated in this event cause they are amazing but I feel that the organiser should get a special shout out)!

Speaking of people you should follow: here’s everyone who participated in the event and all there piece’s (FOLLOW THEM, FOLLOW THEM NOW, I pale in comparison to them they are AMAZING):

grimaussieart

radishearts

strelitzien-gewaechs

holymolyguacomole

fynchfire

hoodiecave

uy8hg-art

agressivenesswhilecrying

limbowuzhere

Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got several art studies I need to do cause this project made me realise I was way too in over my head.

[fynchfire]

Oh my god I'm posting art for once and this time its for a event

Seriously though I'm doing a giant project that I do a bunch of art for, that's why I don't post art that often

(This is for the Bright side of the life series event)

[strelitzien-gewaechs]

silly lil comic based on ethos 5th sl ep for the bright side of life series event!

big big ty for organizing this event @brightsideoflifes <3 <3 (+ giving me an excuse to rewatch this moment like 5 times)

[brightsideoflifeseries]

Sign-ups are officially open!

It's finally launch day! Welcome aboard to the Bright Side of Life Series community event! If you ever wanted to take a moment to appreciate the silliness in the Life Series, here's an opportunity!

You can sign-up to join the event here!

The link to the Discord is at the end of the sign-up, but joining is optional.

The public spreadsheet can be found here.

Let's have a good time!

[grimaussieart]

Let's have the Red Army leader and hand be a bit silly.

This was for The Bright Side Of Life Series Event where we see the sillier side of the life series!

Thank you to @brightsideoflifeseries for organising this event!

[uy8hg-art]

Y'ever see something and your mind screams "that's so Scooby Doo" at you?

Yeah, I listened to that voice

The absolute hilarity of Skizz and Grian crouching against a wall dead silent as a train of people run past yelling at each other needed the Scooby Doo treatment.

For @brightsideoflifeseries event! Me not drawing this moment when it came out stretched into me actually setting up a whole event and I could not be happier about that.

[laney-rockin]

HC that Kirk is a great cook/baker but never really gets to showcase that skill cause his quarters [unlike Pike's] doesn't have a massive fucking kitchen he can play around in.

But the thing that draws him the most is old rationing recipes from the great depression. This man was on Tarsus where he nearly died from starvation, ofc he'd be super good at cooking with barely anything.

He also [imo] would also be super good at picking up clues as to if a plant is edible or not and likes to play that game in his head as he looks around planets as Spock goes around doing whatever he does with his tricorder.

And Spock and Bones don't know shit about these skills of his until they're all stranded somewhere and Kirk just cooks nonchalantly and the other two just look either [in Bones' case] bewildered and [in Spock's case] mildly baffled that their captain can just make 3 reasonably sized portions out of NOTHING.

[hoodiecave]

My thingy for @brightsideoflifeseries!

This ones just a bunch of silliness with skizz and tango because their dynamic is really entertaining to me lol

I was gonna focus more on the different funny moments between the two of them (like skizzs unfortunate misspeaking in limited life lmao,) but I ended up changing the composition to focus more on them doing the heart hands :]

[kindlythevoid]

Me, upon receiving one (1) SORTA mean, maybe-off comment out of hundreds of super nice comments that I love, now staring for even MORE hours at the draft of the next chapter I need to write: Well, fuck. Now what? Also Me, .02 seconds later, gritting my teeth and strategizing: Well, I write this fanfic for me. This is my fanfic. People can think what they like. I will take this comment and use it to think of new ways to improve my writing, but I will not internalize it. I write this fanfic for me. This is my fanfic. People can think what they like. I will take this comment and use it to think of new ways to improve my writing, but I will not internalize it. I write this fanfic for ME. This is MY fanfic. People can think what they like--

[thedo0zyslider]

Distraction

Scarian fic. 2k words. Summary - Grian is getting quite.....well, distracted by Scar after he turns yellow, and the latter decides to confront him about it. A03 Link

Going AFK during a death game wasn’t something anyone expected to experience, at least not frequently. It was the first, and hopefully only time, Grian would experience it. He didn’t mind being AFK normally, but a death game was different, especially considering he’d woken up with time and a color missing. More changes also happened to his fellow players during the week or so he was out of commission, their timers ticking down and a few people getting some new outfits to go with. 

Scar was one of the people who’d gained an appearance change, and Grian saw his first, as their respective groups liked to mess with each quite a bit. It was quite a nice outfit, very flashy, and very Scar. His former ally now wore a blue shirt, yellow vertical stripes lined it. In typical Scar fashion he’d left the top part slightly unbuttoned, showing off his chest a tad. The sleeves had also been rolled up, Scar stating it looked better and was more practical for when he was building The Rock. He had a clock resting at his side, attached to the navy blue jeans he now wore. 

A few other people had gotten updated appearances while Grian was gone, but Scar’s seemed to stick with him the most, and for a very particular reason.

Grian had found his gaze…wandering a bit whenever he was around Scar. To the other man's chest area specifically. He tried to stop it, but most of the time he didn’t even realize he was doing it. They’d be having a normal conversation and he’d just be staring at Scar’s slightly exposed chest, his mind wandering. He wondered about what if his shirt was unbuttoned further, and was remembering a time when Scar hadn’t worn a shirt at all. It was kind of embarrassing, and Grian had to keep his face from burning in shame every time he realized he was doing it again.

He didn’t think anyone had noticed much, thankfully. He thought Cleo had at one point, but if she did she chose to keep her mouth shut, the zombie probably wanting to see how this played out. Scar himself, on the other hand, for sure noticed how distracted he was making Grian. The brunette's gaze burning holes into him was usually what caused Grian to realize he was staring in the first place. 

Scar had decided he was going to do something about the…situation, apparently. For one day he beckoned his old ally over, promising nothing but a friendly interaction, perhaps a trade for some cows, or some iron. And Grian, despite knowing Scar’s scammer tendanices, of witnessing and aiding them first hand countless times before, followed him anyways. Part of him, for whatever reason, still trusted Scar, and allowed the man to lead him behind The Clockers newly constructed base, creatively named The Rock. 

For whatever reason the avian hadn’t noticed, or chosen to ignore, the particular gleam in Scar’s eyes as they walked together. He didn’t notice until the other man in front of him, using their height difference to lean over the smaller. Grian’s breath hitched, seeing the playful, flirtatious gleam in the taller’s gaze. The avian could tell where this might be going, and he wasn’t exactly opposed, per say. He took a few steps back, and Scar matched him, step for step until Grian’s back hit something with a low thunk. 

Grian glanced behind him, seeing that his back had now hit the gray outer wall of The Rock. His eyes darted forward again, only to be faced with Scar leaning towards him. He slowly pinned Grian against the wall, one hand slamming against the stone beside his head, while Scar’s other arm still rested at his side. It was an escape route, and Grian wasn’t sure he was willing to take it. 

His eyes moved down to Scar’s chest area again for a second, before quickly going back up to the others face. He flushed in embarrassment, noticing how Scar’s gaze tracked his own The brunette was smirking down at him, clearly enjoying how easy the avian was to fluster. Grian felt his face flush a deeper shade of red, and Scar’s gaze glittered with amusement. 

“Have I been distracting you lately?” Scar asked, grin becoming wider. 

“You could say that..” Grian’s breath hitched as he spoke, barely being able to meet Scar’s piercing gaze. His skin crawled and prickled, it felt like he was burning under those pretty yellow eyes. Not knowing what else to do or where else to look Grian tore his gaze away, dragging his eyes back to Scar’s chest for what seemed like the millionth time. 

A warm, familiar calloused hand came under his chin, gently grabbing it moving his face upwards. “Eyes up here, songbird.” Scar muttered softly, leaning in closer. Grian felt a shiver run through him at the old nickname. He hadn’t heard that since…well the cactus ring, when Scar told him that everything was okay, even as Grian killed him. 

“Hi..” He managed to whisper, taking in all of Scar’s features. Fuck , that man was handsome, quite possibly the prettiest man Grian had ever laid eyes on. And he’d seen plenty of pretty guys in his time. Scar’s eyes were now a light yellow, sadly having lost the pretty shade of dark green when Grian had been gone. His other facial features were still as pleasing to look at, skin now a fair tone instead of the cool gray part of Grian’s brain was still expecting to see. His jawline was still sharp and well defined, framed by round cheeks. Sure, his ears were a little pointer and his hair was styled different, but it was still Scar. His brown locks still looked as soft as they had been before. 

Their faces were now close enough for Grian to see a light blush dusting the other’s cheeks as well, and a small part of him took satisfaction in that. He hadn’t even done anything and Scar was still blushing over him.  

“Well hello there!” Scar quietly purred his signature greeting, having taken a moment to respond. They both seemed to have been staring at each other’s faces. Scar moved his hand to cup the smaller’s cheek instead of letting it continue to rest at his side. Grian’s skin lit alight at the touch, his eyes fluttering shut for a second. Scar smirked, a bit softer than the last one, as the avian leaned into him. “Aren’t you cute?” He said, bringing Grian’s face closer until the noses were practically touching, gaze turning half lidded. 

Grian’s own hands, which had been laying useless at his side, moved to rest on Scar’s hips at the motion. Scar pressed him against the wall more, the avian’s leather jacket becoming ruffled and caught on the stone. Grian’s heart pounded in his ears, their breaths mingling together for a second longer before Scar decided to do something about it, leaning down to meet Grian in the middle.  

Scar lightly pressed their lips together, moving his head further down to meet the avian as he did. Grian felt himself melt at contact. One hand remained on the taller’s hip, the other going to rest on top of the one currently holding Grian’s face. The kiss wasn’t very deep, and lasted for barely a second. Scar gave him a few more soft kisses, kisses neither of them wanted. It was agonizing, Grian’s brain screaming at him to kiss Scar stupid. Scar pressed one more final chaste kiss to his lips, and before either of them had time to think Grian’s arms were around Scar’s neck, pulling him down once more. 

The kiss was hesitant at first. They hadn’t been this close in…a while, despite being Soulmates once before. Their lips were pressed together for a second too long, and Grian began to tug at Scar’s hair to show that he wanted more . He wanted more than hesitant touches and avoidance. He wanted Scar . Scar himself seemed to long for the same thing, as after a minute of Grian tugging at his hair he began to slowly bite down onto the other’s bottom lip. Grian damn near moaned, restraining himself so only a small noise rumbled in his throat instead. 

Things got slightly more heated, an old, almost long forgotten passion returning as Scar tried to slip his tongue into Grian’s mouth. The avian let him, parting his lips and allowing Scar to kiss him fully. His knees wobbled a bit, Scar roughly tilting his head to the side for better access to Grian’s mouth, the latter’s teeth catching on his tongue. The kiss became calmingly familiar, and the avian was glad to be experiencing it again. Scar’s hand moved off the wall, going to grip Grian’s waist, other hand still roughly grabbing his cheek. He hoped it wouldn’t bruise, because it felt like it would. 

Grian was making small noises as Scar kissed him breathless, kissed him absolutely stupid for the first time in what felt like an eternity. The brunette was making his own sounds, clearly holding himself back a bit. He made louder whines when Grian’s hands moved from the back of his neck to roam under his shirt, fingers ghosting over and feeling familiar abs and scars. Some of those scars Grian had caused himself, but that was the furthest thing from his mind at the moment, his fingers running along the others waistband. Scar started groaning into Grian’s mouth, apparently deciding to indulge himself a little, and the avian smirked as he was kissed into the wall of The Rock further, one of Scar’s knees moving in between his thighs, spreading his legs ever so slightly. He gasped into the kiss, desperate whines becoming louder, more full of want and need at the motion. The smaller’s hands began to move up towards Scar’s face, ready to break the kiss and guide Scar’s lips down to his neck. He desperately wanted to feel teeth angst his skin, biting it raw and bruising-

A voice suddenly came from the area next to them, the person clearing their throat before speaking. “Scar, what did I say about having boys over?” Grian felt his blood run cold as Cleo’s voice filled his ears, eyes snapping open. Their tone was very awkward, yet slightly teasing. Leave it to Cleo, of all people, to tease them right now. The zombie was most definitely going to hold this over his head later, over both of their heads most likely. 

They pulled away from each other abruptly, heads whipping around to face Cleo. Part of Grian wanted to whine at the loss of contact, but he pushed away that urge. Scar’s face was properly red now, but not as red as Grian’s. He could practically feel the heat radiating from his own cheeks. Both of them were panting quite heavily, which wasn’t helping in the slightest. Grian also felt slightly lightheaded from the passionate make out, having to blink a few as his vision started to go double. He moved away from Scar a bit, trying to get more space to breathe, but that man didn’t let him go. 

“I know, but Mom.” Scar began, Cleo slightly cringing at the “mom” part. “He was practically begging for it!“ A hand guided Grian’s face back to Scar’s, and he was once again forced to meet piercing yellow eyes. “Isn’t that right, G?” 

“Y-Yeah” He stammered, maybe a bit too loudly. He was just glad Bdubs hadn’t caught them, he would’ve announced it to the whole server probably, with how loud he’d probably scream at the sight. The two of them also had given up on being quiet, and Grian also hoped their…less than subtle nosies hadn’t drawn Cleo to them. They probably had, realistically, and it made being caught all the more embarrassing. 

“Well, I’d leave you to it.” Cleo said, glaring daggers at Grian. “If he wasn’t our enemy, Scar.” Their voice had an edge to it, but Scar didn’t move away. The brunette still held the avian in place, knee still in quite the scandalous place. Scar met his ally’s glare with his own, steady gaze, and Grian just wished he’d let go of his face for a second. It wasn’t helping how flustered he was. 

Cleo sighed. “Just don’t get all down and dirty in the open? Okay? Be safe about it?” Scar’s eyes widened slightly at her words, and probably the fact he’d won their silent argument. Grian just turned even redder, making a startled chirp in the back of his throat. 

Scar got over his shock quickly, far faster than Grian did. “Of course, of course!” He purred, a familiar smoothness returning to his voice. He leaned down, voice low but still loud enough that Cleo could hear. “We’ll be safe about it, won’t we G-man?” His voice dipped lower, now taking on a more frisky tone.  

“Yeah, I gu- mngh !” Grian’s response was cut off by a noise of pleasure, wings fluttering against the wall behind him. Scar had leaned down a bit more, titling the avian’s head up so he could access his neck. Teeth that were slightly sharper than they used to be teased over his skin for a quickest of seconds, before the brunette bit down in a certain spot he knew Grian liked. Past experience was working against Grian a lot today.

“ Scar! ” He moaned breathily, the man above him continuing to work that area of his neck, fingers tugging at soft dark brown hair. 

Cleo’s cheeks turned a bit red, the zombie quickly averting her gaze. “Keep quiet! And I’m holding this against you!” She called as she turned away, vanishing around the side of the building just as fast as she appeared. Scar smirked against Grian’s neck, before continuing his work. 

They stayed like that for only five more minutes, Grian leaning his head back further, allowing Scar to press god knows how many open mouthed kisses against his skin. The avian was suddenly glad for his stupid leather jacket, knowing the collar would successfully hide most of the day's activities. He eventually removed Scar from his neck, taking an opportunity to dominate a kiss of his own, cramming his tongue into the other's mouth. Scar kissed him back readily, making nice sounds of his own when Grian began to bite his neck, giving them matching bruises. The avian quite enjoyed it, Scar molding into his touch like clay. It served as a reminder to both of them how weak for the other they could be. 

Eventually Grian was pulled away, a calloused hand once again tilting his head upwards to meet Scar’s gaze. 

“They were right ya know,” The brunette gaze was no longer playfully, his tone serious. “We are enemies, we shouldn’t really be….”

Grian blinked. “Oh…yeah.” He said, moving his hands off of Scar, not even sure where they’d ended up. Scar’s hands stayed on him. 

“I was just gonna give you one small kiss…not all of that..” He muttered, hand trailing over the various bruises now lining Grian’s neck. “Guess we got a bit carried away?” The avian joked, a lopsided smile forming on his face. 

Scar chuckled, though his gaze was still somber. “Yeah, a bit.” 

Before he pulled away Scar leaned in once again, Grian’s hands gently cupped in his cheeks. He gave his former partner one last soft kiss, Grian leaning into it like his life depended on it. It reminded him of their first kiss, back in the desert. That one had been just as gentle, just as soft as this one. It made this feel like their last, though the two never seemed to reach that point. 

Scar slowly moved away, seeming reluctant. He slowly moved a hand off Grian’s face, caressing it gently. The avian watched him, propping himself up from where he was still pressed against the wall, just as reluctant as his old partner was. “Goodbye now, Songbird.” He said gentle, voice having lost any flirtatious undertone. Grian chirped a goodbye, his throat felt too full of emotion to speak. It was a strong mix of emotions, emotions about Scar, ones that were suffocating on the best of days, and ones that drowned him at the worst.

He waited until Scar had vanished completely, before quickly returning to his own base, hoping no one else was home. 

When Scar eventually turned red, and his white undershirt was practically torn to shreds, Grian didn’t stop himself from staring. He didn’t stop Scar from pushing him against a wall again either, their status as allies, enemies, whatever, forgotten by a need, a deep seeded longing for the other. 

That day, Grian stared into achingly familiar red eyes, even sharper teeth pressing against his skin, and felt like he was drowning. 

[aggressivenesswhilecrying]

"I, littlewood of the task force, would lik to invite you to sit here on this bed...and not just you, BUT YOUR IMAGINARY FRIEND TOO!!"

Summery:

Just a rewrite of Martyn guessing tangos task I'm secret life!!

Beta and edited!! For once in my god forsaken life!!

No trigger warnings!!

(This is a fic for the @brightsideoflifeseries!!)

Martyn was certain. 100% certain, he knew tango’s task, it had been sideways glances, and watching closely. After having fallen into the dog bowl with Jimmy and pearl by his side, he started his mad dash, a laugh on his lips, and air missing from his lungs. “We've got him!!’ Jimmy says in a silly voice, looking at martyn, water dripping from his clothes as they begin to run. “This is it. Have you already guessed and failed?” he asks in Jimmy's direction. The fellow blonde nodding. “Yeah, I've already guessed and failed, gem’s already guessed, and they’ve failed!!”

The crunchy grass beneath his feet, turning into far more alive, and far more green. Pearl giggling as she runs with them out of pure wonder. “I am so curious,” she laughed out. “Oh this is so exciting!!” Martyn chuckled out, head swimming with possibilities.

The heart foundation comes into view, a large pink heart made out of cherry wood, and cherry blossom leaves. Hanging high in the skin and taking away martyn's every breath everytime he sees it. Not that he’s seen it much, as they are just now adding it. Skizz stands on a large piller up in the sky, messing around with something martyn can't exactly see from his point on the ground. “Oh skizzle, my rizzle, my dizzle nizzle-izzle man!!” Martyn calls out as he halls himself out of the river, grin large and heart steady. “Where is sir tang-of-o?” he asks, skizz slowly starting to break the blocks under his feet to go down just a little. “I actually, do not know, i do not know where he is at, are you gonna guess his task?” left over concentration from whatever he was doing up there lacing his tone still, vibrant blue eyes glancing at martyn with curiosity.

“Yess. I think I've got it in the bag.” martyn says, voice filled with smug pride and joy in a sneaky sense. Like he’s trying to hide his pride. Moving back and forth, hopping from foot to foot as he looks at skizz. “I don't know where heee” “martyn, well get him to comeback, well get him to come back, well get him to come here” skizz is interrupted by jimmy’s voice, as the fellow yellow swims over, he sounds calm, but martyn can very clearly here the excitement in his voice, if you just listen close enough.”ohhhh, you got two yellows!! Would you just look at these guys!!” Skizz laughs, looking up as Jimmy climbs out of the water. “Hey, we’re sharing information, we're on our own little yellow network!!” Martyn laughs out. A smug, and satisfied grin pulling at his lips.

“Tango?” Martyn and Jimmy say at the same time as they walk up to the blaze born, the man looking between them both, seeming slightly confused as he takes a glance at skizz. “Come take a seat, come take a seat.” jimmy starts to repeat, and it becomes more like background noise as martyn shoos tango over to the two white beds laying on the grass, besides each other, but one is moved one block higher. Martyn clears his voice, and tango raises an eyebrow at martyn, looking somewhat confused.

“I, in the littlewood of the task force,would like to invite you to sit there,” martyn grins, and tango moves without a word, setting down the torch in his hand, the small flame on the ground now, as he takes a seat on the first bed, that martyn and jimmy now stand in front of. The two yellows just slightly crouching. “Anddd, not just you to sit on that bed,” his voice is calm, but his voice rises with anticipation as he shifts back and forth on his feet, and suddenly is getting up in tangos face jabbing him in the chest with a large grin “annddd, not just you to sit on that bed..BUT YOUR IMAGINARY FRIEND THAT YOU HAVE TO PRETEND YOU HAVE FOR THE TASK THIS WEEK!!” Martyn shouts out, blood pumping and grin on his face, as tango nervously laughs in the background, making a gasping sound, bordering onto a giggle. “WAH, WOU, WHAAATT?” he says, suddenly placing down torch after touch while jumping up, moving around, and refusing to look martyn in the eyes as he nervously laughs.

“DID I GET IT?”

“DID HE GUESS IT?”

Most of it becomes background noise as tango hopes around, someone else, likely pearl, that martyn didn't hear before hand speaking up. Tango is laughing as Martyn begins to cheer, hopping all around.

“Tango. Was he right?” Jimmy asks, voice edging onto a giggle as tango sets down, yet another torch, kneeling down onto the ground to be at its level. Everyone laughing as quietly as they can. “-i should stab him right now, shouldn't i?” Tango looks at the torch, chuckling as everyone snickers above him “I'll tell you what we do, we’re gonna leave it on the downlow-” Martyn is interrupted with more giggles and snickers as tango does look away from the torch. And martyn is only picking up, maybe half of what tango is saying at this point. “-i don't know, he’s pretty tough. Can we- i don't think we can- we can take him?- I don't think we could take him..”

Martyn can’t help but double over, as him, Jimmy, Scott, and Pearl all laugh, and he can see the large silly grin on tango’s face, as the man jokingly comes running at him. “Were gonna give it a SHOOTT” he yells out, as he runs right past martyn, just barely brushing his shoulder, and martyn can feel tears in his eyes as tango slows down from his own laughing, and circles back around to the torch, nose wrinkling as he chuckles loudly, breathy, leaning forward clumsily, as he trips, landing face first into the grass right next to the torch, holding his own stomach as he rolls over onto his back, laughing, and giggling at the entire situation. And martyn can see tears in his eyes.

[purpleturtle9000]

i need to go back to my roots as a fluff writer, this chapter hurt me

[lokissweater]

sunday's 𓈒ㅤׂ 𝜗𝜚

{yuta okkotsu x popular f!reader}

summary: yuta okkotsu has been in love with you since he started college— living in the shadows of your popularity as he watched from afar how your bouncy and genuine kind soul prospered and shined everywhere you went. but during one of his shifts at the 50s diner down the street from his campus, you walk in with you friends one sunday night and immediately bond over your shared love for elvis presley’s music, yuta stammering and fidgety at how pretty you are up close, and you falling fast for his pinky cheeks, sweet little words, and how he takes care of you every single day.

warnings: college!au, FLUUUFFF omg so cute, lovesick yuta he thinks you’re so prettyyy, no smut in this one!, popular reader, cursing, afab!reader, lots of mentions of elvis presley LOL, little bit of angst, clueless yuta, strangers to friends to lovers.

word count: 9.6k

authors note: THIS ONE HITS HOMEEE FOR MEEE AAAHHHH CAN YOU TELL I LOVE ELVIS PRESLEY? i live and breathe that man and oldies in general, so this is a love letter to him! :] this fic is all of my favorite things combined and it is SO FREAKING CUUTEEEE UGH i hope you all love it seriously <3333 MWAAHHH I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU—

yuta okkotsu had never seen a girl so beautiful.

you were breathtaking, watching from afar, it was truly as if the world revolved around you in the most positive way yuta could think of.

you were popular— a beam of gorgeous light following you everywhere you went as you were always just enveloped by people and strangers and friends, them wanting to talk to you, wanting to get to know you, wanting you to better their lives because that’s what you selflessly liked to do for everyone without knowing.

and every time he’d walk in between lectures and spot you— feeling in the dumps if on certain days he’d miss your presence entirely, he’d just stare. stare with pink cheeks and softened eyes as you laughed and messed around with your friends or did extracurricular activities around campus, always giving a helping hand to those who needed it no matter the status.

that’s what yuta admired the most about you. you didn’t treat anybody differently just because they didn’t stand in the same level as you. you didn’t care about things like that, and you spoke to people with such fucking class and poise, that he always dozed off picturing how it would be like if he ever had the privilege of actually speaking with you.

that’s how most of his work shifts went at the diner after his classes.

he would wait tables or be in the kitchen, wipe down the windows or run the hostess stand… and you’d be on his mind— permanently there to torment him in the loveliest way he knew how.

and on one sunday night, you were unexpectedly there right in front of him at his job.

“hello?”

you waved a gentle hand over his face, and he snapped out of it immediately, cheeks pinky and bright, your friends snickering.

“yes! s—sorry.” he reached behind the hostess stand. “how many are with you?”

“four!” you responded sweetly, yuta having to swallow the huge lump in his throat as he officially saw your smile up close for the first time in his life— a gorgeous contrast to what it looked like from far away.

yuta quickly grabbed the corresponding menus and stepped to the side of the hostess stand, leading you and your friends through the empty restaurant and to a big booth— placing two menus down on each side of the table.

a series of elvis presley oldies (a personal pick from yuta) played through the jukebox in the middle of the diner while you and your friends scanned the menu, yuta fidgeting and anxious with his pen and notepad, waiting for you to order.

“do you have a favorite milkshake from here?” your kind voice spoke, looking up at him.

“uh— milkshake?”

your friends snickered again, but this time, you turned to them and shot them all a menacing glare.

“hey!— stop that you guys…” you shook your head at them and turned back to a red faced yuta, smiling apologetically. “i’m sorry! i’m really sorry.”

your friends only looked annoyed as they buried their faces in their menus or looked away entirely— yuta shaking his head softly.

“n—no it’s alright. um— i usually prefer this one-”

he timidly pointed his pen downward, the words ‘elvis shake�� reading from it.

“it has uh— vanilla ice cream with peanut butter and bananas.” he pursed his lips. “if… if you like that?”

“oh i’m a whore for anything with peanut butter in it!…” your hands spread flat across the menu as you leaned closer, yuta shyly laughing a little at your wording.

you looked up then, your eyes bright and excited and yuta doesn’t think anyone has ever looked at him the way you were at that moment.

“is that why you like it? because of the peanut butter?”

“yeah! yeah definitely... m— mainly because of the name though.”

you stopped and your eyebrows furrowed. “elvis? do you listen to him?”

his cheeks buzzed. “do you?”

“y/n!” one of your friends harshly whispered to you from across the table. “are we here to chit chat or are we here to eat?”

“fuck okay! jesus—”

you and the rest of your group ordered, yuta nervously scribbling down the names of various platters and drinks before silently excusing himself to send the note off to the kitchen staff.

and when it came around to serving your food, placing each individual dish down for each person— yuta gently settled the elvis shake you got in front of you, adorned with baby pink sprinkles over a mountain of whipped cream with a cherry on top, something that yuta did extra for you out of the goodness of his infatuated heart, since it didn’t come with the drink in the first place.

he didn’t know why, but he could tell that the energy was different between you and your friends the second time he came around, and after hiding in the kitchen for the entirety of the time you were there instead of outside waiting tables like he was supposed to, by the third time he came back around— you were fighting with them.

he quickly retreated behind the bar and made himself look busy, guiltily eavesdropping as he picked up a random salt shaker and falsely examined it.

“i don’t understand why you guys can’t just be nice!” you pushed. “is having a normal conversation with somebody that funny? every time?”

“y/n you always talk to a bunch of rando’s of course it’s funny.”

“what the hell does that even mean?”

“it means it looks odd and you’re embarrassing yourself every time you skip around not being mindful of who you’re having conversations with!” one of them seethed, their tone judgemental and rude and one yuta didn’t like at all.

“like— like the server today! i’m pretty sure i’ve seen him around campus, he’s odd. why were you asking him about— about— who the fuck were you asking him about?“

“elvis.” you spat. “i was asking him about elvis."

“that guy! who cares? he works here why do you have to always talk to people like that—”

“like what?!” you threw your arms up. “like a normal decent human being would? i can see why you’d lack that.”

“excuse me?”

“yeah. and it sucks for you.”

“sucks for?— okay. i think we’re done here.”

“way fucking done.”

as each of them scooched out of the booth, yuta watched with wide panicked eyes while you stayed seated and silent, arms crossed over your chest and lips tight as you glared.

“i don’t know why everyone loves you so much…” one of them muttered. “there isn’t anything to you.”

and they all walked out, the bell above the door chiming as they did.

yuta’s eyes darted from you to the exit and to them through the window outside in the parking lot, watching fucking gobsmacked as they all got in one singular car and sped off, leaving you there by yourself and with the responsibility of the bill.

soft sniffles reached him, and he turned then, your body hunched over on the table as you cried with your head down, yuta’s heart aching for you.

he put down the random salt shaker he was holding and walked around the bar, slowly making his way towards your table.

“you don’t—”

you shot up startled.

“sorry! sorry—” he awkwardly scratched his pinky cheek. “i was just— gonna say you don’t have to pay the bill… i— i can—”

“oh! no you don’t have to do that.” you wiped your cheeks. “it’s okay i can pay it.”

“but they left you the entire bill.” he said softly.

“i know… it’s okay! really.” you smiled a little through your tears, the sight making his shoulders slump.

how you could possibly smile at a time like this was beyond him.

yuta started clearing the empty plates from your table when you spoke up again.

“i’m sorry you had to deal with their attitude...” you mumbled. “and my ugly crying.”

he smiled softly and shook his head. “no it’s okay. you shouldn’t apologize for them.”

“i should though…” you whined a little. “they were being mean the moment we got here and were just straight disrespectful.”

you leaned back against the plush of the booth and crossed your arms, muttering. “it’s not like they were my friends either..”

yuta quirked a confused brow, setting the last of the plates away in the kitchen before coming back around. “they weren’t?”

“nuh uh.” you shook your head. “i had just met them today actually, from a sorority event. i thought they were nice at first but i started noticing they were a little bitchy.”

“bitchy?” he laughed a little, his heart leaping like a little leap frog at the realization that it was just you and him at the diner alone, the cooks having already gone home seeing as it was past closing time for the diner.

“yeah…” you sighed deeply through your nose. “they weren’t being very nice to the other girls there either… and— and when they asked me if i wanted to come eat here with them i didn’t really want to go but—” you pursed your lips, a sheepish look on your face. “i have a hard time saying no to people so…”

yuta’s eyes softened, leaning back against the edge of the long bar table as he eyed how resilient you tried to come across but damn well knowing you were hurting inside by their actions, your cheeks still wet and your bottom lip in a slight pout.

“what they said to you wasn’t very nice…” he murmured. “i’m sorry they did that.”

you smiled warmly. “it’s okay. i get it here and there.”

his eyebrows furrowed. “here and there? what do you mean?”

“from other people that i meet.” you perked up slightly then. “do you wanna sit?” you signaled to the seat across from you in the booth and he stiffened, eyes wide and cheeks pink as he reluctantly scooched his legs over and sat across from you.

“they just get a little mad when i don’t do what they want me to do.”

“like be mean? like them?”

you shrugged a little, but the way your gorgeous eyes peered up at him indicated that he was right. “i suppose.”

“are all of your friends like that?”

“oh no! thankfully not…” you fiddled with your fingers on the table. “a lot of them are really sweet.”

yuta never thought about how something like this could be a possibility, as all he saw was how much you were loved and idolized and sought after by literally anyone who knew your name— but he missed the mark on the logistics of it. he should’ve known certain girls wouldn’t be in favor of you and desired what you didn’t have to work very hard for to get.

he saw how you wiped the remnants of your wet cheeks and sniffed, looking like you had at least recovered from crying but still a little dejected as you slouched over the table, eyes down.

“do you want… another elvis shake?”

you looked up. “what?”

“a—another shake. do you want one?” he stood slowly from the booth. “or i could get you ice cream? we just have vanilla and chocolate but—”

“oh no! it’s okay really i don’t want to freeload over what you have—”

he giggled a little. “you’re not freeloading. i’m offering.”

and before you could reject him again, he was already making his way to the kitchen— hands skillfully prepping his favorite milkshake like he’d done so many times before since the age of sixteen, and now skillfully and lovingly preparing it for you, the girl he’s adored since the moment he started college.

you stood and timidly followed after him, but instead of fully going into the kitchen, you stopped in front of the vintage burgundy jukebox and scanned the selection of songs.

“you won’t get in trouble?” you worriedly called over your shoulder. “i don’t want you to run into issues with your job…”

“no it’s okay!” you heard from the kitchen, glasses and silverware clinking together. “i’ve been working here since high school and my manager doesn’t mind. i usually um— close on sunday’s on my own too.”

the blender went off as you spotted your favorite elvis presley song on the list of selections, perking up and quickly digging into your purse for any stray quarters you magically hoped would appear inside.

yuta switched the blender off and unhooked it from the base, pouring out the frothy liquid into a fountain glass cup.

“you close on your own on sunday’s?” your head turned to where he was, catching little glimpses of him from the doorway as he moved to and fro. “the entire restaurant?”

“yeah…” he laughed awkwardly. “well— all of the time.”

“all of the time?!” you gawked, popping your head into the kitchen and accidentally scaring him.

“oh shit!—”

“sorry!” you giggled cutely. “i’m sorry…”

he laughed with you and waved you off. “it’s okay.”

yuta looked down and proceeded topping your milkshake with baby pink sprinkles again. “and yeah we’re kind of… understaffed right now. it’s just me and another kid.”

you hummed understandingly, watching the way he finished off your shake with two cherries on top instead of one like last time, making you softly smile in response.

he plopped a straw in. “here you go.”

“thank you!” you bounced excitedly on your little toes and he grinned, handing the glass over to you gently.

“i hope you feel better…”

your milkshake filled cheeks made him laugh as you paused and swallowed, the sweetest expression ever on your face as your eyes flickered to his name tag and back to him.

“i do yuta… thank you!”

the way his name rang off your tongue, something he never ever would’ve thought to hear come out of your mouth, to come out from you, sent him feeling lightheaded as fuck as he dropped his head down to hide his rosy cheeks, walking out of the kitchen as you followed after him.

you paused in front of the jukebox again.

“oh! i didn’t get to hear your answer from earlier.”

he picked his head up. “from earlier?”

“if— if you listen to elvis?”

“oh—” his gaze drifted to where you had your focus on the elvis presley selection panel on the machine. “i do! i love his music.”

you beamed, eyes lighting up so excitedly as you looked at him.

“oh my god i love him too! so much!”

“really?” he smiled. “do you— do you have a favorite song?”

“yeah! i have a lot...” you giggled shyly. “but i mainly like ‘always on my mind.’”

“that one’s a good one!” his smile grew. “i love that one too.”

“right?!” you stepped closer to him, and his face flushed. “and you? what about you?”

“i uh— i like ‘moody blue’…”

you gushed. “i like that one too!”

you loved the way his pinky cheeks bloomed and how kind he was— the way he tried his best to make you, a stranger, feel better with a cute little milkshake, his stuttering and fidgeting something that you found yourself adoring and only made your heart mushy with the weird need to pinch his rosy cheeks.

and he loved elvis.

“i’m glad you like him.” you hummed, running the pad of your index finger mindlessly over the smooth glittery surface of the jukebox. “people don’t really listen to him or oldies in general now.”

you gently set your nearly finished milkshake on the bar table as he nodded his head in agreement, thinking he couldn’t fall more in love with you over the fact that you actually liked one of his favorite artists. “i didn’t—expect you to either…”

you tilted your head. “really? why?”

“because—” he stammered, eyes darting around your breathtaking face. “well you’re popular. and pretty. and in a sorority. and i just—”

“oh— i see!” you smiled with blushing cheeks at his quick compliment, but it didn’t really reach your eyes. “i understand.”

“no but!—” your eyes stayed glued to the jukebox, and he worried that he might’ve accidentally offended you as he frantically tried to get his words together.

“i know it’s all stereotypes and assumptions so i’m— i’m sorry.”

“it’s alright!” you giggled softly. “i just don’t want you or anyone to get the wrong impression of me because of those things is all…”

your eyebrows pinched in thought, and he quickly shook his head.

“i’ve never!” he reached and placed a hand on your shoulder, your cheeks growing hot as he did so. “i’ve never gotten the wrong impression of you…”

“no?”

“no.”

you peered up at him. “what do you think of me then?”

“what do i—” he gulped. “what do i think?”

“yeah!”

“i think uh… you’re really nice.” he mumbled. “really nice. to everyone.. to me. doesn’t matter who honestly. and… you’re not afraid to say something if someone is being rude.”

yuta shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he avoided your gaze. “and you’re helpful… you put a lot of care into the things that you do, which are always never for your own benefit but for the benefit of others.”

he froze. “i— i see you around campus! a lot— so…”

your doe eyes were soft and filled with affection and warmth, the weight of his words settling into your mind as if they’ve always belonged there. as if he’s always belonged there.

you wrung your fingers behind your back then and leaned up on your tippy toes.

“you think i’m pretty?”

beautiful.

yuta hadn’t even realized that he had called you that until the moment you mentioned it again, his eyes widening as his wobbly lips tried to form coherent sentences for you.

“well— well who doesn’t...” he squeaked.

“but do you?” you leaned even closer, your cute smile nearly making him want to blurt out that he’s in love with you and that he’s maybe thought about you being the mother of his children from time to time.

“i— i do.” his eyes flickered back to yours. “i do.”

you bit your bottom lip and gleamed, giving into your impulses and reaching up to gently squeeze his flushed cheek.

“you’re so cute yuta…” you murmured, arm falling back to your side and eyes casting over the jukebox again.

and he nearly just about died.

“do you want a little donut?” he asked. “i— i can get it from the back—”

you and yuta spent literally the rest of the night until two in the morning chit chatting, playing various oldies tunes on the jukebox that conspired of mainly elvis presley, and yuta literally feeding you and giving you anything he possibly could just so he could watch the way you beamed at him every time he did— even when at one point you literally begged him that it was okay, your tummy absolutely filled with sugary sweets and drinks.

you even helped yuta close— disinfecting and wiping down all of the tables, sweeping the floors, triple shining the little elvis mural the diner had by the hostess stand, and organizing the menu’s for tomorrow’s shift.

in the midst of you wiping down the last of the big glass windows by the entrance with him, you thought of something.

“oh my god yuta—” your head snapped in his direction, his eyes widening at your sudden outburst.

“what if i work here?”

he stopped.

“work here?”

“yeah!” you nodded vigorously. “with you!”

he bit the inside of his cheek to prevent himself from screaming. “with me?”

“uh huh!” you chirped sweetly. “i would love to wipe down tables and listen to music with you everyday..”

yuta’s ears went red as he heard your soft voice say something so cute, wanting to literally run into the kitchen to the sink and dunk his face in sink water to cool off his boiling face.

“if that’s okay!” you sputtered. “am i being weird? am i freaking you out—”

“no! no not at all!” the corners of his lips curled, and he smiled, genuinely smiled. a big loving one that made his cheeks hurt with how hard he was doing it, and one that made your heart lightly flutter inside your chest at the way he was looking at you.

“i can talk to my manager.” he spoke gently. “i’m pretty sure he’ll take you.”

you bounced excitedly on your tippy toes, unexpectedly throwing your arms around him and landing a big fat kiss to his cheek.

“thank you thank you!”

yuta kept true to his word and talked to his manager the following day, who barely even had to think about it since he trusted yuta more than his own damn kids, waving him off and giving him the all clear to have you start the coming week.

“look look! do you likkeeyyy?”

you twirled around in your waitress uniform, the frilly pink fabric moving and swaying with every spin you made as he casually tried to bite down on his thumb in stupid restraint.

“it’s great!” he muttered, teeth locked around his thumb still. “you look great y/n.”

“thanks thanks!”

and you hopped over, giving him another quick kiss on the cheek before skipping away to the kitchen, him ecstatic as he’d been wanting another one so fucking badly again since the first time you did it— him biting down even harder on his thumb when you disappeared from view.

“why do you look like you’re about to shit yourself?”

yuta whipped around and saw his other coworker, yuji, the kid who shares shifts with him sometimes and spills everything and anything that comes out of his mouth without thinking twice about it, standing next to him with a clueless face.

yuji then wiggled his eyebrows teasingly. “is it the girl? the pretty one? the one with the big ass—”

“knock it off—” yuta shoved him away lightly and walked off, crouching down behind the bar counter and sorting through piles of rolled up silverware and buffet napkins.

“do you like her? yes or no?” yuji leaned against the edge of the bar.

his cheeks went pink.

“because if not i’m gonna go try y’know—”

yuta scoffed. “yuji you’re a freshman in high school and we’re in college. she’s in college—”

“okay maybe she likes them young? cougar moment?”

yuta looked at him absolutely horrified and bewildered. “you’re fucking insane—”

his reaction and response only made yuji double over in a fit of laughter, clutching his stomach and gasping for breath as yuta looked at him with an unamused face.

“i’m kidding! i’m just kidding i know you like her you’ve been red in the face the minute she clocked in—”

“what’s so funny?”

you popped your head in from the kitchen, making yuta jump again and yuji double over laughing like before, you giving yuta an apologetic look.

“i wanna laugh!” you pouted. “what happened? what’s funny?”

“yuta didn’t like the joke i made.” yuji quipped.

“well what was it? maybe i will!” you smiled sweetly.

“i said—”

“don’t say it!”

yuji ducked as yuta threw a kids menu at him.

“yuta has a cru—”

“shut the fuck up!—”

you covered your mouth with your hands in a little fit of giggles, the sound halting yuta mid throw to look at you with wide dreamy eyes— not wanting to miss the way you laughed and the way your nose crinkled with every hiccup.

yuji snickered and he shot him a glare before standing and walking over to where you stood.

“you don’t wanna hear it…” he mumbled shyly, fiddling with a buffet napkin. “it was freaking weird.”

you settled your giggles down and breathed, nodding cutely. “i’ll take your word for it, yu.”

yu.

“eeehh?! look y/n! look at his face!—”

“shut up!”

for the rest of the days and shifts that you spent together, yuta made it his mission to do things for you to hopefully earn him a sweet cheek kiss in return like last time, all while desperately trying to avoid yuji and his big ginormous annoying mouth actively corrupting some of his attempts on purpose.

yuta would try and bring you any kind of pastry he could give away to you without his manager knowing, or make you milkshakes randomly throughout your shifts or small BLT’s during lunch time to feed you, all for the purpose of watching the way you’d smile and hug him gratefully each time, and if he got lucky, a sweet kiss on the cheek.

“i don’t get it.” yuji shook his head during one of your shifts, him shuffling through a movie magazine on his break. “why don’t you just ask her for a kiss on the cheek? hm? i’d bet she’d do it! ooo better yet—” he looked at him with sarcastic laced excitement. “ask her out you little loser.”

yuta’s cheeks were hot as he listened, watching you from the kitchen take orders and scribble them down on a notepad.

“it’s been months yuta. months. i am in agony every day watching you follow her around like a lost puppy even though it’s the funniest thing i’ve ever seen.”

yuta rolled his eyes, but sent him a small sad smile. “can’t do it.”

“why not?” he whined. “she likes you too!”

“because she’s out of my league.” yuta pursed his lips. “and no i don’t think she likes me.”

“oh man—” yuji hunched over the sink, tossing his magazine to the side and gripping the rim in exhaustion. “she kisses your cheeks and hugs you and literally took this job because of you! what more proof do you want?!” he grabbed his shoulders and shook him. “a straight up confession?! a straight up kiss?!”

yuta’s heart accelerated at the thought as he pictured yuji’s words clear in his mind.

would you ever kiss him?… would you ever like him back?

“m—maybe?”

“what about school! do you guys not hang out or talk at school?”

“we do!” yuta perked up, but his shoulders quickly slumped. “we’re in different circles though so it’s always just for a little bit or casually.”

yuji groaned loudly and smacked a hand over his forehead. “it’s useless. you’re on your own man i tried i tried so hard i can’t help you—”

he continued to mutter under his breath as he picked up his backpack and walked out of the kitchen and out of the restaurant, the end of his shift drawing near as yuta laughed to himself over his words.

he appreciated how much yuji cared and how badly he wanted him to succeed, but even though his unrealistic expectations and hopes annoyed him most of the time as he blabbed on to him about them, yuta knew he was just a kid. so he valued it anyways.

“yu!” you spoke from behind the bar, him quickly rubbing his sweaty palms over his pants as he walked out of the kitchen to you.

“i’m so excited for tonight!” you smiled, your giddy little self practically bouncing off the walls in anticipation.

he laughed. “you’re excited to clean?”

“yup yup! i’m excited to clean with you.”

with him.

yuta adored sunday’s because that’s when you were both scheduled to close together on your own— just like the first time you did months ago, back when you weren’t working there yet.

there were no cooks, no yuji, no manager, and no customers. just you and him as you blasted elvis singles on the jukebox and got a sugar high from the ice cream machine as you wiped down tables and dusted off shelves— one time you literally slipping on the checkered tile by the entrance because you forgot you had just mopped the floor, yuta practically jumping over the bar counter to see if you were okay and him absolutely sick and worried over nothing as he showered you with more pastries and sweets to help you feel better.

that sunday night he got a kiss on the cheek.

so as you both bid the last customers a good night and got right to work, yuta considered yuji’s dumb words.

maybe he should just ask?

“if elvis was still alive i would probably sell myself to go see him.”

he let out a shocked laugh. “sell yourself? like prostitution?”

“mhm!” you hummed, wiping down the bar counter. “think about it— his tickets would probably cost like three thousand dollars. where the hell am i gonna get three thousand dollars? i’m broke and in college.”

yuta shook his head, his lips in an amused grin. “anything for elvis.”

“exactly!” you leaned over the counter excitedly, yuta on the other side with pink cheeks and a fuzzy feeling in his heart. “you get it. only you understand me.”

he laughed.

“i think it’d be cool if they brought him back as a hologram and did concerts that way.” yuta suggested.

you gasped incredulously as a hand flew to slap over your mouth. “yu! you little genius! oh my god i have to start pimping myself out now—”

yuta laughed again and shook his head. “don’t do that. we’ll find a way to get in.”

“we?!” you propped yourself up on the counter with your elbows and cupped his hands in yours, him stiffening with wide eyes and wobbly nervous lips. “you wanna go with me?”

“y—yeah.” he stammered. “of— of course…”

you squealed and nodded quickly, seemingly accepting the hypothetical proposal.

but then you settled down a little. your eyelashes slowly fluttering as you stared at him— a slow 50s love song statically murmuring through the jukebox adding to the atmosphere as you leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

but this time it was different.

it wasn’t quick and cutesy and one that yuta barely had time to bask over before you pranced away. it was slow, tender, and yuta could feel the way your soft lips touched his skin and left behind a burn as he let his eyes close at the blissful gentle feeling, him finally able to relish in the rarity of it before you slightly began pulling away, eyes twinkling.

“…do you still think i’m pretty?” you whispered.

he swallowed thickly, your face so close he could feel your breath fanning across his lips.

“i do.” he whispered back, eyes locked on yours. “very much so.”

you bit your bottom lip as you smiled, ever so slightly leaning closer and closer to him as your lips nearly brushed against—

riinnggg!

you quickly pulled away and ran to the back to answer the phone, leaving yuta sitting there swooning and nearly collapsing on the table, his hands cold from not being encased in your own soft hands anymore.

but most of all… leaving him confused. he didn’t know why you were leaning in like that.

“i’m sorry we’re closed for the day!… uh huh… we open at eight am tomorrow if—”

yuta could still feel the blaze your lips left behind on his cheek as you spoke on the phone, his hands coming up to rub his eyes as he tried to get his head back down from the clouds and simmer down the beating of his heart.

“someone wanted to come in right now!” you exclaimed, coming back over to your previous spot.

he furrowed his eyebrows. “right now? are you serious? it’s—” he spun around on the barstool and turned his head to the coca cola themed vintage clock on the wall. “it’s nearly twelve am?”

“i know!” you breathed out. “we closed four hours ago.”

“four?!—”

it dawned on the both of you how long you had been inside the diner, fully convinced it would’ve been longer if you hadn’t noticed.

so as the two of you mutually agreed to finish up and gather your things— the jukebox switched to an iconic elvis presley slow love song as you were just about halfway through the entrance double doors, eyes snapping to each other’s.

“aw i love this one…” you spoke softly, a little whine seeping through.

a small close lipped smile spread across his face. “i love this one too.”

“do you wanna—” you stopped.

his eyebrows pinched. “do i wanna what?”

“do you wanna… dance with meee?” you dragged out cutely, slightly bouncing on your toes.

“dance?” his eyes widened. “i— i don’t know how—”

“s’okay! i’ll teach you!”

you quickly pulled his hand and dragged him out, opening one door and jamming a door stopper underneath it so the music of the jukebox leaked out of the diner and through the empty street.

the pavement was a little wet from the morning rain as you took his hand again and pulled him to the middle of the dead empty street, the bottom of your shoes tapping and splashing a little with each tiny puddle you stepped in.

elvis presley’s voice softly hummed through the air, but it was loud and clear to the both of you as you gently took yuta’s hands and set them around your waist, his heart fucking palpitating and feeling like he was about to have a stroke when you wrung your arms over his neck and showed him that pretty smile he loved so much.

you both slowly stepped side to side, the air crispy and cold as your breath’s blew out foggy misty clouds due to the condensation, both of your noses and cheeks flushing red and buzzing warmly as you continued to slow dance— yuta’s grip slowly tightening until he was practically hugging you flush against his body.

out of anything that could possibly happen to yuta in his life, he wanted to remember this moment specifically— with you, dancing in the middle of the street listening to the man that essentially brought you both together in the first place, your beautiful beautiful face looking at him like he was the most important thing in your life… yuta wanting so badly for that to come true as he basked in this little made up scenario in his head that you were already his.

“yu…” you murmured.

he didn’t trust his voice.

“hm?”

“why haven’t you kissed me yet.”

what?

“kissed… you?”

“yeah..” you whispered, your bodies swaying. “don’t you like me?”

yuta let out a shaky breath. “i— i mean yeah… who doesn’t?”

your smile faltered. “i’m talking about you though…”

“oh. well you know i do. i’m sure a lot of other guys would want to kiss you.”

the song drawled to a gradual close and the jukebox reset, you both no longer swaying but still holding on to each other.

your eyes drifted to the side. “other guys?”

he pursed his lips, not really liking the thought of you kissing guys, but answering your question anyways. “yeah… other guys.”

his emphasis on other guys and not on himself left a bad taste in your mouth.

your eyes narrowed in confusion as you looked up at him, yuta a little shocked at your sad expression.

did he say something wrong?

“i thought—” you shook your head softly. “i thought you…?”

“…thought me what?” he cocked his head to the side, his genuine confusion solidifying his rejection in your eyes.

“i— i thought—”

your hands slipped from his shoulders and you stepped back, yuta sadly complying and letting his arms open and fall beside him as you rapidly blinked back tears, his eyes slowly widening once he caught it.

“hey— are you okay? what’s wrong?”

yuta went and reached for you, you backing away in response as you shook your head and gave him a small smile, but it didn’t reach your eyes at all.

“why are you crying? did i say something mean? i’m sorry—”

“no no i’m fine.” your voice was quiet and sad. “i think we should go home now.”

his shoulders deflated.

“are you sure? we— we usually hang out until at least one in the morning on sunday’s…”

you walked past him and towards the double doors of the diner, letting your tears slip in secret as you picked up your school bag and swung it over your shoulder, quickly wiping your cheeks before picking up his bag and giving it to him.

yuta thanked you and hoisted his backpack up on himself, ushering you gently to step to the side as he pulled the door stopper from beneath and placed it in its corresponding place by the entrance, letting the door close on its own before pulling out the keys from the pocket of his jacket and locking the diner up.

he did all of this— completely unaware to the way you were trying to quiet down your sniffles behind him.

you were so sure he liked you back… now you just felt a little stupid.

of course— the one genuine guy you came across that you actually liked out of all the others that you’ve met, one that wasn’t like the rest and was sweet and funny and caring and so so attentive of you… didn’t like you back.

the one thing you truly truly wanted, you simply couldn’t have— you walking ahead of yuta in silence through the parking lot with your arms crossed as you wondered if the way he treated you was literally just because that’s how he was as a person.

a good person at that. way too good for this world, and way too good for you.

yuta didn’t know why you were so quiet, his chest a bit achy at the absence of your usual cheerful voice.

when you reached your cars, you barely even bid him a proper goodbye like you always did before you got in your car and sped away, leaving a perplexed yuta standing alone in the parking lot— eyebrows pinched together in clueless concern.

you were acting so weird, and you unfortunately continued to do so for the following week.

the next time you came into the diner (which was literally the next day), yuta was taken aback by how bloodshot and sunken your eyes were when you came in for your shift, not saying a single peep to yuji and him when you walked through the kitchen or through the bar counter like you usually did… and it was weird.

through the bustling of the busy restaurant, it was oddly quiet to the two boys, simply because you weren’t your usual boastful self.

and you were hardly talking to yuta either… which pained him the most. you kept it strictly casual— as if you weren’t completely tied together every fucking day for almost a year now, you just completely casual about your day and about the things you had to do whenever he asked you, your one word dry responses sending him through the worst confusing and sadistic loop of his life.

but it wasn’t casual at all. nothing about you was casual. so why were you acting like this? did you finally maybe open your eyes and realize yuta was a big fat nobody who didn’t belong with a girl like you?

yuta nearly cried at the thought. perhaps you had finally realized that.

but how fucking cruel was it that he lived a year of love and beauty and everything that was just you, getting a taste of what it would be like to live a life where you thought of him as something really special and a life where you wanted to basically do everything with him— only to be ripped away from him overnight? with no explanation?

by wednesday, yuta was dead inside.

you didn’t seem to want to do anything with him anymore like before. you didn’t excitedly jump and squeal and bounce on your little toes when it was time for the both of you to clean during your shift or restock the ice cream machine. you didn’t talk to him about elvis anymore or about another ludicrous idea on how to resurrect him from the dead— you didn’t smile like you used to whenever he tried to give you a small pastry, actually rejecting it instead, and you didn’t kiss his cheeks anymore.

by friday, yuji was fed the fuck up.

“what the fuck did you do?!” he whispered harshly at him from the bar, you somewhere in the diner taking orders. “that woman is like a walking zombie. her eyes have been red like red since monday, and she’s not yapping about elvis anymore.”

yuta leaned against the counter with a flat palm to his forehead in worry, feeling like he was gonna be fucking sick over you.

“i— i don’t know.” he stuttered. “i truly don’t know i don’t know what i said that’s making her act like that.”

“okay run it back for me run it back.” he placed both hands on his shoulders and roughly pulled yuta to face him. “explain to me again what happened on sunday.”

“we were closing…”

“uh huh?”

“she wanted to slow dance in the street so we did…”

“okay cute i love that part okay keep going..?”

“and then she asked why haven’t i kissed her—“

“she what?!” yuji choked, “you didn’t tell me this part! you fucking jumped to the parking lot!”

“my bad…” yuta muttered.

“shit— whatever keep going.”

“she also said that she thought i liked her and i said who doesn’t… and then i told her i was sure other guys would want to kiss her.”

“you said other guys?”

yuta’s eyebrows pinched. “yeah?”

“you. said…” yuji repeatedly slowly. “other. guys.”

“yes i did—”

“oh you’re done.” he rapidly shook his head. “i can’t help you i’ve done all i can you’re my buddy and i love you but i cannot take this anymore—”

“woah woah slow the fuck down—” he narrowed his eyes. “what’s so bad about what i said?”

“you rejected her.”

“what? no i didn’t—”

“yes!” yuji nodded frantically. “yes you did you freaking dingus! yuta she wanted a kiss from you a kiss! she literally said ‘when are you going to kiss me!’”

“i thought she was joking about that?” he answered softly.

“i might die early if you don’t figure this out right now.” yuji spat. “when you said other guys, she took it as you saying you’re sure other guys would want to kiss her and not you! do you understand what i’m trying to say?!”

yuta stayed silent.

“you said ‘i’m sure other guys would wanna kiss you,’ which is you indirectly saying ‘i’m sure other guys would wanna kiss you but not me.’ emphasis on others—”

“holy fucking shit.”

why was yuji kind of smart?

“oh thank god!” yuji breathed out, throwing his hands up in the air before clasping them together and looking up at the ceiling, his eyes screwed shut as he shook his interlocked hands and prayed.

“thank you! thank you elvis presley for finally making him see what a dumbass he’s been this entire year especially this moment your music has never been better—”

yuta shoved his fingers through his hair, his eyes bulging open. “holy fucking shit what the fuck did i do?!”

you walked past the bar just then and they both shot their arms down and tried to appear as nonchalant as humanly possible, you not even sparing them a glance as you walked over to the kitchen and disappeared from view.

“oh you have got to fix this.”

yuta spent the rest of the week trying to devise a plan to ease into the situation and have a conversation with you about it, but doing it fucking poorly as he miserably couldn’t come up with anything and yuji having even worse ideas— going as far as to suggesting he kidnaps you and takes you to elvis presley’s home in graceland and apologize there, yuji calling it a ‘grand gesture.’

by sunday, yuta was grasping at straws.

you slowly looked up from the bar as you saw a little sprinkled donut pastry slide across from the other side, your stinging eyes locking with yuta’s and feeling an immediate colossal pang through your chest when you saw him.

“you um—” yuta sighed softly through his nose. “you haven’t had a donut from here in a while…”

“oh.” your eyes stayed glued to the pastry. “thank you but i’m alright. i’m not that hungry right now.”

yuta bit his tongue. “please.”

he wasn’t pleading for you to eat the damn donut, but he pathetically couldn’t get the words out properly either.

“i don’t want it i’m okay.”

“why not?” he pushed. “you love donuts. you haven’t accepted my milkshakes either and you love those too.”

“i got sick of them.”

yuta froze.

you sounded like a completely different person at the moment, and yuta knew that your words held an entirely different meaning to them— his heart literally throwing up all over his insides in distress.

it was near closing time, the last pair of customers just about finishing up their meal as you both stared solemnly at the uneaten donut.

“are you—” yuta cleared his throat. “are you mad at me?”

the customers called you over then, and you quickly pushed yourself off from the edge and walked over as yuta heard your kind customer service voice from somewhere in the diner finalizing the bill for them, the bell above the door chiming as they left— you coming back around to stand back on the other side of the bar.

“sorry what did—”

“are you mad at me.”

you shook your head, eyebrows pinched. “no. why would i be mad?”

“are you upset with me?”

you hummed a no.

yuta wanted to rip his hair out at the fact that he couldn’t fucking think of what to say to you— not wanting to accidentally say something that could offend you like last time without him even knowing, as he didn’t trust his mouth for shit.

“you haven’t looked okay since last sunday.” he murmured. “you don’t look happy around me anymore.”

you pulled your lips into a thin line and pressed hard, already feeling tears threatening to spill.

“it’s just school. it’s tough at the moment.” you mumbled.

“you’re lying.”

you slightly snorted. “okay thanks.”

“no— fuck i did it again.” he screwed his eyes shut. “i know you’re upset with me and i know you’re mad at me. you don’t talk to me as much, you don’t— you don’t take any of the sweets and drinks i give you when you always do, and you refuse to talk to me about elvis.”

“it’s school yuta i don’t know what else to tell you.”

he groaned and pushed himself off the bar, swiftly making his way around the counter to stand right in front of you as your pretty red eyes widened, your body immediately fidgeting.

“please… i miss you.” he mumbled, and your bottom lip started to wobble. “i miss when you wanted me around.”

“i— i do want you around.” you said, so so softly he could barely hear you.

“then please tell me what you’re feeling.”

you brought your hands up and pressed your fingers into your eyes, trying your absolute hardest to keep the tears inside as your body trembled.

“it’s all me it’s not you so— so please don’t worry about it it’s school and— and—”

“i love you.”

you paused.

yuta shakily pried your fingers away from your eyes, holding them in his hands as silent tears escaped down your cheeks.

you shook your head. “no you don’t. you’re just saying that—”

“i love you.”

“stop it you’re being mean i don’t need you to tell me you love me because you feel bad for me—”

you tried to tear your hands away but his grip only tightened as he shook his head and wrung you in, pressing your hands flat over his heart and holding them there as he leaned and pushed his lips to yours, the taste and feeling of you complete fucking paradise as he hoped that the weight of his lips were conveying how much he truly fucking loved you, how much he truly needed you in his life and how much he wanted you to treat him like he was something to you again.

he was tired of you carrying around the missing half of him, but not because he wanted you to give it back.

he wanted you to keep it. he wanted you to keep it forever and ever and not let it dangle over ineptly like you’d done for the past week. he wanted you to kiss it and shove it next to your heart and keep it there snug where it belonged until the day that he died.

the jukebox murmured another soft 50s tune, you slowly but surely letting your tense shoulders relax as you allowed your lips to move against his, your heart screaming and zooming through your bones at the fact that this man was kissing you like you’d wanted and dreamed for him to do so badly for the past year.

you both slowly pulled away with your lips quietly smacking apart, your stunning face finally looking at him the way you always did, the way you used to, even if it was a little timid still.

“are you lying?” you murmured.

his eyes softened as he gently shook his head.

“absolutely not.”

“but you rejected me.”

he sighed through his nose, his hands still pressing yours over his heart as you felt it beat rapidly under your palms.

“i— i didn’t mean to. i swear to god i didn’t mean to.” he gently dropped his forehead against yours as he closed his eyes. “i was being stupid and worded everything wrong. but— but i’m telling you now that i wanted to kiss you… so fucking bad. you’re too pretty for me so i honestly thought i just didn’t stand a chance…”

you couldn’t believe it.

“i don’t want other guys to kiss you.” he continued. “not at all… just me.”

“just you?” you murmured, and he nodded against your forehead.

“just me.” he propped his chin on the top of your head. “i’m sorry i hurt you and made you cry.”

“no yu…” you spoke gently. “i’m sorry too. and i’m sorry i said i was sick of the sweets you give me… i was lying i love them.”

he chuckled softly.

“it’s okay… i know.” yuta gently caressed your fingers with his thumbs. “but i love you pretty.”

“i love you.” you whispered, and you slid your hands up his chest and around his neck, pulling him down in a warm embrace as he copied and pulled your body to his so so tightly, your hearts beating in time with one another as he felt his fingertips go numb at your confession, kissing your soft little cheeks over and over and over again until he got giggles out of you.

yuta loved sunday’s… and so did you.

and when he asked you to be his girlfriend that same night while standing over the jukebox, staring at the elvis presley song selection like you’d done many times together before in the past, yuta for the first time realized that he hadn’t felt alone since the moment you came into the diner with your mean friends— finding himself actually thanking them in his head for that, realizing that if they hadn’t then you probably would’ve left with them and he would’ve never gotten the chance to speak to you that night.

the next time you both came into work, you back to your usual jumpy self as you took every pastry that yuta gave you again and babbled about elvis and how you were gonna spend your hypothetical prostitution money on a flight to memphis to see his grave and pay your respects, yuji was elated.

“what happened?! you have to tell me what happened come on you can’t keep it from me i’m just a boy—”

you skipped into the kitchen then and smoothly walked in between them, pressing a gentle cute peck to yuta’s lips before grabbing what you needed from the back and walking back out, yuji’s mouth flinging open and his jaw hitting the fucking floor.

“how— what— when— where—”

you stepped back in after a second and bounded over next to yuta, his eyes soft as he watched you lean your head on his shoulder.

“what?” you asked. “what’s wrong yuji?”

“oh god no!” he wailed, dramatically throwing an arm over his eyes in agony. “i thought this is what i wanted but it’s not! i want a kiss like that man!”

he flew to his knees in front of you and took your hand in his. “y/n why can’t you just wait for me please?! wait five years you’re so pretty i won’t confuse you like this dingbat and i’ll give you better sweets and milkshakes than him please!—”

yuta took your hand and slapped yuji’s away. “you freak stand up man the floor is dirty—”

“i need a popular gorgeous girlfriend like you yuta! how could you do this?! i thought we were brothers?! what spell did you cast?! have you ever learned jujutsu?! what have i done!—”

your manager popped his head into the kitchen and you all stiffened.

“yuji why are you crying? everyone outside can hear you, kid.”

yuji flew to his feet and shook his head. “m’not crying sir. everything is fine just fine and dandy sir.”

“okay… well can you check on your tables? leave yuta and y/n to work.”

“yes sir i’ll check on them sir.”

your manager nodded, muttering something about today’s generation as he left and went back inside his office, yuji walking out of the kitchen shortly after with his head down as you both tried your hardest to keep your laughter in, hands tightly clasped over your mouths and silently snickering to keep yuji from hearing it on the other side.

“p—poor him.” you heaved, a hand over your chest. “i hope— i hope he finds his ‘popular girlfriend’ when he’s older.”

“i wish her luck.” he muttered, and your hand slapped back over your mouth again as you burst into another fit of giggles alongside him.

yuta sheepishly outstretched his arms for you once you both settled down, you perking up excitedly with a cutesy little grin as you skipped into them, your arms wrapping snug around his torso as he brought his around your shoulders and squeezed, earning a tiny squeak from you that made him laugh.

he hoped to god he wasn’t dreaming.

yuta started shifting his weight from one to the other, gently moving and swaying you side to side in the kitchen as you giggled and let him lead you like that.

“you slow dancing yu?” you murmured softly, head coming up to give him a kiss on the cheek as he blushed.

“yeah..” he hummed. “i like it when we do.”

“i do too yu… it’s like our little thing! we’re so vintage.”

he snorted, and a charming beautiful smile spread across your face— one that made him wonder how he ever managed to land you when all he did was wait tables and stutter foolishly and wasn’t anyone particularly special like you were.

but you. you were everything. everything and way fucking more as you looked at him like he built the diner himself brick by brick for reasons he still couldn’t understand why.

yuta spoke after a moment.

“…what do you think of me?” he murmured suddenly, cheek mushing up against the side of your head as your brows furrowed.

“what do i think of you?” you asked, your perplexed face slowly shifting to one of realization as it dawned on you how yuta was reiterating your words to him from when you first met.

he grinned. “yeah.”

you pulled back to face him.

“i think you’re kind… you always have been even when i didn’t deserve it.”

his jaw dropped. “what? didn’t deserve it?—”

“i’m not finished!” you pouted, and he playfully rolled his eyes as he shut his lips.

“you’re too good to me yu…” you sighed a little. “you’re so helpful and selfless, and even when things piss you off you still take the time to appreciate them… like yuji.”

you both snickered then, and yuta brought his head down and nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck.

“i love the way you love, yuta. i love the way you love me and take care of me and always feed me…” you giggled. “without me ever having to ask.”

you felt his arms tighten around you.

“don’t ever think that you aren’t special to me or anyone or i’ll kill you and go to graceland without you.”

he laughed loudly in your neck and pulled back, half lidded ditzy loving eyes staring back as he leaned in and kissed you— gentle and delicate, his hands coming up to cup your warm cheeks.

“jesus man table nine would not stop asking me for— oh god no!”

you and yuta jumped apart, yuji immediately wailing and crying again as he flung himself to the floor on his knees.

“really?! in my kitchen?! in front of my face?! how cruel can you be yuta?! y/n can you maybe give me a ki—”

yuta leaned down and smacked him upside the head.

“owwwuhh! what’s wrong with just one little kiss man?!—”

“cut. it. out!—”

and just like always, the week came and went, sunday fast approaching as the day eventually came to close the diner together like lovely clockwork— wiping down tables and sweeping the floors, organizing the menu’s and restocking the crayons for the little kids, gulping down milkshakes with yuta like water as you worked…

but most importantly— sharing long kisses in between each sweeping rotation, kissing and pinching his cheeks repeatedly whenever he asked or did literally anything, and slow dancing to the same 50s love song that played when you first tried to kiss him at the bar that one night, swaying together in a silly way and giggling whenever you’d both nearly topple over to the floor— yuta beaming and lovesick as he looked down at your gorgeous smile and your gorgeous face… it gleaming with so much purpose, so much pure love and importance and value for him as you danced—

that yuta decided he wanted you to keep the other remaining half of him too.

forever.

this! is the song that was playing when reader was about to give yuta a kissy kissy on the bar counter, and again at the end if you’re curious :3 it was playing when i wrote it and it literally fit so well and lifted my entire body and spirit and i felt like i was THERE MAN! <333

taglist!! <33 (THANK YOU THANK YOU!):

@cupcaketeddybehr @soobiary @roachfun @waterfal-ling @saebaey @reneinii @luvvmae @cake-with-the-cream @pixie-dix @2ukika @cramelmacchiao @hy3phiren @fushigurioo @wil10wthetree @jameinfrau @pancakeszs

(HATE when tumblr doesn’t let me tag some of yall i don’t know why it does that!!)

[brightsideoflifeseries]

It's Time!

The cool creations are beginning to roll in!

Remember to show some love to everyone who participated, and thanks for coming along on this fun adventure!

Use these tags or scroll through the blog to see all the silliness!

Event art tag

By Character: BdoubleO | BigB | Cleo | Etho | Gem | Grian | Impulse | Jimmy | Joel | Lizzie | Martyn | Mumbo | Pearl | Ren | Scar | Scott | Skizz | Tango

By Season: 3rd Life | Last Life | Double Life | Limited Life | Secret Life | Other

And stay tuned in a few days for an event "exit" survey!

[art]

Creator Spotlight: @themetalhiro

Hi, I’m Metal! I’m a freelance artist from good ol’ New Jersey. My favorite things to work with are a lot of bright colors, exaggerated poses, and candid scenarios. I try to farm sensible chuckles whenever I can, so I’m also big into comics. I love making them about my life, and the media I’m into, and one day I’d like to publish my own series!  Thank you to everyone who has gotten me this far!!

Check out Metal's interview below!

Did you originally have a background in art? If not, how did you start?

I guess so! It’s funny, I don’t remember a single time in my life that I wasn’t drawing as a hobby… somewhere in middle school (a little late, I know.) I put the pieces together that animated movies were made by artists, and that it wasn’t just for fun, they were paid to do it. The moment I discovered people could be paid to make art, I decided I would do that, too. Now I’m here!

How has your style developed over the years?

I think the best way to answer this would be with an example! Over the last few years, I have made more of an effort to draw more intentionally, which sounds silly. Now, I put more thought into my poses and step out of my comfort zone with shape language and composition. I had a phase where I drew everyone with a huge, perfectly circular head and no nose. That definitely did not lend much variety...

Which 3 famous artists (dead or alive) would you invite to your dinner party?

Ack! I’m so terrible at history! I’d love to give a well-thought-out answer about fine artists of old, but I don't think we’d have much in common… Most artists I admire and who have driven me forward creatively are the people behind comics I’ve read. Andrew Hussie, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Eiichiro Oda... these guys have inspired me greatly and had a heavy influence in developing my art style and sense of humor. I’d love to ask them questions about their processes and upcoming projects. I think it would make for an entertaining night!

Over the years as an artist, what were your biggest inspirations behind your creativity?

Outside of pure aesthetics like searing bright colors, layered clothing, and loud noises…. the best and most inspiring moments in my life were those surrounded by friends and loved ones! I cherish the hell out of memories of hanging around in fun locations, trying weird food together, and impromptu midnight walks... so I try my best to capture that atmosphere and my own memories in my work when I can, even if I’m imposing fictional characters on top of them. That’s always the core of it.

What is a medium that you have always been intrigued by but would never use yourself?

I would never permanently refuse a medium, but every time I pick up clay, I’m like a baby using its hands for the first time. Absolutely dreadful. If one day I could make and paint a figurine like the ones I admire in videos, that would be awesome... But for now, I’m not counting on it.

How do you want to evolve as a creator?

I’ve had an absolute blast drawing fanart over the years, and it’s certainly played a massive role in my growth as an artist. But my dream has always been to publish my own stories for y'all to enjoy! I have lots of worlds I want to introduce to you before I’m old and gray. I want to get faster, work harder, and get better at drawing interesting settings so I can get the wheels turning as soon as possible. I also want to stop avoiding the color blue like a coward.

What do you wish you knew when you first started out creating art that you know now?

Pay your taxes quarterly. Tablets will break at the exact moment you need them most, so have a spare. Wear your blue light glasses. You’re going to need to wear a brace on every joint on the right side of your body. It can be lonely sitting at your desk all day. The car on the side of the road that costs $1000 cash….. don’t trust it!!!

Who on Tumblr inspires you and why?

@cranity—They use absolutely beautiful colors and weighty line work. Everything looks so sharp and clean! I wanna put it all up on my wall!

@vewn—Their ability to crank out quality short films and illustrations packed with detail is incredible. The off-kilter perspective they use really sells disorientation and catches your attention like nothing else.

@nelnal—They have absolutely banger character designs again and again, I can’t believe one person’s mind can come up with so many creative ideas!

@jinx88kc—They have a beautiful and recognizable style, and the way they incorporate animation into their illustrations sometimes is SO cool!

Thanks for stopping by, Metal! For more of Metal’s work, follow their Tumblr, @themetalhiro! If you haven't seen their Meet the Artist piece, be sure to check it out here!

[onefleshonepod]

Nona leant into her and said, “Thanks. I love you too, Camilla,” and: “Do you know who I am yet?”

Beyond the fact that this scene instantly came to mind — a parallel to the Rider-Waite tarot card with a figure merrily walking off a cliff, white dog trotting at their heels — when I thought of this card, Nona as a character works perfectly for The Fool.

On both literal and metaphorical levels, she is experiencing life for the first time. Her existence represents a new beginning for the series, with a new unanticipated book exploring new people and new stories.

Her innocence, however, sees her delve several times into the reversed meaning of the card: taking on tasks she can't fully comprehend, throwing eldritch tantrums, and making naïve mistakes and misunderstandings which drive the plot.

The jig was finally up. [...] “Nona,” said Palamedes [...] “that was very important information—information that changes everything—[…] and the type of information Camilla and I personally trusted you to prioritise.” This was too much to bear. “I’ve had things to think about,” Nona wailed. “I didn’t want to get in trouble.”

ID: A digital collage of "The Fool” tarot card as Nona from the Locked Tomb series. The design parallels the Rider-Waite Fool card. Nona, dressed in a yellow raincoat and respirator, is stepping off the edge of a cliff with Noodle at her heels. A destroyed city is in the background in tones of orange and purple, and Varun the Eater is a bright blue orb in the top right corner of the smoggy yellow sky. Nona’s outfit is from illustrations by Holly Hobbie, Lou Rogers, Howard Smith, and Henry Hintermeister. The cliff is from Brunhilde by Arthur Rackham. The city images are photos of 1940s Warsaw. Noodle is from a painting by Cecil Aldin, with some added legs. The left side of the card shows the upright meaning of The Fool and reads, “Beginnings | Innocence | Leap of Faith | Spontaneity | Idealism" in all caps. The right side of the card shows the reversed reading and reads "Chaos | Foolishness | Naïveté | Poor Judgment | Gullibility" in all caps. The base of the card reads "The Fool | Nona" in a groovy font.